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Yaoyao regarded him in bemusement.

"Why? What made you fall in love with me?"

"Actually, Yaoyao, I asked your father for your hand in marriage the day I left Great Shang\'s imperial capital." Beitang You smiled ruefully.

Yaoyao was surprised. "Back then, you were already…"

Her startled reaction made Beitang You smile, and he could not help giving her dainty nose a pinch. "That\'s right, but unfortunately, your father rejected me. I was ready to give up and return to the Yan Kingdom, but then I met you again outside the city gates. Once I learned that you wanted to go to the West Water Frontier, I was thrilled, thinking that perhaps our journey together might give me an opportunity.

"But the prejudice you held against me was too deep, and you wanted nothing to do with me, so I had no choice but to give up and hide my feelings. I never thought that you\'d disguise yourself as Chen Jin and follow me to the Yan Kingdom—you have no idea how happy I was when I found out you were here."

As Yaoyao listened to him quietly, she groaned to herself, \'If I\'d known I\'d get into this mess, I wouldn\'t have come to the Yan Kingdom.\'

Beitang You was not a bad suitor—it was the opposite, in fact. As the ruler of a kingdom, he was willing to humble himself in front of her, which was very rare.

However, she had too many concerns.

"Maybe it\'s fate that brought us together; otherwise, why\'d you appear before me every time I tried to give up?" Beitang You sighed with emotion.

"Those were just coincidences…" Yaoyao frowned. She did not believe in the idea of fate.

"The first time, maybe. But the second?" Beitang You smiled at her.

"Hey, you\'re the ruler of a kingdom. How could you believe in such a thing?" Yaoyao said contemptuously.

"Before I met you, I didn\'t believe in fate either, but after meeting you, I came to believe in it—and I\'m willing to do so, too." The corners of Beitang You\'s lips turned up. After a pause, his voice deepened. "Yaoyao, you\'re going to come of age soon, and you\'re going to get married someday too. Can you guarantee that you\'ll meet someone better than me—someone who will love and accept you more than I will? If not, you\'re better off choosing me."

Yaoyao was unconvinced. "I wouldn\'t be too sure about that. Maybe I\'ll meet someone a hundred or thousand times better than you."

"Really?" Narrowing his eyes, Beitang You suddenly pinned her against the pillar behind her.

"O-of course!" Yaoyao refused to admit defeat.

Seriously—this man was so full of himself!

"At least I can find someone younger than you."

"Men younger than me don\'t know how to pamper women. In fact, you might have to tolerate their antics," Beitang You said dismissively.

Yaoyao, "..."

"Marry me—I\'ll be good to you and only you for the rest of my life. What\'s more, you\'ll be my one and only woman forever, just like how your father treats your mother," Beitang You said gently.

"But a lifetime\'s so long—who can guarantee that your heart will never change? Besides, the Yan Kingdom\'s so far away from Great Shang—what should I do if your heart changes one day?" Yaoyao knitted her brow, not at all moved by his promise.

Beitang You was at his wits\' end. After everything he said, this girl was still so cool-headed, which surprised and frustrated him at the same time.

"Well, a person\'s heart will change if it\'s bound to, no matter how close your parents are. I know you might not believe me no matter what I promise now, but marriage has always been a huge gamble, Yaoyao—so do you dare to take this gamble with me?"

Yaoyao was ridden with conflict. "You\'re right, but I can\'t answer you right away. Can you give me some time? I need to think about it."

Marriage was for life. She could not say yes so carelessly.