A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Chapter 1122 Little Angkor's Confession

Gui'er was startled by his reaction and closed the book: "I just..."

“I’ve never had any romantic feelings for Ru Meng!” Wu Mingqiang interrupted her, his chest heaving. “I helped her back then because I felt sorry for her. It was too hard for her to live like that in that kind of place, and I wanted to give her a hand so she could get on the right path. It had absolutely nothing to do with romantic love!”

He took a step forward, now just inches from Gui'er, his eyes swirling with complex emotions—anger, embarrassment, and something hidden deep within, like a spark dampened by rain, flickering on and off. "Miss, do you really... understand nothing?"

Gui'er's heart skipped a beat under his gaze, and she instinctively shrank back, 'I...'

“I’ve known you since the year I entered the Marshal’s Mansion.” Wu Mingqiang’s voice lowered, with a hint of bitterness. “Back then you were young, pure and innocent, pampered like a princess by the young master. You went to school so diligently every day, had your own goals, were kind and brave, and even saved me. Do you know that? Ever since you saved me, I’ve always tried my best to see you more.”

His Adam's apple bobbed as if he were swallowing something: "I know my own status. We are worlds apart. How dare I have any wishful thinking? But I still desperately wanted to climb up the social ladder, thinking that would bring me closer to you and maybe give me a chance. But after I achieved some success, I heard from the old folks in the courtyard that you and the second young master were in love. I thought, that's good too. The second young master is a perfect match for you. I just need to stay by your side and watch you live a peaceful life. That's enough for me."

“But now…” He raised his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on Gui’er, “The second young master… I’m afraid he won’t be coming back. In this chaotic world, it’s too tiring for you to bear it all alone. Miss, no, Gui’er, I know I’m not good enough for you, not before, and perhaps still now. But I’m willing to spend the rest of my life protecting you. Whether it’s the pawnshop or the family business, as long as you want to protect it, I will protect it for you. If you want to leave, I will protect you as you leave.”

His voice trembled slightly, yet remained unusually firm: "I don't want to secretly endure this longing any longer. When I told this lie to Fourth Concubine, God knows how much I wished it were true."

The study was so quiet you could hear the wind outside the window. Gui'er's heart pounded like a drum, her mind a complete blank. She had never imagined that this man, always so calm and reliable, who always addressed her as "Miss," harbored such deep thoughts. Memories of the past suddenly flooded back—he always appeared when she needed him, always arranged everything perfectly, always shielded her from open and hidden attacks when she couldn't see him.

Gui'er's face flushed red. It was the first time she had ever heard such a direct confession. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. Looking at the earnestness in Wu Mingqiang's eyes, and the undisguised humility, she suddenly felt her throat tighten.

Suddenly, Sha Yanxiao's image flashed through her mind, accompanied by a gentle smile, and her flushed face instantly cooled down.

“I…” Gui’er turned her face away, not daring to look at him again. “Brother Wu, I, I promised to wait for you, brother.” She lowered her head and said with a blush on her face.

Wu Mingqiang's shoulders slumped slightly, and the light in his eyes dimmed a little, but he still forced a smile: "Gui'er, you can wait for the Second Young Master, then I can wait for you too, just so you can understand my feelings."

He turned and walked out, his steps heavy. He stopped at the door and said to Gui'er with his back to her, "I will handle Ru Meng's situation. I will never let her bother you again."

The door closed softly, leaving Gui'er alone in the study. She gazed at the swaying shadows of the trees outside the window, the book in her hands long since cold. Wu Mingqiang's words were like a pebble thrown into her heart, creating a turbulent storm that left her breathless.

Wu Mingqiang's feelings, which he had kept hidden for many years, weighed heavily on her heart, causing her to feel a wavering that she couldn't quite explain.

Gui'er tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

The next morning at breakfast, Gui'er's hand trembled slightly as she held the bowl of porridge. Wu Mingqiang sat opposite her; he was usually quite talkative, but now he just kept his head down and ate his rice, the soft sound of his chopsticks hitting the rim of the bowl being particularly clear in the quiet restaurant.

Occasionally, when their eyes met unintentionally, Gui'er would immediately look away as if burned, her cheeks flushing. She tried hard to find something to say, such as about the pawnshop's business or the recent situation of the Macau branch, but the words stuck in her throat.

Wu Mingqiang spoke first, his voice a little hoarse: "Miss, I heard from the people in the shop that Miss Liu came to our pawnshop yesterday. She probably knows about that matter. You should be careful."

"Mmm," Gui'er responded softly, taking a mouthful of porridge, but it didn't taste like much.

When they arrived at the door, Acheng had already parked the car by the roadside. As Gui'er bent down to get into the car, Wu Mingqiang suddenly said, "Be careful on the road."

She didn't turn around, only gave a soft "hmm," and the moment the carriage curtain fell, it was as if two worlds were separated.

The car had only gone two blocks when Ah Cheng leaned out from the front, a hint of hesitation on his face: "Miss..."

Gui'er lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked at the street: "What's wrong?"

"Dingxiang...Dingxiang said that Qiang-ge spoke to you in the study yesterday," A-Cheng said in a low voice. "She guessed...that you two......"

Gui'er's heart skipped a beat. After a moment of silence, she nodded gently: "He... told me some things from his heart."

"Then you..."

"I can't let go of my second brother." Gui'er's voice was soft, but exceptionally clear. "I promised him I would wait for him to come back."

Ah Cheng didn't speak again. The rickshaw rolled over the stone road, making a regular "clunk" sound. After a while, he murmured, "Actually, we had already suspected it back then. Brother Qiang, ever since you, Miss Gui'er, rescued him from our young lady, he's like a different person. He's been trying his best to perform, practicing his marksmanship and martial arts. When he first came to the Marshal's Mansion with us, he wasn't particularly outstanding, but later he became the most skilled one. He was also desperately trying to make money. Whenever he had money, he would say he wanted to buy something for you, Miss, but he never did. He felt it wasn't presentable. It wasn't until he made a lot of money that he bought you that gemstone brooch. However, he was also entangled with many dancers at the same time, so we didn't think about it that way."

Gui'er felt a pang in her heart; she had never heard of these things before.

“But the Second Young Master is the person you cherish most.” A-Cheng’s voice carried a hint of helplessness. “There’s no logic to matters of the heart. Whatever you choose, I will listen to you.”

Gui'er didn't speak again. She lowered the carriage curtain, leaned against the cushion, and shut out the noise outside the window. But her heart was in turmoil. Wu Mingqiang's deep affection and Sha Yanxiao's promise were like two forces pulling at her, making it hard for her to breathe.

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