Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The tables and chairs were arranged neatly in the shelter of a large transparent plastic tent. It was very warm inside, as the cold wind couldn’t blow into the tent.
Wei Keli ordered a copper pot, a few plates of meat, and a bottle of beer.
It was a classic copper hot pot, filled with clear water. The water was boiling inside, and white steam was rising from it.
Although this was situated in the outdoors, it was still very warm and cozy within the plastic tent with the heat from the boiling copper pots on the tables.
The other customers were drinking beers and chatting, making the atmosphere very lively.
But Wei Keli felt alone and lonely in contrast to them.
He thought of Yuan Keqing.
Did Yuan Keqing know about Tan Mo and Wei Zhiqian’s relationship?
He mulled over it and dialed Yuan Keqing’s number.
But Wei Keli didn’t know how to go about asking Yuan Keqing when he heard her pick up and called him “Brother Keli,” .
Hearing some noise on the other end of the phone, Yuan Keqing asked, “Brother Keli, where are you now?”
Wei Keli’s eyebrows moved slightly and replied, “I’m in a hot pot restaurant.”
Yuan Keqing paused for a moment before asking again, “Are you… with friends?”
She was guessing that Wei Keli was with his friends because she don’t think that Wei Keli’s family members would go to a hot pot restaurant with a noisy environment.
Even if they wanted to eat hot pot, they would go to a place with a good environment.
“No, I’m alone,” Wei Keli replied.
“Brother Keli, which restaurant are you in?” Yuan Keqing asked hesitantly, “Can I come over to find you?”
“I’ll send you the address,” Wei Keli said.
After hanging up the phone, he sent Yuan Keqing his location.
He could ask Yuan Keqing a lot of things in person when she arrives in a while.
He didn’t know if this place was quite close to Yuan Keqing, but she arrived in just half an hour’s time.
She arrived in a such hurry that her cheeks were flushed red from the cold. Her breathing was heavy as she panted to catch her breath.
“Brother Keli.” Yuan Keqing greeted as she sat opposite Wei Keli.
Seeing Yuan Keqing like this, Wei Keli’s heart softened a little.
After so many years, Yuan Keqing was still the only person who was sincere to him.
She immediately rushed over when she knew that he was there. She had made her way here in such a great hurry that even until now, she hadn’t even caught her breath.
“I met Tan Mo at the Wei Manor today.” At the mention of Tan Mo, resentment and unwillingness filled Wei Keli’s eyes. It was a complicated look.
“Did you know that she’s with Wei Zhiqian?”
Yuan Keqing noticed that Wei Keli didn’t even address Wei Zhiqian as ‘Uncle’ anymore.
Yuan Keqing didn’t answer him, instead, she asked, “Brother Keli, my cousin sent me a recording of what you said to her. You told her that you had treated me well because you were just playing around. You just thought that it was fun to toy with me, so you didn’t reject me when I took the initiative to go and look for you. Although we didn’t do anything, you wouldn’t take responsibility for me even if we did. If you marry my cousin, the position of your wife will only belong to her. Anybody else is just toys to you.”
Yuan Keqing’s eyes were red, and tears started to well up in her eyes.
“Brother Keli, do you still have feelings for my cousin? Do you still want to marry her?” Yuan Keqing sobbed as she asked, “Do you still hold the same attitude towards me as before? That I’m only worthy of being toyed by you and not worthy of being treated seriously? I wanted to ask you about this previously, but you went to Nacheng before I had the chance to even ask. I had asked to meet you tomorrow with the intention to get some clarification on this matter.”
Yuan Keqing paused, took a deep breath, and exhaled again before continuing, “But since I’m here tonight, I might as well ask you now.”
Wei Keli no longer harbored any thoughts of marrying Tan Mo.
Even if Tan Mo broke up with Wei Zhiqian in the future, she would still be a pair of worn-out shoes that Wei Zhiqian had worn.
Why should he, Wei Keli, have to pick up other people’s trash?
Disgust and hatred appeared on Wei Keli’s face at the mention of Tan Mo.
“Don’t talk about Tan Mo. She’s no longer worthy,” Wei Keli said coldly.
Thinking of Yuan Keqing’s other question, Wei Keli took a deep breath and wore a sentimental expression as he explained, “It was because I realized that there was something wrong with Tan Mo at that time.”
Wei Keli sneered. “But now I know, the reason was that she was already with Wei Zhiqian then.”
“I was told by my parents to marry Tan Mo ever since I was young. In my opinion, my relationship with Tan Mo is just like any marriage alliance between most families,” Wei Keli said coldly, “I have the Wei family behind me. Tan Mo was lucky to be able to enter the Wei family through marrying me.”
This was an opportunity that many people wanted but did not have.
Wei Keli’s words really struck a chord with Yuan Keqing.
Because Yuan Keqing had also thought the same.
Wei Keli sneered, “On the other hand, it’s also because the Tan family is powerful in their own ways. Moreover, she is the favored daughter of the Tan family, so she will bring many benefits for my family.”
“If I have to talk about how much feelings I have for her, I don’t. We grew up together, and I also treat her as my younger sister. It’s just that I know that I will be marrying her in the future, so it’s not like I couldn’t adapt to a new role,” Wei Keli said coldly, “I’m angry not because I have deep, romantic feelings for her, but because of her betrayal.”
“I treated her so well. Even when treating her as my younger sister, I always took care of her and pampered her. I always prioritize her and gave her everything first. When I see a nice toy and thought that she might like it, I’ll immediately buy it for her.”
Wei Keli’s hatred grew as he spoke. “But what about her? She played me like a fool. She knew that I was waiting for her, but she secretly hooked up with Wei Zhiqian and didn’t tell me clearly. She even hid it from me and treated me like a fool. She just watched on in silence as I continued waiting for her.”
“Not only that, she even secretly recorded my words and sent it to you to drive a wedge between us.” Wei Keli downed a whole glass of beer. “I did not mean what I said at that time.”
Wei Keli looked straight at Yuan Keqing, “I was just unwilling to be played by her as a fool and yet, be despised by her so much. She had criticized me harshly and made me sound completely worthless. So I started to think of a temporary solution to hold her back. Even if we were to part ways, it should have been me who brought it up first. Why should I be the one being despised when I had treated her so well?”
“So… at that time… I made up such an excuse,” Wei Keli hurriedly explained, “But I didn’t mean what I said. It was just a temporary solution to deal with Tan Mo…”
Wei Keli suddenly reached out and held Yuan Keqing’s hand that was resting on the table.
“Don’t take what I said seriously. I’m sorry for hurting you because of those words. I really do not think that way.”
“What about now?” Yuan Keqing looked at Wei Keli sadly. “There’s no Tan Mo now, but there will be others. Do you still want to leave the position of your wife for them, and only want to fool around without having to be responsible for me?”
Yuan Keqing’s tears fell.
“Brother Keli, you should know that I like you.. But, I’m also not a casual person.”
