221 I Can Marry You
He meant that she could regain freedom, but not leave.
Sang Qianqian turned back to look at him, waiting for him to continue.
Xie Shi’an had already regretted his rashness the moment he spoke. However, since he had already started, he could only continue.
“You know too much of the truth. Ruan Cheng won’t let you go so easily.”
Xie Shi’an paused for a moment. “But it’s not impossible for you to walk out of this small courtyard or even return to the hospital.”
There was finally some light in Sang Qianqian’s eyes.
When he met her expectant eyes, Xie Shi’an actually felt a little guilty and did not dare to look her in the eye.
He shifted his gaze to the pot of Begonia flowers beside Sang Qianqian. “If your relationship with me is enough for Ruan Cheng to be at ease, he won’t restrict your freedom too much.
Sang Qianqian did not quite understand what he meant. “What do I need to do to make him feel at ease?”
Xie Shi’an glanced at her, as if he found it difficult to speak. He hesitated for a long time before he said, “Qianqian, I know that it’s not very appropriate for me to say these things now. But this is the only way.”
“Xie Shi’an, just say what you want to say.”
Sang Qianqian furrowed her brows. “I don’t like playing riddles.”
Xie Shi’an stared at Sang Qianqian. His throat moved and he said in a low voice, “Qianqian, if you’re willing to marry me and we become husband and wife, Ruan Cheng will no longer restrict your freedom.”
The words that had been hidden in his heart for a long time were finally said. The invisible pressure seemed to have been removed, and he actually felt much more relaxed.
However, Xie Shi’an was still a little nervous as he waited for Sang Qianqian’s response.
Sang Qianqian was stunned, suspecting that she had heard wrongly. However, Xie Shi’an’s expression did not seem to be joking at all.
“Was this your idea or Ruan Cheng’s idea?”
Sang Qianqian smiled lightly. “If I don’t want to be your wife, will I never be able to leave this small courtyard?”
Xie Shi’an did not hide anything. “It was my idea, Qianqian. This is the only way for you to get out of the courtyard.”
He wasn’t being alarmist. It was true; there was no way Ruan Cheng would let Sang Qianqian leave alive.
If she wanted to be safe, she could only stay here. However, if his relationship with Xie Shi’an went further, then Xie Shi’an would have enough confidence to fight for her more.
Otherwise, Ruan Cheng would not give in so easily.
“Qianqian, I know that this is very difficult for you.”
Xie Shi’an did not expect Sang Qianqian to agree immediately. “I respect your opinion. If you are not willing, I will not force you.”
He looked deeply at Sang Qianqian. “You don’t have to be in a hurry to answer me. you can give me an answer after you’ve thought it through.”
—
Perhaps Xie Shi’an really wanted to give Sang Qianqian enough time to consider, as he didn’t come back for a long time after that.
Sang Qianqian would come out every day to water the flowers in the yard. Her gaze inadvertently swept past the entrance of the small courtyard and the black-clothed men.
The small courtyard was sealed off, and there were guards around the house 24 hours a day.
Even when she was sick last time, Xie Shi’an didn’t send her to the hospital. Instead, he asked the doctor to come here directly. It was impossible for her to leave this place.
The only breakthrough point might still be on Xie Shi’an.
—
In the living room of the Ruan family’s residence.
Ruan Cheng’s condition seemed to have gotten worse recently and he kept coughing. The number of times he coughed up blood also increased.
The doctor had come to see him several times, but he shook his head every time.
This illness was already a deep-rooted chronic illness. After dragging it out for many years, the illness had long entered his heart. Now, he could only try and live day by day.
He seemed to know that he did not have much time left, so he kept a close eye on Xie Shi’an’s return to the Xie family.
The current head of the Xie family was Xie Shi’an’s half-brother, Xie Jiayou, who had just taken over last year.
Xie Jiayou was young and inexperienced, and he had been influenced by Ruan Cheng’s methods over the years, so he was more or less afraid of Ruan Cheng.
As such, ever since Xie Shi’an’s fifth brother became the head of the Xie family, he had always maintained a delicate balance with the Ruan family and did not dare to act rashly.
Ruan Cheng originally had a series of plans, but it was a pity that Xie Shi’an had fallen out with him previously, so his plans had to be put on hold.
After Xie Shi’an returned, the original plan was completely restarted. During this period of time, the Xie family was suppressed to the point that they could barely breathe.
Originally, this was a battle where victory and defeat were already decided.
However, at that moment, Ruan Cheng was suddenly caught in the whirlpool of public opinion.
First, a few of Ruan Cheng’s former subordinates suddenly jointly submitted a report letter to the police, reporting Ruan Cheng’s illegal possession of guns, private court, contract killing, and other crimes, but there was no evidence.
These former subordinates weren’t young, and two of them were even Ruan Cheng’s father’s subordinates.
After Ruan Cheng took over the Ruan family, they didn’t really appreciate his way of doing things and didn’t get along well with him. However, after so many years, both sides had lived in peace.
It was hard to figure out why the other party would suddenly have the guts to report Ruan Cheng in person.
Before this matter was settled, the second wave of trouble came.
The people who had been tortured by the Ruan family’s Law Enforcement Hall for betraying Ruan Cheng and were lucky enough to survive had also submitted their reports to the police. There were more than ten people in this group.
Then, the third wave came.
The media started to report all the cases that Ruan Cheng had been involved in, including the shooting at Shen Hanyu’s wedding and the explosion.
Although they did not explicitly say that the real murderer behind those cases was Ruan Cheng, anyone with eyes could tell what the reports were pointing at.
This news report was organized and planned, and it was completely uncontrollable.
The Ruan family was drowned in unprecedented doubts, and public opinion surged, gradually becoming a monstrous momentum.
By right, at this juncture, the Ruan family’s group should be keeping a low profile and not make any obvious moves.
Even Xie Shi’an felt that the various plans against the Xie family should be put on hold.
However, Ruan Cheng rejected him. “They’re testifying against those things that happened in the past, and there’s no evidence at all. What can the police do even if they accept the case?”
He insisted on following the original plan. “Shi’an’s return to the Xie family can not be delayed.”
Ruan Cheng’s body was like an arrow at the end of its flight.
He had put in a lot of effort for the Xie family, and in addition to those few cases, he had gone to the police station a few times to cooperate with the investigation.
He had just returned from the police station that day when he suddenly coughed up blood non-stop. His condition wasn’t very good, but he still insisted on letting Xie Shi’an report his progress from the past two days.
The bodyguard who was watching over Sang Qianqian called him at this moment to inform her that she had an answer.
After Xie Shi’an finished his report, he waited for Ruan Cheng to take his medicine and lie down before he left.
Shao Jin stopped him and said with an unsightly expression, “You’ve seen Master Cheng’s condition. Don’t you plan to stay here and observe the situation?”
“There’s someone here to take care of him, so he doesn’t need me,” Xie Shi’an said coldly.
He left as soon as he finished speaking. Shao Jin stared at his back with an inexplicable look in his eyes.
Xie Shi’an hurried back to the small courtyard.
Sang Qianqian was waiting for him. Under the warm yellow light, she raised her eyes and looked at Xie Shi’an. Her gaze was like water, and it seemed to be filled with a faint gentleness.
“Shi’an,”
She said calmly, “I’ve thought it through. I can marry you, but I have conditions.”