Chapter 148: I Regret It So Much

"What?" Ye Qin was a bit flustered. "You coming with me... this... doesn't seem quite right."

Ziyan grabbed Ye Qin and pulled him toward the Ba residence, saying with a spoiled whine, "Why are you dilly-dallying so much? You were even slower just taking off your pants—you're going to drive me crazy!"

Ye Qin was speechless. That night had been an absolute embarrassment, and yet Lady Ziyan was actually bringing it up out loud. Good heavens...

However, holding Lady Ziyan's hand really was... quite soft.

My Brother Qin was like a shy, bashful boy as he was dragged up the steps by the overbearing Ziyan.

It had to be said: like father, like son. They both seemed to have a penchant for overbearing girls and willingly submitted to being whipped.

"Halt, who goes there!" A guard blocked their path and barked out a question.

Ye Qin let out a breath to calm himself down, feeling as though his entire face was burning up.

"I am a friend of Ba Wanqing, my name is Ye Qin, and I've come to pay a visit," Ye Qin stated his purpose.

The guard frowned slightly, looking over Ye Qin and Ziyan before saying, "Wait here." With that, he stepped inside the estate.

"I heard Ba Wanqing was rather badly hurt," Ziyan said softly from the side. Last night, when Ye Qin was drunk, he had spilled everything.

He had even shared some of his own personal feelings with Ziyan—things he hadn't even dared to tell Ye Kun, mainly because he didn't want his elder brother to worry.

"Mmm."

"Planning to rekindle old flames?" Ziyan asked with a curious smile.

Ye Qin shook his head. "No plans for that."

"Holding my hand while thinking of another girl, how do you manage that~" Ziyan teased with a laugh.

This made Ye Qin's just-settled nerves tense up all over again, and he hastily let go of Ziyan's delicate hand.

Ziyan didn't mind. She turned her head slightly to look at Ye Qin. Growing up in the Ye family and retaining such innocence—it truly wasn't easy.

"The two of you, please come in," the guard said respectfully as he walked back out.

Ye Qin nodded. "Let's go."

"Where are your manners? Girls won't like that kind of behavior, you know."

Helpless, Ye Qin reached out his large hand.

"That's more like it." Ziyan placed her dainty hand inside that large palm, the corners of her lips curving upward in a genuinely lovely smile.

Compared to Ba Wanqing, she was better in every single way, save for her reputation.

Yet Ye Qin pondered for a moment—was this really considered having manners?

***

The Ba residence, which also served as the Prefect's Mansion, was elegant, refined, and serene. Led by the guard, the two of them passed through the covered corridors and arrived at the back courtyard.

"The young miss is right inside. I won't intrude any further." The guard bowed slightly, withdrew, and stood guard a short distance away.

Ye Qin looked at the faint light glowing from inside the room and said softly, "Lady Ziyan, I'll go in and say a few words."

"Mmm, hurry up then. It's so chilly out here..." Ziyan slightly shrumked her delicate shoulders. Any man worth his salt would have stepped forward to embrace her and offer warmth at this moment.

However.

"You should wear more layers next time. It's gotten colder lately."

"Sigh, now I finally know." Ziyan was utterly exasperated. He really didn't know the first thing about caring for a woman; no wonder Ba Wanqing had been snatched away by someone else.

"Know what?"

"Hurry up and go in. Just let me freeze to death out here."

Ye Qin was completely bewildered. How could she throw a temper tantrum so suddenly? She was acting just like his own mother.

"Alright," Ye Qin said in a low voice.

Ziyan suddenly felt the urge to kick Ye Qin flying. It was a miracle Ba Wanqing hadn't been angered to death by him.

Ye Qin walked up to the door. Though he had been somewhat nervous initially, he now felt quite calm.

He knocked on the door.

A frail voice sounded from within: "Who is it?"

"It's me," Ye Qin called out softly.

Soft footsteps echoed inside, and by the candlelight, Ye Qin saw a graceful figure approach the door—moving very slowly, as if with great difficulty.

*Creak...*

The wooden door opened, and Ye Qin saw Ba Wanqing standing before him. She had been completely fine just yesterday when they parted, yet after a mere single day...

At this moment, Ba Wanqing's face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, and she looked as though she might collapse at any second.

Upon seeing Ye Qin, Ba Wanqing managed a faint curve of her lips before her entire body pitched backward.

Ye Kun—no, Ye Qin—was startled. He stepped forward in a flash and reached out to wrap his arm around Ba Wanqing's waist.

Ziyan curled her lips in silent mockery. The prefect's daughter certainly knew how to put on a show; only a fool like Ye Qin would fall for it.

"Are you alright?" Seeing Ba Wanqing's fragile state, a pang of heartache pricked at Ye Qin once again.

Lying in the crook of Ye Qin's arm, Ba Wanqing seemed to feel a different kind of warmth. With a fragile tone, she said, "I'm fine, don't worry." She even made as if to push Ye Qin away, but after taking only a few steps, she swayed and collapsed toward the side once more.

Ye Qin caught her again.

Ziyan watched the scene with rapt attention from the doorway, thinking to herself that it was a crying shame this young woman didn't work in a pleasure house—she understood men far too well.

And then she looked at that absolute blockhead of a fool. *Sigh...*

Ye Qin supported Ba Wanqing to the bed, pulled the quilt up to tuck her in, and then seated himself on a nearby stool.

The girl before him had changed so drastically that Ye Qin found it hard to overlap the current Ba Wanqing with the one from the past.

"Thank you for coming to see me," Ba Wanqing said, staring straight into Ye Qin's eyes. Ye Qin averted his gaze.

"It's only right. After all, we studied at the same academy when we were children."

"The same academy..." Ba Wanqing murmured, turning her head to stare up at the canopy of the bed.

Ye Qin didn't know what else to say.

"Some things you only learn right from wrong after you've experienced them. I was too naive." Ba Wanqing looked back at Ye Qin, though her gaze had turned soft and tender, as if pleading for Ye Qin's forgiveness and hoping they could start anew.

Ye Qin understood what Ba Wanqing meant, but some choices, once made, required one to bear the consequences and responsibilities.

"Ye Qin, it's so cold out here~" Ziyan's voice suddenly rang out from outside, sounding even more fragile, as if she would freeze to death without an embrace from her Brother Qin.

"Cough, cough, cough..." At that, Ba Wanqing immediately broke into a violent fit of coughing, coughing tears right out of her eyes.

Outside, Ziyan muttered to herself: *You really know how to play dirty.*

She hadn't originally intended to target her, but to have her man barely cold in his grave before trying to hook up with her ex-flame was utterly disgusting.

"Ye Qin, you know what? Last night, Pan Pingping wanted me to die in his place... When I refused, he kicked me away, and now I can never bear children again. Ye Qin... I am in so much pain." Ba Wanqing threw herself straight into Ye Qin's arms and sobbed bitterly. This matter genuinely caused Ba Wanqing great anguish, so this part at least was a true display of emotion.

Yet in Ziyan's eyes, this was simply a display of playing the victim—a classic tactic used by women. As long as he still held any lingering affection for her, he would likely fall right into the trap.

Ye Qin slowly raised a hand and gently stroked Ba Wanqing's back. This caused Ba Wanqing's entire body to shudder, as if she believed this gesture signified forgiveness.

"Get some proper rest, and stop thinking so much," Ye Qin said softly.

"Ye Qin, I'm truly so sorry." Ba Wanqing looked up at Ye Qin through tear-filled eyes. That Pan Pingping was simply not human; she couldn't believe she had been deceived by him.

At that moment, Ziyan leaned against the doorframe and said indifferently, "Ye Qin, that's just about enough. We need to head back."