Chapter 689: Chapter 690 Extra Willingness_1 Chapter 689: Chapter 690 Extra Willingness_1 If you’re talking about a special friend, Qiao Muniang would count, but now that the Qilian Kingdom and the Daqian Dynasty are at odds, Nangong Qian has different feelings for Qiao Muniang, and it’s impossible for her to come. It’s better not to trouble her.

However, when Nangong Anan thought of Qiao Muniang, she inexplicably thought of Yu Jin, and her heart ached fiercely. Nangong Anan touched her chest, feeling an intense desolation inside. Why, after so long, did it still hurt so much?

Gao Xiang, seeing that Nangong Anan’s complexion was a bit off, quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Shall I call a physician to have a look?”

Anan shook her head, “No, it’s nothing. I’m just a bit tired, that’s all.”

She had just gotten up; how could she be tired already? Gao Xiang knew her, and seeing her unnatural expression, he understood what she was thinking. His heart was instantly filled with mixed emotions, yet he still forced a smile and said, “Then let’s go see the bridal dress.”

“Mmm.”

The embroideresses presented several embroidered bridal dress designs they had prepared for Nangong Anan to see. Since they were created by the best embroideresses, each design was naturally beautiful. The bright red was particularly jarring, and as Nangong Anan flipped through each one, her eyes reddened.

“Jin, today I saw the bridal dress my mother wore when she married into the family in her palace. It’s simply too beautiful. I even wanted to try it on, but then I thought better of it. The bridal dress should be worn on the day of the wedding; otherwise, it loses its meaning.”

“Let’s talk about that when you can actually get married.”

“Who says I can’t get married? Isn’t there still you? I, for one, will wear my first bridal dress for you to see. Isn’t that nice?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Hey, why are you always like this? It hurts my feelings so. I’ve been so open with you, and still, you’re like this. Don’t you know how to spare a thought for a lady’s dignity?”

“Are you talking to me about a lady’s dignity now? When did you start considering yourself a proper maiden?”

“You!”

These memories were clearly from a long time ago, yet they appeared as vivid and clear as if they happened just yesterday.

Nangong Anan blinked hard, trying to swallow back her tears, but the large tear drops still fell relentlessly, drenching the album. Nangong Anan frantically wiped away her tears, but couldn’t stop them; her eyes were rubbed red.

The embroideress looked on in a daze, but Xiao Yu quickly had her step out, “The princess is betrothed and moved by emotion. Embroideress, please wait outside.”

Then she glanced at Gao Xiang, knowing that the two needed some private time, and tactfully withdrew.

Gao Xiang grabbed her hands, which were ceaselessly rubbing her eyes, and said angrily, “Stop rubbing! Your eyes are all red! If you want to cry, just cry. What’s the point in holding back? Are you still the bold and passionate Nangong Anan I knew? You love him, you love him, I grew up with you, how could I not understand you?!”

With a cry, Nangong Anan burst into tears and crouched on the ground, crying unrestrainedly like a child, “What should I do? I still love him, what should I do? I thought three years was enough to forget him, but I still love him, what should I do? Xiang, tell me what should I do, I don’t know, I don’t know…”

Gao Xiang’s eyes also reddened, but he didn’t speak, just quietly watched her cry. After a long while, Nangong Anan, tired from crying, finally paused.

Gao Xiang crouched down beside her and wiped away her tears, his voice a bit hoarse, “Anan, please don’t torture yourself like this, okay? Seeing you like this hurts me even more.”

Nangong Anan lowered her head, “I’m sorry.”

Gao Xiang managed a bitter smile, “There’s nothing to apologize for. We’re about to get married, and we have a lifetime to spend together. I will make you happy.”

Nangong Anan nodded gently and hugged Gao Xiang, “Thank you.”

Afterward, Gao Xiang acted as if he had forgotten the day’s events, always playful and smiling with Nangong Anan, often asking about the wedding preparations. Nangong Anan, on the other hand, felt guilty inside, but since Gao Xiang didn’t bring it up, she didn’t ask either.

It was just that Gao Xiang started to visit more frequently, from once every ten or fifteen days to once every three or five days, and each time he brought many new delights for Nangong Anan.

“Xiang, you don’t have to do this. I’m fine, you don’t need to pamper me every day as if I were a child,” Nangong Anan said.

“It’s not about pampering you. Seeing you happy makes me happy too. I just want to enjoy a few more happy days, that’s all.”

Gao Xiang spoke cryptically, and just as Nangong Anan was puzzled, she heard Gao Xiang laugh, “I cherish the time I spend with you, even treating every day as if it were our last. Anan, honestly, doing just that makes me quite content. I don’t ask for much.”

“Have you been diagnosed with an incurable disease? It’s not like I’ll become a widow as soon as I step through the door, right?” Nangong Anan eyed him warily.

Gao Xiang laughed heartily and pinched her face, “With you as my wife, I can’t bear the thought of dying!”

Nangong Anan laughed too, “You’re never serious!”

Her mood improved somewhat. She was very grateful to Gao Xiang. If not for his companionship over these three years, she didn’t know how she would have coped. The scarce laughter she had known all emerged because of him. Only in these moments did she feel like a living person, and though her smiles were fleeting, they were significant hopes for someone who had survived dire straits.

Although she didn’t love him, she was willing to spend her lifetime repaying the emotional debt she owed him.

Nangong Anan closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “The air is so fresh in the early morning.”

Gao Xiang gazed at her face, enamored, a flicker of melancholy passing through his eyes too quickly to catch.

Before long, the mourning period ended, and Nangong Qian sent people to bring Nangong Anan back to the palace.

It had been three years since she had seen her imperial brother, who retained his elegance, but with an added aura of imperial majesty.

“Brother,” Anan greeted respectfully.

“Anan, you’ve grown a lot in these years. I almost didn’t recognize you. The appearance of that little girl from before is completely gone,” Nangong Qian said with a laugh.

Anan harbored some resentment towards him and was not overly warm in her demeanor, simply deferential. Nangong Qian, however, didn’t seem to mind and merely inquired, “A few days ago, the Pingnan Marquis requested an imperial decree for your marriage to the Pingnan Prince Heir. That lad has been quite diligent in visiting you over these three years. Since the late emperor arranged this marriage, I naturally have no objections. If you like it, you may marry. The Pingnan Marquis Mansion is a good choice.”

“Anan is willing to marry,” Nangong Anan said, looking directly into Nangong Qian’s eyes, her tone devoid of any fluctuation.

“Willing? You agreed so readily? I thought you would hesitate a bit, considering the past…”