CHAPTER 706: CHAPTER 215 CONFESSION_3

Jih Heng couldn’t help but lean in a bit closer, tilting his head as he took a detailed look at her. His gaze was sharp yet tender, the kind that could drown even the lucid of hearts. He said, "You’re lying."

Jiang Li looked up at him, "How could I be?"

"I know why you don’t want to marry Yin Zhili," he said in a low and mellow voice that tingled through one’s heart, paralyzing like an acupoint had been hit, leaving one no choice but to watch him draw near with his captivating smile, he said, "I’ve known for a long time that you like me."

With a "boom," as if something exploded inside Jiang Li’s head. In her panic, her instinct was to deny it, "No, I don’t..."

The next moment, her lips were sealed by his.

The young man’s face was up close, Jiang Li’s eyes widened in shock, she could see even his eyelashes clearly. His lips were soft and warm, lingering between her lips and teeth. He supported her head with one hand, pulling her towards him to deepen the kiss.

No one could hold themselves back after being kissed by Jih Heng, drowning in the sensation, and Jiang Li was no exception. He was tender yet decisive, and she struggled several times before pushing him away.

She covered her lips, looking at the young man opposite her, "Jih Heng, you!"

"Angry?" he asked, "Addressing me by name directly." Jih Heng chuckled and leaned in again with a husky voice. He looked down at Jiang Li, his gaze affectionate and gentle, he said, "I know that you like me, but do you know that I like you?"

Jiang Li was stunned.

He looked at her leisurely, his joyous smile not well concealed. Jiang Li felt embarrassed under his gaze, and she muttered, "What are you saying..."

"I didn’t mean to involve you so soon, Ah Li," he stroked Jiang Li’s long hair, tucking the strands that had fallen forward behind her ear, "but you seem to be in a hurry, and I can’t let you run away."

His movements were natural, as though he had done it countless times before, but it left Jiang Li somewhat flustered. In her view, she thought he truly treated her as a friend, whether it was sympathy or a whim in his care and concern, it had nothing to do with liking. Someone like him wouldn’t fall for anyone. But the words he said now made her doubt herself.

"Do you like me?" she asked softly.

The girl’s gaze was pure, filled with sincere confusion, endearingly irresistible. Jih Heng couldn’t help himself and kissed her forehead, saying, "Of course."

Jiang Li said, "You’re not lying to me, are you?"

Jih Heng raised an eyebrow, "Do I look like the kind of man who would lie to a woman?"

Jiang Li thought for a moment and said, "No, you don’t."

Jih Heng would never lie to a woman, not because he was particularly honorable or magnanimous, but simply because he was too lazy to do so. For him, many things were easily achievable. Of course, there was no need for him to bother lying, as he knew that a little warmth from him would naturally have people falling head over heels for him.

"So you don’t have to leave Yanjing City," Jih Heng said, "I will think of a way."

Jiang Li looked puzzled, "What can you do? Yin Zhan has the idea of an imperial marriage grant, and now that he has won the war, the emperor trusts him. He wants to exchange his military achievements for an arranged marriage, and the emperor will agree. One cannot simply defy the imperial edict."

"You don’t need to worry," he smiled brightly, "He won’t get the chance, and he’s not the only one who will request a marriage grant."

Jiang Li was startled, "You..."

"Ah Li, are you willing to marry me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

He called her very naturally, fully aware that she had been married and was someone’s wife, yet he always called her with such an intimate nickname. It made Jiang Li feel an illusion that everything from her past life was just a grand dream, already dreamt without a trace, leaving her still the carefree girl who could be cherished and valued in the palm of someone’s hand.

"If you don’t want to, you can wait before you agree," Jih Heng said casually, "We can talk about it on the day you agree. But I think since you like me so much, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll want to, isn’t it?"

Jiang Li said, "That’s not it."

Jih Heng said, "You’re lying."

"I don’t know if you’ll turn into the next Shen Yurong," Jiang Li laughed heartily, "I might like someone and trust someone, but now I won’t blindly do anything for them anymore. Once bitten, twice shy. Jih Heng, I need to love myself before I can love anyone else."

She thought Jih Heng would get angry after hearing this, or even think she was just, but he simply smiled and stroked her head, "That’s good. Then you won’t get hurt, and I’ll be at ease. "