When Cui Mingzhen was eight, her father entrusted her to Zhang Ting'an. Zhang Ting'an had never cared for a little girl before, so, remembering how much his dear friend's daughter meant to him, he did everything he could to love and spoil her, just as his friend would have wanted.
Five years later, when they parted, Cui Mingzhen blamed Zhang Ting'an for being heartless, even resented his coldness. She yelled at him, "You have no heart!"
At the time, Zhang Ting'an could only patiently explain things to her. She was young and couldn't tell right from wrong in many matters. He was afraid she would regret it later. As her elder, he couldn't lead her astray.
In the end, Cui Mingzhen's eyes reddened. Before leaving, she stubbornly swore, "One day, I'll make you regret this."
Zhang Ting'an indulgently laughed it off, thinking Cui Mingzhen was just being childish again.
Three years later, they met in the capital. Cui Mingzhen was in a garden, chatting happily with a young nobleman. Shy and bashful, she looked as delicate as a flower, her affection plain to see.
Every softly spoken word was like a thorn piercing Zhang Ting'an's heart, impossible to pull out.
By then, Cui Mingzhen had lost her baby fat and grown into a refined, virtuous, reserved young woman of graceful manners. There was none of the affection she had once shown Zhang Ting'an in her eyes, nor was she embarrassed to have been caught by him. With impeccable formality and distance, she addressed him as "Uncle."
Zhang Ting'an: Hah! What kind of uncle was he to her?
He had raised her with his own hands, not so she could go wash someone else's hands and make them soup.
Cui Mingzhen was supposed to be his. How could she marry someone else?
Older man x delicate flower
A true gentleman turns dark; the old house catches fire
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