Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 927 - 902: The Truth

The man kicked into the water grabbed the fishing rod, wiped the water from his face, and was about to curse out loud when he saw Fang Chuning take off his straw hat. He was startled, his eyes dazed. Xie Jue still sat steadily by the river, fishing without being affected, calm and composed, as if the person just humiliated was not him.

"Judging by your tone, are you very familiar with Fang Chuning? Does he know you?" Fang Chuning asked coldly, though he had long expected someone would gossip, hearing such words was still unbelievable and absurd. Truly someone would pretend to know him and judge Xie Jue. Xie Jue was arrogant, held high status and power, did not like to socialize, thus even if anyone claimed to be familiar with Xie Jue, no one would believe it. This prince was aloof, untainted by worldly matters. Fang Chuning, however, was completely different, mingling with various social classes; every restaurant in Zhongzhou City was very familiar with Fang Chuning. Pretending to be familiar with Fang Chuning to judge Xie Jue was all too easy.

This man certainly knew Fang Chuning but was not very familiar. Fang Chuning had a habit of responding to anyone who greeted him in the army, which over time created a scene and a habit. This man had also greeted Fang Chuning several times. Men loved to brag; after greeting a few times, a false sense of familiarity formed, allowing him to boast to neighbors about knowing General Fang. In small places, such connections made life and work easier. As long as he claimed familiarity with Fang Chuning, those from the same clan would surely look up to him, the Land Office dared not offend, and small officials in the county government would grant convenience. This man had gained quite a bit of advantage by borrowing Fang Chuning’s name, long since tasting and relishing it.

He never imagined he’d be caught on the spot, and in such a humiliating manner!

"What’s it got to do with you? Why are you messing about? You’re not Fang Chuning!" The man on the shore was very angry, pulling the fishing rod while cursing Fang Chuning, "Do you know who my brother is? He’s Fang Chuning’s personal guard, a confidant! Even Lord County Magistrate has to give my brother some courtesy, and you dare to be so rude, let me tell you, you’re done for!"

"Is that so?" Fang Chuning looked at the man crawling ashore in a sorry state with an indifferent smile, "I had no idea, please forgive me for offending Fang Chuning’s confidant!"

The man crawled and knelt in front of Fang Chuning, frantically kowtowing, his forehead turning red, "I’m sorry, Great General, it’s my subordinate’s loose tongue, my subordinate deserves death for spinning wild tales about you and the Prince, my subordinate deserves death, Great General, spare me, Great General, spare me!"

The man kowtowed madly, his head breaking into a bloody mess, trembling in fright, while the previously arrogant man was also startled. Great General... Great General... who is the one beside him?

He slowly turned his head towards Xie Jue, calm and composed, Xie Jue wore a sun-shading straw hat, his face obscured, only a neat jawline visible. He sat upright, noticeably different, indifferent to such a farce.

Fang Chuning originally intended to punish the man severely but didn’t want to dirty Xie Jue’s eyes, "Scram!"

The two dared not linger, fleeing in panic.

At this moment, Xie Jue’s fishing float bobbed and pulled into the river; a fish had bitten. Xie Jue raised his hand, exerted force, caught a big fish, his voice carrying a hint of joy, "Tonight we’ll feast."

Fang Chuning was momentarily stunned, blurting out, "Is that even possible?"

In such a noisy environment, he managed to catch a plump carp, truly unshakable, unaffected by their disturbance. Fang Chuning instinctively walked over to help him remove the fishhook, put the fish in the basket, and string the bait again. In the Zhongzhou area, the bait used was worms. Before they went fishing, they looked for a piece of damp land to dig worms, using live worms to attract carp. Fang Chuning didn’t think Xie Jue would handle worms, so he always did it for him, even digging the worms was his job; Xie Jue never lifted a finger. For some reason, he just knew Xie Jue wouldn’t do this kind of work.

"Why aren’t you even a little bit angry?" Fang Chuning couldn’t help but ask, feeling an indescribable frustration; his calm demeanor made his solitary anger laughable.

"I have enough things to worry about, no energy to spend on such matters, idle gossip, hear it and let it go, no need to take it to heart," Xie Jue said blandly.

He raised the fishing rod, continuing to fish.

"You really have good self-control, I can’t stand it!" Fang Chuning snorted, "Those people have filthy mouths, it’s infuriating not to teach them a lesson, frequently borrowing my name for their own gain."

Xie Jue raised an eyebrow, chuckling lightly, "I’ve long told you, a superior should maintain a distance with the people, not too intimate. This is a society based on human relationships; you are a superior, being too close to people makes many wish to leverage your name and power for convenience. This cannot be eliminated. If it’s just a bit of convenience, it’s no harm. People are sinister, if they wish to leverage your name to bully and monopolize, do all evil, unknowingly you bear others’ debts. This is not your fault, but others will hold you accountable, say you harbor bullies as just now, these people surely oppress and dominate in their neighborhood without exposure."

"And is it better to be like you, never associating with others?" Fang Chuning asked, "You have no heartfelt friends, solitary from childhood, doesn’t it feel lonely?"

"I’m not alone, in my youth I had you, and elder brothers, a younger brother; my nature is reserved, cold-hearted, not good at bonding deeply, so I don’t need close friends, they are burdens," Xie Jue said softly, "Anning, friends to you may be icing on the cake; to me, they are not. I relish quiet days since I have you, I need nothing else."

Fang Chuning was indeed his only lifelong friend, his closest confidant, accompanying each other growing up, already the most deep-rooted partners.

Fang Chuning also heard Xie Jue’s subtle intent; he was Xie Jue’s only and most cared-for friend, the most special existence in Xie Jue’s growth.

"I understand," Fang Chuning said softly, "I will try to..."

Change?

"Not necessary!" Xie Jue replied mildly, "You’ve lost your memory, no need to worry about these things, proceed as you like; if anything happens, I’m here."

A person’s character is long established, changing is difficult, especially as Fang Chuning’s memory was lost; truly changing would be painful.

"But that man was too excessive, tarnishing your reputation outside. According to laws, he should spend ten days in jail; it’s only that you don’t count it against him."

"Anning, it’s not that I don’t count it!" Xie Jue looked up at Fang Chuning, "Have you thought that this might be true!"