She struggled and jumped away, leaning against the wall, her rge eyes staring at him.

  Her face was as pale as death, and her expression was shrinking and confused.

  "What... what do you want to do? Sir?" She asked, as if he were still a stranger to her.

  "I want to propose to you," he said hurriedly. "I ask you to be my wife. I love you. I want you."

  She looked at him, her face growing even paler, a yer of tiredness appearing in her eyes. Slowly, she turned her head away and lowered her eyelids.

  "If you′re proposing to me, then I refuse, sir," she said, her voice ft and weak.

  "Han Yan!" he shouted, rushing to her and gripping her hands tightly. "I know you′re angry with me, that you hate me—I know, I understand it all. But don′t speak so decisively. Please give me another chance. Test me again, I beg you, Han Yan!"

  "No," she said softly, her hollow eyes staring bnkly out the window, her face devoid of expression. "You look down on me. You think I′m tainted. I can′t marry a man who despises me. No, I can′t. I′ve said it before—I′m not worthy of you."

  "No, no, Han Yan, it′s not like that! I′m the one who′s not worthy of you. I′m shallow, narrow-minded, and selfish. But I understand now. That incident hasn′t tarnished your purity or beauty one bit. I was such a fool, Han Yan! Nothing stands in our way now. I don′t care about your background or your past. In my heart, you are forever perfect. I beg you, Han Yan, marry me! Marry me, Han Yan, don′t refuse me!"

  She trembled slightly, her gaze still fixed on the window, but tears welled up, and her dark, misty eyes glistened with moisture. Her lips moved faintly, and a feeble smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

  "If you had said these words to me a month ago," she murmured, "I would have knelt at your feet and kissed them. But now, it′s too te. I′ve returned to the dance hall. I no longer dream. I won′t marry you, Mr. Bai. However, you′re welcome to visit the dance hall. You have money—you can buy my time or take me out."

  "No! Han Yan!" He cried, shaking her desperately, his hands stroking her face and hair, his burning gaze fixed on her. "I won′t let you stay in the dance hall—I won′t! I must marry you, no matter what you say! Don′t be so cruel to me, Han Yan..."

  "It′s you who are cruel, Mr. Bai!" she said, her gaze finally turning away from the window to meet his. Tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking into her clothes. "Please, let me go. Stop entangling me," she said, her voice breaking as she began to sob softly, her cries muffled and restrained.

  Her sobbing broke his heart, causing him deep pain. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed away her tears, pleading:

  "Forgive me, forgive me, Han Yan. I was wrong; I was like a stupid donkey, making you suffer so much and making you endure so many grievances. I was wrong, Han Yan. Give me a chance; give me a chance to atone. I want to make up for my mistakes, I promise you, Han Yan. The days of hardship in your life are over. I want to give you the sweetest, happiest life. Han Yan, promise me, marry me! Han Yan, promise me!"

  "You... you will regret it," she cried. "One day, you'll come to despise me."

  "I won't, I will never!"

  "You will," she sobbed. "You already despised me once, and you will despise me again. I'm afraid of that day. I can't accept you, I can't!" She covered her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling with her cries, and tears flowed from between her fingers. "I told you, I am ashamed of myself, I am worthless, I am small... I don't want to marry you; I don't want to! One day, when you no longer love me, you will curse me; you will regret it... Ah, no, no," she shook her head in her palms. "Let me go! Let me go! I'm so insignificant; don't make fun of me." She could say no more; her sobs had turned to silent tears.

  Bai Peiwen forcefully pulled her hands away from her face, looking at her tear-streaked, pitiful face. Her expression was one of hurt and fear, and his heart convulsed painfully.

  He understood; he understood how deeply he had wounded this fragile heart and how badly he had damaged it, making her no longer dare to believe in or accept love. He gazed at her deeply and for a long time, then cried out, fearfully pulling her into his arms, trembling as he held her head, shouting, "Oh, Han Yan! What have I done to you? I deserve to die; I deserve to go to the eighteenth level of hell! Oh, Han Yan! Hit me, scold me!"

  Lifting her head, he pressed his lips firmly against her trembling ones. Han Yan continued to weep, but as she cried, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. Between sobs, she said, "You... you... do you really... truly want me?"

  "Yes, yes, Han Yan! With every bone in my body, every fiber of my being, I want you! I want you, Han Yan! Tomorrow, we′ll get married. I′ll help you repay the debt to your foster parents, and I′ll terminate your contract with the dance hall. Han Yan, you′ll never have another day of hardship! I promise. I′ll protect you—for this life, for all lifetimes to come!"

  "You... you′re not sincere."

  "I am, I am!" he said repeatedly, his voice fervent.

  "You know I... I′m not a good girl. I′m not pure; I′m not—"

  He covered her mouth with his hand.

  "You are a good girl. You are pure! You′re perfect, like an uncut gem! You are the girl I′ve dreamed of, the one I′ve been longing for!"

  Han Yan lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes shimmering as she gazed at Bai Peiwen. She looked at him like that for a long moment before she timidly, softly said, "You... won't... regret it?"

  "Regret?" He looked deeply into her eyes. "Yes, I regret wasting an entire month. I regret letting you endure so much pain!"

  She lowered her eyelids, standing perfectly still.

  "Han Yan," he called to her gently. "Have you forgiven me?"

  She said nothing. Instead, she softly wrapped her arms around him, leaned lightly into his embrace, and rested her cheek tenderly against his strong, broad shoulder.