But Xiaoba underestimated Su Yuanyuan's stubbornness and tenacity.
She didn't catch Xiaoba's hint at all. With tears in her eyes, she retorted:
[In my past life, everyone said I was a wicked woman, disrespectful to my parents, framing my elder sister, and utterly immoral. In the end, I ended up wrapped in a straw mat. But I know I never did anything wrong. It was all because of you. Because you helped Su Qingyu, you ruined me like this. How do you know that what he did later wasn't out of compulsion?]
Hearing her mention her past - life experience, Xiaoba felt guilty and didn't dare to say more. Xiaoba whispered an apology and then fell completely silent.
When the two maids saw that Su Yuanyuan locked herself in the room as soon as she returned to the courtyard and lay silent under the quilt, they were extremely worried.
Chunxiao and Xialu exchanged a look, then sat down on either side of Su Yuanyuan and asked, "Is the young lady feeling unwell?"
After venting to Xiaoba, Su Yuanyuan already felt much better. She raised her head and was about to explain when she heard a knock on the door.
Wei Linlang's voice came from outside: "Yuanbao, are you asleep? Sister - in - law has brought you some red - date and lotus - seed soup."
Is sister - in - law here?
Su Yuanyuan quickly sat up on the bed. She wiped the corners of her eyes and tried to curl her lips to look happy.
The two maids also helped her tidy her hair and clothes. After making sure she looked normal, Su Yuanyuan said:
"Sister - in - law, please come in. Yuanbao isn't asleep yet."
Xialu stepped forward to open the door and saw Wei Linlang walking in with a bowl of steaming dessert.
As soon as Wei Linlang stepped into the room, she saw the red corners of Su Yuanyuan's eyes and nose, and her worry deepened.
The two sat down at the table. Wei Linlang pushed the steaming red - date and lotus - seed soup in front of Su Yuanyuan and said, "Sister - in - law noticed you ate less at dinner tonight. I was worried you'd be hungry, so I asked the kitchen to make this for you. Eat it while it's hot."
At the mention of this, Su Yuanyuan couldn't help wrinkling her little face.
She really didn't eat much at dinner because she wanted to eat less to lose weight quickly.
Yun Jian would be away for half a year. By the time he returned to Shengjing City, she might be coming of age. She couldn't... she couldn't remain completely unchanged, could she?
She had already made up her mind. If he could return safely from Shuzhou in half a year, she would definitely find a way to change the black halo around him and let him avoid the fateful ending.
By then, she didn't want him to tease her and pinch her face anymore.
However, the lotus - seed soup was crystal - clear and very appealing.
Despite feeling a bit sad, Su Yuanyuan endured for a while but finally couldn't resist. She picked up the spoon and took a mouthful.
The sweet lotus - seed soup melted in her mouth, making the young girl squint her eyes in satisfaction, and the sadness in her heart faded a bit.
"Yuanbao, tell sister - in - law the truth. Do you have feelings for that merchant named Yun Jian?"
Su Yuanyuan was so startled that she lost her composure. She accidentally choked on the soup and started coughing violently.
"Cough, cough, cough! Cough, cough, cough..." The young girl's face turned even redder, not knowing if it was due to shyness or choking.
Seeing this, the maid quickly patted her on the back to help her catch her breath. Wei Linlang wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and said:
"Look at you. Eat slowly. No one's going to fight you for it."
After finally catching her breath, Su Yuanyuan stared at Wei Linlang with her round eyes in great shock and said:
"Sister... sister - in - law, why would you think so? Why would you think I have feelings for him... cough, cough, cough."
Wei Linlang gave her a knowing look and said, "If you didn't have feelings for him, why would you think so carefully for him and prepare dried fruits and pastries for his journey?"
Su Yuanyuan still used the excuse about "Uncle Shu": "I'm just repaying him for saving me twice today."
After a pause, she added, "Moreover, I didn't prepare them specifically. Xialu prepared them for me to satisfy my craving."
"Come on, still hiding things from sister - in - law? Back then, your elder brother and I were just like you and him." Thinking of the past, a hint of shyness appeared on Wei Linlang's face.
"Once, I sneaked into a herd of wild horses to tame a horse I fancied. But my riding skills were still poor at that time, and I almost lost my life under the hooves of the wild horses. It was your elder brother who suddenly appeared and saved me."
"Later, I heard that he was going to Suidan City for an investigation. It would take two months. So I prepared a lot of dry food for him to eat on the way."
Winking at Su Yuanyuan, Wei Linlang said, "See, isn't it the same?"
"How can it be the same?" Su Yuanyuan said with a mix of amusement and helplessness. "I really don't have any other thoughts. I'm still young. I want to stay with my parents for a while longer. I don't want to get married so soon."
Wei Linlang asked, "Really?"
"Truer than the biggest, roundest, and brightest pearl in the South China Sea!" Su Yuanyuan raised her hand and swore.
Wei Linlang let out a sigh of relief, patted her chest, and said, "I knew our Yuanbao wouldn't take a fancy to him. Although he's good at fighting, his looks are not as good as your three elder brothers. If our Yuanbao is going to get married, she should marry a man of extraordinary looks. Only then would it be a good match."
Su Yuanyuan nodded seriously and said, "Yes, Yuanbao also wants to marry the most handsome man in the world. At least... he shouldn't be worse than the elder brothers, right?"
The two women looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Wei Linlang was finally relieved. She reached out and stroked Su Yuanyuan's hair and said, "Then Yuanbao, eat slowly. Sister - in - law will go back first."
Su Yuanyuan nodded vigorously. After Wei Linlang left, she quietly touched her chest and found that her heart was beating a bit fast.
Did she have feelings for Yun Jian?
Thinking of his forgettable face, Su Yuanyuan shivered involuntarily. She shook her head and thought to herself:
No, no. Absolutely not.
She just didn't want him to end up like she did in her past life.
But if she had to get married in the future, who in this world would be handsome enough to catch her eye?
In her past life, Su Yuanyuan would have first thought of Prince Jin, Xiao Zisheng.
But now, an extremely handsome face and a pair of light - colored eyes involuntarily appeared in front of her eyes.
Suddenly coming back to her senses, she covered her cheeks tightly.
No, no!
That lord and they were not in the same world! Moreover, it was said that the lord was much older than her elder brother. At his age, he might already be married with children!
It was all Yun Jian's fault. He mentioned that lord to her last night for no reason, making her have these wild thoughts.
No, no...
On the other side, after leaving Su Yuanyuan's room, Wei Linlang walked back to the courtyard along the path. As soon as she entered the door, she was met with three pairs of nervous and eager eyes.
Su Huaisheng rushed up and asked, "Sister - in - law, how is it? Yuanbao doesn't really have feelings for that guy, does she?"