Ling Nuan's reaction was one of extreme shock.
Zhao Leli realized it only belatedly and asked, "You didn't know?"
Ling Nuan shook her head and inquired, "What's the deal with their engagement? Was it called off?"
Zhao Leli replied, "I don't know all that much about the Huo family's affairs. I used to have a crush on Huo Linsheng, so I paid attention for a while, but what I heard were just rumors. I'm not sure how much of it is true."
She made sure to say this first, as she was really afraid of causing trouble.
Ling Nuan forced a rather ugly smile and said, "Yeah, I'll verify it."
Hearing this, Zhao Leli then continued, "I heard it was arranged by the elders of the two families. It wasn't specifically for Huo Linsheng and Meng Shuluo. It just so happened that the engagement fell on them. A few years ago, there were rumors that Huo Linsheng and Meng Shuluo were going to get engaged, but it never happened in the end. The rumor I heard is..."
At this point, Zhao Leli paused. She first observed Ling Nuan's expression and then went on, "Meng Shuluo didn't want to leave Shanghai and get married far away, and Huo Linsheng is the definite successor of the Huo family, so he couldn't settle in Shanghai. That's how things got stuck."
"Actually, to be honest, their engagement was just an oral agreement between the elders. It might not be binding. Moreover, they've been in different places for the past two years and hardly had any chance to meet. I decided to chase after Huo Linsheng because I knew they probably had no chance. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten involved."
This last part was Zhao Leli's way of comforting Ling Nuan.
There might be something special between Huo Linsheng and Meng Shuluo, but they probably had no future. Zhao Leli thought there was no complicated reason for Huo Linsheng to choose Ling Nuan. It was simply that he had a crush on her and thought she was suitable.
But Ling Nuan remained silent.
The news of the engagement hit Ling Nuan like a thunderbolt, leaving her dazed.
After her mother passed away, the thing she hated most in this life was probably being the "other woman." If there was really something between Meng Shuluo and Huo Linsheng, and she got in the way... she really couldn't bear it.
"Ling Nuan, don't think too much. If you really mind, just have a good talk with Huo Linsheng. Clear things up. If he really has feelings for Meng Shuluo, then such a two - faced man isn't worth it. With your looks, it's not hard to find a man, right?"
Ling Nuan looked at Zhao Leli.
Knowing that she was trying to comfort her, Ling Nuan gave her a grateful smile and said, "Okay, I know. I won't be stupid."
Zhao Leli observed Ling Nuan for a while longer. Seeing that she could still smile and chat about gossip with her, she thought Ling Nuan was okay and felt relieved.
After dropping Ling Nuan off at the old mansion and exchanging contact information with her, Zhao Leli left.
Ling Nuan watched Zhao Leli leave with a smile, but as soon as there was no one around, her smile faded.
Meng Shuluo and Huo Linsheng had an engagement.
Because Meng Shuluo wanted to curry favor with Old Master Meng and fight for power for her adoptive father, she gave up marrying into the Huo family.
It wasn't because Huo Linsheng didn't like Meng Shuluo. It was because Meng Shuluo became a tool in the power struggle and couldn't get away.
What were Huo Linsheng's thoughts and feelings towards Meng Shuluo?
Then what was she?
Ling Nuan felt like her head was about to explode. All her emotions were squeezed into her mind at once, making her feel blocked and eager to let it out.
"Are you okay?" Shen Shaoqing's voice rang out.
Ling Nuan came back to her senses.
Shen Shaoqing had been walking his dog in the yard. When he saw Ling Nuan, he walked towards her without thinking. When he got closer and saw her sad expression, he couldn't help but ask.
Ling Nuan didn't want to talk to him.
Ignoring Shen Shaoqing, she walked straight into the house.
Shen Shaoqing was heartbroken. "Nuan Nuan, am I not even worthy of caring about you?"
Ling Nuan acted as if she didn't hear him.
"I know that since you came back to the old mansion, you've been worried that Huo Xiao would make things difficult for you. So I found a way to move into the old mansion. I was afraid that Huo Xiao and her mother would bully you, so I even took the trouble to curry favor with the servants in the old mansion, just hoping that they would help you a little when they made things difficult for you." Shen Shaoqing didn't stop Ling Nuan but just told his story painfully.
Ling Nuan stopped in her tracks.
She turned around and looked at Shen Shaoqing. "What did you say?"
Seeing Ling Nuan turn around, Shen Shaoqing thought she was wavering. A smile appeared on his face as he showed his loyalty. "Nuan Nuan, I'm really worried about you."
"What did you say to the servants in the old mansion?" Ling Nuan asked directly.
Shen Shaoqing paused for a moment.
But he quickly recovered and replied, "I just asked them to take better care of you."
"You're just a grandson - in - law of the Huo family. Would the people in the old mansion listen to you?" Ling Nuan didn't believe it.
Shen Shaoqing sneered at himself inwardly.
The people in the old mansion certainly wouldn't listen to him. In fact, if he really did that, someone might have already told Huo Xiao about it. How dare he do such a thing?
Shen Shaoqing had privately heard Huo Xiao and Mrs. Huo complain many times.
What they meant was that the servants in the old mansion used to be obedient, but recently, for some reason, they always seemed to be disobedient on the surface but compliant in private. It was obvious that they were partial to Ling Nuan. Mrs. Huo had tried to sound out Old Master Huo, and it had nothing to do with him.
As soon as Shen Shaoqing heard this, he knew that it must be Huo Linsheng who had intervened behind the scenes.
As for whether Ling Nuan knew about it, Shen Shaoqing wasn't sure. But there was no rule that just because Huo Linsheng had given instructions, others couldn't do anything, right?
This was Shen Shaoqing's plan. He just wanted Ling Nuan to think better of him. But now, seeing Ling Nuan's reaction... she didn't even know that Huo Linsheng had told the people in the old mansion behind her back?
Shen Shaoqing's mind immediately became active.
He smiled bitterly. "Yeah, I'm just an insignificant outsider. How could the people in the old mansion listen to me? I had to resort to threats and bribes. I did everything I could think of. I privately gave them gifts and told them that you're the Mrs. Huo chosen by Huo Linsheng. No matter what the relationship between you and him is, if he found out that even the servants at home were bullying his wife..."
Shen Shaoqing covered his eyes painfully. "I really don't want to mention that you're already married to him."
Ling Nuan felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
The servants' change in attitude was actually because of Shen Shaoqing?
What Shen Shaoqing said made sense. He used the identity of Mrs. Huo to remind them and then bribed them. Just asking them to take better care of her, the servants might really agree.
But why did it have to be Shen Shaoqing?
Ling Nuan looked at Shen Shaoqing, suddenly took a few steps back, and then turned around and ran.
She didn't want to see Shen Shaoqing, nor did she want to face some facts that were completely contrary to what she believed.
Just like... what Zhao Leli said about the engagement between Meng Shuluo and Huo Linsheng.
She couldn't accept it.
Zhao Leli had said it was just a rumor and might not be true. Ling Nuan had said she would verify it, and she did.
She called Huo Qishu.
"Qishu, did your little uncle and Meng Shuluo have an engagement?" Ling Nuan asked straight to the point.
Huo Qishu was stunned for a moment and blurted out, "Little Aunt, how did you know?"