Chapter 21 : Do You Love the Less You Know?

Who could have thought that Zhou would do this? Song Ying and Liu Lingyan exchanged glances.

Liu Lingyan said sincerely, “Congratulations.”

Song Ying said, “Congratulations, Father, you’re about to become a grandfather.”

Song Jinzhuo didn’t look very happy, but he asked Song Ying, “Are you used to living in Xiaohanju?”

Not seeing the reaction she had hoped for, Zhou suppressed her displeasure and followed Song Jinzhuo’s words, putting on a loving motherly face as she looked at Song Ying. “Ever since you moved out, your father has often missed you.”

Song Ying replied, “Thank you for your concern, Father. I’ve been doing well.”

Song Jinzhuo nodded. “Stay for lunch.”

Song Ying: “Yes.”

After leaving the Marquis’ Mansion and getting into the carriage, Liu Lingyan leaned on Song Ying in a rather unladylike manner.

“Sigh, your house really isn’t a place fit for people.”

Song Ying let her lean and asked, “What’s wrong? Did something make you uncomfortable?”

Liu Lingyan snorted, “Your stepmother is really disgusting. Just look at her, like mother, like daughter. The elder seduces married men, and the younger one follows in her footsteps.”

“You don’t know, when she said Song Ruoer was pregnant, I almost couldn’t hold back my laughter. I really wanted to say, ‘It’s been less than a month since the wedding, and the baby is already on the way?’”

Song Ying said, “Don’t say that. Zhou is very petty, and my father cares a lot about appearances.”

Liu Lingyan waved her hand. “That’s why I held back. But the funny thing is, Zhou clearly wanted to show off, and your father didn’t react at all.”

Song Ying had a different take. “That might not be true. My father may look serious, but he actually dotes on Zhou a lot. I bet he’s comforting her now.”

Even though Zhou was older, she had taken good care of herself. If no one said anything, outsiders might mistake her for Song Ruoer’s older sister.

What man could resist such a beautiful woman who knows how to use her charm?

It was no wonder that even someone as rigid as Song Jinzhuo or as cold as Yue Shaozhi would fall for their gentle seduction.

Liu Lingyan suddenly thought of something and said to Song Ying, “What do you think if Huo Zhen met someone like Song Ruoer, would he end up like Yue Shaozhi?”

Song Ying looked confused. “What do you mean?”

Liu Lingyan snorted and grinned. “I want to test him.”

Song Ying: “No.”

Liu Lingyan: “Are you afraid that Huo Zhen will be like Yue Shaozhi? Or wait… is it that you, Aying, are falling for Huo Zhen?”

Song Ying shook her head and denied it. “No, I have nothing to do with him. What you’re suggesting is wrong.”

Liu Lingyan: “Hey, I was just joking. Let’s go back, let’s go back. I wonder if the two little ones have been behaving.”

Song Ying: “They’re very well-behaved.”

Liu Lingyan chuckled and muttered that Song Ying was too naive and didn’t know just how tricky children could be.

When they arrived at Xiaohanju, Liu Lingyan was the first to jump out of the carriage and ran straight to the guest house.

“Mother!”

The two little ones were in Huo Zhen’s arms, one in front and one behind. When they saw Liu Lingyan return, they slid down and ran over.

Liu Lingyan groaned, squatted down, opened her arms, and caught them. “Slow down, don’t fall.”

Huo Zhen, afraid Song Ying would misunderstand, explained, “I came looking for you. They told me you’d gone back to the Marquis’ Mansion. These two little ones had worn Faer and the others. Since I had nothing to do, I just kept them company for a while.”

Liu Lingyan, holding a child in each hand, said to Huo Zhen, “Thank you, General Huo. Aying, I’m going to take the kids for a nap. Can you do me a favor and serve General Huo some of my premium snowflake tea?”

Huo Zhen understood that Liu Lingyan was creating an opportunity for him and said, “Thank you.”

Liu Lingyan was very pleased with his response. She winked at Song Ying and brought the children inside.

Song Ying had no choice but to bring Huo Zhen to her courtyard.

Mainly because from there, he could finish his tea and then climb over the wall to leave.

Faer prepared the tea for them and then withdrew.

Huo Zhen had planned to say a lot, but when he saw Song Ying, his mind went blank again.

“Have some tea.”

Looking at the tea Song Ying poured for him, Huo Zhen nervously swallowed and gulped it down like water. Naturally, he burned his tongue, and his face flushed red as he spat it out.

Song Ying said, annoyed, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

Huo Zhen’s tongue was scalded, both painful and numb. Song Ying poured him a glass of cold water and said, “Here, drink this.”

The cold water in Huo Zhen’s mouth finally soothed the burn, and after several big gulps, the pain on his tongue eased.

He explained, “I didn’t mean to. It’s just… this is the first time you poured tea for me. I was so happy that…”

Seeing the usually bold and carefree man acting shy like a girl, Song Ying couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Huo Zhen, with his tongue still slightly numb, said excitedly, “Aying, you smiled.” It was the first time she had smiled at him.

Oh my God, how many of Song Ying’s “firsts” had he collected in these past few days?

He was so happy, he couldn’t even put it into words!

Of course, Song Ying had no idea what Huo Zhen was thinking. She asked, “Are you feeling better?”

“Huh?”

She repeated, “Is your tongue better now?”

Huo Zhen nodded, a little dazed. “Yeah, it’s better.”

Song Ying asked, “So why did you come here today?”

Huo Zhen replied, “I’m off tomorrow, so I wanted to take you for a bike ride in the suburbs.”

“I can’t go.”

“Why not?”

Song Ying answered honestly, “General Huo, you have a bright future ahead of you. You shouldn’t waste your time on someone like me.”

The Huo family was currently favored by the emperor, even someone like Yue Shaozhi had to show them respect.

But Huo Zhen never thought that far ahead. He only wanted Song Ying. Only her.

Suddenly, Huo Zhen stood up. Song Ying looked up at him in confusion.

Then he picked up the teacup and said, “Pour me another cup.”

Song Ying was briefly stunned. She answered with an “Oh,” and poured him another cup of tea.

This time, the temperature was just right. Huo Zhen drank it all in one gulp, then placed the teacup on the stone table and said loudly, “Aying, listen to me. I only wants you and only you. I’ll be waiting for you outside the west city gate at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning.” With that, he climbed over the wall and left.

Song Ying stared at the empty teacup for a long while, then looked up and saw Liu Lingyan and Faer hiding behind the moon gate, eavesdropping.

“He’s already gone. Why don’t you two come out?”

Faer didn’t dare go over, afraid that Song Ying would scold her. But Liu Lingyan walked right up.

“Why didn’t you just say yes? I’ve never seen a man so nervous over a cup of tea that he’d drink it without even checking the temperature.”

Song Ying ignored her and asked, “Are the children asleep?”

Liu Lingyan replied, “They’ve been asleep for a while. Don’t change the subject, are you going or not?”

Song Ying got up and walked back into the house. “No.”

Liu Lingyan followed her in. “Aying, why don’t you at least give it a try?”

Song Ying lay down on the couch. “No.”

Liu Lingyan pulled over a stool and sat beside her. “I heard from Faer that General Huo helped you during the Autumn Banquet. He was also the one who stepped in when Madam Hu spread those rumors about you…”

“Why does Faer tell you everything?”

“Don’t blame Faer. I was the one who asked her.” Liu Lingyan tugged at Song Ying’s sleeve and asked another question, “Aying, do you love Yue Shaozhi?”

Song Ying turned around, her eyes calm and emotionless. “I don’t love him.”

Liu Lingyan: “If you don’t love him, then why act like you’d be betraying your ex-husband if you said yes?”

Song Ying replied, “Did I? Don’t confuse me. I just don’t feel like dealing with romance right now.”

Liu Lingyan said, “Aying, have you ever thought about this? If you keep being like this, and one day someone your father picks comes asking for your hand, would you rather marry General Huo, who only has eyes for you, or the other man, the one your father will likely choose?”