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Chen Feng shook his head, saying, “I don’t want any of them.”
Mrs. Wang urged, “A’Feng, you’re almost sixteen. Be obedient and don’t be too picky. Your father and I have been helping you look for someone. We’ve come across a few young suitors, but none are suitable. Either they are after your wealth, or we worry they won’t treat Dabao well. We initially relied on Mrs. Wei’s connections to introduce potential matches, but so far, she hasn’t found anyone suitable. She must be struggling as well.”
Chen Feng replied, “If worst comes to worst, I’ll just stay unmarried for the rest of my life. After all, I have Dabao with me.” Seeing Mrs. Wang distressed again, she hurriedly added, “Alright, alright, let’s continue searching.”
After dinner, Chen Feng spent some time chatting with Mrs. Wang before returning to Fengyuan.
She went straight to the western room to continue making clothes for Chu Lingxuan. Around the hour of the monkey (3-5 pm), Dabao returned, followed by a little tail—Miss Chu.
Chu Hanyan seemed to have forgotten yesterday’s unpleasantness and leaned into Chen Feng’s embrace, saying, “Auntie, the cold noodles were delicious. My father, Grandpa Chen, and Dabao all said it was tasty.”
Dabao added, “Grandpa Chen just left. We saw him off together, and he even held my hand, telling me to respect Grandma and Mom, and that in the future, I should go to Dingzhou with Mom to visit his family.”
Listening to the children, Chen Feng wondered if her relationship with Chen Shiying had been clearly disclosed in front of Chu Lingxuan. She felt uncomfortable, she didn’t want this aspect of her relationship with Chen Shiying to be brought to light. Private gossip could be disregarded, but if it became public, it wouldn’t be as easy to deny. This would undoubtedly lead to many uncertainties in the future, and that felt very unpleasant.
However, with the two children leaning on her and speaking in a soft and gentle manner, her troubled heart eased. She put down her needle and thread, personally went to the kitchen, and cooked a few dishes.
When the meal was served, Chu Hanyan cleverly said, “Auntie, my father is lonely at home. Why don’t we invite him for dinner?”
Chen Feng smiled awkwardly and said, “I’ve cooked too little today. I’ll cook more next time and invite your father.”
Cleverly, Chu Hanyan added, “It’s still early now. Auntie can cook a few more dishes.”
Dabao also said, “I think it’s a good idea to invite Uncle Chu for dinner. He’ll leave early tomorrow and we don’t know when he’ll be back. If you’re tired, you can let Aunt Zeng cook.”
Seeing the eager faces looking at her, Chen Feng felt helpless. She had just managed to keep a certain distance in their relationship, how could she bring them closer again? She laughed and said, “There’s no spare food in the kitchen now. We’ll invite Mr. Chu for dinner when there’s more food in the future.”
After dinner, the little girl cleverly took Dabao’s hand on one side and Chen Feng’s on the other, leading them towards the main gate.
The sky was still bright, and the western horizon was filled with the glow of the setting sun. The gentle spring breeze made people feel incredibly comfortable. The three of them walked out hand in hand, with Chen Feng being led eastward, followed by Mama Song and two guards.
As they turned past the wall of Fengyuan, they saw Chu Lingxuan standing near a large locust tree between Tangyuan and Fengyuan.
He also saw Chen Feng and the others, he pursed his lips into a thin line, and stood there with a stern expression, hands behind his back, unmoving.
Seeing that her father not only didn’t come towards her with his usual smile but also seemed upset, Chu Hanyan felt sad, thinking her father was mad at her.
She let go of Chen Feng and Dabao’s hands and ran to Chu Lingxuan, choking with sobs as she ran, “Daddy, don’t be mad at Hanyan, Daddy, please don’t be mad at Hanyan.”
Chu Lingxuan, hearing his daughter’s words, couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. He stepped forward, lifted her up, and said, “Daddy isn’t mad at Hanyan, he’s just anxious because he was waiting for his daughter.”
Upon hearing that her father wasn’t mad at her, Chu Hanyan let out a relieved smile and whispered softly to his ear, “Auntie said they should buy more food at home and invite Daddy to dinner at Fengyuan.”
Chu Lingxuan blushed a bit and chided, “In your eyes, am I that greedy?”
Chu Hanyan giggled and hugged his neck.
Chu Lingxuan initially wanted to carry his daughter back to Tangyuan, but caught sight of a figure not far away and involuntarily walked over.
He stood before Chen Feng, with a serious expression, his eyes fixed on her. His presence was overwhelming, causing even Chen Feng, with her experienced demeanor, to blush and lower her head.
After a moment, Chu Lingxuan spoke in a desolate tone, “Mr. Chen and I had a pleasant conversation over drinks at noon. His reputation is good, and his official position is commendable. Although I haven’t interacted with him much, I believe he lives up to the title of ‘gentleman.’ He is different from his mother.”
Chen Feng raised her head, but couldn’t find the words to respond. She didn’t understand the purpose behind Chu Lingxuan’s words and didn’t know how to reply.
Chu Lingxuan continued, “I’ll be returning to the camp tomorrow, and I may have to go out of town in a few days. I’ll trouble you to take care of Yanyan again.”
Chen Feng insincerely said, “It’s no trouble.” Then, she quickly added, “I like the girl.”
A faint smile appeared on Chu Lingxuan’s lips as he softly said, “I also like Dabao, and…” He hesitated to say the next word in front of the children. After a pause, he continued, “Having you, I don’t need to worry about Yanyan when I’m away. Thank you.” With that, he turned and walked towards Tangyuan.
Chu Hanyan, being held by her father, waved to Chen Feng and Dabao with a grin. As they approached the gate of Tangyuan, the little girl giggled and said to Chu Lingxuan, “Daddy, Auntie has been watching us, and Dabao is still waving to us.”
Although she could express herself now, her speech was still slow. Before finishing her sentence, her father had already carried her through the gate of Tangyuan.
Chen Feng stared blankly at them as they disappeared into Tangyuan, still lost in thought.
Dabao looked up and asked, “Mother, Uncle Chu said he likes me, but who else does he like?”
Chen Feng sighed and said, “Of course, it’s little Yan.”
“Oh, I see.” Dabao replied. Then he tugged at Chen Feng’s hand and said, “Mother, since we can’t see them, let’s go home.”
“Okay.” Chen Feng seemed to snap out of her thoughts, and she quickly walked home with Dabao, taking large steps as Dabao almost ran alongside.
Chen Feng felt useless. In her previous life, she had been deeply hurt by love and had vowed to stay away from the offspring of officials. In this life, she had set low standards for finding a man. But his every move, every uncertain confession, left her at a loss.
In the evening, Golden Swallow and a large group of birds and Zhui Feng had not returned. The birdcages in the corridor were empty, and the yard was quiet.
In the distance, the chorus of frogs and the faint snoring by her pillow reminded Chen Feng that she had traveled to a rural area in ancient times, and she had a son.
Chen Feng tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep for a long time. The faces of Chu Lingxuan and Liu Xudong alternated in her mind, leaving her very anxious.
She had always known that the right thing to do was to stay far away from Chu Lingxuan, but her current situation didn’t allow her to completely leave his side. On one hand, there was Chu Hanyan, and on the other, she and her family were inseparable from the protection of Tangyuan. She couldn’t afford to completely offend Chu Lingxuan.
However, despite her insistence and avoidance, she was gradually being drawn in by Chu Lingxuan. She feared falling completely and being abandoned, just like in her previous life…