Chapter 248: Kindred Spirits, Another Person
The two stood at the door, staring at each other in bewilderment.
After a moment, Ren Yinshan realized they had misunderstood each other and chuckled. “Don’t worry, sir. I’m not one to deprive myself of good food, nor do I strive for a thin figure. I simply couldn’t eat any more. But I truly enjoyed the lunch you prepared, sir. There’s no doubt about that.”
She smiled warmly and softly. “If there’s a chance, I’ll be sure to visit again. I hope you won’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
Lin Tianlu asked curiously, “But where will you be staying, Miss Ren? Since you’ll be attending my wedding in a few days, will you be staying at an inn?”
“Yes,” Ren Yinshan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, glancing down the street. “But if there are any affordable houses available, I might buy one and stay for a while.”
“Are you planning to settle down in Changling, Miss Ren?”
“You know about the Spring Surge Workshop, sir. The girls there are all alone and have difficult pasts. I’ve been staying in Ganchang Village to help them find good homes,” Ren Yinshan chuckled. “But in a few years, they’ll all find their own paths and won’t need my care anymore. I might as well move to a new town. Of course, I still need to look after the Spring Surge Workshop for a few more years. But I can visit you occasionally, sir, and perhaps buy a small house here as a place to rest.”
“That’s a good idea. The area around Changling is quite nice, suitable for a quiet life.”
Lin Tianlu nodded. “I’ll ask the neighbors this afternoon if there are any affordable houses available. I should be able to find a good one for you.”
“Thank you, sir.” Ren Yinshan smiled and bowed. “I’m staying at the inn across from the Oriole Restaurant. You can find me there if you need anything. And when I’m free, I’ll visit you for a chat. I just hope your wives won’t be angry or misunderstand.”
“However, after talking to your wives, I can sense that they’re both kind and understanding women. I don’t think they’ll be upset.”
Ren Yinshan paused, stepping closer, her voice soft and concerned. “Mr. Lin, although this might sound strange, I still want to say… your wives are truly virtuous and wonderful women. To have such beautiful and kind partners… please don’t break their hearts or betray their trust.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious, and he bowed deeply. “I’ll keep your words in mind, Miss Ren. I won’t let them down.”
Ren Yinshan looked into his eyes for a moment, then smiled and stepped back. “There’s no need to be so serious, sir. After all, your reputation in Changling precedes you. Everyone speaks highly of you. I have faith in you.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled dryly. “If I were truly as virtuous as the rumors say, I wouldn’t be marrying two women at once.”
If this were modern times, he would be considered a player, toying with women’s affections.
He wouldn’t be addressed as ‘Master’ or ‘Sir.’
“Since your love is true, what does it matter? Even saints have desires. His Majesty himself has a harem of three thousand,” Ren Yinshan said gently.
They exchanged smiles and bowed.
She didn’t linger, bidding him farewell and turning to leave.
The midday sun didn’t affect her, given her cultivation level.
…
After walking about a hundred meters away from the Lin residence, the smile on Ren Yinshan’s face faded.
“…”
She paused, looking back at the Lin residence, a cold, serious expression in her eyes, one she hadn’t shown before.
“That man is truly extraordinary. I couldn’t find any weaknesses, and he doesn’t seem deceitful or malicious. He seems to deserve the praise he receives.”
A cool, indifferent voice echoed from the side, and An Ke Lin emerged from the shadows.
She tossed her golden hair, her expression calm. “But seeing you leave his residence so abruptly… have you given up?”
“Yes.”
“You…”
An Ke Lin was stunned, not expecting such a definitive answer.
She frowned slightly. “Although he’s already engaged to two women, with your beauty and charm, you should be able to win him over with a little effort. Why give up so easily?”
“Stealing another woman’s man is despicable. I would never do such a thing.”
“Then what do you plan to do now?”
“Nothing.”
Ren Yinshan’s voice was calm and unwavering. “I’ll live my life as usual, visit him occasionally, share a cup of tea, discuss poetry and music. That’s enough for me.”
An Ke Lin looked puzzled. “Then why were you so… aggressive earlier?”
She had thought Ren Yinshan had encountered some conflict at the Lin residence and was planning to retaliate.
“You silly girl, what are you imagining?”
Ren Yinshan rolled her eyes. “I was just thinking about the recent events in Changling, since they also involve Mr. Lin.”
“Events—”
An Ke Lin’s expression turned serious. “I’ve been wandering around the county, listening to the rumors. Something did happen at the Pei residence, but the commotion died down quickly after last night. It hasn’t caused much of a stir.”
“It seems someone is helping Mr. Lin clean up the mess.”
A cold smile appeared on Ren Yinshan’s lips. “Let’s investigate this thoroughly. I want to see which fools dare to cause trouble in this county and disrupt Mr. Lin’s wedding.”
As Ren Yinshan turned and left decisively, An Ke Lin looked on in surprise, scratching her cheek.
“Sister Ren… are you truly so smitten with this man? You’ve only met him once, yet you’re so concerned. You’ve never shown such interest in anyone before.”
“Could it be… that there’s such a thing as kindred spirits?”
…
After cleaning up the dishes, Lin Tianlu stretched and returned to the courtyard.
He saw Yun Yue sitting on a bench with her eyes closed, basking in the afternoon sun.
Although the midday sun was usually harmful to demons and ghosts, it had little effect on those who had surpassed the Crimson Demon Realm, let alone Yun Yue, who had reached the Savage Realm.
The sunlight felt warm and comfortable on her skin, no different from an ordinary person.
At least, Yun Yue’s expression showed a sense of relaxation. Although her posture was still straight and proper, she seemed languid and at ease.
“Miss Yun, how was lunch?”
“It was good.”
Yun Yue opened her crimson eyes and looked at him. “And very nourishing, excellent for cultivation.”
“Eh?”
Lin Tianlu was taken aback.
He hadn’t added any rare ingredients to the dishes… Could it be the spiritual energy?
As he pondered this, Yun Yue continued calmly, “Yishi said she stayed here last night and needs to return to the Cheng residence to manage things. She might not come back tonight. And Miss Hua has gone to the magistrate’s office to help capture those bandits and thugs.”
“Everyone seems to be busy. I should start decorating the house.”
“Wait.”
Yun Yue tugged on his sleeve. “Is there anything I can help with?”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and patted her head. “You can help us cut out some ‘double happiness’ characters with scissors. We’ll need to paste them on the doors and windows in a few days.”
“Okay.”
“Before you start working, have some fruit to cleanse your palate.”
Mao Ruoyu approached with a plate of fruit, smiling gently. “The wedding is still ten days away. There’s no rush. Besides, we’re keeping things simple, so we can skip many of the elaborate customs. We should be able to finish all the preparations in a day or two. And…”
Her eyes twinkled, and she looked at him with a playful smile. “Finish your soup first. You need to nourish your body. You’ve been traveling for days, and last night… you exerted yourself quite a bit. Don’t overwork yourself.”
Seeing the faint blush on her cheeks, Lin Tianlu smiled and took the bowl of fragrant soup. “We should save some of this for Yishi.”
“Miss Cheng already had some before she left.”
Mao Ruoyu smiled apologetically. “Thankfully, she wasn’t angry. I was so relieved. If she had blamed me, I wouldn’t know how to apologize.”
Lin Tianlu smiled without saying a word and finished his soup.
“What… happened between you two?”
Yun Yue asked abruptly.
“Ah…”
Mao Ruoyu blushed and waved her hands. “N-Nothing, Miss Yun. It’s nothing to worry about. Just a little… misunderstanding between Miss Cheng and me last night.”
“What misunderstanding?”
“This…”
As Mao Ruoyu struggled to find an answer, Lin Tianlu put down his bowl and chuckled. “Just a little playful argument between friends. Yishi didn’t take it to heart. She just grumbled this morning about Ruoyu being a vixen.”
“Ahaha…hahaha…”
Mao Ruoyu could only chuckle awkwardly, unable to refute his words.
After all, she had gotten carried away last night and joined Tianlu in teasing Cheng Yishi quite a bit.
Thinking back, she felt rather embarrassed.
Yun Yue looked at them with an indifferent expression and suddenly said,
“I want to try too.”
“Cough, cough!”
Her unexpected words startled both of them.
Lin Tianlu flicked her forehead playfully. “I’ll give you another massage tonight. Don’t have such strange thoughts before you’ve fully recovered.”
“…Mm…”
Seeing Yun Yue so easily appeased, Mao Ruoyu couldn’t help but think that Tianlu truly had a way with women.
However, her expression turned serious, and she murmured,
“Tianlu, what do you think of Miss Ren?”
Lin Tianlu paused, then chuckled, realizing what she meant. “She’s a good woman.”
Mao Ruoyu picked up a piece of fruit and offered it to him with a smile. “Such a humble and polite woman… don’t break her heart.”
“That’s unusual. Most wives wouldn’t say such a thing after hearing their husband has met another beautiful woman.”
Lin Tianlu leaned down slightly and took the fruit from her hand.
Mao Ruoyu blushed at his intimate gesture and quickly withdrew her hand, her eyes flickering. “I just… don’t want to see her heartbroken. And… I also want you, Tianlu…”
Her ears turned red, and she whispered, “…to have a close friend, someone you can confide in and share your worries with.”
“I think you and Miss Ren would have a lot in common,” Lin Tianlu smiled, gently touching her nose. “But since you’re so concerned about my feelings, Ruoyu, I’ll have to cook you a special meal as a reward.”
“T-That…”
Mao Ruoyu blushed deeply, her legs pressing together, her hands clasped over her chest as her heart pounded.
That lunch hadn’t only affected Ren Yinshan. She and Cheng Yishi had also felt its effects. She still felt a little… flustered.
“I-I’ll still be in charge of preparing tomorrow’s meals.”
“I’m actually quite—”
Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, followed by a familiar voice.
“Mr. Lin, are you home? I’d like to have a word with you!”
“Is that Old Master Nie from next door?”
Mao Ruoyu paused. “Is he here for a game of Go or to admire your paintings?”
“Perhaps not.”
Lin Tianlu went to the door and opened it.
“You look well, Mr. Lin!”
Nie Qingyuan, standing outside, beamed. “I hope my visit isn’t ill-timed?”
Lin Tianlu smiled and bowed in return. “Master Nie, you were with the governor last night. Are you here to discuss that matter again?”
“Indeed.”
Nie Qingyuan smiled knowingly. “But it’s not the governor and I who wish to speak with you today, Mr. Lin. It’s someone else.”
He gestured towards the street.
The curtain of a nearby carriage was drawn back, and a young woman in elegant attire stepped out, her expression serious.
Chapter 248: Kindred Spirits, Another Person (Part 2)
“…Mm…”
Seeing Yun Yue so easily calmed, Mao Ruoyu thought to herself that Tianlu truly had a way with women.
However, her expression turned serious as she murmured, “Tianlu, what do you think of Miss Ren?”
Lin Tianlu paused, then chuckled, realizing her meaning. “She’s a good woman.”
Mao Ruoyu picked up a slice of fruit and offered it to him with a smile. “Such a humble and polite woman… don’t break her heart.”
“That’s unusual. Most wives wouldn’t say such a thing after hearing their husband has met another beautiful woman.”
Lin Tianlu leaned down slightly and took the fruit from her hand.
Mao Ruoyu blushed at the intimate gesture and quickly withdrew her hand, her eyes flickering. “I just… don’t want to see her heartbroken. And… I also want you, Tianlu…”
Her ears flushed crimson, and she whispered, “…to have a close friend, someone of the opposite sex you can confide in and share your burdens with.”
“I think you and Miss Ren would have a lot in common,” Lin Tianlu smiled, gently booping her nose. “But since you’re so concerned about my happiness, Ruoyu, I’ll have to cook you a special meal as a reward.”
“T-That…”
Mao Ruoyu blushed deeply, her legs pressing together, her hands clasped over her chest to still her racing heart.
That lunch hadn’t only affected Ren Yinshan. She and Cheng Yishi had felt its effects too. She still felt a little… flustered.
“I-I’ll still prepare tomorrow’s meals.”
“I’m actually quite—”
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock echoed from the front door, followed by a familiar voice.
“Mr. Lin, are you home? I’d like a word with you!”
“Is that Old Master Nie from next door?”
Mao Ruoyu paused. “Is he here for Go or to admire your paintings?”
“Perhaps not.”
Lin Tianlu went to the door and opened it.
“You’re looking well, Mr. Lin!”
Nie Qingyuan beamed. “I hope my visit isn’t inconvenient?”
Lin Tianlu smiled, bowing in return. “Master Nie, you were with the governor last night. Are you here to discuss that matter further?”
“Indeed.”
Nie Qingyuan smiled knowingly. “But it’s not the governor and I who wish to speak with you today. It’s someone else.”
He gestured towards the street.
The curtain of a carriage was drawn back, and a young woman in elegant attire stepped out, a serious expression on her face.
