Chapter 16

In the backyard, Tang Jin followed her to the stove. “What was that look you gave me earlier? Something wrong?”

If she wasn’t mistaken, this sister of hers had something private to discuss.

Tang Laidi leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Tang Jin, be honest with me. Do you still have feelings for Chu Shaoyang?”

She was Tang Jin’s good friend. A few years ago, on the day the Chu family moved to Tang Village, they had gone together to see what the fuss was about.

The moment Tang Jin laid eyes on Chu Shaoyang, she had said, “Lai Di, do you believe in love at first sight?”

After that, Tang Jin had lingered around the Chu family home nearly every day. Unfortunately, her affections were one-sided; Chu Shaoyang paid her no attention whatsoever.

Later, when Tang Jin passed the scholar exam and mustered the courage to confess her love, Tang Laidi had heard all about it.

She had even planned to find a moment to urge her friend to move on. But then Tang Jin had suddenly married Chu Lingyue, leaving her words of advice redundant.

Tang Jin looked at Tang Laidi’s solemn expression and replied, “To be honest, I’m married now. I don’t pine for anyone.”

That was the original host’s unrequited crush, her white moonlight. It had nothing to do with her.

She wasn’t like the original host, that flaky type who kept one eye on the bowl and the other on the pot. Right now, she loved no one but silver.

Hearing this, Tang Laidi didn’t relax in the slightest. She lowered her voice even further. “Good, as long as you know better. But you need to be careful from now on. I think that Chu Shaoyang is up to no good. Didn’t you notice how she was looking at Lingyue?”

From her spot behind the counter, Tang Laidi had seen it all too clearly. Ever since entering the shop, Chu Shaoyang had stared at Chu Lingyue countless times, her gaze lingering and obsessive.

And calling her “Lingyue girl” over and over! Didn’t she know Chu Lingyue was already married to Tang Jin?

Her intentions were plain as day!

But something felt off here. Wasn’t this Miss Chu supposed to be the one Tang Jin had loved in vain? Why did it seem like Chu Shaoyang was more like Tang Jin’s love rival?

Tang Jin blinked, struggling to process it. “What kind of look?”

Frustrated at her thick-headedness, Tang Laidi jabbed her shoulder. “Are you dense? Chu Shaoyang’s eyes were practically glued to Lingyue. She must have those kinds of feelings for her. You get it, right?”

Tang Jin stared blankly. She didn’t get it at all…

Did that mean the original host’s white moonlight had a thing for the original host’s wife?

In other words, Chu Shaoyang was interested in Chu Lingyue?

What a melodramatic love triangle!

Hang on a second!

If Chu Lingyue never regained her memories, she could still find her own happiness and new life.

That way, Tang Jin wouldn’t have to worry about their wife-wife bond or feel responsible for displacing the original host.

She could just play matchmaker!

A spark of inspiration struck Tang Jin. She asked, “So, what do you think of Chu Shaoyang?”

Tang Laidi pondered for a moment before answering honestly. “She’s a young lady from a wealthy family—rich, influential, and beautiful. Seems decent enough, too.”

Ever since the Chu family moved to Tang Village, they had been generous and kind to everyone, with no bad rumors to their name.

Tang Jin pressed on. “And what about my wife’s attitude toward Chu Shaoyang?”

If Chu Lingyue was interested in her too, Tang Jin would be all for it.

Tang Laidi’s face lit up with an “at least you’re teachable” expression. She said approvingly, “Don’t worry. Lingyue seemed pretty cold toward Chu Shaoyang. As long as you treat Lingyue right, that Miss Chu won’t stand a chance.”

Tang Jin: “…”

She wasn’t reassured at all. Love was a personal matter; outsiders couldn’t see the full picture and often mismatched pairs.

So, what was Chu Lingyue’s real attitude toward Chu Shaoyang?

No rush on that. She could observe over time.

After all, as an outsider, it wasn’t her place to meddle in others’ feelings. Adults needed to know their boundaries.

“You brew the tea first. I’ll check out front.” Tang Jin wasn’t in a hurry, but her curiosity was killing her. She wanted to know what Chu Lingyue was thinking.

What if that woman had feelings for Chu Shaoyang but felt trapped by their marriage? Tang Jin couldn’t risk becoming an unwitting obstacle in their romance.

When she reached the main hall, only Chu Lingyue was there.

Tang Jin couldn’t help asking, “Where’s Miss Chu?”

How had she vanished in the blink of an eye? How was Tang Jin supposed to observe now?

Chu Lingyue’s lips pressed into a thin line as she handed over ten taels of silver. “She paid and left. If A-Jin hurries after her now, you can still catch up.”

She had no idea what had gotten into Chu Shaoyang, staring at her endlessly like that.

She wanted no part in whatever was going on between Tang Jin and Chu Shaoyang, so earlier she had said, “If the customer has words for Tang Jin, feel free to pretend I’m not here.”

To her surprise, Chu Shaoyang had stood up abruptly. “Lingyue girl, you’re overthinking it.”

Then she left, without even waiting for her tea.

“Why would I chase her?” Tang Jin retorted on instinct, taking the silver as she did.

Chu Lingyue gave Tang Jin a deep look, her words pointed. “A-Jin, don’t worry about me. Even if you wanted to divorce me today, I’d have no complaints. I wouldn’t hold you back.”

This time, Tang Jin got it. So this woman had the same idea of playing matchmaker. Her way of thinking was… uniquely straightforward.

Well played—they were on the same wavelength.

“My lady jests,” Tang Jin said. “I’ve long since gotten over my youthful follies. If you find someone you love, you can divorce me anytime. I won’t cling.”

Chu Lingyue stared at the floor, her tone even. “A-Jin jests. Since I married you, you’re the only one in my heart.”

【Ding! Reward: One jar of Soybean Braised Pork Trotters】

Tang Jin glanced at the goods shelf hanging in the void. A large lidded earthenware jar had appeared on it.

This reward was generous—a jar this size could be divided into three portions to sell.

Nice. They could keep talking like this all day; she approved.

Tang Jin stepped closer, her tone turning serious. “What does my lady think of Chu Shaoyang?”

Was this woman a good liar, or did she speak plainly?

Tang Jin’s curiosity was piqued again.

Chu Lingyue raised her eyes, her gaze settling on Tang Jin’s face. “I’ve had no dealings with Miss Chu, so I know little of her. A-Jin, you must understand her far better than I do.”

Chu Lingyue hadn’t answered directly, but it was the truth all the same.

The System gave no reaction.

“Just asking casually. Are you hungry, my lady?” Tang Jin smiled and smoothly changed the subject.

She knew nothing about her, really. As for the original host’s memories, she chose to ignore them.

The original host had perfectly demonstrated the idiom “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Her impressions of Chu Shaoyang were ridiculously glowing: noble and refined, flawless, a heavenly beauty with unmatched talent…

The flattering descriptors in her mind could form a veritable mountain.

Tang Jin strongly suspected the original host’s rose-tinted glasses toward her white moonlight were so thick as to border on blindness. They weren’t reliable reference material.

Chu Lingyue’s face remained impassive. “I’m not hungry.”

【Ding! Reward: One plate of Crispy Fried Fresh Milk】

Tang Jin’s mouth twitched slightly. What an unexpected bonus. This woman was surprisingly reserved—starving but too proud to admit it. Another evasion.

She didn’t call her out on it. Seeing Tang Laidi enter the hall, Tang Jin closed the shop door and turned to them both. “That’s it for today. We’ll save that honey-glazed char siu for ourselves to enjoy.”