Finest Servant

Chapter 195 Tears

"Consult matters with me?" Lin Wanrong was surprised. "This must be something important. Miss Luo, let's chat another day. Now I must attend to important matters with Miss Xiao."

Luo Ning managed to suppress her laughter. "Brother Lin, you go ahead and attend to your business. But, if you have some free time in the future, could you explain to me that 'A Hundred Thousand Whys'?"

"Of course, I will definitely make time to teach you." Lin Wanrong said carelessly. Luo Ning covered her mouth to laugh, saying no more, simply watching him and Guo Wuchang depart.

"How strange, Miss Luo seems to have changed a bit." Guo Wuchang muttered after taking a few steps, seemingly talking to himself.

"Changed how?" Lin Wanrong asked curiously.

Guo Wuchang shook his head, "I don't know, just a hunch."

‘Rubbish, how well do you know her to get such a hunch!’ Lin Wanrong chuckled and said no more.

The Eldest Miss had already seated herself in the small sedan, waiting for them. Seeing them approach, she said nothing, just quietly ordered, "Lift the sedan." The soft sedan began to sway gently as it moved into the distance.

Lin Wanrong mounted his black horse and followed the sedan, feeling puzzled. Weren't they supposed to discuss important matters? Why had the Eldest Miss walked away without a word? He patted Guo Wuchang and asked, "Young master, didn't the Eldest Miss say she had something important to discuss with me?"

Guo Wuchang seemed stunned for a moment. "Yes, earlier, when she saw you talking with Miss Luo, she sent me to find you, saying there was important business to discuss. She didn't mention what it was about, I thought you would know. Why don't you ask her?"

‘I don't know shit! The Eldest Miss seemed a bit off today, I wonder if it's that time of the month. Women are unreasonable during this period, I'd better keep my distance. If she really has something important to discuss, she'll tell me.’

Thus, the three of them became silent, and they kept moving forward.

After a while, a voice emerged from the sedan, "Cousin..." Guo Wuchang promptly responded.

The Eldest Miss said, "You go ahead, when you return, inform my mother that I'm feeling a bit fatigued today. Regarding the takeover of the Tao family's storefront, just let the stewards handle it. No need to report everything to me."

Oh, it was rare to see the Eldest Miss willingly let go of work. Her mood indeed didn't seem to be the best today.

Guo Wuchang was very obedient. After receiving the order, he sped away on his horse, showing more enthusiasm than he had for the Miaoyu Pavilion.

As Xiao Yuruo gave the orders, the sedan had already stopped by the roadside, right next to Xuanwu Lake. The dusk was growing darker, and the sound of gentle waves lapping against the shoreline echoed in the chilly wind. Several pleasure boats had lit red lanterns in the distance, the lights twinkling like dim stars in the clear night sky. In the dim light of the impending darkness, everything appeared blurred and gloomy. The Eldest Miss stood by the lake, staring at the water, without uttering a word.

Seeing Xiao Yuruo not moving, Lin Wanrong had to dismount from his horse. The atmosphere was a bit tense for a moment. Not knowing what the Eldest Miss was thinking, he said awkwardly, "Eldest Miss, earlier I heard from Young Master Guo that you had something to discuss with me. May I ask what the important matter is?"

The Eldest Miss didn't turn her head, her voice soft and distant. "Is that so? Seeing you and Miss Luo having such a pleasant conversation earlier, I didn't want to disturb your joyous gathering. One thing led to another and I've forgotten what the matter was."

Lin Wanrong felt dizzy, ‘Damn, what an excuse, as if you could forget.’ The Eldest Miss asked again, "Lin San, how long have you known Miss Luo, and how did you meet?"

‘Sweat, are you doing a background check?’ Lin Wanrong laughed and said, "Eldest Miss, don't misunderstand. My relationship with Miss Luo is purely platonic, nothing happened between us. As the saying goes, 'the friendship of a gentleman is as light as water', and mine with her is even more so." He spat out internally, ‘When the hell did I become a gentleman? This occupation is too noble, it doesn't suit me.’

Xiao Yuruo was accustomed to his bluffing, taking his words with a grain of salt. She glanced at him and said lightly, "I just asked how you met her, I didn't ask you to talk about being a gentleman or not. Besides, if you were a gentleman, then the Tao family would be sages."

‘That's right, I've never been a gentleman,’ Lin Wanrong didn't take offense, he laughed, "My acquaintance with Miss Luo was very ordinary. We met at Qiaoqiao's place, nothing special." He picked out some significant events to tell her. He was known for his knack of avoiding sensitive topics. Anything that hinted at ambiguity with Luo Ning was circumvented, only the conflicts were mentioned.

After hearing him, the Eldest Miss sighed, "On the riverbank, in front of so many people, and Miss Luo, known as a talented woman in Jinling, you don't hold back your words." Although she said this, the expression on her face seemed much better.

"Eldest Miss, as you know, I'm always impartial, straightforward, and honest. I speak as I should. If that talented Miss Luo cannot accept my criticism, she can't be considered a true friend." Lin Wanrong said righteously. The words he uttered made even himself believe a little. There was no tax on bragging, so why not?

The Eldest Miss snorted, "You treat Miss Luo so rudely, yet I see that she treats you very well, considering you in everything, even in the matter of offending the Young Prince. What kind of trick did you use?"

Those words were spoken previously by Luo Ning to him, with the Eldest Miss sitting right there, there was no denying it. He didn't even think of denying it, he innocently replied, "That's why I say, someone like Miss Luo is a real friend, sharing weal and woe, never leaving or forsaking..."

A light "plop" interrupted his words, the Eldest Miss had kicked a stone into the river.

Seeing the Eldest Miss looking upset, Lin Wanrong thought that this young lady cared a lot about Yushuang. He laughed and said, "Eldest Miss, rest assured, I'm sincere to Yushuang. As for Miss Luo, she is high and mighty, there has never been a spark between us—"

"What do you mean by 'spark'?" the Eldest Miss asked confusedly.

"Oh, a 'spark', to put it simply, is like, for instance, the way you and I look at each other, with deep affection, that's called a 'spark'—"

Lin Wanrong was busy explaining the 'spark,' when he heard the Eldest Miss let out a light spit, her face flushed to the ears. She murmured, "What nonsense are you talking about? Who has a 'spark' with you?"

Sweating, Lin Wanrong saw the Eldest Miss blushing uncontrollably, he hurriedly said, "Don't misunderstand, Eldest Miss, it's just an analogy. It's true that there's no 'spark' between Miss Luo and me. Moreover, she has personally told me that she already has someone she likes. Although I am generally affectionate, I haven't developed to the point of promiscuity yet. I would never intrude as a third party, you can be at ease, Eldest Miss."

The Eldest Miss found his words strange, but she could understand his central idea: there was nothing going on between him and Miss Luo. After a moment's thought, Xiao Yuruo said, "Then you must promise that you will not be involved with Miss Luo in any romantic way—"

Damn, she wanted more. ‘Even though you are Yushuang's elder sister, you can't just accuse me of this, demanding a promise. Why should I make a promise to you?’ Lin Wanrong shook his head and said seriously, "Eldest Miss, I think you have misunderstood. The reason I'm telling you about Miss Luo is just to state a fact, not to explain anything, and there's no need for any explanation. To ask me to promise about something that doesn't exist is absurd. You're being too suspicious. Even Yushuang wouldn't talk like this."

The Eldest Miss was both embarrassed and angry, tears spinning in her eyes. "You, you, you bad man—" She couldn't continue, her shoulders shaking violently, tears rolling down her beautiful cheeks.

Lin Wanrong was usually slightly put off by her arrogance, but seeing her crying so hard now, her voice choked with sobs, she looked like she had been bullied terribly. She didn't have the strong, proud demeanor of her usual self. The Eldest Miss crying, her tears flowing, was as charming and touching as pear blossoms in the rain or begonias covered in dew.

‘Damn, even crying, she could be so pitifully beautiful, isn't this trying to steal my soul? Damn it, I'm not a saint,’ Lin Wanrong's heart skipped a beat, he quickly turned his head away to avoid looking at her.

Seeing that he didn't even want to glance at her, the Eldest Miss felt even more sorrowful, her crying intensifying. She sobbed, "You're a mean person, you only know how to say harsh words to me. Does talking to you harm you in any way? You heartless, wicked man."

Although the Eldest Miss had a peculiar temperament, she would never harm herself, this much Lin Wanrong was sure of. She was just too stubborn and often insisted on her point of view.

The Eldest Miss continued sobbing, "At today's banquet, who was worried for you when you made the Young Prince look bad? Wasn't it me? My Xiao family cares the most for you, you heartless, thoroughly wicked man."

The title was too long and didn't sound right. Lin Wanrong had never seen the Eldest Miss cry so intensely before. Compared to her usually fierce and strong demeanor, she was infinitely more gentle now. If he could see her crying like this every day, looking so womanly, that might not be a bad thing. This sudden thought startled him. He chastised himself, ‘My apologies, Eldest Miss. I didn't mean to wish you to cry every day.’

Seeing him silent, the Eldest Miss felt increasingly wronged and choked up, "The Young Prince merely oppressed you a few times, and you could have simply avoided him. Why did you have to provoke him? You're normally so clever, where did all your smarts go this time? Did you use them all up on deceiving Luo Ning?"

Sweating, Lin Wanrong found the first part of her words touching, but the latter part was amusing. The Eldest Miss didn't know about the relationship between Zhao Kangning and the White Lotus cult, and she thought that if the Xiao family didn't provoke him, he wouldn't trouble the Xiao family.

‘Poor Eldest Miss, how could you know about the danger we're in? We've long provoked him. He's been deliberately targeting us.’ Lin Wanrong gave a bitter smile. Ever since the White Lotus incident, whether it was the Xiao family or himself, they were all in the same boat and nobody could escape.

Suddenly, Lin Wanrong said solemnly, "Eldest Miss, stop crying. I need to discuss something serious with you."

The Eldest Miss blinked in surprise, softly asking, "What serious matter?" But as soon as she spoke, she realized she'd admitted defeat. Two spots of red appeared on her face as she wiped away her tears and snorted, turning her head away from him.

Lin Wanrong sighed, "Eldest Miss, this matter is crucial. Besides you and me, we cannot mention it to anyone else. Can you do that?"

Seeing his unusually solemn expression, the Eldest Miss knew that this must be very important. After spending so much time with Lin Wanrong, quarreling and laughing, she knew him well. He was always joking around with trivial matters, but when it came to serious matters, he was always meticulous and never careless. If he said it was important, then it indeed was.

"If you want to say it, just say it. Who can stop you from talking?" the Eldest Miss grunted, her face flushing in embarrassment. She couldn't believe that she had just been sobbing so openly in front of him.

"Eldest Miss, you saw it today. It wasn't me who provoked the Young Prince; it was the Young Prince who targeted us," Lin Wanrong said in a deep voice, "Do you know why?"

Seeing the Eldest Miss shake her head, Lin Wanrong continued, "Do you remember what happened during those few days when we were abducted by the White Lotus cult?"

The Eldest Miss glanced at him, "Of course I remember. I'll never forget it in my lifetime. It was Tao Dongcheng colluding with the White Lotus cult, planning to swallow up my family's wealth."

"Eldest Miss, it wasn't that simple," Lin Wanrong said with a bitter smile, "Have you ever wondered why, after they had kidnapped you, they also seized me? And do you know what happened to me while you were held captive?"

Why the White Lotus cult had kidnapped Lin Wanrong had always been a mystery to the Eldest Miss. She always thought that even Lin Wanrong himself didn't know, but it turned out he knew much more than she did.

Lin Wanrong detailed the events he'd encountered during those few days to the Eldest Miss. The more she listened, the more her heart quivered with shock, having long forgotten their previous argument. She exclaimed in astonishment, "Lin San, they took you away that day for the perfume formula you held? Did you suffer a lot then? Did they torture you?"

It seemed the Eldest Miss still retained some conscience as a capitalist. Seeing her tear-streaked face and her persistent and serious expression, which presented a unique charm, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart. He chuckled, "Yes, they beat me mercilessly. Had I not been thinking of the Eldest Miss's unparalleled beauty, I might have confessed."

The Eldest Miss shot him a glance, saying, "You, always speaking such nonsense when others are worried about you." After a moment of silence, she suddenly looked at him and sighed, "Don't do such foolish things in the future. If they want the formula, just give it to them. At most, we won't make money, but as long as we're alive, that's more important than anything else."

Her words warmed his heart. Lin Wanrong nodded and smiled, thinking that giving away the formula would be equivalent to giving away his life, and only a fool would do that.

"You know what happened next. Qingxuan appeared just in time and saved us," Lin Wanrong said, giving all the credit to Xiao Qingxuan, as it was inconvenient to mention Qin Xian'er.

After some thought, the Eldest Miss finally said, "Lin San, are you suspecting the Young Prince..."

"It's not a suspicion, but a certainty. This Young Prince Ning, he's the puppet master hiding behind Tao Dongcheng," Lin Wanrong said with a stern face.

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