Chapter 272: Chapter 272

Lin Xiaorou was once again rendered speechless, standing helplessly outside the door.

Seeing she hadn’t left, Lin Xiaoyue added, "I asked Mr. Qi yesterday, and he said we do indeed need someone to serve in our house."

Lin Xiaorou’s eyes lit up, "As long as sister needs it, I’m willing to do anything."

"Mr. Qi mentioned that the maidservant who used to wash my feet was clumsy, and plans to pick another one."

Lin Xiaorou: "...To serve you, sister?"

Lin Xiaoyue could tell how difficult it was for her to say that. She turned around, placed the tea tray on the table, not intending to drink, and walked back to the door, saying indifferently, "Even if the second sister was unbearable in the past, at least she’s a girl of the Lin family. How could a servant’s job fall on you? Otherwise, if it spreads, people would either criticize me for mistreating my sister or accuse you, my sister, of having ulterior motives. Otherwise, who would willingly be a foot-washing maid instead of a noble lady, don’t you think?"

Lin Xiaorou took a deep breath, seemingly realizing that it’s unrealistic to expect Lin Xiaoyue to get angry and jump around like before. She spoke cautiously, "I heard that when you were set to marry in my place, sister, you nearly committed suicide. No matter how you are living now, I owe you. As a sister who has repented, I should naturally make amends."

The word "suicide" was uttered heavily, seemingly meant as a deliberate signal to those inside the room.

Lin Xiaoyue couldn’t help but smile, "Mr. Qi left for work before dawn; he’s not here."

"I just came to see my big sister, not Mr. Qi." Lin Xiaorou lowered her eyes.

Lin Xiaoyue was in a hurry to go to the Song family and had no time to linger with her. "I’ll take the tea, and I get your sincerity. Second sister, please go back!"

This attitude of being impervious to both kindness and unkindness made Lin Xiaorou feel choked, yet she had to repeatedly lower her stance, "Sister, being home alone can be dull and boring. How about I chat with you for a while? You’ve been married to the Capital for years, and our family has changed a lot."

Lin Xiaoyue didn’t directly refuse, glanced at her, and suddenly smiled, "I’m in a hurry to go out, but I don’t want to disappoint my second sister’s kindness. What should I do?"

After thinking for a while, "How about this, second sister, go back first. I’ll have someone bring over pen and ink so you can write down all the changes in our family over the years. Write as much as you can, and when I come back, I’ll read it directly. It won’t waste my time and will help you pass the time. A win-win situation, don’t you think?"

Feeling like her enthusiasm was met with coldness, Lin Xiaorou’s fingers slowly clenched.

She suddenly wanted to know what Lin Xiaoyue had experienced over the years. Why had the once spoiled and wilful eldest lady become so eloquent, speaking without a flaw?

Lin Xiaoyue no longer paid her any attention and walked straight towards the main gate, followed by two maids holding gift boxes.

The housekeeper was in charge of the main courtyard, so there was no worry about Lin Xiaorou causing trouble after she left.

When Lin Xiaoyue reached the main gate, Su Qing had just returned from outside.

He was the previous Martial Champion, directly appointed by the Ministry of War as a third-rank General, responsible for the defense and patrol of the North City District.

Before the Su Family incident, he was about to be promoted to Vice General and stationed at the border area. However, the coal mine case disrupted his promotion, and he was implicated and temporarily suspended. Whether he could keep his General position was still uncertain.

"Why did Mr. Qi return so early?" Lin Xiaoyue greeted him with a smile.

Su Qing dismounted and walked over, bringing a chill of morning dew.

Standing before Lin Xiaoyue, he looked at her with downcast eyes, "Are you going to the Song family now?"

"Yes." Lin Xiaoyue nodded, "It’s better to make things clear early, so there’s no lingering knot in the heart."

"Should I accompany you?"

Even though they had made things clear last night, now seeing her ready to leave, Su Qing instinctively asked.

"It’s inconvenient for Mr. Qi; don’t force it." Lin Xiaoyue glanced at the dark circles under his eyes, "Besides, you went out before dawn, and this hour is still early, perfect for catching up on sleep."

Touched by her concern, Su Qing spoke with a hint of a smile, "Come home early."

Lin Xiaoyue responded, lifted her dress, and got onto the carriage. Through the gap in the curtain, she saw the man still standing there, looking in her direction, seemingly wanting to see her off.

Lin Xiaoyue withdrew her gaze and instructed the coachman to set off.

Wen Wan had recently purchased some fabric which had been made into a small garment. She was bathing Jinbao, planning to dress him in the new clothes once he was dry. Orıginal content can be found at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⁂𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⁂𝓷𝓮𝓽

Today was a bit hot, the water in the wooden tub was of moderate temperature, and the little one particularly liked playing in the water, kicking his little legs and waving his little hands as soon as he touched it.

Every time Wen Wan gave him a bath, she had to let him play until he had enough.

Since it was her day off, with nothing to do at home, Wen Wan let him be.

Halfway through the bath, Mrs. Jin came in, saying a woman with the surname Lin was outside requesting a meeting.

"Surname Lin?" Wen Wan paused, a bold guess forming in her mind.

Mrs. Jin nodded, "The person claims to be Madam’s friend."

Now, Wen Wan could be entirely sure who it was.

She instructed Mrs. Jin, "Please escort her to the front hall; I’ll be right there."

After Mrs. Jin went out, Wen Wan quickly finished bathing Jinbao, then dried him and placed the little one on the wide, soft bed, applied scented lotion, and started dressing him.

Realizing he had new clothes to wear, the little guy was especially excited.

Wen Wan took the opportunity to give a big kiss on his soft cheek.

Seeing that the little guy was in a good mood, Wen Wan lifted her son up and gave him a good toss in the air.

He loved being lifted high the most, giggling as soon as he was lifted up.

Wen Wan was not as strong as Song Wei, and soon ran out of energy after lifting him twice.

The little guy was in high spirits, but when he unexpectedly fell into his mother’s arms to be carried outside, he was a little unhappy.

Wen Wan lowered her head, meeting her son’s bright eyes, and smiled, "Jinbao, be good, mom needs to meet a friend, and later I’ll send you to play with your brother, okay?"

The little guy babbled words that Wen Wan couldn’t understand.

Wen Wan carried the child to Yuanbao’s room. Yuanbao, who was reading, immediately came over to accompany his brother.

The little guy, especially attached to his mother today, was unwilling to stay in his brother’s room and cried as soon as Wen Wan left.

Granny Song heard the crying and came to ask what was going on.

Wen Wan said that a friend was visiting, and she planned to entertain them, but the little guy was reluctant to let go of her.

Granny Song glanced at her little grandson, who was being held by her daughter-in-law. His eyelashes were still wet with tears, his mouth was pouting, looking aggrieved, clutching tightly to Wen Wan’s clothes, as if fearing that in a moment of carelessness, his mother would leave him behind and run off.

Granny Song clapped her hands to get the little guy’s attention, "Jinbao, come to grandma."

Granny Song had opened her arms, but she didn’t receive the warm response from her little grandson as usual. He refused everyone, burying his head into Wen Wan’s arms, in a stance that if his mother left him, he’d cry for her.

It’s rare for her son to cling to her , Wen Wan felt gratified but also helpless.

It wouldn’t be quite appropriate to hold her son while meeting Lin Xiaoyue.

However, in the end, Wen Wan relented to the little guy’s pitiful look.

Holding him tightly, Wen Wan took him to the front hall.

Lin Xiaoyue had been waiting for a long time and showed a bit of surprise when Wen Wan came over with her son.

Before she could ask, Wen Wan proactively explained, "This is my son Jinbao, who just turned a year old."

Lin Xiaoyue stood up, her gaze falling on the chubby little guy.

Perhaps it was because she was soon to be a mother herself, but someone like Lin Xiaoyue, who normally didn’t like children much, felt her heart melting at the sight of Jinbao and inexplicably wanted to hold him.

A thought she had, and a question she asked.

Wen Wan hesitated for a moment and said the little guy was particularly clingy today and wouldn’t even let his grandma hold him earlier, so he might be a bit shy around strangers.

Lin Xiaoyue laughed, "He looks quite well-behaved to me, why don’t you let me try?"

Saying this, she took two steps forward and reached out to Jinbao.

The little guy blinked and studied the person before him. Before he could make sense of it, he suddenly felt himself being taken from his mother’s arms and into someone else’s, puffing his cheeks in anger and struggling non-stop in Lin Xiaoyue’s arms.

Lin Xiaoyue sat down, placing the little guy on her lap and reached out to hug his little back.

Jinbao was uncooperative, turning his head constantly to look at Wen Wan, his accusatory little eyes melting her heart. Regardless of whether her son understood, she told him, "Jinbao, be good, Aunt Lin likes you, she’ll just hold you for a little while."

The little guy, feeling "abandoned" by his mother, sat sulking on the unfamiliar woman’s lap, making Lin Xiaoyue unable to resist reaching out to pinch his little chubby face. But before she could, the little guy suddenly sniffed and sneezed loudly.

The sneeze was so loud that one of his legs kicked Lin Xiaoyue’s stomach.

Lin Xiaoyue seemed to feel some pain, her eyebrows furrowing.

Wen Wan’s face changed dramatically out of fear and she quickly took Jinbao back, wiping his nose while asking Lin Xiaoyue, "Are you okay?"

Lin Xiaoyue was only uncomfortable for a moment after being kicked, but she had already recovered, raising her eyebrows, "Have you guessed I’ve been pregnant for a while now?"

Wen Wan didn’t expect her to ask so directly but didn’t hesitate and answered truthfully, "When I saw you having morning sickness at the Hongwen Academy, I guessed it might be, and later, when I saw you asking for a long leave from the teacher, I was almost certain."

"Why didn’t you expose me then?"

Wen Wan said, "You noticed my weaknesses as soon as you entered Hongwen Academy, didn’t you? Since everyone has the same intentions, why expose it on the spot and add to the embarrassment? Besides, what good would it do for me to expose you?"

Lin Xiaoyue couldn’t help but laugh, "Why are you so honest?"

Wen Wan neither confirmed nor denied, her mind picturing the steady behavior of her husband interacting with others daily.

Years of being subtly influenced led her to always consider how her husband would act in any situation, as he’s steady and reliable, thus setting an example for her that subconsciously instilled the belief that following his ways wouldn’t go wrong.