She was his medicine; pampering her a bit more was perfectly normal. He wondered what this petulant little person was doing now and whether she missed him as much as he missed her.
“I don’t miss him at all. I want to be a qualified quick transmigration female who leaves without a care,” Ruan Ning said. “There are so many beautiful men waiting for me to flirt with.”
“I won’t get stuck on one tree.”
“Ten minutes ago, you drank from the tea cup Lin Jie used, specifically where his lips touched. Five minutes ago, you lay on his pillow, sniffing his lingering scent. Just now, while talking to me, you remembered Lin Jie kissing your foot last night and blushed,” the female voice said. “Host, you’re enjoying the process of conquering Lin Jie. In other words, you’re experiencing romantic feelings.”
Ruan Ning instinctively retorted, “Nonsense! I’m supposed to be a heartbreaker. How could I possibly?”
Then she realized and asked, “How do you know he kissed my foot? Didn’t you say you would block these moments?”
The female voice replied, “The system blocks visuals but monitors major developments…”
Damn! Monitoring bedroom activities? What a perverse voyeur!
Just then, Lin Si’s voice sounded from outside the door: “Ruan Ning, you’re quite carefree.”
When Ruan Ning looked up, she saw Lin Si in luxurious silk clothes, her head adorned with gold hairpins and jade ornaments, standing in the corridor’s shadow. Her eyes were filled with hatred as she coldly said, “Ruan Ning, how does it feel to warm someone’s bed? Sleeping with my adoptive father for nothing, without any status – and you still have the face to stay here? If I were you, I’d have died long ago.”
“The lake is right outside.”
“Farewell,” Ruan Ning said lazily. “You!” Lin Si was furious but then laughed. “Ruan Ning, I’m about to marry Meng Fu. Despite your scheming to seduce him, he’s still mine!” “Congratulations!” Ruan Ning replied sincerely. “Wang Meng Fu is the most suitable for you. I wish you’ll love each other until old age.”
After sending Zhang Yun away, Mi Yi told Lin Si, “Miss Lin, what I said about someone more suitable for managing household affairs refers to Miss Ruan. The master has already discussed the wedding date with her family. From now on, you must be respectful and cautious towards Miss Ruan.”
Lin Si forced a smile. “My adoptive father did not tell me about this, so I was rash.”
Internally, she was extremely angry. She had hoped that when Lin Jie adopted her, she would transform like a phoenix. Instead, he guarded against her, making her feel uncomfortable in her own home. She had to rely on Chen Wu for information, but he had not mentioned Ruan Ning’s engagement to Lin Jie, causing her to lose face.
Ruan Ning said, “A Si, shouldn’t you call me mother now?”
Lin Si gritted her teeth and replied, “We haven’t married yet. Changing how I address you might invite gossip.”
“I don’t care about gossip. I just want to hear you call me mother,” Ruan Ning stated cheerfully. “Besides, the imperial marriage decree has been issued. Who would dare to spread gossip?”
Lin Si looked at her, shocked by Ruan Ning’s shamelessness. She forced a smile and softly said, “We are truly destined… mother.”
Ruan Ning smiled brightly, enjoying the moment. She added, “Good daughter, shouldn’t you kowtow to your mother?”
Lin Si gritted her teeth, knelt down, and knocked her head, asking, “Are you satisfied now?”
Ruan Ning stifled laughter, took out a gold ingot, and handed it over, saying, “Good girl, this is a gift from your mother.”
Lin Si accepted it silently, her fingernails digging into her palm. If she did not avenge this, she would have lived in vain!
“I don’t need you to serve me here.”
You may leave,” Ruan Ning said contentedly, looking at Lin Si’s suppressed rage.
Mi Yi stood nearby, displaying a gratified smile. The master had been concerned before leaving, instructing him to care for Ruan Ning and ensure she was not wronged. He had worried about her soft nature, but now recognized her feisty side, which would make her a capable wife for the chief minister amidst numerous challenges.
Ruan Ning suppressed her curiosity and did not ask further. Mi Yi felt pleased by her sensibility and believed Lin Jie was fortunate. He whispered, “About Lin Changsong’s matter and the incident of the adults being sold as servants, never mention it in front of the adults, remember.”
“Okay, I’ve noted it down. Thank you, Uncle Mi,” Ruan Ning obediently responded, though her curiosity about Lin Jie’s abnormality lingered.
Mi Yi’s smile grew as he looked around and whispered, “Did the master instruct you not to go to the palace?”
“Last night, he did,” Ruan Ning said, blushing as she recalled their intimate moment.
Mi Yi nodded, lowering his voice, “If His Majesty summons you, that’s fine, but be careful of the Empress Dowager. She knew the master when she was young…”
Mi Yi’s words shocked Ruan Ning, explaining the difficulty she faced during their first meeting.
Unnoticed, Chen Wu hurriedly ran away from behind the window, hidden by the flowers and trees.
Inside Mu Song Zhai, the room was in disarray. Lin Si paced back and forth, unable to dispel her hatred and resentment. Suddenly, she saw a beautiful vase resembling Ruan Ning’s expression, rushed forward, and smashed it to the ground, cursing, “Die!”
The ceramic shards scattered, but her frustration remained. Just then, the back window opened, and Chen Wu jumped in, softly calling, “Don’t be angry.”
“What right do you have to tell me not to be angry? If you’re capable, help me kill that bitch!” Lin Si gritted her teeth.
“Alright,” Chen Wu sighed, gently embracing her, “This is fate. Anger won’t help.”
Lin Si nestled in his arms, crying softly, “I don’t believe it. Why is her life so good? Why must I suffer her anger my entire life?”
“It’s okay, don’t be angry,” Chen Wu patted her back, softly comforting her. “Just avoid her.”
She never takes the initiative to cause you trouble.”
Lin Si suddenly pushed her away, growling, “Why? Are you even a man? Your woman is suffering, and you don’t want to help me get revenge? Are you falling for that bitch?”
“Your woman…” Chen Wu heard these words and felt pleased, quickly embracing her again, whispering, “No, in my heart, you are the best. I just heard some top-secret information and came to tell you…”
Ruan Ning interrupted, “What is the ‘Heartless Woman’s Secret Guide’?”
“After loading, you’ll become a standard heartless woman who only calculates the other party’s emotions and never falls in love,” the voice said seductively. “Want to try?”
“No,” Ruan Ning firmly refused. “What is ‘Lightning Dream Sending’? Can you send dreams to someone?”
“Yes, create a specified dream for a specified person at a specified time,” the voice replied. “It’s a must-have assistant for home travel, romantic affairs, and seduction.”
Ruan Ning thought, Did this thing learn Chinese from a melodramatic romance writer?
Eventually, she exchanged for the danger prediction function.
Lin Jie was not at home, and Ruan Ning felt a rising danger. Survival was more important; love could wait.
With a ding, the first assistant finally appeared in Ruan Ning’s personal center: Danger Prediction (one time).
She lay on Lin Jie’s pillow, wearing his clothes and covered with his blanket, sleeping soundly. In her dream, Lin Jie held her hand, and they played on the grass. He was a reliable man, and she was a girl eagerly waiting for family love, laughing happily.
Hundreds of miles away, Lin Jie was not so fortunate. In the luxurious room at the post station, despite the soft bed, he tossed and turned sleeplessly, troubled by thoughts of Ruan Ning.
