She never expected that given her status and the current occasion, Luo Yingbai would be so direct in disregarding her.
She didn’t consider that bringing up his mother in front of him would not earn her a pleasant response. Zhu Linya recalled the recent incident at the upper-class event and inwardly cursed these young men.
Her expression changed several times before she finally forced a stiff smile, putting down her glass and saying, “Xia Zheng is just a child who doesn’t know better. He offended you before, and I’ve already scolded him. Young Master Luo, please don’t take it to heart. He’s Xianning’s brother, which makes him your brother too, right?”
Luo Yingbai responded noncommittally, “You’re overthinking.”
Just as he finished speaking, a crisp sound of something breaking came from nearby. Luo Yingbai and Zhu Linya turned to see Xia Zheng standing before a sofa, leaning down and speaking softly to a woman sitting and seemingly sulking.
The couple seemed to be in a dispute, with a broken wine glass on the floor. Cheng Guangchen looked angry, and Xia Zheng’s expression was also unpleasant, though he appeared to be trying to placate her.
In such a gathering, while everyone was sophisticated enough to pretend not to notice, such a scene would undoubtedly become gossip by the next day.
Zhu Linya could already anticipate the potential comments – something about illegitimate children being unsuitable, or how inappropriate such a scene was at a father’s birthday celebration.
As their argument escalated, Xia Zheng’s voice grew louder. Zhu Linya quickly grabbed his arm, frowning, “What are you doing? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
Cheng Guangchen finally showed a slight smile and said: “Mom has always doted on me, helping me keep Xia Zheng in line.”
The way this family interacted could be considered very strange. The couple arguing in public was inappropriate, but the mother-in-law not taking her son’s side and instead being overly indulgent towards her daughter-in-law was not a common phenomenon.
Zhu Linya walked back and said “How embarrassing” to Luo Yingbai. She didn’t have the mood to say anything unnecessary now. After exchanging a few pleasantries and about to leave, she heard Luo Yingbai call out to her.
Luo Yingbai nodded, maintaining his composed demeanor. “Yes, it’s crucial to address it early. It might be worth consulting someone who understands these matters before it escalates.”
Zhu Linya glanced out the window, trying to shake off the nervous energy. “Maybe I just need some rest. I’ve been on edge lately.”
Luo Yingbai leaned forward, his expression serious. “Rest is important, but don’t disregard these signs. They indicate that something may be affecting you.”
Zhu Linya forced a laugh, brushing off his concerns. “I appreciate your worry, but I assure you, it’s just been a hectic time with the banquet preparations.”
Luo Yingbai studied her face intently. “Just be careful, Third Aunt. The past can haunt us in ways we don’t foresee.”
As Zhu Linya listened, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he saw more than what was apparent. The mention of ghosts had sent a chill through her, stirring memories she preferred to keep buried.
Looks like I’ll need to visit a temple when I have time.”
She didn’t reveal any information, but the more mysterious she was, the more it suggested there was a problem. Luo Yingbai had initially paid attention because of Qiao Guanglan’s reminder, but after seeing Zhu Linya in person, his suspicions had increased.
As Zhu Linya seemed about to stand and leave, Luo Yingbai continued fabricating: “No, I see you have a Buddhist radiance and smell of incense, so you’ve probably already been to a temple, right? Did praying to Buddha not work?”
Zhu Linya: “…Didn’t you just say I had a heavy dark aura? Which is it, dark aura or Buddhist radiance?”
Luo Yingbai quickly responded: “There’s… both dark aura and Buddhist radiance. Their coexistence means you’ve sought help from someone in the Buddhist community to resolve this matter, but without success. If this continues to drag on, I’m afraid it’ll become truly dangerous.”
After his persistent, earnest nonsense, the previously cautious Zhu Linya finally began to waver.
She had originally been skeptical of so-called metaphysical masters, but now seeing Luo Yingbai speak convincingly—not only knowing about her encounter with a female ghost but also vaguely alluding to her being rejected by Qiao Guanglan—Zhu Linya had to reconsider her stance.
Perhaps Luo Yingbai could indeed help her solve her troubles, but could he be trusted?
Zhu Linya carefully considered that although they had previous misunderstandings, Luo Yingbai was not a member of the Xia family and had no substantial conflict with her. His current behavior was just somewhat difficult to explain.
She smiled and said: “Young Master Luo has given me so many reminders. I don’t know how to repay this favor.”
Luo Yingbai knew she was suspicious of his motives. After a moment’s thought, he happened to see Xia Xianning’s back in the distance and had a sudden inspiration. He whispered: “Third Aunt, we’re not strangers. I’ll be honest with you. I actually need a small favor. After thinking it over, I felt you would be the most suitable person to ask.”
Zhu Linya heard that Luo Yingbai needed her help and felt more at ease. She looked at him questioningly. Luo Yingbai pondered and said: “It’s like this… I’ve found a partner. We’ve been together for a long time, and our relationship is very stable. I originally went with the intention of getting married. But we’ve encountered some practical difficulties. His identity is somewhat special.”
Luo Yingbai was mysterious, and it turned out to be about this matter. Zhu Linya was somewhat surprised. The Xia and Luo families had a good relationship, but she had never heard that Luo Yingbai had a girlfriend.
But seeing the way Luo Yingbai’s eyes softened when mentioning this person, Zhu Linya had no reason to doubt he was lying. As fellow second-generation officials, she saw how Luo Yingbai directly said he “went with the intention of getting married” and thought about her own years of struggle, feeling a bit sour inside.
Zhu Linya said: “Finding a girlfriend is a good thing. Any problem can be solved.”
Luo Yingbai took a sip of wine, gave a bitter smile, and said: “It’s not exactly a good thing. There are practical difficulties. My family’s… well, I can’t say much. Anyway, if my dad finds out, he’d definitely throw a tantrum and do everything to stop us from being together. I’m really worried.
Zhu Linya herself was a model and had not been treated well after coming to the Xia family. Hearing Luo Yingbai say this, she associated it with certain special professions and said knowingly, “You mean you want me to help persuade Director Luo at that time?”
Seeing Luo Yingbai nod, Zhu Linya couldn’t help but laugh, “How could you think my words would carry any weight in such a matter?”
Luo Yingbai said, “Third Aunt is straightforward, so I’ll be direct. First, I certainly won’t rely on just you alone. To defeat my old man, we’ll need a war of attrition, the more people, the better. Second, Third Aunt… you’ve had it tough yourself, so you should empathize with this feeling and have the right to speak.
Third, we each get what we need – isn’t this a perfect match?”
Zhu Linya was finally convinced. Since Luo Yingbai had no other hidden agenda, she was naturally happy to have an expert come to help. Zhu Linya made up her mind and said, “Okay – actually, I encountered a strange incident not long ago.”
Luo Yingbai raised his hand, gesturing for her to continue.
