It turned out he was not as magnanimous as he had imagined. Even though he was well aware he no longer had the right, he still felt a despicable and unworthy jealousy when seeing her care so much for another man.
He shouldn’t be like this, he didn’t deserve it, he didn’t deserve it… He continuously told himself that he no longer had the right to interfere with Tao Yu. Just as he was about to believe it himself, a guard burst in from outside, braving the wind and frost, holding a letter and kneeling down: “My Lord.”
“Why are you back now? Did you find what I asked you to investigate?” Yue Linze instantly donned his armor, not a trace of emotion showing on his face.
The guard hurriedly said, “We intercepted this letter during our investigation. After reading its contents, we felt it was important and sent me ahead to deliver it to my Lord.”
Yue Linze’s eyebrows twitched as he took the letter and read it, his gaze instantly turning cold.
On this side, the scholar and Tao Yu walked out in silence. The moment they left the city lord’s mansion, they relaxed. With teary eyes, the scholar looked at Tao Yu and asked, “Why is the city lord so stingy, even keeping a handkerchief? And isn’t he known for being easy-going? Why do I find him so terrifying? Is he targeting me?”
“…Why would he target you for no reason? You’re overthinking it,” Tao Yu’s mouth twitched, feeling somewhat sorry for him.
The scholar looked at her pitifully: “Really?”
“Really.” This was a test before he married his ideal wife, so Tao Yu lied quite naturally. Seeing the scholar was about to ask more, she quickly diverted his attention, “You haven’t eaten anything yet, right? I’ll take you to get something to eat.”
The scholar thought about it and realized he was indeed hungry, nodding in agreement. The roadside stalls had already closed, and they walked for half a day before finding a noodle shop still open. Tao Yu hurriedly sat him down.
The scholar looked at the simple stall somewhat dissatisfied: “Big sister, can’t you take me somewhere to eat something better? He would never have looked at such a roadside vendor before.
“The city lord’s mansion serves good food. Do you want to go back and eat?” Tao Yu raised an eyebrow.
The scholar’s mouth twitched: “No, forget it.”
Chastened by Tao Yu’s words, the scholar obediently sat and ate. Tao Yu watched him enjoying the noodles and found it somewhat amusing: “Tastes good?”
“Delicious. No matter how good the city lord’s mansion’s food is, it can’t compare to a single vegetable in this bowl,” the scholar mumbled.
Tao Yu scoffed: “Why did you suddenly come to the city lord’s mansion to find me?”
“I thought we should make the act more convincing, so I came to the city lord’s mansion to find you. That way, others will think we genuinely like each other. When my parents come, even if they ask around the city lord’s mansion, they won’t find any flaws,” the scholar explained after finishing his soup.
Tao Yu stared at him for a while, making the scholar uncomfortable: “What? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, I just thought,” Tao Yu said, finding it funny herself, “guys who look honest are actually quite cunning. If you’re not careful, you’ll fall for their tricks.”
The scholar laughed awkwardly: “I just didn’t want our plan to go wrong. You’ve been so good to me; I can’t let you down.”
“Alright, you did well this time. Have you notified the person you like?” Tao Yu asked.
The scholar nodded: “Already done. Don’t worry.”
“Good,” Tao Yu stood up, placed a few coins on the table, and said from above, “Since everything is ready, we’re just waiting for the steward to send the tailwind. Rest well. I estimate your parents will arrive in the next two days, and I won’t help you deal with them.”
“I can handle it myself,” the scholar said confidently.
Tao Yu chuckled softly, turning towards the city lord’s mansion. The scholar stared blankly at her back, finally asking, “Why are you so willing to help me?”
“Maybe because…” Tao Yu paused, then said, “I’m Lei Feng.”
She left smoothly, leaving the scholar sitting alone at the stall.
The sky grew darker, and families hung lanterns on their doors to light the way for those returning home. Tao Yu walked quietly on the street, looking at the human-filled surroundings and once again feeling the secondary personality’s desire to protect this place.
She had always considered this world virtual, with everyone except the secondary personality being NPCs. But after meeting the scholar, she was actually willing to help him, getting involved with irrelevant people – something she had never done in any previous world.
Perhaps she was gradually being influenced by the secondary personality, no longer approaching this world with pure rationality. Tao Yu took a deep breath, exhaling when she reached a lantern, watching the white mist disappear instantly, and couldn’t help but laugh.
She walked and played, quickly approaching the city lord’s mansion.
Yue Linze stood at the entrance, as if soaked in ice water, so cold his teeth were about to chatter. How good, that after what he had done to her, she could still laugh so happily. Pity the one who made her laugh was no longer him.
Tao Yu played around, gradually feeling her stomach turning cold. She took a deep breath, planning to exhale one last time and end this silly game.
Just as she puffed her face like an inflated balloon, she looked up to see Yue Linze’s tall figure in the doorway. Today he wore a deep purple casual robe, which, against the vermilion door frame, did not look vulgar but instead exuded an otherworldly immortal aura.
Tao Yu froze when she saw him, realizing how ridiculous her expression was. She quickly exhaled and walked to him, feigning nonchalance: “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you. I have something to say,” Yue Linze said slowly.
Tao Yu raised an eyebrow: “What is it?
Follow me.” Yue Linze said and turned back, Tao Yu rolled her eyes behind him and hurriedly followed.
The two arrived at the study. Tao Yu, who had been freezing cold earlier, felt comfortable as soon as she entered the warm room. Looking at Yue Linze again, she had a bit more patience: “What happened?”
Yue Linze moved his lips but didn’t know where to start. The draft he had rehearsed in his mind earlier was now completely forgotten.
“City Lord? If you don’t want to speak, I’ll go back now,” Tao Yu was in a good mood and wasn’t in a hurry, just giving a small reminder.
Yue Linze took it seriously, quickly went to close the door, and looked at her anxiously: “Don’t go, I really have something to tell you.”
“So what exactly is it?” Tao Yu was helpless.
Yue Linze pursed his lips and asked with difficulty after a while: “Do you, do you really like that scholar?”
Tao Yu looked at him speechlessly. She thought he was going to tell her something important, but after all this hesitation, it was just about this?
“Of course I like him. If I didn’t like him, why would I ask you to help us get married?” Tao Yu said with a smile, thinking to herself that she had no principles at all, finding his foolish appearance somehow endearing.
Yue Linze was pierced by the gentle smile on her face, and after a long time, he asked with difficulty: “Then, can you stop liking him?”
Tao Yu thought for a moment, crossing her arms: “I’m afraid not.”
“What if he’s not as good as you think?” Yue Linze anxiously took a step closer, seeing the smile at the corner of her mouth gradually disappear, then became a bit scared and took a step back.
Tao Yu stared at his eyes for a long time, feeling he didn’t seem to know their plan, and tentatively said: “No one is perfect. It’s normal that he’s not as good as I imagined. I’m not as good as he imagines either. In the future, we’ll have to adjust to each other.”
