Chapter 9: Bah, I Know Exactly What You're Up To

Auntie Zhou had finished cooking the noodles. Seeing her sitting in the living room, she brought the bowl over and placed it in front of her.

Wen Ling was still staring at that phone number, unaware even when Auntie Zhou sat down beside her.

"A-Ling, is he worth you doing this?"

"Yes." Wen Ling pursed her lips and looked up at Auntie Zhou, her eyes shimmering with a faint light: "He is."

At that time, Zhou Yinhe was the pride of heaven. Aside from what his background could provide, he was very capable himself. Because of his arrogant personality, the first impression he gave others was that Zhou Yinhe was someone with his head in the clouds, looking down on everyone.

Yet, such a person—who had been served and flattered since childhood—would hand-wash her intimate clothing when they were together, peel the fruits and seafood she wanted to eat but disliked peeling, and would learn from chefs how to cook her favorite dishes.

He had even humbly begged her not to break up with him when she resolutely proposed ending the relationship.

Therefore, even though he was currently directing harsh words toward her, she wouldn't take them to heart, though she couldn't control the occasional waves of sadness that surfaced.

Wen Ling steadied her mind, curled her lips into a smile, leaned closer to the noodles to smell them, and praised, "Wow, it smells so good."

Auntie Zhou was cheered up by Wen Ling's coaxing, smiling broadly as she covered her mouth and said, "I wonder if other wealthy young ladies are like this, actually loving such a light bowl of noodles."

"Because it tastes good."

***

Meanwhile, at Fengqi Garden.

Ning Qing was leaning against the sofa with her head in her hands, rubbing her temples from time to time. She had just woken up from a nap, having dreamed of what happened to her youngest son three years ago; since being startled awake, her head had been feeling heavy and dizzy.

Butler Yang looked at her with a face full of worry and concern, asking, "Madam, do you want to see a doctor?"

"No need." Ning Qing understood that this was a heartache. She murmured softly, "Tell me, did this Wen Ling come to China to look for Xiao Wu?"

Butler Yang was also one of the people who knew the truth back then. He sighed and advised, "Madam, didn't the Second Young Master say? The Fifth Young Master's attitude toward Miss Wen is very cold. It's likely he has already moved on and won't have any more entanglements with Miss Wen. Please, set your mind at ease."

Moved on? If he had truly moved on, would he have sent people to inquire about Wen Ling's residence and whether there was a doctor to take care of her? Ning Qing felt a sense of frustration at his lack of progress. Gritting her teeth, she said, "That useless Xiao Wu, she already dumped him once, and he's still worrying about her!"

"How am I useless?"

The voice came from the doorway. Ning Qing and Butler Yang both turned their heads at once. Zhou Yinhe walked in slowly, his expression weary and indifferent.

As soon as Ning Qing saw him like this, she knew he certainly hadn't slept well. She stood up and walked to his side, scrutinizing his eyes closely. Zhou Yinhe turned his head away unnaturally to avoid her gaze.

"Hmph, you *are* useless."

Zhou Yinhe kept his hands in his pockets, his posture casual, as he said indifferently, "I knew Butler Xu would call you. Sure enough, after a little while, Second Brother traced it back to me."

He bypassed Ning Qing and sat on the sofa, his well-defined knuckles rubbing his forehead forcefully as he said helplessly, "Mom, stop worrying about me."

"How can I not worry about you? Have you forgotten how you ended up in the hospital because of her three years ago? Is your stomach better now? And you're even inquiring if she called a doctor—has she ever cared about you?"

Ning Qing strode over, her finger poking Zhou Yinhe's forehead, leaving a red mark there.

Zhou Yinhe leaned back to dodge, explaining, "She called me because she had a fever. I had to check; otherwise, if something happened to her, wouldn't I be a bystander watching her die?"

"Bah, as if I don't know you." Ning Qing couldn't help but swear.

"Madam," the butler reminded her softly, and only then did Ning Qing realize herself.

She patted her chest and sat on the sofa beside Zhou Yinhe, glaring at him. Zhou Yinhe had already started laughing when Ning Qing swore; now, he tilted his head back with his arm draped over his forehead, his muffled laughter reaching Ning Qing's ears incessantly.

Ning Qing said in embarrassment and anger, "Is this how you laugh at your own mother?"

Going back through Zhou Yinhe's maternal lineage, they were all nouveau riche landlords. It wasn't until his grandfather's generation that they gradually changed. When Ning Qing was young, living with her parents-in-law, she had also been tainted with that nouveau riche air, only changing after she got married.

Zhou Yinhe suppressed his laughter, rubbed his neck, and said wearily, "Mom, I'm really tired from not sleeping all night. I'm going upstairs to sleep for a bit. We can talk about whatever comes up tonight later."

He had intended to catch up on sleep this morning, but just as he was about to fall asleep, his assistant called to say his Second Brother was investigating the connections between Wen Ling and himself. He guessed his mother had ordered it, so he had the driver take him back to Haining Bay.

Ning Qing, ultimately doting on her youngest son, could only suppress her urge to continue scolding him, saying, "Go on, go on. I'll tell them not to disturb you."

After Zhou Yinhe left, Ning Qing thought for a long time before asking Butler Yang.

"Tell me, should I go see that Wen Ling and warn her not to come pestering Xiao Wu anymore?"

Upon hearing this, Butler Yang hurriedly advised, "Madam, you mustn't be impulsive. If the Fifth Young Master still has old feelings for Miss Wen, your interference will only make him angry."

"But I can't just watch Xiao Wu suffer heartbreak again," Ning Qing said with a frown.

"In my opinion, the Fifth Young Master probably hasn't decided for himself yet, which is why he's being so cold to Miss Wen. We might as well wait a bit longer. Perhaps the Fifth Young Master will figure things out on his own."

"Alright, that works too."

***

Meanwhile, Wen Ling—who had almost been confronted by Ning Qing—was planning how to approach Zhou Yinhe.

She had someone buy a whiteboard and placed it in her room where she could see it the moment she opened her eyes. A photo of Zhou Yinhe was even taped to it.

Wen Ling had written several "strategies to pursue Zhou Yinhe" on it and sat on the edge of the bed watching.

She tossed her phone aside; a message had popped up from the bodyguard she had arranged to follow Ruan Miaomiao.

She clicked it open to see a photo of Ruan Miaomiao and Chu Yao walking arm-in-arm, accompanied by a sentence: *Ruan Miaomiao is instigating Miss Chu to target you.*

Wen Ling's brow furrowed slightly. She tossed the phone aside and stared blankly at Zhou Yinhe's photo on the whiteboard.

Chu Yao was famously arrogant in the capital, yet also prone to believing others. Combined with the "female lead aura" that Ruan Miaomiao naturally possessed, it wouldn't take much for Ruan Miaomiao to actually get Chu Yao to target her.

The main Wen family was in the US; the Wen family's foundation in the capital was still shallow. While she didn't need to fear the Chu family, the person standing behind Chu Yao was Chu Lin. That man was extremely protective. If she were to hurt Chu Yao, Chu Lin would surely risk everything to retaliate against her. Setting aside whether she could still pursue Zhou Yinhe, she might not even be able to implement her plan to counterattack Ruan Miaomiao.

She could not become an enemy of Chu Yao—at least not before she officially began implementing her plan. She could not turn against her yet.

Wen Ling rubbed her aching temples.

So much trouble, so many things to do.

In the past, she had always been someone who relied on others rather than using her own brain. Now that everything had to depend on herself, Wen Ling even felt like calling that man who frequently contacted her to help her devise a plan; perhaps it would make things a little easier.

(End of Chapter)