Chapter 157: Heartbeat

At this moment, Wen Feng was a little angry.

Marriage was a major life event, and very few children were able to decide it for themselves; for a close friend to say such things was, frankly, somewhat irresponsible.

"I am serious," Han Baocheng said with a solemn expression.

He was naturally a boisterous, easygoing person who loved to laugh, so it was rare to see him this serious and grave.

Wen Feng’s expression softened, but his eyes were full of doubt: "Does your father and mother know of your plans, Brother Han?"

"They don't know yet." Seeing Wen Feng raise an eyebrow, Han Baocheng hurriedly added, "But they dote on me; they will agree."

Wen Feng frowned, his thoughts somewhat cluttered.

He was a steady and upright man; he hadn't expected those around him to be so flighty—like a close friend who, having failed to arrange a marriage, was still pining for the girl, or a father who always treated Ah Hao like a monster...

No, thinking about his father only made his mind more cluttered.

"Brother Wen." Han Baocheng grabbed Wen Feng's arm, "What if Eldest Miss Lin doesn't make it through this? If she knows that someone still cares for her no matter what, she'll be a bit happier, won't she?"

Wen Feng was ultimately moved by these words: "Fine, I will find a way to pass a message to my cousin."

"Brother Wen, thank you!"

Wen Feng stared blankly at Han Baocheng.

"What is it?" Han Baocheng asked, puzzled.

Wen Feng pointed at his face.

Han Baocheng raised his hand to touch it and felt a patch of coldness.

Feeling deeply embarrassed, he blurted out, "The wind is too strong today. Ah, I just remembered I have something to do, I must go!"

Watching his friend flee in a disheveled state, Wen Feng let out a light sigh.

He hadn't expected that the most cheerful among his friends would be such a devoted lover.

***

Wen Feng went directly to the General's Manor, and he was received by Lin Hao.

"Is Eleventh Brother not at the office?"

"I am resting today." Wen Feng observed Lin Hao; seeing her pale complexion and listless expression, his heart grew somewhat heavy. "How is Chan'er?"

Lin Hao lowered her eyes, her voice as light as a feather: "Not very well."

"Is it convenient for me to go see her?"

Lin Hao gave a bitter smile: "Eldest Sister does not want anyone to see her looking so sickly; I hope Eleventh Brother can understand."

Wen Feng fell silent for a moment before speaking with difficulty: "Does Chan'er spend much time conscious?"

It was said that when she broke off the engagement with Prince Wei, she had already fallen into a coma.

"Eldest Sister wakes up several times a day; it is better than the past two days."

"That's good, that's good." Wen Feng revealed a sincere smile.

After saying this, he fell silent again.

Lin Hao followed suit in silence.

Lying was a physical labor; it was far too difficult.

After hesitating for a while, Wen Feng spoke: "Do you still have an impression of Han Shangshu's grandson, Han Baocheng?"

Lin Hao nodded: "I do."

"He asked me to pass a message to Chan'er."

"What message?" Lin Hao could not hide her surprise.

"He said—please tell Chan'er to set her mind at ease and recover quickly. As long as Chan'er recovers, he still wishes to marry her."

Lin Hao was stunned.

Han Baocheng and her eldest sister weren't just following the orders of parents and matchmakers?

The fact that Han Baocheng expressed his feelings even under these circumstances showed that he truly held her sister in his heart.

But what about Eldest Sister?

Seeing Lin Hao's blank expression, Wen Feng felt a bit awkward: "I know this is somewhat out of line. Ah Hao, please do not misunderstand; if it weren't for Chan'er's broken engagement with Prince Wei, Brother Han would not have said these things—"

"I will pass it on to Eldest Sister."

Wen Feng froze.

It was actually that smooth?

He gave Lin Hao a deep look.

She didn't look like she was fooling him.

"Thank you." Such smoothness made Wen Feng feel that a simple "thank you" was too light.

"If Eldest Sister has a reply, I will tell Eleventh Brother."

Wen Feng was dazed.

There was... a reply?

For a moment, Wen Feng didn't know if the person beside him was abnormal, or if he was.

***

After seeing Wen Feng off, Lin Hao rushed to Lin Chan's side.

"Second Sister, you are—"

"Eldest Sister, confess truthfully, what is the situation between you and Young Master Han?"

"Young Master Han?" Lin Chan's eyes dimmed for a moment before returning to normal. "What about Young Master Han?"

"Young Master Han asked Cousin to pass a message to you..."

After hearing this, Lin Chan was completely stunned.

"Eldest Sister—"

Lin Chan suddenly covered her face and cried.

"Eldest Sister, don't cry..." Lin Hao's heart stirred. "Eldest Sister, do you have feelings for Young Master Han?"

Lin Chan stopped crying and wiped her tears.

The tears washed away her sallow makeup, revealing her fair skin. Her eyes, washed by tears, were dark and deep, as if gathered with a cloud of sorrow.

"I have no feelings for Young Master Han; I am merely feeling a bit sentimental. Second Sister, tell Cousin to pass a message to Young Master Han, telling him not to trouble himself over me anymore."

Lin Hao did not believe Lin Chan at all: "Eldest Sister, are you not even telling me the truth?"

Lin Chan's face was calm: "What I am saying is the truth."

"Eldest Sister definitely has feelings for Young Master Han."

"I truly do not."

"Eldest Sister, I even told you that I have feelings for two people at the same time!" Lin Hao simply resorted to self-deprecation.

Lin Chan was shaken, and after a long while, she gave a bitter smile: "Does Second Sister think there is still a possibility between me and Young Master Han? We have already missed our chance; why bother adding more trouble?"

"Then Eldest Sister definitely has feelings for Young Master Han," Lin Hao said with certainty.

Lin Chan smiled helplessly: "Even if I have some affection, would the Shangshu Manor agree to Young Master Han's whims? I have broken my engagement with Prince Wei and have even been 'seriously ill'; many households will not consider me a suitable candidate for a wife."

"Why doesn't Eldest Sister look at it from a different angle?"

Lin Chan looked at her.

Lin Hao took Lin Chan's hand, her tone relaxed: "It was Young Master Han who asked someone to pass these words. Whether the Shangshu Manor agrees or not is Young Master Han's business. Since Eldest Sister has feelings for him, why hurry to push him away? You just need to wait a little while."

"Wait a little while?" Perhaps it was her sister's relaxed tone that caused Lin Chan's bitter heart to unconsciously soothe itself.

"Exactly. It is Young Master Han who is devoted to Sister. Whether it succeeds depends on him; it actually doesn't have much to do with Sister."

"But if it's like this—"

Lin Hao interrupted her: "Is Eldest Sister worried that Young Master Han will suffer setbacks?"

Lin Chan nodded slowly.

"What if Young Master Han finds the setbacks of pursuing his beloved to be sweet? Should we take away Young Master Han's opportunity to strive for lifelong happiness just because Eldest Sister is that beloved?"

Lin Chan felt her brain was struggling to keep up.

Good grief, she actually felt that her sister made sense—

"Eldest Sister, for Young Master Han to express his feelings at a time like this, how rare is his heart? I don't want you to miss out because you are worrying too much."

Lin Chan lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long time before nodding gently.

The corners of Lin Hao's lips curled slightly: "Then I will go find Cousin to pass the message. What does Eldest Sister want to say?"

"Just say... I will try my best to live."

***

Upon hearing this sentence from Wen Feng, Han Baocheng excitedly spun in a circle and hugged Wen Feng: "Brother Wen, thank you!"

Wen Feng hurriedly pushed him away and said seriously: "I have already told Ah Hao. If there is any change in Chan'er's condition, tell me promptly, and I will pass it on to you, Brother Han."

"Thank you!" Han Baocheng spread his arms, wanting to hug him again.

Wen Feng hurriedly took a step back: "Then I shall take my leave."

As expected, he was the only decent person around here!