"But can a person’s heart truly be controlled by willpower, to simply decide it’s not in pain when it is?" Ling Chuxia’s eyes dropped, and suddenly she felt robbed of the courage to enter.
If she went in, wouldn’t she just ruin the atmosphere? Shi Che probably did not want to see her, and Mrs. Shi... she had never been too fond of her.
She decided to visit Madam another day.
Ling Chuxia lifted her gaze again and saw Ling Yunshu had already sliced the apple in two, handing half to Mrs. Shi and offering the other half to Shi Che. When he didn’t immediately take it, the servants nearby chuckled teasingly, "Miss Yun Shu, you might as well feed it directly to the young master."
And with that said, a suggestive laughter spread through the room. Ling Yunshu’s cheeks turned a rosy pink in an instant, and with a slightly coquettish glance at Shi Che, she shyly turned to Mrs. Shi, "Madam, look, they’re making fun of me."
Her words instantly drew a laugh from Mrs. Shi, her face alight with joy.
Ling Chuxia couldn’t watch any longer and turned to leave.
In the moment she turned, Shi Che lifted his eyes, a cool, detached light in his gaze fixated directly on Ling Yunshu. Ling Yunshu’s hand, holding the apple, trembled unconsciously, and her smile could not help but shrink.
She knew when to take a hint and certainly didn’t dare to overdo it.
So, just for an instant, her smile returned, but she pulled back her hand, pretending to be displeased, "I’m not going to feed him, I’ll eat it myself." And with that, she put the apple to her mouth and took a bite.
Mrs. Shi couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh, looking at Ling Yunshu with a hint of a sigh, "Yun Shu, you seem to have changed over the years, become livelier, but that’s good... Che’er is naturally taciturn, and if you were too, it would be too much for both of you together."
Upon hearing this, Ling Yunshu chuckled reproachfully, "Madam, that’s not true. I’m still the same as I always was."
She laughed, her gaze inadvertently sweeping to the door, where Ling Chuxia’s figure unexpectedly came into view, startling Ling Chuxia into a slight catch of breath.
She had thought Ling Chuxia, being in recovery, would not know about Mrs. Shi’s illness so soon, but to her surprise, she already knew—perhaps she was planning to visit Madam?
If she came to visit Madam... and Madam questioned her about the child...
The more Ling Yunshu thought about it, the more frightened she became, her spine involuntarily chilling. No, she had to stop her; she couldn’t let her come in.
Ling Yunshu’s hand stealthily reached for her phone and she played some music. With the music on, she made a show of saying, "Madam, I need to step out to take a call."
Mrs. Shi nodded, "Go ahead."
By the time Ling Yunshu left the room, Ling Chuxia was already walking back. She hadn’t taken many steps before she heard Ling Yunshu’s voice behind her, "Xiaxia."
Ling Chuxia paused mid-step, turned slightly, and saw Ling Yunshu standing there with an elegant demeanor and a captivating smile.
She walked slowly towards her, her eyes scanning up and down, and in a soft voice said, "Are you feeling better?"
Ling Chuxia nodded slowly, "Sister, I’m much better."
Ling Yunshu also nodded, smiling, "You came to see Madam, didn’t you? Why didn’t you go in?"
Ling Chuxia instinctively lowered her eyes to hide the emotions there and forced a smile, "I... I suddenly have something to do, I’ll visit Madam in a few days."
"Sister, then I’ll head back first," Ling Chuxia said, turning to leave, but there was a pause in Ling Yunshu’s voice before it rose again, "Xiaxia, we are getting engaged."