As the night gradually descended.
In Xijing City, within a very large villa.
Lin Yanran, the owner of Hundred Herbs Hall, was tirelessly listening to her old mother’s nagging.
"Yanran, you are not young anymore, you should settle down and establish a career."
"And the Han family is one of the top families in Xijing, no less prestigious than our Lin family. Although your grandfather’s health has greatly improved thanks to Red Sun Grass, he is, after all, getting on in years and will sooner or later need to step down."
"Your father, though the eldest son of the family, just look at him, so ineffectual, he surely can’t compete with your second and third uncle. But if you could marry the young master of the Han family, and our families were united through marriage, with the support of the Han family, things would be different."
A middle-aged woman with some bearing, wearing a cheongsam, had her arms crossed and rambled on incessantly.
A middle-aged man of average build sat on the sofa, head bowed, silent and reticent.
These were Lin Yanran’s parents, a domineering mother and a timid father.
Showing a bit of rebelliousness, Lin Yanran said.
"Mom, I just found Red Sun Grass that cured grandpa’s illness, and the family has rewarded us with five percent of the shares, haven’t you already promised me that I can decide on my own marital affairs?"
Seated on the sofa, Mr. Lin couldn’t help but speak. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾·𝗇𝖾𝗍
"Wife, that Han family kid is nothing great; I think we should consider Yanran’s happiness first. After all, marriage is a lifelong event, and our current conditions are not bad. Even if my brothers become chairmen, the annual income from our shares is still a significant amount. We’re not lacking anything, why fuss so much?"
"Waste, you are a waste."
"How can you be so ambitionless? I must have bad karma from eight lifetimes to have married such a useless man like you."
"I’m, I’m raising our daughter, you don’t help, and you also stir up trouble here; do you want our daughter to be looked down on for life like us?"
As she spoke, Mrs. Lin and Mr. Lin started to quarrel.
"Enough, enough, stop quarreling."
Lin Yanran, who was applying a facial mask, really couldn’t stand it anymore, and immediately stood up and said.
"Mom, you just want to force me into marriage, right? Well, I agree. I’ll tell you the honest truth, I already have a boyfriend."
"What? You have a boyfriend? Who is he? When did this happen?"
The quarreling Mr. and Mrs. Lin stopped, flabbergasted, looking at Lin Yanran.
Lin Yanran herself was also somewhat bewildered.
She didn’t have any boyfriend; it was just a hasty excuse she made up to placate her parents.
"Just, just, just recently."
"Um, he, he is the man who found the medicine for my grandfather, a doctor named Zhang Xiaoshan."
Hearing this, Mrs. Lin exploded.
"Didn’t you say that the person who found the medicine was a barefoot doctor from the mountains?"
Feeling indignant, Lin Yanran said.
"That mountain itinerant doctor is also a doctor."
"Oh my, isn’t that just a country bumpkin, Lin Changhai, aren’t you going to manage your daughter?"
Mr. Lin also looked at Lin Yanran awkwardly and said.
"Yanran, although it’s an era of free marriage now, I have never thought about making you marry some rich heir to take over family shares. But, you should at least find someone of equal social standing. Our Lin family is also one of the greatest families in Xijing. How you act could really embarrass the family, and your grandfather and others would not agree."
"Well, I don’t care, if you really want me to marry, then I will marry Zhang Xiaoshan."
On the verge of scolding her, Mrs. Lin suddenly had a light bulb moment, thinking of a plan, and said to Lin Yanran.
"Alright, how about this, invite this Zhang Xiaoshan to come to Xijing tomorrow, let’s all meet him together, and we’ll discuss it after seeing him."
Lin Yanran’s scalp tightened.
Zhang Xiaoshan was not her boyfriend, just a lie to appease her family. But now, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and keep going.
"Okay, then, then I’ll give him a call later and ask."
"I, I’ll go back to my room first."
Lin Yanran felt somewhat guilty as she went upstairs.
"Wife, aren’t you supposed to meet with the young master of the Han family tomorrow and introduce him to our daughter?"
"With that, will there be a time conflict with that Zhang Xiaoshan?" Lin Changhai asked with some confusion.
"Hmph." Mrs. Lin smiled smugly and said,
"It’s better if they clash. There is no hurt without comparison. I intend to make the two meet deliberately. Just wait and watch the drama unfold tomorrow. I will make sure our daughter gives up on that bumpkin."
Although Lin Changhai felt it was inappropriate, his weak nature stopped him from saying more.
By then, it was already quite late.
Zhang Xiaoshan had rented a suite in a hotel near the hospital and was lying on the bed waiting.
Finally, there was a knock on the door.
Zhang Xiaoshan hurriedly opened the door.
Outside stood a woman in a gray coat, wearing a mask.
Zhang Xiaoshan pulled her inside immediately.
After locking the door, the visitor immediately removed her mask, revealing a heavenly beautiful face.
"I’m sorry, I, everything that happened before was my fault, but I never meant to deceive you, I, I am sincere towards you, I..."
Zhang Xiaoshan wanted to explain something.
But Jiang Man had already wrapped her arms around Zhang Xiaoshan’s neck, stood on her toes, and kissed him.
It symbolized her longing for Zhang Xiaoshan, her gratitude, her admiration.
It also signified that she had forgiven Zhang Xiaoshan and was willing to accept all of his imperfections.
After today’s events, Jiang Man had become completely dependent on Zhang Xiaoshan and even considered herself as an attachment to him.
Jiang Man tightly hugged Zhang Xiaoshan’s neck, clinging to him.
"Little Shan, I am so grateful to you, I, I, I always thought I could manage, but now, I realize I can’t live without you."
Jiang Man poured out her feelings for Zhang Xiaoshan.
Tears involuntarily slid down from her eyes.
Her mother had died early, her father was always busy at work, and she not only had to become independent and strong but also take on the role of a mother, looking after her sister. Growing up, she had to shoulder the burden of the entire family.
She was just a woman, after all. She too needed a warm embrace to rely on.
Now, she was certain, Zhang Xiaoshan was the man she could rely on.
In front of Zhang Xiaoshan, she didn’t need to pretend to be a hedgehog. She just needed to be a little woman.
"Little Shan, I, can I be your girlfriend?"
"Even if not the only one, is that okay?"
The two looked at each other.