Chapter 240: 230 Chapter 240: 230 Ye Chen, having nothing to do in the courtyard, decided to head out.
Ling’er trailed behind him like a shadow, seemingly just as bored, and asked, “You often head out punctually at night, are you meeting someone?”
“Wow, you guessed right, I did see a girl who took my breath away, and soon I’ll be successful. You’d better hurry up and find one, otherwise I might beat you to it, leaving you feeling unbalanced,” Ye Chen joked.
“Then I’ll give you a black eye,” retorted Wei Yiling, already accustomed to his way of speaking.
Ye Chen chuckled and said, “You want to give your future husband a black eye, isn’t that asking too much of yourself?”
“Who said I’m your future wife?” Ling’er’s hands were placed behind her, leisurely trailing behind Ye Chen, not overly concerned. Ye Chen didn’t seem to mind, having an additional person to chat with was better than being alone. Besides, what attractive girl was he talking about?
It was already dusk. Having just finished supper, it was a good time to take a walk and aid digestion.
“Weren’t you constantly helping your dad these past two days? How come you’re free now?” asked Ye Chen.
“Are you really meeting a girl?” Wei Yiling asked skeptically.
Ye Chen smiled, finding her all the more adorable.
“Are you implying I’m getting in your way?” Ling’er retorted.
“Not really, it’s the same for me whether you’re here or not. I won’t find your presence bothersome. To me, you’re not really a woman as long as you don’t feel awkward.”
“Why would I feel awkward?”
“Alright, but if, in the future, I really do fall for someone, don’t tell me you don’t agree, or that your dad has already arranged our marriage – that I’m obligated to marry you because of our engagement,” warned Ye Chen.
“Daydreaming, where do you get your self-confidence? So full of yourself,” Ling’er giggled.
“Perhaps, but all you need to do is stop refuting, I know I’m quite outstanding.”
“I wonder where you got such confidence. It would be great if you could find a partner soon so I won’t have to explain it to my dad. At that time, I’ll just agree – it would save me some trouble,” Wei Yiling was determined not to be looked down upon.
“Really? Those are your words, don’t come crying to me later.”
“Heh, you fantasize too much.”
“Perhaps,” Ye Chen replied.
“Where are we going?”
“Just follow me.”
“We’re not going to a brothel, are we?”
“Possibly,” Ye Chen replied.
But Ling’er knew that while he might have the interest, he lacked the guts. If she didn’t even know this about him, she thought, I would have wasted all my effort in understanding him. He’s quite a decent guy who wouldn’t engage in mischief.
“With your dad so busy, you should help him share some of his duties. Don’t you know his health isn’t great?”
“I can’t help him with his matters. He finds me a nuisance.”
“At least you acknowledge that you’re a nuisance.”
Nuisance? It’s just that he restricts himself too much. They all think of me as the child I was ten years ago.”
“Depends on whom he’s dealing with. Look, your dad treats me differently, even daring to let me take Can Mo and others to Ghost City. It’s not that he is restricting himself, it’s just that he knows you. Don’t complain just because you lack experience. This world is steeped in blood, sometimes being naive – although pretty – can make you seem foolish.”
“Those words are not nice,” Wei Yiling grumbled, though she knew they rang true, curling her lips in displeasure.
“If everyone were as foolish as you, the world would truly be peaceful,” said Ye Chen.
Ling’er glared at him.
“I’m telling the truth.”
“You’re incapable of uttering any nice words,” Ling’er didn’t like people calling her naive or foolish.
“Being this close, always touching and fussing about, I wonder if we’ll develop feelings?”
“Who’s fussing with you!”
“Right, but isn’t it too close? There’s no pure friendship between men and women, especially at our age.”
“You’re overthinking it. I just wanted to find a friend to chat with.”
“I’m afraid others might misunderstand,” said Ye Chen.
“I guess you’re not afraid of any misunderstandings at all.” Ling’er recalled their previous misunderstanding with her dad. If he was really afraid of misunderstandings, he wouldn’t have acted that way. She suspected that he might be harboring feelings for her, though she wasn’t entirely sure. Yet, she remained confident in her own attractiveness.
“Why wouldn’t I be afraid of misunderstandings? I still want to find a better bride. You think I’m joking. If not for the recent incidents in Wasteland City, I would have left long ago.”
“So, you’re going back to the Central Plains?”
“Yep, since you’re not confessing, I’ll have to go back and find my Feng Niang.”
“An old lady who can be found anywhere in the streets,” she teased.
“Hey, young lady, don’t just randomly call her an old lady. She is quite charming,” retorted Ye Chen.
“Maybe she has already found an old man for herself.”
“No way, she has been single for so many years, which means she won’t find an old man easily.”
“But she won’t wait for you either.”
“Well, that’s hard to say.” Ye Chen lead the way into an inn. It was bustling with people, quite lively. Across the inn was a small lake, with many young men and women taking a stroll by its side.