Volume One, Chapter 13: Still Feels Better to Call Him Little Uncle

The next morning, just as Ning Yu opened her eyes, Lin Haoyu returned.

“Back so soon?” She got up and walked over to him, taking his coat with a gentle and caring demeanor, like a devoted wife and mother.

Lin Haoyu, having just pulled himself away from Ning Yunyun’s soft embrace, felt a sudden wave of guilt. His voice softened noticeably. “Yeah, I was busy late and didn’t want to disturb your rest. Why aren’t you still sleeping?”

“I couldn’t sleep anymore,” Ning Yu smiled lightly. “Your coat’s dirty. Going to take a shower?”

Remembering the scent of Ning Yunyun clinging to his clothes, Lin Haoyu nodded guiltily and took the coat into the bathroom. The sound of running water soon followed.

Standing by the coat rack, Ning Yu confirmed he wouldn’t be out anytime soon. She flipped open the collar of his coat and pulled out a small device hidden beneath.

She transferred the video files inside to her phone, glanced through them, and listened to the audio through her earphones, letting out a cold laugh.

He was indeed quite busy—two kinds of medicine taken, at least four or five different tools used.

“What are you looking at?” Lin Haoyu asked, drying his hair as he stepped out.

Ning Yu calmly locked the screen and took out her earphones. “I just called Mom. She’s very concerned about us last night. She wants us to settle things soon.”

Lin Haoyu’s hand trembled, nearly dropping the towel. It was hard to say whether he felt more guilty or more excited. “Don’t worry, Ning Yu. No matter what happens, I will marry you.”

Ning Yu smiled.

Engagement negotiations were always dictated by the parents, but when the groom’s family was the Lin family, they were the ones who decided.

The Ning family had no say. Ning Yu’s parents understood that others looked down on them, but they smiled and agreed anyway.

As long as the engagement was confirmed, sooner or later, it was still a win for the Ning family.

In Beijing’s social circles, very few looked favorably on the Ning family, let alone the Lin family. Only Lin Haoyu’s mother, the matriarch of the main branch, and Lin Haoyu himself were involved.

Originally, Mrs. Lin wanted the engagement to be three months away, but Lin Haoyu persuaded her to shorten it to one month.

Ning Yu’s parents were pleased and their gaze toward Ning Yu had softened considerably.

“Please forgive us all,” Mrs. Lin said with a forced smile, “As you can see, the household is in turmoil, everyone is scrambling, and no one has been able to properly attend to you. It’s truly our oversight.”

She continued, “Please stay a couple more days at the old residence. There will be a family dinner in the evening; we hope you can join.”

Though it sounded like an invitation, it was actually a polite way of urging them to stay temporarily.

Ning Yu saw through it, though some short-sighted people couldn’t.

Like Ning Yu’s mother, for example, and Ning Yunyun.

Ning Yu’s mother smiled and nodded in agreement.

Ning Yunyun happily sat beside Mrs. Lin, showering her with flattering words.

She had always been sweet-tongued, adept at winning favor.

Mrs. Lin, rarely showing any genuine happiness, was visibly pleased this time, while Ning Yunyun shot Ning Yu a provocative glance.

Ning Yu pretended not to notice. “Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom.”

Everyone was busy talking and no one paid her any attention. Ning Yu turned and left the Eastern Garden.

She didn’t want to go far, fearing an accidental encounter with that ancestral statue again. She wandered around the garden, trying to clear her mind.

But as soon as she stepped in, she ran into a man and a woman talking.

“Uncle!”

The woman was beautiful and tried to get close to Li Shiyan.

Ning Yu had seen this girl once before.

Lin Fangfei, the daughter of the Lin family’s second branch, the legitimate granddaughter of the Lin patriarch, and Lin Haoyu’s cousin.

Li Shiyan showed no expression. “What is it?”

Lin Fangfei, a young lady raised with all the privileges, had no airs before Li Shiyan. “It’s nothing much... I’ve been feeling a bit anxious lately, occasional palpitations, frequent nightmares. You know the most about traditional Chinese medicine, Uncle. Could you feel my pulse?”

Every word was intimate, every sentence a plea.

Ning Yu thought for a moment and decisively hid behind a nearby pillar.

Firstly, her identity was sensitive and it was inappropriate for her to witness such a scene.

Secondly, she wanted to avoid being noticed.

She controlled her movements well until she accidentally knocked over a broom behind the pillar.

The clatter immediately caught Lin Fangfei’s attention. “Who’s there?”

Ning Yu was thinking quickly when she heard the man’s sarcastic voice.

“What did you just say?”

It seemed to be directed at Lin Fangfei.

Lin Fangfei, hearing Li Shiyan respond, was delighted and didn’t care much. She quickly repeated herself: “Fangfei’s just feeling unwell and afraid to go to the hospital. I wanted Uncle to feel my pulse.”

Ning Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The man had finally acted like a decent person.

“Alright.” Li Shiyan’s cold gaze landed on the pillar mysteriously, and he chuckled meaningfully: “But, Miss Ning, do you want to join us?”

“Ning Yu?” Lin Fangfei was surprised for a moment, then quickly looked toward the pillar. “If you’re coming, why hide and dodge?”

It’s not like she was hiding from you. Ning Yu retorted inwardly, really wanting to punch Li Shiyan.

She knew that man loved stirring trouble and was eager to catch every little fault of hers. He would never let her off easily.

Ning Yu forced a smile and stepped out from behind the pillar. “Second Miss, Fifth Master.”

“Sneaking around the garden, typical of the Ning family—never proper.” Lin Fangfei, the cherished daughter of the entire family, was even more arrogant and haughty than Ning Yunyun.

Not that she was naive or uncalculating. How could someone from the Lin family be completely oblivious?

It was just that Lin Fangfei instinctively looked down on Ning Yu, and the Ning family could never cause any real trouble, so she didn’t bother being polite.

Ning Yu smiled apologetically. “I was just taking a walk and didn’t want to bother the Second Miss. I’ll head back now and won’t disturb you.”

A trace of mockery flickered in Li Shiyan’s eyes.

After eight years, he was well-practiced at nodding and bowing.

Seeing Ning Yu try to retreat, he lifted the corner of his mouth. “Fangfei.”

His tone was indifferent.

Lin Fangfei sensed a hint of reproach and realized she’d been careless with her words. Her tone turned sour. “Wait. Since Uncle said it, you’re coming too.”

She really didn’t want to join.

Ning Yu forced a smile and turned to the man. “Thank you, Fifth Master.”

“You’re welcome.” The man strode over with long legs, speaking flirtatiously, “It still feels better to be called ‘Uncle.’”

With that, he led the way into a side hall.

Lin Fangfei glanced at Ning Yu disdainfully. “Hurry up and follow. Don’t know where your luck comes from. I begged Uncle for a long time before he agreed, and you just show up and take my spot.”

“It’s thanks to the Second Miss’s favor,” Ning Yu said through clenched teeth.

Who wanted this so-called luck!

Who knew what that man intended to do now that Lin Fangfei was present?