Chapter 29: I Hear You’re Looking For Me
Won’t Lin Ningkun do anything out of line?
Who knows what expression Lin Qingxu will have after learning about Lin Ningkun and Jiang Xuerou’s matter.
“Madam, Xiao Ge’er is here.”
Just as Jiang Ruanxi was about to speak, Hong Ye came in with tea.
“Let him come in.” Jiang Ruanxi smiled at Lin Qingxu, “This child has been in the Jiang Family for so long, but you haven’t met him yet, have you?”
“Yes, when I was just at Mother’s side, I was still thinking of meeting this child. Mother said he had gone to the school, but now is perfect timing. I heard Second Brother is very attentive to this child, so I am a bit curious about him.”
Given Lin Ningkun’s arrogant personality, even if this child’s biological parents had saved his life, Lin Ningkun would at most bring him home and take good care of him.
But this time, he not only brought him home but also plans to personally teach him, and even thinks of adoption.
Lin Ningkun’s unusual behavior—Lin Qingxu wanted to see just how clever this child is to make Lin Ningkun break his usual habits.
Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes flickered, and she smiled, saying, “Then in a bit, we can satisfy Second Sister’s curiosity.”
Soon, Lin Xiao came in from outside. With some caution, he respectfully bowed to Jiang Ruanxi, “Madam, I got out of school and heard you were looking for me.”
Jiang Ruanxi nodded and said to Lin Qingxu, “This is the child the Marquis brought back. Take a look.”
Lin Xiao thought Jiang Ruanxi had called him over for something important, but he didn’t expect her to have him meet a guest.
He felt a bit displeased inside, and Lin Qingxu, seeing his expression, couldn’t help but turn pale.
Her hand tightly gripped the handkerchief in her hand. Jiang Ruanxi pretended not to notice and said to Lin Xiao, “This is the Marquis’s sister. Since your father and the Marquis are of the same generation, by seniority, you should call her Aunt.”
Lin Xiao was very impatient, “Madam, I still have many things at school today.”
Jiang Ruanxi knew he was unwilling and didn’t force him. She instructed Hong Ye, “Hong Ye, you first send Xiao Ge’er back.”
After Hong Ye left, Jiang Ruanxi fiddled with the teacup lid, “What do you think of Xiao Ge’er?”
Lin Qingxu’s face was deathly pale. Jiang Ruanxi set down the teacup and asked with a concerned look.
“Second Sister, what’s wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?”
“No, I just feel this child looks a bit familiar.”
Jiang Ruanxi pretended to know nothing and teased, “Second Sister, you’re not fooling me, are you? This child’s parents are good friends the Marquis made while serving outside. You’ve never met them, so how could you find this child familiar?”
Lin Qingxu’s face showed some unnaturalness. Jiang Ruanxi pretended not to see it and continued teasing, “Could it be that even you think this child resembles the Heir Apparent’s Wife a bit?”
“No, I, that’s not what I mean.”
Due to nervousness, Lin Qingxu spoke stutteringly.
Having known her for so many years, Jiang Ruanxi naturally knew the hesitation and shock in her heart.
“Don’t be nervous. I was just saying it casually. Besides, the Heir Apparent’s Wife has been under your watch for so many years. If she got pregnant and gave birth, over those few months, how could you possibly not know?”
Words spoken unintentionally, but the listener takes them to heart.
Thinking of the events from a few years ago, Lin Qingxu’s face became even more unnatural.
Although pregnancy takes ten months, if hidden well in the first few months, it wouldn’t show at all.
The objective achieved, Jiang Ruanxi calmly changed the topic, “By the way, how is the Zhenguo Marquis Manor now? Is your Second Branch still making a fuss as always?”
Speaking of the Zhenguo Marquis Manor’s troublesome matters, Lin Qingxu’s thoughts shifted, and she couldn’t help sighing, “Yes, the Second Branch sees our Eldest Branch with no heir, so now they’re making a fuss every day about adoption. But the Marquis is still not resigned and unwilling to hand over the family estate he’s built over half his life just like that.”
As she spoke, she looked at her flat belly, her tone unconsciously falling, “It’s just a pity about my belly…”
“This can’t go on. Why doesn’t Second Sister consider adopting a child?”
Lin Qingxu smiled bitterly, “Even if I were willing, the Marquis wouldn’t agree to adoption.”
Jiang Ruanxi lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea, “Second Sister, the Marquis is unwilling to adopt a child, but the Marquis Manor isn’t just the old Marquis’s alone. What if someone else is willing to adopt?”
Lin Qingxu instantly understood her meaning, her thoughts stirring as she looked at Jiang Ruanxi in disbelief.
Jiang Ruanxi set down the cup and smiled, “Second Sister, I was just saying it casually. It’s getting late. Mother must have been waiting for us for a long time. We should go over soon, or Mother will get angry again.”
After saying that, she pulled Lin Qingxu toward Madam Zhou’s Shoukang Hall.
Halfway there, as Jiang Ruanxi pulled her along in a daze, Lin Qingxu seemed to have figured it out and instead grabbed her hand, saying, “Second Sister-in-law, I’ll consider what you said.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ruanxi was in a great mood. Even when Lin Tingting sarcastically sniped at her during the meal, she pretended not to hear.
After the meal, Lin Qingxu left in a hurry. Jiang Ruanxi saw her off and was about to return to her own room, but just as she turned to go, Madam Zhou called her, “Jiang Ruanxi, come in here.”
Jiang Ruanxi followed Madam Zhou into the room and said calmly, “Mother, did you call me for something?”
“Didn’t the Marquis tell you not to let Xiao Ge’er see outsiders? Are you taking his words as wind past your ears?”
Madam Zhou questioned with an ugly expression.
“Mother, how could I dare not listen to the Marquis? But after Xiao Ge’er came to the manor, the Marquis originally told me to take good care of him. I’ve been busy lately, and today I finally had time, so I called Xiao Ge’er to sit in my room. Who would have thought Second Sister would come to my room at that moment?
Besides, no matter what, Second Sister is from our Marquis Manor and is Mother’s biological daughter. How would I know that in Mother’s eyes, Second Sister is an outsider?”
Jiang Ruanxi’s attitude seemed very sincere, “Mother, I was wrong. I’ll go tell Second Sister right now and have her forget about seeing Xiao Ge’er today.”
With that, Jiang Ruanxi pretended to go out.
“Stop.”
Madam Zhou anxiously shouted loudly, “It’s done since she’s seen him. I didn’t say your Second Sister is an outsider.”
Jiang Ruanxi widened her eyes, even more puzzled, “Mother, then who do you mean by outsider? Xiao Ge’er has only seen me and Second Sister, no one else. Your daughter-in-law is foolish and really doesn’t know who you mean.”
Madam Zhou was so angry her lips twitched and her chest heaved up and down.
This little bitch Jiang Ruanxi—did she really not know, or was she pretending for her?
Taking a deep breath, Madam Zhou composed her emotions.
