Chapter 110: Young Master Ling’s First Love
“I was ignorant before, and Grandfather and Grandmother had their considerations for not making it public. I can’t blame the Ling family at all,” Xia Chenge said softly.
“Good child!” Old Madam Ling felt even more heartache for Xia Chenge and squeezed her hand.
Xia Chenge was actually not used to it, and she couldn’t pull her hand away.
Ling Hanmu noticed Xia Chenge’s discomfort and took the initiative to help her out: “Grandmother, it’s getting late. I’ll take Xiao Ge back first. We’ll have plenty of time to chat later.”
“You child.” Old Madam Ling said with a smile, then looked kindly at Xia Chenge, “Then Xiao Ge, you should go home first. Come visit often on weekends, okay?”
“I will.” Xia Chenge still couldn’t bring herself to call her Grandmother.
“I’ll see you off too,” Shu Wan said with a smile.
Ling Hanmu’s face instantly lengthened, and he looked at Shu Wan with a pout. Shu Wan acted as if she didn’t see him.
“Then I’ll be going now. Goodbye, Old Madam Ling, Uncle Ling, Madam Ling!” Xia Chenge stood up and bid them farewell.
“Be careful on your way.” The three of them cautioned in unison, watching Xia Chenge and the others leave.
Once they were gone, Old Madam Ling sighed, “This child is very smart, but her life is too hard.”
“Xiao Mu seems to like her a lot, but she doesn’t seem to have any feelings for Xiao Mu.” Madam Ling glanced at the door, feeling quite sympathetic towards her son.
“It seems our Xiao Mu has met his match.” Old Madam Ling, however, started to laugh. “The child taught by Old Master Xia, I can rest assured. There’s no one more suitable for Xiao Mu than her. Let’s wait and see; feelings can be cultivated.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Ling and Ling Zhongjing exchanged a glance and couldn’t help but smile along.
“However, that debt with the Xu family must be settled properly. How dare they use such despicable means to scheme against our Ling family! Do they really think Xiao Mu is young and doesn’t understand anything?” Madam Ling’s gaze suddenly turned sharp. “I cannot forgive those who scheme against the Ling family like this.”
Ling Zhongjing nodded, “I know, Mother.”
“Also, investigate how Xiao Ge’s parents died. It’s fine if we didn’t know before, but now it seems this matter is probably not simple either.” Old Madam Ling, from the Xu family’s actions, keenly sensed that there was a hidden story behind the accident over a decade ago.
Ling Zhongjing’s expression sharpened, “Yes, I will investigate thoroughly.”
“Mother, do you suspect Mingxuan’s death is related to Xu Jingyi?” Madam Ling asked cautiously.
“They even want to snatch Xiao Mu. Would they let go of Sheng Xia Group if it were so easy to obtain? People die for wealth, birds die for food,” Old Madam Ling snorted coldly.
“If that’s the case, I’m afraid Old Master Xia’s situation is not optimistic,” Ling Zhongjing worried. “Mingxuan’s death back then was such a huge blow to the couple…”
“We’ll deal with it when the time comes,” Old Madam Ling waved her hand. “Alright, it’s getting late. Those who need to rest should go rest.”
With that, Old Madam Ling got up and went upstairs to her room.
Ling Zhongjing and Madam Ling exchanged a look and remained silent: It seemed their mother was truly angry and wanted to seek justice for the Xia family. More than ten years had passed, yet their mother was still so protective. It seemed she had already accepted Xia Chenge as their future granddaughter-in-law.
Meanwhile, Xia Chenge left the Ling family with Shu Wan. Shu Wan intimately linked arms with Xia Chenge, not at all like the proud and aloof person she was when they first met. “Xiao Ge, I’ll be staying in the country for a while. How about we go out shopping and eating together when you have time?”
Xia Chenge had a very good impression of Shu Wan and was willing to associate with such a strong-willed girl. “Okay, as long as Sister Wan says the word, I’m always available.”
“And me, and me! Don’t forget to include me,” Ling Hanmu quickly tried to make his presence known, afraid of being forgotten by Xia Chenge.
Shu Wan looked at him with disdain, “We two girls are going shopping, why would you tag along?”
“Sister, I can be your errand boy, help you pay, and carry your things. A great mobile ATM,” Ling Hanmu said with a grin.
“Really?” Shu Wan asked.
“More real than pearls!” Ling Hanmu patted his chest. “Who am I? I am the Young Master of the Ling family. I lack nothing, especially money.”
“Enough of you.” Shu Wan playfully hit his face, scolding him. “When did you learn to be so shameless?”
“What is face? Can it be eaten?” Ling Hanmu raised an eyebrow.
“Xiao Ge, do you want to consider changing your fiancé? Perhaps someone like me, a woman of both beauty and talent?” Shu Wan tilted her head to look at Xia Chenge, speaking earnestly.
Xia Chenge couldn’t help but laugh. The bickering between these siblings was truly amusing.
She had never had siblings, so she had never experienced this kind of feeling.
“Hey, hey, hey, Big Sister, don’t push your luck. You can snatch anything, but you can’t snatch my wife. Otherwise, I’m done with you.” Ling Hanmu immediately puffed up like a fighting cock and pulled Xia Chenge to his side protectively, as if Shu Wan would really snatch her.
Shu Wan looked at his protective stance and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Ling Hanmu, Ling Hanmu, you have your day too!”
Ling Hanmu’s expression was a little unnatural. “Don’t go too far. This Young Master has his limits.”
“Xiao Ge, my brother is really good. Don’t hesitate,” Shu Wan said to Xia Chenge seriously, no longer teasing Ling Hanmu. “Although he seems unreliable, I can guarantee that there is no more reliable guy than him in Haicheng.”
“You know, this is the first time he’s been so nervous about a girl, the first time he’s begged someone to help him. For someone as proud as him, it’s really not easy to bow his head.”
“Also, Xiao Mu is probably the most pure-hearted guy in Haicheng. This is his first love!”
Xia Chenge was surprised, and at the same time, something seemed to brush past her heart, causing an indescribable flutter.
Ling Hanmu, however, started to complain, “Are you exposing my shortcomings like this? If you don’t shut up, this Young Master won’t be polite. Don’t think I won’t lay a hand on you just because you’re my sister.”
However, Ling Hanmu didn’t dare to look at Xia Chenge.
Even though it was already night, Xia Chenge’s peripheral vision clearly caught him blushing.
This guy is actually blushing! Xia Chenge was shocked.
“I’m speaking up for you and I’m offending you?” Shu Wan said with a smile. Although she had only met Xia Chenge for the first time today, Shu Wan felt an instant connection with her, and her impression of her was infinitely better than that of other young ladies in Haicheng.
Especially when Xia Chenge thoroughly slapped the Xu family in the face, Shu Wan felt even more exhilarated.
This kind of girl, who wasn’t a white lotus, was very suitable for Ling Hanmu.
“You should hurry back home and stop being a nuisance here,” Ling Hanmu waved her away.
“Alright, alright, I’m going!” Shu Wan said with a laugh. “Xiao Ge, let’s keep in touch by phone.”
“Goodbye, Sister Wan,” Xia Chenge waved.
“Finally gone!” Ling Hanmu muttered after seeing Shu Wan drive away.
Xia Chenge turned back, “You seem to be afraid of her?”
“How could this Young Master be afraid of her?” Ling Hanmu put on a show of bravado. “A good man doesn’t fight with a woman. This Young Master is letting her have her way.”
Xia Chenge smiled but said nothing. Although she had never had siblings, she could tell that Shu Wan was very important in Ling Hanmu’s heart, and he genuinely respected Shu Wan as an elder sister.
“However, she was the one who accompanied me when I was little,” Ling Hanmu’s voice suddenly became a little lonely.
