[Huh, as expected of the female lead. She really had foresight. Great, now I can get back to eating in peace.]
Jiang Yourning was a little surprised.
Jiang Wanrong, meanwhile, began to feel relieved once she understood what her fourth brother meant.
Thank goodness, thank goodness. She still had a younger sister as her cheat code.
Otherwise, she probably would not have been able to stomach this meal either.
But why did her sister keep calling her the female lead? It sounded like something out of a storybook. Had she dreamed up a story of her own and cast her as its heroine?
"All right, dig in. Rong'er, make sure you try everything today."
The meal they had prepared was lavish. She had not expected the family to remain so harmonious even after her biological daughter returned.
Lin Xiangyin's gaze grew even more loving as she looked at Jiang Wanrong.
"Yes... Mother."
Jiang Wanrong nodded obediently.
Calling her "Mother" seemed quite easy once she actually said it.
"This is a family dinner, so there's no need to bother with all those fussy rules. Let's eat!"
Jiang Huai'an chimed in as well.
[My first time getting to eat so many dishes. It sure wasn't easy getting here.]
Jiang Yourning sampled every dish. She had only just taken the edge off her hunger when she looked up and caught the unfamiliar man sneaking another sidelong glance at the two sisters.
"By the way, Third Brother, which relative of ours is this? I don't think I've seen him before."
[Young man, where are your manners? It's normal to take a glance or two at girls you've never met, but keep looking and I'll start suspecting you've got ulterior motives. Careful, or I'll smack you!]
Zhao Yi could not help lowering his head when he heard that.
He had been staring at them and gotten caught red-handed. It really was rather rude.
But that inexplicable voice puzzled him. This was his first time experiencing anything like it, and he truly had not been able to help himself.
"Ahem... Look at my memory. I was so focused on Rong'er that I forgot you haven't met Young Master Zhao. This is Zhao Yi, your third brother's colleague."
Seeing this, Lin Xiangyin reminded them with a smile.
Zhao Yi nodded to Jiang Yourning and Jiang Wanrong.
"Greetings, young ladies."
[His surname's Zhao. Don't tell me this guy came here to mooch off us?]
[But... Zhao Yi? That name sounds a little familiar.]
*[Zhao Yi! The Zhao Yi whose own father cuckolded him, whose wife became his father's concubine, and who entered the palace as a eunuch in utter despair?
Didn't he also stick a knife into that lunatic from the Chu Family? He's a decent guy, then.]*
[Oh, uh... Did I just insult him? I didn't say anything too nasty, did I?]
[11111, Buddha, please protect me. Please don't dock my karmic merit. I'll buy a little wooden fish when I get home and devoutly tap it for ten minutes...]
"Ahem, ahem..."
Caught completely off guard by those words, Zhao Yi choked. Even Jiang Wanrong beside him was not spared; she began pounding her chest violently.
*[Seriously... You can choke on that? You're kind of useless.
No wonder your sweetheart would rather sleep with an old man than have you, and you ended up with no choice but to become a palace eunuch. Turns out you couldn't give the girl any happiness.]*
[Sigh, this sister of mine, too. Isn't she accomplished in both scholarly and martial pursuits? Why does she look like she still needs someone to take care of her? I'll have to treat her twice as well from now on.]
"Fifth Sister, are you all right? Have some tea."
Jiang Yourning affectionately placed the tea in Jiang Wanrong's hand, while remembering to pat her back gently with her other hand.
"Thank you... Ningning."
Jiang Wanrong's feelings were terribly complicated at that moment. As she glanced at Zhao Yi out of the corner of her eye, she could not help feeling a little sympathy for him.
And amid Jiang Yourning's stream of inner thoughts, the unease in her heart slowly faded away.
Zhao Yi's face had flushed a deep red from holding everything in.
Something called regret welled up in his heart.
Why had he decided that, since the Jiang residence was close to the Court of Judicial Review, he could shamelessly come over to cadge a meal???!!!
Ever since he met these two sisters, not a single second had gone smoothly.
And what was this about his father cuckolding him?
He and his younger cousin had been betrothed since childhood, and they exchanged letters every month. Their love was stronger than gold.
Besides, his cousin had only come to stay with his family a couple of days ago. They were deeply in love, and his father already had eight concubines. How could he possibly be depraved enough to lay hands on his son's cousin?
But his father already had eight concubines. It was not impossible that he wanted a ninth.
At that thought, Zhao Yi slowly rose, cupped his hands, and said with an apologetic look in his eyes:
"Everyone, thank you for your hospitality.
I've suddenly remembered some unfinished business, so I must head back now.
I'll be sure to bring gifts and visit another day to apologize."
With that, he turned and ran without giving anyone a chance to react.
[Tsk, look at that little face, all flushed red. Has some embarrassing ailment flared up? Is he suddenly feeling unwell and rushing off to see a doctor?]
As that voice rang out again, Zhao Yi stumbled.
Everyone watched Zhao Yi leave, feeling that he looked rather as though he were fleeing in panic.
After leaving the Jiang residence, Zhao Yi was filled with conflicting emotions.
After a long silence, Zhao Yi looked at the servant who had followed him out, his face full of anguish, and slowly said:
"Go back to the residence first. Arrange for a maid to take good care of my cousin's daily needs, and report all her movements to me every day."
Before you continue