Years have passed, the world has changed, and the young girl has grown up, but her fear of him remains unchanged.
Ling Mohan sighed faintly and placed a hand on Ling Wan's shoulder. "Don't overthink it, hurry back to your room."
"Mm... alright..." Ling Wan responded absently, forgetting even to bid farewell before she rushed away.
Ling Wan's footsteps did not falter the entire way back, as if pursued by monsters, running with all her might.
Once inside, she quickly shut the door, panting heavily as she slumped onto a chair. She picked up her teacup and took several large gulps of water, her dry throat finally feeling a bit better.
"You child, what's with all the panic? Are wolves chasing you?"
Seeing Ling Wan, who was covered in sweat and struggling to catch her breath, Aunt Bai couldn't help but chide her. The girl was becoming less and less like a lady. If she were to marry in the future, she'd be ridiculed by her in-laws and disliked by her mother-in-law for her lack of manners. The thought of it filled Aunt Bai with worry. What would become of her if this continued? If Ling Wan wasn't taught properly now, would she have to rely on her in-laws to teach her rules later?
"You won't leave the house tomorrow. You can embroider or read in your room!"
After much deliberation, Aunt Bai voiced the plan she had been considering.
As expected, Ling Wan objected, "Mother, you can't always keep me locked in my room. I'll go mad if I'm cooped up like this. I'm not leaving the estate, at least let me walk around outside."
Knowing she would object, Aunt Bai took Ling Wan's hand and said earnestly, "Wan'er... don't forget your status. You are a concubine's daughter in this household. Your mother was not a high-ranking lady, merely a concubine, and one of the lowest order..."
"If you don't study hard now, will you end up being a concubine like your mother in the future!"
Aunt Bai shouted angrily, her tone stern, fueled by disappointment. Having experienced the hardship of being a concubine, she was determined not to let her daughter walk the same path. Even if Ling Wan had to marry a poor farmer, Aunt Bai would never allow her to become a concubine.
The light in Ling Wan's eyes gradually dimmed. Her mother's words had shattered the last glimmer of hope in her heart. She slumped onto the chair as if drained of all spirit, her head hanging low, devoid of any vitality.
"Child, it's not that Mother is cruel, but this is our fate. Since fate has decreed it, we must learn to accept it!"
Seeing Ling Wan's state, Aunt Bai felt as if knives were piercing her heart, causing her immense pain.
A wave of bitterness washed over her. Aunt Bai hugged Ling Wan, tears streaming down her face.
"Mother, don't cry. I'll do as you say. From now on, I'll stay obediently in my room and won't go out again."
With Ling Wan's promise, Aunt Bai finally felt relieved. Ling Wan was an obedient and sensible child; if she said she wouldn't leave secretly, she wouldn't.
Ling Wan's eyes were vacant and lifeless as she slowly stood and walked back to her room. Once inside, she locked the door and then dared to take out the box hidden in her sleeve. Her hand hovered over it for a long time, but she lacked the courage to open it.
Her mother's words still echoed in her ears. She had been foolishly ambitious. She let out a self-mocking laugh and, looking at the box in her hand, finally placed it at the very bottom of her jewelry box.
...
The sound of the door opening drew Feng Jin's attention. She put down her bottles and jars and turned to look. "You're back," she said indifferently.
It had to be said that Ling Mohan always returned at precisely the right moment. Just as the matter was settled, Ling Mohan would appear. It was an uncanny coincidence.
"Are the Sheng family gone?"
Feng Jin did not answer Ling Mohan's question immediately. She merely looked at him calmly, her gaze tinged with a hint of disdain. "Don't you have eyes? Can't you see for yourself if they've left?"
His expression darkened after being rebuffed. He had merely asked a polite question and was immediately shot down like this. Did he have no pride? Fortunately, no one else was present, or he would have lost face completely.
"I was just asking casually..." Ling Mohan's voice lacked conviction, and he deflated instantly.
Feng Jin glared at him fiercely. "You certainly know how to pick your timing. As soon as things were handled here, you came scurrying over. Do you really think I don't know that Old Master secretly sent someone to find you? You... why did you come back so quickly!"
Her eyes and ears were everywhere in the mansion; what didn't she know? Old Master had long since dispatched someone to stealthily find Ling Mohan, and only after everyone had left and the matters were resolved did Ling Mohan leisurely appear. She refused to believe Ling Mohan was too busy to attend to matters. This was clearly Ling Mohan deliberately delaying his arrival.
"How did you know?" Ling Mohan's voice held a trace of surprise. He had never expected Feng Jin to know such details. Could it be that someone close to Old Master had been infiltrated by Feng Jin's spies?
"Could it be... you have people around Old Master... I see your spies everywhere in this mansion. I'll have no privacy left in the future."
Ling Mohan's voice was laced with a hint of displeasure. It seemed he would have to be more careful in his words and actions from now on, lest he fall into Feng Jin's traps.
Feng Jin did not answer Ling Mohan's question. Instead, she gave him a meaningful look, leaving him to figure out the rest for himself.
"Indeed, a woman's heart is like a needle in the sea, truly unfathomable," Ling Mohan said helplessly.
After a moment's pause, as if remembering something, he quickly continued, "By the way, why did the Sheng family come here? I never knew you had any contact with them."
Feng Jin's expression froze. For a moment, she forgot how to answer, her mind racing as she searched for a suitable response. After a long while, she still couldn't find one.
"Why aren't you speaking?" the man pressed on, his patience gradually wearing thin.