Chapter 126: Want to go to Hua Guo to see you?

"Yeah." Wen Ling chuckled: "If he's not here, I'll just drive his."

Liushutong clicked her tongue twice, propping her chin: "This car is great."

Wen Ling gave a light hum: "He's never used anything subpar, whether it's a car or anything else."

"Sure thing." Liushutong recalled her childhood, couldn't help laughing, and told Wen Ling: "Do you know he raised wolf cubs as a kid and they killed the chickens kept by the old master of the neighboring Jiang family?"

Wen Ling had heard Zhou Qiyue say that, so she naturally knew.

Liushutong continued: "My grandfather also lived in the compound back then and knew about this; he even mocked the Jiang family elder. But a few days later, those wolf cubs ruined all the flowers he'd grown. My grandfather, short-tempered, went to confront them, and Zhou Yinhe said, 'Who let your grandfather grow such fragrant flowers? They attracted his wolf cubs.'"

"……" Wen Ling was stunned, looking at Liushutong, and asked amusedly: "When he was little, how…"

"Right." Liushutong smiled, pursing her lips: "It would've been better if he never went to the compound; once he did, there was never a peaceful moment there."

Wen Ling also laughed, and Liushutong went on: "You two have been reconciled for a while now—are you planning to keep dating or make it official?"

Liushutong wouldn't ask this out of the blue; Wen Ling figured it out and asked: "Was it my maternal grandfather who sent you to ask this?"

Liushutong knew she was smart, but didn't expect her to react so quickly.

"Yeah, he's worried too, afraid you'll break up." Liushutong spelled out her guess about Qin Lao: "The Zhou family, whether in status or otherwise, ranks among the top in the capital; although Zhou Yinhe's temperament isn't the best, he has no temper in front of you, so Qin Lao naturally likes him—it's just a matter of saving face."

Wen Ling snorted with a laugh: "I know you're all pleased."

"Recently I heard from your cousin that you went to M Country—does Wen Lao approve of him?"

Liushutong didn't know what happened to them in M Country; hearing the question, she didn't hide anything and told Liushutong the story.

Liushutong's eyes widened in surprise; the car had already stopped in the mall's parking lot. The two got out and walked toward the mall together, arms linked, chatting intermittently.

Just then, they happened to run into Ning Qing and Second Lady Zhou.

Wen Ling smiled warmly as she stepped forward to greet them; Ning Qing affectionately linked arms with her and introduced her to Second Lady Zhou: "You've only seen photos before, never met Ah Ling in person, right? Isn't she beautiful?"

Second Lady Zhou nodded, stunned, and praised: "Really beautiful, and her face matches Xiao Wu's perfectly."

"That's for sure." Ning Qing lifted her chin, quite pleased.

Liushutong was already on good terms with both sisters-in-law; after a warm, easy greeting, she invited them to get manicures together.

Four beauty‑loving women gathered together always have endless topics—from handbags to jewelry, from makeup to skincare.

Wen Ling finished her manicure first, sat aside waiting for them, chatted casually, and while they weren't paying attention, she settled the bill directly.

Only when they were done and went to pay did they realize Wen Ling had already paid.

"Ah Ling, I should be the one treating you."

Wen Ling leaned against Ning Qing with a curved smile, soft voice: "Auntie, next time you treat me."

Ning Qing patted her hand; she had something else to do, so after a brief stroll she would leave with Second Lady Zhou. Before departing, Ning Qing whispered: "Ah Ling, when Xiao Wu comes back, you must come to our house to play."

Wen Ling had already promised Zhou Yinhe earlier, and now she wouldn't pretend to be reserved in front of Ning Qing—she readily agreed.

After they parted, Liushutong chuckled lightly: "Everyone says the Zhou family's matriarch isn't easy to get along with."

"Right." Wen Ling had heard those rumors too and nodded.

"But I see she's been gentle with you."

"Right." Wen Ling repeated.

The two moved on to get food, but while waiting for the dishes, Wen Ling received a call that surprised her greatly.

She stared blankly at the incoming call on her phone screen, pressed her lips, and, under Liushutong's puzzled gaze, got up to go outside to answer.

"Hello."

She sounded a bit distant; the man on the other end stayed silent for a long while before finally calling out: "Ah Ling."

Wen Ling lowered her eyes and hummed in acknowledgment.

"Ah Ling, my wife and I will be returning to M Country soon; I heard from your grandfather that you're in Hua Guo—would you like to come back and see us?"

Wen Ling stayed silent, her fingers twitched, and a long‑dormant cigarette craving surfaced.

The voice on the phone changed to a softer tone: "Ah Ling, my husband and I would like to go to Hua Guo to see you—would that be okay?"

"No thanks, I don't really have the time." Wen Ling said and hung up immediately.

She walked to a nearby convenience store, bought a pack of cigarettes, lit one not far away, lowered her gaze, and exuded a low mood.

Zhou Yinhe got his phone later today, placed a video call, saw Wen Ling wasn't in a good mood and was smoking, frowned, and asked doubtfully: "Are you feeling down?"

Wen Ling fell silent for a moment, then whispered: "My parents called me."

Zhou Yinhe knew a bit about Wen Ling's parents, tried to soothe her softly, but she couldn't summon any emotion.

"It's fine; you should rest early, I'll wait for you to come back." Wen Ling let out a light sigh, stubbed out her cigarette, and said: "I'm going back to find Sister Shutong for dinner—she's surely been waiting for me a long time."

"Okay." Zhou Yinhe still wasn't reassured; before ending the video call he added: "If anything comes up, go straight to Jiang Jibai and the others; if that really doesn't work, turn to my parents—don't bear it alone."

"I know."

Wen Ling blew him a kiss through the screen, ended the video call, and only then noticed Liushutong waiting for her at the hotel entrance.

"What's wrong?"

She looked at Wen Ling with concern; Wen Ling shook her head and said softly: "Nothing's wrong—let's go, let's head back to eat."

Liushutong gave her a few glances; she could tell Wen Ling was unhappy, but Wen Ling didn't want to say, and Liushutong didn't feel right pressing, so she dropped the topic and returned to the private room with Wen Ling.

During the meal, Wen Ling had already returned to her usual self, listening as Liushutong gossiped about the various aristocratic families of Sijiucheng.

Throughout, Wen Ling only said a few lines——

"Really? That's so melodramatic?"

"Wow, what a formidable first wife."

"Such a scumbag—why does anyone still rush to be with him?"

She seemed to have tossed the recent events to the back of her mind, blinking her bright eyes as she earnestly gazed at Liushutong.

Liushutong sighed, chuckled lightly: "There's still plenty of gossip—you could never finish telling it all; the more such a family, the more of this sort of thing there is."

She ate her dish while sneaking a glance at Wen Ling's expression; seeing that Wen Ling had become much happier, she finally relaxed.

After finishing the meal, Liushutong asked Wen Ling if she was tired; if not, they could go somewhere else to play.

Wen Ling felt a little tired, not physically, but mentally.