Chapter 178: I want a title

Wen Ling followed behind, naturally also seeing what Lu Zhaoye said to Zhou Yinhe, but also due to the angle she couldn't see clearly.

She saw Zhou Yinhe furious, and together with Wen Lao walked to his side, softly asking: "What's wrong? What did he say to you?"

Zhou Yinhe pursed his lips, unwilling to tell her; being scolded and unable to retort was, to him, a very embarrassing matter.

Wen Ling gave him a doubtful look; Wen Lao moved his arm to remind her not to keep questioning, so Wen Ling let it go and pulled Zhou Yinhe to the living room.

Not long after they sat down, some noisy sounds came from outside.

Wen Lao's steward and Qin Lao's steward were strangers to this place; after exchanging a glance they didn't follow out, only Zhou Yinhe's steward went outside to greet.

Zhou Yinhe guessed right away that it was his childhood friends coming.

Indeed, a crowd of people came in chattering, and the originally austere-decorated villa became lively.

Jiang Jibai and Ke Chengyu could talk; sitting before the two elders without favoritism, they could chat endlessly with vigor, showing no fatigue. Zhou Yinhe glanced at them speechlessly, then rose to pour them tea; the steward tried to intervene but didn't have time.

While Zhou Yinhe refilled tea for Jiang Jibai and Ke Chengyu, he whispered: "What's with all this enthusiasm?"

Jiang Jibai lifted his tea, smiling, and said in a soft tone: "What's up? We're just respectful of elders and loving toward the young—does that make you jealous?"

Zhou Yinhe tugged at the corner of his mouth in a forced smile, sat back in his original spot, and Wen Ling took his hand to coax him a few words.

She also felt that those two were the outsiders.

Wen Ling lifted her eyes to glance at Zhou Yinhe; when she lowered her gaze, her eyes met those of Qi Zhan sitting not far away.

His gaze was off; Wen Ling felt something strange, but she merely pretended not to notice, her mind constantly puzzling over it.

Qi Zhan had previously looked at her unfavorably because of past events, but now his eyes clearly held an apologetic expression, making her wonder if he knew something.

Zhou Yinhe took in all of this; he leaned against the sofa back, glanced from the rear right at Wen Ling, who was clearly pondering something, and his mood grew complex.

Wen Ling is so smart that she will surely figure it out soon; what reaction she will have then is what Zhou Yinhe worries about most now.

"They're chatting in here; let's take Hehe and Heng Heng out to the yard to play."

Wen Ling whispered the suggestion; Zhou Yinhe nodded in agreement, and the two rose silently, each holding one, and went to the yard.

Zhou Yinhe truly is the most attentive litter‑box attendant, and the dad Wen Ling had early on appointed for Hehe; after the yard was opened, he built a cat playground for the two, and fearing insects might bite his cat son, he has someone clean it every day.

Wen Ling and Zhou Yinhe sat on the bench under the parasol, Wen Ling lazily swinging her calves; whether indoors or outdoors, this cozy setting is something she greatly likes and longs for.

"Shall we have the two families meet?" Zhou Yinhe proposed cautiously.

Wen Ling gave a soft hum and drawled: "No, we've already met; why make such a fuss?"

"That would definitely be different." Zhou Yinhe coughed dryly, then said in a low voice: "I want a title."

Wen Ling didn't hear clearly, and asked doubtfully: "What did you say you want?"

"Title." Another low, muffled sound like a fly buzzing by, Zhou Yinhe didn't open his lips or teeth; it was purely a hum from his nose, those two syllables.

"Speak properly, why are you getting all petty?" Wen Ling frowned and scolded him displeasedly.

Zhou Yinhe didn't want to say it, feeling awkward and unwilling; he sharply turned his back to Wen Ling and quickly said: "If you can't hear, you can't hear—I'm not saying it."

"Petty." Wen Ling hummed, flopped onto Zhou Yinhe's thigh with a smack, and sighed: "You say, will such leisurely days have an end?"

Zhou Yinhe reached out to support her head, crossed his legs to let her lie more comfortably, and said softly: "No, just leave everything to me."

"What if you also can't manage it?"

"Isn't there still my parents, my older brothers and sisters? If worse comes to worst, there's still Jiang Jibai, Ke Chengyu, Zhao Ningyan, and Qi Zhan; you see they have no proper occupation all day, but in the whole Hua Guo, truly capable people are few, and they count among them."

Wen Ling curled her lips, amused by Zhou Yinhe's thick‑skinnedness, yet her heart felt warm.

She trusted Zhou Yinhe.

Probably just noticing the two were missing, Zhou Yinhe's steward came out to look; seeing them leisurely chatting on the bench, he chuckled lightly: "Fifth Young Master, Miss, Wen Lao and Qin Lao are looking for you."

Wen Ling pushed up using Zhou Yinhe's leg to stand, gave a little hop, and was led by his hand back into the villa.

By then the villa was no longer as lively as when they had just left, but the conversation continued without pause; seeing them return, Lu Zhaoye sneered: "Why did you run outside again? Do you think you're an outsider now?"

Jiang Jibai and the others burst out laughing with a puff; if they spoke to Zhou Yinhe like that, they'd surely earn a grudge, but Lu Zhaoye is different—he wouldn't bear a grudge over such a trifle even if he said it about Zhou Yinhe, after all, because he's jealous of Lu Zhaoye, he's already written Lu Zhaoye's name half‑filled in his grudge ledger.

Zhou Yinhe narrowed his eyes at him and said bluntly: "I don't even know who the outsider really is."

"Anyway, it's not me; I've lived in the Wen Family since childhood, longer than you and Wen Ling have been together." Lu Zhaoye leaned sideways on the sofa, propped his chin, and casually jabbed at Zhou Yinhe.

Zhou Yinhe's anger had already destroyed his reason; he stepped forward a few paces, his narrow eyes turning crimson.

Wen Ling grabbed Zhou Yinhe's hand, quickly held him in her arms, and snapped at Lu Zhaoye: "What are you doing, always bullying him?"

Lu Zhaoye shrugged, adjusted his posture, Wen Ling gave him a fierce glare, then softly coaxed Zhou Yinhe: "Baby, don't listen to him; he basically never came to my house as a child."

Zhou Yinhe's chest rose and fell; whether he had taken it in or Wen Ling's embrace of his hand was soft enough to touch without moving, either way, by the time he sat down he was no longer that angry.

Wen Lao watched the scene, chuckled lightly and sighed: "You two."

"Grandfather Wen, Xiao Wu may have a temper that flares sometimes, but his heart is good." Zhao Ningyan, as the future brother‑in‑law, naturally spoke up for his younger sibling.

"Young people, who isn't like that? Not talking about you lot, just saying my son, who's almost old enough to be a great‑grandfather, still gets stubborn and says he'll just walk off."

Zhao Ningyan laughed; the incident sparked by Lu Zhaoye's two sentences drifted away lightly.

"Maybe it's over, maybe not."

Zhou Yinhe raised his arm to pull Wen Ling into his embrace, gazing provocatively at Lu Zhaoye.