Chapter 228

Zhou Jingyuan took a dry swallow, but hesitated and would not speak.

Meaning: Zhou Jingyuan gave a dry swallow, but he delayed and refused to speak.

Zhou Jingyuan took a dry swallow, but delayed and refused to speak.

Zhou Yinhe could wait no longer, and said to Ning Qing, "Mom, I can't wait any longer—I have to go to M Country to find Wen Ling. Just ask Zhou Jingyuan about whatever you're curious about."

Translation: Zhou Yinhe had long been unable to wait, and said to Ning Qing: "Mom, I can't wait any longer; I have to go to M Country to find Wen Ling. For your curious questions, just ask Zhou Jingyuan directly."

Just ask Zhou Jingyuan about whatever you're curious about.

Zhou Yinhe rose and walked up to Zhou Jingyuan, looking down as he said, "Zhou Jingyuan, if you have any conscience, you ought to tell the truth to my parents; as for our debts, we'll settle them when I get back."

He stood up and walked to face Zhou Jingyuan, speaking down: "Zhou Jingyuan, if you have any conscience, you should tell the truth to my parents; as for our debts, we'll settle them when I return."

Zhou Yinhe ignored Ning Qing's attempts to stop him and strode out the door.

Zhou Yinhe no longer paid attention to Ning Qing's obstruction, and strode out the door.

Once in the car, Zhou Yinhe slowly rolled down the window, letting warm wind blow in, and he closed his eyes.

When he got in the car, Zhou Yinhe slowly opened the window; warm wind blew in from outside, and Zhou Yinhe closed his eyes.

When Wen Ling left, it was winter, but by the time he returned to the present, it was spring in Beijing.

When Wen Ling left, it was already winter; at this moment he returned to the present, and Sijiucheng was spring.

Zhou Yinhe pinched himself hard, felt the pain, stayed silent for a while, then let out a quiet laugh.

Zhou Yinhe raised his hand and pinched himself hard; feeling the pain, he remained silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a light laugh.

He slowly bent over, and at last felt a real sense of substance in his heart knowing he could return to the present and have Wen Ling back.

He slowly bent over, and the fact that he could return to the present and have Wen Ling again finally gave him substance in his heart.

"Ah Ling..."

"Ah Ling..."

He cried tears of joy, slumped over his knees, and broke into loud sobs.

He cried tears of joy, leaning over on his lap, sobbing uncontrollably.

The pain of losing Wen Ling has left him still unable to recover, like a withered tree that, when only a breath remains, finds new life.

The pain of losing Wen Ling has left him unable to recover to this day, like a withered tree that, when only a breath remains, gains vitality.

The driver who took him to the airport was Zhou Shuanglin's attendant; he didn't fully understand why the Fifth Young Master was in such anguish, but knew he couldn't ask, so he drove silently.

The driver who sent him to the airport was one of Zhou Shuanglin's attendants; he did not quite understand why the Fifth Young Master was in such agony, but also knew he could not ask, so he just drove in silence.

At the airport, Zhou Yinhe had only his phone and papers; even his clothes were still hospital gowns, and there was no time to change.

Upon arriving at the airport, Zhou Yinhe had only his phone and documents on him; even his clothes were still patient garb, and there was no time to change.

People around stared at him curiously, but Zhou Yinhe didn't mind; after checking in, he took the clothes the driver had urgently bought from the nearest mall near the airport, changed in the lounge, then blankly sat on the sofa, staring at the time on the wall.

People around stared at him curiously, but Zhou Yinhe didn't mind; after checking in, he took the clothes the driver had urgently bought from the nearest mall near the airport, changed in the lounge, then sat blankly on the sofa, staring at the time on the wall.

He had tried calling Wen Ling, but her phone was off; so he decided to go first, find Wen Ling to make sure she was all right, and discuss other matters later.

He had tried calling Wen Ling, but the line showed it was off; he could only go first, find Wen Ling to confirm she was safe, and talk about other matters later.

The driver had intended to wait with him, but Zhou Yinhe said, "Go back and tell my parents I shouldn't be gone long—I'll be back soon—well, we'll talk about it later."

The driver originally wanted to wait with him, but Zhou Yinhe said: "Go back, tell my parents I should be back soon; well, never mind—we'll talk later."

After the driver left, Zhou Yinhe couldn't sit still and paced back and forth.

After the driver left, Zhou Yinhe couldn't stay seated, pacing back and forth.

Until boarding.

Until boarding.

In M Country, the evening was a bit cooler than in China; Wen Ling had just returned to Wen Garden, and Aunt Zhou smiled as she took her bag.

In M Country, the evening was a bit cooler than in Hua Guo; Wen Ling had just returned to Wen Garden, and Aunt Zhou smiled as she took her bag.

"The old master and Young Master Wen Zhao are in the back garden, and Young Master Lu Zhaoye is here today as well."

"The old master and Young Master Wen Zhuo are in the back garden, and Young Master Lu Zhaoye also came today."

Wen Ling gave a faint nod and walked slowly toward the rear of the castle.

Wen Ling nodded lightly and walked slowly toward the back of the castle.

At this moment, Lu Zhaoye sat beside Elder Wen, coaxing him with sweet words until the elder couldn't stop laughing.

At this moment, Lu Zhaoye sat beside Elder Wen, using sweet talk to make the elder laugh nonstop.

Lu Zhaoye curled the corner of his mouth, caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, lifted his eyes slightly, and teased, "Hey, our busy person finally decided to come home."

Lu Zhaoye curled the corner of his mouth, saw her in his peripheral vision, his eyes slightly lifted, and teased: "Hey, our busy person finally deigned to come home."

Wen Ling gave him a white-eyed look and calmly said, "You're really idle."

Wen Ling gave him a white-eye glance and calmly said: "You're really idle."

"Yeah, a bit," Lu Zhaoye said, propping his chin, nonchalantly, "Why don't you find me something to do?"

"Indeed a bit." Lu Zhaoye propped his chin, drawling: "Why don't you find me something to do?"

"Not needed," Wen Ling said, sitting beside Wen Zhao, seeing him still handling emails, even while resting he wouldn't relax; she helplessly advised, "Ah Zhao, don't wear yourself out—some things can be left to me."

"Not needed." Wen Ling said, sitting beside Wen Zhuo, seeing him still handling emails, even while resting he didn't relax; helplessly she advised: "Ah Zhuo, don't wear yourself out; some things can be left to me."

Wen Zhao smiled gently, glanced at her sideways, and said seriously, "Sister, I can handle all these things; you should be the one to rest properly."

Wen Zhuo smiled gently, glanced at her, and said sincerely: "Sister, I can handle all these; you should really rest."

Old Wen looked warmly at the brother and sister and sighed, "Ah, it seems I'm the fortunate one; look at my granddaughter and grandson—both are so well-behaved."

Elder Wen looked fondly at the brother and sister, sighing: "Ah, it seems I'm blessed; look at my granddaughter and grandson—both are so well-behaved."

"Yeah, unlike my father, who sowed his seed everywhere, our house is full of kids to the point we can barely fit them, and the kids still fight." Lu Zhaoye shrugged, unabashedly bringing up the Koruz family's embarrassments as a joke.

"Yeah, unlike my father who sows seeds everywhere, our house is full of kids to the point we can barely fit them, and the kids still fight." Lu Zhaoye shrugged, unabashedly bringing up the Koruz family's embarrassments as a joke.

Old Wen snorted with laughter, gave Lu Zhaoye a glare, "Your dad knows you're spreading this around; he'll definitely lock you up."

Elder Wen snorted with laughter, glared at Lu Zhaoye: "If your father knew you were spreading this around, he'd definitely lock you up."

Lu Zhaoye, however, stood up, walked behind Old Wen to massage his shoulders, and smiled, "Grandfather Wen surely wouldn't tell on me to my dad, would he?"

Lu Zhaoye, however, stood up, went behind Elder Wen to massage his shoulders, and chuckled: "Grandfather Wen surely wouldn't tell on me to my dad, right?"

He's strong-handed and also knows how to sweet-talk; Old Wen, coaxed by him, can't keep his mouth shut, and certainly won't mention going to complain again.

Lu Zhaoye has strong hands and knows how to ingratiate himself; Elder Wen was coaxed by him into being unable to close his mouth, and would no longer mention going to complain.

Lu Zhaoye's gaze turned to Wen Ling, who sat quietly watching Wen Zhao handle emails, her expression also indifferent.

Lu Zhaoye turned his gaze toward Wen Ling; she sat quietly there watching Wen Zhuo handle emails, her expression also indifferent.

Since returning, she seems never to have been happy; occasionally going out with them, she just drinks in the corner. Lu Zhaoye has known her since childhood, understands her temperament, and easily guesses that Wen Ling is doing this for her distant ex-boyfriend in China.

Since she returned, she seems never to have been happy; occasionally she goes out with them, but only drinks in a corner; Lu Zhaoye and she have known each other since childhood, understand her temperament, and easily guess that Wen Ling is doing this for her ex-boyfriend far away in Hua Guo.

Wen Ling noticed his gaze, frowned, turned her head, and gave Lu Zhaoye a puzzled look.

Wen Ling noticed his gaze, frowned, turned her head, and gave Lu Zhaoye a questioning look.

Lu Zhaoye hooked his lips, shook his head, didn't bring up that matter, and only asked, "Do you have time tonight? Let's go play."

Lu Zhaoye curled his lip, shook his head, didn't bring up that matter, and only asked: "Do you have time tonight? Let's go play."

Wen Ling lowered her eyes to consider, and Old Wen sighed, "Go ahead; Ah Zhao should go too—don't always be busy with work, take a break."

Wen Ling lowered her eyes to think for a moment; Elder Wen sighed: "Go ahead, Ah Zhuo also goes; don't always be busy with work, go relax."

"Alright."

"Alright."

Old Wen first returned to the castle, giving the younger ones space, so Lu Zhaoye could finally have a proper conversation with Wen Ling.

Elder Wen first returned to the castle interior, leaving space for the juniors; Lu Zhaoye could finally have a proper talk with Wen Ling.

He tapped Wen Ling's shoulder to signal her to get up and walk with him; Wen Ling frowned, not really wanting to, but after glancing at the busy Wen Zhao, she still got up and walked a bit farther with Lu Zhaoye.

Lu Zhaoye tapped Wen Ling's shoulder, gesturing for her to stand and follow him; Wen Ling frowned, not really willing, but after glancing at the busy Wen Zhuo, she still got up and followed Lu Zhaoye a short distance away.

Not far away there was a corridor, both sides lined with meticulously tended flowers; at this time the sky was gradually turning dusky, lights came on, and oddly it gave off a somewhat other atmosphere.

Not far away there was a corridor, with meticulously tended flowers on both sides; at this time the sky was gradually turning dusky, the lights came on, and oddly it gave off a somewhat other atmosphere.

Wen Ling sat on the stone bench, chin in hand, gave a scoff, took the cigarette box Lu Zhaoye handed her, and lit a cigarette for herself.

Wen Ling sat on the stone bench, propping her chin, looked on, gave a scoff, took the cigarette box Lu Zhaoye handed her, and lit a cigarette for herself.

Lu Zhaoye leaned against the stone table and asked Wen Ling, "How come I feel you've been unhappy lately?"

Lu Zhaoye leaned against the stone table and asked Wen Ling: "How do I feel you've been unhappy lately?"

"Anything?" Wen Ling lifted her eyes, tugged at the corner of her mouth, and said flatly, "I haven't always been like this, have I?"

"Any?" Wen Ling lifted her eyes, tugged at the corner of her mouth, and said flatly: "I haven't always been like this, have I?"

"You'd better cut it out; you used to be a happy little girl, but since you came back from China I haven't seen you happy at all."

"You'd better cut it out; before, you were a happy little girl, but since you came back from Hua Guo, I haven't seen you happy at all."

Wen Ling paused, then said, "No, it's just that my uncle's family has been in turmoil lately, keeping me busy."

Wen Ling paused, then said: "No, it's just that my uncle's household has been in turmoil lately, so I've been busy."

"Really?" Lu Zhaoye leaned in, bent to look into her eyes, saw her flinch away sharply, and knew she was lying.

"Really?" Lu Zhaoye drew near her, bent down to look into her eyes, saw her flinch away sharply, and knew she was lying.

He stood up, ultimately unwilling to see her upset, and advised, "If you really can't, go back and find him, explain things properly; I'll keep an eye on your uncle's place for you."

Lu Zhaoye stood up straight, ultimately unwilling to see her sad, and advised: "If it really can't be done, you just go find him, properly explain things; regarding your uncle's place, I'll keep an eye on it."

"No," Wen Ling gave a small smile, stubbed out her cigarette, stood up first and walked out; after a few steps she turned back and said, "Come on, aren't we going out to play? Let's have dinner with my grandfather first, then go."

"No." Wen Ling gave a faint smile, stubbed out her cigarette, stood up first and walked outward; after a few steps she turned back and said: "Come on, isn't this supposed to be going out to play? Keep Grandfather company for dinner first, then we'll go."

Without waiting for Lu Zhaoye's reply, she had already left; in the distance came her call for Wen Zhao to come eat dinner.

Without waiting for Lu Zhaoye's reply, she had already left; not far off came her voice calling Wen Zhuo to come eat dinner.

Lu Zhaoye remained in place until he finished his cigarette, then slowly rose, merely sighing and wondering if he was being too lenient, actually urging the little girl he held dear to go find the person she likes and reconcile.

Lu Zhaoye remained in place, only rising slowly after finishing his cigarette, merely sighing and feeling that perhaps he was being too lenient, actually urging the girl he held dear to go seek out the person she likes and reconcile.

As he walked, he muttered under his breath, "Too lenient; I shouldn't, Lu Zhaoye."

He walked while muttering under his breath: "Too lenient; I shouldn't, Lu Zhaoye."

He's tall and long-legged, and with Wen Ling still waiting in place for a moment for Wen Zhao, he happened to hear his voice.

He is tall and long-legged, and with Wen Ling still waiting in place for a while for Wen Zhuo, he happened to hear his voice.

Wen Ling looked at him in confusion and asked, "What are you muttering? What should or shouldn't be."