Chapter 188: I Knew It, You Like Me

In the woods.

The chasing and playful sounds of the young ladies having a snowball fight suddenly stopped.

With outsiders present, they naturally felt embarrassed to keep playing.

Lin Daiyu leaned against a large tree behind her, panting, her gaze fixed on the pavilion; she seemed to want to go over, yet felt a bit shy.

She looked exceptionally disheveled at the moment.

Her face and clothes were covered in snow, her little face was flushed red, her whole body was drenched in fragrant sweat, and her braided hair had come loose, looking a complete mess.

Shi Xiangyun, however, was not afraid, and said in a crisp voice, "It's Young Master Luo, let's go over and have a chat."

Lin Daiyu hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help following behind.

As she walked, she lowered her head to tidy her hair, letting Zijuan and Xueyan behind her brush the snow off her clothes.

But at this moment, Luo Zijun was already preparing to leave.

Seeing that it was still early and that it wasn't appropriate for him to stay here any longer, he borrowed a carriage from Bai Third Miss, intending to make a trip to the West Lake Academy.

He had originally agreed to report there once a month, but due to matters along the way and the national mourning, he hadn't gone for half a year, only having his brother-in-law send word during that time.

Now that he had the time and a carriage from the Duke's mansion, it was the perfect opportunity to go.

When Shi Xiangyun and Lin Daiyu arrived at the pavilion, Luo Zijun had already gone far away.

Shi Xiangyun stamped her foot and said, "Why did Young Master Luo leave just as we arrived!"

Jia Tanchun laughed, "Who told you to run so far away? I called out to you just now, but you didn't hear clearly."

Shi Xiangyun laughed, "It was all Pin'er's fault, she insisted on chasing me, and ended up falling several times herself, hahahaha..."

Lin Daiyu, standing to the side, said annoyedly, "Who told you not to throw at anyone else, but only at me."

Shi Xiangyun said, "You threw at me first."

Lin Daiyu said, "It was clearly you who threw at me first."

Bai Qingtong watched from the side with a face full of smiles, and suddenly said, "There is something I would like to tell everyone."

Hearing this, the group immediately quieted down.

Bai Qingtong smiled, "On the seventh of this month, my sister is getting married. If everyone has time, let's go have a meal together."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jia Tanchun and the others were all stunned.

They naturally knew about the incident that had suddenly befallen the Bai Daxiaojie, which had caused such a stir throughout the city.

They hadn't expected that she would suddenly be getting married now.

Jia Tanchun asked in surprise, "The seventh of this month? Isn't that almost here? Why are you only saying it now?"

Normally, for a marriage in such a great family, invitations would have been sent out months in advance.

Bai Qingtong smiled slightly and said, "It is a marriage of a son-in-law into our family. We haven't invited many people, and we don't want to make it too flashy. We only invited some close friends and relatives, so I only invited you few."

The group fell silent for a moment; they all knew the reason, so they didn't dare ask any more questions.

After all, that Bai Daxiaojie had suffered an accident, and there were rumors and gossip everywhere; getting married so suddenly would likely invite a lot of trouble.

Jia Tanchun smiled, "I wonder which man Meixue sister has taken a fancy to? To be able to marry into the family as a son-in-law for Meixue sister is a blessing he has cultivated for eight lifetimes."

Bai Qingtong smiled, "You all know him."

The group was stunned upon hearing this.

Shi Xiangyun hurriedly asked, "Qingtong sister, who exactly is that person? How could we all know him?"

Bai Qingtong smiled without answering, seemingly wanting them to guess.

Lin Daiyu spoke softly, "It should be Young Master Luo, right?"

Once these words were spoken, Jia Tanchun and the others immediately looked at each other in dismay.

Bai Qingtong looked at her, full of smiles, and said, "Daiyu is still the clever one, guessing it all at once."

Lin Daiyu's expression was complex as she said softly, "We few rarely go out, and among those we know, besides Young Master Luo, there are only people from our own mansions, so it must be Young Master Luo. However, how could Young Master Luo..."

Shi Xiangyun also said in confusion, "Young Master Luo is so talented, how could he marry into a family? Besides, he just rejected Yingchun sister before..."

Jia Yingchun sat to the side, lowering her head without a word.

Jia Tanchun was also full of confusion.

Bai Qingtong said, "When I first heard about this, I was also very surprised. To tell you the truth, I am just like you, I could never have imagined that he would choose to marry into a family."

There was a silence in the pavilion.

Jia Yingchun, who had been keeping her head down, suddenly spoke up, "Doesn't Young Master Luo already have a sweetheart? If he marries into the family, what will happen to Liu?"

The gazes of the group all turned to Bai Qingtong.

Bai Qingtong was silent for a moment, then said, "Although it is a marriage into the family, our Bai Mansion will not restrict him from taking concubines. If he is willing, he can bring that Liu into the Bai Mansion to live, and my sister won't say anything."

Jia Tanchun's eyes flickered, and she asked suspiciously, "Something feels wrong. Young Master Luo came here today to ask Yingchun sister for help, all for the sake of that Liu. Clearly, Young Master Luo is still very concerned about that Liu, how could he... His attitude before was very firm, insisting that that Liu must be his legal wife."

Bai Qingtong said nothing more.

There were some things she naturally could not say explicitly.

Jia Tanchun glanced at her, suddenly recalling a piece of news she had heard: the Crown Prince in Yujing had taken a fancy to that Bai Daxiaojie, and then, Bai Daxiaojie had suddenly met with an accident...

Connecting this to the fact that Bai Daxiaojie was now suddenly and unexpectedly rushing to take in a son-in-law for marriage, she seemed to have suddenly grasped something.

Lin Daiyu also seemed to understand, and changed the subject, "It's so cold, let's go inside to warm ourselves by the fire and chat."

Jia Tanchun hurriedly pulled Bai Qingtong and laughed, "Qingtong, let's go. It just so happens I want to show you that fox fur coat. I'll have Qingwen come over later to measure it against your body; the front needs to be altered, it's twice as big as yours."

Bai Qingtong was startled for a moment, looked down at her own protruding chest, and finally understood. She blinked her eyes, disbelieving, "Are you sure... it's that big?"

Jia Tanchun laughed and whispered, "Young Master Luo said he was sure."

Bai Qingtong looked puzzled, her mind turning over the matter, when suddenly a familiar figure appeared in her thoughts.

"Qingqing?"

That girl had a petite frame, a spectacular chest, and always tripped when she walked; thinking about it carefully, it really did seem to be twice as big as hers...

"Does Qingtong know who it is?"

Jia Tanchun asked curiously.

The few of them walked while speaking in low voices.

There was talking in front, and talking behind as well.

Seeing Jia Yingchun with her head lowered, her face full of a dejected and sad expression, Lin Daiyu knew the reason why, so she held her hand from behind and comforted her in a low voice: "Second Sister, no need to be sad; Young Master Luo marrying into the Bai Family as a matrilocal son-in-law likely has other reasons."

Jia Yingchun was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but ask: "What reason?"

Lin Daiyu leaned to her ear and whispered: "The Crown Prince proposed marriage, and Bai Daxiaojie suddenly had an accident. The Bai Family feared that long delays would lead to more trouble, so they wanted Bai Daxiaojie to marry quickly to settle the matter. But the marriage partner had to be someone the Bai Family knew well and who was loyal and devoted, so... I think Young Master Luo is only doing this to repay a favor and help out. I estimate that when the time is right, he will separate from Bai Daxiaojie. After all, he is deeply in love with that Liu, and would never let her be a concubine..." Jia Yingchun had a dazed expression, as if she did not understand.

A bright, intelligent light flickered in Lin Daiyu's eyes, and she whispered again: "Young Master Luo can write such moving love stories; he would never be a person who loves the new and loathes the old. For him to risk such a bad reputation for abandoning his lover and suffer the grievance of marrying into a family, there must be an unspeakable hidden reason."

Jia Yingchun nodded and said: "Mm, I believe Young Master Luo must have a hidden reason."

Lin Daiyu sighed softly and couldn't help but say: "To be a peerless, talented, rising-star youth who values love and righteousness, yet to be willing to bear a reputation of being ridiculed and despised for the sake of another—such a man is truly a man worthy of admiration and respect."

Jia Yingchun's eyes turned red instantly, and she said with a determined face: "I... I will definitely help him protect Liu."

Lin Daiyu suddenly leaned to her ear and whispered again: "Second Sister, I also want to go see that Liu. When you go, take me with you."

At the same time.

Luo Zijun had already taken a carriage and left the Inner City.

Although the carriage bore the mark of the Bai Mansion, he was still very cautious, occasionally using Soul Out-of-Body to take a look behind him.

Now that his soul had been cultivated to the Day Wandering Realm, there was no problem with it leaving his body during the day.

In this way, there was no need to pull back the curtain to check.

!

The person driving the carriage was a woman known as Cai Shen; from the perspective of his soul, the other party had vigorous blood energy and was also a martial artist.

If his soul were still at the original Night Wandering realm, he would never have dared to get close to a martial artist, as he would have been scorched by the martial artist's blood energy if he were not careful. However, having now advanced to the Day Wandering Realm, his soul had naturally become much stronger, and there was no discomfort upon leaving his body just now.

Of course, it was also because this Cai Shen's cultivation was not high.

The carriage soon arrived at West Lake.

Every time he passed by here, Luo Zijun couldn't help but take a few extra looks.

Now that the White Snake had been found, in a few days, he would also be bowing in marriage to the White Snake. Although things had gone awry and there had been twists and turns along the way, the result was finally moving in a good direction.

"Young Master Luo, we have arrived."

The carriage soon stopped at the foot of West Lake Academy.

Luo Zijun got off the carriage, thanked her, and then quickly climbed the steps.

He had encountered an assassin here last time; he hoped not to encounter one today.

Fortunately, the journey was safe.

After entering the Academy and walking toward the classroom, a surprised voice suddenly came from the small path to the side: "Luo Zijun?"

Luo Zijun stopped his steps and turned his head to look.

Huang Zhaodi, wearing a yellow jacket and yellow skirt, looked at him with a face full of surprise and said: "It really is you! Why does it feel..."

Her gaze suspiciously sized him up from head to toe again, and she said: "Strange, why does it feel like you've become even more handsome and have more charisma?"

Standing next to her was another person, Sun Yan'er.

A complex expression appeared on Sun Yan'er's face; she did not seem angry because of what happened that day when he went to the Inner City, and she walked directly toward him.

Huang Zhaodi also followed over and said crisply: "Luo Zijun, why do you have time to come to the Academy today? I thought you were going to drop out."

Luo Zijun said: "During the period of national mourning, it was not appropriate to leave the city, so I didn't come."

Sun Yan'er arrived in front of him, looked at him a few times with a complex gaze, and said softly: "Luo Zijun, have you been doing well lately?"

Luo Zijun said: "Quite well, and you?"

Sun Yan'er smiled slightly and said: "I am also doing quite well."

Huang Zhaodi walked over and also asked: "Luo Zijun, have you been doing well lately?"

Luo Zijun ignored her.

Huang Zhaodi immediately said angrily: "Why don't you ask me?"

Luo Zijun said: "Do you even need to be asked? Looking at you like this, you are definitely doing better than anyone else."

Huang Zhaodi let out a "pfft" laugh and said: "Definitely not as well as you are doing at the Duke's mansion."

Luo Zijun did not linger any longer and said his goodbyes: "I am going to the classroom."

Sun Yan'er suddenly said: "Luo Zijun, I know why you were always so distant and cold to me before. Something happened in your family, and your brother-in-law has so many enemies; you went to the Inner City to hide and stopped contacting anyone, just for fear of implicating relatives and friends, and you were also afraid of implicating me, right?"

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Sun Yan'er, is your brain broken?"

Huang Zhaodi, who was to the side, immediately said: "Luo Zijun, you are starting with your poisonous tongue again! We haven't seen each other for such a long time; now that we've just met today, can't you speak in a friendly manner?"

Luo Zijun said: "You ask her first why she has to be so narcissistic."

Having said that, he ignored the two of them and left directly.

Sun Yan'er suddenly shouted loudly behind his back: "Luo Zijun, I know you were doing it on purpose! You were just afraid of implicating me! I have read all the books you wrote; you are a good person who values love and righteousness, you wouldn't hurt a girl like this. The way you treated me before was actually... actually because you like me! You like me, so you hurt me so cruelly, but you were actually trying to protect me. I finally understand now! I understand everything now!"

Her tears rolled down, and her voice was choked with sobs.

Luo Zijun stumbled and almost fell.

What kind of medicine did she take to produce such a terrifying hallucination?

He suddenly stopped, turned around, and walked back quickly.

Seeing him return, Sun Yan'er immediately broke into a smile through her tears, opened her arms to welcome him, and cried: "Luo Zijun, I knew it... I knew it... you like me... hug..."

"Slap!"

Luo Zijun walked over, slapped her onto the ground, and said: "Wake up! Stop acting crazy!"

Sun Yan'er spread her arms and lay on the ground, turning her head to look at him with teary eyes as she said, "Luo Zijun, people say that hitting is affection and scolding is love; I just knew it, you love me..."

Luo Zijun: "..."

It seems she is truly ill.

Huang Zhaodi said angrily, "Luo Zijun! How could you lay a hand on someone?"

Luo Zijun ignored her and prepared to leave, but to nip the trouble in the bud and make the woman on the ground wake up completely, he added, "Right, I'll tell you one thing: I am getting married on the seventh of this month at the Anguo Mansion in the Inner City. If you have time then, you can come for the wedding feast; remember to bring a red envelope."

As soon as these words were spoken, Huang Zhaodi was stunned: "You are getting married? At the Anguo Mansion?"

Luo Zijun said, "Yes, the Anguo Mansion, the Duke's mansion, the Bai Mansion, head of the Four Great Families; this Young Master is about to become the man of the Young Lady of the Bai Mansion."

After saying this, he did not waste any more breath on them and left directly.

Huang Zhaodi was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly helped Sun Yan'er, who was still lying on the ground, up and said angrily, "Yan'er, I told you, stop paying attention to that bastard."

Sun Yan'er shed tears as she watched that handsome, tall, and slender back gradually walk away, crying as she said, "Zhaodi, he really does love me; he couldn't even bear to make his lie sound more convincing. If he were really getting married, how could he possibly be getting married at the Anguo Mansion? It should be at his own home."

Upon hearing this, Huang Zhaodi immediately realized it and asked in confusion, "That's right, he isn't a Young Master of the Anguo Mansion, so how could he be getting married there?"

Sun Yan'er wiped her tears and smiled, "I told you, he likes me; you just wouldn't believe it. Do you believe it now?"

(End of this chapter)