Chapter 234: Chapter 219: The Disliked Wanwan
Over here, Lin Xiaoyue had already decided to give Wen Wan a set of head ornaments, planning to go to the silver building to choose.
The two walked towards the carriage, and Lin Xiaoyue, sensing something, turned her head. She saw Su Yaoqi standing under the tree shade not far away, looking somewhat wooden.
Lin Xiaoyue couldn’t help but mutter, "Such a silly boy."
Upon hearing this, Wen Wan looked over and saw the young man she first met on a rainy day. She looked at Lin Xiaoyue, who was holding her arm, "Do you know him?"
Lin Xiaoyue spoke quickly, "He’s my..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she nearly exposed her identity and hurriedly changed it, "He’s our family relative."
It was obvious she was lying, but Wen Wan wasn’t interested in others’ privacy.
She herself had come to Hongwen Academy concealing her identity, understanding Lin Xiaoyue’s desire to keep her identity hidden and not wanting others to probe.
When they reached the side of the carriage, Lin Xiaoyue took the initiative to lift the curtain for her, "Get on!"
Wen Wan stood still, a smile spreading across her lips, "Do you really want to give me something?"
"So, you’ve been hesitating all this time, doubting I’m teasing you?" Lin Xiaoyue laughed, "Do you think I can’t afford it, or do you think I’m not credible?"
"That’s not what I meant; I just noticed it’s getting late, and I should head home early."
The little one had been learning to walk lately, and she, as a mother, wasn’t there to watch during the day, so even if busy at night, she had to make time to accompany him.
For Wen Wan, head ornaments are external possessions, far less important than her son.
"Not giving face, huh?" Lin Xiaoyue, who was eager, was splashed with cold water by her, and her face fell.
"If I weren’t giving you face, why would I help you with the booklet writing?"
Saying this, Wen Wan waved at her and turned towards her family’s carriage.
"Hey! Why do you change so quickly?"
Seeing Wen Wan not turning back, she loudly hummed, "If you’re not going, then you’re not going; I can save some money!"
Seeing Wen Wan got into the carriage, she angrily stepped onto the footstool and instructed the coachman to head back home.
The coachman had yet to wave the whip when Su Yaoqi’s voice already came in from outside.
"Seventh Aunt."
Lin Xiaoyue hurriedly calmed her emotions, poking her head out to look at Su Yaoqi, who somehow came over, "Little Four, is there something wrong?"
"I, I just wanted to ask, do you know the girl from earlier?"
Lin Xiaoyue hesitated for a moment, realizing he was talking about Wen Wan, and nodded, "Yes, what’s the matter?"
"Then... she is Seventh Aunt’s friend?"
Su Yaoqi seemed a bit excited, and Lin Xiaoyue felt puzzled, "Could it be, you recognize her too?"
"No, I don’t know her; she just looks familiar." Su Yaoqi slightly lowered his eyelashes, trying to hide his thoughts.
But after all, he was young; some emotions, even though he thought he hid well enough, couldn’t escape an experienced eye.
Lin Xiaoyue seemed to understand something, her expression becoming grave, "Little Four, there’s something Aunt should tell you in advance."
"I hope Seventh Aunt won’t hesitate to instruct." Su Yaoqi’s attitude towards elders had always been respectful.
Lin Xiaoyue’s gaze fell on his somewhat youthful, refined face, "You’re only seventeen years old; if you have time, you should discuss studies with your classmates. Don’t always go to Hongwen Academy."
Her words were tactful, but Su Yaoqi wasn’t foolish; he already caught the meaning.
Seventh Aunt didn’t want him to have designs on that girl.
Su Yaoqi’s face suddenly showed determination, directly gazing at Lin Xiaoyue, "I’ve listened to my parents since I was young; Aunt also said I’m already seventeen. Is there no room for me to decide on my own marital matters?"
Lin Xiaoyue suddenly laughed, "Don’t forget, you’re not only the Young Master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, but also the Young Master Su. Your marital matters will be arranged by others; you don’t get to worry about it."
The term "Young Master Su" made Su Yaoqi’s face pale.
He recalled his father once saying: if any child’s marriage brings no benefit to the family, they would be considered disloyal to the Su family, and he wouldn’t mind driving them out early.
Lin Xiaoyue saw him turn from blooming to wilting in an instant, feeling a bit sorry, but she had to give Su Yaoqi this reminder.
The Su family had deep waters; she herself experienced it before the family separated. Wen Wan, with her pure and kind nature, wasn’t suited for such a place.
Besides, Mr. Qi and the Prime Minister Mansion don’t get along, Lin Xiaoyue doesn’t want to become enemies with Wen Wan in the future.
What’s more, if nothing unexpected happens, Wen Wan is probably already married, maybe she even has kids, and Little Four dares to talk about marriage without knowing anything, isn’t that foolish?
Putting down the curtain, Lin Xiaoyue left with a final remark, "Anyway, I’ve said what I needed to say. You should think it over carefully. Even if you and this girl work out, marrying her into a den of dragons and tigers will only hurt her in the end."
Su Yaoqi’s face turned even paler, looking utterly lost.
He didn’t even notice when the Seventh Aunt’s carriage left.
——
When the carriage arrived at the Song Mansion, Wen Wan had just stepped down from the footstool when she heard the baby’s babbling voice from inside the gate.
Standing outside the door, Wen Wan felt a surge of indescribable sweetness in her heart, and her lips involuntarily curved upward, as if the day’s fatigue vanished at the thought of seeing her son soon.
She stepped inside and saw Song Wei bent over, his long arms outstretched, holding a clay sound ball in one hand, occasionally shaking it at Jinbao who stood not far away, coaxing him to come and take it.
The little one wanted the toy but refused to walk, pouting and standing still, his glittering eyes full of grievance.
Catching Wen Wan out of the corner of his eye, Song Wei straightened up, his gaze gentle as he looked over, "Are you hungry?"
"A little," Wen Wan nodded effortlessly, her voice clearly showing her reliance on him.
Song Wei stepped forward to pick up the little one in his arms, turning to Wen Wan, "Go inside and eat!"
As if understanding the adults’ words, the little one, who obtained the toy without having to walk, kicked his legs happily in his father’s arms and said, "Food...food..."
Wen Wan hadn’t seen her son all day and missed him dearly, so she took him from Song Wei’s arms.
Song Wei handed his son to her and quickly went to the kitchen to tell Granny Song that Wen Wan had returned.
Both of the young couple were busy outside, and usually, the Song family’s dinner would only start after everyone was present.
However, Jinbao was an exception; he usually ate whenever he was hungry.
At that moment, holding him, Wen Wan noticed that the little one had become quite sturdy, and her arms began to feel sore after a short while.
Wen Wan glanced at her son’s little chubby hand holding the toy and asked him, "Jinbao, did you get into any trouble today?"
As if understanding his mother’s words and feeling guilty, the little one suddenly raised his face, pouted, and planted a kiss on her cheek.
In her impression, such initiative was rare for the little guy.
A warmth flowed through Wen Wan’s heart, and she held her son with both hands, turning the other cheek to him, "Jinbao, give another one."
The little one didn’t react for a long time.
Wen Wan turned her head and saw his eyes fixed on the toy, as if he didn’t hear her at all.
Reaching the hall’s entrance, Wen Wan stopped moving and knelt to set the little one down.
Suddenly separated from his mother’s embrace, the little one seemed uneasy, and even when the toy fell to the ground, he didn’t pick it up, looking at his mother pitifully with a somewhat aggrieved expression.
Wen Wan stepped back a few steps, clapping her hands to get his attention, "Jinbao, come to mommy."
Jinbao placed his chubby hand on the wall for support and took a step forward, his balance unsteady and wobbling slightly, as if he frightened himself and didn’t dare take another step, standing still, a position that required his mother to hold him.
Wen Wan casually picked a flower bud from a potted plant nearby, holding it in her hand to catch his attention, "Come here, and I’ll give you the flower."
"Flower~" The little one seemed very fond of it, forgetting to hold onto the wall, his eyes fixed on the flower bud in Wen Wan’s hand as he toddled over excitedly. Just as he was about to reach the flower, he lost his balance and toppled to the side, but luckily Wen Wan was quick enough to scoop him into her arms first.
Even though nothing happened, the little one was still scared and burst into tears.
Wen Wan took out a handkerchief to wipe his tears and snot, smiling, "Why are you crying? You didn’t even fall down!"
Hearing the crying, Song Wei came out and saw his son, tears streaming down his face and looking utterly aggrieved, asking, "What happened?"
Every time her husband was around, Wen Wan felt inadequate in caring for their child. Being asked such a question, even if nothing happened, made her feel guilty. She didn’t look at Song Wei and quietly said, "I was teaching Jinbao to walk, and when he ran over, he almost fell. Maybe he got scared."
Upon seeing his father, Jinbao cried even more loudly.
Song Wei bent down, pinching his chubby cheek with a smile, "If you keep crying, you’ll really become a little crybaby."
Jinbao sniffled.
Song Wei took the opportunity to pick him up, and Wen Wan couldn’t quite hear how he coaxed him. She just noticed that before long, Jinbao, who had been crying as if he suffered a huge grievance, was now joyfully laughing, as if he had completely forgotten the earlier incident.
"..." Wen Wan felt like she was being dismissed.