Chapter 78: He’s Alive?!
Five days later,
It was a bright morning as Lin Xu woke around her usual time of eight and got ready.
Stepping out, she took her seat at the courtyard table just as Yan Mei walked in with their breakfast.
"Yiling, come and eat!" she called out.
Yiling, already dressed, ran out and took her seat.
"Today is Friday. Tomorrow the boys will come home for the weekend. I’m sure you’ve been missing your brothers."
Yiling nodded quickly. "Yes, Mama! I have so many things to tell them, hehe!"
"Alright, alright. Come, eat."
After breakfast, the three of them entered Lin Xu’s new carriage and left for the Weilai Pavilion. It took about half an hour before they arrived.
The shop was already open. Inside, the wooden walls gave the place a warm feel. Seven tables with chairs were neatly arranged for guests, and at the front was the reception desk where two girls in matching green and yellow hanfu greeted customers.
Male attendants moved around, serving tea and snacks on trays.
Mainmain, the assistant manager, quickly came to greet them. "Madam Lin, Manager Yan."
Yan Mei smiled. "Everything running fine?"
"Yes, ma’am. We had many guests this morning," Mainmain said with a bow.
"Good," Lin Xu nodded. "Let’s talk inside."
They entered Lin Xu’s office and went over small business matters, restocks, orders, and schedules for the week.
The pavilion doesn’t just serve as a restaurant; it also serves as a restock house, where different restaurant owners could come to buy different delicacies to sell in their own restaurants.
Just then, Zu Shi arrived, already waiting with a gentle smile.
"Lin Xu," she greeted. "I’ve come for Yiling."
Zu Shi was here as usual to take Yiling for her etiquette lessons.
Lin Xu smiled. "Go on, Yiling. Don’t cause trouble."
"Yes, Mama." The girl waved before leaving with Zu Shi.
When they were gone, Lin Xu and Yan Mei got to work.
Time passed, and the sun climbed higher. While Lin Xu was reviewing the day’s account books in her office, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," she said.
Mainmain stepped in. "Madam Lin, there’s a woman outside asking to see you. She says it’s important."
Lin Xu frowned slightly. "Who is she?"
"She didn’t give her name. Just said it’s urgent."
Lin Xu stood. "Alright, I’ll see her."
She followed Mainmain out into the hall. The pavilion was busy as usual, but near the front desk stood a woman in a dark red robe with a veil covering her face. She didn’t move or speak, just stood there waiting.
Lin Xu stopped a few steps away. "You said you wanted to see me?"
The woman lifted her head slowly, her voice calm but low. "Are you Lady Lin Xu of the Weilai Pavilion?"
"Yes, I am. And you are?"
The woman gently lifted the veil over her face as she handed it over to the maid that had accompanied her.
"I’ve heard a lot about your pavilion... these out-of-world delicacies, something that even the emperor’s top-quality cooks haven’t been able to make," she said with a smile.
Lin Xu smiled at her compliment even though something about her seemed off.
"Please go straight to the point, ma’am. You said you wanted to see me for something important... what might that be?"
"Oh! Yeah... well, you see, my brother will be getting married soon, and I want his wedding to be spectacular. That’s why I decided to come here myself. I want you to cater for the wedding."
Smiling, Lin Xu said, "No problem... please come this way, as I’ll have to ask you some certain questions..."
She led her towards her office as Mo Lan took her seat, with her legs crossed slightly.
Her black eyes slowly monitored Lin Xu... she stared at her from her face all the way down.
She was beautiful, yes, but there was nothing much eye-catching about her.
’Why the heck did that idiot see in this wench!’ she thought.
Meanwhile, Lin Xu brought out a piece of paper and an ink brush to jot down Mo Lan’s words.
"So firstly, I would like to ask where the marriage will take place... do you stay far from here?"
Mo Lan folded her hands. "Yes, a little. We stay at the main capital. It will take a few hours to reach the main capital. The location is at the General’s Mansion."
She answered, causing Lin Xu to raise her head in surprise.
"A wedding at the General’s Mansion?" she asked, taken aback.
If she wasn’t wrong, Susu had informed her that the general’s son was already dead and he didn’t have any other son, so which brother was she referring to?
Smiling, Mo Lan said, "My brother, Mo Shen, will be getting married. Months ago, news of his death spread all over the empire. We thought he was dead as well, but who knew he had gone into hiding. Now he’s back and will be getting married soon."
Her words immediately made Lin Xu stop what she was doing.
"M-Mo Shen? He’s alive?" she muttered, completely surprised.
"Susu!" she summoned as everything immediately paused, including Mo Lan.
[ Yes, host! You summoned. ]
Susu appeared immediately, meeting Lin Xu’s shocked gaze.
"This woman says she’s Mo Shen’s sister... is Mo Shen really alive?"
[ Well, it seems so, host! Is there any problem? ]
"Is there a problem? Are you really asking me that question, you freaking airball!? You said it yourself that Mo Shen was declared dead, and now he’s alive. What am I supposed to do now that the real father of the kids is alive?"
Lin Xu said as she collapsed on her chair, scratching her head slightly.
Susu floated in the air, blinking innocently.
[ Calm down, host... I didn’t say he wasn’t alive, I said he was declared dead. Big difference! ]
Lin Xu shot her a glare. "Don’t play word games with me right now, Susu. How do I even handle this? Now he suddenly shows up, alive, and getting married?"
[ Technically... yes. And from the look of things, he doesn’t seem to know you’re here either or that you were even pregnant with his children. ]
"Wonderful," she muttered under her breath, rubbing her temples.
With that, Susu unpaused Lin Xu’s surroundings as Mo Lan tilted her head slightly, watching Lin Xu’s reaction with faint amusement.
"Is something the matter, Madam Lin?" she asked with that same sly smile.
Lin Xu immediately straightened up, forcing a calm expression. "No, not at all. I was just... surprised. The general’s son was quite well known, so hearing this news is rather unexpected."
Mo Lan chuckled softly. "Understandable. His return surprised many as well. But that’s exactly why I want the best for this wedding—it must be perfect."
Lin Xu smiled faintly. "Of course. I’ll make sure everything is handled properly."
She jotted down a few notes on the paper, though her hand trembled slightly. Her mind was racing.
Mo Shen... alive? And getting married?
[ Host, breathe, ] Susu said, floating near her ear. [ You look like you’re about to faint. ]
"I might just faint if you don’t shut up," Lin Xu whispered under her breath.
Mo Lan raised a brow. "Pardon?"
Lin Xu quickly smiled again. "Ah—nothing. Just thinking aloud. So, when exactly is the wedding taking place?"
"In five days’ time," Mo Lan replied. "I’ll send someone to escort your team to the capital three days before the event. You’ll have all the help you need."
"Alright," Lin Xu said, forcing her voice steady. "That can be arranged."
Mo Lan stood up, brushing her robe lightly. "Good. I’ll be expecting great things, Madam Lin."
She gave a small nod before turning to leave, her maid following closely behind.
Once the door shut, Lin Xu let out a long sigh and dropped the ink brush back into the pot.
"Of all people..." she muttered. "Mo Shen, you bastard, you’re really alive... after getting a woman pregnant you couldn’t even take responsibility... just wait and see how I ruin your wedding."
[ Well, host, on the bright side, at least now you can get some answers. ]
Lin Xu leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Answers?" she said quietly. "No, Susu... I’m not sure I’m ready for any of those."
"By the why," Lin xu looked up at the floating airball with eyes, "Why do you look like this?"
[ Finally Host noticed my new appearance. Well the system underwent some recent updates and now I can appear in a more physical form. Do you like it? ]
Lin xu rolled her eyes ,"It’s only useful for one thing." She said as she took hold of a Notebook beside her and threw it directly at susu as it landed, making the floating ball fall.
[ Oh host! You are a bully! ]