Chapter 134 Can't sleep, go to the roof

Yao Qingling lifted her eyelids to look over, a hint of sarcasm in her calm eyes: "Who decided that a pregnant woman can't get a divorce?"

For the sake of the child, will he continue to be entangled with Zhan Xingzhuo and Zhou Zhining?

She's been watching their lovey-dovey relationship like a housekeeper. Does she really want her child to be like a farmhand, serving them and keeping them happy?

Holding onto hope, waiting for the mother to rise in status through her son?

Yao Qingling had personally witnessed how Zhan Xingzhuo took care of Zhou Zhining's son; he was so careful and loving, treating him like his own son.

Would she dare to gamble?

However, Yao Qingling was even more aware of Zhou Zhining's importance to Zhan Xingzhuo. She was merely their puppet, a tool to be used; after the child was born, she would probably only continue to be their tool.

She didn't want her child to become someone else's son's follower or slave in the future.

She feared that one day her child would come crying and ask, "Mommy, why doesn't Daddy like me?"

She was even more afraid that one day, Zhou Zhining would be married by Zhan Xingzhuo, and her child would be sidelined and abandoned.

Yao Qingling didn't want to gamble on how deep Zhan Xingzhuo's feelings for her were, nor did she have a powerful family to stand up for her.

Given this, it would be safer for her and her child to withdraw as soon as possible.

She can rely on herself to fight for a better future for her child.

Titles and wealth are not available now, but they will be in the future.

“Lin Shiyuan, I thought you would understand me.”

The man gazed at her, still shaken, and at the same time, he recalled bits and pieces of the past.

She had heard how her husband treated her while he was in prison, otherwise he wouldn't have made up that nursery rhyme to help her get out of trouble.

She must have been pregnant when she was at Yongning Temple, right?

However, she was completely alone and almost died there.

She saved herself.

She accomplished something that even men might not be able to do, and even led bandits to reform. How many people could do that?

She is intelligent, courageous, capable, insightful, and confident.

Why should we rely on Zhan Xingzhuo and make a living in his and Zhou's shadow?

Lin Shiyuan quickly figured it out.

Actually, he didn't need to be shocked at all. Just as Yao Qingling said, he should be someone who understands her; they had already "joined hands" before they even met.

So why is he conflicted?

Perhaps he shouldn't have asked that question at all; what angered him was that Yao Qingling had deceived him!

Qingling looked at the man's unpredictable expression, and slightly curled the corners of her lips, revealing a hint of sarcasm.

She took out her purse, took out a silver note, and placed it on the table.

"This is the money for that bowl of donkey-hide gelatin cake."

Lin Shiyuan was taken aback and glanced at the silver note: "What do you mean?"

Qingling smiled at him and said, "I didn't mean anything by it. I'm the boss, how can I let my subordinates spend money?"

She didn't say anything more and left the room.

Lin Shiyuan stared at the silver note, remaining motionless for a long time.

Yao Qingling soon returned to the mansion with two maids. Lin Shiyuan watched the carriage leave from the second floor, his mind still in turmoil.

That night, Lin Shiyuan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He went to the rooftop and gazed at the moonlight all night.

He couldn't sort out his thoughts, or what he was struggling with.

Was it just because Yao Qingling deceived him?

However, Yao Qingling's pregnancy is her own business and has nothing to do with him. She has the right to keep it a secret.

She was just protecting herself and her child.

Is it that Yao Qingling doesn't trust him and is even wary of him?

However, from the time they met until now, even after he entered Hui Ba Fang, she has never stopped being wary of him. What difference does one more thing make?

What exactly is he concerned about?

...

In the middle of the night, Yao Qingling looked at the curtains above her head and sighed softly.

She wasn't asleep.

Things have been unusually peaceful lately. Lady Ma has stopped bothering her and has found her own female physician. Taoye is also doing well; news has come from the estate that she is steadily advancing the school's progress.

Lou Yue and Xia Chan were also very ambitious. In their spare time, they learned to use an abacus, read account books, and even judge the quality of various goods.

There was no news of Zhan Xingzhuoyuan in Luozhou, nor of Zhou Zhining.

Everything was calm and peaceful, so what was bothering her?

Is it just that you feel disappointed in Lin Shiyuan?

Did you misjudge him? Is he actually just like everyone else?

But if there are no expectations, how can there be a sense of disappointment?

It was the unspoken understanding between them, his understanding that gave her a sense of comfort, and that's why she felt lost when that comfortable understanding was gone.

Yao Qingling propped herself up, leaned against the pillow, and stared blankly in the darkness.

She touched her chest and gave a self-deprecating bitter smile.

Is he crazy, or is he just too idle?

What should a pregnant woman expect from a man?

Her hopes in this life are for her children, her shop, and this mansion.

With so many things still unresolved, Lin Shiyuan wasn't worth her extra effort.

Yao Qingling thought about it and realized that... it was probably because Lin Shiyuan had some expectations of her that he made that expression.

Qingling has tasted the bitterness of love.

It is because of expectations that anger and disappointment arise after the truth is revealed.

I feel angry about being deceived, painful about my past efforts, and disappointed in that person.

Lin Shiyuan had controlled himself very well and hadn't said anything inappropriate to criticize her.

From this perspective, Qingling felt somewhat sorry for him and shouldn't have kept it a secret.

He mistook her for a divorced woman, but little did he know, she was a pregnant divorced woman.

But what could she do? Who would want to keep so many secrets?

After that, I stopped giving him any expectations and kept my distance.

Qingling sorted out her thoughts and lay down again, quickly falling asleep.

After this incident, Yao Qingling never asked Lin Shiyuan to accompany her to the shop again.

Lin Shiyuan no longer came directly to Yao Qingling when he had something to say, but instead had someone else relay the message.

The two seemed to have maintained another tacit understanding, and neither bothered the other anymore.

The shop wasn't particularly big or small, but if they bumped into each other, Lin Shiyuan would politely bow to the shop owner, while Yao Qingling would simply nod slightly and pass by.

Some time passed in this uneventful manner.

Xiao Pingfeng came to report to Yao Qingling the results of his investigation into the disturbance at the manor.

"It was an old man named Lao Hu from the village. One of his friends came to stay with him, hoping to find a job in the village, but there were already so many people in the village that he was refused. So he told his friend, and the news spread."

"What friend?"

"According to him, they met during cockfighting. Old Hu lost a cockfight and couldn't pay up, so the man said he wanted a job. Old Hu said the village was almost overflowing with people, so the man instigated Old Hu to stir up trouble among the people, saying that the owner was angry and would definitely kick out a few people, thus creating an extra spot."

People in the countryside don't dare to go to casinos; they'll be kicked out before they even get inside. But cockfighting is a popular pastime in the countryside.

They fenced off a circle, put two fighting cocks inside to fight, and a group of people outside the fence shouted. The winner got money, and the loser lost money. When the cockfight ended, everyone dispersed, and no one cared who the other was.

Therefore, it can be considered a good place to pass on messages.

"...After the incident, Lao Hu went to look for that person again, but he could no longer find him."

"Manager Lin said that Old Hu was tricked in that place."

Yao Qingling clenched her fingers, her mind racing.

It turned out that an outsider had gotten wind of the situation and deliberately lured Yang Kuan and his men to the shop to cause trouble.

Fortunately, Yang Kuan did not cause trouble in the shop, but instead made a scene at the manor, trying to lure Qing Ling there.

Fortunately, Tao Ye escaped danger unscathed, and Qing Ling did not report the incident to the authorities.

Although the incident is over, Qingling still feels lingering fear and breaks out in a cold sweat when she learns about it now.

She looked at Xiao Pingfeng: "Was it Steward Lin who found out?"