On the way, Lin Zhi, who was in a bad mood, was suddenly stopped by Chun Tao.
"Hey, young master, you've gone the wrong way."
Lin Zhi stopped and glanced around before realizing he had unconsciously walked towards Jiang Chuting's residence. He pursed his lips, his face grim, and turned around. After taking a step, he asked Chun Tao, "Why isn't my mother resting so late? What does she want?"
Chuntao said, "Madam is not feeling well and just wanted to see you."
"She's not feeling well?" Lin Zhi's expression turned slightly serious upon hearing this. He said to her, "Why didn't you say so earlier?" He walked forward with his hands behind his back, quickening his pace.
Chun Tao said that Lin Xi had suddenly developed a headache. When Lin Zhi arrived, the maid was massaging her temples with medicated oil. She looked unwell, and her brows were furrowed.
Hearing Lin Zhi enter the room, Lin Xi opened her eyes and gave a tired smile. She then mustered her energy and said a few words to him.
Lin Xi sniffed and asked, "You reek of alcohol. How much did you drink?"
Lin Zhi replied, "It wasn't much, I just drank a little to relieve my boredom."
Lin Xi knew perfectly well why he was drinking alone, and her heart was churning with turmoil, but she didn't show it on her face. She simply said, "Drink some hangover soup later, so you won't have a headache tomorrow morning." Then she ordered someone to prepare the soup.
Lin Zhi wanted to help her to bed to rest, but Lin Xi waved her hand, her voice weak and sickly, "I can't fall asleep even when I'm lying down, and I always... think of your father."
Lin Zhi's brow twitched suddenly, but he didn't say anything. He didn't want to bring up this topic at all.
"Lin Zhi." Lin Xi grabbed his wrist, her eyes fixed on his face, and said softly, "Since you've said you don't like him, then let him go. Don't keep him here, okay?"
"Mother, I..."
Lin Xi gripped his hand tighter, and with her other hand stroked his face, interrupting him: "I know you want to avenge me, but the person he likes isn't you, silly boy."
The last sentence made Lin Zhi's temple throb with anger.
Tears welled in Lin Xi's eyes as she said painfully, "If he doesn't care about you, nothing you do can hurt him. What's the point of getting angry? Just let him leave. Why waste your energy on him? This is not what I want to see."
Lin Zhi struggled to suppress the burning anger surging in his chest, grasped her hand in return, and whispered, "Mother, he didn't approach me because of my face, I'm confident of that. I can use this to get revenge on him. I don't want to give up like this. I want to torment his feelings and make him suffer. After I... after I've vented my anger, it won't be too late to drive him away."
Lin Xi stared at him for a long time, then raised her hand to press her brow, her face appearing even paler.
"Let me give you a massage." Seeing this, Lin Zhi stood behind Lin Xi and personally massaged her.
He was working with his hands, his eyes slightly lowered, his gaze gradually becoming somewhat unfocused.
Suddenly, he heard Lin Xi call out to him, "Lin Zhi."
"Mother, tell me."
Lin Xi's voice trembled slightly as she said, "Actually, before your father died, he made me swear a solemn oath that I would never hurt him in my life. I promised, and I have kept my word."
Lin Zhi's hand suddenly stopped moving.
In his mind, his father was the one who was seduced and bewitched. Given his tendency to favor his own family, even though his father was involved in the rumors back then, he only ever hated Jiang Chuting and never truly disliked his father.
However, upon hearing these words, the anger he had been suppressing suddenly ignited, the flames shooting upwards until his eyes turned bloodshot, and his expression became gloomy and terrifying.
The father's last thoughts were all about him. This wasn't just seduction or bewitching; it was mutual affection.
"Chu Ran, have you ever met someone with whom you share mutual affection?"
"I have."
He said it before, and he has it.
At the time, she was full of confidence that she could replace the person he once had in his heart, but reality ruthlessly slapped her in the face.
Then Lin Xi continued, "I know your temperament, and I can't go against you, but I've already promised your father that I don't want you to go too far... So, I've thought of the fastest and simplest way to settle this matter."
Lin Zhi stiffly asked, "What method?"
Lin Xi didn't turn around, but simply raised her hand to pull down Lin Zhi's right hand that was massaging her, and said, "Get married, you should get married right away."
Lin Zhi choked, subconsciously repeating, "Get married?"
Lin Xi's eyes were dark and unfathomable as she spoke slowly, "Yes, back when your father and I were getting married, he made a huge scene and ruined his reputation. You can use this opportunity to find out if he's truly sincere towards you. If he makes any more noise, it means he really cares about you, and your marriage will undoubtedly be the biggest blow and revenge for him. If he doesn't care about you at all, then no matter what you do, it's just taking revenge on him with your face that resembles your father's. It's meaningless. I really don't want to break the solemn oath I made to your father."
The only response Lin Xi received was a deathly silence behind her.
Lin Xi gritted her teeth secretly, but did not force him to respond immediately. She sighed and whispered with relief, "Fortunately, you are clear-headed and have not been bewitched like your father. Otherwise, it would be like tearing my heart out, and I really wouldn't be able to live."
Lin Zhi's fingertips trembled slightly as she withdrew her hand. After calming herself, she circled back to Lin Xi and looked at her with a normal expression, saying, "Mother, don't overthink it. The more you think about it, the more your head hurts. Take your medicine and rest quickly later."
Lin Xi nodded and added, "By the way, an important guest will be coming to the manor the day after tomorrow. Please take good care of him for me."
Lin Zhi didn't think too much about it and casually replied, "Okay, I know."
Lin Zhi went to check if the medicine was ready. Chun Tao hurriedly came to Lin Xi's ear and reported, "Madam, that man went to the young master's courtyard."
Lin Xi's face darkened, and she clenched her fists tightly. Just as she was about to say something, Lin Zhi came in carrying the medicine.
Chun Tao stepped aside. Lin Xi, having drunk her medicine, looked even more listless. She said to Lin Zhidao, "It's getting late. I've arranged a room for you, so don't bother yourself. Just sleep here. Knowing you're here will help me sleep better tonight."
Lin Zhi hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
Lin Xi looked at him and smiled with satisfaction.
After settling Lin Xi to sleep, Lin Zhi went to take a bath and change clothes. He returned to the room that had been arranged for him, lay on the bed, his eyes wide open, as if he were possessed. The thought kept repeating in his mind—"I will definitely find out if he is sincere with you"—he could take this opportunity to find out.
Really... is it possible to figure this out?
Unable to suppress her longing, Jiang Chuting came to find Lin Zhi, but instead of Lin Zhi, she saw Zhao Chengyang.
This person had saved him before, and they had met a few times. Although he knew that as Lin Zhi's friend, he couldn't possibly have too much affection for him, he still nodded to him as a sign of respect when they bumped into each other.
After being abandoned by Lin Zhi, Zhao Chengyang finished his wine alone in the courtyard before coming out, and unexpectedly ran into Jiang Chuting.
Seeing his slender, aloof figure in the moonlight, Zhao Chengyang returned the greeting, tapping his palm twice with the handle of his fan with slight unease. He took a few steps closer and said in a kind tone, "Are you here to see Lin Zhi? His mother called him away, and he hasn't returned yet. Why don't you come in and wait?" He gestured for him to step aside.
Jiang Chuting's expression darkened slightly, and he shook his head, saying, "Thank you for letting me know, but I won't go in."
Zhao Chengyang quietly sent someone to deliver a message to Lin Zhi. Jiang Chuting waited silently outside for half an hour, but Lin Zhi still hadn't returned, so he turned and left.
Zhao Chengyang wanted to call out to him, but after opening his mouth, he didn't know what to say, so he could only watch him leave.
The next day, before dawn, not long after Lin Zhigang returned to his room, Zhao Chengyang, who was staying at the Lin residence, dressed neatly and rushed to find him.
Lin Zhi found it strange. Although Zhao Chengyang, as a rich young master, was not lazy, he rarely got up this early.
Zhao Chengyang took a sip of tea to clear his head and asked, "You didn't come back all night yesterday?"
"Yes, my mother is not feeling well, so I'm staying there with her."
Zhao Chengyang let out a long "oh," thinking that his illness had come at a rather opportune time.
Zhao Chengyang waved his fan and casually relayed to him, "He came to see you last night."
Lin Zhi, who had been completely calm, suddenly looked up at him but didn't say anything.
Zhao Chengyang said casually, "I sent someone to invite you, but they only came back after the person left, saying that you had already gone to bed and they didn't dare to disturb you."
Lin Zhi had indeed not received the message, and muttered, "Why would he invite me? Just because he's here, does he think I have to rush back? Who does he think he is?"
Zhao Chengyang looked worried: "Sigh, I don't know if he's injured or sick. His face is completely pale. He heard you weren't here, so he waited for more than half an hour before leaving. He looked extremely sad."
Lin Zhi scoffed, "What's there to be sad about? Is it because you can't see my face and it won't ease his longing?" Though she said this, her breathing was a little disordered.
After remaining expressionless for a moment, he finally seemed a little restless.
Jiang Chuting had been unwell for some time, and he was injured that day, so he knew that Zhao Chengyang wasn't lying when he said that he looked unwell.
Zhao Chengyang secretly glanced at Lin Zhi's ever-changing expression and said, "Lin Zhi, I've given you all the advice I could yesterday. If you really feel that he doesn't love you and you don't love him either, why don't you... just let him go and stop torturing each other?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhi almost immediately exploded, angrily shouting, "Leave?! Why should I let him go? He deceived me, how could I let him off so easily?!"
As Lin Zhi's friend of many years and a level-headed observer, Zhao Chengyang saw through him perfectly and summed it up in two words: stubborn.
He's completely blinded by jealousy and anger, and he won't listen to anything anyone says until he comes to his senses.
Lin Zhi's eyes blazed with fire, her lips pressed tightly together. Suddenly, she stood up and strode outside.
Zhao Chengyang knew where he was going, but he didn't point it out, lest the boy get angry and refuse to go again. He just shook his head and sighed silently.
You clearly care deeply, yet you claim you don't love them at all—you're just deceiving yourself. Don't let them grow old and heartbroken before you realize your mistake.
The closer Lin Zhi got to Jiang Chuting's residence, the slower her pace became.
He hesitated for a moment, then thought petulantly, "Why should I rush to find him after he's only come all this way and I've only waited half an hour? Won't that make him think I can't live without him? And what does his injury or illness have to do with me? Am I supposed to feel sorry for him?"
They immediately turned around and went back, walking about ten steps before stopping.
Forget it, I'll go see if he's really upset. If not, then it means that Zhao Chengyang is just talking nonsense again. I'll give him a beating when I get back.
Finally making up his mind, he turned around and quickened his pace, but just as he was about to arrive, he heard several maids hiding behind a tree, gossiping amongst themselves.
The Lin family strictly controls its servants, but this place is remote and deserted, and few people come here, so they speak much bolder than usual.
"Our young master wouldn't really be getting together with that man, would he? That's ridiculous."
"Everyone knows about what happened back then, and now they're going after the young master. This person is truly shameless."
"What's so great about men? They're all hard as nails. I just don't understand."
"Although, he's quite good-looking, and you can't tell how old he is..."
"What's the use of being pretty? She's just a shameless vixen. She looks all high and mighty on the surface, but who knows how promiscuous she is in private."
"Yes, I heard that back then he and Young Master Yun... tsk tsk tsk, many people saw it with their own eyes."
"How could Madam tolerate him staying in the manor? If it were me, I would have fainted from anger long ago."
"It's obvious that our young master doesn't like him. Otherwise, he would have ignored him for almost two days after bringing him back. He probably wants to lock him up and humiliate him."
"Yes, no one has brought them food or water, and they're still starving. It's quite pitiful—Young Master!" Before they could finish speaking, their tone suddenly turned to terror as they saw Lin Zhi suddenly appear before them. They immediately fell silent and knelt on the ground, their bodies trembling slightly.
Lin Zhi's face turned ashen, and he roared, "Talking about our master behind his back? Who gave you the audacity? Get down here and each of you will receive twenty strokes of the cane!"
Twenty strokes of the rod in the Lin family mansion were enough to keep a person bedridden for months. The maids kneeling on the ground turned pale and collapsed to the ground.
Fifteen minutes later, Lin Zhi summoned a steward he trusted and said coldly, "Why is no one bringing water or food to the man I brought back, leaving him hungry? I wonder if you all have a death wish?"
Manager Liu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, not daring to utter a sound.
As soon as Jiang Chuting entered the Lin residence, an elder of the Lin family recognized her identity. Servants, when doing things, simply follow their masters' orders, observe their masters' expressions, and try to guess their masters' thoughts.
Lin Xi didn't say anything, but it goes without saying that everyone knows she and Jiang Chuting are sworn enemies. Although Lin Zhi left the person waiting in an extremely remote courtyard, his attitude was unclear. Coupled with some veiled rumors, it's unclear whether Lin Zhi likes or dislikes that person, making the situation even more complicated.
Therefore, the servants had no choice but to treat him like air. They neither flattered nor offended him, so that no matter which master blamed them, they would have some leeway.
After Lin Zhi finished cursing, Manager Liu hurriedly said he would make the arrangements immediately, but Lin Zhi stopped him, "Wait."
Manager Liu asked respectfully, "Is there anything else you need, young master?"
Lin Zhi paced back and forth a couple of times with his hands behind his back, then added in a deep voice, "The food doesn't need to be too complicated. Just keep it light and fresh. Make sure to send enough tea and water. Also, there's no need to make too much of a fuss. Just deliver it quietly when it's time."
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