Chapter 212 Not Marrying Lin Ruhai
The two sat down inside. The place was relatively secluded, and there weren't many people around, making it convenient for them to talk.
Yuan Hongqu then spoke.
"Aunt Bai, I don't have time, I have to take care of the kids!"
"It's only been a short time since I last saw you, and you already have a child? Who is your husband? Do I know him?"
"Aunt Bai, what are you saying? I'm babysitting someone else's child!"
"Taking care of someone else's child? You became someone's stepmother? You became Lin Ruhai's second wife? Hongqu, is this true?!"
“Aunt Bai, how could I possibly become someone’s second wife? Or a stepmother? We haven’t seen each other for so long, can’t you wish me something good?”
"Isn't this good enough? So many people are eyeing Lin Ruhai's second wife, and you're still not satisfied?"
Yuan Hongqu sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation.
“Aunt Bai, I’ve never thought about getting married, so please don’t make wild guesses. I currently work for the Lin family and take care of Lin Ruhai’s daughter. I’m here with her to take the exam today.”
"Lin Ruhai's daughter?"
"Her nickname is Daiyu. She's only eight years old this year. She's incredibly beautiful, smart, and adorable. Aunt Bai, do you know how patient I am with a little girl? I used to only teach advanced classes because I didn't want to deal with children. I thought kids were too much trouble. But then I met Daiyu. She looks like a little fairy, but she's not arrogant at all. She has the best personality and temperament, and she's incredibly kind. I feel like it's only right to give her the best of everything in the world."
When Lin Daiyu was mentioned, Yuan Hongqu's eyes lit up, which surprised Dean Bai. He had never seen Yuan Hongqu with such a vivid expression before. In the past, Yuan Hongqu always gave him a maturity that was not in line with his age, as if he had been through many hardships and worldly affairs and had seen through the world.
Now I can finally be considered a normal person.
"Since you love Lin Ruhai's daughter so much, and Lin Ruhai is a widower while you are single, wouldn't it be more legitimate for you to take care of her daughter?"
Yuan Hongqu gave Dean Bai a deep look, which made Dean Bai feel that there was a faint meaning in Yuan Hongqu's eyes.
“I’m now Daiyu’s governess, and I also manage the Lin family. Isn’t that good enough? If I had married him, would I have this kind of freedom?”
"Sigh, what a disappointment. If you had married him, it would have been so much better. Lin Ruhai's character wouldn't have been a disgrace to you."
“Aunt Bai, if you keep saying that, we can’t have a proper conversation.” Ever since Yuan Hongqu started working at the academy, Dean Bai has been paying close attention to her marriage, arranging blind dates for her and urging her to get married.
Yuan Hongqu never expected that in her more than 30 years of life in modern times, no one had ever been so persistent in urging her to get married, but now that she was in ancient times, she was being urged to do so.
"Is it because Lin Ruhai is Yuanhang's cousin that you've been in the Lin family for so long without ever having the thought of marrying him?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Hongqu smiled calmly.
“Aunt Bai, after I went to prison, I was possessed by a sorceress. Everyone I used to know disappeared from my memory. The day before yesterday, I brought the Lin family girl to the academy to register. I saw the rules and regulations posted in the academy. I had worked with the teachers of the academy to perfect them one by one. I remember them very clearly. It was from that moment that I regained my memory.”
"Is that so? No wonder you've never contacted anyone in our academy..." Dean Bai sighed deeply.
"So, Aunt Bai, the reason I'm not marrying Lin Ruhai isn't because of Lin Yuanhang, but because even with amnesia, I've never thought about getting married. You don't need to worry about this."
"How can I not worry about you? You're not getting any younger, and you don't have anyone who cares about you..."
Dean Bai has been tirelessly urging Yuan Hongqu to get married for many years.
Yuan Hongqu was a student she mentored. After graduation, he worked at the academy and later became its vice dean.
If the academy hadn't been targeted, Yuan Hongqu would have already taken over as dean.
The two are close friends despite their age difference; in fact, Dean Bai has long regarded Yuan Hongqu as his own daughter.
"Aunt Bai, I have several maids and servants around me, and they are the most basic requirement for me to be caring and attentive. Don't worry, I won't be destitute in my old age."
"How can you still be so carefree? Can you really trust those people?"
"Aunt Bai, men are even less reliable." Yuan Hongqu was very rational.
"This is the last time I'm telling you, I will never get married in my life."
Yuan Hongqu's thoughts remained unchanged throughout her two lifetimes.
"Aunt Bai, I'm doing just fine without a man. I don't need to marry a man to prove my abilities, nor do I need a man to waste my energy on me. Men are naturally stronger than women and more rational, so they can be used for tasks, and they're easier to manage. But as for me to marry, forget it. Aunt Bai, forgive my audacity, but to me, men are appendages, burdens. I'm confident that what men can do, I can do too; what they can't do, I can do!"
Dean Bai scrutinized Yuan Hongqu for a while, noticing her serious expression. It didn't seem like she was just saying it casually; rather, it seemed like she genuinely believed it. Yuan Hongqu had only ever made excuses before and had never said anything like this before.
Previously, Yuan Hongqu had always seemed adrift, uncertain, and unattached, as if she could leave at any moment. But this time, Dean Bai could see that Yuan Hongqu had something to hold onto, something to settle down with. Could it be that young girl from the Lin family?
"I will never mention urging you to get married again. Is that girl from the Lin family really that good? You've met at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, girls at the academy, and I've never heard you speak so highly of any of them, not even Zhao Huajing back then..."
“Aunt Bai, that’s the Empress now. Aren’t you afraid of offending her by being so unreserved?” When Yuan Hongqu heard this name, an image of a refined and pretty woman in a blue dress came to mind.
"Let's not talk about it anymore," Dean Bai sighed inwardly.
Outside the shed, a gong sounded, followed by three more clanging sounds.
"Time's up, collect the papers." Upon hearing this, the teachers in the examination room immediately stood up and collected the exam papers.
The students walked out of the examination rooms one by one, from smallest to largest.
As soon as she heard the gong, Yuan Hongqu got up and went to the entrance of the academy, standing in the best spot to ensure that Daiyu could see her at a glance after she came out.
Finally, when the third group of candidates came out, Daiyu stood prominently in the first row, smiling as she walked out of the academy.
As soon as Daiyu stepped out, she saw Yuan Hongqu standing at the front, waving at her.
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