Chapter 142: Rotten to the Core

Chapter 142: Rotten to the Core

Sun Zhiye stood up, following Tian Dong's line of sight.

In the alley, Xie Yan stood with his back to the teahouse, while Lu Mingchao looked up at him, her eyes sparkling and lips curved in a smile, her naturally red lips moving as if she were telling the most interesting story in the world.

Her eyes, slightly curved and filled with sunlight, were radiant.

Like a rippling spring pond.

As if to meet Lu Mingchao's gaze, Xie Yan's head remained lowered, his body slightly leaning towards her.

He could almost see their eyes meeting, reflecting each other's faces.

Sun Zhiye smiled faintly, a shadow flickered in his eyes, his heart was like a sudden gust of wind, turbulent and unable to calm.

So, Lu Mingchao could be like this too.

This was the image he had imagined: a bird with clipped wings, raised in a gilded cage.

Just as Lu Mingchao was about to playfully stuff the remaining fried candy into Xie Yan's mouth, she spotted Sun Zhiye standing by the second-floor window of the teahouse, overlooking the street.

Instantly, the smile in her eyes and the softness on her face disappeared.

Not a trace of her earlier charm remained.

Sun Zhiye thought, this must be the cold frost under the moon.

This glance reminded him of the cold moonlight of autumn and winter, with frost reflecting the bright moon.

Lu Mingchao inwardly cursed her bad luck and decided to pretend not to see him.

Sun Zhiye bowed and greeted, "Master Xie, Lu..."

"Madam Lu."

Between 'Madam Lu' and 'Madam Xie,' Sun Zhiye unhesitatingly chose 'Madam Lu.'

The moment Sun Zhiye spoke, Xie Yan's aura instantly changed, like a sharp sword being unsheathed.

The moment he learned of Sun Zhiye's covetous thoughts towards Mingchao, his killing intent surged repeatedly, like trying to stop boiling water by stirring it without removing the firewood.

"Husband," Lu Mingchao ignored Sun Zhiye and instead smiled gently, placing her hand in Xie Yan's palm.

Her soft, delicate voice and the cool touch of her hand seemed to pour cold water on boiling soup, quelling the killing intent in Xie Yan's heart.

Lu Mingchao's voice was neither loud nor soft, but it carried clearly on the wind to Sun Zhiye's ears.

Sun Zhiye's expression remained unchanged, his demeanor still that of a proper gentleman, but within the folds of his sleeve, his fingers clenched tightly into a fist.

"Master Xie, Madam Lu, please stay," Sun Zhiye said again.

Xie Yan slightly raised his head, his gaze unwavering as it met Sun Zhiye's. "What advice does the eldest son of the Sun family offer?"

Sun Zhiye chuckled lightly. "Advice is too strong a word. I merely wish to have a conversation with Master Xie and Madam Lu."

"The people of Changhe County all know of the eldest son of the Sun family. Although he has not ventured into the imperial examinations, he is well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, and his knowledge is profound. It is truly surprising that he is unaware of the term 'virtuous couple.'"

Xie Yan's voice was clear and soothing, like moonlight filtering through the leaves, scattering like shards of snow.

His words were mocking, yet his tone betrayed no hint of sarcasm.

Sun Zhiye remained unmoved.

He was well aware of the term "virtuous couple," but...

Yet, he was unwilling to address her as "Madam Xie," let alone call them a "virtuous couple."

"How could we decline an invitation from the eldest son of the Sun family?"

Sun Zhiye ushered them into a private room, where Lu Mingchao and Xie Yan sat side by side.

Tian Dong stood outside the room, his mind tangled like silkworm threads, intricate and hard to unravel.

The eldest son of the Sun family is truly strange.

This was Tian Dong's most genuine thought.

"Do you really think there’s still a need for us to sit down and have a calm tea conversation face to face?"

Lu Mingchao didn’t pull her hand away, letting Xie Yan hold it firmly.

"Business is business, and personal matters are personal."

"In business, we are rivals."

"Today’s tea invitation is personal. I hold great admiration for Xie Yan and Lu Mingchao."

Sun Zhiye sipped his tea, his voice tinged with a smile.

Lu Mingchao scoffed, refusing to play along. "The eldest son of the Sun family’s face is truly a marvel—it can be big or small, thick or thin, even there or not."

"If it’s personal, there’s only enmity, no friendship."

"Your Sun family, from top to bottom, is like moldy grapes, rotten to the core."

"The second young master of the Sun family, whom you scorn, is no better than you. It’s just the difference between a true scoundrel and a hypocrite."

Sun Zhiye tightened his grip on the teacup.

In the past, everyone hailed him as the Jade String Gentleman, untainted by the mud.

Now, few still refer to him as the Jade String Gentleman.

All of this is because of Lu Mingchao.

Yet, he couldn’t help but be drawn to such a Lu Mingchao.

"Lu Mingchao, your misunderstanding of me runs deep, and it’s something I deeply regret. I’ve never intended to antagonize you. Yet, fate is fickle, and the world is unpredictable. I’m like a small boat adrift on the sea, tossed by the wind and waves, helplessly driven by fate to where I stand today."

"If given the choice, I would much rather be close friends with you than mortal enemies."

These words were tinged with a hint of genuine emotion.

Xie Yan squeezed Lu Mingchao's hand, as if expressing his displeasure.

"The eldest son of the Sun family is truly silver-tongued, with a face as thick as a wall."

The phrase "having no choice" has somehow become a fig leaf.

Wolves in sheep's clothing, dressed-up scoundrels.

Lu Mingchao smiled, "If the eldest son of the Sun family's seemingly heartfelt words had been spoken before the magistrate's wife's plum blossom viewing party, they might have held some credibility."

"But now, saying such things is utterly shameless."

"The poisoning incident, the swindling case—just because I don’t speak up, does it mean I am completely unaware of the truth behind the scenes?"

"What a farce!"

Lu Mingchao paused, then continued, "The eldest son of the Sun family still has the leisure to come to a teahouse for tea. Doesn’t this mean you are absolutely confident that the Sun family's business can be revived?"

"Who will be the next sucker to risk their life and fortune for the eldest son of the Sun family this time?"

Lu Mingchao finished the tea that had gradually cooled in her cup.

She placed the teacup upside down on the table, "The tea’s finished, the words are said. Goodbye."

"By the way, let’s not bring up personal ties anymore."

"On that day, we told your younger brother that consorting with scoundrels goes against the teachings of the sages. The same goes for you, the eldest son of the Sun family. Please don’t put others in a bind."

Lu Mingchao grabbed Xie Yan's hand, stood up, and left the room directly, muttering about whether she’d forgotten to check the almanac before going out today, thus running into such fiends.

Sun Zhiye watched them leave, suddenly feeling a surge of irritation.

The aura around Xie Yan was so similar to that of Lu Mingchao when she had drawn her bow and shot at him last night.

A perfect pair, with the wife leading and the husband following?

"Eldest Young Master…" Tian Dong hesitated.

Sun Zhiye frowned, "What is it?"

"Do you… have feelings for Lu Mingchao?"

Tian Dong asked tactfully.

Sun Zhiye avoided answering, "What if I do? What if I don’t?"

Tian Dong: …

I get it, but I can’t accept it.

I just hope the eldest son of the Sun family won’t be like an old house on fire, beyond control.

On the main street.

Lu Mingchao and Xie Yan walked hand in hand.

"Mingchao, do you know what I was just thinking?"

"Killing."

The kite’s string is in my hand.