Chapter 47 Chapter 47

Chapter 47

1

The second young lady sat on the doorstep, holding the unconscious young master in her arms, staring off into space.

Lin Chenxin had swept out like a whirlwind.

Before leaving, she'd told her not to wander off.

She stared down in a daze, looking at the young master's thin, pale face.

After a long while, she whispered softly, "What flowers do you think she likes?"

—

Lin Chenxin hurried into the Junzi Courtyard, leaning on the doorframe, gasping for air.

"Chen Gujun."

Chen Gujun, who was inside, arranging flowers, turned his head to "look" her way.

"What's wrong?"

He stood up and immediately started feeling his way forward.

Lin Chenxin caught Chen Gujun's outstretched hand. The warmth of her skin made his fingers twitch, and he quickly turned his hand and grasped hers.

"Didn't I say we'd buy you clothes today?" Lin Chenxin said, her eyes bright as she looked at him.

"What's the rush?"

Chen Gujun turned, his eyes tracking her movements.

Lin Chenxin looked for the measuring tape as she answered, "Mm, the young master is too sick. I'm planning to take him to the hospital, and while I'm at it..."

Feeling the sudden chill in the air behind her, she paused, then straightened up casually and said, "I said I'd help you buy clothes today. I just happened to see how sick the young master was, so I'll take him to the hospital along the way."

The tension quietly faded, and Lin Chenxin breathed a silent sigh of relief.

She turned around, only to find Chen Gujun standing silently behind her, having come up without a sound. He was looking down at her, his eyes unseeing.

Her expression flickered for a moment, but she quickly smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Your waist is so slim."

She glanced down at the tape measure, then bent down to measure his legs, just as he reached out to hug her—only to grab at air.

Seeing his fingers pull back slightly, she smirked.

"Hold it there."

Chen Gujun pressed his hand to his waist. She ran the tape down to his feet, and when she noticed the stark scars on his ankles, she looked away calmly.

"Come sit down." She straightened up and patted the stool.

Chen Gujun obediently sat down, and she stretched the tape across his shoulders.

He was a little thin, but his shoulders weren't narrow—he'd look amazing in a suit.

A smile played at her lips.

Finally, she measured his chest. It started off decently, but when Chen Gujun resisted, things got playful.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Chenxin looked up, her breath brushing against his face.

Chen Gujun leaned back, one hand on her shoulder as he said, "It's not proper."

Hearing that, Lin Chenxin couldn't help laughing.

She blinked and said, "I haven't measured your hips."

Chen Gujun suddenly stood up, bumping into her and making her stumble back.

He quickly reached out to steady her, then yanked his hand back like he'd been burned.

Honestly, that old-fashioned vibe of his was oddly charming.

The amusement in her eyes grew.

"Perfect timing—since you're up, let's measure your hips."

She reached out, but Chen Gujun grabbed her wrist with a precision that made her wonder if he was really blind or just pretending.

"No need," Chen Gujun said in a low voice.

She stepped closer: "Why not? For a custom order, the more detailed the measurements, the better."

Chen Gujun resisted, turning his face away as he said, "It's not proper."

They tussled back and forth until Lin Chenxin couldn't hold back her laughter anymore.

She rested her head against Chen Gujun's chest, laughing so hard she couldn't stop.

Chen Gujun pressed his lips together and fell silent, but his grip on her wrist never loosened.

When Lin Chenxin had laughed enough, she looked up at him and said, "Don't be shy. This isn't something to be embarrassed about."

Chen Gujun lowered his head, his fingertips twitching.

Lin Chenxin softened her voice: "It's good to be mindful of differences between men and women, but there's no need to be so tense. This is normal, really. No need to feel awkward."

Normal?

Chen Gujun relaxed his grip.

Lin Chenxin bit back a smile and slid her hand around to his back.

Chen Gujun's Adam's apple bobbed as he stiffened uncomfortably, his hands at his sides clenching tightly.

Lin Chenxin hadn't really had any ulterior motives, but Chen Gujun's reactions were so vivid and amusing that she couldn't resist stirring up a little mischief.

This time, though, she said nothing, afraid that a couple of jokes might really upset him.

After she finished measuring properly, Chen Gujun let out a silent sigh of relief.

Seeing the expression on his face, Lin Chenxin's eyes sparkled with a radiant light.

"Next time, let's go out together."

Chen Gujun's lips moved slightly, and he lowered his head, saying, "Mm."

—

Back at the Longevity Courtyard, the Second Miss was still sitting on the doorstep, holding the Young Master.

She hurried over and said, "Sorry, I was delayed a bit..."

When she saw the flowers in front of her, she froze, then looked up at the Second Miss's face.

The Second Miss was looking down, her hands still stained with mud.

She opened her mouth and whispered, "Thank you."

She took the flowers and carefully put them in her bag.

The Second Miss wouldn't let her help; she hoisted the Young Master onto her back.

Without a word, she walked out.

Watching her slightly strained figure, Lin Chenxin quietly followed.

As she stepped out of the Chen family's gate, Lin Chenxin turned back to look at the Second Miss, who stood frozen behind the threshold.

The Second Miss stared down at the high threshold, never taking that step.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Are you tired?"

She walked back in, meaning to take the Young Master from her.

But the Second Miss just stared at her, saying nothing.

After a long moment, the Second Miss looked away and stepped out.

The moment she stepped over the threshold, Lin Chenxin saw the Second Miss close her eyes and let out a relieved breath.

She pursed her lips and fell silent.

It was just an ordinary threshold.

Once, it even symbolized the prestige of the Chen family's grand estate.

But after the Chen family's world turned upside down, everything changed.

Dark clouds and cold winds became a cage, trapping the Chen family, and only then did they truly realize how terrifying the family was.

Even more terrifying was the invisible obedience that had seeped into their very bones.

As long as Mr. Chen hadn't come back, no one in the Chen family dared to step outside the gate.

The Second Miss hitched the Young Master higher on her back, and her eyes, fixed ahead, shone with a resilient, bright light.

Ahead was a tree-lined avenue, lined with towering walls and dense trees.

The road was wide and dark, stretching out endlessly.

The Second Miss walked slowly, but her back was exceptionally resolute.

Lin Chenxin followed behind, a swirl of complex emotions in her eyes. Finally, she lowered her head, her gaze shrouded in a dim, obscure light.

—

At the entrance to Lanting Courtyard, no one was standing guard anymore.

Maybe they realized that guarding it or not made no difference.

The middle-aged man brought three meals a day and then left.

No one knew where he went; maybe he was waiting somewhere for Mr. Chen to come back.

Today, the wind outside felt colder than usual. Sitting in her room, Ms. Liang turned to glance out the window. The courtyard outside was as barren and cold as ever.

At that moment, outside Lanting Courtyard, a pair of pale feet slowly walked along the corridor, like a silent, invisible ghost in the empty Chen mansion.

He stepped off the stairs, onto the bluestone path, entered the unguarded courtyard, and stopped beneath a tree.

Those hollow eyes looked at the withered branches, and his outstretched hand caught a falling leaf with precision.

He blew on it softly, and the leaf drifted lightly in through the window, landing on the dressing table.

Ms. Liang's pupils contracted. She shot up, knocking over her chair.

Hearing the noise, the middle-aged woman quickly lifted the cloth curtain and entered.

"Madam..."

Ms. Liang turned around, her chest heaving with quick breaths.

Her eyes cold and deep, she said hoarsely, "Brew a pot of tea and take it outside."

The middle-aged woman looked at her in confusion but still withdrew to follow the instructions.

As soon as she stepped out of the room, the middle-aged woman caught her breath, quickly lowered her head, and hurried away, pale-faced.

Soon, neatly dressed Ms. Liang came out from inside.

Seeing Chen Gujun standing in the courtyard with his back to her, she clenched her fingers, held her breath, and walked over.

"The eldest son honors us with his presence. May I ask what important matter brings you here?"

She stood behind Chen Gujun, at a measured distance, chin raised, her face composed.

Chen Gujun turned around, and seeing those pitch-black, hollow eyes, Ms. Liang's heart tightened again, her palm marked with red from her nails.

"Sit," Chen Gujun said calmly.

Ms. Liang took a deep breath, walked over with a composed demeanor, and sat down at the other side of the stone table.

She had only seen Chen Gujun once when he was six years old.

Now, over twenty years had passed.

Looking at his face now, her pupils trembled uncontrollably.

Chen Gujun looked so much like the Young Master.

The middle-aged woman carried a pot of tea, head lowered, walking quickly closer.

Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, the teapot and teacup clinking as scalding tea splashed out.

"You can go now," Ms. Liang said coldly.

The middle-aged woman, after pouring the tea, looked up at Ms. Liang's face.

"Madam..."

"Leave."

The woman pressed her lips together, lowered her head, and left the courtyard.

The hot tea rose in wisps of steam.

Ms. Liang picked up the teacup, letting its scalding heat warm her cold, numb body.

"You're a mother and an elder. I hope you'll step up and take on the responsibilities that come with it."

When Chen Gujun said this, Ms. Liang's hand twitched, and the scalding tea burned the back of her hand red.

But her face remained expressionless as she looked down and asked, "What do you mean?"

"I don't want my wife to carry such a heavy burden. She's an upright and kind person. She's never wronged anyone, and the Chen family's responsibilities shouldn't be on her shoulders," Chen Gujun said calmly.

Ms. Liang gripped the teacup tighter, saying nothing.

But then Chen Gujun raised his hand with a calm demeanor, his sharp nail making a small cut. A drop of dark red blood dripped from his fingertip into the cup.

At the "drip" sound, Ms. Liang shuddered.

Chen Gujun wiped away the blood from his fingertip, the wound not healing immediately.

He pushed the teacup toward Ms. Liang and said flatly, "I hope you'll make this choice yourself."

His indifferent tone and composed posture exuded an oppressively eerie aura.

Ms. Liang stared fixedly at the teacup.

The dark red blood quickly seeped into the tea, spreading a deep crimson hue like the deadliest poison.

Her entire body felt unbearably cold.

And Chen Gujun had already stood up, turning away without a backward glance. His tall, lean figure soon disappeared under the thick, dark clouds.