Chapter 161 Forget It

Chapter 161: Never Mind

Grand Tutor Lin's gaze fell upon Cheng Ge's face, warm and thoughtful, carrying expectation and guidance.

"Some matters need not be bound by convention or rushed to a conclusion."

Cheng Ge slowly lifted the celadon teapot from the low table, poured himself a cup, lowered his head, and took a gentle sip.

He raised an eyebrow slightly—this tea was quite good, actually—and took another sip.

As he savored the tea, his mind started processing Grand Tutor Lin's words.

Before his eyes? By his side? What exactly was this old man hinting at?

Cheng Ge calmly poured another cup, licked his lips, and his eyes darted around.

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck, and he finally grasped Grand Tutor Lin's meaning.

"Your Excellency's words of wisdom have taught me well."

"However... Sister Lvrou has made it clear she has no such intention. I am unwilling to force the matter or cause her distress."

Grand Tutor Lin: "..."

Grand Tutor Lin's hand holding the teacup stiffened abruptly, nearly spilling the tea.

He looked at Cheng Ge, feeling as if a huge stone had lodged in his chest, almost choking him!

What Lvrou? What is this foolish boy thinking?

Grand Tutor Lin suppressed his surging emotions, his face turning slightly green as he took a large gulp of tea.

He stared at Cheng Ge's earnest but completely clueless face, unwilling to give up!

That tight-lipped grandson of his was hopeless, so this old man had to swallow his pride and try again!

Grand Tutor Lin cleared his throat, deciding to be more direct.

His eyes bored into Cheng Ge with scholarly indirectness, yet more direct than before.

"An ancient saying goes: 'Dong Sheng needs only a charming smile, Zi Du truly has beautiful eyes. A million for a word, a thousand gold to pursue. Do not speak of uneven greens; who speaks of the graceful and virtuous? I wish to offer an embroidered quilt and come to the Yue man's dwelling.'"

He paused, his gaze falling on Cheng Ge, before continuing after a moment.

"Though the graceful and virtuous maiden is admirable, the jade-like gentleman is no less beautiful. Do not be blinded by a single leaf, fixated only on the uneven water plants, and miss a good match..."

At these words, Cheng Ge's mind buzzed. His hand holding the teacup trembled violently, nearly spilling the scalding tea onto his new official robe!

He jerked his head up, eyes wide as saucers, as if seeing a ghost, staring incredulously at Grand Tutor Lin seated across!

Before his eyes! By his side! A jade-like gentleman!

In a flash, all the clues connected in Cheng Ge's mind!

This old man had been acting strange ever since he invited him to ride together, telling him to notice people nearby...

Then he gave a long speech about blind marriages being bad... and now he was talking about a jade-like gentleman?!

This old man had taken a roundabout way just to get into his pants!!!

Damn!!!

A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

Looking at Grand Tutor Lin's face—thin, aged, and now wearing an expression of "finally you understand"—Cheng Ge's hair stood on end! Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover!

This esteemed imperial tutor, head of the Lin family, normally so righteous, was actually so disgraceful behind the scenes!

It was utterly scandalous! A complete loss of decency! The world was in decline!

Cheng Ge instinctively tightened his grip on the teacup, his knuckles turning white.

He pressed his lips together tightly, and the wings of his official cap trembled slightly.

The man held immense power—serving as the Grand Tutor, head of the Lin family, with disciples and old friends scattered throughout the court!

He himself was merely a minor capital official. If he offended him too badly...

With a casual move or a subtle hint from the other side, might he one day accidentally fall into the moat and feed the fish?

And most crucially, this man was Yuli's grandfather, which made things tricky.

Though the old man was disgraceful, if Cheng Ge beat him up now, it would inevitably upset Yuli.

Thinking this, Cheng Ge looked up again and accidentally met Grand Tutor Lin's hopeful gaze.

Damn! A bad seed can produce good fruit—it was a waste that Yuli, that refined gentleman, was raised by such a person.

He thought to himself that he should warn Yuli one of these days, lest he be led astray by this old man and end up bent...

While cursing inwardly, Cheng Ge forced his face to stay composed, not daring to show any disdain.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil inside, and forced an ugly smile.

"Your Excellency's words... I dare not agree with them.

"A saying comes to mind: 'An eighteen-year-old bride wed to an eighty-year-old groom, white hair against rosy cheeks.'"

He paused deliberately, then continued slowly, word by word, with great emphasis.

"You, Grand Tutor Lin, are the literary patriarch of our era, a model for scholars, revered and admired by all.

"Your reputation in your later years weighs a ton. I earnestly urge you to preserve it and not... let a momentary whim cause its ruin!"

"Pfft! Cough, cough, cough!!!" Grand Tutor Lin had just taken a sip of tea when Cheng Ge's words sent it down the wrong pipe.

Grand Tutor Lin coughed violently, his aged face first turned bright red, then deathly pale!

His finger trembled as he pointed at Cheng Ge, his white beard quivering with rage.

His throat rasped, but he couldn't utter a single word. His vision darkened, and his chest felt so tight it could burst!

"You... you..." Grand Tutor Lin stammered but ultimately couldn't get the words out.

He swiftly pulled a white porcelain bottle from his sleeve, his body shaking as he poured out two pills and brought them to his mouth.

Cheng Ge: "!!!" Seeing Grand Tutor Lin in such a state, his heart got a little flustered, and for a moment, he was utterly bewildered.

Wasn't it just a rejection? Why get so worked up? With that kind of mental fortitude, he still dares to think about... hooking up with guys?

Grand Tutor Lin abruptly gulped down the remaining tea in his cup, barely managing to suppress the terrifying suffocation.

Then he set the cup down heavily onto the side table, his gaze fixed intently on Cheng Ge.

After that, he closed his eyes in despair, not acknowledging him in the slightest.

*Grand Tutor Lin: Forget it, children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. Let nature take its course.*

Cheng Ge grabbed a piece of pastry and took a bite, figuring that the old man had probably given up.