Chapter 347: Visiting the Estate

After ending the call with Yu Ning, Wang Haoran immediately dialed Feng Xuansu.

“You’re finally calling. Is this an invitation to dinner?”

The phone barely rang once before Feng Xuansu picked up with a lively excitement.

“Not today. Rain check,” Wang Haoran replied, tone casual as he smoothly transitioned into the real purpose of the call. “I’ve been practicing sketching lately. Figured I’d try my hand at some on-site drawing. Do you know of any old-style mansions around Qingling?”

It wasn’t exactly a convincing excuse—if anything, it sounded a little forced. After all, Feng Xuansu was an outsider while Wang Haoran grew up in Qingling. There was no way she knew the local layout better than he did.

But Feng Xuansu didn’t question the logic one bit. Her mind was too preoccupied with the idea of spending time with her husband. Everything else faded into background noise.

“Yes, yes, there is. My nephew owns a large estate here,” she replied instantly. “I’ll take you. It’s the perfect setting for your sketching.”

“Oh? That’s too much trouble, isn’t it?” Wang Haoran said politely.

“It’s no trouble at all!” Feng Xuansu rushed to say. “Where are you? I’ll come meet you now.”

“I need to pick up some things first. I’ll call you in a bit,” Wang Haoran said.

Since he claimed that he was going sketching, he naturally had to prepare the appropriate tools.

“Alright, call me when you’re ready,” she replied without hesitation.

Once the call ended, Wang Haoran grabbed his keys and headed out.

It was early morning, and Feng Anna still hadn’t slept. She’d been cleaning the villa since the night before, and exhaustion was written all over her face.

“I’ve finished cleaning. Can I go rest now?” she asked weakly, barely able to keep her eyes open.

“Go ahead,” Wang Haoran replied casually.

Her performance was decent enough, and he wasn’t in the mood to nitpick.

Hearing his words was like receiving a royal pardon. Feng Anna nodded quickly and disappeared into one of the bedrooms to collapse.

Wang Haoran got into his luxury sports car and made a brief stop near Qingling University to purchase art supplies. Once stocked up, he contacted Feng Xuansu and picked her up before heading toward Yan Yuntian’s estate.

On the way, Feng Xuansu tried calling Yan Yuntian, but he didn’t answer. Left with no other option, she contacted Yu Ning instead.

By the time they reached the estate, Yu Ning was already waiting at the gate.

“Miss Xuansu,” she greeted with a smile before turning to glance at the man beside her. Pretending not to recognize Wang Haoran, she asked, “And this is…?”

“He’s a close friend of mine,” Feng Xuansu said without pause. “He’s looking for an old mansion to sketch, so I brought him here.”

Yu Ning nodded and stepped aside, gesturing for them to follow her in.

The three of them entered the estate together.

“Where’s Yan Yuntian?” Feng Xuansu asked casually.

“His mood hasn’t been great lately,” Yu Ning answered. “He’s been sleeping in most days, usually doesn’t get up until close to noon. It’s still early, so he’s probably still asleep.”

She heard that from one of the male servants who tended to Yan Yuntian and answered naturally.

Feng Xuansu nodded, not giving it much thought. With her status, she didn’t need to inform Yan Yuntian just because she was bringing someone in to sketch.

Wang Haoran wandered casually through the estate, eventually selecting a spot with good scenery. He unfurled the paper and made a show of preparing to sketch.

Feng Xuansu stood nearby, hands clasped in front of her as she watched him attentively. She didn’t interrupt, just stood there quietly, content just to be with him.

To anyone else, it would’ve been a boring scene—just a man with a brush and a woman standing beside him. But for Feng Xuansu, it was perfect. Even if they didn’t speak, even if they didn’t touch, just being alone together like this made her feel indescribably happy.

Wang Haoran, on the other hand, felt a little uncomfortable. After all, he wasn’t here to sketch. He had another goal entirely.

Still, with his Grandmaster-level calligraphy and painting skills, he could at least fake it. After a few strokes, he looked up and said casually, “Nature calls. I’ll be back.”

“I’ll go with you,” Feng Xuansu offered instantly.

“That’s… probably not a good idea?” Wang Haoran blinked, slightly startled.

“I just meant in case you get lost. I can show you the way,” she said hurriedly, cheeks tinged with pink.

“No need. I passed a bathroom earlier. I’ll find it.” He shook his head gently, not wanting her to follow.

Feng Xuansu didn’t press him further and simply watched as he walked off.

Wang Haoran exited her line of sight and made his way into the garden nestled deep in the estate. After a short wait, Yu Ning arrived.

“She’s still asleep,” Yu Ning said quickly, already aware of what he wanted.

“She hasn’t woken up yet?” Wang Haoran frowned slightly in disappointment.

He’d come all this way hoping to meet Yun Xuan and activate his Charm Halo to flip her loyalty. But if she was still resting, there was nothing he could do just yet.

“Let me know as soon as she’s awake,” he said after a moment’s thought.

He wasn’t in a rush. Since he was already here, he could wait.

“Yes, sir,” Yu Ning said respectfully.

Wang Haoran returned to the spot where he’d been sketching.

Feng Xuansu was still waiting in the exact same place, watching the path with soft eyes, like a young wife patiently waiting for her husband to return home.

—

Elsewhere in the estate.

Just as Yu Ning finished speaking with Wang Haoran, a servant came over to report a visitor at the gate.

She followed the servant to the entrance and found a beautiful young woman standing there, dressed in a moon-white robe, with a small red mark between her brows. In her hands was a decorative gift box, its contents unknown.

“I’m the housekeeper here—Yu Ning. May I ask who you are?” she asked politely, though her tone was guarded.

“From the Ning Family of Cangzhou. I’m Ning Aoxue,” the woman replied with a smile.

Yu Ning’s eyes flickered with surprise. She hadn’t seen this woman before, but she knew the name. Ning Aoxue—one of Yan Yuntian’s betrothed.

“And what brings you here, Miss Ning?” she asked.

“I’ve come to pay a visit to your young master, Yan Yuntian,” Ning Aoxue said warmly, her tone gentle and sincere.

Yu Ning’s expression darkened subtly.

She could tell just from the way Ning Aoxue mentioned Yan Yuntian that the woman held no ill will—in fact, there was an unmistakable fondness in her voice.

And that was exactly what Yu Ning didn’t want to see.

As one of Wang Haoran’s people, Yu Ning was firmly aligned against Yan Yuntian. Anything that brought good fortune to the protagonist was, in her mind, a threat.

Ning Aoxue showing up with a gift and a smile, clearly hoping to build or restore goodwill with Yan Yuntian? Completely unacceptable.

“Please wait here a moment,” Yu Ning said with cool politeness before turning and walking back into the estate without another word.

Ning Aoxue was mildly offended by the treatment but swallowed her displeasure. After all, she had come to apologize to her “fiancé.” She couldn’t throw a tantrum now.

Moments later, Yu Ning got on the phone with Wang Haoran and reported the situation.

“Young Master,” she said quietly, “one of Yan Yuntian’s fiancées, called Ning Aoxue of the Ning Family from Cangzhou, has come to visit. She even brought a gift. Seems like she don’t hate him. Should I turn her away?”