Chapter 72: Cousin Probably Likes Her as a Sister

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Cousin Probably Likes Her as a Sister

Zhi Wan froze.

It took her a moment to realize what he meant.

She was utterly surprised.

’My cousin is actually explaining himself to me.’

"Of course I believe you, Cousin." Zhi Wan immediately declared her stance. To make herself seem more sincere, she looked at Lu Zhan with particular earnestness.

Gazed at by her beautiful peach-blossom eyes, Lu Zhan faltered for a second before looking away. "Let’s go in," he said faintly.

"Mhm."

The two of them entered the mansion, one after the other.

"Jinzhi? Wan’er?"

They had just stepped inside when they heard a surprised voice call out.

Zhi Wan paused and looked up to see Lu Jinglan standing there.

"Little Aunt Jinglan?" Zhi Wan called out. "What are you doing here?"

"I ate too much this evening, so I’m walking around to help with digestion," Lu Jinglan explained with a smile. Her gaze swept over the two of them as she asked curiously, "You two went out?"

Lu Zhan ignored her and turned to Zhi Wan. "It’s late. You should go back and rest soon."

"Okay, I’ll head back right away," Zhi Wan replied obediently.

Without another word, Lu Zhan walked straight on.

Watching the man’s figure quickly melt into the night, Lu Jinglan paused, then took Zhi Wan’s hand and sighed, "Jinzhi is as cold as ever."

Zhi Wan nodded. "Cousin has always been like that."

"Is that so?" Lu Jinglan sized her up, teasing with a grin. "But why do I get the feeling that since I’ve been back this time, Jinzhi is a little different toward you?"

Zhi Wan looked at her in astonishment. "What makes you say that?"

Lu Jinglan blinked. "Why so surprised? Am I wrong?"

Zhi Wan looked baffled. "I haven’t noticed any difference. My cousin treats everyone the same."

Lu Jinglan glanced at her, then suddenly smiled. "That’s true. By the way, where did you and Jinzhi go just now?"

"Junior Minister Ouyang’s sister asked me to go out with her, and it just so happened that Junior Minister Ouyang had business with my cousin, so we went together," Zhi Wan explained briefly.

Lu Jinglan wanted to ask more, but Zhi Wan yawned and said, "Little Aunt Jinglan, it’s very late. I need to go back and rest. You should get some rest soon, too."

Lu Jinglan nodded with a smile. "Alright."

Once Zhi Wan was a good distance away, the smile on her face immediately faded, and her brow furrowed tightly.

’The servants told me Zhi Wan went out with Jinzhi.’

’I didn’t believe it at the time, so I waited here specifically.’

’I never expected to see them return from outside together.’

’Where on earth did they go? What exactly did they do?’

’Based on what Zhi Wan just said, it doesn’t seem like anything special.’

’Am I just overthinking things?’

’But I’ve never seen Lu Zhan protect anyone before.’

’Yet at Fushou Hall this evening, Lu Zhan repeatedly defended Zhi Wan.’

’Lu Zhan wasn’t like this in the past.’

’How could he have become so good to Zhi Wan just because I and Old Madam Lu were away for a while?’

’Does Lu Zhan really see Zhi Wan as a sister?’

’Even if it’s just as a sister, it’s still enough to make one jealous.’

’Although I’m nominally Lu Zhan’s aunt, he’s never given me the time of day.’

’In his eyes, I’m probably no different from a servant.’

’Before, Zhi Wan and I were the same in Lu Zhan’s eyes, but since I’ve come back, his attitude toward Zhi Wan is clearly different.’

This made Lu Jinglan feel a pang of jealousy.

’I entered the mansion before Zhi Wan, and I met Lu Zhan first.’

Lu Jinglan clenched her fists, a flash of resentment in her eyes.

Zhi Wan had just returned to Yaoguang Pavilion when Nanny Fang arrived, carrying a food container.

"This evening at Fushou Hall, Her Ladyship saw that you didn’t eat much. She was worried you’d be hungry, so she had this old servant bring you something to eat."

"Nanny Fang, when you go back later, please thank my aunt for me," Zhi Wan said gratefully.

Nanny Fang advised kindly, "Miss, you mustn’t take what the Old Madam said to heart. Her Ladyship is very fond of you."

"I know. I haven’t taken it to heart," Zhi Wan said.

Nanny Fang was relieved. "Then you should eat this while it’s hot, Miss."

Zhi Wan thought for a moment and felt she shouldn’t hide it from her aunt. She said in a low voice, "Nanny Fang, my cousin just took me out to eat. I’m not hungry."

As expected, Nanny Fang was very surprised to hear this. "The Princely Heir took you out to eat?"

"Mhm." Zhi Wan nodded.

Nanny Fang smiled. "It seems the Princely Heir is also very fond of you, Miss."

Zhi Wan said shyly, "My cousin said he sees me as a sister."

Nanny Fang nodded. "Her Ladyship only has the Princely Heir as her child, and you, Miss, are so well-behaved. The Princely Heir must be very fond of having you as a sister."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan pursed her lips, a little joy blooming in her heart.

’Does my cousin like having me as a sister?’

’He probably does. That must be why he takes care of me in every way.’

Back at Lan Courtyard, Nanny Fang told Lady Wei about Lu Zhan taking Zhi Wan out to eat.

Lu Zhenbei happened to be there as well. When he heard what Nanny Fang said, he was first shocked, then pleased. "Lu Zhan really acted like a proper older brother today."

His son had always been overly calm, with nothing but laws and regulations in his eyes. Nothing and no one could ever stir his emotions, which had once worried him greatly. After all, what is too rigid is easily broken.

Now, it seemed that Lu Zhan’s ability to care for his younger cousin showed that he wasn’t completely cold-blooded, rigid, and stubborn. He did have a human side.

Lady Wei smiled. "It seems I misunderstood him in the past."

"With Lu Zhan looking after Zhi Wan, you don’t need to worry so much. It’s getting late, let’s get some rest too," said Lu Zhenbei.

Nanny Fang tactfully withdrew.

...

Zhi Wan slept well that night and felt refreshed and energized. After breakfast, she settled back at her desk to paint.

Thanks to her efforts during this period, she had already sold several paintings and now had savings of more than one thousand taels of silver.

’I’ll save a little more, and once I have enough silver, I’ll buy a manor in the countryside.’

’That way, I won’t have to rely on my aunt. I’ll have a place to call my own and make a life for myself.’

’If I find a suitable candidate, I could even take on a live-in husband.’

With a goal in mind, she worked even harder on her painting.

A few days passed like this.

On this day, a servant from Fushou Hall came to invite Zhi Wan over.

Zhi Wan was a little surprised.

’Old Madam Lu has never liked me. Why would she send someone to summon me?’

Though puzzled, she still went over with Shuang’er.

When she arrived at Fushou Hall, she realized that Lady Wei and Lady Lou were also there. Lu Lan and Lu Jinglan were seated on either side of Old Madam Lu.

"Wan’er greets Old Madam, Aunt, and Second Madam." Zhi Wan stepped forward and curtsied.

"Sit," Old Madam Lu said faintly.

"Thank you, Old Madam." Zhi Wan straightened up.

"Wan’er, sit here," Lady Wei said, patting the spot beside her.

Zhi Wan immediately went over.

Watching the two of them sitting so intimately together was an eyesore to Old Madam Lu, but she didn’t say anything about it. Instead, she brought up another matter.

"It’s the Commandery Princess of Prince Gao Yang Mansion’s birthday. In previous years, they’ve never sent an invitation, but this time they suddenly sent one, and even specified that all three young ladies of the mansion should attend. It’s truly strange."

"Mother, there’s no need to worry too much. It just so happens that the three young ladies in our mansion are all of marriageable age. It’s a good thing for them to go to the Prince Mansion and broaden their horizons," Lady Lou said with a smile.

Old Madam Lu thought for a moment, then nodded. "Then tomorrow, the three young ladies will go together."