novelden Chapter 234 Not So Bad
Chapter 234 Not So Bad
Xu Jingyun froze, and she and Lin Shu turned around at the same time, only to see—
Ah Zhu, who should have already left, is now standing under the eaves not far away, tilting her head and looking at him with a mocking gaze.
Xu Jingyun was teasing Lin Shu through Azhu, but unexpectedly, the person involved caught him in the act. However, he did not feel embarrassed at all and calmly looked back at her.
Then, he raised an eyebrow beneath the mask, slightly turned his head, nudged Lin Shu beside him with his elbow, and turned back to smile at Azhu with an open and honest expression. His chin was slightly raised, and the corners of his eyes were lowered, giving him a rather arrogant and unrestrained air.
"Hey! Ah Shu, your good little brother is back again!"
Seeing Xu Jingyun's mischievous little face, Lin Shu shook her head helplessly, and then, without any hesitation, lightly patted his bottom again in front of A Zhu.
"You... Lin Shu!" Xu Jingyun looked a bit agitated, and the momentum she had just built up softened instantly because of Lin Shu's slap.
Xu Jingyun turned her head, her lips pressed into a straight line, and looked at Lin Shu with dissatisfaction.
Lin Shu, however, was unusually gentle. Before he could completely lose his temper, she gently ruffled his hair, then leaned down until she was level with him before speaking in a low, soft voice:
"Don't be angry, A-Yun."
Xu Jingyun's eyelashes began to tremble again. Finally, she turned her face away and muttered insincerely, "How annoying, patting my butt and then patting my head."
That's what they said, but they didn't show any actual disdain or make any gestures or expressions.
"Hahahaha..." Azhu laughed so hard she was bent over, which also pulled Lin Shu and Xu Jingyun back to their senses.
Xu Jingyun narrowed her eyes, her sharp gaze sweeping over him. A dangerous smile crept across her face, and her tone carried a threat: "What are you laughing at? Hmm?"
A-Zhu's laughter stopped abruptly, then she rolled her eyes at Xu Jingyun, not to be outdone, and tilted her head, saying in a perfunctory tone:
"A-Zhu likes to laugh, is that not allowed?"
Looking at A-Zhu, whose speech was no different from that of an ordinary person, Xu Jingyun turned her head to glance at Lin Shu, blinked, and as if she had thought of something, suddenly looked at him with a provocative expression and said:
"Is there something else this 'younger brother' has to do? If not, he can go back now."
Ah Shu just said she had some private things to discuss with me, so I'm afraid it's inconvenient for her to entertain you.
As he spoke, seemingly afraid that Lin Shu would expose him, he gave her a meaningful look.
However, Lin Shu had no intention of exposing him at all. Instead, she watched him fool around with a doting expression, and for a moment, he was the one making a scene while she was laughing...
When A-Zhu heard Xu Jingyun's order to leave, his face turned ugly. He had already stormed off in a huff, but before he could even leave, he unconsciously turned back.
Seeing that the other person seemed to be speechless, Xu Jingyun's mood improved at a visible speed. She raised her chin slightly and asked, feigning confusion:
"Why isn't my little brother smiling anymore? Is he just naturally averse to smiling? Tsk! Wait a minute! Wasn't he just smiling a moment ago?"
Ah Zhu gritted her teeth, her anger burning fiercely. She glared at Xu Jingyun with hostility, wondering why she had come back to suffer. She wished he would be taken back so she could torment him properly. Humph!
"Fine, I'll go then, hmph!" Azhu stomped her foot in a huff, turned around and strode away, her departing figure radiating a hint of annoyance.
As they walked, A-Zhu suddenly stopped, and Xu Jingyun and Lin Shu looked over in confusion.
Ah Zhu's face was full of irritation, but if she didn't say that, not only would the idiot inside her not calm down, but she herself would probably feel even more frustrated.
So, in a muffled, nasal voice, he spoke very quickly:
"The clan leader and Feng Xin conspired to capture you to threaten Lin Shu. Be careful, or you'll drag Lin Shu down with you."
Xu Jingyun and Lin Shu exchanged a glance, and both looked at Azhu in surprise, not expecting that this was what she was going to talk about.
Meanwhile, Feng Xin had suddenly disappeared, and they had been unable to find her. They never expected that she would be at the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
Furthermore, Zhu Yao and Feng Xin actually wanted to use A Yun as bait, which was truly despicable.
Finally, they never expected that A-Zhu would inform them of this matter in advance...
Azhu felt the gaze on her, turned her face away, pouted, and said in a very childish manner, "Don't overthink it. If it weren't for my sister's sake, Azhu wouldn't care about you."
After saying that, A-Zhu lifted her foot to leave.
Lin Shu said softly from behind, "Thank you, Azhu."
Hearing Lin Shu finally call him A-Zhu again, he was in a great mood. His face flushed with excitement as he turned away from the two of them, and the corners of his mouth turned up uncontrollably.
"Thanks," Xu Jingyun exclaimed, her voice light and flirtatious, yet sincere and without malice.
"Hmph!" Upon hearing this, A-Zhu wrinkled her nose and snorted lightly. She quickened her pace and ran away in a flash, her back view showing a sense of fleeing in panic.
After everyone left, Xu Jingyun watched his retreating figure, raised an eyebrow, and muttered to herself without turning her head, "Tsk! Looking at it this way, he's not so bad after all! You agree, right, Ah Shu~!"
Lin Shu nodded, then, perhaps thinking that the other person couldn't see, added, "Mm."
After saying that, Lin Shu took Xu Jingyun's hand, turned her to face him, and solemnly instructed, "Ayun, please be careful these days. I'm worried that Zhu Yao and Feng Xin might do something desperate..."
Xu Jingyun nodded, knowing that Lin Shu was genuinely worried about her. Her eyes crinkled into a smile, and she said, "I understand, and A-Shu will protect me, right?"
"Mm." Lin Shu nodded.
The two spent a long time together, and before they knew it, it was getting dark. Just as they finished their dinner, the servants from the Regent's Palace came to fetch them.
Lin Shu held Xu Jingyun's hand and didn't let go even when they reached the carriage. Xu Jingyun looked over in confusion: "A-Shu?"
"Okay." Lin Shu responded, then got into the car first, and pulled Xu Jingyun in after they were both seated. She then added, "I'll take Ayun back and talk to the Regent about some matters along the way."
"Oh? Is that so?" Xu Jingyun glanced at Lin Shu sideways. She was clearly worried about her, but she was making up some excuse about business.
Lin Shu remained silent, her lips slightly pursed.
……
The Regent's Palace, Study.
After sending Xu Jingyun back, Lin Shu immediately sent someone to inform Nangong Jin that she had important matters to discuss.
"Lin Shu greets the Regent." Lin Shu bowed slightly to the man in the room, who was standing with his back to the door and dressed in a crimson brocade robe.
Nangong Jin turned around, his voice gentle and magnetic: "Why are you being so formal, Shu'er? Please excuse the formalities and sit down."
Lin Shu stood up and sat down as instructed.
Nangong Jin also sat naked in the main seat with her legs spread wide, completely disregarding her image. This series of movements was fluid and graceful, making her appear more like a woman than Lin Shu, who was actually a woman.
Looking at his unrestrained and unconventional appearance, Lin Shu felt as if she were seeing Xu Jingyun when they first met. They were truly father and son, so alike.
It was only then that Lin Shu noticed that Nangong Jin was not wearing a mask today.
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