That same afternoon, Sun Shi made a point of keeping Zhang Jian for lunch.
Since men and women did not share a table, Sun Shi sat with Ling Jingyan and Ling Jingshu at one table, while Ling Xiao kept Zhang Jian company at another.
After the meal, Sun Shi said with a smile: “I’m getting on in years, and my energy isn’t what it used to be compared to you young people—I always need to rest for an hour after lunch each day. I won’t keep you company any longer.”
Zhang Jian quickly replied with a smile: “A’Xiao and I have been getting along quite well in conversation—he said he’d show me around the Ling residence. Madam, please go and rest without worry.”
Sun Shi nodded with a smile and offhandedly instructed: “A’Yan, since you and A’Shu have nothing else to do, go along with Young Master Zhang and show him around too!”
Ling Jingyan, not particularly pleased, was just about to open her mouth and refuse, when Ling Jingshu had already answered with a smile: “All right.”
Ling Jingyan blinked rapidly at Ling Jingshu. What was the point of keeping that annoying fellow company! How could she have agreed so readily!
Pretending not to notice Ling Jingyan’s exaggerated winking, Ling Jingshu turned to Zhang Jian and offered a polite, faint smile: “Young Master Zhang, it’s deep winter right now, so most of the flowers and plants in the garden have withered. However, our Ling residence has planted quite a few plum trees, and this is just the season when the plum blossoms are in full bloom. Why don’t we go to the garden together to admire them?”
Zhang Jian naturally had no objection, and cupped his hands together with a smile: “Very well then—I shall not be so rude as to decline.”
As for his looks, Zhang Jian wasn’t exactly devastatingly handsome, but he was certainly fine-featured and upright. His brows and eyes carried a perpetual hint of a smile, and he was witty and easygoing, with excellent manners that won people over readily.
Ling Jingshu nodded quietly to herself.
Zhang Jian and Ling Jingyan were well-matched in family background, and there were similarities in their personalities too—they actually made quite a fitting pair. Eldest Aunt Sun Shi’s first impression of him had clearly been excellent as well; otherwise she wouldn’t have gone out of her way to create opportunities for Ling Jingyan and Zhang Jian to spend time together. Perhaps Zhang Jian really was the man fate had destined for Ling Jingyan!
Quite clearly, Ling Jingyan hadn’t yet thought that far.
With Sun Shi no longer present, Ling Jingyan’s sharp tongue resurfaced, and she spoke to Zhang Jian with much less courtesy: “Weren’t we supposed to go look at the plum blossoms? Hurry up and walk already! Once we’ve finished admiring them, you can be on your way.”
Toward everyone else, Zhang Jian was modest, courteous, and graceful—but the moment he saw Ling Jingyan’s lively, feisty, adorable expression, he tossed that mask aside at once: “Miss Ling, I haven’t even reached the garden yet, and already you’re scheming to chase me off. This hardly seems like proper hospitality, does it?”
Ling Jingyan glared at him: “For an uninvited guest like you, I’ve already been quite courteous and polite enough.”
Zhang Jian sighed helplessly: “Fine, fine! Since you dislike me so much, I’ll leave right now then.”
With that, he actually turned and walked toward the exit.
Ling Jingyan: “…”
She’d only said it offhandedly—how could he actually take it seriously?! If she really let him leave just like that, it would be a miracle if Sun Shi didn’t tear into her something terrible once she found out!
“Hey, hey, hey, Zhang Jian! Wait!”
The instant these thoughts crossed her mind, Ling Jingyan panicked and hastily hiked up her skirt to chase after him.
Zhang Jian had only been putting on an act to begin with—he could hardly bear to actually leave like this—and at her call he stopped walking: “Miss Ling, you called out to me—is there something you need?”
Ling Jingyan coughed once and forced out a smile: “Actually, I was just saying that offhandedly a moment ago. How could you take it seriously?”
Zhang Jian kept gleefully laughing to himself inwardly, but aloud he let out a long sigh: “Since you don’t want to see me, should I really insist on staying at the Ling residence anyway? I, Zhang Jian, am no such shameless, dishonorable man!”
He’d actually escalated this all the way to the level of “dishonor.”
Had her attitude just now really been so terrible, so excessive?!
Ling Jingyan immediately reflected on her own behavior, and apologized full of guilt: “I’m sorry, I just spoke without thinking a moment ago. Please be generous and don’t take it to heart. You absolutely must see the plum blossoms before leaving… no, no, after the plum blossoms, the garden also has rockeries, unusual stones, and a little bridge over flowing water—take your time enjoying all of it. It won’t be too late to leave even after dinner.”
Zhang Jian’s heart blossomed with delight, though on his face he feigned hesitation: “That doesn’t seem quite right, though! This being my first visit, to have all of you accompany me for an entire day—I really do feel rather bad about it.”
“There’s nothing to feel bad about,” Ling Jingyan replied without thinking. “I spend all day in the inner quarters with nothing to do anyway. Your visit actually makes me quite happy.”
At this point, all Ling Jingyan wanted was to coax Zhang Jian into staying, and she no longer cared whether her words were appropriate or not.
Only then did Zhang Jian “reluctantly” agree: “Since you’re so sincerely inviting me to stay, then I won’t leave after all. I’m not the sort of person who doesn’t know when he’s not wanted—if at any point you find me displeasing and wish me to leave, just say so…”
“No, no. I find you quite pleasing—why would I chase you off! Just rest easy,” Ling Jingyan swore solemnly.
Only then did Zhang Jian smile in satisfaction, a smile just like a cat that had stolen a fish to eat—sly and pleased with itself.
By this point, Ling Jingyan, too, had begun to sense that something was off.
Had she just… been tricked by Zhang Jian again?
…
The twin siblings Ling Jingshu and Ling Xiao stood off to the side, watching the whole show with great relish.
“A’Shu,” Ling Xiao leaned in to whisper in Ling Jingshu’s ear, his low voice brimming with curiosity, “when do you think Cousin Yan will finally realize she’s been tricked by Zhang Jian again?”
Ling Jingshu held back her laughter and replied softly: “She should realize something’s wrong soon enough. But even once she figures it out, she won’t turn hostile again. She can hardly really chase a guest away, after all!”
Ling Jingyan was simply a bit too outspoken and quick-tongued—in truth, her heart was the softest of all.
And Zhang Jian, too, had clearly read Ling Jingyan’s temperament correctly before resorting to this little trick.
As it turned out, this trick really did work on Ling Jingyan very well indeed.
Ling Jingyan grumbled to herself inwardly for a moment, then, sure enough, stopped dwelling on the matter, and turned to wave at Ling Jingshu and Ling Xiao: “Don’t just stand there, you two—let’s all go to the garden together.”
Ling Jingshu and Ling Xiao agreed with smiles and walked over together, arm in arm.
The twin siblings walked side by side, whether by intention or not, leaving Ling Jingyan with no choice but to walk a little closer to Zhang Jian.
Once in the garden, Ling Jingyan walked along introducing the scenery: “Our family’s garden has quite a lot of peonies planted. This here is the peony garden—unfortunately the season hasn’t arrived yet, and we’ll have to wait until April next year for them to bloom. Over there are the rockeries; go around them, walk a bit further, and you’ll be able to see the plum blossoms…”
The winter sunlight, lacking some of summer’s intensity, shone down warm and pleasant against the skin.
Ling Jingyan’s lively, playful voice drifted to his ears now and then, and whenever he turned his head, her sweet, charming smile filled his sight.
Zhang Jian suddenly felt that the sunlight today was unusually bright and clear. But no matter how brilliant the sunlight, it still couldn’t compare to the young girl’s sweet smile.
A heart that had lain dormant for eighteen years quietly stirred, his pulse racing far faster than usual.
In this moment, he knew very clearly: he had fallen for this kind, lively, lovable girl.