Chapter 7: Missing Her After Just a Short Separation

At the dining table, He Lian had little appetite.

Duan Jingyue, on the other hand, was eating with great relish. The rice in Yangcheng was very soft and effortless to chew. It was so delicious that he had completely forgotten about Jiang Yu.

Halfway through the meal, however, rain began to fall outside the hall.

As locals of Yangcheng, the three members of the Song family and the hall’s servants were long accustomed to these sudden, torrential downpours. Jinzhou, by contrast, had abundant sunshine, year-round dry heat, and harsh, fierce winds.

He Lian wasn’t quite used to this lingering dampness—especially as a thin white mist began to rise from the floor along with the humidity.

He Lian stared at the faint mist swirling around his legs, his eyes rippling with thought.

That time with Jiang Yu had also been on a rainy night.

The water vapor had hung thick in the air, and the damp chill sneaking through the window crack had made the girl shiver uncontrollably. No matter how he adjusted her posture, she had only clung to him, begging him to hold her.

“Hold me… please hold me.”

“It’s cold… I want a hug.”

The memory of Jiang Yu’s pitiable, overwhelmed expression when pushed to her limit seemed to reappear right before his eyes. He Lian involuntarily pressed his thin lips together. Staring at the excessive white mist gathering in the hall, his mind drifted.

“Uncle? What’s wrong?”

Seeing him lost in thought, Duan Jingyue called out to him.

He Lian lifted his head from the memory and unhurriedly replied that it was nothing.

Beneath the table, however, he quietly crossed his long legs, suppressing a sudden urge.

He wanted to do it so badly. Dammit.

That little idiot Jiang Yu had given him a taste he couldn’t forget.

Song Xueyan had also been observing He Lian all along. Even when lost in thought, the man was breathtakingly handsome. His deep-set features looked as if they had been carved by a chisel, and the innate domineering aura in his bones made her heart flutter.

Recalling the awkwardness back at the small wooden building, she seized the right moment to break the ice: “Mr. He, you barely touched your food. Was lunch not to your taste today?”

The elder Songs turned to look as well.

He Lian replied, “No, it’s very good.”

Song Xueyan secretly let out a sigh of relief. “Then… will you be heading back right after lunch?”

He Lian glanced at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Is something wrong?”

Song Xueyan quickly said, “No, it’s just that with this sudden heavy rain, the mountain roads get muddy and hard to drive on. Why not stay at the old residence for the night before leaving? The people you brought are still waiting outside, too. If you don’t mind, I can have someone invite them to rest in the North Courtyard right now.”

Song Qian chimed in with his agreement.

He Lian had intended to do so anyway, so he readily nodded.

Song Xueyan asked, “Shall I arrange the same guest room you stayed in last time?”

“That works,” He Lian said.

The completely ignored Duan Jingyue: “…”

What’s stopping anyone from leaving in a little rain like this?

Back in Jinzhou, forget muddy roads—they had powered through hail of bullets before. Were the raindrops in Yangcheng somehow stronger than bullets, capable of piercing through military-grade modified vehicles?

His uncle was a master of contradiction. Why was he agreeing to whatever Song Xueyan suggested today?

Oh, I get it now.

A look of total confidence washed over Duan Jingyue’s face.

His uncle liked Song Xueyan!

He should have just said so! He had wondered why He Lian would be kind enough to help him break off the engagement. Given his uncle’s usual wicked personality, he would have loved nothing more than to see him suffer by marrying a madwoman.

It turned out he was just looking for an excuse to see Song Xueyan. He didn’t care for her paintings—he preferred the person right in front of him!

Seeing Song Xueyan’s flustered, smitten expression, he became even more certain.

He Lian had no idea what his foolish nephew was thinking. He simply gazed out at the rain curtain hanging from the eaves of the hall, which had grown significantly denser than before.

In a lazy tone, he remarked, “Miss Song, the rain seems to be getting heavier.”

Song Xueyan was utterly thrilled, thinking he was invoking the rain to express his feelings. Resting her chin in her hands, she joined in with exaggerated sentimentality, “Yes, Mr. He. The rain is getting heavier.”

To outsiders, this looked like a subtle moment of romance brewing in the misty rain.

Song Qian and his wife exchanged glances, secretly delighted. If Xueyan could truly win over this golden prince of Jinzhou, even the tiny crumbs leaking through He Lian’s fingers would be far more valuable than the tens of thousands of acres of tea gardens left by the old master.

However, He Lian turned back and stared at Song Xueyan with an odd look in his eyes. “What I mean is, with the rain getting this heavy, won’t Jiang Yu’s wooden building leak?”

If water didn’t pool heavily on the roof, there wouldn’t be a need for drainage pipes in the first place.

Song Xueyan, still immersed in the romantic atmosphere: “…Huh?”

The Song couple, who had been letting their daughter take center stage, were equally stunned.

He Lian never dragged his feet; he stood up immediately.

“I’ll go take a look.”

Housekeeper Gu, who had been directing the servants to set the dishes, suddenly paled.

He can’t go!

Jiang Yu’s windows were boarded up!

Even though this was internal Song family business and had nothing to do with He Lian, letting an outsider see them mistreating Jiang Yu would end badly. Panicking, she repeatedly made eyes at Song Xueyan.

Song Xueyan caught the hint and, wanting even less for He Lian to contact Jiang Yu again, stood up hurriedly. “Mr. He, Ah Yu is fine. Her wooden building is very sturdy and won’t leak. On the other hand, the rain is too heavy—I’m worried you won’t handle this damp chill well. It would be terrible if you fell ill from the trip.”

He Lian replied, “I won’t fall ill.”

Song Xueyan was rendered speechless.

He Lian was very tall. Looking up, she could barely see his chin. The man’s prominent Adam’s apple vibrated gently as he spoke, igniting a deep wave of desire within her.

Remembering the scene from this morning where Jiang Yu was in his arms, Song Xueyan bit her lip slightly and resorted to a risky method to stop He Lian from seeing that madwoman.

“Mr. He… you seem to care a lot about Ah Yu.”

These were genuinely Song Xueyan’s inner thoughts. She couldn’t understand why He Lian was so interested in Jiang Yu.

Hearing this, the Song couple gasped in surprise and nervously watched He Lian’s reaction, terrified that their daughter had offended this tyrant of Jinzhou and brought disaster upon the family.

He Lian was indeed put on the spot.

However, he merely gave a nonchalant response.

“I’ve just never seen an idiot standing in the rain before and wanted to tease her for fun. Since she’s fine, forget it.”

He Lian sat back down. Reaching out a hand, Duan Jingyue quickly anticipated his move, pulling out a cigarette, lighting it for him, and saying obsequiously, “Uncle, careful not to burn yourself.”

Seeing this, the three members of the Song family sat back down as well to keep him company.

Song Xueyan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she suppressed the nervousness that had just arisen.

Judging by his tone, it didn’t sound like a lie. Thank goodness.

Song Xueyan wanted to use her upcoming retirement from painting three months later to strike up another conversation with He Lian, but the man had clearly lost the interest he had earlier. Holding the cigarette, his gaze drifted toward a distant place.

It seemed her guess was right. That little idiot of his was indeed being mistreated.

He Lian suddenly felt extremely annoyed. He hadn’t even left many marks on the little idiot himself, yet the Song family’s servants felt free to grab her as they pleased. He couldn’t help but click his tongue in irritation.

It felt like a plate of pristine white tofu that had been grabbed by a filthy hand—utterly repulsive.

The Song couple instantly held their breath.

Though it was merely a soft sound, it made them stiffen with tension.

He Lian frowned, looking out at the rain. Why hasn’t it stopped yet?

He Lian simply closed his eyes and leaned back, his arm hanging down as his fingertips tapped continuously against the cigarette. His head was filled entirely with the image of Jiang Yu getting soaked, making his throat swallow slightly for no clear reason.

If it doesn’t stop soon…

The little idiot is going to drown.

He Lian loosened his fingers, letting the cigarette butt fall to the floor. Opening his dark, heavy eyes, he stood up once more. This time, without a word, he charged straight out into the pouring rain.

Song Xueyan gasped in shock, “Mr. He!”

He Lian paid her no mind.

Whomever he wanted to see was none of anyone else’s business!

That girl Jiang Yu didn’t even know what pain was—right now, she was probably standing there with her mouth wide open, playing in the rain!

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