Madam Quan was surprised by Lai Yang’s words. She looked at Ning Guiwan skeptically. "Really?"
Before Ning Guiwan could respond, Lai Yang chid in excitedly, "Of course! But I can’t tell you who it is just yet." She rembered this was supposed to be a secret.
Ning Guiwan smiled without saying anything.
Rembering how her second cousin always protected her, Lai Yang then told Madam Quan, "But rest assured, he’s definitely a reliable man!"
In the past, Lai Yang had learned from her parents’ conversations that Quan Yu had done so radical things in his youth. She had thought he was a difficult person to get along with and was once terrified of him. But now, Lai Yang considered her second cousin a good elder.
Madam Quan looked at Ning Guiwan. "How co I’ve never heard you ntion this? When did this happen?"
Now that Lai Yang had said so much, Ning Guiwan knew she couldn’t simply deny it, fearing the old lady might beco suspicious. After so thought, she decided to go along with Lai Yang’s words. "I hadn’t confird anything before, so I didn’t tell you."
"I see." The old lady’s eyes shone with happiness. "Who is the man? Have I t him? What’s he like?"
Ning Guiwan felt a pang of guilt as the old lady held her hand, her face alight with a loving smile.
She could only manage a smile. "When we’re ready to discuss marriage, I’ll bring him to et you, alright?"
"Good, good, good..." Madam Quan, not the least bit suspicious, patted Ning Guiwan’s hand happily. "As long as you like him and he treats you well, I’m fine with anything."
After dinner, Ning Guiwan and Lai Yang kept Madam Quan company while she listened to an opera performance.
Lai Yang, unable to understand the singing and completely uninterested, chatted with a friend from Singapore on her phone.
Her friend complained, "My lodramatic older cousin is at it again. She wants to get back with her ex-husband! She even asked my dad to diate and invited my forr cousin-in-law over for dinner."
Since finding out that Gu Langjun was a divorced man, Lai Yang had beco particularly sensitive to the subject of divorce.
"Then what?" she pressed. "Did your forr cousin-in-law change his mind?"
"Nope," her friend replied. "I’ve told you before, my cousin and her ex-husband had an arranged marriage; there was no real affection involved, though it started off okay. You have no idea how handso my forr cousin-in-law is! He’s just a bit too traditional and unromantic. My cousin gradually grew tired of him and found a male confidant. Her ex-husband sohow found out, and they got divorced."
Lai Yang listened, feeling a pang of wistfulness. If I married Gu Langjun, I’d only have eyes for him, she thought.
"Your cousin wants to reconcile? What about her male confidant?" Lai Yang asked.
Her friend said, "He’s just a pretty boy, good at sweet-talking people. My cousin said that only after the divorce did she realize how good her ex-husband was. She regrets it terribly."
While they were engrossed in their conversation, Madam Quan suddenly spoke to Lai Yang, "Your mother called yesterday."
Lai Yang’s scalp tightened. What did she say? It must be about the arranged marriage, she fud inwardly.
As expected, Madam Quan said, "She’s very worried about you and hopes you’ll go back and et her friend’s son. If you really don’t like him after eting him, they won’t force you."
"I don’t believe that for a second," Lai Yang pouted, puffing her cheeks.
The night before I ran away, I overheard my parents talking. They had even set a wedding date for with that older man! she recalled. They’re just saying nice things to coax back.
Lai Yang leaned against Madam Quan. "Grandaunt, please don’t take their side and try to persuade . I’ll consider going back only when they drop the idea."
Madam Quan sighed helplessly. "Children these days! So headstrong and hard to manage!"
"But you should still call them more often. Don’t let them worry too much."
Lai Yang bead. "Okay, okay, that’s no problem!"
「...」
After her bath, Lai Yang applied dicine to her wound. The injury on her palm wasn’t serious and had mostly healed.
Ning Guiwan’s foot, however, would still prevent her from walking normally for several more days.
The next day, Tan Xi called. When he heard her foot was injured, he asked, "Then can you still attend Tianchi’s board eting tomorrow?"
Ning Guiwan was silent for a mont, a hint of coldness in her eyes. "Of course, I’m going."
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