Wen Yu Xi fell silent.
"It's still possible to disregard it occasionally," Xue Zi Ning said.
Wen Yu Xi knew Xue Zi Ning was just trying to comfort him.
Ultimately, some people come first, and he was the one who came later.
Those who come later will never have the advantage of those who came first. So no matter how well he did, he might never gain her full attention.
But it didn't matter. He had endured for so many years, and there was still so much time left. He could naturally take his time.
In the evening, Lin Shi Shu still saw Yu Xiao Yu. This time, Yu Xiao Yu brought her an temptation she couldn't refuse.
She would help her win Yan Jin Chao, and after the deed was done, her father would be reinstated as Prefect.
Setting aside whether the matter could succeed, Yu Xiao Yu spoke with such conviction that it was impossible not to believe her. After all, Yu Xiao Yu's father had been able to bypass the Empress and directly receive an imperial edict for his appointment. Later, when the Empress returned, she could not find out who had issued the edict, and the matter became a cold case with no news.
"Cousin, if you agree, all of this will be yours. Aren't you tempted?"
It would be a lie to say she wasn't tempted, especially since Yan Jin Chao was such a great temptation. However, Lin Shi Shu knew that good things don't fall from the sky. Would such a great opportunity fall upon her head?
She still didn't quite believe it.
"Let me think about it." She didn't rush to give Yu Xiao Yu an answer.
This time, Yu Xiao Yu didn't pressure her, and Lin Shi Shu breathed a sigh of relief.
Leaving the Yan mansion, Yu Xiao Yu walked outside. Looking at the hat of the person in the black cloak, she couldn't help but shiver. She stepped forward and said, "I've done as you said, but Lin Shi Shu still needs to think about it."
"I know."
Yu Xiao Yu was startled. She thought Wen Ling would be very angry. She couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you angry?"
Wen Ling heard this and said, "Why should I be angry?"
Yu Xiao Yu said, "Lin Shi Shu's repeated refusal is a provocation to your authority, isn't it?"
Wen Ling smiled. "It's normal for her to refuse. If she had agreed too quickly, I would have to wonder if she knew something?"
Yu Xiao Yu covered her mouth. "You... you actually think that way."
"Alright, go back. We'll see tomorrow." Wen Ling said.
Night was approaching, and the inn still had no spare rooms. Wen Yu Xi continued to stay underground.
Xue Zi Ning lay on the bed, looking at the sleeping child, a smile involuntarily forming on her lips.
Suddenly, she felt something strange and got up to look out the window. To her disappointment, she saw nothing, not even a bird.
She felt a sense of disappointment. She thought it might be Yan Zhao, no, Yan Jin Chao, but it wasn't. Everything was just her own wishful thinking.
She felt ridiculous. She wanted to forget him, yet every night he constantly entered her dreams. Perhaps only in dreams could she feel a sliver of his affection.
"Mother..." Suddenly, she heard the child's voice. She smiled self-deprecatingly, tucked the child in, and lay down as well.
Wen Yu Xi, his back to her, had a dim gaze. He knew Yan Jin Chao had been there just now. He knew Yan Jin Chao could not forget Ah Ning. As for why he didn't pursue her, as he himself said, he had forgotten all about the past, including every bit of his time with Ah Ning. This was very unfair to Ah Ning.
He felt he was not qualified to stand by Ah Ning's side.
But he knew he was overthinking. As long as there was still love now, wasn't being together enough?
Why dwell on what had already happened?
He should be selfish. Selfishly, he did not persuade Yan Jin Chao, because he was thinking that perhaps one day, when Ah Ning was tired and didn't want to wait endlessly, he would have a chance.
Opportunities are for those who are prepared, and he was someone who had been preparing for many years.
One could call him selfish, but in love, everyone is selfish. He would treat Ah Ning well, with his whole heart, even if it meant sacrificing his life, it would be worth it.
Outside the inn, Yan Jin Chao stood there. He had seen her face just now. Perhaps in her dreams, she was very happy, which was why she smiled like that. It seemed Wen Yu Xi treated her very well.
He knew Wen Yu Xi had loved her for many years. Before, with him around, Wen Yu Xi knew the Empress loved him, so he chose to step back. Now that he was stepping aside, it was precisely fulfilling Wen Yu Xi's wish.
Did it hurt? It hurt a little, as if needles were piercing his heart, causing him pain, yet he could do nothing about it.
He was truly helpless. The person he had pushed away himself, the knife he had personally plunged into himself, this feeling was unbearable.
However, the Empress was happy. Wen Yu Xi was a much better person than he was. He would consider her feelings, cherish her heart, and help her care for the two children.
Speaking of the two children, for a time, he almost thought they were his own children. The two little ones called him "Daddy," so affectionately.
Now, in a blink of an eye, they had turned to another's embrace. How ungrateful!
Yan Jin Chao smiled. In just this short moment, he seemed to have thought of so many things.
However, it was time to leave.
He soared into the air and left.
Lin Shi Shu finally agreed to Yu Xiao Yu's request that night. After the deed was done, she would allow her and Yan Jin Chao a few days of freedom.
Yu Xiao Yu felt a strange emotion. Of course, she hoped Lin Shi Shu would agree, but now that Lin Shi Shu had agreed, she felt a sense of melancholy. Was there truly no one who could resist such a temptation?
"Xiao Yu, what's wrong?" Lin Shi Shu noticed Yu Xiao Yu's unusual behavior.
Yu Xiao Yu shook her head. "It's nothing. I'm just happy that cousin finally agreed."
"What do you need me to do?" Lin Shi Shu asked.
Yu Xiao Yu said, "You just need to go to the Empress and make her believe that Yan Jin Chao no longer likes her."
Lin Shi Shu was stunned. "Why? What does this have to do with the Empress?"
"Cousin, there are some things you don't need to know. Just do as I say, and don't worry about anything else."
"I understand," Lin Shi Shu said.
She just needed to follow the plan. As for other things, even if she wanted to manage them, she probably couldn't.