Ling Mohan didn't say anything more. He cast a casual glance at Ling Wan and then got up to leave.
After Ling Mohan left, Ling Wan slowly let out a sigh of relief. She slumped back onto the chair, her heart still pounding wildly.
She had managed to muddle through the situation, escaping without any real trouble. Ling Wan walked to the desk and picked up the fan, opening it to examine it closely.
This fan was something Sheng Xubai had left with her back then. She hadn't found a suitable opportunity to return it, and over time, she had forgotten about it.
Now, it was rare to even catch a glimpse of Sheng Xubai, and returning the fan seemed even less likely.
Today, while tidying up her belongings, she had unexpectedly taken out the fan. She hadn't expected her elder brother to see it, and she didn't know how to explain it. However, the misunderstanding had now been established.
...
Back in the East Courtyard, Ling Mohan placed the jar of flower tea directly in front of Feng Jin. He then sat down opposite Feng Jin with a somber expression, sighing repeatedly.
"You're wearing such a long face, anyone would think someone owed you money. Did you step on dog poop on your way out or something to be in such a bad mood?"
He had come back with a gloomy expression and hadn't said a word, making it seem as if someone had offended him.
A long time passed after Feng Jin finished speaking, but Ling Mohan remained silent. After a brief silence, Ling Mohan let out a heavy sigh.
This made Feng Jin roll her eyes in exasperation. She got up and walked over to Ling Mohan, looking at him and asking helplessly, "What's wrong with you? What happened when I asked you to get that thing?"
Under Feng Jin's persistent questioning, Ling Mohan finally looked up at her and recounted what had happened today: "I found a man's fan in Ling Wan's room."
"What's so unusual about that? Maybe Ling Wan bought it herself. Is there a rule in this world that says girls can't own things meant for men? It's just a fan, it doesn't mean anything. Aren't you being too sensitive and overthinking things?"
It was just a fan, not something so significant that he should be looking so dejected.
"If it were just an ordinary fan, it would be nothing. But this is a man's fan, and it's Sheng Xubai's!"
As he said this, Ling Mohan's eyes blazed with anger. He was on the verge of leaping up to confront Sheng Xubai.
Feng Jin frowned slightly, finding it somewhat unbelievable. "How do you know that fan belongs to Sheng Xubai? Perhaps you're just guessing and being overly suspicious. Don't dwell on these things."
"The fan has the character 'Sheng' as its final inscription. Ling Wan has only interacted with Sheng Xubai from the Sheng family. If this fan isn't Sheng Xubai's, then whose is it? It's all because of your meddling and matchmaking that things have turned out this way. Ling Wan is a young girl, and her reputation is the most important. Now that it's become like this..."
"What? Are you blaming everything on me now? Why don't you look for reasons within yourself? Besides, Ling Wan is a good girl. She's fully aware of everything she does and would never do what you're worried about. Just put your mind at ease. Nothing scandalous will happen."
"Furthermore, Sheng Xubai is a gentleman. He's handsome and talented; what's lacking? If he and Ling Wan were to get together, it wouldn't be a bad thing."
Just based on his looks, she thought Sheng Xubai was quite good. After all, such a handsome face was pleasing to the eye and could even help adjust one's mood from time to time.
If they were to become a couple, it would be a match of talented individuals. She found it quite suitable.
Besides, a man marrying and a woman getting married were natural occurrences. Ling Mohan was clearly making a mountain out of a molehill and worrying unnecessarily.
"What's so great about Sheng Xubai? He's just a pretty boy, frail and weak, as if a gust of wind could knock him over. What's so good about marrying a man like that? My sister cannot marry such a person. If anything were to happen, who knows who would protect whom in the end."
Whenever Sheng Xubai was mentioned, Ling Mohan felt immense disgust. He had no good impression of that frail scholar, Sheng Xubai.
Moreover, the entire Sheng family was not easy to deal with. If Ling Wan married into their family, she would inevitably be bullied by them. He absolutely would not agree to Ling Wan marrying into such a family.
Even if Ling Wan were willing, he would still break them up and forcefully end the engagement.
"You... you're simply unreasonable. You're prejudiced against him. I think he's quite good, not like you say. Although Sheng Xubai wasn't in good health before, he has recovered now, and he's a responsible person."
He was clearly harboring prejudice and insisting on belittling the other person, a behavior that was truly despicable.
"No matter what you say, I disagree. You should also give up this idea early!"
Ling Mohan's attitude was resolute, with no room for negotiation. He would absolutely not allow Ling Wan to marry someone like Sheng Xubai.
Feng Jin rolled her eyes and looked at Ling Mohan with disdain. "You're the only one who's the best in the world, alright? No one can compare to you. Are you satisfied now that I've said this?"
It had to be said that Feng Jin truly understood Ling Mohan's temper. With just a few words, she managed to coax the man into a state of happiness, immediately improving his mood.
"Naturally. You have some discerning taste after all, finally speaking a word of truth."
He said this without a hint of embarrassment, as if these matters were perfectly justified and Feng Jin was simply stating facts.
"Given your discerning taste, I won't dwell on this matter with you. However, you must remember not to let Ling Wan have any contact with anyone from the Sheng family in the future."
After issuing the warning, Ling Mohan remembered something else and added, "Especially you. You are strictly forbidden from having any contact with Sheng Xubai, or any man. Do you hear me?"
His words were filled with warning. Feng Jin was accustomed to his domineering nature but still rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction, no longer arguing with Ling Mohan.