Chapter 26: Coward

  Ling Feng took the lavender from Ye Yun's hand, somewhat surprised: "You still understand flowers?"

  Ye Yun shook her head, "I don't understand! Compared to those who truly understand flowers, I'm just a novice. I've seen and smelled this before, so I know it. However, this flower is more cold-tolerant and less heat-tolerant. Generally, it's hard to grow high-quality lavender in most places."

  "You just said that smelling its fragrance can help one sleep better?" Ling Feng asked.

  "En!" Ye Yun nodded, putting the lavender in a nearby empty vase, "Its abilities are more than that. I'll tell you slowly later if you're interested."

  "Of course! Whatever you say, husband will listen." Ling Feng took a sip of tea and spoke in a more playful tone, "Are you thirsty, wife? Want to have some tea?"

  "Ah, you reminded me. I just came back because I was hungry!" Ye Yun slapped the case and shouted outside, "Xing Er, remember to bring lunch!"

  Turning back to ask Ling Feng: "Didn't you go out? How did you come back so quickly? Xing Er said that when you go out, it's usually at least three days."

  Ling Feng smelled the fragrance of honeysuckle and his originally somewhat gloomy mood gradually became clear.

  When Ye Yun asked him, he remembered what he was just about to say to her. "There's a dinner party tonight that I have to attend. You come with me."

  "An unavoidable banquet? Whose?" Ye Yun put some of the flowers in a vase, leaving a small portion on the table, and was just about to pluck off the petals.

  "The prefect's. It's said that it's to entertain an important figure, I didn't want to go at first, but this is also a chance for you to show your face, so go ahead and go."

  Ling Feng's gaze was drawn by Ye Yun's movements, he got up and walked to her back, leaning down to look, "What are you doing?"

  "I want to pick these petals and make them into dried flowers, then put them in a sachet and wear it on me, it can drive away mosquitoes." Ye Yun wrapped up some of the petals with her handkerchief, tied a beautiful knot, smelled it, and a faint lavender scent instantly filled her entire nostrils.

  Ye Yun turned around and handed the lavender sachet to Ling Feng, "Take a sniff, doesn't it smell great?"

  Her radiant smile made Ling Feng stunned for a moment, and after a while, he leaned forward to sniff the small package in her hand, "Hmm, it smells good. Can it also repel mosquitoes?"

  "Hmm! There's no absolute, but it has a certain effect." Ye Yun turned around and put the remaining petals into a porcelain box. "By the way, can I go pick that lavender at any time? I want to pick some more for other uses."

  "Alright, those are all newly introduced varieties and I was just wondering what their characteristics are. Ah," Ling Feng quickly walked to the cabinet on his right hand side, opened the door, pulled out a booklet from inside, and handed it to Ye Yun, "This contains the names of those varieties and simple planting methods, if you're interested, take a look."

  "May I? Then I won't be polite." Ye Yun took the book and flipped through it quickly, her speed surprising Ling Feng. In just a moment, she closed the book and handed it back to him, "I've finished reading it. Thank you."

  "It doesn't matter, you can keep it. You can flip through it if you need to." Has she really read all of them? Ling Feng was a bit skeptical.

  "No need." Ye Yun pointed to her own head, "It's all already in my mind."

  "Are you photographic?" This was quite unexpected for Ling Feng, who had only thought that she was brave and a little clever, but didn't expect her to have such an ability.

  Yeyun smiled and said, "Alright then. This little thing doesn't count for much."

  In the evening, following Ling Feng onto the horse carriage, Ye Yun couldn't help but let out a sigh and complained somewhat reluctantly: "Do I have to dress up like this? My head is so heavy it's hard to lift."

  Although the dress is beautiful, there are enough six layers inside and out, the long tail dragging her hands and feet, the exquisite headdress on her head makes her neck stiff, isn't it just attending a banquet? Do you have to make people so tired?

  Ling Feng's smile faded as he gazed at her eyes with a hint of warmth: "Isn't this lovely? Look, all the way here, everyone in the manor has been staring in awe."

  "Ah..." Ye Yun sighed, "Indeed, beauty comes at a price."

  Ling Feng looked at her playful expression and couldn't help but deepen the smile on his face.

  The horse carriage hadn't moved yet, as if it was still being loaded with something. Ye Yun lazily lifted the curtain and almost in an instant saw the woman standing behind a big tree outside the forest.

  The woman's expression was melancholic and resentful, and when she saw Ye Yun, her eyes were venomous.

  Ye Yun was taken aback and turned her head to look at Ling Feng.

  "That woman is looking over there again. She must be waiting for you."

  Ling Feng's current position allows him to see the woman outside directly. His eyes turn cold, and he still says, "Don't bother."

  Ye Yun raised an eyebrow, "Why? Is she Shi Man? Are you still holding a grudge against her for leaving without saying goodbye?"

  Ling Feng's expression turned cold, his tone becoming sharp, "How did you know?"

  It seems she guessed it.

  "Afternoon, when I was strolling in the village, I met your sister. She told me that you let her tell me not to fantasize that you truly like me, because in your heart, there will always be 'Shi Man's wife'." Ye Yun didn't plan to hide it and directly spoke out the truth.

  "Ling Wei?" Ling Feng's tense expression softened, and he shook his head helplessly. "This girl still remembers things from back then."

  "Yes, she also said that you told her that in this life, you only love Shiman."

  Ling Feng furrowed his brow, "When did I ever say something like that to her?"

  "I don't know then. But this is absolutely good news for me. Since the woman you love is outside, why not sit down and have a good talk? Maybe what happened in the past was just a misunderstanding? If you two end up together, I can quietly exit before causing any impact." Ye Yun thought this was the best ending possible.

  "What? You're backing down before we've even started?" Ling Feng's lips curled up, coldly mocking, "Or are you saying, you like me. So you don't want to be my fake wife? Are you jealous of Shi Man?"

  "What?!?" Ye Yun's eyes widened in shock, staring at Ling Feng in a daze, "I've never seen anyone as narcissistic as you! I was just trying to advise you out of kindness! Forget it!"

  Ye Yun angrily turned her head away, unwilling to say another word to Ling Feng.

  At this time, the carriage slowly started moving. Ye Yun's gaze fell on Shiman outside again, and she couldn't help but feel angry at her for hiding behind the big tree all along.

  You're such a coward! When someone's not around, you come knocking on their door multiple times, but when they return, you hide instead!

  What's the use of hiding behind a big tree? Happiness is something you have to bravely pursue!

  All the way, the two did not exchange a word. When they arrived at their destination, Ling Feng got out of the car first and stretched out his hand to help Ye Yun get out of the car.

  Ye Yun didn't want to bother with him, but feeling the countless curious eyes around her, she secretly sighed and put her hand in Ling Feng's, revealing a sweet smile.