On the way back to Yanjing, while waiting at Wushang Airport, Luo Ziling shared some of his thoughts with Yang Qingyin. He told her that his biggest regret at the moment is having too few people he can rely on, so he is making an effort to gather and nurture trustworthy individuals.
"You’re gathering only women, aren’t you?" Yang Qingyin retorted, "I haven’t seen any man being used by you."
"Isn’t Ling Haijun one? Also, Yang Xiaodong, Wang Zhenjun, our dorm mates, there are plenty!" Luo Ziling chuckled, "If you know any useful people, you can recommend them to me, since you’re well-connected. Plus, you won’t recommend women to me, surely men. Actually, men are easier to manage because their minds aren’t as small as women’s."
"What are you talking about?" Yang Qingyin pinched Luo Ziling, "Who says women’s minds are small? That’s gender discrimination!"
"Women have big chests, which squeeze their hearts into being small, it’s just normal physiology!" Luo Ziling said, grinning shamelessly.
Yang Qingyin blushed and pinched Luo Ziling again, saying angrily, "How can you be so disgusting?"
"I didn’t say anything wrong!"
He got pinched again by Yang Qingyin, hurting him to the point where he almost cried out.
In the midst of their playful banter, Luo Ziling received a message from Ling Ruonan saying she would return to Yanjing tonight and asking him to wait for her at the villa.
Luo Ziling naturally agreed.
"I’ll go with you to see your mom, to check in with her. Then I’ll head home and discuss things with my parents, see what they think," Yang Qingyin said. "Tomorrow, I’ll visit my grandpa and hear his views on the matter."
After thinking it over, Luo Ziling said, "I might not have time to go see your grandpa with you tomorrow. I think my mom will surely take me to see my Great Grandfather and my grandfather tomorrow, and I might have to meet some other people too. Let’s visit your grandpa together in a couple of days!"
"You should focus on your own things first. You’ll probably be busy for a long time after you return to Yanjing. If you’re too busy, don’t worry about me."
"How could I not worry about you?" Luo Ziling said earnestly, "Even if I’m busy during the day, I should come by at night to check in, so you’re not left all alone in an empty room, unable to sleep."
"Why would I be unable to sleep?" Yang Qingyin used the Yang Family’s Soul-Chasing, Life-Stealing Pinch on him again, angrily saying, "How can you be so annoying?"
Luo Ziling chuckled.
Yang Qingyin gritted her teeth and said, "You’re such a big sleazeball, full of depravity, a libertine at heart."
"Libertines aren’t lustful, they just love their wives. He’s been misunderstood for thousands of years," Luo Ziling said righteously, "A good man was misunderstood for thousands of years, just like I’ve been misunderstood by women for so many years. We are kindred spirits with Dou E, a group of people with grievances and nowhere to appeal!"
Luo Ziling’s exaggerated tone made Yang Qingyin burst into giggles.
"I really didn’t realize you’re a good actor," Yang Qingyin said with a mocking expression after she stopped laughing, "Your first performance was surprisingly good, as good as a professional actor’s."
"Little Lamb, you’re too kind," Luo Ziling mimicked an ancient gesture, cupping his fists, "If there are any shortcomings, please guide me."
"From now on, I’ll stay on my toes," Yang Qingyin gave Luo Ziling a sidelong glance, "Men with such outstanding acting skills, I need to be careful, so I don’t end up sold by you and help you count the money."
"I really am the cube of Dou E," Luo Ziling said helplessly, looking at Yang Qingyin, "How can you see me like this?"
"Lazy to bother with you!"
The two continued bantering along the way, enjoying themselves immensely.
The plane arrived in Yanjing at three in the afternoon.
Wuyue had arranged for a car to pick them up, and Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin headed straight back to the villa.
Ling Ruonan’s flight was at two-thirty in the afternoon, originally scheduled to arrive in Yanjing at four fifty.
But her flight was delayed by an hour, so she was expected home between six thirty and seven.
Luo Ziling left Ling Ruonan a message saying that he would make dinner at home and have Yang Qingyin come back to eat together.
On the way home, Luo Ziling called Luo Liansheng, asking his grandfather to come home for dinner too.
Luo Liansheng happily agreed.
On the way back, Luo Ziling took Yang Qingyin to the market and bought a bunch of vegetables and some fruit. After preparing everything, they went home, where Luo Ziling took a shower first.
He insisted on Yang Qingyin showering with him, saying if they didn’t do it together today, they wouldn’t be able to for several days.
Yang Qingyin eventually half-reluctantly gave in to him.
Young men and women, full of passion all day.
What made them awkward was finding Luo Liansheng already sitting downstairs when they emerged from their shower.
While heading down together to greet Luo Liansheng, Yang Qingyin pinched Luo Ziling several times when Luo Liansheng wasn’t paying attention, making Luo Ziling almost jump from the pain.
"I have no dignity left!" Yang Qingyin thought of stabbing Luo Ziling with a knife.
But finally, she softly greeted Luo Liansheng with a slightly flushed face.
Luo Liansheng didn’t ask much and his gaze wasn’t strange at all.
Yang Qingyin still felt guilty, and after talking with Luo Liansheng for a bit, she dragged Luo Ziling into the kitchen to prepare dinner together.
Yang Qingyin wasn’t adept at cooking; she could only assist Luo Ziling.
Upon entering the kitchen, she began to take revenge on Luo Ziling.
Luo Ziling grudgingly grabbed her hands and threatened, saying if she dared pinch him again, he’d shout about being molested and have Luo Liansheng come rescue him.
Yang Qingyin was angry and flustered, but she was helpless against Luo Ziling’s cheeky antics.
Luo Ziling arrived home half an hour earlier than expected.
Although the flight was delayed by over an hour, they flew at a faster speed, arriving in Yanjing only twenty minutes later than planned.
When Ling Ruonan got home, Luo Ziling had already prepared the dishes, and he and Yang Qingyin were chatting with Luo Liansheng.
Luo Liansheng brought up the incident where Ling Ruonan was attacked.
But Luo Ziling also didn’t want his grandfather to understand the real reasons, so he didn’t tell him the true situation.
After Ling Ruonan returned, the four of them sat together for dinner. While eating, Luo Ziling asked Ling Ruonan about the attack, and Ling Ruonan, not hiding anything, told them about the situation again and shared the latest investigation details with everyone.
"According to police reports, the people who attacked me were undoubtedly instructed by some in Yanjing, as they returned to Yanjing after attacking my car," Ling Ruonan said, giving Luo Ziling a meaningful look afterward.
That look made Luo Ziling’s heart skip a beat uncontrollably.