Luo Ziling hadn’t expected Ling Mingrui to ask such a question, but he didn’t avoid it and answered truthfully: "Actually, I’ve expressed my stance on this matter before, which is that I don’t want my emotions to be bound by interests."
Ling Mingrui looked at Luo Ziling for a couple of seconds without saying anything, and continued playing chess.
After making a couple more moves, Ling Mingrui then said: "Don’t you think that with this arrangement, not only can you fulfill your dreams, but it can also improve the relationship between our two families? It’s a plan with multiple benefits, why do you oppose it? Or is it that you don’t want to marry Yang Qingyin and still want more choices?"
"I really don’t want to get married now because I’m still too young, so I don’t want to settle down into a marriage so early. Another thing is, I like feelings to be pure. Maybe people my age can’t understand the thoughts of people your age. Perhaps, when I reach your age, I’ll have the same thoughts. But for now, I stick to my ideas." At this point, Luo Ziling shifted his tone, "But if you think that me getting engaged to Yang Qingyin is beneficial to everyone, then I’ll discuss it with her and ask her opinion. If she has no objection, then I can consider it. If necessary, I can force myself, but I won’t force her."
Ling Mingrui nodded and didn’t say anything more.
Then he talked about Chen Ruchang’s illness.
This morning, they went to visit Chen Ruchang as a group. Chen Ruchang’s condition was already deteriorating, he was very thin, looking like skin and bones, ascites had appeared, and various examination indicators were continuing to worsen.
"Didn’t I give them a prescription?" Luo Ziling said curiously: "If the hospital applies my prescription, it should have an effect. It can temporarily change the body’s constitution, and various indicators should improve to some extent."
"They should have just started using it." Ling Mingrui knew about this matter, so hearing Luo Ziling mention it was not surprising, "There should be some effect in a couple of days!"
Luo Ziling nodded.
During the course of the chess game, Ling Mingrui talked about other things, including some matters concerning the Northern Group, and things related to Huang Chen.
As for the Northern Group’s situation, Ling Mingrui just cared about its operational state and various earnings. He hoped Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan can manage the Northern Group well. After all, it’s a gigantic entity, and if there are any problems, it is bound to cause significant harm.
He also mentioned that Huang Chen was a good person, someone worth nurturing.
After all, Huang Chen is someone Ling Jinhua values, who has been by Ling Jinhua’s side for many years and bears the imprint of the Ling family.
Ling Mingrui specifically mentioned Huang Chen, making Luo Ziling feel like there was a hidden meaning, but it wasn’t suitable to ask.
Upon leaving Ling Mingrui’s villa, Xie Enhua again reminded Luo Ziling to come visit them often and join them for dinner.
"Your grandfather also really hopes that you will come visit often, otherwise he has no one to play chess with."
Luo Ziling readily agreed, knowing that Xie Enhua’s words carried an implicit message too.
While still at Ling Mingrui’s villa, Luo Ziling received messages from several people.
There were messages from Luo Yuqing and also from Wang Guoguo.
Even Ouyang Feifei, whom he hadn’t contacted in days, sent him a message.
Yang Qingyin also sent him a message.
Yang Qingyin said that her mother, Chen Qiaoyu, seemed to be in low spirits and that she would go home to talk to Chen Qiaoyu tonight, suggesting that Luo Ziling not come to see her.
"Maybe it’s because we talked about so many things, which stirred up her sadness. Spend more time talking with her. I’m sure with your comforting, she will get better soon!"
After receiving Luo Ziling’s message, Yang Qingyin replied with two smiling emojis, then added, "I’ll talk to you later."
After sending a kissing emoji to Yang Qingyin, Luo Ziling sent a message to Wang Guoguo, saying he had left Ling Mingrui’s villa.
As soon as he replied, Wang Guoguo’s call came in.
She asked where Luo Ziling was and said she wanted to come find him.
"Are you still seeking treatment from me?" Luo Ziling asked Wang Guoguo back.
"Yes, I’ve been feeling very uncomfortable physically these past two days and would like you to treat me, if you can?"
"Alright, find a suitable place for treatment, and I’ll come to you!"
"Okay!" Wang Guoguo agreed readily and sent Luo Ziling an address.
Following the address Wang Guoguo provided, Luo Ziling discovered it was in a high-end residential area.
As he entered the area, he sent Wang Guoguo a message saying he had arrived at the community, and she told him to come straight up.
"This is a house I bought myself, though my parents paid for it, and I’m paying the mortgage!" Worried that Luo Ziling might misunderstand, Wang Guoguo explained briefly, "I often stay here to sleep, and my mom sometimes comes to keep me company, but today they’re not here!"
Luo Ziling didn’t reply to the message but went straight up.
"It feels like I’m having an affair with you!" Upon seeing Wang Guoguo, Luo Ziling said irritably: "Why did you explain so much?"
"I was afraid you’d think we have ill-gotten gains? This house cost my parents their entire life savings!" Wang Guoguo pouted with dissatisfaction, handing Luo Ziling a pair of slippers. Once he had put them on and walked into the living room, she said: "How do you find my house’s decoration? I quite like it!"
"Is it your parents’ wedding gift to you?" Luo Ziling commented with a smile after glancing around the house: "It’s pretty nice, a modern, light luxury style that young people like."
"Seems like your taste is not bad!" Wang Guoguo invited Luo Ziling to sit on the sofa, then asked him, "What would you like to drink?"
"Anything will do!" Luo Ziling said, making a joke as he sat down, "Actually, I’m afraid you’d put poison in the tea. Female hoodlums often do things like robbing both money and man!"
Wang Guoguo was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Why are you so narcissistic?"
"It’s because I’m narcissistic that women like me, don’t you think?"
Wang Guoguo returned with a playful eye roll, then made Luo Ziling a cup of tea and one for herself. When she placed them in front of Luo Ziling, she said with a smile: "You can choose a cup, and if you’re worried about poison, I can take a sip from both before letting you drink!"
"That’s an indirect kiss, you know!" Luo Ziling looked at the furnishings in the living room, and then said very seriously: "Actually, inviting a guy to your home alone late at night is a very risky thing!"
"Are you saying I’m in danger?" Wang Guoguo seemed surprised.
"I’m in danger, afraid you’d drug me and take advantage of me!"
"Why are you so disgusting?" Wang Guoguo snapped at him, "Are you warning me, or have you been a victim before?"
Luo Ziling was reminded of the tactics Wang Feiyang used against him, but he shook his head in the end, "Just warning you!"
"You just enjoy being narcissistic, but you really reminded me. Maybe next time, I would turn raw rice into cooked rice with you," Wang Guoguo joked before changing the topic, "Shall we do the treatment first or talk about things first?"
"What if I told you my grandfather refused to help with your matters? What would you think?"
Luo Ziling’s words immediately changed Wang Guoguo’s expression.