"Please."
Song Qingchao nodded and followed Master Lin to Lin Tingwan's courtyard.
Just as Master Lin had said.
Lin Tingwan's courtyard was like a Grand View Garden.
The exquisite decoration within exceeded Song Qingchao's imagination.
The degree of pampering was such that she was afraid she would drop her if held in hand, and melt her if held in mouth.
This made Song Qingchao truly unable to understand why Lin Tingwan had such a resilient personality.
It was one thing to have her emotions clearly displayed, but she also had a head full of bad ideas.
She lacked the demeanor of a proper young lady from a reputable family.
Although she was always jumping around, she was not without charm.
Upon reaching the door, Song Qingchao merely gestured for Lin Laiye to knock.
Master Lin hesitated but still knocked on the door.
"Wanwan, open the door."
His voice was so tender it could melt.
Song Qingchao looked at the doting father before her. Was this the smiling, calculating fox who had just been haggling with her?
A cool, lazy voice came from within, "Didn't I tell you not to come? This illness is contagious."
Song Qingchao suppressed a smile. This girl must have been eating, speaking before she had even swallowed.
"Your friend is here to see you," Master Lin said.
"My friend?" A shout of surprise came from inside, followed by a tumultuous noise, "I don't have any friends."
As Master Lin was about to speak again, Song Qingchao stopped him.
Then, she pushed the door open and walked in.
Seeing Lin Tingwan lounging on the chaise lounge, reaching for a fruit platter on the floor, Song Qingchao's lips curved into a smile. "Why wouldn't Miss Lin have any friends? Am I not one?"
As soon as Song Qingchao spoke.
Lin Tingwan, who was about to get angry, swallowed and slowly raised her head. Upon seeing the pale yellow robe, she was so frightened that she fell off the chaise lounge.
"Ouch!"
She closed her eyes in pain.
Master Lin, filled with concern, rushed over.
Frightened by this, Lin Tingwan immediately covered her mouth and nose, inching backward on her backside, "Dad! Don't come over! What if this old body catches the illness? Hurry and go out!"
Master Lin, who had bent down and extended his hand, froze instantly, but still said resentfully, "Your father is only thirty-two."
"That won't do either!" Lin Tingwan continued to refuse. "You go out quickly, I can talk to Miss Song myself."
Master Lin helplessly put his hands behind his back and sighed, "Alright, my daughter has grown up..."
Lin Tingwan: "..."
Song Qingchao casually sat on a chair opposite the chaise lounge and then her gaze drifted to the pastries on the table.
Lin Tingwan, still on the floor, pursed her lips, then shakily got up by holding onto the chaise lounge. She didn't forget to "hiss" in pain. She said sheepishly, "How did you get in here?"
Song Qingchao glanced at her. "If I hadn't come in, would you have gone out?"
Lin Tingwan immediately and solicitously sat down, pushing the pastries on the table forward. "Specially supplied from Jiangnan, they are delicious."
Song Qingchao picked up a piece but showed no gratitude for Lin Tingwan's gesture. "Don't say useless things. Hurry up and pack your things and leave."
Lin Tingwan's smiling mouth instantly caved in. She tentatively asked, "Can I not go?"
"No."
Song Qingchao directly put down the pastry, her expression turning cold. "I have already agreed with your father, and he agreed for you to leave with me."
She curved into a mocking smile, then tilted Lin Tingwan's chin. "Now, whether you are willing or not, you must go."
Lin Tingwan swallowed.
Then, with a fawning smile, she pushed away the hand Song Qingchao was holding her by.
"Miss heroine, don't be so impetuous."
She picked up a pastry and stuffed it into Song Qingchao's palm. "Please, sit for a moment, and I'll go pack my things right away."
"Can I eat Miss Lin's pastries?" Song Qingchao also looked at her with a smile.
However, her smile held a hidden edge.
"Yes! Absolutely yes!"
Lin Tingwan's face was full of certainty, then she yelled outside, "Someone! Pack all of my pastries! I'm taking them with me!"
Song Qingchao smiled and took a bite of the pastry. It melted in her mouth, soft and infused with the aroma of osmanthus, truly worthy of being a special supply.
"A teachable student."
As she was eating her second pastry, Lin Tingwan emerged with large bags and bundles on her back.
"Let's go."
Song Qingchao couldn't help but smile. "Didn't you say it would take an hour?"
Lin Tingwan felt her scalp tingle at Song Qingchao's laughter, but she still stubbornly refused to back down. "Yes, I had prepared them earlier. As soon as I was about to go out, you arrived."
She immediately picked up the pastries from the table and then hooked her arm with Song Qingchao's. "Let's go!"
Song Qingchao, who was being pulled along, looked bewildered. "What are you rushing for?"
"Rushing! Why wouldn't I be rushing?" Lin Tingwan's back was starting to break out in a cold sweat. "Let's go quickly."
As she spoke, she tried to lead Song Qingchao through the back door.
Song Qingchao smiled and withdrew her arm. "Walk properly. We'll go through the front gate."
Lin Tingwan slapped her forehead. "I'm used to going through the back, I forgot this time we can use the front door."
As she walked, she waved at Master Lin, who was wiping tears behind the rockery.
Song Qingchao: "..."
Was that necessary?
When they walked out the door, they saw a line of carriages already prepared at the entrance.
"Miss!"
Lin Tingwan quickly stepped forward, but still maintained an appropriate distance. "Zhou Ri, it's you! I'm so happy to see you."
"Miss, what is this?" Zhou Ri lowered his head bashfully, then glanced at Song Qingchao, and only then bowed. "Master."
Lin Tingwan instantly turned to stone. She stuttered, pointing at Zhou Ri, "What did you just call her?"
Zhou Ri also started to sweat, but he repeated, "Master."
"What's going on!"
Lin Tingwan was so astonished she looked like she was about to jump.
Song Qingchao directly reached out and pressed down on Lin Tingwan's finger. "It's exactly what you think. From now on, they belong to me."
She looked at Zhou Ri playfully and said, "Take Miss Lin's luggage to the carriage. Don't tire yourself out."
However, she hadn't expected Lin Tingwan to become unusually serious. "No need, I'll carry this myself."
Song Qingchao raised an eyebrow and faintly uttered, "As you wish."
She descended with satisfaction.
The servants who had initially blocked her from entering were now staring at her curiously, their resentment practically directed at her face.
She idly twirled a fan in her hand, pretending to throw it at them, scaring them into immediately retracting their gazes and standing frozen in place.
"Master."
Just as she was chuckling to herself, Zhou Zhengxi walked towards her.
With a flip of her wrist, the fan flew directly at him.
Zhou Zhengxi instinctively dodged, and even caught the fan as it flew through the air.
By the time he realized what was happening,
Song Qingchao's fist had already come towards him, but this time he did not dodge.
Song Qingchao's fist stopped directly in front of his face, and then she smiled and took the fan he offered.
"Return to Guangji Temple."
Zhou Zhengxi didn't understand, but he still replied, "Yes."
Song Qingchao was satisfied and took the arm Zhou Zhengxi extended, using his strength to board the carriage.
Outwardly, she was still that delicate young lady.
These eight people had all changed into normal servant attire.
There was no need to look deliberately;
They stood out in the crowd and could be described as "handsome and elegant."
This formed a stark contrast with the servants beside them, who could fall asleep leaning on their staffs.
It had to be said, they had a lot of spirit.
And their probing of skills earlier,
Song Qingchao was even more satisfied with these eight people.