CHAPTER 299: 257

Bai Qingqing’s eyes twinkled, her peripheral vision casually swept over Wu Zongyu, settling on the Lotus Pond outside the pavilion. Clutching tightly in her sleeve, she pondered unknowingly.

She and Wu Zongyu were childhood friends and she knew him well—even better than he knew himself. To others, he always appeared cool as a breeze, but in reality, he kept a distance from everyone, including her. Knowing him so well, Bai Qingqing felt a deep sense of imbalance in her heart.

After returning from Shanghai, Bai Qingqing noticed Wu Zongyu had changed. Exactly how he was different, she couldn’t pinpoint yet. But since his return, he began searching for various strange materials, mostly metals, all shipping to an address in Shanghai under the recipient name Lan Tian—a name that clearly belonged to a woman.

And now, he even spoke up for her, warning others in public not to act recklessly.

Bai Qingqing was anxious. She didn’t want to go back to her old home. Previously thinking there was no rush, as the only girl here and highly regarded by her Master despite her talent and effort, she wasn’t in a hurry. However, time was no longer on her side. The old man now had a granddaughter, and Master’s attention would naturally shift there, making her face what she had before.

The only way she could stay here forever was... her eyes shifted past Wu Zongyu—to marry him, whom she had always fancied.

Inside the pavilion, thoughts among the people shifted. Soon, Lan Tian and two others arrived at the pavilion. While walking, Lan Tian was slowly squeezed out from the crowd, watching the girls surrounding Mo Junhua, Jifeng, and Wu Zongyu, finding the scene rather amusing.

Whenever Lan Tian was around, Mo Junhua’s gaze always lingered on her. If she fell behind, he would immediately squeeze through the crowd to find her, and Jifeng also tried to approach Lan Tian. Whenever he turned back, some girl would cling to him, making it impossible for him to move, all while watching Mo Junhua cozying up to Lan Tian—his frustration made him grit his teeth.

Bai Qingqing’s gaze swept over Mo Junhua and Jifeng then suddenly, she pursed her lips and smiled. She realized she had been foolish over nothing—the old man’s granddaughter was already married, and she still had suitors around her. What was there to fear? Her animosity towards Lan Tian diminished significantly, reassuring her that this woman was not her enemy and they could coexist peacefully in the future.

Lan Tian glanced at the crowd ahead, her eyes passed over Bai Qingqing, and a smirk formed on her lips. Interesting. Bai Qingqing’s hostility towards her seemed to have lessened, and something unknown must have happened inside.

During that day at the airport, Lan Tian sensed Bai Qingqing’s subtle hostility towards her, well-hidden beneath her cold exterior. Naturally, the two men by her side wouldn’t know; after all, they had never met each other and had no financial ties—Lan Tian was clueless about the origin of Bai Qingqing’s hostility since she had never wronged her.

The walkway was indeed a beautiful place, established along the edge of the Lotus Pond—one side lined with sky-reaching green lotuses, and a bamboo forest on the other side, fronting a flower pavilion. As they ascended the steps, enjoying the rare beautiful view, several girls chatted noisily together, louder than sparrows, while the men discussed current events and spoke of sensational celebrities, interspersed with suggestive gestures and laughter.

For Lan Tian, this was her first time strolling in the garden with friends, which might not even be called friends, lending an air of wonder to the experience—something she had never experienced in her past life, now abundant in this life, surrounded by Mo Junhua and a group of newly met strangers.

There is a pavilion in the middle of the corridor, with wooden benches on both sides, a round stone table in the middle, surrounded by stone stools. Bai Qingqing and others, tired, went over to sit, while the men gathered around the nearby corridor.

Bai Qingqing and the others went over to sit, no one called Lan Tian over, and Lan Tian didn’t need to be called. He looked around, the stone stools were all taken, but there were many empty spots on the benches of the corridor. Lan Tian walked to the side where there were more empty spots and sat down, Mo Junhua came and sat next to Lan Tian without looking elsewhere.

Ji Feng originally wanted to call Lan Tian to sit with him, but after thinking about it, he decided against it. Xiao Lan was new here, and always mingling with her in front of everyone would only put Xiao Lan in a difficult position. Ji Feng was unwilling, feeling that Mo Junhua had unfairly gotten the better of him.

Bai Qingqing and the others chatted, while Lan Tian, bored, leaned on the railing, watching the fish swimming around in the water. She mysteriously produced a piece of bread, tore it up, and threw it into the water. Soon, a cluster of small fish gathered, splashing as they scrambled for the bread crumbs. After feeding the last of the bread, Lan Tian turned around to sit down, catching a glimpse of Mo Junhua sitting upright next to her. She glanced around at the other people, and suddenly leaned towards him.

"Move your hand up," Lan Tian tugged on Mo Junhua’s sleeve.

Mo Junhua thought Lan Tian wanted to pass by and was about to get up to give her space, but Lan Tian shook her head, "No need, just lift up your hand."

Mo Junhua’s hands were resting on his lap, indeed blocking Lan Tian’s view. While Mo Junhua was still wondering what the girl was up to, his hand was already raised, followed by a weight settling on his lap, with Lan Tian resting her head there.

Mo Junhua’s body instantly stiffened, his back tense, eyes fixed straight ahead, his heart pounding uncontrollably like a startled deer, his mind wrestling painfully over whether to put his hand down or leave it up.

Lan Tian was unaware of Mo Junhua’s dilemma, she patted his leg, complaining discontentedly, "It’s too hard, it’s uncomfortably poking me." What she said sounded more like coquetry than complaining, with a tone and expression that were extraordinarily tender, typical of the soft-spoken sweetness of Jiangnan.

Mo Junhua twitched his mouth, slowly relaxed his body, trying to make it more comfortable for her. Yet, he still rigidly upheld his stoic military image, keeping up an icy facade, his face an unwelcoming mask of coldness as he strived to maintain his military discipline and principles. His rationality and emotions waged a fierce battle, with rationality wanting Lan Tian to sit up – it was broad daylight, under the public gaze, lying on his lap was improper; also, considering she was a Military Wife, she should uphold a dignified, strict, and impeccable image.

But emotionally, he wished she could lie there forever. The struggle was intense, a life-and-death battle, but ultimately, emotions triumphed over rationality.

Lowering his eyes to meet Lan Tian’s, who was looking up at him, the mischievous glint in her eyes hadn’t yet faded, full of malice, making Mo Junhua suspect she did it on purpose.

Lan Tian acted shamelessly, turning her head and nestling against Mo Junhua’s stomach, murmuring softly, "I’m tired, just resting for a bit."

Her skirt was long enough to reach her ankles, so lying down wouldn’t reveal anything. Lan Tian was quite relieved, she was just being impulsive, suddenly wanting to tease Mo Junhua to see how he would handle the situation.