Chapter 14 Encounter

  Upon hearing this, He Huan turned around and saw Lin Mengyan standing on the steps not far from herself. Apparently, she had also seen Shen Jinglin.

  "Miss Lin Er." He Huan responded indifferently and turned to leave. She knew Lin Mengyan too well. Since there was no one fawning around her, putting on a show of being a talented lady, she must be looking for trouble with her.

  "Wait!" Lin Mengyan blocked He Huan's path.

  He Xuan looked at her with a mixture of fear and trepidation, secretly sighing in his heart. He had not originally planned to deal with Lin Mengyan at his own funeral, but since she had delivered herself to his doorstep, he naturally had to fulfill her wishes.

  Lin Mengyan raised her chin, leaned forward, and whispered in He Huan's ear: "You're really shameless, actually calling your sister-in-law's husband 'brother-in-law' at your own sister's funeral..."

  "You're still the same, dressing up so elaborately, all for your own sister's husband." He Huan's voice wasn't loud, but it firmly suppressed Lin Mengyan's sarcasm. As she spoke, she took a step back, retreating a large pace.

  Lin Mengyan stared at He Huan in shock, and after the shock was anger. "What did you say!" She gritted her teeth.

  "We're just laughing at those who are fifty paces ahead of us." He Huan's mouth curled up into a faint, enigmatic smile.

  Lin Mengyan was thoroughly enraged. She glanced at Shen Jinglin in the house with the corner of her eye, and he seemed to have not noticed them.

  He Huan turned her back to Shen Jinglin, unaware of the situation inside the house, but she was certain that Shen Jinglin's servant, Wen Zhu, had already discovered them. Her smile slowly grew wider as she took another step back, enunciating each word: "Everyone knows that when my sister was alive, you were already eager..."

  Lin Mengyan did not expect He Huan to suddenly change from her usual timid self, her face turned pale with rage, she was so angry that she wanted to tear He Huan's mouth apart, but after all, she remembered that she had to maintain the image of a respectable young lady.

  As soon as Lin Mengyan looked at Shen Jinglin again, He Huan restrained his smile, shook his head with tears in his eyes, and muttered: "I didn't."

  Lin Mengyan was deep in thought, considering abandoning her original plan. Just then, her maid Mei Qing emerged from behind a pillar in the corridor and glared at He Huan, saying: "Miss, you've gone too far! Since Eldest Miss's passing, Second Miss has been heartbroken and distracted, which is why she dropped her handkerchief." She waved the silk handkerchief in her hand, "I was just picking it up for Second Miss..."

  "I really don't." He Huan shook his head and backed away.

  Lin Mengyan saw that Shen Jinglun had already noticed them and hastily told Mei Qing, "Quickly hold onto her, don't let her fall."

  He Xuan smiled lightly at Lin Meng with tears in her eyes, her right foot tripped on the stone bench, and she fell backwards, scraping her palm.

  "You did it on purpose, I didn't push you!" Lin Mengyan hastily clarified.

  As expected, before Lin Mengyan's words had fallen, Wen Zhu had already walked to their side, asking if she was alright while calling over a servant girl to support He Huan.

  He bowed his head and explained in a low voice: "It was I who tripped on the stone bench, that's why I fell. It was my own carelessness, it has nothing to do with Miss Lin."

  Lin Mengyan looked at her pitiful appearance, secretly resentful in her heart. "Brother-in-law." She quietly glared at He Huan and turned to Shen Jinglu.

  He Huan didn't move, but hid his injured right hand behind him, standing still with his head down, and quietly asked Wen Zhu to find her maid Bai Miao. She knew that Lin Mengyan was best at pretending to be wronged and telling tales before the villain did. Unfortunately, Lin Mengyan didn't know that Shen Jinglun would never lightly believe others' one-sided words, and even more disliked people who shirked responsibility.

  Meanwhile, Shen Jinglin quietly listened to Lin Mengyan's explanation until she finished speaking. He then instructed the Shen family maid to send the two of them back to Lin Ertao's side.

  Lin Mengyan wanted to say something else, but seeing Shen Jinglin's expressionless face, she unconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva and lowered her head to leave.

  Shen Jinglun's gaze swept over He Huan, instructing Wen Zhu to find someone to treat her wound, and then handed her over to the Tao family.

  He Wan lowered her head. At this moment, she was very close to him, but she deeply felt that it was so difficult to get close to him. Seeing that he was about to turn around and leave, she hastily explained: "Brother-in-law, it was my own carelessness that made me fall, and it has nothing to do with my sister."

  "I know." Shen Jinglin turned around and was about to leave.

  "Brother-in-law." He Huan's heart thudded wildly. When she was still Lin Xiyu, her head only reached his earlobe; now, her height only reached his shoulder. Standing beside him, that intangible oppressive feeling made it hard for her to breathe.

  "Don't wander around alone from now on." Shen Jinglin's voice was as calm as water, without any hint of blame, but He Huan immediately realized that the last few times she saw Shen Jinglin, he had also seen her.

  "My sister's husband, actually I've had something on my mind that I wanted to ask you, but I didn't know how to bring it up." He Huan tried to tell Shen Jinglian, whom he had seen multiple times, only because he needed a favor.

  Shen Jinglun turned his head to look at her, but didn't respond.

  "Actually... actually..." He Huan nervously twisted the handkerchief in her hand, saying softly: "Actually... more than three years ago, my relationship with my cousin was very good. I always treated Auntie as my own mother... I know that many things can't be explained anymore... Everyone has their own stance, everyone has their own unavoidable reasons..." Her voice gradually weakened.

  Shen Jinglun still did not respond to her words, silently waiting for what came next.

  He Huan knew he didn't believe her words. She took a deep breath and sincerely pleaded: "Can I see Nian Xi? He's my cousin's only child." After that, she anxiously explained: "I know my request is excessive. Auntie also said Nian Xi was too young... but I probably won't have the chance to see him in the future..."

  Shen Jinglu lowered his head to examine He Huan, a faint smile flashing at the corner of his mouth as if he had already seen through her. "You went to Leng Meiyuan a few days ago, just for this matter?"

  "It's not entirely." He Huan shook her head, "Aunt has always been good to me..." As she said this, she suddenly seemed to wake up and hurriedly begged Shen Jinglu: "Brother-in-law, don't blame Zilan, it was I who kept asking her, that's why she told me Aunt was in Cold Plum Garden."

  "At this moment, Madame Yue is taking care of Nian Xi." Shen Jinglun stated. His implication was that since Han Shi had already refused her, he couldn't go against her wishes.

  "Eldest sister's husband, can I see Aunt?" He Huan looked up at Shen Jinglin with eyes full of expectation.

  Shen Jinglin slightly furrowed her brow. He Huan immediately lowered his head, muttering in a low voice: "I didn't intentionally make things difficult for Brother-in-law. Regardless of whether Aunt will agree or not, I won't intentionally appear before Brother-in-law again, really." She nodded repeatedly like a little girl.

  Ten years ago, life had already forced her to lose the innocence that only a little girl should have. She pretended to be simple in front of him because she knew that Shen Jinglu was mature and steady, but ultimately just an ordinary man. Perhaps his first half of life had been through too many ups and downs, so he liked Lin Xiyuan's occasional display of innocence and naivety. For more than a year before, she had been guessing his preferences. She believed her judgment was correct.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, at He Huan's words "really", Shen Jinglu was slightly stunned and looked at her in surprise. In an instant, his expression returned to its usual calmness, and he said indifferently: "I'll have Wen Zhu take you to meet my mother."

  "Thank you, Brother-in-law." He Huan hastily bowed to Shen Jinglin, her face filled with joy. She could finally see her son, the son she had been thinking about day and night. At this moment, she couldn't bear to pretend anymore, and thanked Shen Jinglin again, her hands trembling slightly with excitement.

  Not far away, Lin Mengyan hid in the dark, resentfully staring at He Huan's smiling face. "Just a broken household, dare to compete with me, tonight you won't be able to laugh." She sneered, her beautiful face twisted instantly.

  That evening, when He Huan sat on the carriage back home, she was still immersed in boundless joy. Her son's body was so soft, his cheeks were chubby, and his small hands were also plump, he had already opened his eyes after just a few days. She held him in her arms, and he wasn't afraid of strangers at all. Their son was indeed the most handsome and wisest in the world. No matter what price she paid, she would return to her son's side with her head held high, accompany him to grow up healthily.

  Tao saw the joy on He Huan's face, she had never seen her so happy, and couldn't help but ask: "Huan'er, was everything smooth today? I heard you met Miss Lin, the second daughter of the Lin family?"

  He Huan hastily composed himself and replied: "Today was relatively smooth sailing, but we still need to be cautious every step of the way from now on."

  "Huan'er, you're different from before."

  "Of course it's different." He Huan nodded heavily, "After experiencing death, everything will be different."

  Tao's eyelids drooped. The bruise on He Huan's neck had not yet fully faded, and these scars constantly reminded her that she was the one who drove a seventeen-year-old girl to desperation. Out of guilt, she didn't want to pour cold water on her, but she heard many rumors in the Shen family. She deeply felt that even if Lin Mengyan did not exist, He Huan would never be able to become Shen Jinglun's wife.

  "Let it go, Huan..."

  "Eldest aunt, I've said it many times, my mind is made up." As soon as her words fell, a commotion was heard outside the carriage. She lifted the curtain and saw that their own carriage was surrounded by three or four disreputable-looking men.