Madam Wen remained silent upon hearing Qing Mo’s words, and after a long pause, she finally spoke, her tone tinged with reprimand, "Stop talking nonsense. This is your future Second Sister-in-law. Do not be disrespectful." Lin He listened to Madam Wen's hypocritical scolding and replied with a faint smile, "Madam Wen, it's quite alright. What the young lady said is, in fact, true." "Well, this girl has been spoiled by her father. Miss Lin, please don't take offense. Miss Lin, are you heading back to the shop now?" Madam Wen inquired with a gentle, warm smile. "Yes, I am. I presume Madam Wen has other pressing matters, so I won't impose further. I shall take my leave first." Lin He smiled, gave Madam Wen a slight bow, and departed with Zi Yu. From start to finish, Lin He had not once met Qing Mo's eyes directly, nor had she exchanged a single word with her. To be honest, she had no desire to provoke anyone from the Wen family, and if possible, she would have preferred not to run into Madam Wen while shopping. The way Madam Wen kept calling her "Miss Lin" was her veiled way of signaling her dissatisfaction with the engagement; despite the betrothal, she still hadn't accepted Lin He as one of the Wen family.

As for this Qing Mo, she was even more audacious. Regardless of status, she was at least Lin He's future sister-in-law, and older, too. Even if they were strangers, Qing Mo shouldn't have said such things, especially with that tone laced with disdain and contempt. Madam Wen had only offered a show of reprimand.

If she truly intended to scold her severely, Qing Mo would never dare to speak those words to her face. This realization suggested just how dissatisfied Madam Wen truly was in private. Still, Lin He couldn't be bothered to argue with them. Hadn't she prepared herself for inevitable battles with the Wen family the moment she accepted Wen Ning Xuan's proposal?

As Lin He turned to leave, the voices of Qing Mo and Madam Wen drifted over, intentionally or otherwise. Qing Mo said, "Mother, is this the person he chose? Such a shabby appearance. Truly, like mother, like son. Anyone he chooses is just fit for the back alley, never fit for the main hall." "Stop your nonsense. If your father hears you, you’ll be punished. She is, after all, your Second Brother's intended." "What Second Brother? I don't have a Second Brother like that. A mere son born to a concubine, only boasting because Father dotes on him. Others might fear him, but I certainly don't. Besides, Father would never bear to punish me."

Lin He instantly felt a surge of anger, itching to seize the so-called Qing Mo and give her a sound beating. The mood she had been in earlier was completely gone on the way back. She and Zi Yu returned to the shop in silence. Back inside, seeing Lin He’s foul temper, Zi Yu tried to soothe her, "Miss, Miss Qing Mo is just like that. Don't take it to heart. You are marrying into the Wen family to marry the Second Young Master; it has little to do with her."

Lin He was indeed upset, but not for herself. It was Qing Mo's words about Wen Ning Xuan that bothered her. She had always assumed Wen Ning Xuan, being a young master of the Wen family, was better off than ordinary people, even if he wasn't favored. Seeing how well Xiao Mo and Wen Ning Xuan usually got along, and the extreme respect Xiao Mo showed him, Lin He had never deeply considered the actual life Wen Ning Xuan led within the Wen household.

Although Zi Yu had mentioned some things previously, it was only that Madam Wen didn't treat Wen Ning Xuan as her own son. But Qing Mo's words today twisted a knot in Lin He's heart, causing a sharp, painful ache—an ache felt for Wen Ning Xuan.

She realized that Wen Ning Xuan’s years must have been far less glamorous than they appeared on the surface. That Madam Wen, who presented herself as virtuous and gentle, like orchid in the wind, was likely far more calculating and ruthless when acting behind closed doors.

In all the time Lin He had been with Wen Ning Xuan, she had only seen his shining side. Outside, everyone addressed him with deference as the Second Young Master. Wen Ning Xuan was always meticulous and tender toward Lin He, caring for her above all else. Whenever she wanted to pursue something, Wen Ning Xuan never hesitated to support her endeavors.

It was only today that Lin He understood how selfish her love for Wen Ning Xuan had been—casually enjoying everything he did for her, yet refusing to consider his feelings when she wished to act according to her own will, even when he risked his life to shield her from danger. While Lin He felt anxious and heartbroken, she had never truly pondered: how deeply must one love another to be willing to trade their own life for that person's life?

Here was a man who had done so much for her, yet Lin He knew almost nothing about his life. She had only worried about whether her own future life would be happy or sorrowful, never once taking the time to understand Wen Ning Xuan’s existence, the good or the bad.

Thinking of this, Lin He’s eyes grew hot, and tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably. Zi Yu, standing nearby, had never seen her mistress like this and stammered in confusion, "Miss, what’s wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden? Is it because of Miss Qing Mo's words? Don't worry, when the Second Young Master returns, we'll have him deal with her."

Seeing that even Zi Yu believed this, that her unhappiness required Wen Ning Xuan to solve it, Lin He shook her head at Zi Yu. "Don't tell the Second Young Master about today's events. I’m not upset because of Qing Mo’s words. I’m just realizing how difficult his life in the Wen family must have been all these years. Qing Mo is just a sister, yet she dared to speak of him like that in front of me, and others probably treat him worse behind closed doors."

Only then did Zi Yu understand the real reason for her mistress’s tears: Miss was heartbroken for the Second Young Master. Zi Yu felt a secret joy. For so long, even as Miss and the Second Young Master spent increasing time together and the engagement was settled, Zi Yu always felt that Miss didn't love him as much as he loved her.

Ordinarily, Miss focused her concerns on her own family, only showing more care when she was with the Second Young Master. She rarely spoke of him otherwise. Zi Yu had always felt something was amiss, but since she had never been in love herself, she didn't know what loving someone felt like. Seeing Miss like this today, Zi Yu was finally certain that her mistress did love the Second Young Master very much; she had just been so insulated from contact with the Wen family members previously that she overlooked it until now.

Zi Yu never dared to mention many things about the Wen family in front of Lin He. Firstly, the Second Young Master had instructed her not to speak excessively about his affairs in front of Miss. Secondly, she knew Miss was already somewhat apprehensive about the Wen family’s background in general, so apart from mentioning it once before the Second Young Master’s birthday, she had remained quiet.

Seeing Lin He’s distress, Zi Yu advised her, "Miss, don't overthink things. If you wish to know about the Second Young Master's life, I can tell you some things. But you must not let the Second Young Master know I told you. He specifically instructed me not to bring up matters concerning the Wen family around you."

For more novels, visit storyread.net.