Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 215: In Ling’an City, I Already Have Someone in My Heart

Chapter 215: Chapter 215: In Ling’an City, I Already Have Someone in My Heart

"Young Madam, Young Master Shen Wu has sent an invitation."

"Mm."

A moment later, Song Lianhe looked up in confusion. "Young... Madam?"

Da Xi kept her gaze demurely lowered, her perfectly composed expression hiding a hint of awkwardness. "Even Grandmaster Lian has acknowledged you as the Young Madam. How could we dare to disrespect your status?"

Song Lianhe looked at her and shuddered. "Please, I’m begging you, just speak normally."

Da Xi’s composure didn’t last long. She dropped the act and sat down across from her. "What’s the deal with that Shen Wu? He keeps finding excuses to see you! If you ask me, he has ulterior motives!"

Song Lianhe held a small apothecary’s scale, placing the weighed ingredients into a ceramic jar.

"What does the invitation say?"

Da Xi took out the invitation and read it aloud. "His candy shop is having its grand opening, and he’s inviting Mi— inviting the Young Madam to attend."

"A candy shop?"

It dawned on Song Lianhe. "No wonder we ran into him at that candy shop. He must have been scouting the location."

She had originally planned to have Da Xi accompany her, but then she remembered Zhong Shimin’s instructions. ’We have to lure Kong Yu into making a move outside the manor. We can’t let him discover that we’re secretly planting sweet potatoes.’

Song Lianhe agreed without hesitation. "Alright, I’ll go offer my congratulations and join the festivities."

Seeing that she had actually agreed, Da Xi couldn’t help but remind her again, "Young Madam, you must be mindful of propriety. Don’t get too close to men outside the family."

"You’re becoming more and more of a mother hen."

Song Lianhe tucked the various self-defense pills and eye-stinging powders she had made overnight into her clothing. "Let’s go."

"I’ll go with you!"

Da Xi couldn’t bear the thought of letting her go see that Shen Wu alone!

"You can’t go."

Song Lianhe refused her, her tone firm and resolute.

’Who knows when Kong Yu might show up? I can’t drag Da Xi into this.’

Although Da Xi didn’t understand, she couldn’t disobey a direct order, so she could only swallow her doubts.

When Song Lianhe arrived outside the manor, a carriage was already waiting.

She deliberately lingered at the entrance for a moment before climbing ostentatiously into the carriage.

Gu Ha, disguised as the driver, didn’t even wait for her to get settled. He cracked his whip on the horse’s rump, and the carriage lurched forward, nearly throwing Song Lianhe out.

Hearing a cry of alarm from behind him, Gu Ha smirked in satisfaction.

The carriage gradually came to a halt.

As Song Lianhe stepped out, she shot the driver a pointed look.

Gu Ha pulled the brim of his straw hat lower.

"Miss Song, is something wrong?"

Zhou Junlin stood with his hands clasped behind his back, dressed as always in white robes.

He had a tall, slender, and graceful figure. While his face was merely fair and scholarly, his exceptional bearing and manner of speaking drew the attention of many nearby women, all of whom watched him with shy, flirtatious glances.

Gu Ha ducked his head even lower. ’If the Prince finds out I used such a cheap trick to bully Song Lianhe, I’ll definitely get another lecture.’ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

But Song Lianhe simply withdrew her gaze. "It’s nothing."

She jumped down from the carriage, looked toward the bustling candy shop across the way, and stepped forward to offer her congratulations.

"I’m afraid I came in such a hurry, I didn’t have time to prepare a gift..."

Vaguely, she heard the driver behind her mutter in a gravelly voice, "Hmph, as if our Young Master needs a paltry gift from you."

Song Lianhe: "..."

’My good man, did I offend you? Or perhaps your entire family?’

Zhou Junlin’s eyes were fixed on her. "Miss Song, why don’t you come inside and take a look?" he said suddenly.

"Alright."

Before they left, Zhou Junlin shot Gu Ha a warning glance.

Gu Ha lowered his gaze, feeling quite guilty.

’It was just a reflex!’ he thought. ’I mean, can you blame me? That Song Lianhe is just so irritating! Other people might not see her devious nature, but I see it clear as day!’

Following Zhou Junlin into the shop, Song Lianhe glanced around. The storefront was quite large, able to hold a dozen or so people at once. For a candy shop, this was a significant investment.

"Did you come all the way to Sui Ning just to get into the candy business, Young Master Shen Wu?"

"No."

Zhou Junlin glanced sideways at her. "I’m a horse merchant by trade."

"A horse merchant?"

Song Lianhe had been sensitive to the word "horse" lately. She turned back to look at him. "But you don’t look the part. You’re so refined and scholarly, Young Master Shen Wu. You seem more like a man of letters."

Zhou Junlin stated plainly, "It’s the family business. I had no choice but to take over. Starting this year, we’ve been selecting fine steeds from Wu Qi Country, passing through Nanchen, and then entering Da Cheng."

"Why not enter Da Cheng directly?"

"You haven’t heard, Miss? The Genosa River is plagued by bandits; no one can pass through safely. Since there’s no guarantee of a safe passage, I’d rather take the long way around. It costs more silver, but at least it’s foolproof."

As Zhou Junlin spoke, he watched her reaction closely.

"Ohh, so that’s why."

"However, I’ve run into a difficult situation recently. Because of the war in Yu State, all the top-grade warhorses from Wu Qi Country have been claimed. I’m afraid I’ll be returning empty-handed this year."

"So, you opened a candy shop instead?" She smiled. "That’s quite a leap."

Zhou Junlin said nonchalantly, "Opening a candy shop was just a whim. It’s only because... I saw someone who likes them a great deal."

Song Lianhe could have sworn that for a split second, she thought he was talking about her.

’But that’s impossible,’ she thought. ’We’re practically strangers. I might be pretty, but Shen Wu doesn’t seem like some naive boy who’s never seen the world. There’s no way he’d fall in love with me at first sight.’

Song Lianhe kept her expression neutral and offered a small smile. "So, you’re quite a spontaneous person, Young Master Shen Wu."

Zhou Junlin’s lips curved. "A spontaneous person... It’s been a long time since anyone has called me that."

’Born into the Imperial Family, so much was beyond his control. What right did he have to the word ’spontaneous’?’

Seeing that she wasn’t taking the bait about the warhorses, Zhou Junlin’s brow furrowed slightly. "Miss Song, since your husband’s family is in this city, I wonder if you might have some connections that could help me?"

Song Lianhe froze and looked up at him.

"To be frank, Miss Song, this is a trial set by my family. If I fail, I’ll be at my younger brother’s mercy. This trip is crucial for me. I hope that, seeing as we’re practically from the same region, you might be willing to lend a hand."

He sounded utterly sincere, as if he were truly at his wit’s end. And his eyes, which seemed naturally full of deep emotion, gazed at her so intently it was as if he were looking at the love of his life.

’Who could possibly resist that?’

’But it wasn’t as if Song Lianhe had never seen a top-tier man before. Forget others—her own husband-in-name-only, Zhou Cangyan, was leagues ahead of this guy!’

’Trying to use a pretty-boy act on me with just this? He’s still a bit of an amateur!’

She answered slowly, drawing out her words. "Young Master Shen Wu, you’re involved in major business dealings. How could a simple woman like myself possibly be of any help? You truly overestimate me."

Zhou Junlin stared at her intently, pressing his advantage. "Why so modest, Miss Song? After all, not just anyone can become the Young Madam of Sui Bei."

"Sigh, it’s just a title. It sounds impressive, but it’s completely useless! The most they do is give me some spending money to wander the streets and buy candy." As she spoke, Song Lianhe lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "To be perfectly honest with you, I was basically kidnapped and brought here! Back in Ling’an City... my heart already belongs to someone else."

Zhou Junlin froze. All his probing questions, all his sharp tactics, were thrown into utter disarray by that one sentence.