Chapter 43 – Father’s First Meeting
“Help me lie down.” The Stepmother gave a wry smile as she coughed lightly, and then slowly reclined with the Maidservant’s assistance.
The Maidservant, somewhat aggrieved, said, “Madam has managed the household and raised the Second Young Master for years; why does the Master only spend such a short time with her upon his return?”
“He and my sister share a deep bond, so it’s indeed not suitable for him to stay long in my room… It’s already the greatest act of tolerance for me to take up this position now.”
The Stepmother smiled bitterly, reflecting on how desperate she had been back then; if not for her brother-in-law’s help, she wouldn’t still be alive today.
Yet, though they were sisters, their fates were different. Even if she told herself not to be jealous and to be grateful, she still occasionally felt a sting of heartache.
Moreover, she regarded Lan Ting as her own, and now this was the result…
The Maidservant, puzzled, was unaware of the grudges from the previous generation, as she had only joined the household in recent years.
“The news of the Master’s return should have reached the west courtyard by now, right?”
The Stepmother was seriously ill. Although there was a flicker of hope for recovery, her ailing body still required time to heal.
After some thought, the Maidservant said, “They should already know… Madam, do you think the Master will go to Aunt Die’s place tonight?”
If he were to spend the first night back in the side chamber, it would be a slap in the face to the main wife. Normally, Liu Zhi didn’t seem like the type to do such an outrageous thing, but who could tell if he might lose control in the moment? Not to mention, the Stepmother was gravely ill and unable to serve him.
The Stepmother hadn’t considered the Maidservant’s concern; she was merely displeased by the Maidservant’s audacity.
With a fierce glare, the Stepmother shot a look at her attendant, “I usually let you run wild, but how dare you speak about the Master!”
Seeing the Maidservant kneel in fear, the Stepmother felt the pent-up frustration within her rise even more; she couldn’t swallow it nor could she spit it out.
She waved her hand, massaging her temples wearily, and lay down to close her eyes. “Get up and think about what you said wrong outside. The Master isn’t as lenient as I am; if he catches you, you’ll be sold off from the household at best.”
After Liu Zhi returned to the main courtyard to freshen up and change into clean clothes, and took some medicine to dissipate the cold and fever, he finally felt a bit grounded.
Sitting anxiously in the main hall for quite a while, he hadn’t read a single word of the bamboo slips in his hand. As the sky darkened, he increasingly glanced toward the door, losing all the composure he usually maintained. This flustered state was something only seen in his youth.
After what felt like an eternity, just when Liu Zhi began to doubt if his daughter had inherited her mother’s bad habits and completely forgotten the way back, he looked to the door for the thirty-third time when finally someone announced, “Master, the Second Young Master is waiting outside.”
“Hurry, call Lan Ting in.” Liu Zhi’s breath caught. Seeing the bamboo slips in his hand, he awkwardly set them aside, slightly flustered, fearing his daughter might misunderstand that he was about to test her on her studies right after returning.
As Jiang Pengji entered the room, this was the scene she encountered.
A strange man sat upright at the head, dressed in white, with dark-patterned cloud sleeves. A loosely draped dark cloak rested casually over his shoulders, revealing elegantly long, pale hands resting on his knees. Upon seeing her, his eyes instantly lit up.
His long hair still bore the remnants of dampness, and his attire was quite clean, indicating he had just washed up not long after arriving… Upon seeing her, there was a slight awkwardness in his facial muscles, and the little movements of his hands betrayed his nervousness. He seemed unsettled inside…
As Jiang Pengji approached to greet him, she scrutinized Liu Zhi from head to toe.
Though the clothing of this “father” was not worn-out, the collar and cuffs were notably frayed, with some areas even showing signs of wear. The fabric seemed to have fallen out of style several years ago, and it didn’t quite fit his current physique…
According to her understanding of this family’s finances, it was impossible for someone at the top of the pyramid to wear such clothes. The most likely scenario was that this outfit held special significance for him; despite being so worn, he refused to part with it…
His nails were neatly trimmed, and their healthy color indicated he paid attention to his personal hygiene and living standards.
The ring on his left hand was clearly a wedding ring… Of course, this era didn’t have the concept of wedding rings, but if Liu Lanting’s mother really was a time traveler, then a wedding ring would make sense… The wear marks on his finger suggested he never frequently took it off, wearing it all the time. The ring’s surface was smooth and clean, and the patterns were somewhat shallow, indicating the owner cared for it and sometimes absentmindedly rubbed it…
He carried a clean scent with no trace of another person’s presence, suggesting his private life had been quite tidy recently… His posture was dignified, but his muscles were slightly stiff… His cheeks bore a hint of unnatural redness, and his breathing rate was abnormal—was he unwell?
Jiang Pengji lowered her gaze, showing no intention of speaking first, while Liu Zhi was at a loss for words on how to begin.
After a long silence, Liu Zhi suddenly said, “Lan Ting, come sit beside your father. It’s been years since we last met; I didn’t expect you to have grown so much…”
He was deliberately looking for conversation, but his voice sounded too stiff. Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow inwardly, realizing this stepfather was indeed nervous.
Ignoring the barrage of prprprpr comments from the live stream, she walked three steps away from Liu Zhi and sat down again.
Seeing Liu Zhi eager to speak but unsure where to start, Jiang Pengji also felt it was awkward to continue to ignore him.
“Father has returned from his post and seems a bit feverish; have you seen the Young Doctor?”
Liu Zhi nodded. Because of the fever, his lips appeared quite dry, even showing signs of chapping.
He looked directly at Jiang Pengji’s face, his eyes unable to get enough of her. His lips parted yet no words came; he finally couldn’t help himself and reached out, attempting to gently stroke her hair. He spoke slowly, “I’ve had the Young Doctor prescribe some medicine; I took some earlier. I’m fine.”
At that moment, a chorus of fangirls erupted on the screen, collectively going wild, with prprprpr flooding the chat, leaving her speechless.
【The Great Landlord’s Wife】: Ah ah ah ah—Host, do you need a stepmother? I’ve gone to university, can cook, do laundry, and game with both feet!
【Cafeteria Lady】: This is truly a despairing world; weren’t ancient people supposed to look like monsters? Why is there such a beauty at both the top and bottom of the streamer’s family, and even her father looks so good that I want to lick from head to toe… The sickly, delicate aura of Father’s presence!!!
【Beloved Beauty】: The Host’s handsome dad blew me away! The head pat just now made my heart go boom boom boom!
【Free-Spirited Only Loves Faces】: (/ω╲) Host, does your dad have a fish line body and an eight-pack?
Jiang Pengji merely glanced over and instantly felt her mouth twitch. No matter the era, looks certainly matter a lot.
【Host V】: Unfortunately, from what I see, he’s probably going to be skinny as a skeleton under those clothes.
