Chapter 1005: Chapter 999: Fated Rivals (1)
Ruan Jingliu suddenly dropped the carriage curtain, and Wan’er glanced at the person opposite with a look of good luck, then retracted her head.
The carriage started moving again with a clatter.
"Mistress, has he left?" This doesn’t seem like Mr. Qin’s style, Wan’er curiously lifted the curtain and then let out a surprised yelp before pulling back.
Ruan Jingliu was startled, raised her brows to look, and saw that the small window was blocked by an enlarged face, with dashing brows and starry eyes, features outstandingly handsome. Yet the clear eyes, childlike in clarity, emitted a gaze that made her skin crawl, prompting only four words to surface in her mind to describe him: shameless and brazen!
"Jingliu." The man raised his brows with a smile, completely ignoring the surprised and angry expressions of the two inside the carriage: "It’s cold outside, let me in." Full of sincerity.
Ruan Jingliu reached for the medical book beside her and threw it at his face without a second thought...
With a swift tilt, the book passed through the window and landed in his hand. He picked it up, sniffed it deliberately, and said intoxicated: "I just love that faint medicinal scent."
"Qin Yuanfeng." Ruan Jingliu furrowed her brow: "What exactly are you trying to do?" Whenever she left the city, this man always seemed to appear by her side like a lingering ghost.
Qin Yuanfeng dropped his playful demeanor and replied earnestly, "I’m going to Tongzhou!" He paused and then chuckled lightly, "I happen to be on the same route as you."
Ruan Jingliu clearly didn’t believe his excuse, and she slapped the carriage wall ordering, "Stop the carriage!" The carriage came to a halt, and she looked at Qin Yuanfeng again, "You go first!" Not wanting to waste words with him.
Qin Yuanfeng was not at all surprised, resting his chin on the carriage window, roguishly replied, "The long road ahead won’t be lonely with company." He paused and added, "Besides, I have something to discuss with you."
Ruan Jingliu knew his persistent nature and asked with restrained anger, "Speak quickly." Qin Yuanfeng responded, "About those eight hundred acres of land, shall we negotiate a deal?"
As expected, it was still about that piece of land. Ruan Jingliu replied, "I’ve already decided on that estate, and you’re setting your sights on it. We supply medicinal cuisine at the clinic, and suddenly, you start supplying as well. You’re doing it on purpose."
Qin Yuanfeng shrugged noncommittally.
Ruan Jingliu didn’t want to say more: "Leave!" Then the carriage started moving again. She said to Qin Yuanfeng, "Thank you for last time, but please don’t appear in front of me anymore. As for that estate, I won’t sell it. If you want it, you’ll have to wait!"
Qin Yuanfeng was left behind, and Ruan Jingliu breathed a sigh of relief, taking a sip of tea handed over by Wan’er, exclaiming angrily, "I’ve never seen anyone like this." Wan’er comforted, "Mistress, calm down, actually Mr. Qin he..."
Ruan Jingliu shot a cold glance over, and Wan’er couldn’t help but shrink her shoulders and fall silent!
Just then, a voice came leisurely from outside the carriage, seemingly teasing but clear and serious with every word: "If you won’t sell it, then let it be your dowry!" After saying this, he continued to swagger along with the carriage, humming a tune contentedly.
Ruan Jingliu really didn’t want to deal with him, so she picked up a book, leaned against the carriage wall, and began reading again, but feeling annoyed, she closed the book and leaned against the cushion pretending to nap...
By evening, Ruan Jingliu stopped at an inn between Tongzhou and the Capital, instructing the attendant to drive the carriage to the backyard. As she entered, the innkeeper greeted her enthusiastically, "Nurse Zhang, you’re here!" He gestured invitingly, "I’ve kept your room for you, always cleaned and ready for your stay."
Ruan Jingliu glanced back at Wan’er, who smiled and handed silver to the innkeeper, "Thank you, but we’ll leave tomorrow morning!"
"I can’t accept money, can’t accept money." The innkeeper waved his hands, "You saved our family. Taking your money would be worthy of divine punishment." He refused to accept anything, "Nurse Zhang, rest assured, I’ll have food brought to you shortly!" He then turned and opened a room door.
Wan’er looked awkwardly at Ruan Jingliu, who didn’t react, and simply went inside. Wan’er curtsied to the innkeeper, "Please, also bring some hot water."
"Right away." The innkeeper wasn’t surprised by Ruan Jingliu’s reserved demeanor; she’d stayed at the inn ten times and he’d never heard her speak. Just as he turned around, he noticed a man leaning against a pillar, arms crossed. He asked, startled, "Are you with Nurse Zhang?"
Qin Yuanfeng nodded agreeably, "Yes, together." Then he tossed a piece of silver over, "Give me the room next door."
The innkeeper looked troubled, "Sir, the next room is occupied." Qin Yuanfeng raised a brow and pointed at Ruan Jingliu, who was sipping tea at a table, "I’m here to protect her!"
The innkeeper felt a shiver run down his spine, immediately straightening with a serious demeanor, "Alright, let me talk to the folks next door and make arrangements for you." He promptly went to knock on the door next door.
Qin Yuanfeng nodded in approval of the innkeeper’s diligence, "Good kid!" Then he crossed the threshold boldly, "Jingliu." He sat opposite Ruan Jingliu, "Let’s talk."
Ruan Jingliu looked up at him with a frosty expression, snorting coldly, "I have nothing to say to you." Qin Yuanfeng propped up his chin, gazing at her with raised brows, "Alright then, if you truly don’t want to marry me, that’s fine. I won’t insist anymore."
Ruan Jingliu raised her brow, surprise flashing in her eyes, about to commend his change of heart... only to hear Qin Yuanfeng continue, "Then I’ll marry you!"
Wan’er, drinking tea, spat it out, coughing until her face turned red. Ruan Jingliu cast a lukewarm glance at her, and Wan’er stammered, "I’ll go check on the hot water." She quickly exited, not forgetting to shut the door.
"What exactly are you trying to do!" Ruan Jingliu seethed, "You find it amusing to joke with a widow?"
"I just want to marry you, whether you’re widowed or married!" Qin Yuanfeng said, as he picked up and downed the tea in front of Ruan Jingliu, stating with seriousness, "I’ve never joked with you; it’s just that you didn’t believe me."
Ruan Jingliu’s expression turned icy, and she stood up abruptly, "You just think my background is amusing, marrying me to spite your father. I’m not some woman from your backyard. If you keep using this topic to make mischief, we’ve nothing more to discuss."
Qin Yuanfeng’s expression slightly shifted, the brief seriousness fading back into a nonchalant demeanor, "We are kind of friends, aren’t we? You really don’t mince words." He then wore a troubled look, "You find it amusing to joke with someone without a family?"
Ruan Jingliu paused, realizing someone like him couldn’t utter a single truthful sentence, and turned away, ignoring him.
Qin Yuanfeng drank another cup of tea, considerately pouring one for Ruan Jingliu, and said, "Let’s talk business then." He paused again, "How about a collaboration? I’ve checked out your eight hundred acres of land; planting medicinal herbs is a bit of a waste... You just want to supply your clinic. If I can solve your supply issues, would you consider giving me that land? Just for a year."
