Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 207: You Will Only Die Faster

Chapter 207: Chapter 207: You Will Only Die Faster

During dinner, Lin Wenxuan absolutely refused to sit at the same table with Qi Yu.

Now, whenever he saw Qi Yu, he was as scared as a mouse that had seen a cat.

Of course, what he feared most was the silver needle in her hand.

Qi Yu didn’t mind. Without the loathsome Lin Wenxuan wavering around her, she enjoyed her meal even more.

The Lin Family’s culinary skills didn’t betray their reputation for running a dim sum shop; their chefs’ skills were almost comparable to those of the Imperial Palace, and each dish was authentically Jiangnan cuisine. Qi Yu ate heartily without a single worry about maintaining her image.

In order to show their sincerity, Lin Wenxuan’s parents prepared the freshest ingredients for her, and they even instructed the chefs to ask for her preferences. Knowing she favored sweeter things, every dish was made soft and mouthwatering, provoking anyone’s appetite at mere sight.

After finishing her meal, she contentedly wiped her mouth, leisurely sipping tea, while pondering in her heart how she might poach the chefs of the Lin Residence.

She wondered how much the Lin Residence paid their chefs per month.

Lin Wenxuan’s parents had no idea what she was plotting; seeing her enjoy the chefs’ cooking put them at ease.

The two parents had given up any hope for their good-for-nothing son, only wishing that the Divine Doctor would cure him soon.

In the future, they planned to find him a wife from a reputable family and hope for the birth of several grandsons to secure their peaceful old age.

Lin Wenxuan’s mother had been worried about her son’s marriage for a long time, and after Lin Wenxuan’s father left, she took the opportunity to keep Qi Yu behind and asked hesitantly, "Divine Doctor, my son, Lin Wenxuan—"

At this point, her face turned red, as if she harbored an unspeakable secret.

Qi Yu curiously said, "Madam, please feel free to speak your mind. I’ll help if I can."

Lin Wenxuan’s mother looked at her, struggled with herself for quite a while, then finally seemed to muster her resolve, gritted her teeth, and blurted out the rest, "How is my son’s health now? Will he be able to father children in the future?"

"Pfft—" Qi Yu sprayed out a mouthful of tea.

She had not misheard, had she?

Was Lin Wenxuan’s mother doubting her own son’s potency?

Qi Yu dabbed at her mouth with a handkerchief from the table, and while coughing, said, "Madam, rest assured, your son’s health isn’t that bad."

Receiving the answer she wanted, Lin Wenxuan’s mother breathed a sigh of relief, "That’s good."

Having said this, she felt a little embarrassed and made an excuse to be the first to leave.

Qi Yu patted her chest, looking with an indescribable expression at Lin Wenxuan’s mother’s retreating figure.

The worries of a mother truly knew no bounds.

Yet, as she slowly sipped her tea again, Qi Yu couldn’t help thinking mischievously that Lin Wenxuan’s mother’s concerns weren’t entirely unfounded.

After all, Lin Wenxuan frequented those pleasure quarters, his constitution weakened, and if he didn’t abstain for a year or two, fathering a child might indeed prove difficult.

In his room, Lin Wenxuan drank the bowl of pitch-black, bitterly awful medicine with great reluctance. After pinching his nose to gulp it down, he tossed the bowl to a maid standing by, stuck out his tongue, and called out repeatedly, "Where’s the candied fruit, quickly, bring me something sweet!"

A maid immediately handed over a few pieces of the candied fruit, which Lin Wenxuan devoured greedily, finally feeling a bit better.

He had never tasted such vile medicine.

Seeing him like this, the maids had a hard time holding back their laughter.

They had no affection for this frivolous and hot-tempered young master. Lin Wenxuan would often take liberties with them in private, and he would lash out at them whenever something didn’t go his way.

If not for the generous pay from the Lin Family, nobody would be willing to stay and work there.

When Qi Yu entered, she witnessed this "harmonious" scene between master and servant and sent the giggling maids away to find a private place to laugh to their hearts’ content.

Seeing her, Lin Wenxuan, like a drowned rat, wilted at her presence and grumbled bitterly, "Did you do this on purpose? You want to torture me to death, don’t you?"

Qi Yu looked at him with a teasing expression as he swore profusely, nodded slowly, and admitted, "You guessed it right, I did it on purpose."

Lin Wenxuan finally caught her slip and spoke with newfound boldness, "Good, I knew it! I will tell my mother and have her kick out the charlatan who dared to harm me!"

Qi Yu shrugged indifferently, "Suit yourself."

Lin Wenxuan made a move to get up, even putting on his shoes, yet Qi Yu showed no reaction.

He curled his lips and asked with self-mockery. "Aren’t you scared?"

Qi Yu glanced at him and retorted, "Why should I be afraid?"

Lin Wenxuan gritted his teeth and threatened, "I’m going to have you thrown out!"

"Oh." Qi Yu still looked unconcerned. "I told you to do as you please. After all, if you drive me away, you’ll only die faster."

Lin Wenxuan was left speechless by her counter, pointing at her angrily, "You dare to curse me!"

Qi Yu flicked her fan open and fanned lazily, saying in a languid tone, "With your sickly constitution, do I need to curse you?"

"You!" Lin Wenxuan was so angered he felt a sharp pain in his liver. It took a deep breath to calm his mood.

He had never encountered someone so rude to him before.

The maids and servants of the household all catered to him, and when he was abroad, he was always flattered by a group of fair-weather friends.

When had he ever suffered such indignity?

Yet, frustratingly, he was powerless against this person who irritated him to no end.

The silver needle had become his psychological shadow, occasionally appearing in his dreams, startling him awake.

Seeing Lin Wenxuan’s face turn red with anger, Qi Yu smiled slightly and decided it was time to back off.

After all, if she really infuriated him to death, the loss would outweigh the gain.

She pointed to a chair opposite her, motioning for Lin Wenxuan to sit down.

Lin Wenxuan sat down reluctantly and then realized—why was he listening to her?

Just as he was about to speak, he heard the person opposite ask, "Who is Ruoyu?"

At the sound of that name, Lin Wenxuan’s expression instantly became downcast.

He hung his head, not very inclined to talk about this person.

Qi Yu repeated the question patiently, and this time, Lin Wenxuan looked up and glared at her fiercely, "None of your business!"

"Oh, it seems she is an old flame of yours," Qi Yu said lightly.

Lin Wenxuan instinctively wanted to retort, but meeting Qi Yu’s eyes, sparkling like stars, he lost the will to do so.

It didn’t matter if he told her.

He moved his lips, speaking in a vague and rushed tone, "Ruoyu was my personal maid from before."

Qi Yu nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

Perhaps it was her pair of eyes—too clear and gentle—that kindled in Lin Wenxuan a desire to confide.

For the first time, he restrained his irritable expression, his voice calm but tinged with sadness, "She came to the Lin Residence when I was five, at that time, she was only seven. My mother bought her to keep me company and to take care of me. We were childhood sweethearts, in a way."

At this, he fell silent, lost in memories of the past.

Qi Yu didn’t interrupt him. She poured herself a cup of tea, silently finished it, and then spoke unhurriedly, "You like her, and not only that, but you want to marry her."