Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 396 - 138: Letter_2

Chapter 396: Chapter 138: Letter_2

Loo Ying did not realize her impropriety, merely holding Yueyao’s hand and asking numerous questions. Yueyao smoothly withdrew her hand and smiled as she answered some of Loo Ying’s inquiries.

Loo Ying wanted to invite Yueyao to her courtyard for a visit but was politely declined by Yueyao. Zhuang Ruolan observed from the side with a cold eye, noting that Yueyao did not seem fond of Loo Ying. To Zhuang Ruolan, this was not surprising, as although Loo Ying was not inherently bad, she was not particularly likable.

The maid from outside came in and announced, "Young Lady, Eldest Young Master has returned."

Yueyao’s face bore a smile, while Loo Ying expressed her joy saying, "Cousin has returned!" With that, she stood up and went to the door to greet him.

Yueyao simply stood up but did not walk over. Unintentionally, Yueyao caught sight of Cai Yun’s furrowed brow and was somewhat surprised, wondering what Cai Yun’s expression meant. However, upon seeing Ma Peng enter, Yueyao felt she somewhat understood.

Ma Peng was adorned in a sapphire blue robe, with the chest beneath slightly moving with his smile. Ma Peng felt indifferent toward Loo Ying, maintaining only superficial affections. Upon seeing Yueyao, he showed a pleased smile and asked, "Cousin, when did you arrive?"

Yueyao noticed that Ma Peng seemed like a changed person, not only free from his previous awkwardness, but also significantly more handsome. The root of such a drastic change in Ma Peng was essentially two words: confidence.

Before, Ma Peng lived under the oppressive shadow of his real father, and with Ma Yue’s intelligence highlighting his own dullness, he lacked confidence. His lack of confidence rendered him taciturn, creating a vicious cycle that cast the impression of him being very awkward. But now things were different. His future looked bright, he was efficient and well-liked at the Hanlin Academy, had a talented and capable wife revered for her beauty, and was soon to be a father. one could say he had everything he ever wanted. Naturally, this made him much more open, and his transformation into a more confident man was significant to others.

Yueyao, smiling, said, "I just arrived not long ago. Cousin, the red envelope." She stretched out her hand after speaking.

Laughing, Ma Peng replied, "How could I forget your red envelope? I’ve had it prepared for you for a while now!" He reached into his sleeve and handed Yueyao a red envelope.

Yueyao was taken aback; her request was made in jest, never expecting her cousin to have truly prepared her red envelope. And from the look of it, the envelope was quite plump, no small sum at all.

Loo Ying did not expect Yueyao to directly ask for a red envelope and asked in front of everyone present, "Cousin, are you in need of money?"

Loo Ying’s remark brought an uncanny silence over the room. Zhuang Ruolan could only shake her head inwardly. It was obvious that Yueyao asking her husband for a red envelope was a jest, not a true need for money. However, Loo Ying failed to see that and posed such a question in front of everyone—how foolish.

Yueyao, as if not grasping the implication of Loo Ying’s words, cheerfully said, "Cousin-in-law, our cousin is grown up now, he should prepare red envelopes for us. This has nothing to do with needing money, right?"

Loo Ying opened her mouth to speak but was tugged at the sleeve by her maid. Loo Ying saw that no one in the room, not even her cousin-in-law, showed any abnormal reaction. Although Loo Ying did not understand what she had said wrong, she was not so foolish as to not sense the mood, thus she forced a laugh and said, "You’re right, cousin."

Actually, Loo Ying thought Yueyao’s direct request for a red envelope from Ma Peng was in poor taste. If Cousin Ma Peng wanted to give it, she should accept gracefully; if not, she shouldn’t brazenly ask for it as if she were a beggar.

Yueyao did not continue to engage with Loo Ying and instead turned to Zhuang Ruolan, saying, "Cousin-in-law, I have something I’d like to discuss with cousin."

Zhuang Ruolan did not think much of it and nodded with a smile. Zhuang Ruolan had nothing to speculate on.

Ma Peng led Yueyao to his study.

Watching Ma Peng and Yueyao leave one after the other, Loo Ying felt like a stranger standing to the side. She was upset; why was it that, although they were all cousins, Cousin treated them so differently? Loo Ying felt deeply wronged. She had accepted it from her uncle, but she did not expect her cousin to be the same. When Ma Linlin was around, Loo Ying did not have it easy, but once Ma Linlin left, her days were better. Yet, Yueyao’s arrival instantly revealed the disparity to her.

Zhuang Ruolan noticed the jealousy and discontent in Loo Ying’s eyes and furrowed her brow. Zhuang Ruolan thought that Ma Peng was somewhat unfair but on deeper reflection felt it was perfectly normal. Loo Ying could not compare to Yueyao; Loo Ying relied on everything the Ma Family provided without a grateful heart, whereas Yueyao had done so much for the Ma Family, earning the father-in-law’s and husband’s favor, which seemed natural.