The reason it’s so late is that he was thinking about sothing, and also sent soone to find out about the Lin Family’s situation.
After having that strange dream, he couldn’t help but take it seriously.
Once it entered his mind, this thought couldn’t be ignored. He wasn’t soone who was clueless.
After finding out all the details, he led the dog over, planning to make contact. If it was a good fit, he would engage further, but if not, he wouldn’t dwell on it. After all, this was ancient society with too many considerations.
In modern society, people think more alike, without so many taboos, and can act more freely and boldly.
He never expected to change people who have grown up in such a society; that would be too difficult.
Upon arriving here, he saw Shi Wen in front of the shop, looking as though she had suffered a lot of bullying.
Before, he didn’t know what was going on with Shi Wen, but after inquiring from start to finish, he had so reservations about her. Coupled with the smile in Miss Lin’s eyes that day and the oddness of the bandit den, he also beca suspicious of Shi Wen.
But how it really was, he had no evidence, it was all his conjecture.
This is an ambitious woman.
Actually, he sensed it that day—it’s easy to tell if a person is scheming and ambitious. In his past life, he dealt with all kinds of people, and even though Shi Wen hid it, he still discovered her hidden thoughts.
Compared to those old foxes he dealt with before, Shi Wen was still a bit green.
But what did that have to do with him?
So at the ti, he just brushed off the thought, not wanting to ddle.
Not only him, but probably his father also had so suspicions about Shi Wen and Qin Cheng. He rembered that day while eating, his father ntioned Ying Bairong with a smile, but paused when ntioning Qin Cheng.
Those two best hope nothing goes wrong next. If they dare to stir up trouble again, his father is very sensitive about bandits and would never let it slide easily.
Ambition itself isn’t wrong, but harming those around you is.
Shen Xuan snapped back to reality, not looking much at Shi Wen, focusing instead on a few bones and casually said, "Miss, do you still want the bones? If not, have Miss Lin wrap them up for . My dog Fortune has a big appetite."
Sitting nearby, wagging its tail, Fortune seed to respond to Shen Xuan, confirming that yes, it had a big appetite.
"I originally ca to buy at, but Chenchen has sold out, please go ahead, Second Young Master Shen." Shi Wen stepped aside a little, blushing, gazing at Shen Xuan, only to find he wasn’t looking at her, focusing instead on the bones. He picked one up and tossed it to Fortune.
Shi Wen was well aware that with her status, she could never reach soone like Shen Xuan. Even if she had feelings, she didn’t dare to sche anything—it would be risking her life. From a long-term perspective, she still thought Ying Bairong was the best choice.
Shen Xuan was just an idle youth, relying on having a father who was the County Magistrate to live this way.
County Magistrate Shen had been in Lanru County for many years, without any promotion or transfer elsewhere. She heard from her cousin’s sources that the current Emperor disliked County Magistrate Shen, sending him to Lanru County as punishnt.
Even though he had ritorious deeds in suppressing bandits, he still didn’t get a promotion. Rumor had it that he made a serious mistake, and the Emperor sparing him was an act of rcy.
It seed like the Emperor intended for him to fend for himself here.
Ying Bairong, however, was innately talented with limitless potential, possibly achieving great success in the future. Upon such success, he would start higher than County Magistrate Shen.
Just the thought of it made her heart burn with passion. As she sized up Shen Xuan beside her, she felt as calm as still water. He might be more handso than Ying Bairong, but that was all he’d ever be.
Yet Shi Wen thought about her situation; Qu Shao hadn’t shown up, making her afraid to act recklessly. Recently, her mother was often nagging her, dissatisfied, which frustrated her to death.
Today, her mother sent her to Lin Daming’s shop to see if there was any benefit to be had.
Before coming, she thought it unlikely to succeed, and sure enough, Lin Chen wasn’t playing along with the old ways.
Last ti, her mother’s reckless words had offended Lin Daming, likely infuriating him with her as well. There was no way to gain the slightest advantage here.
So frustrating—how could she possibly marry Ying Bairong?
Her cousin was also pressing her, asking if Qu Shao had contacted her, telling her to sort things out.
Qu Shao, too, hadn’t shown up in days. Didn’t he know ti wasn’t on her side? The last attempt failed—she blad Qu Shao for not securing Ying Bairong. Otherwise, she could’ve claid credit for saving him even if the soldiers arrived then.
Shi Wen didn’t linger here any longer, saying to Ah Chen: "I’ll check out other butcher shops."
Ah Chen simply acknowledged and didn’t try to stop her.
"Is the Shen family busy today, Second Young Master Shen?" Ah Chen asked with a smile.
Shen Xuan mumbled, "My father’s busy, I don’t live with them, so I’m not busy."
His father was always busy to death, so it wasn’t really a lie.
Strangely enough, though usually thick-skinned, dealing with different clients in various ways seed trickier today. Once, he followed a client for three months to secure a big deal—helping with their child’s howork, cooking, and running errands.
Maybe he had beco rusty after being here for over ten years.
"The bones are tied up." Ah Chen handed the bones to Shen Xuan. Shen Xuan took them, noticing she was about to close up, feeling a bit regretful.
Because of the societal environnt, Shen Xuan didn’t dare to say much, afraid he’d be seen as a scoundrel and ruin things.
It was truly difficult for him.
He always knew dating was hard, but in ancient tis, it was ten tis harder.
[Host, aren’t you trying to beco a disciplined king?] the system interjected inappropriately.
Shen Xuan: [Haven’t you heard that hearts can change?]
He watched Ah Chen packing up, only able to glance now and then, mostly focusing on Fortune happily eating on the ground.
If this were in his past life, he could’ve just directly offered to help.
He could still go up, but it’d be easy to spark gossip. He didn’t mind, but what if the girl couldn’t handle it?
Even after understanding the incident between Shi Wen and Lin Chen falling into the water, knowing she wasn’t ordinary, he still had many concerns.
Thinking about this, a sour feeling arose—did she really like Ying Bairong?
Luckily, Ying Bairong had no such thoughts, and she had given up. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had even the slightest chance.
"Fortune, take your ti eating, I’m leaving now." Ah Chen patted Fortune’s head, then greeted Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan responded, "Alright."
He suddenly noticed the book Ah Chen was holding and asked, "Miss Lin, what’s that book in your hand?"
He finally found a topic.
[Host, you’re a privileged youth, discussing books might make others think you’re pretending to be cultured. Stick to things like cricket fighting and cockfighting, more in line with your character.] the system added.
Shen Xuan: [If you can’t speak properly, then shut up.]
He was never into those things, just soone preferring an easy life, not very close to other privileged youths.
Ah Chen looked down with a smile and said, "It’s a script book."
She handed the script book over for a bit, and Shen Xuan finally saw the characters on the cover—it was indeed a script book. He had read such things, but found the language less engaging than modern texts, not quite his taste. He didn’t read much after that but occasionally enjoyed listening to stories, which interested him.
"I’ve read it too," said Shen Xuan.
Ah Chen went along, "Is that so? Which character in it do you like, Second Young Master Shen?"
"Read it a long ti ago, forgot already," Shen Xuan replied awkwardly, only rembering having read it, "I can recognize the characters, but it’s too cumberso to read, hurts my eyes. I don’t like reading much, usually just listen to stories."
[Host, as expected, you’re a disciplined king, can’t even make up a story. Didn’t you say business is about persuasion?]
Shen Xuan: [One lie requires countless lies to cover, it’s not sincere. I want her to know the real . Even if business is persuasion, the products are real, they’re just susceptible to it, I’m rely providing what they need.]
"Is Miss Lin interested in storytelling?" Shen Xuan observed the curiosity on Ah Chen’s face, noticing she was receptive to such topics, and took a step forward. "The storyteller at ’There’s a Tea House’ is the best. If you’re interested, you could give it a listen."
"I’ll head there imdiately then, is there one now?" Ah Chen asked.
Shen Xuan’s mouth was quicker than his mind, "Yes, how about we go together?"
After saying it, he was a bit worried—would it be inappropriate?
All he heard was her saying, "Alright."
[Perhaps I’ll leave bachelorhood; she agreed.] Shen Xuan felt quite good.
System: [Host, take it easy, or others might think she’s shaless, gossiping about her.]
[Who?] Shen Xuan was displeased, [If anyone dares to say that, I’ll set the dog on them.]
But he was also a bit worried—this society was indeed unfriendly. You could get gossiped about for rely dating, and again, his mood dampened.
Ah Chen found so amusent in these thoughts.
But as they weren’t close yet, she better not say these are fine, so she let him worry for now.
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