Miss Truth
Chapter 157 - 100: Two Tufts of Hair_2

Chapter 157: Chapter 100: Two Tufts of Hair_2

Ge Lan’s words on that piece of paper were so forceful they seemed to pierce through it, as if they carried endless resentment and anger, yet nowhere to vent.

This one sentence left Mrs. Xing stunned. Without Ge Lan, perhaps the Wife would have been driven to death by the Gao family long ago. Yet, as clever as Ge Lan was, she was always a slave, always reaching for things beyond her grasp. Just like two years ago, once Ge Lan ran into trouble, the Wife didn’t even have the ability to protect herself. Despite her and Wan Lu’s best efforts to guard her, she was still thrown into the estate.

Ge Lan pitied the former Wife but also resented her. She had risked her life to save hers, but what was the result?

No one told Ge Lan that, after her death, the former Wife had completely forgotten her. If Ge Lan knew this cruel truth, who knows what she would think.

"Mrs. Xing!" Wan Lu suddenly burst through the door, anxiously saying, "Just now, the Wife was standing outside the door. I don’t know how sad you must have made her with those words!"

Mrs. Xing blinked, her unease causing her to rise, "I... I was just worried about the Wife..."

"You should quickly go and talk to the Wife, just talk and it will be alright," Wan Lu said, pulling Mrs. Xing outside. She had been standing at the door, prevented by Ran Yan from speaking out and interrupting, already burning with urgency. After suffering and enjoying life’s fortunes together for so many years, how could there be any resentment?!

Ge Lan followed them as well.

The three of them entered the room together and saw that the windows were wide open. Ran Yan, wearing a deep purple satin dress with her hair loosely draped, was pouring steaming hot tea, the misty vapors swirling upwards. Outside the window, the jade orchids with their white blossoms and green leaves reflected against her serene and exquisite face, their fragrance lingering. The sight left them momentarily stunned by her calm and peaceful demeanor, which held a hint of coolness.

Ran Yan lifted her cup, about to take a sip of tea, when she looked up and saw three people standing near the curtain. She paused her hand and asked, "Is something the matter?"

"Wife... It was only out of concern for the Wife that I spoke the words I did earlier... Please do not take them to heart," Mrs. Xing said sincerely.

Ran Yan set her cup down. In her eyes, the matter was trivial. Once, when people were gossiping about her, she hadn’t thought much of it and had casually walked past them, resulting in embarrassment for the group, to the point where they avoided her for half a year. She had not entered just now because she didn’t wish to disturb other people’s conversations, and besides, Mrs. Xing meant well.

"We’ve shared weal and woe for so many years. I regard you as my kin, my elder. Elders admonishing the younger is natural, and there is nothing wrong with it. You don’t need to make much of it. It’s a small matter," Ran Yan said with a light smile, "Please, everyone take a seat."

Her smile was faint but gave the impression of genuine sincerity rather than perfunctory indifference.

Mrs. Xing’s tears suddenly burst forth, and she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe them away, kneeling across from Ran Yan, "The Wife has really grown up, to understand things so clear-sightedly. I was just too worried. With the Wife’s talents and beauty, surely there will be a good man waiting for you in the future."

Ge Lan and Wan Lu knelt down too, Ge Lan’s expression calm, but Wan Lu’s face was unable to hide her surprise. Having grown up with the Wife, she knew exactly what kind of person she was—sensitive and pessimistic. If this had happened in the past, Mrs. Xing’s words would have made the Wife cry for half a month, which is why Wan Lu had been so anxious. Yet, now it seemed completely out of her mind.

Wan Lu, however, liked this change of character and did not ponder it too deeply, baring her teeth in a goofy smile which Ge Lan met with an unimpressed look.

Wan Lu pouted. She didn’t need Ge Lan to write anything down to know exactly what that look meant: What a big silly sister!

"Wife," from outside, Xiaoman’s voice came, "a gentleman named Sang Chen is here to see you, waiting in the bamboo grove by the nunnery entrance."

Ran Yan’s smile on her face faded, she paused for a moment, then stood up and put on her satin dress, saying to the others, "I’ll be back soon."

Wan Lu sprang up instantly, "Let this slave accompany you."

Ran Yan did not respond, nor did she object, allowing Wan Lu to follow. As she stepped out, she saw Xiaoman standing at the entrance, drenched, with a basket at her feet holding six or seven bamboo shoots, and said, "It’s not safe on the mountain, don’t go out alone these next few days."

Xiaoman’s eyes flickered slightly and she replied, "Yes."

The autumn rain was hazy; outside the nunnery, the bamboo forest washed by the rain seemed lush and dripping with verdure. Among the dense woods and bamboo, misted by light rain, Sang Chen stood in a pristine moon-white robe with wide sleeves, holding an oiled paper umbrella painted with landscapes and poetry, his tall and slightly lean figure resembling the bamboo.

Upon seeing Ran Yan actually come out, a natural smile of joy surfaced on Sang Chen’s face, handsome and clear, like morning dew reflecting sunlight, fresh and translucent.

"Wife," Sang Chen called timidly, a red flush spreading over his fair cheeks, looking somewhat awkwardly at Ran Yan.

A vein on Ran Yan’s forehead throbbed, thinking to herself that this man had seemed fine when he was silent, but every time he uttered a word he revealed his timidity, carrying an infuriating air of idiocy.

"I’ve come to repay you the money," Sang Chen pulled out a small blue cloth pouch from his chest and extended his hand to pass it over.

Ran Yan had once told him not to keep calling himself "this one" "this one," but Sang Chen seemed to be accustomed to it and kept on as before.

Seeing Ran Yan’s calm expression, which seemed to presage anger, and not saying she would accept Sang Chen’s money, Wan Lu just stood obediently beside her, holding the umbrella, looking sympathetically at Sang Chen.

"You’re a Tutor, instead of teaching diligently, what business do you have running around everywhere!" Ran Yan said flatly.

Sang Chen shivered, sheepishly drew back his hand, and replied in a low voice, "I’ve resigned from the Tutor position a few days ago. I’m now helping out with transcribing scriptures at Yuncong Temple’s Scripture Pavilion, which happens to be close to Wife. Hehe, what a coincidence."

If it weren’t for Ran Yan keeping a stern face, Wan Lu would have laughed out loud, thinking to herself that Mr. Sang’s intentions were as clear as day for all to see!

"Yesterday, a man died here, raped and tortured before being dumped halfway up the mountain. I went to help the Government examine the corpse early this morning. That lad wasn’t as handsome as you, and I hope I won’t be seeing you as the next one."

Ran Yan deliberately frightened him, and out of nowhere, a surge of anger arose within her.

Watching Sang Chen’s face turn three shades paler, she felt a bit pleased inside, but then she heard Sang Chen, with a voice steeped in fear, delight, timidity, and a mix of complex emotions, ask, "Does Wife... think I’m handsome?"

Ran Yan felt a rush of blood to her head, causing a severe headache. The anger that had just subsided flared up several times over. How could she have forgotten that this utterly foolish rabbit couldn’t be measured by the thinking of normal people. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)