Miss Truth
Chapter 221 - 140: Are You Confessing or Flirting?_2

Chapter 221: Chapter 140: Are You Confessing or Flirting?_2

What’s it called when you’re shot even while lying down? Ran Yunsheng is now a living example of that. He understood his little sister all too well—the girl had a stinginess built into her bones, a veritable iron rooster through and through. She must have calculated the potential expenses of Lady Eighteen and felt the pinch in her heart, which is why she found reasons to pick fights whenever she could.

Liu Qingsong looked at Ran Yun with shining eyes, exclaiming, "Ah, the young lady is truly a delightful person!" This young girl was exactly to Liu Qingsong’s liking. In his two lifetimes combined, he had yet to meet someone so agreeable to his heart.

Ran Yan really wanted to burst into laughter, but since everyone else was keeping a straight face, she couldn’t be too unrestrained.

Leaning close to her ear, Xiao Song said teasingly, "If you want to laugh, just laugh. Aren’t you afraid of hurting yourself by holding it in?"

Ran Yan gave him a heavy look, but without any obvious emotion, she quickly turned her head away, presenting the back of her head to him. Xiao Song, however, laughed even more joyfully.

While there was much private joy in this corner, the atmosphere on the surface was far from good.

Seeing that Ran Wen was on the verge of exploding, Xiao Song acted as if he hadn’t noticed and said with a smile, "She’s truly an innocent young lady. Uncle, we shouldn’t take seriously these little squabbles among the girls. I’m going to see Inspector Liu first. Last time, you luckily won the drinking game, but this time I must win a round back!"

It’s common for sisters to play and squabble. With Xiao Song putting it like this, Ran Wen felt he could save face and chuckled while stroking his beard, "That was no fluke. Feel free to come over at dinner. Now off you go; serious matters are pressing, and we mustn’t let these girls hold you up."

Staying any longer would probably lead to real trouble. Seizing the chance before any serious faces were lost, Ran Wen quickly changed his mind.

Ran Yan quickly bowed and excused herself, "Pardon my leave," then hurriedly left with Ge Lan. Before exiting, she discreetly asked Ran Yunsheng to look after Linshui Residence to prevent the ladies from bullying Madam Xing and the others.

In truth, within the Ran family, there were only five women of any real status. The Ran family had another large collateral branch, whose power was no less than the main family. Two daughters from that branch were already married off, leaving only Ran Qian as Ran Fourteen, Ran Meiyu as Lady Eighteen, and of course, Ran Yun from the main family.

Ran Pingyu was born of a concubine, but being the main purse holder of the entire Ran family, naturally, his position was extraordinary. Unless someone wanted to go against money itself, they wouldn’t look down on his daughter as a concubine’s child.

Ran Qian had once received favors from Ran Yan and had also developed some rift with Ran Meiyu, so she wasn’t going to rush to Linshui Residence to find fault. Thus, the only person they needed to guard against was Ran Meiyu alone.

Once they were in the carriage, Xiao Song saw Ran Yan visibly relax and asked with a smile, "Do you find it bothersome?"

Ran Yan nodded vigorously, thinking about a group of idle women who spent their days gathered together discussing trivial matters—you snipe at me, I prick you, all smiles and warmth on the surface, but who knows when they’d stab you in the back as soon as you turned around.

She could understand the duplicity in the bureaucratic battle for power and wealth, but to her, those inconsequential squabbles in the back courtyard leading to actual loss of life were beyond comprehension, having never experienced it herself.

"My home doesn’t even have a single woman," Xiao Song suddenly blurted this seemingly nonsensical statement.

Ran Yan returned from her thoughts, looking at him with a question in her eyes.

Xiao Song turned his face somewhat uncomfortably and cleared his throat, "In our clan, anyone who holds a Fourth Rank official position or higher can establish their own household. I now live alone in a residence. Only Shu Niang is with me; she comes from humble beginnings and is straightforward. You might as well not consider her a woman."

"Hm?" Ran Yan couldn’t figure out how the conversation had suddenly jumped to this topic, and as she saw the suspicious blush on Xiao Song’s handsome face, she became even more puzzled.

Ge Lan pursed her lips, holding back a smile, and lowered her head to stare at the hem of her skirt.

Xiao Song, watching Ran Yan’s bewildered expression, wished he could turn his head around.

A mature man, usually dignified and resolute, now displaying a ’green’ expression, took Ran Yan by surprise.

His shyness lasted only a moment; Xiao Song had an extremely strong mental fortitude, and within a few breaths, he had returned to his usual self. He reached for two cups of water, pushed one to Ran Yan, and then picked up his own and drank calmly.

"Are you confessing to me? Or are you teasing me?" After comprehensive analysis, Ran Yan finally narrowed it down to these two possibilities.

The cup in Xiao Song’s hand was not held steady, a few drops splashed out, blood rushed to his whole body, and his entire face turned red-hot. He felt anxious and greatly regretted speaking so early, knowing well that she wasn’t the shy and coy type, and moreover, she wasn’t showing any signs of affection for him...

Hearing such a private topic, Ge Lan really wanted to find a place to hide, but the carriage was only so big. At such a critical moment, it wasn’t appropriate for her to ask for a stop, so she had to pretend to be air, even slowing her breathing.

Under Ran Yan’s direct gaze, Xiao Song, after much deliberation, finally bit the bullet and said, "It’s... a confession."

With such an answer, the worst he could get was a rejection. Since he had the courage to say such tempting words, he had to have the courage to take responsibility. If he claimed it was a joke, Xiao Song was almost certain that his image in Ran Yan’s eyes would be ruined beyond repair.

"Hmm... your wording was a bit too subtle," Ran Yan mused for a moment, seriously pondering, then reached out and touched Xiao Song’s hand holding the cup.

Clang!

The cup fell onto the table without shattering, merely spilling water all over it, which flowed to both ends with the motion of the carriage.

For the first time in his life, Xiao Song felt unable to think, unaware of anything else in his body, only sensing the cool temperature from her hand.

Startled by the noise, Ge Lan looked up to see her mistress ’taking liberties’ with Assistant Minister Xiao, and she widened her eyes in shock.

The carriage was silent, except for the sound of the wheels grinding on cobblestones...

"Lady Seventeen..." Xiao Song struggled to regain his senses, and amidst the roaring heartbeat in his head, he asked with difficulty, "What does this mean?"

Ran Yan didn’t respond, as if she was intently feeling something.

Xiao Song felt the soft and smooth small hand slide into his palm, the delicate fingertips gently pinching the center of his hand, sending a tingly sensation up into his heart, making his bones feel slightly numb. He cautiously closed his hand, gripping back. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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