“You’re a smart man, Yi- I’m sure you know my intentions?” Pengzhan looked at Lin Yi.

“Uncle Chu, why are you so nice to me?” Lin Yi couldn’t take it anymore.

“This… Well, this does have some certain secrets attached, and I can’t really reveal them yet…” Pengzhan could only smile bitterly- even his own father didn’t give him the details.

He only remembered his father telling him sternly- that if he wanted to see his wife again, if he wanted House Chu to prosper, then Yao Yao had to have Lin Yi’s heart…

Pengzhan didn’t know what fueled his father’s conviction, and he received no answers when asking about it… It just wasn’t time yet, he supposed.

“Haha…” Lin Yi sighed slightly, with a smile, “I’m grateful for your love and trust, Uncle Chu, but even if I agree… Would Yao Yao? This time, I’m heading back to my old home to see if I can recover my strength, and Tang Yun would be coming back with me… Yao Yao’s a Miss of a wealthy house- she wouldn’t be able to tolerate living conditions like that. A straw house, a public washroom, the hot and cold… It’s not an easy thing to live like that, and I don’t want to hurt Tang Yun either…”

“I…” Pengzhan didn’t think that Lin Yi would still be insisting on leaving. He wanted to keep him in Songshan, but the thought of letting his daughter go suffer with Lin Yi… It was a difficult situation. Would his daughter agree?

Mengyao wanted to rush inside, to tell him that yes, she could take it! Of course she could, why couldn’t she, when Tang Yun could? Yet those final words from Lin Yi held her in place- stopping that rush of adrenaline.

Lin Yi- didn’t want to hurt Tang Yun!

Yes, even if she could accept Tang Yun, putting herself down and only accepting the mistress position… Would Tang Yun want that? Could she accept that?

“Shu, let’s go!” Mengyao’s first confession reached Lin Yi via her father, and still, it was a rejection, completely unredeeming… The Miss’ fragile heart was very much hurt.

“Yao Yao, I think Shield Bro probably does like you! You sure you don’t want to try a little more..?” Shu could see that Mengyao was sad.

“Hmph?! Who does he think he is? Three wives?? In his dreams!” Mengyao stomped her foot, “Let him go, let him go! Who cares about that dumb bodyguard? I’ll make my dad get a better one, ten times better, also ten times better-looking! I… I-! I never liked him at all, in the first place! Arrogant man!”

“Oh, Yao Yao, it’s true that lying to yourself and others is relieving, but if you wanna cry, then cry! I’ll be the shield on your back, always by your side!” Yushu said.

“Cry? Ha? Why would I cry? Lin Yi’s the one who doesn’t know what he’s missing, why would I cry?” Mengyao stumbled her way upstairs before plopping her head into her pillow- the tears unable to be held back anymore as they flowed out…

Yushu, on the other hand, was deep in thought in front of her room. The problem now wasn’t much of a problem to her… Wouldn’t things be fine if Mengyao just sought after being a mistress, like her?

“Yao Yao, maybe I should talk to Tang Yun about this..?” Yushu asked carefully.

“Talk about what? I don’t need her charity!” Mengyao couldn’t hold in her sorrow in front of Yushu anymore- she hugged her, and started crying.

“Don’t cry, Yao Yao! I’m here for you!” Yushu said quickly.

“Yushu… Did I mess up from the start? Was I wrong?” Mengyao asked after crying for a while.

“I don’t know, but I think you shouldn’t give up, Yao Yao!” Yushu said.

“What else can I do?” Mengyao shook her head, “Alright Shu, I’m fine now, I’m happy now… Let’s not talk about him.”

“That’s a lie, Yao Yao!” Yushu said.

“I don’t like him at all, okay? I never liked him from the start, not now, not before, not ever!” Mengyao shook her head, determined.

“Oh… Fine then, I was still thinking of helping you too,” Yushu shook her head, disappointed.

“You have a plan?” Mengyao paused, looking at Yushu.

“What’s the point? You said you don’t like him,” Yushu shook her head.

“Then why don’t you just say it like we’re chatting? We don’t have anything to do now anyway,” Mengyao said, “What if you fall for him in the future, who knows? Just treat it as a rehearsal?”

“Oh. Well, I think that actually the first thing we need to do is make Shield Bro stay!” Yushu said, “Otherwise, we all know what would happen when the two live alone in some mountain somewhere… We’ll have no chance then!”

“Ugh… But, I thought he has to go back?” Mengyao asked.

“Well, he could come back as long as he regains his strength!” Yushu said, “So, we’ll just tell him and make him promise that he’ll come back to the villa once he’s strong again. Then you’ll have a chance again!”

“You mean you’ll have a chance,” Mengyao’s lips wouldn’t budge, “But how do you know he’ll recover for sure?”

“I’m prophet Shu. Sometimes I’m Red Flag Shu, but anyway my prophecies are always spot-on!” Yushu said confidently.

“Ok, then do what you want. I don’t mind either way,” Mengyao didn’t understand why, but her heart secretly held a celebration completely contrasting her impassive face.

“Worry not, Yao Yao! Leave it to me!” Yushu claimed as she took on the task.

Downstairs, in the study, Lin Yi had no idea that his talk with Pengzhan had been overheard. Though, even if he did know, he had to say it- it hurt, but he had no choice!

He’d taken a liking to Mengyao and Yushu- it was a fact, but he couldn’t hurt everybody just because of that fact!

Staying in the villa would only cause Mengyao trouble! All those enemies he had would come to the doorstep for blood, and the two would only be collateral damage. This wasn’t something Lin Yi wanted, and he had to leave in order to prevent that.

“Yi, is there really no more room for consideration?” Pengzhan looked at Lin Yi with a bitter smile, having used up all his cards, to no avail.

“Uncle Chu, honestly… Of course I’d want to stay here,” Lin Yi shrugged, “But there are a lot of people who want revenge, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come knocking soon. I can barely defend myself, let alone Yao Yao and Shu- I’d only drag everyone down.”

“Yes… That makes sense. But what if I were to hire a bodyguard for all three of you?” Pengzhan asked.