Just a Child, Poison, Court Examination (1)
Going to the Chen family residence this time, Jing Wan just brought along Gong mama. Of course, that long time undercover horse-keeper in the Luo Manor was a separate matter. In times when Jing Wan doesn"t require it, and all the way until Jing Wan marries, he will forever just be a horse-keeper.
When she arrived at the Chen family residence, the crowd around the gates have already more or less scattered. However, there were still people that would visit for the good fortune from time to time. Jing Wan thus just entered from the side door. Seeing Jing Wan, the members of the Chen family can be said to be endlessly grateful. Jing Wan still very mannerly performed her etiquette smiling, “It"s impossible to not come.” There was already one on the other side using death as a threat. She truly worried that if she doesn"t come, will it cause the entire Chen family to collectively run before the Luo family gates to threaten to commit suicide? Alright, such a thing as an odd-ball, each family having one should be enough, unlikely for the whole family to all be the same.
They heard the strangeness in Jing Wan"s words, yet it wasn"t good to ask more. Most likely it had something to do with that one from their family.
The Chen family"s current residence, Jing Wan had also visited twice before, and knew where Chen Zheng Min"s study was.
Chen Zheng Min"s book boy, upon seeing Jing Wan, looked as if he finally got to meet a merciful living bodhisattva.
Jing Wan waved her hand, having everyone all sent out, only leaving Gong mama alone at the study entrance.
Chen Zheng Min"s anger, at the moment, had already dispersed. Just, the room was messy to the point where there wasn"t even a place to set foot.
Chen Zheng min just sat there, with his head buried, and his hair scratched into a mess, entirely like a trapped beast unable to walk out of its cage. Perhaps because he"d heard the sound of light movement, “Get lost, didn"t I say to let you all get lost? Who let you come in?”
“Where does older cousin Min want me to get lost to?”
Chen Zheng Min abruptly lifted his head, and probably because he didn"t expect for it to be Jing Wan, he widened his eyes in disbelief, “Younger cousin?”
“It hasn"t been too long since we last met, so shouldn"t be likely for you to have grown into another appearance.”
Chen Zheng Min got up and leapt over in a few steps, carrying a pleasant surprise, “Younger cousin, is it really you?!” He subconsciously reached out, wanting to grab her arm.
Jing Wan slightly dodged, “Older cousin Min, please conduct yourself with dignity.”
Chen Zheng Min also noticed his improperness and awkwardly retracted his hand, “Younger cousin, how come, how come you"re here?”
“I"ve come to see older cousin Min"s sorry state.”
Chen Zheng Min"s body stiffened, finally realizing how improper his current appearance was. Yet it just so happens that he was even seen by the girl he admired. He really wanted to find a crack to squeeze into, having himself buried, and waiting until he tidied himself up again before coming out. This while, he also realized that it must have been his family that had Jing Wan invited over. He inwardly cursed, why didn"t they tell him? Yet, he didn"t realize, regardless who came in to talk to him, he would all have the other person kicked out, not listening to a single word, so how could they mention Jing Wan"s matter.
“Younger cousin, how about, you move to another place and sit for a bit, while I go wash up, then let someone have the study cleaned.”
Jing Wan saw the slight red in his eyes, presumably from having not rested well, “No need, I"ll just leave after saying a few things to older cousin Min. Besides, since I"ve already seen, I don"t really mind looking a little longer. Is older cousin clear-headed right now?”
“What? Naturally I"m clear-headed. Why is younger cousin saying this?”
“Are you sure you"re clear-headed? Would the clear-headed older cousin Min do something like this?” Jing Wan somewhat meaningfully swept a glance at the surrounding.
Chen Zheng Min felt exceedingly awkward. If previously he still wasn"t clear-headed, then right now, after seeing Jing Wan, he was definitely clear-headed.
“Looks like you really are awake, then let"s get down to business. Older cousin Min, do you know, seeing you like this, I"m very disappointed. However, you"re still just a child that hasn"t grown up yet after all, and still have s.p.a.ce for growth, so occasionally doing something foolish rather can be forgiven.”
“In younger cousin"s eyes, I"m just a child that hasn"t grown up yet?” For Chen Zheng Min, this was practically thunder from a clear sky.
“Is that not the case?”
“I"m even older than you by two years!” Chen Zheng Min couldn"t help raising his voice a little.
“So what? In my eyes, determining whether or not a person has grown up or not, one"s age merely occupies a very small portion. A true man of character ought to have integrity, able to bear responsibility, when encountering matters, be calm and collected, and when encountering problems, think of ways to resolve it, and not hole up in one"s room, having oneself completely isolated from the outside world. Immersing yourself in your own inner heart like this, hesitant and fretful, taking your anger out on others, and disregarding those that worry for you, which part of you, do you think, has grown up?”
Chen Zheng Min entire body stiffened at Jing Wan"s words, yet was unable to retort a single word. A good while later, he finally opened his mouth with great difficulty, “In younger cousin"s eyes, I"m actually such a person? Then, when we got engaged, why didn"t you object?”
“The you at that time wasn"t like this now, so was still considered pa.s.sing to the eyes. Moreover, I was thinking, since there was still two years worth of time, once you come in contact with more people and matters, you should be able to grow a little. Even if you still can"t grow into a man that can support the heaven and earth, becoming someone the family can rely on, after marrying over, I actually don"t mind holding up the sky for a few years myself. And if I have my own child, at worst, it would just be raising a big and small child together. You will eventually grow up someday.”
“Younger cousin, you have thought about our future before? From time to time………” Chen Zheng Min became cautious again.
“This kind of thing, isn"t it given? Does one even need to think about it? Moreover, isn"t older cousin Min focusing on the wrong thing? You really want to rely on your wife, and not let your wife rely on you?”
Chen Zheng Min stiffened into a block of wood.
“However, the will of heaven is fickle, and between us, aside from that bit of blood relation as cousins, there is nothing else.”
“We haven"t cancelled the engagement yet, haven"t cancelled yet!”
“Why the need to deceive yourself like this. In your heart, you should"ve long realized, this marriage, even if wasn"t annulled at the time, there"s still absolutely no possibility to save it. Besides, I was the one that personally handed the marriage contract to your mother.”
“It"s not like that, it"s not like that……….”
“Chen Zheng Min, stop acting like a child again.”
This was the first time Jing Wan called him by his full name, and also the first time carrying a trace of unyielding coldness. And it was also the first time Chen Zheng Min clearly sensed the disparity between himself and his younger cousin. Facing her really was like facing an elder that was reprimanding oneself. Chen Zheng Min tightly clenched his fist, and gritted his teeth.
Seeing him like this, Jing Wan lightly sighed, “In your heart, I"m actually not as important as you"ve imagined myself to be. As time pa.s.ses, you will slowly forget. You should be clear, what the most important thing is for you right now. You need to learn to face things, learn to grow up, this entire family is all counting on you. Do you have the heart to disappoint them? Older cousin, I hope you can become a man that your family can depend on soon. Things such as romance and love are only a portion of your life, you can"t have it treated as your entire life. I have no fate in sharing the future with you, so I naturally will just become that insignificant part of your life. As for whether you will forget, or cherish, will have nothing to do with others.”
“Younger cousin, between us, is there really not even the slightest possibility anymore?”
“Don"t tell me you"re the same as your grandfather and want to let me become your concubine?”
“Naturally no. Wait for me for two years, at most two years, I can let her disappear, let that s.l.u.t………”
“Older cousin, don"t think of those childish and foolish things again. If we really have no fate, then even without Li Ru Yu"s matter, we would still, because of some other reason, part ways. Moreover, I"m not interested in becoming someone"s second wife either.”
“Younger cousin, you will regret it, you will regret it……..”
T/N: Off topic but I have a very good kdrama I want to recommend!! It"s called A Day Found by Chance (어쩌다 발견한 하루) or Extrordinary You is the official english name, btw I watched this drama in chinese subs because it"s further along than the english subs so I don"t remember any of their actual names. My friend recommended it to me and I love the premise, and also I really love the salty MC. Basically MC is a bg character in a manga world, but she became sentient, or really grew awareness to all the strange things in their world. She realized her existence is really only for the sake of the real FL and ML to progress their relations.h.i.+p. She wants to change her fate and gain independence because she"s worried that the author might kill her off lol. Within the scenes dictated by the author the characters have no control over their actions, but there are ‘blank s.p.a.ces" which are like between the scenes, where the characters do have freedom, but they will have no memory of what happens during this period, unless they become aware. It"s kinda a story where the ‘antagonist" is fate, or in this case the G.o.d like ent.i.ty faceless author.
You can watch it on Viki with english subs!