After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 28

After instructing Wan’er, Lin Shengshen sat with her on the embroidery stool for a while longer until Zhu Yu slowly descended the stairs holding a glass lamp.

Wan’er ran forward to support Zhu Yu. “Mother, be careful with your leg. Don’t fall again.”

Lin Shengshen raised an eyebrow.

[It probably wasn’t a fall. Zhu Yu has always been nimble, running up and down Baoxiang Tower all day without any bumps or bruises. It must have been her gambler husband who hit her.]

[Ugh! Just wait till I catch him—I’ll definitely break his legs.]

Unconsciously, Xie Zhizhou had been standing behind the screen for two quarters of an hour. He hadn’t noticed before, but Lin Shengshen’s thoughts never showed on her face; she was remarkably composed.

For instance, right now, though she had cursed Zhu Yu’s husband a thousand times in her heart, seething with hatred, her expression remained calm and gentle.

Lin Shengshen took two steps forward to approach Zhu Yu, and the two began discussing shop matters again.

Xie Zhizhou’s gaze followed her, and he shifted his feet slightly.

People often say that those who harbor turbulent waves in their chests yet maintain a placid expression can become great generals.

Lin Shengshen was undoubtedly one who could become a great general.

If she were sent to the battlefield, she would likely be inwardly crying out in fear, yet outwardly coolly brandishing her blade with decisive efficiency.

At this thought, Xie Zhizhou could almost picture the scene and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Zhu Yu looked up and exclaimed, “Oh my, Young Master Xie, what brings you here?”

Then, her eyes flickered suggestively between Lin Shengshen and Xie Zhizhou, who stood hidden in the shadows not far away.

[Who? Xie Zhizhou?]

Lin Shengshen turned around to see Xie Zhizhou dressed in a sky-and-water blue robe. Though standing in the shadows, his tall figure and handsome face shimmered under the dim lamplight.

Lin Shengshen took a quick glance before swiftly turning her head away.

The Xie Zhizhou from moments ago felt too unfamiliar—what lay beneath his long eyelashes didn’t resemble eyes but rather surging magma, scorching with just one glance.

Zhu Yu tactfully said, “Miss Lin, I have many matters to attend to at home, so I’ll take my leave now.”

Lin Shengshen nodded, then shook her head and said, “Ah, the day before yesterday, you mentioned that the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion wanted to raise prices again…”

Zhu Yu turned back with a smile, “We’ll discuss it tomorrow, tomorrow.”

Lin Shengshen instinctively took a step forward, then stopped and turned to look at Xie Zhizhou again.

This time, Xie Zhizhou was back to his usual self—his eyes deep and unfathomable, his lips set in a straight line, his expression cold and stern.

The slightly upturned corners of his mouth and the turbulent look in his eyes from earlier seemed like nothing more than an illusion.

“Why are you here?” Lin Shengshen asked, watching as Xie Zhizhou walked up to her, and she instinctively took a step back.

“Lin Shengshen, I’ve come to take you home.”

Lin Shengshen feigned sudden understanding and indifference, letting out a long, drawn-out “Oh.”

[Just as well. Putting on a convincing act will put my parents at ease.]

Not another word was exchanged between them until they boarded the carriage.

Having been busy all afternoon, Lin Shengshen’s eyes were sore and tired, so she pretended to doze off during the journey.

It was only when a faint, elusive fragrance seeped into her senses that Lin Shengshen slowly opened her eyes to see Xie Zhizhou placing a small, freshly lit incense burner on the side table.

She took a few deep breaths—yes, it was the scent of Pear Blossom Incense.

But the incense burner was jagged, resembling a steep cliff, with a branch of Winter Plum Blossom slanting outward—proud and sharp—a stark contrast to the gentle, sweet fragrance of the pear blossom.

[It doesn’t match.]

Lin Shengshen silently critiqued.

Unexpectedly, Xie Zhizhou suddenly remarked, “The Winter Plum Blossom stands proud in the snow, while the pear blossom is sweet and warm. Though worlds apart, they can complement each other, proving to be a perfect match.”

Lin Shengshen was baffled. Was he talking about the incense and the incense burner?

“What did you give to Wan’er?” Xie Zhizhou asked.

Lin Shengshen’s alarm bells rang. The Ministry of Justice handled officials’ cases—was Xie Zhizhou planning to meddle in her trivial affairs?

Her tone turned sharp, “Poison, Young Master Xie. Why do you ask?”

“Are you in some kind of trouble? I can help you.”

Lin Shengshen frowned slightly, “Help me?”

[Back when the Lin family was in trouble, he didn’t lift a finger. Why would he intervene in such a minor matter now? Ridiculous.]

Naturally, Lin Shengshen wasn’t naive enough to seek Xie Zhizhou’s help. She smiled politely and said, “Since we’ve always kept to our own affairs, there’s no need for Young Master Xie to involve himself in such trivial matters.”

[As long as he doesn’t cause me trouble, that’s enough!]

Xie Zhizhou thought for a long time but couldn’t recall the Lin family ever facing any trouble. He had certainly never stood by and done nothing…

So what exactly was Lin Shengshen referring to?

“Lin Shengshen, perhaps we could try to accept each other. In the past, I…”

Lin Shengshen interrupted, “Young Master Xie, have you been drinking today?”

“No.”

Lin Shengshen scrutinized him, “Then why are you talking nonsense?”

“There are some misunderstandings between us.”

“Misunderstandings? There are no misunderstandings.”

Suddenly, Lin Shengshen understood why Xie Zhizhou had been acting strangely lately.

All these anomalies began from the day he saw her meeting Wen Lingzhou at the Clear Sage Temple.

Xie Zhizhou was an arrogant man—how could he tolerate his wife having ambiguous relations with other men?

This marriage was bestowed by His Majesty, and Xie Zhizhou had no immediate opportunity for divorce. Since he couldn’t sever ties with her completely, he might as well keep her close to avoid gossip that would make them the laughingstock of the entire capital.

Men, whether emotionally invested or not, possessed a fierce sense of possession. They viewed women, power, status, and wealth as their property—even if left untouched, no one else was permitted to lay a finger on them.

Lin Shengshen smiled faintly.

[I used to think Xie Zhizhou was transcendent, but now it seems he’s just as ordinary as anyone else.]

Xie Zhizhou paused, certain she had misunderstood him again. But Lin Shengshen had little patience for him, leaving him no chance to explain himself.

Besides, a gentleman acts with a clear conscience. Since his conduct was upright, he had nothing to fear.

The two fell into silence until they returned to the Lin residence.

As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, Baidou came to report, “Miss, the master has asked you and Young Master Xie to dine in the main hall.”

“The main hall? What’s the occasion for such formality?”

Baidou glanced at Xie Zhizhou. “Young Master Xu is here.”

The atmosphere instantly chilled. Baidou stole another look at Xie Zhizhou, whose expression had turned frighteningly cold.

Yet Lin Shengshen seemed completely oblivious.

“Xu Wei?” Lin Shengshen pondered. “Ah, yes. He mentioned visiting Father a few days ago. Let’s go.”

Before she could take two steps, Xie Zhizhou strode to her side, closing the distance between them until the faint rustle of their clothing was audible.

[?]

Lin Shengshen slowed her pace, trying to create space.

But as she slowed, so did he; as she quickened, he matched her stride.

[…]

Before she could speak, Xie Zhizhou said, “Baidou only brought one lantern. Staying close helps us see the path clearly.”

Lin Shengshen had nothing to say to that.

The Lin estate was vast. Xie Zhizhou had never visited before, and this time, he’d spent most of his hours in the Shuying Pavilion reviewing documents or attending to affairs at the palace or the Court of Judicial Review. He’d had no time to familiarize himself with the grounds, so his lack of familiarity was understandable.

Under the dim moonlight, Baidou’s paper lantern cast a hazy glow. The path alternated between gravel trails and arched bridges—easy to stumble on without proper lighting.

Lin Shengshen hummed in acknowledgment, allowing Xie Zhizhou to walk closely on her right, his arm brushing against hers.

Xie Zhizhou’s heart hammered like a war drum. He tried to calm himself by recalling the case files he’d studied during the day, but it was futile.

A restless heat stirred within him. Moments earlier, Lin Shengshen’s hand had accidentally grazed his—like a feather skimming stagnant water, sending ripples that refused to settle.

According to Yuan Qing, Lin Shengshen used to visit the front courtyard often to see him, but he had always coldly refused her. Eventually, she would only peer at him from behind flower bushes or trees before slipping away.

If he had noticed her back then… if he had shown her even a little patience… would things between them have been different?

But there were no “ifs.”

The past was like patterns carved into wood—impossible to erase or obscure. Each mark, each stroke, was a testament to the path they had walked.

If the pattern were carved crooked, a large piece of wood would have to be gouged out and started over.

Today, a small pattern had already been carved incorrectly. Should he allow this ugly pattern to be etched deeper and deeper?

“Lin Shengshen, when I said in the carriage today that I wanted to help you, I truly meant it. You can trust me.”

“Huh?” Lin Shengshen was confused by this abrupt statement and only responded after a moment, “Oh.”

[Leaning on mountains, they collapse; relying on rivers, they dry up. Nothing is as dependable as oneself. In the past, I depended so much on others, only to end up isolated and helpless, with no one to turn to. Forget it, forget it.]

Isolated and helpless? With no one to turn to?

Xie Zhizhou’s heart tightened. What exactly had happened? It seemed he had missed much about Lin Shengshen’s past.

“Young lady, we’ve arrived. Watch your step.”

While Xie Zhizhou was still lost in thought, the two had already approached the flower hall adjacent to the main hall. The eight floor-to-ceiling windows had been removed, and magnolia and banana plants were piled in the corners. In a fish tank to the side, a few koi swam leisurely.

A subtle fragrance drifted in the cool breeze. Under the gentle moonlight, the family gathered here for a small reunion, creating an elegant scene.

Lin Shengshen smiled contentedly. Her mother still had the same ingenuity as before.

She glanced at Xie Zhizhou and saw his expression was indifferent, as if lost in thought.

After paying his respects to Lin Zhiping and Chen Yuying, Xie Zhizhou pulled Lin Shengshen to sit down, not sparing Xu Wei a single glance.

Xu Wei, however, didn’t seem to mind and said warmly, “This is my first time meeting my brother-in-law. I’ve only heard about you from my sister before.”

It sounded as though Xu Wei had been very close to the Lin family in the past.

Xie Zhizhou moved his chair closer to Lin Shengshen and, after sitting down, personally poured her a cup of tea. “You’ve been busy all day. Have some water first.”

Chen Yuying watched this with delight and said with a smile, “Zhizhou, this is Xu Wei, the son of Imperial Censor Xu. He studied under your father-in-law for a few years in his youth. We all treat him like Shengshen’s own younger brother.”

Xie Zhizhou curved his lips slightly and nodded to Chen Yuying. “My father-in-law is profoundly learned. If I have any shortcomings in the future, I will need to seek his guidance.”

Lin Zhiping laughed heartily. “Lord Xie once served as the Crown Prince’s tutor. In terms of scholarship, I’m afraid he surpasses me.”

Xie Changxing had indeed been illustrious in his youth, having taught His Majesty for several years. However, after His Majesty ascended the throne and implemented sweeping reforms, Xie Changxing’s glory days passed.

[In my opinion, what Xie Changxing studied was rigid and dogmatic, not strategies for governing a country. No wonder he was later given a sinecure by His Majesty.]

Xie Zhizhou’s lips curved slightly. Lin Shengshen saw things quite clearly—he hadn’t expected her to understand these matters as well.

Xu Wei picked up a white jade bowl in front of him. Inside, green noodles shimmered coolly. He handed it to a maid beside him and said, “Take this to my sister.”

He then turned to Xie Zhizhou. “My sister often loses her appetite in summer and loves this chilled locust leaf noodles the most. Lord Xie didn’t know that, did you?”

Xie Zhizhou glanced at Lin Shengshen and saw her take the white jade bowl with practiced ease.

He took the bowl from her and said gently, “You shouldn’t eat cold things lately.”

Lin Shengshen looked at him in confusion.

Xie Zhizhou leaned close to her ear, lowering his voice in a posture that appeared intimate and ambiguous to others. “Your monthly courses are due in a couple of days.”

[How does Xie Zhizhou know?!]

The sensation from last month—the sharp pain in her lower abdomen and the sudden darkness before her eyes—suddenly became vivid again. Lin Shengshen quickly pushed away the white jade cup. “I don’t want it, I won’t eat it.”

Xie Zhizhou took the white jade cup, glanced distantly at Xu Wei, raised an eyebrow, and deliberately took a slow bite.

“Excellent. Both Lin Shengshen and I enjoy this.”

Lin Shengshen remained completely unaware of the inexplicable tension between the two men. She subtly shifted to the side, trying not to sit too close to Xie Zhizhou, then picked up the celadon plate in front of her. On it lay golden-brown crispy fried petals, their thin brittle crust revealing tender pink peony blossoms beneath—they looked fragrant and delicious.

“Yuzheng loves these crispy fried petals the most. Here, take this to him.” Lin Shengshen casually handed the plate to the maid beside her.

If she wasn’t mistaken, Yuzheng was Xu Wei’s courtesy name.

Xie Zhizhou lifted his gaze just as Xu Wei picked up a piece with his chopsticks, placed it in his mouth, then set down his utensils and looked over at him, raising an eyebrow—

Such youthful arrogance.