How Could I Resist His Madness and Charm [Transmigration] - Chapter 20

Beneath the eaves, the camellias bloomed and withered, then bloomed again. In the blink of an eye, Luo Yan had been in this world for over two years, and her coming-of-age ceremony was not far off.

Her third sister reached a mischievous paw toward the leaves, only to have it swatted away without mercy. Luo Yan teased, “If A-Yun catches you being handsy, we’ll be having braised kitten for dinner tonight.”

“Meow!” The cat shook its ears and scampered off.

It wasn’t that Luo Yan was being stingy, the camellia had been transplanted by Zhu Yun. After several failed attempts, only this one pot had survived, a testament to his painstaking efforts.

His sudden interest in gardening could be traced back to the previous winter, on Luo Yan’s birthday.

At that time, the male lead had sent two carts of gifts.

There were gold, silver, jewels, writing brushes, inksticks, paper, and inkstones, along with fabrics and porcelain bestowed by the palace. Noticing the elegant design of a vase, she took it out and placed it by her bedside.

Zhu Yun had clearly investigated the Luo family and was aware of Cui Wuyang’s existence. After Luo Yan fell asleep, he moved the vase outside and stuck a few scallion shoots into it as an act of petty revenge.

Luo Yan scolded him for such a waste. After some back-and-forth, they settled on planting camellias instead.

What exactly was Zhu Yun so jealous about?

Luo Yan had never even met Cui Wuyang. Aside from sending generous gifts during festivals, he never insisted on bringing her to the capital, nor did he show any interest in visiting Linchuan to see his relatives.

He was practically an angel of a relative.

Thinking of this, Luo Yan prayed devoutly, “As long as this humble believer can safely make it through the winter, I promise never to gossip about the male lead or the author again. Amitabha.”

“Boss!” Liu Changsheng, who had recently shot up in height, called out from beyond the courtyard wall. “Want to go catch fish? I swiped some bait.”

“Sure.”

The two walked side by side toward the stream. Passing by Guyu’s house, Luo Yan noticed several bird nests and spider webs as large as round winnowing baskets, and a wave of sadness washed over her.

Changsheng had been closest to Guyu. He broke off a branch, leaped up to sweep away the webs, but couldn’t resist a sour remark: “He’s made it big now, dressing like a young master. I don’t even dare talk to him anymore.”

“Cut it out.”

Guyu’s family had moved to town a few months earlier and opened a butcher shop. He was now apprenticing under a retired old accountant. Rumor had it that his older brother, Gufeng, had also passed the provincial exam, a cascade of good fortune.

Then there was Qingcao. She had married her cousin and become pregnant almost immediately. Aunt Cui and Qinglian had already packed their bags to go care for her. Luo Yan had attended the wedding banquet and remembered the once-dark, skinny girl now looking fairer and plumper in the cheeks, clearly, life was treating her well.

That left Changsheng and his sister, Changyi.

After the older brother fell ill once, their parents doted on him excessively, letting him idle about every day. Changyi, however, had it much tougher, she learned embroidery, then shoemaking, and after that, tailoring.

Luo Yan asked curiously, “You probably don’t have any worries, right?”

“Who says?” Changsheng pouted. “Lately, my mom keeps harping on finding me a wife. It’s driving me crazy.”

“Alright then.”

Her thoughts drifted again: Did A-Yun have any worries?

It seemed he had never mentioned any.

As she was lost in thought, Liu Changsheng let out a sharp cry, clutching his waist. Luo Yan sighed and turned around, only to find Zhu Yun standing right behind her, holding a few wild berries the size of peanuts.

“You’re bullying Changsheng again.”

Zhu Yun smiled, took a porcelain bottle from his sleeve, and poured out a pill, pressing it to her lips. “I’ve changed the prescription. Try it.”

She obediently took it, her tongue unavoidably brushing against the boy’s fingertip. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, a faint hint of pleasure in his expression.

But Luo Yan didn’t notice, because she suddenly remembered, Zhu Yun did have a worry, and that worry was her perpetually frail health.

However, she speculated that this was a matter of energy conservation.

The original character was designed as a sickly, delicate white moonlight, her role was too brief, and her illness was never specified. The nature of the illness was simple: it could evoke the male lead’s protective instincts without being severe enough to kill her off easily, much like the CEO’s stomach pains, mysophobia, and claustrophobia.

Therefore, if she were to recover fully, it would violate her character setting; if her condition worsened into a terminal illness, it would also violate her character setting.

“Snap out of it.” Zhu Yun waved his hand in front of her.

As he moved, Luo Yan caught a whiff of fragrance and couldn’t help but take a deep breath. “What’s that delicious smell?”

“Sharp nose.” He revealed an oil-paper package, unwrapping it as he spoke. “Tea pastries from Laifu Restaurant. Didn’t you say you liked them last time?”

Zhu Yun had an almost obsessive sense of ownership. Anything he bought for Luo Yan, whether expensive gifts or simple snacks, was not to be shared with others, even if it meant throwing it away.

Luo Yan quickly pushed it back. “Let’s eat when we get home. First, let’s catch some fish.”

After two years of practicing archery, she was quite adept at spearing fish.

Chang Sheng took the fish, swiftly scaled it, and handed it to his sister to season. Soon, the aroma of roasting meat filled the air.

Zhu Yun had gone down the mountain early to fetch medicine and hadn’t had time to eat. He picked the plumpest piece and started eating.

Luo Yan wasn’t hungry but simply enjoyed playing house. Happily, she poured tea for everyone and suddenly sighed. “Now it’s just the four of us left.”

Chang Sheng continued chewing and, after a moment, replied, “Once Chang Yi gets married, it’ll just be the three of us.”

“Tch.” Chang Yi teased, “Is my sister-in-law not human? Is my little nephew not human?”

Hearing this, Chang Sheng was so embarrassed he could barely swallow his fish. He made a move to hit her, but Chang Yi nimbly dodged behind Luo Yan. “Sister Yan, you probably don’t know yet, but my mother has taken a liking to the daughter of a hunter from Zhou Village.”

Luo Yan weakly chimed in, “Marriage is a serious matter and should be considered slowly. In my opinion, it’s best to wait until at least eighteen.”

But if her elder brother didn’t marry, Chang Yi, as the younger sister, couldn’t easily marry either. Uncle and Aunt Liu would never agree.

“I’m in no hurry.” Zhu Yun, who had nothing to do with the topic, suddenly spoke with a serious tone.

While the siblings beside her were busy bickering, Luo Yan instantly understood what he meant. Immediately, Chang Sheng’s embarrassment transferred to her face.

Blushing, she stood up and pretended to be busy. But after taking just two steps, she felt something warm trickling out.

Zhu Yun followed closely. “Are you unwell?”

“Hmm…”Basic common sense told her it was likely her first period.” If her grandmother had been nearby, Luo Yan would have shouted “Help!” But unfortunately, she wasn’t.

Lowering her voice, she said, “Help me get the two of them to leave.”

Zhu Yun first checked her pulse and found nothing unusual. He turned and kicked Liu Chang Sheng. “Take your sister and go back.”

After two years of interaction, Liu Chang Sheng had a fair understanding of Zhu Yun’s temperament. He promptly picked up the bucket and dragged his cursing sister away.

Once they were gone, Luo Yan remained rooted to the spot, her face distressed. “Can you call Grandma over for me?”

“What is it that I can’t hear?” Zhu Yun’s expression darkened, and he retorted sharply, “Is it about your esteemed cousin from the capital again?”

She and her grandmother did often talk about Cui Wuyang behind his back, but was this really the time to bring that up?

Luo Yan clenched her fists. “Just call Grandma over for me.”

Startled by her outburst, Zhu Yun’s expression fell, and he turned to leave.

“…” He always knew how to play the victim, but Luo Yan’s heart softened. She called out to him gently, stopping him in his tracks.

The man had dawdled on his way out, but upon returning, he seemed to remember his lightness skill, darting swiftly to her side. He tilted his head and asked, “What’s really going on?”

“Women’s matters, you wouldn’t understand.” She lowered her face, pretending to be an ostrich.

Zhu Yun detested this kind of talk, as if a rift had formed between them, one that couldn’t be mended simply because he wasn’t born a woman.

“If you tell me, I’ll naturally understand.”

Luo Yan, resigned to her fate, blurted out, “Have you heard of menstruation? Mine has come.”

He frowned, trying to recall anyone who might fit the description, but then his eyes caught a faint smear of blood near Luo Yan’s feet. His expression immediately shifted to alarm. “Are you hurt?”

“It’s not an injury.”

But Zhu Yun had already crouched down, the veins at his temples bulging.

Luo Yan pushed him away impatiently. “I told you it’s not an injury. You often read medical books, don’t you know that when girls reach a certain age, they menstruate every month?”

“…”

It sounded vaguely familiar.

Zhu Yun rubbed the bridge of his nose and defended himself, “Medical books don’t cover much about women’s matters. It’s normal for me not to know.”

“Forget it.”

She clenched her sleeves tightly, feigning composure. “Let’s go back without drawing attention.”

After taking two steps, she remembered the bloodstain.

Zhu Yun noticed her hesitation. He scooped water to wash it away, then buried the ashes matter-of-factly before calmly extending his hand. “Is this alright now?”

Luo Yan swept her long hair in front of her, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks, then slowly took his hand.

…

Unlike her embarrassment, Jia Yufang, upon learning the reason, nearly wept with relief. Delighted, she said, “From now on, you’re a grown woman.”

“Grandmother, please don’t say anymore.”

“Why be shy?” Jia Yufang brought out the menstrual cloth she had prepared in advance and carefully instructed her, “Avoid cold water these next few days, and eat less spicy food.”

Pausing for a moment, she gently stroked Luo Yan’s hair. “Before I knew it, Yan’er is almost fifteen. You’ve always had your own mind, tell me, what are your thoughts about marriage?”

Luo Yan was stunned, covering her face and mumbling, “Can’t we wait a couple of years to consider it?”

Jia Yufang sighed softly and pulled a letter from under her pillow, explaining, “This is an urgent letter from the capital. I can’t read, but I suspect it’s related to your marriage.”

Luo Yan took it with both hands and saw the bold, vigorous handwriting, exuding the style of a master.

It was from Cui Wuyang.

The letter said that while handling the Luo family’s funeral arrangements, the Ye family had also sent someone to Cangxi. He hadn’t explicitly revealed that Luo Yan was still alive, nor had he deliberately concealed it. Sometimes, the more openly something was handled, the safer she would be.

Two years had passed, and Cui Wuyang had sent many things to Linchuan. Naturally, the Ye family had investigated Luo Yan.

She was Cui Wuyang’s cousin and also a relative of the Ye family’s descendants. The Ye family matriarch was concerned about her granddaughter’s future and had brought along some outstanding young men from the clan, personally visiting to let Cui Wuyang assess them.

Cui Wuyang, being relatively young himself, could look after his cousin, but when it came to her marriage, he was at a loss. So, he relayed the matriarch’s words verbatim.

At this point, his writing became slightly hurried.

Luo Yan dared to guess that the Ye matriarch had subtly suggested Cui Wuyang marry her himself. Otherwise, why show concern neither earlier nor later, but precisely as she was approaching her coming-of-age ceremony?

She continued reading.

Cui Wuyang proposed two options: First, if Luo Yan was willing to marry into the Ye family or have the Ye elders arrange her marriage, he would prepare a generous dowry to support her. Second, she should come to the capital as soon as possible to discuss it in person.

Go to the capital.

The two words seemed to come alive, transforming into slender, ghostly hands that tugged heavily at her heart.

“Sister Yan,” Jia Yufang called out with concern, “is something wrong?”

Luo Yan forced a smile and spoke as lightly as possible, “My cousin asked if I would be willing to marry into the Ye family, but my answer remains the same, I absolutely will not go to the capital.”

Jia Yufang pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, “What do you think of Brother Yun?”

“Huh?”

What does Zhu Yun have to do with this?