The Romance Extras Turned Out to Be a Yuri Story - Chapter 43

The next day was sunny. Lin Luoluo didn’t have classes. She was originally supposed to go to Zhang Qiu’s house to hang out, but after turning Zhang Qiu down, she lazily stayed home. Her “stinky brother” was about to graduate, yet she hadn’t seen him writing his thesis. He was busy with who knows what all day and wasn’t home, nor had he taken out the expensive car their father had given him to show off.

Lin Luoluo sat idly in the living room. The maid washed some fruit. She lazily opened her phone then closed the screen. She had no one to chat with, so she picked up a cherry and bit into it.

Her chat interface with Zhang Qiu still showed their conversation from yesterday. Lin Luoluo figured Zhang Qiu must be angry.

But no matter how much she tried to smooth things over, she truly couldn’t explain the fact that she was wavering between two people.

Part of it was true, but part of it wasn’t genuine.

Lin Luoluo lay back down and zoned out for a while. There was movement at the front door. Her mother, Tan Yi, returned from her beauty appointment and greeted Lin Luoluo: “I bought you a few dresses. Come try them on quickly. You’re not going out this afternoon, are you?”

Lin Luoluo stood up and shook her head, her face enveloped by Tan Yi’s warm, fragrant embrace.

“That’s perfect. I’m going to see Sang Tian; come with me this afternoon.”

A gathering of rich wives was nothing more than chatting about gossip, playing mahjong, and discussing the latest fashion. Lin Luoluo initially didn’t want to go, but then thought it over and decided to attend. Perhaps she could run into some opportunity to resolve the issue of her engagement with Gu Beichen.

Tan Yi knew her daughter was face-blind and didn’t force Lin Luoluo to remember the appearance of the various family matriarchs. She just said, “Everyone here today is from the Four Major Families. I didn’t like taking you when you were younger, but now you’re older. You’ll have to attend these gatherings sooner or later. With me around, you’ll be more comfortable. When I get old, I’ll have to rely on you for socializing.”

Lin Luoluo nodded, letting her mother fuss over her.

Tan Yi had gone for a beauty treatment today and stopped by the mall to buy Lin Luoluo a few fashionable dresses. After Lin Luoluo changed into one, her mother clapped her hands in satisfaction.

“My daughter is beautiful, after all.”

Tan Yi grabbed her long, cascading sheep’s perm hair. Seeing how long Lin Luoluo’s hair was, she asked, “Do you want to cut this hair?”

Lin Luoluo was a little reluctant.

She held up the hem of her skirt and twirled in front of the full-length mirror, looking at her long hair with her back to the mirror. She hadn’t dyed it, just permed it into the trendy sheep’s curl, which suited her face shape well.

“A dye would also look nice,” her mother suggested.

Lin Luoluo was also a little reluctant to part with her black hair, yet she also thought a change of mood might be good.

There was still time before the afternoon gathering, so Tan Yi simply had the stylist come to the house to do Lin Luoluo’s hair.

Her hair was a little too long and thick. The stylist didn’t change the length but thinned it out and cut a light, wispy fringe. After consulting her opinion, the stylist dyed it a warm, elegant chestnut color.

Paired with the small white dress her mother bought, Lin Luoluo truly looked like an angel dropped into the mortal world.

Lin Luoluo shook her head, not entirely satisfied; she looked too obedient.

But her mother loved it.

She looked at Tan Yi. Sure enough, her mother’s eyes were filled with satisfaction.

Lin Luoluo could only compromise.

Before leaving, she ate a little. Lin Luoluo listened to her mother explain: “The matriarch of the Dongfang family, Yu Qin, comes from a scholarly background. She’s the most aloof and detests people who are loud, unruly, and uncultured. That’s why she and the Gu family’s Sang Tian don’t get along at all.”

“We are currently in a marriage alliance with the Gu family. If you go, and she gives you a cold shoulder, you don’t need to panic.”

“The matriarch of the Mu family is a paper tiger. Her family background isn’t prominent; she relies entirely on her husband’s family, so she speaks very carefully and politely. You can spend more time with her.”

“As for the Gu family, I suppose you know them best.”

Tan Yi felt a little uncomfortable speaking ill of her daughter’s future mother-in-law. However, Sang Tian was quite a formidable person. These things could be discussed later. Her daughter hadn’t married into the Gu family yet, and she didn’t need to know about all that old, unpleasant business.

Lin Luoluo nodded. Tan Yi handed her the sweet soup.

Lin Luoluo took small sips.

Tan Yi looked at her with loving, yet reluctant, eyes.

Her daughter was growing up. She wondered if the young man of the Gu family would be a considerate person.

She had a good marriage and hoped her daughter would also be happy.

It was almost time, so Lin Luoluo and her mother got into the car.

On the way, Tan Yi held her hand and chatted: “It’s been a long time since we’ve gone out like this. You used to love following me wherever I went. Now that you’re grown up, you’re not so close anymore.”

Lin Luoluo felt a little guilty. “Then I’ll stay home and keep you company from now on.”

Tan Yi laughed softly, stroking the hair near her daughter’s cheek: “Silly girl, children always leave home when they grow up. I just miss you. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown this big. When your brother takes over the company, your dad and I will officially retire.”

“Dad is still young,” Lin Luoluo cooed, rubbing her hand against her mother’s.

Tan Yi saw that she was still acting like a child, and her smile became more benevolent. She rubbed her daughter’s head: “When we get there, you can’t act like this, or people will laugh.”

Lin Luoluo nodded, leaned her face against her mother’s shoulder, and closed her eyes. The noise in her heart instantly quieted.

Tan Yi stroked her hair, her heart softening even more, feeling that her daughter was still young and needed her family’s protection.

When they arrived at the gathering place, Tan Yi asked the driver to go back and return to pick them up later. Tan Yi led Lin Luoluo gracefully to the top floor of the hotel.

This gathering was called by Sang Tian. Among the wives, she was the only one with the free time to gather everyone to play mahjong.

They called it playing mahjong, but it was really to probe into the affairs of the other families. Things that were inconvenient to discuss in the business world could be better revealed through them.

Tan Yi arrived just in time. The others had just arrived too. Upon seeing her, Sang Tian smiled, “Esteemed guests always arrive last.”

Tan Yi covered her mouth and chuckled: “Look at you, always saying such nice things. It’s just bad luck; I was delayed by traffic on the way, which is why I was a step late.”

Sang Tian took her hand and, seeing Lin Luoluo had also come, her eyes showed motherly affection: “Luoluo is here too. It so happens that my niece is also here to play. You can talk to her. We aunties don’t know the things you young people are interested in, and you probably wouldn’t enjoy what we have to say.”

Lin Luoluo raised an eyebrow and saw a very quiet-looking girl following behind Sang Tian. When the girl saw Lin Luoluo, her pair of light brown eyes fixed on her for a moment, then she slowly smiled: “You must be Sister Luoluo. Hello, I’m Sang Jing.”

Sang Jing? A character who hadn’t appeared in the original book.

Lin Luoluo pondered internally, but her expression remained calm. She smiled gently at Sang Jing and then looked at Sang Tian.

“Auntie Sang, long time no see.”

“Play nicely, Luoluo, and let me know if you need anything, dear,” Sang Tian said with a beaming smile when she saw her.

“Sang Jing, make sure you look after your Sister Luoluo.”

Sang Jing nodded. Tan Yi was pulled away by Sang Tian. Lin Luoluo followed her mother and first greeted the various matriarchs. Only then did Sang Jing lead Lin Luoluo to the side.

This time, the Dongfang family matriarch brought her youngest son, Dongfang Yuan. Only the Mu family didn’t bring anyone. Dongfang Yuan had been taken away to change clothes, as he’d apparently spilled water on himself. Lin Luoluo didn’t see him. She sat with Sang Jing in a small sitting area nearby, from where they could vaguely see the mothers already seated at the mahjong table.

Sang Jing was scrutinizing Lin Luoluo, who noticed and looked back.

Lin Luoluo found it odd. In the past, it was always Zuo Jinwei who followed Sang Tian around like a servant, desperate for a little attention from the Gu family matriarch. Why the change? Also, which side of the Sang family was this? Weren’t there only Sang Zimo and Sang Tian? Could she be a distant relative?

Lin Luoluo was about to call the system when Sang Jing suddenly spoke.

She looked at Lin Luoluo and asked, “Do you know that Brother Gu was punished by his uncle because of you?”

Lin Luoluo frowned and slowly shook her head.

Sang Jing’s tone was measured and polite: “His uncle cut off all of Brother Gu’s cards and even made him move out of the Gu family. You didn’t know any of this?”

Although her tone was a question, Lin Luoluo felt like she was being questioned.

She had heard Gu Beichen mention it, but Sang Zimo was there at the time, and the two had been sparring. Lin Luoluo hadn’t bothered to care about Gu Beichen’s situation. Besides, even if the male lead fell to the bottom of society, he would still be an extraordinary man who didn’t need her worry.

Lin Luoluo remained silent.

Sang Jing sighed softly.

“Sister Luoluo, Auntie is very fond of you and hopes you can fulfill the duties of a good fiancée.”

Lin Luoluo squinted.

“If you can’t do a good job, don’t blame others for trying to snatch him away.”

Lin Luoluo’s heart soared.

Coming here was a gain after all.

This Sang Jing seemed to know something. Gu Beichen was the male lead, alright—he was already starting to attract attention not long after leaving the female lead.

Lin Luoluo tried her best to control the corners of her mouth from turning up, her expression strained: “Someone wants to snatch Gu Beichen from me?”

Sang Jing looked at her and assumed she was jealous. She pressed harder: “Brother Gu is so excellent; it’s normal for people to like him.”

Yes, it’s too normal! Lin Luoluo thought. It would be even better if someone could steal him!

Ideally, Gu Beichen and this person would be deeply in love and quickly call off the engagement!

Lin Luoluo’s face betrayed her joy, and she could barely suppress the delight in her eyes, making her expression even more peculiar.

“Who is she?”

Tell me, and I’ll make sure the fated lovers end up together! I’ll create opportunities for them!

Sang Jing was silent for a moment. She didn’t tell Lin Luoluo directly but said, “Sister Luoluo, if I tell you, are you going to go and be jealous of her? If you truly cared, seeing Brother Gu in this state, you should choose to let go. Brother Gu doesn’t like you at all; it’s only because his family is forcing him. Do you think an arranged marriage like this will make you happy?”

Of course, it won’t make me happy.

But Lin Luoluo couldn’t say that out loud.

She tasted bitterness in her mouth as she spoke insincerely: “I am perfectly happy.”

Seeing her resolute attitude, Sang Jing softened her voice: “Sister Luoluo, I see you’re so beautiful, and there must be many people pursuing you outside. Why are you stuck on Brother Gu?”

“Your family background is superior, and your conditions are excellent. Whoever you choose will treat you like a princess. Why suffer cold shoulders from Brother Gu? You have better options.”

Lin Luoluo stared at Sang Jing for a long time, then suddenly asked coldly, “Could it be that you like Gu Beichen?”

Sang Jing was startled but quickly regained her composure.

“No, Sister Luoluo, you misunderstand.”

“Sister Lin?” Dongfang Yuan’s childish voice called out, “Where is Sister Lin?”

“Dongfang Yuan, don’t run!” a slightly anxious voice sounded, “Mommy will take you over.”

Lin Luoluo stood up, her eyes flashing with confusion, but she quickly settled down. She had carefully memorized the clothes of the ladies, so she shouldn’t mistake them.

Besides, Dongfang Yuan was just a little boy; there was no one shorter than her in the room.

Sure enough, a moment later, an elegant lady with a helpless smile led a small boy to find Lin Luoluo.

“Yuan’er insisted on coming to play with you.”

Lin Luoluo waited a moment. Sang Jing spoke first: “Mrs. Dongfang, please leave Dongfang Yuan with us. We will look after him. The housekeeper is also here; please don’t worry.”

Only then did Lin Luoluo give a proud nod.

The Dongfang family matriarch generally had a poor impression of the Sang family. The Dongfang family were scholarly merchants, and the Gu family had snatched a lot of land from them during their expansion phase. Some of that land was still profitable. The Lin family, however, was different. They developed high-tech new energy and were not in the same competitive arena as the other three families in Longhai City.

Moreover, the Dongfang family also wanted to enter the market, so they were particularly courteous to the Lin family.

Mrs. Dongfang said gently, “Thank you for the trouble.”

She patted Dongfang Yuan’s shoulder. The little boy ran over with his short legs, holding a toy out to Lin Luoluo: “Sister, let’s play with this.”

Lin Luoluo looked down to see an intellectual puzzle, similar to the Nine Linked Rings.

She squatted down and said yes.

Mrs. Dongfang saw the smile on Dongfang Yuan’s face, looked condescendingly at Sang Jing, and left the maid she had specially brought to watch over Dongfang Yuan before turning to leave, clearly looking down on the housekeeper Sang Jing had brought.

What could a small, insignificant family take care of?

Sang Jing was instantly infuriated.

From the moment Lin Luoluo entered the door, these snobbish rich wives who had only given her a passing glance were extremely warm toward Lin Luoluo, treating her like their own niece or nephew. Now, Mrs. Dongfang completely ignored her when she spoke, but was practically fawning over Lin Luoluo’s simple nod.

It’s all because of status.

Fuming, Sang Jing yelled internally: “System, didn’t you say you would create a noble identity for me?! What is this now? Anyone can look down on me!”

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