Chapter 191: How Could the Man in My Dreams Be My Cousin?
"Which family is the young lady from?"
Lady Wei’s urgent voice pulled Zhi Wan from her chaotic thoughts.
She composed herself and lowered her head, avoiding her cousin’s gaze.
"You know her," Lu Zhan said calmly.
"I know her?" Lady Wei was astonished.
"Mm," Lu Zhan murmured in agreement. He picked up the serving chopsticks, selected a piece of fish, and carefully removed the bones before placing it onto the small plate in front of Zhi Wan. "Don’t you like fish, Cousin? This squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is quite good."
When Zhi Wan heard her cousin say his mother knew the girl, her heart lurched. Now, seeing him serve her fish—and even remove the bones—with such thoughtful care, she panicked.
"Th-thank you, Cousin," she said, trying to remain composed, but the slight stutter in her voice betrayed her nervousness.
"You’re welcome." The corners of Lu Zhan’s lips curved faintly upward.
Flustered, Zhi Wan almost dropped her chopsticks.
To hide her agitation, she quickly lowered her head and began to eat the fish.
Thankfully, her aunt’s attention was still fixed on what her cousin had said—that she knew the girl—so she hadn’t noticed him serving Zhi Wan fish.
Zhi Wan secretly sighed in relief and began to eat faster. She just wanted to finish her meal and leave as soon as possible.
Her cousin was putting her under so much pressure today. She was incredibly tense.
"Ah Zhan, which family is she from? You must tell me, so I can go to their home and propose the marriage." Lady Wei had run through every suitable young lady she knew but still had no idea. She had to press him again.
"There’s no need to rush, Mother. It’s not the right time yet," Lu Zhan replied, perfectly unhurried.
"Not the right time? Then when will it be the right time?" Lady Wei was incredibly anxious, but then a thought struck her. She couldn’t help but tease, "Don’t tell me this is just wishful thinking on your part. Is it possible the young lady doesn’t even like you?"
Lu Zhan paused, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "Perhaps."
Hearing this, Lady Wei’s interest was instantly piqued. "To think there’s a young lady out there who doesn’t like you! Now I’m even more curious about her. What kind of person is she? How is she so different from everyone else?"
Lu Zhan didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up the wine flagon and looked at Zhi Wan. "Would you care for a drink, Cousin?"
Zhi Wan froze.
Seeing her cousin’s calm and composed demeanor, the anxiety that had gripped her heart suddenly eased.
’I must have been overthinking it.’
’How could the girl my cousin admires possibly be me?’
’He does take good care of me, but that’s just an older brother’s affection for his younger sister.’
’Besides, he’s so much older, so mature and steady. How could he possibly be interested in a young girl like me?’
She inwardly laughed at herself for being too sensitive.
With that thought, her heart eased. She picked up her cup and offered it to Lu Zhan. "I can’t hold my liquor very well. Just a small sip is fine."
Lu Zhan said nothing. He simply took her cup and filled it to the brim.
When Zhi Wan took the cup back and saw it was full, she stared at Lu Zhan in astonishment.
’Did I not speak clearly? Or did he not hear me?’
"You have a drink as well, Mother." Lu Zhan poured a cup for Lady Wei.
"Forget the drinks," Lady Wei said, displeased. "Just tell me, what does this girl look like? What’s her temperament?"
Lu Zhan paused. He didn’t answer her question, asking instead, "Mother, what would you think if I were to marry into the young lady’s family?"
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."
Before Lady Wei could even react, Zhi Wan choked on the wine she had just sipped and burst into a fit of violent coughing.
Lady Wei jumped, and was about to go pat her on the back when she saw her son had already left his seat and was striding quickly to Zhi Wan’s side.
Zhi Wan was coughing so hard she could hardly breathe, her face flushing red.
Just then, a large hand landed on her back, making her body go rigid. Her coughing came to an abrupt halt.
"Drink more slowly, Cousin. There’s no rush."
The man’s deep voice resonated from above her as he gently and unhurriedly patted her back.
Zhi Wan snapped back to her senses and shifted away uncomfortably. "Th-thank you, Cousin. I-I’m fine now..."
The hand on her back paused for a moment before Lu Zhan withdrew it. "Good. As long as you’re all right."
Seeing that Zhi Wan was fine, Lady Wei breathed a sigh of relief. Her attention immediately snapped back to what her son had said earlier.
"Marry into her family? Ah Zhan, did the young lady demand this?" Lady Wei’s brow furrowed in displeasure. "How could she ask you to do such a thing? Doesn’t she know you’re the only son? You are to inherit the family title. I will not agree to this. Your father and your grandmother will not agree to it either."
"We can find another way to deal with the title," Lu Zhan said, sounding unconcerned.
Lady Wei’s face went pale with shock. "Have you lost your mind?" she scolded. The joy she’d felt at hearing her son had someone he liked was doused as if by a bucket of ice water, chilling her to the bone. "If you marry into her family, I would rather you remain a bachelor for the rest of your life!"
Lu Zhan: "..."
A buzzing filled Zhi Wan’s mind. She couldn’t bring herself to listen to their conversation any longer.
’Before, I could still deceive myself, tell myself that my cousin and the man from my dreams were just a coincidence, that they were two completely different people. But now... can I still say it’s all just a coincidence?’
’But how could the man in my dreams be my cousin?’
Zhi Wan was utterly panicked and at a loss.
"Lu Zhan, did you hear what I said?" Lady Wei demanded furiously.
Lu Zhan stood up. "It’s getting late, Mother. You should rest. I’ll see my cousin home." With that, he looked at the girl across from him, who was struggling to maintain her composure.
Zhi Wan suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her mind. Looking at the man standing before her, she steeled herself, then suddenly raised her cup and drained it in one gulp. Afterward, she poured herself two more cups.
’If I’m not mistaken, getting drunk can also lead me into the dream.’
She had smelled the strong scent of alcohol on that man several times.
She didn’t know if she was right, but she had to try.
She had to confirm whether the man in her dreams was truly her cousin.
Lady Wei was still angry with Lu Zhan, but seeing Zhi Wan down several cups of wine in a row, she was startled and quickly tried to stop her. "Wan’er, this wine has a strong kick! Don’t drink so fast. If you like it, you can take some home to drink slowly, but you can’t have so much at once."
Hearing this, Zhi Wan hugged the wine flagon to her chest. "Thank you, Aunt. In that case, I’ll take the flagon with me."
From the way she acted, she was clearly already a little drunk. Lady Wei was both exasperated and amused. "You silly girl, what’s gotten into you today? Lu Zhan, see your cousin home."
"Understood," Lu Zhan replied.
Clutching the wine flagon, Zhi Wan followed her cousin with unsteady steps.
Lu Zhan was not unaware of the girl’s intense gaze fixed on him from behind. He deliberately slowed his pace, walking at a leisurely stroll.
Zhi Wan’s mind was in turmoil. ’Is my cousin really the man from my dreams?’
At that thought, she quickened her pace and moved to walk in front of him.
She lifted her small, flushed face to him. "Cousin, what you said to my aunt earlier... were you serious, or were you just joking?"
"Which part are you referring to, Cousin?" Lu Zhan asked, looking down at her as he took a step closer.