Chapter 323 - 321: Watching the Fun
"Is Zhou Lian doing this for Ping’an?"
Seeing Ping Jing’s shocked expression, the Eldest Young Madam said, equally taken aback, "That’s right. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now that I do... why would Zhou Lian personally teach Shengnan? She’s not the type to seek the spotlight. But think about it—Ping’an calls her ’sister’ with such affection. Our own eldest daughter doesn’t even get that kind of treatment from him. So, doesn’t that mean Zhou Lian truly sees our Ping’an as her own little brother?"
She glanced at Ping Jing and continued, "It’s because of Ping’an that Zhou Lian stepped up to personally train Shengnan. And with the winds of an impending storm gathering over the Capital City, it’s a dangerous time. Yet, Jin Chen and Zhou Lian were the ones who took the initiative to bring Shengnan back, and they made the best possible arrangements for everything. People as smart as them couldn’t have been unaware of the risks, but they went ahead and did it anyway, without a second thought!"
"My lady, I was wrong to judge noble intentions with a petty mind," Ping Jing said with a sigh.
The Eldest Young Madam smiled. "Ping Jing, Jin Chen and Zhou Lian may not be saints, but that couple truly cherishes Ping’an. We really ought to thank them properly."
"My lady, I doubt they’d care much for our thanks," Ping Jing said with a wry smile.
"Then we won’t thank them," the Eldest Young Madam said, after a moment’s thought, her tone firm and decisive. "From now on, just focus on helping Jin Chen carry his burdens. You’re clever, but your strategic mind is no match for his. He can clear every obstacle from Ping’an’s path and pave a golden road to the top. So just do your best to support him. It’s all for our Ping’an!"
Since it was all for Ping’an, and Li Jincheng possessed the cunning and strategy, they would all rally behind him. Together, they would help Ping’an soar to the highest heavens.
Ping Jing had an epiphany. ’He wasn’t an intolerant man. If this was all for Ping’an, then he would give his all to help Li Jincheng. Together, they would pave a smooth, open road to the top for Ping’an!’
"My lady, when Ping’an wakes up, I’ll talk to him and reassure him before he goes back," Ping Jing said to the Eldest Young Madam. Now that he understood the situation, a hint of schadenfreude crept into his voice. "That kid, honestly... But from the looks of it, Jin Chen is genuinely furious this time!"
The Eldest Young Madam looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"The kid drove for a full day and night without sleep, just to sneak back to the Capital City. And he plans to rush back tonight. Given how much Jin Chen and Zhou Lian cherish him, what do you think they’ll do when they hear he acted so recklessly?" Ping Jing grew more and more animated as he spoke. ’Serves him right for putting me through that ordeal!’
After a moment of stunned silence, a smile played on the Eldest Young Madam’s lips. "Ping Jing, Mother did mention that Ping’an is quite scared of Jin Chen and Zhou Lian. Come on, let’s go find Zhou Lian. That boy has always done as he pleases, and we’ve never been able to rein him in. I’d love to see how Zhou Lian puts him through the wringer!"
Seeing the Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Madam arrive together, Li Xiu, who had been comforting Zhou Lian, paused for a moment before smiling and inviting them to sit on the sofa.
Ping Jing and his wife saw Zhou Lian’s stern expression and exchanged a smile. ’She really is furious,’ they thought. The couple took their seats on the sofa, cups in hand, and watched as Li Xiu continued to softly soothe Zhou Lian.
"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, what brings you here?" Zhou Lian asked, taking a deep breath to suppress her anger as she looked at Ping Jing and his wife in confusion.
The Eldest Young Madam smiled. "Little Sister, I just came to see if you were upset. Ping’an was so reckless this time... I’m still terrified just thinking about what could have happened."
"That damned kid is just asking for it," Zhou Lian said, gritting her teeth. "A wise man doesn’t stand beneath a crumbling wall, but oh no, not him! He’s infuriating! If I don’t teach him a harsh lesson this time, he’ll think he can get away with anything!" ’The dark underbelly of power and influence is beyond what most people can imagine, especially in the Capital City right now!’
Ping Jing, who knew what Zhou Lian was capable of, watched her fuming. Even Li Xiu’s gentle words couldn’t seem to calm her down. He silently said a prayer for Ping’an. Then he saw the stern look in his own wife’s eyes and glanced up just in time to catch the glint of schadenfreude in Li Xiu’s. Ping Jing couldn’t help but bury his face in his hands and sigh. ’Ping’an has really managed to tick everyone off this time!’
"He needs a serious lesson," the Eldest Young Madam chimed in, joining the chorus of condemnation. "Putting himself in harm’s way, disregarding his own safety to drive all the way here alone... I’m still terrified just thinking about it!"
Zhou Lian tapped her fingers lightly on the table, then looked up at Li Xiu. "What about that squad leader in the courtyard?"
"Skilled fighter, quick reflexes, and trustworthy," Li Xiu replied, instantly understanding his wife’s intention. He cleared his throat, trying to suppress a laugh.
"And his family situation?" Zhou Lian asked quietly.
"He and his grandmother rely on each other," Li Xiu answered at a deliberate pace, glancing over at Ping Jing and his wife.
Lifting her head to look at Ping Jing and the Eldest Young Madam, Zhou Lian said resentfully, "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Ping’an is over thirty now, but he’s still so impulsive. The people who can actually control him aren’t around, and those of us who are can’t seem to manage it. So, let’s have this squad leader follow him. For close protection. He’ll be with him twenty-four hours a day, never leaving his side."
Then she turned to Li Xiu. "And have someone bring his grandmother to the Capital City. We’ll let her live in comfort here in our compound."
Ping Jing and the Eldest Young Madam stared at Zhou Lian, completely dumbfounded. ’Close protection? Twenty-four-seven? If they really do that, Ping’an will go insane! He’ll never agree to it!’
"Will Ping’an agree to that?" the Eldest Young Madam asked quietly, swallowing nervously.
Zhou Lian let out a scornful laugh, a smirk playing on her lips. "It’s not up to him anymore."
Seeing the wicked glint in Zhou Lian’s smirk, Ping Jing shot a look at Li Xiu. ’They really are two of a kind,’ he thought. ’Even their malicious smiles are identical!’ His eyes seemed to ask Li Xiu, ’Are you sure it’s a good thing you’ve taught your wife to be like this?’
Perhaps Ping Jing’s gaze was too obvious, because Li Xiu seemed to understand his meaning perfectly. He snorted in amusement. ’What’s wrong with it? Would it be better if she were some naive simpleton for others to trick and toy with?’
"Sister-in-law, where’s Shengnan?" Pushing thoughts of that troublesome brat Ping’an aside, Zhou Lian asked the Eldest Young Madam softly.
The Eldest Young Madam glanced at the time and stood up. "She was tired, so she went to her room to rest. It’s getting late, so we should be going. We’ll head back for now and talk more once Ping’an is awake."
"Alright. Once that little rascal wakes up, we’ll head over to the main compound," Zhou Lian said gently to the Eldest Young Madam, also rising to see them off.
As they left, Li Xiu gently took Zhou Lian’s hand and led her back to the study. He smiled and said, "What goes around, comes around."
"The Eldest Young Madam has really learned from Mrs. Ping; she’s so decisive and firm," Zhou Lian remarked with a smile. "The Ping Family adopted and carefully raised her, which led to her marrying their Eldest Young Master and sharing his life through thick and thin. They have a wonderful marriage, though. With a man as suspicious as Ping Jing, she’s probably the only one who can get through to him."
Li Xiu smiled nonchalantly. "They’re childhood sweethearts, after all. Theirs is a pure and innocent love."