Lin Wan’er said with some relief: “This can be considered a potential ally for the young master. Perhaps in the future, he can provide some help to the young master.”
“Yes.” An Chengxi said: “Perhaps one day, Chen’er can receive his guidance.”
Lin Wan’er nodded, glanced at the time, and said: “Lady Ye, it is getting late. This young lady should prepare to return. A young girl staying inside for so long, if someone pays close attention, they might notice something amiss.”
As she spoke, Lin Wan’er gave a self-deprecating smile and said: “This young lady is always so timid and cautious, making Lady Ye laugh.”
An Chengxi did not think Lin Wan’er timid at all. Instead, she said very seriously: “What senior says is absolutely right. One must never be careless in anything. Countless lifetimes of effort have been ruined by one or two moments of negligence. Senior, alone, has evaded Wu Feiyan’s relentless search for over three hundred years without success. That alone leaves this junior in awe. To meet face to face and speak frankly with senior today is this junior’s fortune in three lifetimes!”
Lin Wan’er smiled faintly, slowly rose, and gave a slight curtsy: “Lady Ye flatters me.”
Seeing Lin Wan’er rise, An Chengxi and those around her quickly stood as well, all with expressions of respect.
Gathering her courage, An Chengxi said to Lin Wan’er: “Senior, this junior has one more request. I hope senior will grant it.”
Lin Wan’er nodded: “Please speak, Lady Ye.”
An Chengxi said respectfully: “At present, this junior cannot yet meet Chen’er or the family. I hope that before this junior reunites with Chen’er, senior will not mention our meeting to him.”
Lin Wan’er agreed without hesitation: “Lady Ye, rest assured. As someone who has hidden for a long time myself, this young lady understands your feelings completely. I will not reveal a single word to the young master.”
Lin Wan’er knew that family ties could affect a person’s reason and judgement at many times. It was so for An Chengxi, and even more for Ye Chen.
Over these many years, she had raised so many children and shared a mother-son bond with most of them, yet she never spoke of it or showed it, always keeping distance in her heart. Moreover, for hundreds of years, she had maintained the hierarchy between ancient family head and servants with them. Even elders like Old Zhang, Old Sun, and Qiu Yingshan, now in their eighties and nineties, still addressed her respectfully as “miss” in her presence. This was the rule Lin Wan’er had set for them, and also the safe distance she preserved between them and herself.
Hearing Lin Wan’er’s straightforward agreement, An Chengxi breathed a sigh of relief while feeling grateful. She bowed deeply to Lin Wan’er and said earnestly and respectfully: “Thank you, senior, for granting this!”
Lin Wan’er smiled and sighed: “Earlier, this young lady divined a hexagram for the young master. The image showed half life, half death, with both the gate of life and gate of death controlled by one person. This young lady could not figure out who that person was. Only today do I realise it is this young lady herself. Before coming, I hesitated whether to inform the young master of the analysis results, but after much deliberation, I decided to come and investigate first. Now it seems that at that step, this young lady chose the gate of death.”
An Chengxi could not help sighing: “Senior plans strategies from afar with wisdom beyond measure. If this junior could ally with senior to help Chen’er in secret, it would surely benefit him greatly. What does senior think?”
Lin Wan’er did not answer directly but laughed: “After chatting so much with Lady Ye, this young lady cannot turn back. If the young master learns everything in the future and blames me, I only ask that Lady Ye put in a few good words for this young lady, so he does not hold a grudge against me.”
An Chengxi immediately understood and instantly read Lin Wan’er’s mind.
In Lin Wan’er’s heart, Wu Feiyan’s life or death was no longer so important. Now she cared only about Ye Chen; nothing else truly mattered.
At this moment, her heart was filled with complex emotions, but she quickly composed herself and said gratefully: “Thank you, senior, for granting this. Then this junior and senior shall exchange a contact method. In the future, we can share information on any matters.”
As she spoke, An Chengxi took out a mobile phone and said to Lin Wan’er: “Senior, to avoid risks, this junior has removed the front and rear cameras and microphone from the phone, as well as the GPS module for positioning. There is no way for voice or video calls, but text communication is possible.”
“Very well.” Lin Wan’er smiled faintly: “Lady Ye, let us agree on a code instead. For example, what to use to represent the young master, what for Wu Feiyan and the Purity Breaking Society.”
An Chengxi smiled: “Senior, you think of it.”
Lin Wan’er, feeling playful, laughed: “Then after this young lady returns, I shall send someone to buy a cat to keep in the courtyard. Call the cat Little Little. When Lady Ye and this young lady discuss Little Little, it means the young master. The Purity Breaking Society shall be the large troop of stray cats lurking near Purple Gold Villa. And Wu Feiyan shall be called Black Forest King.”
“Black Forest King?” An Chengxi widened her eyes in surprise and asked: “Could it be a character from an animated film Chen’er watched as a child? Seems like a very naughty cat?”
“Exactly.” Lin Wan’er nodded and laughed: “The bad cat who always wears an octagonal hat!”
An Chengxi could not help laughing out loud. Looking at Lin Wan’er, her gaze held a touch more affection.
At this moment, the cunning-as-a-fox Lin Wan’er truly became, in her eyes, a mischievous little girl…
