Chapter 167 - Nothing Has Changed (2/2)

”It's alright”, repeated Madam Zhong. ”Come on. I'll take you to the preparation room. You can slowly tell me everything. How much time —” Before she could finish her sentence, she finally saw the other person that had silently walked into the teahouse.

He had been so quiet that she might not have noticed him at all but some of the sharp-sighted female customers had spotted him and were instantly stunned into silence that had spread through the whole lower floor.

Qiu Ling ignored them but smiled at his mother-in-law. She obviously remembered him. Great! Now he wouldn't have to work that hard. He just had to let her have a good talk with her son and then nothing would get in the way of their love!

Jing Yi wiped the tears from his cheeks and took a deep breath. He didn't want to make such an impression on his mother after finally seeing her again. He dropped his arms and stepped back, looking at her apprehensively. ”Mother”, he called out in a low voice, a little afraid how she would react.

Madam Zhong just smiled and patted his cheek. ”You've grown taller. Now, come on in. Don't just stand there like a stranger.” She motioned at the door to the preparation room but halted and turned back to Qiu Ling. ”You, too.”

”Mn! Thank you, mo—” Qiu Ling picked up on Jing Yi's warning glare and stopped himself before he could call her mother-in-law. Right. It seemed like his beloved didn't want him to call her that for now. Mn, he'd have to wait until they were officially married.

”Ah, mother, I hope you don't mind. This is my Senior Martial Brother Qiu, Qiu Ling. We're supposed to travel outside together after my visit, so I brought him with me.”

”Senior Martial Brother”, repeated Madam Zhong and smiled wryly. This man certainly didn't mind whatever identity he took on. It seemed he was still intent on winning her son over. ”Well, then, come with us.” She took her son's hand and led him into the preparation room, ignoring all the customers that were focusing with wide eyes and strained ears on her son and Qiu Ling.

The three of them walked inside and were greeted by the sight of Nie Huang brewing tea.

Jing Yi smiled. Yes, it really is just like back then. If not for Qiu Ling following me I could just imagine I hadn't left at all.

He didn't know yet that Qiu Ling had already been following him around back then. So, actually, there really wasn't anything that had changed. All of them had just grown a little older.

Thinking back now, his biggest trouble back then had been how to avoid Zhong Guanyu. Now he had come back to ask his mother for advice on how to deal with Qiu Ling. So, yes, nothing had really changed. He was still being chased around by people who had fallen in love with him and he still didn't know how to face them.

It was just … this time, it wasn't that detestable. Actually, he liked that feeling of having someone close to him very, very much.