Wu Yiyu noticed Ren Yaoyin's gaze and also looked toward Yun Wenfang, only to find that although Yun Wenfang was speaking with Yun Qiuchen, his eyes seemed to linger vaguely on...
Wu Yiyu raised an eyebrow, then slowly revealed a cold smile.
Ren Yaoyin glanced at Wu Yiyu and smiled faintly before turning her gaze to Yun Wenting and Xiao Jinglin. The smile on her face remained unchanged, but her dark eyes were unfathomably deep.
What Ren Yaoyin did not know was that although Ren Yaoqi had been chatting and laughing with Xiao Jinglin all along, she had been quietly observing those around her. From the moment Ren Yaoyin approached Wu Yiyu, she had noticed. Though she could not hear exactly what Ren Yaoyin and Wu Yiyu were discussing, Ren Yaoqi remained highly alert.
Later, when Yun Wenting joined their conversation, Ren Yaoqi clearly saw Wu Yiyu's expression change, while Ren Yaoyin maintained her smile without a flicker of emotion. However, Ren Yaoqi ultimately had more experience than Ren Yaoyin; no matter how perfect Ren Yaoyin's smile appeared, it could not conceal its icy chill.
In truth, Ren Yaoqi had sensed something off about Ren Yaoyin from the moment she saw her today. Her gaze kept drifting vaguely toward Xiao Jinglin, cold and unsettling. Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but wonder what Ren Yaoyin had overheard yesterday at Yun Mansion.
Could it be that Xiao Jinglin was to marry into the Yun Family? Ren Yaoqi couldn't resist glancing at Xiao Jinglin.
Xiao Jinglin was puzzled by Ren Yaoqi's sudden silence and turned to meet her gaze. "What's wrong?"
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Yun Wenting, shook her head, and smiled. "Is there anything else interesting to see in this garden?"
Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment. "There's a butterfly garden over there. Although it's more unusual to visit in winter, the garden also has some rare flowers and plants. Why don't I take you to see it?"
Lowering her voice deliberately, she added softly, "They're too noisy. Let's go by ourselves and leave them behind."
Ren Yaoqi was both amused and exasperated, replying in a hushed tone, "We came with them. What excuse do we have to leave them behind?"
Without hesitation, Xiao Jinglin beckoned Hongying over and gave her instructions. Ren Yaoqi, standing nearby, heard Xiao Jinglin tell Hongying that she needed to freshen up and asked her to inform Yun Qiuchen.
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Yun Wenting was also close to Xiao Jinglin. After Xiao Jinglin finished instructing Hongying, she frowned and looked at Yun Wenting. Yun Wenting calmly turned his head to watch Yun Qiufang and Guo Yujiao feeding the peacocks, as if he had heard nothing. Satisfied, Xiao Jinglin turned back to Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi was about to laugh but met Wu Yiyu's gaze instead.
Wu Yiyu was also smiling, but her smile sent a chill down one's spine. Suppressing her discomfort, Ren Yaoqi calmly averted her eyes and said to Xiao Jinglin, "Let's go then."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinglin took Ren Yaoqi's hand and walked away, leaving only a remark: "Make yourselves at home. I have something to attend to and will be away for a moment."
As for Yun Qiuchen, after hearing Hongying's message, she offered a few explanations on her behalf.Xiao Jinglin pulled Ren Yaoqi off in another direction, leaving the rest to Yun Qiuchen. Once they were out of sight, Xiao Jinglin visibly relaxed, her expression growing more animated as she began introducing the garden’s animals and plants to Ren Yaoqi, proving herself a rather competent guide. With only Xiao Jinglin by her side, Ren Yaoqi finally began to experience a hint of enjoyment in the garden stroll.
Xiao Jinglin took Ren Yaoqi to the butterfly garden. As it was summer, there were already plenty of butterflies in the garden, but Ren Yaoqi couldn’t quite discern what made this area distinct from the others. The two of them wandered through briefly, taking in the sights.
Xiao Jinglin asked, "Do you like monkeys? If so, we could go feed them? Or feed other animals, if you prefer."
Xiao Jinglin truly had no idea what young ladies of noble families enjoyed. Seeing that Guo Yujiao and the others seemed fond of feeding small animals, she thought perhaps Ren Yaoqi might like it too.
Ren Yaoqi considered this a decent way to pass the time and agreed.
Xiao Jinglin summoned the garden’s head matron, instructing her to first tidy up the monkey hill area and leave a few gentle ones for feeding. Then, she led Ren Yaoqi to a pavilion in the garden where they could rest and have tea.
Not long after, the matron returned. Xiao Jinglin, assuming everything was arranged, was about to rise when she noticed the matron carrying a large bamboo basket.
Xiao Jinglin raised an eyebrow. "What’s this?"
The matron placed the bamboo basket on the stone table in the pavilion and bowed. "Commandery Princess, this was sent over by the Second Young Master."
Hearing it was sent by Xiao Jingxi, Xiao Jinglin couldn’t help but grow curious. Ren Yaoqi also set down her teacup and watched the large bamboo basket with interest.
The basket was covered with a layer of Songjiang cloth. Just as Xiao Jinglin reached out to lift it, Ren Yaoqi noticed something moving beneath the cloth and, startled, grabbed Xiao Jinglin’s hand. "There’s something moving inside."
Xiao Jinglin glanced at the matron, who stood nearby smiling at them, then decided to lift the cloth anyway. Inside the basket lay a fluffy, chubby, and endearingly plump cat, its large, round black eyes staring right back at Xiao Jinglin.
Ren Yaoqi was taken aback. "Huh? What is this…"
Xiao Jinglin pinched the back of the chubby cat’s neck with two fingers and lifted it to eye level. The cat gazed back at her innocently.
This white "big cat" had black stripes on its body. Ren Yaoqi leaned in for a closer look and couldn’t help exclaiming in surprise, "Is this… a tiger?"
Xiao Jinglin swayed the little creature in front of her and nodded. "Yes, it’s a little white tiger."
She then asked the matron, "Where did Xiao Jingxi get this? Didn’t the Princess Consort order all the dangerous animals in the garden to be relocated elsewhere?"
The matron smiled. "This little white tiger was sent by one of the Second Young Master’s friends from Dali. There were originally two, but unfortunately, one died on the journey. This one was raised with great difficulty. The Second Young Master said that little tigers don’t bite and asked me to bring it to amuse the Commandery Princess and the Fifth Miss Ren."
Xiao Jinglin glanced at the tiger in her hand, then at Ren Yaoqi, before placing the little tiger back in the basket and pushing it toward Ren Yaoqi. She couldn’t help muttering quietly, "Where did he learn such flattering tricks!"Ren Yaoqi found the little white tiger obedient and adorable, and was just reaching out to stroke its fur when she heard Xiao Jinglin speaking softly. Not catching the words clearly, she looked up and asked, "What?"
Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment, then swallowed her words: "Nothing. Do you like it? Then give it a name."
"This is Second Young Master's tiger, right? It's better to let Second Young Master name it. Perhaps it already has a name," Ren Yaoqi said with a smile, shaking her head in refusal.
The stewardess immediately chimed in, "No name, no name. Second Young Master said the little tiger is a gift for the Commandery Princess and Fifth Miss Ren to play with. You can give it any name you like."
Xiao Jinglin revealed an inscrutable expression that seemed to say, "Just as I expected," but her words were different: "I'm no good at naming things. If it were up to me, I'd call it 'Rascal.' You do it, Yaoqi."
Ren Yaoqi played with the little tiger's paws and joked, "I'm not good at naming either. If it were up to me, I'd call it 'Silly Girl.'"
Xiao Jinglin immediately decided, "Good name! Then 'Silly Girl' it is!"
Silly Girl: "Awoo—"
Xiao Jinglin poked the little tiger's head, grinning widely. "See, it likes it too."
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Ren Yaoqi thought, I was really just joking, Xiao Jingxi, don't blame me!
The stewardess hesitated several times, wanting to speak but holding back, finally revealing a subtle, pained expression.
She decided it was better not to tell the Commandery Princess and Miss Ren that this tiger was male. Preserving her master's dignity was a servant's duty, and anyway, the little tiger couldn't talk.
With the little tiger to play with, the two no longer thought about feeding the monkeys. It wasn't until Hongying came over and said Yun Qiuchen had sent someone to ask if they wanted to go boating together.
Because Xiao Jinglin disliked being with those young ladies, she had ordered that no outsiders should approach, so they had sat in the pavilion for a long time without anyone finding them.
Ren Yaoqi, thinking of Wu Yiyu and Ren Yaoyin's expressions earlier, worried they might cause trouble. Boating involved water, and Ren Yaoqi didn't want to take that risk. So when Xiao Jinglin asked if she wanted to go, Ren Yaoqi declined.
Xiao Jinglin, who had no desire to spend time with them anyway, had Hongying reply that they were tired from walking in the garden and didn't want to go.
Not long after Hongying left, Xiao Jingxi arrived.
Xiao Jinglin propped her chin in her hand, studying Xiao Jingxi for a long time before slowly smiling. "I was wondering when you'd make your entrance."
Xiao Jingxi seemed not to understand her words, his smile unchanged. "There were some matters to attend to, so I'm late."
He looked at Ren Yaoqi, who was holding the little tiger, and reached out to stroke its head. "Do you like it? If you do, you can take it back with you."
Ren Yaoqi had originally intended to hand the little tiger to Xiao Jingxi, but at these words, she was startled and quickly said, "It's better for Second Young Master to keep it. I have nowhere to raise it if I take it back."
Ren Yaoqi did like this adorable Silly Girl, but a little tiger wasn't a cat—it would grow up eventually. What would she do with a full-grown tiger then? Even if the Ren Family were willing to help her raise it, she couldn't accept such a favor from them.
Xiao Jingxi had originally thought that since the tiger was still small, it would be fine for Ren Yaoqi to raise it for fun and return it when it grew up. But remembering the situation in the Ren Family, he reconsidered and let it go. "Then I'll raise it for you."
Xiao Jinglin gave a light snort.
Xiao Jingxi smiled at her. "By the way, have you given it a name?"Xiao Jinglin reached out and poked the little tiger standing on the table, sending it tumbling over: "Mm, Yaoqi says it's called Silly Girl."
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Xiao Jingxi said without changing his expression: "A good name. It'll probably be easy to raise."
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