After Bringing Joy to the Short-Lived Mad Young Lady - Chapter 14

Duan Ruoxi, standing nearby, was utterly astonished. She looked at Fang Yi with newfound respect, thinking this must be the dignity of the rightful wife!

 

Fang Yi, however, hadn’t given it much thought. She had simply volunteered at the community hospital for a while before, so the words had slipped out instinctively.

 

The two in the standoff immediately nodded repeatedly and stepped aside to make way. Only then did they belatedly react. Lin Qingwan timidly raised her hand and said, “I’m family too…”

 

Xue Lan frowned and turned to Fang Yi. “And who are you?”

 

Duan Ruoxi, who had already decided to cling to Fang Yi’s coattails, immediately peeked out from behind her to speak up for her “boss.” “She’s the young miss’s fiancée!”

 

“You?” Xue Lan looked Fang Yi up and down. She was wearing a white sleeveless top and cargo pants, standing out starkly against the opulence of the Lin family estate.

 

If not for her striking presence, she might as well have been a foreign plumber, ready to whip out a wrench and charge five hundred bucks at any moment.

 

Fang Yi couldn’t be bothered with her. She turned directly to the butler. “How is she? Can I go in now?”

 

The butler bowed slightly. “Her fever has subsided. The young miss has given instructions—if it’s you, then yes.”

 

The Xue and Lin families were old friends, and Xue Lan had grown up with Lin Shuxing since childhood. This was the first time she had ever been denied entry here. Furious and with nowhere to vent, she pointed at Fang Yi and demanded, “Why can she go in, but I can’t?!”

 

The butler replied, “My apologies, but without permission, I must ask you to wait in the drawing room.”

 

Lin Qingwan glanced at Xue Lan’s flustered expression, her eyes curving into crescents as she smirked with the smugness of a petty villain. “That’s right. Big sister hates it when people barge into her room. You’re no exception, so don’t go making her angry.”

 

Damn it!!

 

Xue Lan raised her voice. “That’s only because she doesn’t know I’m back! Otherwise, she’d definitely invite me in first!”

 

“And you—you pretty boy! Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you’ve latched onto the Lin family. You’re nothing but a plaything they took in—”

 

The door suddenly swung open. Xue Lan’s words cut off abruptly as she caught sight of Lin Shuxing’s pale face, swallowing the rest of her venomous remarks.

 

“Xue Lan, you’ve grown bolder. Disturbing my rest.”

 

Lin Shuxing’s voice was soft, her illness seeping through her half-lidded eyes, yet her languid tone was like a noose slowly tightening—

 

Around Xue Lan’s neck.

 

Xue Lan was half a head taller than Lin Shuxing, but she immediately shrank back, eagerly leaning in with puppy-dog eyes. “I’m sorry! I just missed you so much—it’s been so long!”

 

“I missed you! I almost starved to death abroad—that place was unbearable! I missed you so much, I wanted to eat your cooking! I missed your beautiful paintings! There wasn’t a single day I didn’t think of you!”

 

Overcome with emotion, she pulled Lin Shuxing into a tight hug, shedding a few dramatic tears as if to show off to the unwanted spectators around them. “Come on, say you missed me too!”

 

“…”

 

With that kind of shameless persistence, she could probably succeed at anything.

 

Fang Yi’s expression remained blank, though her heart rate rose ever so slightly.

 

Lin Shuxing pushed Xue Lan’s face away, chiding her, “Ugh, have you no shame? Who demands something like that?”

 

Though she didn’t answer directly, the familiarity and affection between them were unmistakable.

 

They had grown up together, their mischievous ideas always in sync.

 

Xue Lan was the middle child in her family—sandwiched between an all-capable older sister and a younger sister who knew how to charm the elders. In the Xue household, she was neither doted on by her mother nor favored by her parents, receiving only cold, hard cash thrown her way. Over time, she became a little troublemaker.

 

She left the country early, claiming to pursue her artistic dreams, and even persuaded Lin Shuxing to join her.

 

Back then, Lin Shuxing was still the family’s “only child.” Though she loved oil painting, Lin Lan naturally wouldn’t allow her to follow such whims.

 

Xue Lan returned every year for a few days—not exactly a grand reunion, but still after months apart.

 

Without waiting for an invitation from Lin Shuxing, she had already pushed the door open herself and gestured inside with a flourish.

 

Lin Qingwan hesitantly called out, “Sister—”

 

But before she could finish, Xue Lan inside had already pulled Lin Shuxing into a tight embrace, swiftly slamming the door shut while tossing back a jab:

 

“Not just anyone can come in~”

 

What an annoying person.

 

Lin Qingwan stomped her foot in frustration and left, radiating resentment.

 

Duan Ruoxi blinked, sensing the awkward tension in the air. But she was just a professional wife—emotional entanglements had nothing to do with her.

 

“Madam—ah, no!” The slip of the tongue escaped before she could stop it. Duan Ruoxi quickly covered her mouth and chuckled sheepishly. “Sister, would you like some cupcakes? I’ll bake some for everyone, okay?”

 

Perhaps feeling a little guilty about her hefty monthly salary, she seemed restless, eager to fill the house with fragrant, nutritious meals and sweet treats.

 

Fang Yi said, “Sure, thank you for your hard work.”

 

Duan Ruoxi, “Aye-aye!”

 

She walked away with her usual graceful demeanor, only to bounce up like a happy little bird once she turned the corner.

 

The hallway was now left with only the butler and Fang Yi. They exchanged a silent glance before the butler tactfully escorted Fang Yi to the garden to wait.

 

Fang Yi asked her—what exactly was Lin Shuxing’s illness?

 

Even if it were cancer, she still had four years until her 22nd birthday. Early detection and treatment could mean a high chance of recovery.

 

With the Lin family’s wealth, what medicine couldn’t they afford?

 

The butler shook her head, lowering her voice. “It’s a hereditary condition—very complex. The madam has always been frail. There’s no cure, only slow recuperation.”

 

She glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, before exhaling a heavy sigh. “If medicine had a solution, the family head wouldn’t have resorted to a marriage of fortune.”

 

“The family head does care deeply for the young miss. But people in their position… it’s hard to show it. There are too many things beyond their control.”

 

“The young miss likes you, and I’m genuinely happy about that. If you have the chance, please advise her to be more understanding of the family head.”

 

The butler’s family had served the Lins for generations—she might as well have watched Lin Shuxing grow up. Her voice carried deep resignation as she spoke, but even this much was already overstepping.

 

Masters’ affairs were not for her to comment on.

 

“My apologies,” the butler said, bowing solemnly to Fang Yi.

 

Fang Yi’s lips naturally curved downward, making her look fierce when expressionless. But in truth, she considered neutrality a form of politeness—silence was the highest form of disdain when in disagreement.

 

She didn’t agree with the butler’s words, nor would she ever advise Lin Shuxing to yield.

 

People had mouths to speak. No matter how constrained Lin Lan was by circumstances, was it really so hard to utter a few words of concession?

 

Refusing to bend for the sake of pride was its own kind of cowardice.

 

Who didn’t make mistakes? Who couldn’t admit fault? Would a single act of humility really shatter one’s dignity?

 

The butler remained in a bowing posture, silently awaiting Fang Yi’s response.

 

She was adept at reading people and could naturally sense Fang Yi’s dissatisfaction with Lin Lan.

 

But as a family head, as a clan leader, Lin Lan had undoubtedly done her best—no one could be calmer, more restrained, or more considerate of the bigger picture than her.

 

When the butler first took up her position, Lin Lan had still been a young girl. The portraits of past family heads reflected her slightly youthful face, already hinting at sharp edges.

 

“Once I take power, I’ll burn all of these,” she had said, her back turned to the crowd, her voice like icy waves crashing against a storm. “The Lin family’s glory lies not in the past, but in the future.”

 

…

 

“Stand up, I understand,” Fang Yi helped the butler up, unfazed by the elder’s bow, even smiling slightly.

 

“I also hope you’ll have the chance to pass on a message to Lin Lan.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Cherish the present. Don’t regret it later.”

 

The butler frowned slightly, but after straightening up, she resumed her unshakable, formal demeanor. Stiffly, she replied, “The family head never regrets anything.”

 

Fang Yi waved a hand dismissively. “I only recognize Lin Shuxing. I don’t know any ‘family head.'”

 

Seeing that she was immovable, the butler said nothing more and simply stood in silence.

 

At the same time, in Lin Shuxing’s room.

 

Xue Lan flopped onto the bed with practiced ease, sending a few small plushies flying. Only then did she notice, with surprise, that the bed was piled with all sorts of teddy bears. She blinked. “Since when did you start liking these?”

 

Lin Shuxing picked up the fallen bear and poked Xue Lan disapprovingly. “Get up. You’re dirty. Don’t squish my bears.”

 

Xue Lan saluted. “Reporting for duty! I showered before coming—spotless from head to toe!”

 

“Still not allowed to lie down.”

 

Xue Lan pouted. “You’re being distant with me!” She grabbed a black-and-white bear at random, and the more she looked at it, the more she found its expression annoyingly smug. “This isn’t from that fiancée of yours, is it?”

 

Lin Shuxing crossed her arms and let out a cute little huff through her nose. “Mhm.”

 

Xue Lan groaned as if the sky had fallen. She squeezed the bear indignantly, her grievances mounting. “How dare she?! What even happened? Why did you break off your engagement with Li Sinian for some plumber?!”

 

In the past, she had often secretly compared herself to Li Sinian—family background, academic achievements—and never once came out on top, resigning herself to playing second fiddle.

 

The Li family Li Sinian represented was actually the former Chen family. Her grandmother, Li Duqiu, had bided her time for years before swiftly consolidating the family’s resources after her grandfather, Chen Sihai, passed away. Three generations later, she restored the family name to Li, personally raising her granddaughter under that surname.

 

In that era, it was rare to see someone with such boldness and capability to defy the tide.

 

Even in hindsight, it seemed nearly impossible.

 

She could have chosen an easier path—selecting a son-in-law with the same surname to carry on the family name naturally, sparing herself the backlash.

 

But Li Duqiu refused. She declared before everyone that her granddaughter would bear her surname.

 

During the most difficult period, her funding chains completely collapsed. Because of the surname change, the entire family turned against her, even her own daughter—Lǐ Sīnián’s mother—was full of doubt.

 

Is a surname really that important?

 

Is a surname worth tearing the family apart, driving away wives and children?

 

Yes, of course it was! If surnames truly didn’t matter, why would these bastards react so strongly?

 

Li Duqiu ignored everyone and went alone to Yanjing, securing the protection of the Li family there under the guise of a dubious branch family head.

 

From then on, the once universally despised Li family transformed into an untouchable force in City Z.

 

Yanjing was like the heavens—no matter how much chaos erupted in City Z, who would dare defy the heavens?

 

Xue Lan believed Li Sinian’s birth was a perfect alignment of timing, geography, and human advantage. From the moment she was given the surname, she had been chosen as the next head of the Li family.

 

How could Xue Lan ever compete with someone like that—someone heaven itself spoon-fed?

 

But just when she had finally endured until Li Sinian and Lin Shuxing’s engagement was called off, where the hell did this Fang Yi come from?

 

Furious and resentful, Xue Lan gripped Lin Shuxing’s wrist, her tone unconsciously accusatory, “I’m supposed to be your best friend! Why don’t you tell me anything? You know I’d do anything for you!”

 

The pain in her wrist made Lin Shuxing’s expression darken. “Xue Lan, have you lost your mind?”

 

“If even that pretty boy can have you, why can’t I?”

 

The more Xue Lan thought about it, the more unbearable it became. She yanked Lin Shuxing into her arms, her eyes reddening at the corners.

 

“The Li family wants to change the arranged marriage candidate. That precious sister of yours is clearly eyeing the position of family head. Aren’t you smart enough to see that? Lin Lan is giving up on you! Why would you settle for some nobody as your fiancée? What can she possibly offer you?”

 

“Let go! Xue Lan, this is your last chance.”

 

Pinned down and unable to evade, Lin Shuxing could only watch as Xue Lan leaned in closer, the grip on her wrist nearly crushing.

 

“Come away with me, Xingxing. If you’re willing, we can go anywhere in the world. You can study the art you love. We could open a gallery together in France, or a flower shop—anything, as long as you’re with me…”

 

The thorns buried in Xue Lan’s heart had grown wild for too long, finally breaking through the soil and entangling Lin Shuxing through their connected skin.

 

Seeing her tremble in pain, seeing the tears welling in her eyes, Xue Lan’s heart ached unbearably. Overcome with emotion, her hands shook as she slowly pressed closer to Lin Shuxing’s soft lips.

 

Slap—!

 

The sound of the strike exploded like thunder in the room.

 

Coughing, Lin Shuxing yanked Xue Lan’s hair back with one hand while the other swung up, delivering a fierce slap.

 

It happened too fast. Dazed, Xue Lan stood frozen, struggling to process what had just happened.

 

The fiery sting on her cheek swelled into a vivid red handprint in seconds, a stark testament to Lin Shuxing’s fury.

 

Lin Shuxing stood, straightening her disheveled collar. Her voice was as cold as a basin of ice water dumped over Xue Lan’s head in winter:

 

“Are you sober now?”