Chapter 59: The Fifty-Ninth Day of Slacking
“So… Miss Wen, what… what do I need to do?” Lin Ruge struggled to process what Wen Ying had just said. “Based on what you’re suggesting, to prove that having a wife is a terrible thing… does that mean I need to get a wife first?”
“Not necessarily. A fiancĂ©e will be more than enough,” Wen Ying said, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips as she looked at him. “Don’t you worry, little brother. Since I said I’d help you all the way, I’ll be the one to play the part of your fiancĂ©e.”
This was something Wen Ying had wanted to do for a very long time.
Unfortunately, she had never found anyone willing to play along.
Now that she had the chance…
Wen Ying was going to show these parents exactly what all their nagging was for. Nagging him about marriage day in and day out! Being single was the only way to live!
Seeing how committed she was, Lin Ruge was once again deeply moved.
To help him, Miss Wen was willing to sacrifice her own reputation… The day would come when he would present the three letters and six rites, and formally, honorably, ask for her hand in marriage!
To ensure the “proof by contradiction” went smoothly, the first step was naturally to meet Lin Ruge’s parents.
With Lin Ruge leading the way, Wen Ying arrived at his parents’ chambers.
She took the opportunity to observe the mountain stronghold.
Although it was called a stronghold, it was nothing like the ones from her stereotypes. There were no crude huts, no messy haystacks or piles of trash. To call it a stronghold was a misnomer; it was more like a massive, sprawling estate.
It was even more impressive than the Shen Manor, home to the wealthiest family in Ping’an Town.
But it was a perfect match for Lin Ruge’s gentle, scholarly, and filial demeanor.
This was more than just her own stereotypes being wrong.
This so-called “bandit’s den” was strange through and through.
Seeing this, Wen Ying was, of course… delighted.
This trip was definitely worth it.
Lin Ruge’s parents’ room was the master suite of the grand estate.
He knocked politely on the door. “Dad, Mom, it’s me, Gege.”
“Come in.”
When the man’s voice sounded from inside, Wen Ying almost thought her ears were playing tricks on her.
Could you imagine? The voice that answered to “Dad” was the clear, high-pitched voice… of a young boy!
But she quickly composed herself.
While such a voice was rare, it wasn’t unheard of.
However, when Lin Ruge pushed the door open, Wen Ying could no longer remain calm.
Unless her eyes were deceiving her…
Seated in the main chairs inside were a boy and a girl who couldn’t have been more than twelve or thirteen years old!
“Dad, Mom,” Lin Ruge said, bowing to the two of them as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Wen Ying shot him a sidelong glance.
You’re telling me these two are your parents?!
Wen Ying would have had an easier time believing him if he’d said he gave birth to them.
Even if he was adopted, even if the couple had aged incredibly well, this was just too absurd!
“Gege, who is this young lady…?” Lin Ruge’s “mother,” the twelve-year-old girl, asked with a sweet smile.
Now, Wen Ying could almost understand the nickname.
In this situation, she had to admit, “Gege” â which sounded like “big brother” â was a very fitting name.
“Mom, this young lady is… my fiancĂ©e.” A faint blush crept onto Lin Ruge’s face as he said the word.
“Really?” The girl’s eyes lit up as she looked at Wen Ying with delight. “Miss, are you really… our Gege’s fiancĂ©e?”
Our ‘big brother’…
That phrasing had a certain ring to it that Wen Ying found particularly interesting.
“I am,” Wen Ying nodded.
“That’s wonderful, just wonderful!” The girl’s joy was written all over her face, her voice filled with relief. “Our Gege finally has someone who wants him!”
Wen Ying: “…”
Just how pathetic was this guy? Getting engaged wasn’t a scandal that would disappoint his fans; instead, they were just relieved someone had finally taken him off the market.
“So, Dad, Mom, from now on, you don’t need to worry about my marriage,” Lin Ruge said respectfully.
“Good, that’s great!” the boy exclaimed, slapping his thigh and laughing like a child amused by a joke. “You’ve been here for a while, and we still don’t know the young lady’s name.”
“My name is Wen Ying,” she replied.
“Wen Ying… a fine name!” the boy said happily. “Since you’re already his fiancĂ©e, Gege, when do you plan to get married?”
Their eagerness… was certainly very parent-like.
Wen Ying had, of course, already prepared a response for Lin Ruge.
“Dad, Mom, a marriage requires an auspicious date. Wen Ying’s family has recently run into some trouble, which is why she has come to live with us for the time being. It’s a good opportunity for her to get to know our family,” Lin Ruge recited.
Wen Ying had told him to stick to the truth.
“Family trouble” â referred to two bandits showing up and kidnapping her, the young miss of the house.
“Get to know the family” â referred to fostering negative feelings, like disgust.
“I see.” The boy accepted the explanation without any issue. “That makes sense. Marriage is a serious matter, not to be rushed. In that case, let my daughter-in-law-to-be stay here in the stronghold for now.”
Of course it’s not to be rushed.
After all, kidnapping a woman to be the chieftain’s wife was hardly child’s play.
After they left his “parents'” room, Wen Ying didn’t ask any questions. Instead, Lin Ruge began to explain on his own.
“Miss Wen, you must have been quite surprised when you saw my parents,” he said, turning his head to smile at her.
“I was,” Wen Ying admitted freely.
Any normal person would have been shocked by that scene.
“I told you before, Miss Wen, that I was adopted by my current parents.” Lin Ruge’s gaze drifted into the distance, his voice soft with reminiscence. “When they adopted me, they had just turned ten, and I was twenty. At the time, I had been abandoned by my clan. They kindly took me in and gave me the warmth of a home…”
Good heavens, Wen Ying thought. This wasn’t adopting a child, this was finding a father for themselves.
Besides, ten years old… a mother and father… they got married at ten?
Seeing Lin Ruge’s melancholic expression, Wen Ying didn’t have the heart to interrupt him.
It seemed that in this strange town of Ping’an, no matter how ridiculous the circumstances, the people living in them accepted them completely.
It was just like making Lu Xiaojie, who couldn’t make steamed buns, cook them every day, or having Magistrate Cao Ruobing scribble nonsense on official documents.
Compared to all that, the family dynamics at her own Shen Manor were practically normal.
But, despite the absurd relationship between Lin Ruge and his parents, the love his two young parents had for their “son” seemed genuine.
For instance, their incessant nagging about his marriage.
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