Happy New Year!

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  Lu Hong stood still for a long time, reluctant to leave the place.

  A familiar voice broke into his thoughts: "Big Brother!"

  Lu Hong came back to his senses and laughed out loud "Second Brother".

  The young boy standing in front of him was about eleven or twelve years old, with fair skin and a clear face. He was the second young master of the Lu family's main house, Lu Qian.

  Lu Qian was born less than eight months old and was weak and sickly since childhood. He took countless expensive tonics and medicines before growing up safely. His body was far inferior to that of his peers, and he was not tall, barely reaching Lu Hong's chest.

  Lu Hong and his stepmother Ling Shi had a distant relationship, but he was very fond of and protective towards this younger brother. The two brothers' feelings for each other were quite deep.

  "You vanished right after lunch." Lu Qian complained somewhat discontentedly: "I had to search everywhere for you, why are you standing here alone in a daze?"

  Lu Hong subconsciously didn't want to mention the encounter with Ling Jingyi, and casually said: "Peonies are in bloom in April, but the garden at the Ling's house has tri-colored peonies that bloom in March. I was idle and had nothing to do, so I came to broaden my horizons."

  Afraid that Lu Bi would continue to ask, he hastily pointed to the peonies in full bloom not far away and said: "Look quickly, this is the Brocade of Luoyang. One plant produces flowers of different colors, and the branches and leaves are also different!"

  Lu Qian followed Lu Hong's gaze and looked over.

  Large flowers are hidden among the lush green branches, delicate and charming, extremely beautiful.

  "It's really beautiful." Lu Qian exclaimed with a smile: "I heard from my grandmother that this was planted by my cousin Jie. My cousin Jie is indeed elegant and refined, with a clever hand, unfortunately she has been ill all the time, I haven't seen her yet..."

  "It's just been a short while since my sister left!"

  Lu Hong blurted out.

  Lu Qian's eyes flashed with a hint of eagerness, his voice slightly trembling: "Big brother, have you seen Jie sister?"

  Lu Hong didn't notice Lu Qian's abnormality and nodded in response: "Uh-huh, I saw her. When I came to Peony Garden last time, she happened to be there too."

  The stunning impression at first sight is deeply etched in my mind. Probably will never forget it for this life and the next.

  Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, Ling Jingxu's first impression of him seemed to be not very good... To put it mildly, it was very bad.

  There must have been some misunderstanding that he didn't know about. Next time I see Sister Jiu, I'll ask her and clarify the misunderstanding.

  Lu Hong's mind was wandering and his thoughts were flying about, it wasn't until after a while that he came back to himself.

  This time, he happened to meet Lu Qian's inquiring gaze: "Big brother, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking of your cousin?"

  Lu Hong coughed somewhat nervously: "Nothing like that, don't talk nonsense."

  Lu Qian blinked and suddenly smiled, asking: "Big brother, is Jie sister very beautiful? Is her temperament gentle?"

  Lu Hong suppressed the ripples in his heart, nodded: "Yes, it's indeed beautiful." The most beautiful thing in life can't be considered gentle. His icy gaze could freeze people to death.

  "What did you just say to her?" Lu Qian continued to ask.

  Lu Hong was about to answer, but suddenly felt something was off and couldn't help but laugh: "Why are you asking so many questions? When I first met her, we just exchanged names and greeted each other, we didn't even have a conversation."

  It's better not to mention things that were rejected outright after showing kindness.

  Lu Qian smiled unnaturally: "Nothing, I just asked casually." Soon changed the subject: "The lunch break is almost over, let's go to Lingjia's family school now! Don't be late."

  Lu Hong smiled and responded with a "yes", and before leaving, he subconsciously glanced at the blooming Luoyang brocade.

  Lu Qian took in Lu Hong's subtle movements with a hint of gloom that didn't match his age.

  ......

  Bai Yu asked hesitantly after returning to the Qiushui Pavilion, "Lu Shaoxiaojie is born with a handsome appearance and has good manners, without any impoliteness. Why did Miss make him so embarrassed?"

  Miss is usually gentle and kind, even when dealing with servants, she rarely puts on a stern face. But today, facing the young master who had just met her, she was exceptionally cold and inhumane, really puzzling.

  Ling Jingxian met with the Ling family and Lu Xuan one after another, her emotions fluctuating unpredictably, far from the calm exterior she showed. With a hint of impatience, she replied: "There's no reason, I just don't like him. Do you need a reason to dislike someone?"

  Bai Yu: "......"

  Ling Jingxuan scolded Bai Yu, and in her heart, she secretly regretted and blamed herself. Bai Yu was only asking out of concern, so how could she shift her anger onto him?

  "Bai Yu, I'm sorry." Ling Jingxu's tone softened, and a apologetic expression floated on her face: "I didn't mean to mock you. I just don't like people from the Lu family, I deeply dislike them and am unwilling to have any dealings with him."

  Bai Yu's heart was moved.

  At this time, the servant's status was low, and the master's mood was not good. Scolding and venting was a common occurrence. Which master would apologize to a maid? The young lady was too lenient with her!

  "Miss doesn't like Young Master Lu, so she just won't bother with him in the future."

  Bai Yu quickly changed her mind and began to make plans for Ling Jingyu: "Miss will definitely stay here for a while this time. Mr. Lu is living in the Ling mansion, and there will be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future. Why not get closer to Eighth Miss? If Mr. Lu takes the initiative to talk, Eighth Miss will surely help Miss out."

  That's a good idea.

  Ling Jingxiao smiled and nodded slightly.

  Bai Yu saw that her suggestion was adopted, and she felt very pleased in her heart. She continued to smile and say: "If Master Lu comes to the Autumn Water Pavilion, Miss can pretend to be ill and not see him."

  Ling Jingxuan smiled and responded with her mouth, but she didn't think so in her heart.

  Bai Yu said so because he didn't understand Lu Xun's temperament.

  If he has made up his mind to get close to and please someone, there are countless ways to do so. Simply avoiding him is not a solution. However, she had long since become as cold as iron and would never be moved, so there was nothing to worry about.

  ......

  Every other morning.

  As soon as he arrived at the gate of Yonghe Hall, he met Lu Xun and Lu Xiang, two brothers.

  "Little sister," Lu Hong's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise: "I and my second brother came to pay respects to our grandmother, didn't expect to run into you here."

  Lu Hong wore a light blue robe today, with a same-colored handkerchief tied around his hair. Compared to yesterday, he had less of the luxurious air of a noble son, but more of a refined and elegant demeanor. On his extremely handsome face, a perfectly timed smile appeared, and a pair of bright black eyes gazed at her warmly.

  Which spring maiden can resist such a handsome young man?

  What a coincidence!

  It was clear that he had been waiting nearby for a long time, secretly instructing his men to keep an eye on him and creating this unexpected encounter.

  Ling Jingyu pulled up the corner of her lips, a cold indifference in her eyes, and called out softly, "Lu Biao-ge."

  Luhong put his heart into it and "coincidentally" met Ling Jingxian, so he wouldn't retreat because of this small setback. He smiled and said: "Sister Jing doesn't have to be so distant, I'm two years older than you, just call me Brother Hong."

  Ling Jingyu's expression remained calm: "I'll go to Yonghe Hall to pay my respects to Grandmother first. If Brother Lu is not in a hurry to enter, please let me pass and don't block my way."

  Lu Hong: "......"

  Bai Yu looked at Lu Hong's face, which was alternately red and white, and felt a inexplicable sense of sympathy for the young master.

  It's really strange, the usually gentle and kind miss seems to be particularly disgusted with this young master, not even willing to pretend to be polite. Cold face, cold words, and cold tone, only short of directly saying "I hate you, get out of my sight".

  Lu Qian stood beside him, never speaking, his eyes fixed tightly on Ling Jingxuan's cold and beautiful face. The shock in his heart was unknown to anyone.

  That gaze was as substantial as a thing, making it hard to ignore. It quickly conjured up some distant and unpleasant memories.

  Ling Jingxu's heart moved slightly, and she looked at Lu Qian.

  "Eldest Sister Jia," Lu Qian almost immediately returned to normal, smiling and clasping his fists in greeting: "I am Lu Qian, Eldest Sister Jia can call me Younger Brother Qian or Ah Qian, either is fine."

  The slightly thin and weak-looking young man was not tall, and was even a little shorter than her. His pale face had an endearing smile on it, and his delicate eyebrows and eyes were very similar to those of the Ling family.

  Ling Jingyu's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but quickly relaxed as she bowed her head in greeting: "So it was my cousin."

  The attitude is not very enthusiastic, but it's still better than the indifference when facing Lu Xun.

  Lu Qian smiled and said, "Since we're all here together, let's go to the Yonghe Hall to pay our respects to our grandmother! With more people, it'll be livelier. Sister Ju, please lead the way."

  He said, stepping aside with a polite demeanor.

  It's just that Lu Qian's immature face is trying to make such a move, it's actually quite ridiculous to pretend to be an adult.

  Ling Jingxu wanted to refuse, but had no way to refuse, so she simply responded with a calm "okay" and stepped forward into the room.

  Lu Qian's eyes flashed with joy, and he smiled as he beckoned Lu Hong: "Big brother, let's go in too."

  Lu Hong's enthusiasm was met with a cold reception, and he felt frozen from the inside out. He also felt that he had lost face in front of Lu Qian, and for a moment, he couldn't catch his breath. He nodded randomly, and his heart felt extremely depressed.

  ......