Yao Ying thought to himself, 'Good speech, Feng! He gives one point for Feng. It seems like he's the more outgoing one between the twins. He has a smart and sweet mouth. It seems like the matter regarding flattery should be dealt with by him.'
Yao Ling just nodded at what Feng said and smiled. At least, she started to smile. The atmosphere had become less tense because of it.
Xiao Yu knew that Yao Ling was still eating and it wasn't polite to obstruct her, but she really wanted to know the news about her younger brother. She decided to be brave and whispered to Yao Ling, "Young Mistress, can Young Mistress please help this servant?"
"Help you? What kind of help?"
"Can Young Mistress ask Young Master about this servant's younger brother updated news?" Xiao Yu looked at Yao Ling pitifully. She bit her lower lips, feeling anxious. She couldn't help but feel worried until she got the news about her younger brother. Xiao Yu wished that he was okay.
Yao Ling was still angry at Yao Ying, but she also understood Xiao Yu's feeling. She sighed to herself. She knew that she couldn't let her pride get the better of her. Xiao Yu really needed her help and Yao Ling also wanted to help her ease her worry. She decided to call it a truce at the moment and start to talk to her husband again, "Husband..."
Yao Ying's face lit up with happiness. Did she forgive him? He eagerly answered, "Yes, Wife?"
Yao Ling could see his happiness and wanted to smile back, but she held herself back. She needed to punish him and make him feel anxious first before she gave him her forgiveness. "Do you have any news about Xiao Yu's younger brother?" Yao Ling asked monotonously.
Yao Ying realized it was because of Xiao Yu that Yao Ling decided to talk to him again. He mentally thought to himself that he should give a reward to Xiao Yu and Feng. If Xiu knew what inside his young master's mind was, he would certainly complain. Did Young Master forget about his sacrifice? Why was he the only one who didn't get a reward? Sadly, Xiu didn't know about it and his sacrifice was ruthlessly forgotten by a certain young master.
"We found out his whereabouts, but not the exact place. We need more time, so for the time being... you have to be patient." Yao Ying aswered Yao Ling's question, but the last part was directed toward Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu felt relieved when she heard that they found out about her brother's whereabouts. "I just need to make sure about one thing... Young Master... is he okay? Is he being bullied?" She asked with teary eyes which made Xiu's heart feel painful for her.
Yao Ying glanced at Xiu briefly, then he answered Xiao Yu's question, "He's currently fine. Don't worry!" Yao Ying had made a consensus with Xiu and Feng that they shouldn't talk about her brother's real condition, so he could only divulge that much to ease Xiao Yu's worry for the time being.
Yao Ling saw Yao Ying's expression and she suddenly understood that Yao Ying didn't tell Xiao Yu the whole thing. He concealed some of the things about Xiao Yu's younger brother condition. Yao Ling felt a knot in the pit of her stomach. It seemed like saving Xiao Yu's brother wasn't that easy feat after all.
Yao Ling felt that she needed to talk alone to Yao Ying after dinner. She sighed inwardly and knew that they should probably dismiss the servant for an early rest.
When Yao Ling looked closely at Yao Ying's face, she was certain that something wasn't right. He looked paler than usual and even his lips too! What was wrong with him? She took a peek on him once in a while and she found out that he tried to massage his forehead for a few times secretly. Did he get a massive headache?
Did he get sick because he slept on the floor the previous night? Was that the reason he went to the hua lou? Just because of a fit of anger? She had a lot in her mind and she felt slightly guilty because of it.
"What are you thinking about?" Yao Ling snapped out of her thought, because of Yao Ying's question. Yao Ying saw that she furrowed her eyebrows and deep in thought, making him curious.
"What?" Her mind was still in a jumble and that was the only thing that she could mutter.
Yao Ying looked at Yao Ling in confusion. He touched Yao Ling's lips and wiped it softly. "What are you thinking about? You bit your lower lip and even hurt yourself. Look! It bleeds for a little bit. Are you okay?"
Yao Ling put down her chopsticks because she suddenly felt full. She forced a smile out of her lips and said, "Nothing. I'm just feeling full." They both knew that she was lying through her teeth.
Then she looked down at Yao Ying's bowl and found that it was already empty. "Have you finished your meal?"
"En ~ I've already finished my meal." Yao Ying answered her question. Yao Ying didn't have the heart to eat and he already felt full even though he only ate a little.
"Good!" Yao Ling said.
She turned to Xiao Yu and ordered her, "Please clean it up. Then, all of you can go rest earlier." Yao Ling practically dismissed their servants in order to have the talk with Yao Ying.
The three of them looked at each other but knew that there was nothing they could do. They hastily cleaned up the table and left after saying goodbye.
Yao Ling looked at Yao Ying and asked, "Will you explain it to me now?"
Yao Ying sighed. "I don't know where to start. Do you want to know about my hectic day first or about Xiao Yu's younger brother first? Which one?" Yao Ying asked softly.
Yao Ling tilted her head for a little bit, contemplating. If Yao Ying didn't have a massive headache, he would love to kiss her. "Xiao Yu's younger brother first," she answered. Although she trusted Yao Ling, there was still wandering fear in her mind that Yao Ying would leave him someday. She was also afraid that he found another woman because of their promise not to consummate the marriage.
Yao Ying nodded and told her what had happened to Xiao Yu's brother in details. He didn't cover up how the little kid was forced to see them doing the deeds. Yao Ling could feel her anger burst out. "How could someone do that to a little kid? I asked Xiao Yu and her brother is only eight years old! They are real monsters for doing that!"
Yao Ling couldn't possibly understand what's going on inside their mind! She remembered how Liu Li looked so calm and sweet, but it was actually only a disguise of her rotten heart and conduct. "Do you have a plan to save him?"
Yao Ying nodded. "I do." He repeated the drafted plan to Yao Ling and Yao Ling nodded in satisfaction. Yao Ling wasn't a ruthless person. But once someone hurt the people who were dear to her, she would be unmerciful towards that person too!
"I want her to be gone! Not only her but also her partner-in-crime too!" Yao Ling said in a firm tone. "These kinds of people would always ruin other people's lives and have no remorse after doing that!"
"Did she the one who told you that I went to the hua lou?" Yao Ying asked curiously. He took the chance to ask when their topic was about that woman.
Yao Ling nodded. "Yes," Yao Ling answered.
Yao Ying sneered. "I knew it! She works really fast."
"Hmpf! She's trying to sow discord. Although I know about it, I couldn't help but feel angry!" Yao Ling glared at Yao Ying, feeling hurt.
"I understand and it's not your fault. If I heard that you went to a brothel and visit male prostitutes, I would also feel angry and hurt just like you," Yao Ying said in remorse. "But... I really have my own reasons. I'll tell you about it. But before that, can you tell me what Liu Li said?"