Chapter 985: The Story of Ling and Heng (248)
After kissing her, the man released her shoulder and left.
Feng Ling however, stood still by the door for a long moment; her cheeks were burning hot. She stared at the closed door dazedly for a long time before she finally returned to herself.
She had only been staying with hin for a few days. Why did they strangely feel like an old, married couple?
And she was actually looking forward to his early return…
——
The Li family.
The elders sat together.
“Nanheng isn’t back yet?”
“Soon. He will return within today.”
“We should bring forward the matter with the Feng family. When we were dealing with the earlier trouble with the military, it was all thanks to the Feng family’s appearance that they didn’t dare to go out of line. The marriage alliance between the two families has to be done eventually. Previously, didn’t Nanheng say that he is willing to proceed with it once the eighteenth death anniversary of their second daughter has passed? Right now, it’s already way past eighteen. If he is really unwilling to marry Feng Mingzhu and insists on taking this road, we will have to bring their daughter’s cenotaph home even if we have to beg them for it. We cannot break our promise. Besides, with the help that the Feng family granted us this time, we owe them a favour. We can’t delay this matter any further.”
“Have you discussed this with the Elder Feng Couple? After we bring their second daughter’s cenotaph home, let her directly enter the Li family’s ancestral hall. We will guard her for three years and afterwards, the relationship will end. At that time, Nanheng can then marry whoever he pleases. They can’t possibly demand for our Li family to end here? He has to marry a proper wife eventually!”
“I’ve discussed it. The Feng family has agreed. They only wish to find a home for that poor child. Since Nanheng was the one who brought this up previously, he has to fulfill it. Since he said he will guard her for three years, we will proceed with three years. After three years, he can marry whoever he wishes, but for the next three years, he must fulfill his duties as the Feng family’s son-in-law. We cannot publicize the matter of his marriage with a cenotaph. All we can say is that he is married. No one is allowed to say, nor can we explain the reason. This is all to protect the poor child’s dignity and to provide a clean space for her. I don’t think this demand is out of line.”
“Indeed. Besides, the Feng family did us a huge favour during the incident of the commander’s death. Nanheng has not reason to reject, nor do we. Let’s proceed with this.”
“Wait for Nanheng to return first.”
——
The sky gradually darkened. Feng Ling stood in the kitchen to prepare a bowl of noodles. After the past few days, her skills in preparing noodles have improved greatly. Previously, the noodles would almost always become soggy, but now, she was able to confirm if it was ready just by picking a few strands out for a glance. She had only cooked a few times when Li Nanheng was away but was already capable of doing so.
She poured some of the noodle seasoning she had bought from the nearby convenience store in. She gave it a taste to confirm that it was alright before bringing the bowl to the living room. She then ate while watching the television.
At 7:00 p.m., after washing the dishes, Feng Ling took the initiative to mop the floor and clean up the room. Although there was a helper who would come by every few days to do the chores, she still cleaned up the space out of habit.
All of a sudden, her phone rang from the sofa. She picked it up to see that it was a call from Qiao Fei and hesitated for a moment before answering: “Brother Qiao?”
“Come out for a chat?” Qiao Fei’s voice was low, heavy and slightly husky. It sounded as though he was on the road.
Feng Ling checked the time: “Didn’t I previously say, after leaving the XI Base, let’s not meet again. I’ve already helped you once, Brother Qiao. I remember that you are someone who knows his limits well.”
It was quiet on the other end for a moment before he answered: “I’m at your condo building right now.”
Feng Ling was startled. She turned to stand before the ceiling-to-floor windows and opened it to step onto the balcony. When she glanced down, she saw that the parking lot was filled with rows of cars. The tenth storey wasn’t very low, but she could clearly see that there was a Bentley parked there with its headlights on.
After seeing the car, she spoke into the phone: “You should return. Be it for work or private matters, we shouldn’t meet again. Brother Qiao, don’t tell me you drank too much again.”
“En, you guessed correctly. Earlier, I drank some. I also prepared some drinks in the car. Do you want to come down to share it with me?”
“You should know that my alcohol tolerance isn’t good. Even if you’re looking for a drinking companion, you shouldn’t be asking me.”
“I only want to ask you.”
“…” Feng Ling was somewhat speechless: “I’m hanging up.”
“Feng Ling, I drank alcohol and I can’t drive back on my own. Send me home again?”
Feng Ling pursed her lips. “Do you think I’ll fall for that again?”
Qiao Fei chuckled lightly. “You’ve learned to be smart?”
Li Nanheng said that Qiao Fei was good at tricks. It was only now that Feng Ling discovered he was really good at tricks. He had no shame in using such conventional and weak tricks against her. Did he think she wouldn’t understand it if he tried to bully her?
“Since you can’t drive, I’ll call someone to drive you home.”
“I only want you to drink with me; I don’t need someone else to drive me home.”
From his tone, she guessed that he was really slightly drunk.
Was the earlier matter at the evening party unresolved? Was he still being pushed to get married? Or was it something?
Feng Ling did not ask more. Besides, since the previous matter was being handled by the police, twenty underlings from the underworld shouldn’t cause much problems. There was nothing more to ask about it.
Besides, with Qiao Fei around, the situation was surely handled well.
Thus, there was nothing she could even ask.
“I’m heading to bed. Brother Qiao, have a safe drive home.”
After speaking, she directly hung up the call and turned her phone off. She then turned back and tossed her phone onto the couch.
After working out for an hour, taking a shower and preparing to get into bed, it was already past 9:00 p.m..
Feng Ling returned to the main bedroom to close the curtains. Coincidentally, the window here faced the same direction as the balcony. She lowered her head and immediately saw that the car was still parked there.
However, the headlights were now turned off as the car sat there quietly.
Feng Ling watched it silently for a few seconds before tugging the curtains close.
After laying down, she was too lazy to return to the couch to retrieve her phone. She stared at the chandelier and after a long moment and a long deliberation, she stood up and tugged aside the curtain for another glance. The car was still parked there.
During their phone call, she had only urged him to return. She had laid things out very clearly, was it still useless?
Previously they had already agreed that they wouldn’t meet frequently from here on. She would only help him once too.
The people in XI Base always said, ‘If you have something to say, say it out directly, and don’t ever go back on your word.”
What was he doing now?
Feng Ling stood up and changed her clothes. She then picked up her coat to leave.
After heading down, she went straight for the parking lot to approach the Bentley. There wasn’t much light around the area; all of the street lamps and lighting in this residential area was slightly far away. The place appeared dark.
She approached to knock on the driver’s side window.