622 I like you, Xiwan [Bonus chapter]
After Mingquan left with Xiwan and Chang Shi, Ye Xin rushed to see Lin Jiao and hugged her tightly, thus taking her by a surprise.
âI found out who is the one whom I like,â Ye Xin said as she pulled away from Lin Jiao.
âWho is it?â Lin Jiao asked.
âXiwan,â Ye Xin replied and jumped in happiness.
âNow, tell me what the Fourth Prince tell you in alone?â Ye Xin asked while smirking.
âNothing,â Lin Jiao answered.
âDonât hide it from me,â Ye Xin hit her arm from her elbow. âI know His Highness must have said something sweet to you. Also, you werenât supposed to leave the guest room. His Highness expressed his love for you in front of everyone,â she stated and kept smiling.
âThe Fourth Prince wants the answer from me,â Lin Jiao said. âHe will wait what I think of me,â she murmured and turned to sit on the bed.
She looked at the long sleeves of her dress and told Ye Xin she was scared.
.....
âScared of what?â Ye Xin questioned.
âMarriage,â Lin Jiao answered. Ye Xin walked to her and sat next to her.
âWhy are you scared of marriage?â Ye Xin asked.
âIt is difficult for me to explain,â Lin Jiao replied.
âBut the Fourth Prince is so lovely. Donât you think His Highness is too devoted to you?â Ye Xin muttered.
âI know. My heart flutters when he is around me,â Lin Jiao asserted.
âThen, what is the problem? You could not stop yourself from falling in love with him. Someday you have to marry. If you reject the Fourth Prince, you may not find a man like him. Donât you think you are too rigid? You are no longer a five-year-old kid,â Ye Xin remarked.
Lin Jiao could not speak what was the thing which scared her the most?
âI have enough time to think about it. Letâs go to see Xiwan. Did you try to talk to him?â Lin Jiao quickly switched the topic of their conversation.
âHow am I supposed to talk to Xiwan in front of so many people?â Ye Xin chuckled. âI have yet to find out where he lives. The Fourth Prince didnât give information on that and I could not ask about it in front of anyone,â she asserted.
âPrince Mingquan told me before leaving for the palace that Xiwan is looking for a suitable match for himself through a matchmaking agency,â Lin Jiao suddenly recalled about it.
âWhy are you telling me this now?â Ye Xin panicked. âDid he find any match?â She quickly asked.
âNo. He didnât. He will go today to the matchmaking agency again,â Lin Jiao said.
âI need to go there and stop him. If he find a match, then it will be difficult for me to get close to him,â Ye Xin stated.
âWe wonât let it happen. Letâs go,â Lin Jiao said, and stood up from the bed. âI need to change into better clothes first,â she affirmed and asked Ye Xin to wait for her. She went to the dressing room and changed into the casual outfit that she usually wore.
As she came out of the room with her friend, she encountered Lin Yongyi.
âWhere are you going? Also, what kind of attitude have you carried there?â Yongyi started scolding her.
âBrother Yongyi, there is no need to scold Lin Jiao. She is stressed because she will get married in a month,â Ye Xin protected Lin Jiao from getting more scolding.
âYongyi, let her enjoy. Donât say anything to her,â Lin Wujian stated and it made Yongyi stop.
âWhere are you two going?â Wujian asked them.
âTo stroll around the market,â Lin Jiao replied. âThank you, Father,â she said and looked at Ye Xin. They both left the residence.
Yongyi gazed at his father and asked him why he suddenly turned lenient on Lin Jiao.
âShe will leave this house soon,â Lin Wujian answered. âLet her do whatever she wants to do before her marriage. Prince Mingquan also wants the same,â he affirmed.
Yongyi hummed and saw the sadness in his fatherâs eyes. âWe will miss her,â he asserted.
âYes. This house will not be the same once she gets married,â Wujianâs eyes filled with tears.
Outside the Lin Residence, Lin Jiao and Ye Xin first discussed which matchmaking agency they should go to.
âThere are nearly ten such agencies. Why didnât you ask the Fourth Prince in which agency Xiwan went?â Ye Xin pouted her lips and began fiddling with her fingers.
âI did ask. What do you think of me?â Lin Jiao mumbled. âXiwan has gone to the most famous matchmaking agency â The Heavenly Matchmakers,â she affirmed.
âAhh. I have heard about them. My eldest brother met his wife through that agency only. Letâs quickly rush there. I cannot let Xiwan become someone elseâs,â Ye Xin pronounced.
âDonât worry. Xiwan will only be yours,â Lin Jiao said with a smile and they left to meet the agency owner.
As they reached there, they found a crowd of people present in the courtyard.
âWhat are they all doing here?â Ye Xin murmured.
âFinding pairs,â Lin Jiao said. âWe need to see the agency manager first.â
She stopped a man walking with a few envelopes in his hand.
âBrother, could you tell us where is the manager of this agency?â She asked.
âAhh, he has gone outside for important work,â the man said and walked away.
Lin Jiao looked at Ye Xin, who looked troubled.
âWhat are Miss Lin and Miss Ye doing here?â They heard a familiar voice and turned to look.
âXiwan!â Ye Xin excitedly said.
âYou can call us by our names,â Lin Jiao asserted.
âAhh, we are here to...â Lin Jiao paused, trying to think what she should say.
âWe are here to see you,â Ye Xin stated. Lin Jiao widened her eyes and looked at her friend with an amused smile.
âMe?â Xiwan was astonished to hear Ye Xinâs answer.
âYes. Donât find any match for yourself. I like you, Xiwan and I think we will be a great match,â Ye Xin pronounced with a firm tone.
Both Lin Jiao and Xiwan were shocked to hear the confession of Ye Xin.