Chapter 238 - 238 Can You Promise Me?

Yang Qingyin quickly understood Ling Ruonan’s meaning and fell silent, unsure of how to respond.

On the other side of the phone, Ling Ruonan didn’t hurry her, waiting for Yang Qingyin to make a decision.

While Yang Qingyin was on the phone, Xiaoli, who had originally been massaging her, very tactfully stopped her hands and tiptoed away.

“Where shall we meet?” Yang Qingyin hesitated for a bit before finally agreeing to meet with Ling Ruonan.

“There’s a Prairie Tea Bar near the hotel where you’re staying. I’ll wait for you there.”

“Okay,” Yang Qingyin agreed without hesitation, and immediately got out of bed to dress and put on makeup.

Fifteen minutes after hanging up, a carefully dolled up Yang Qingyin appeared before Ling Ruonan, who was already waiting inside the tea bar.

“I wonder what Mrs. Ling would like to instruct by inviting me for tea today,” Yang Qingyin asked gently before sitting down opposite Ling Ruonan.

She showed enough respect by addressing her as “Mrs. Ling.” She wasn’t familiar with Ling Ruonan, but since Ling Ruonan was Luo Ziling’s mother, the famous woman bearing the title of The First Princess of Yanjing, she still deserved respect in Yang Qingyin’s heart.

Though Ling Ruonan was already in her forties, well-maintained, her face barely showed signs of aging. Judging solely by her appearance, one might take her for a woman in her late twenties at most. Mature and composed, Ling Ruonan was also beautiful and elegant. Even Yang Qingyin, who was very confident in her own looks and figure, felt an indescribable pressure in the presence of Ling Ruonan.

“I think you’ve already guessed why I’ve come to find you, haven’t you?” Ling Ruonan looked at Yang Qingyin with a wry smile. “You surely know about Luo Ziling’s identity by now.”

“Yes,” Yang Qingyin nodded gently, “I know he’s your son and he knows I’m from the Yang Family.”

“Do you know about what happened back then?” Ling Ruonan stared at Yang Qingyin in astonishment.

“One day when we were eating, he and Ling Haijun had a conflict. I didn’t know his identity then, so I told him about your Ling Family’s situation. He asked me about you, looking so curious, I told him about the past. After speaking, seeing his strange expression, I guessed his identity.” As she spoke, Yang Qingyin lowered her head, fiddling with the teacup in front of her.

“About the past, I did wrong by your uncle, but…” Ling Ruonan sighed, “I don’t know why he had to suffer that punishment, or why he left me, his mother, after only three months to be raised by his grandfather. Regardless of who was right or wrong, he’s innocent. I owe him so much, I want to make it up to him, and I don’t want his future life to be troubled.”

Hearing Ling Ruonan speak like this, Yang Qingyin looked at her calmly and then asked softly, “Mrs. Ling, you want me to leave him, not to disturb his life, right?”

“Had there been no past grievances, had there been no conflict between our two families, I’d be very happy to see you two together because I think you’re a great match.” Ling Ruonan spoke her mind candidly, as she quite admired Yang Qingyin, even liked this pretty and likable girl who had a strong character. “But, no one will allow you to be together. All your family members will object. I believe you understand what the ultimate outcome will be.”

“What about you?” Yang Qingyin countered.

“I?” Ling Ruonan was taken aback, then wryly smiled again, “As I said, if it weren’t for the reality of the situation, I’d be pleased to see it happen.”

“Mrs. Ling, you’ve actually misunderstood something,” Yang Qingyin started to smile, “In fact, Ziling and I haven’t known each other for long. We’ve never discussed romance. We just enjoy each other’s company when we hang out together. I’m not his girlfriend, and he’s not my boyfriend. We haven’t made any promises about our future, so what’s this about splitting up?”

Yang Qingyin’s words left Ling Ruonan unsure how to respond. After pondering for a moment, she spoke with a touch of embarrassment: “I’ve lived through this and know what stage your relationship is at. You both like each other and have accepted that in your hearts, it just hasn’t been openly acknowledged. But, I don’t want your ultimate outcome to be a tragedy like mine. Over these twenty years, I’ve tasted all the bitterness that life has to offer. No matter what, I can’t bear seeing my son, who has already suffered for twenty years, go through such an ordeal again. I’d go mad.”

Hearing Ling Ruonan’s emotional words, Yang Qingyin fell silent, unsure what to say.

“I think, had I not further pursued a relationship with Ziling’s father when I met him, that tragedy wouldn’t have happened. I might have missed out on someone I deeply loved, but it wouldn’t have resulted in so many people suffering for so many years. Marrying your uncle, I might have lived a happy life, and over time, we might have come to accept each other. While that would have left a lot undesired, it would not have led to such painful ordeals. I don’t wish for you to follow in our footsteps, so I hope you’ll carefully consider it. I know you’re a very assertive and rational person. You’ll understand the pros and cons,” Ling Ruonan paused before continuing: “It’s less painful to part ways now when feelings aren’t too deep. So, I hope you won’t contact each other in the future to avoid any hurt. Can you promise me this?”

As she said this, Ling Ruonan’s eyes had reddened, but she fought back the tears.

Yang Qingyin was initially resistant to Ling Ruonan’s words, but seeing her reddened eyes and the tears within, her heart softened, and she was overcome with a boundless sense of sorrow. She didn’t answer Ling Ruonan’s request but asked softly instead, “He’s been in the Capital for a while now, and you haven’t seen each other yet? Why not meet today? You could talk to him about some things as well!”

Yang Qingyin’s suggestion momentarily moved Ling Ruonan, but after a brief consideration, she shook her head: “No, I don’t want to cause any stir by meeting with him.”

Yang Qingyin knew that Ling Ruonan was worried she or someone around her might inform the elders at the Yang Family of the mother and daughter meeting. Then the Yang Family could accuse the Ling Family of breaching the agreement set all those years ago and demand accountability. But Yang Qingyin didn’t want to explain; she simply said softly, “He’s close by, are you willing to leave without seeing him at all?”

Yang Qingyin’s words struck the softest part of Ling Ruonan’s heart, and her tears finally began to fall.