Chapter 240 - 240 Return Without Success

Yang Qingyin’s words slightly relieved Ling Ruonan.

But before she could say anything, Yang Qingyin added, “Mrs. Ling, I still hope you can meet him. If he saw you, he would be very happy. Anyway, we’re out having fun and don’t want to go back just yet, so why don’t you join us? I believe no one will know about this.”

Ling Ruonan was momentarily tempted, but after thinking it over, she ultimately shook her head, “Thank you for your kindness, I will be going back soon.”

Yang Qingyin knew Ling Ruonan was still afraid of the situation getting out and causing trouble.

She understood that many people within the Ling Family were unhappy with Ling Ruonan’s current status. There were many men in the Ling Family who were displeased that a woman held so much power over their resources. Coupled with events from the past, it could be said that apart from a few elders like Ling Jinhua and Ling Mingrui, most of the Ling Family bore a grudge against Ling Ruonan; the Yang Family also harbored deep hatred for her, at least Yang Qingyin knew her own grandfather and father’s generation could not tolerate Ling Ruonan. It was understandable that Ling Ruonan always acted cautiously and carefully under these circumstances.

It wasn’t strange that Ling Ruonan didn’t trust her or Xiaoli, who was with her.

Yang Qingyin even believed that Ling Ruonan might very well think this: she was acting under the family’s orders, deliberately getting close to Luo Ziling, with the goal of ruining both Ling Ruonan and Luo Ziling.

Otherwise, Ling Ruonan wouldn’t have traveled hundreds of kilometers, dusty and worn, to the place where they were vacationing to speak her mind directly.

A person like Ling Ruonan typically took all factors into consideration when acting, and the fact that she had done something somewhat irrational today indicated that something was out of the ordinary.

Yang Qingyin suddenly didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to explain too much, and she felt explanations wouldn’t be clear. Some things had not been mentioned between her and Luo Ziling; their relationship was still vague and it was impossible to clarify things too much, let alone explain too much to Ling Ruonan.

In Ling Ruonan’s view, Yang Qingyin’s composure indeed made her think of other possibilities.

In the end, Ling Ruonan repeated her thoughts once more, “Qingyin, I still hope you can be rational about this matter. I hope that Ziling can face fewer hardships and establish himself in the Capital. I truly don’t want anyone to hurt him, including well-intentioned harm.”

Ling Ruonan’s words full of nostalgia made Yang Qingyin feel very uncomfortable; finally, she simply nodded gently, “Mrs. Ling, I understand what you mean. I won’t cause trouble for Ziling.”

After saying these few words, Yang Qingyin lifted her head and bravely looked at Ling Ruonan, “Mrs. Ling, if Luo Ziling and I truly love each other, just like you and Mr. Luo once did, would you still have the heart to separate us? I think you must know best how cruel it is to tear apart two people who truly love each other.”

Ling Ruonan didn’t expect Yang Qingyin to be so direct and was momentarily at a loss for words. After taking a deep breath, she finally said, “It’s precisely because I know how painful everything is that I fear you will repeat our past mistakes. While things can still be salvaged, I hope you can make a decisive choice and cut things off. This way, the pain is minimized and the harm to each other is the least. I don’t want Ziling to get hurt, and I don’t want you to be hurt either, not to mention bring greater enmity between our two families.”

“I actually want to know, why didn’t you do that back then, Mrs. Ling?” Yang Qingyin bit her lip and fixed Ling Ruonan with a defiant gaze.

Ling Ruonan forced a smile and said, “It’s precisely because I know the pain that our stubbornness caused everyone that I am doing this now. I know that coming to you in person to persuade you to leave Ziling will make you unhappy. But I still have to do this, because I don’t want to bring more trouble and cause you both to get hurt.”

“Then if you were given another chance, would you still choose to be with Mr. Luo and later have Ziling? Do you have any regrets?” After asking this question, Yang Qingyin’s gaze grew even more stubborn.

Ling Ruonan stood there, not knowing how to answer.

Yang Qingyin didn’t ask any further and continued to look at Ling Ruonan without blinking.

After at least three minutes of silence, Ling Ruonan finally answered faintly, “I should be, I have never regretted my choice back then.”

Ling Ruonan’s answer made Yang Qingyin breathe a sigh of relief, and she broke into a smile, “Thank you, Mrs. Ling, I know what to do now.”

Ling Ruonan was taken aback and didn’t understand what Yang Qingyin meant at first. After thinking for a while, she asked hesitantly, “You still don’t want to take my advice?”

“Ziling and I have no promises or agreements between us, and there’s no talk of ‘breaking up.’ If things don’t feel right, naturally we won’t continue to associate with each other. If… if it feels good to be together, I still want to hang out with him,” Yang Qingyin said firmly, looking at Ling Ruonan. “My parents have promised me not to interfere with my life and emotions. They let me make my own decisions about marriage, and I don’t want others to interfere either.”

Yang Qingyin’s firm yet gentle words left Ling Ruonan feeling helpless.

She knew that Yang Qingyin wouldn’t listen to her or act as she wished, so she could only sigh softly.

Without staying any longer, Ling Ruonan once again refused Yang Qingyin’s suggestion to meet with Luo Ziling and took her leave.

Seeing Ling Ruonan looking dejected as she got back into her car, Wuyue, who was responsible for driving that day, didn’t start the car immediately after getting in; instead, he turned to Ling Ruonan and asked in a low voice, “Miss, she didn’t agree?”

Since Ling Ruonan was afraid that someone would learn of her whereabouts, she didn’t bring many attendants with her today—just Wuyue and two other bodyguards, four people in two cars, with an ordinary Mercedes SUV as their vehicle.

Ling Ruonan didn’t speak but nodded lightly.

“Miss, are you worried that Yang Qingyin is deliberately getting close to the young master in order to seek revenge through emotional manipulation?” Wuyue tentatively asked in a whisper, “I think there’s a possibility.”

“I can’t rule out that possibility now,” Ling Ruonan said, shaking her head gently, “But it doesn’t seem like it, if that were true.”

Therefore, Wuyue didn’t dare to ask any more questions.

“Wuyue, find a way to arrange a meeting for me and Ziling at my own house after the National Day holiday,” Ling Ruonan thought for a while and finally made up her mind, “It seems that this matter can only be discussed with him. No matter what the possibility, the best outcome is for them to stop seeing each other, or else the consequences will be troublesome.”

“Okay,” Wuyue immediately agreed, “I will arrange it as soon as the holiday is over. But, Miss, won’t you see him today?”

“Let’s go back!”

“Okay… right!”