Chapter 8: The Scheme’s Origin

What did he do?

Thinking of Li Ruantang’s flushed cheeks, Meng Jun smiled and said, “I today–”

His words abruptly stopped. Hu Youning curiously asked, “Jiu Jiu, why did you stop talking?”

“I……”

Coming to his senses, the young gentleman’s ears turned red and his breath weakened. He uncomfortably averted his eyes, his gaze falling on the tightly closed door not far away.

He definitely couldn’t tell Hu Youning that he had been teasing the sleeping Li Ruantang all morning.

After all, not long ago, the young gentleman had dejectedly made up a story with Hu Youning, genuinely and falsely coaxing out quite a few sighs from him.

“Jiu Jiu, hurry up and tell me, I’m dying of curiosity.” Hu Youning marinated the cleaned fish to remove the fishy smell and smiled at Meng Jun, “If it’s really interesting, I’ll have something to keep me entertained when I’m idle at home in the future.”

He said it casually, but the young gentleman’s eyes twitched upon hearing it, and a scene even appeared in his mind.

Youning’s voice would be gentler, perhaps it would be more suitable for him to call out “Tangtang”.

Even though he had made up his mind to pair them up, the young gentleman’s brows unexpectedly furrowed a bit, like the heavy clouds pressing in the sky outside.

“Actually, it’s not that interesting.”

Meng Jun lowered his eyes and tightly grasped his sleeves, “It definitely can’t compare to the happiness of going to Changshan Valley to play.”

That’s right, it was nothing more than a woman blushing, not some rare event. Even if he said it, Youning wouldn’t find it interesting.

The young gentleman pursed his lips and restrained his smile, “I was just sitting in the room spacing out for a while.”

In any case, he wasn’t thinking of anything when teasing Li Ruantang, not much different from being lost in thought. Meng Jun nodded, as if affirming something, “Mm, that’s all there is to it.”

“Spacing out?” Hu Youning was stunned, feeling even more sympathetic towards this young lord in his heart. Despite his illustrious family background, he had married a woman he disliked, and now even something like spacing out brought him joy.

Wait, Hu Youning slightly narrowed his eyes, perhaps he found joy not because of spacing out.

A flash of realization suddenly struck him and he lowered his voice to ask, “Jiu Jiu, did you lie?!”

“……”

Meng Jun was stunned by his question, somewhat surprised by Hu Youning’s perceptiveness.

Hu Youning let out a long sigh and gestured towards the tightly closed door not far away, “I know, actually you feel happy spacing out because Lady Li is fast asleep and you don’t have to pretend with her, right?”

“Jiu Jiu, don’t be foolish.”

Hu Youning was a male concubine and ultimately softhearted. He glanced outside and shut the kitchen door, saying, “This world is not a place of tolerance for men. No matter how much Lady Li dotes on you, she’s still a woman after all. How could she allow the person by her side to have another in his heart?”

“Since you don’t like her, the plan for now is to slowly make her become distant from you, that’s the best strategy. There are many romantic women in this world, plus Lady Li has good looks. Wait until you return to the capital and find a few handsome male concubines, maybe she’ll have a change of heart and no longer be attached to you.”

“At that time, it’ll be much easier for you to bring up divorce.”

Hu Youning’s heartfelt words fit perfectly with Meng Jun’s intentions.

Thinking of Sister Wei in the capital, the young gentleman deliberately cast aside his earlier gloominess and pretended to be dejected, “But my wife-master likes simple-minded male concubines.”

He secretly observed Hu Youning’s expression and said softly, “Moreover, this matter was my fault to begin with, so I sincerely want to find a male concubine that suits my wife-master’s preferences.”

The meaning that should be conveyed, he stated clearly.

Meng Jun looked out the window, “And you’re right. Now that my wife-master is injured, I shouldn’t provoke her at this time. I hope her fated one can appear soon.”

Hu Youning also nodded along.

The clouds in the sky grew thicker and thicker.

The young gentleman sat on the stool holding his cheeks, glancing from time to time at Li Ruantang who was still sleeping.

Youning had a straightforward personality. If he could successfully pair them up, maybe when Li Ruantang recovered her memories, she wouldn’t hold a grudge against him for impersonating her husband.

She saved his life, he repaid her with a marriage bond.

Although it couldn’t be considered paying back a debt of gratitude, it could still be seen as making up for his wrongs.

The more Meng Jun thought about it, the more he felt his idea was brilliant.

When Li Ruantang had rested enough, she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing that entered her view was the back of her young husband dozing off at the table.

Li Ruantang got up and walked over, “Jiu Jiu?”