129: Chapter 129 When the Plums Ripen: Childhood Sweetheart Male Lead 7

Seeing the footsteps completely disappear, Nan Li then walked into the front hall.

But as soon as she got close, she sensed something was wrong.

Meng Zhu was still sitting in the Rosewood Grand Tutor's Chair, the Celadon Teacup in his hand already placed back on the table.

He lowered his eyes slightly, a cold aura emanating from him, his jawline taut, as if suppressing some kind of anger.

"Brother?"

Nan Li's heart tightened.

For some reason, she had always been very sensitive to Meng Zhu's emotions since she was a child.

"What happened?"

Hearing her voice, Meng Zhu suddenly snapped back to reality. He had been so engrossed in his own emotions that he hadn't noticed the bullet screen, nor Nan Li's approach.

When he looked up, the deep warmth returned to his profound eyes, as if everything just now had merely been Nan Li's illusion.

"Nothing, what's wrong?"

Meng Zhu's voice also returned to its usual calm and gentle tone, even carrying a hint of subtle reassurance.

"Just now was...?"

"It's nothing, just some trivial company matters."

He obviously didn't want to dwell on this topic, nor did he want to bring those schemes before her, so his gaze fell on Nan Li's face, and he smoothly changed the subject.

"Didn't you go look for Grandma? Why did you come here?"

Nan Li pouted, knowing he didn't want to elaborate, so she didn't press further.

She naturally took Meng Zhu's sleeve and shook it.

"I'm hungry! Auntie Hua said dinner is almost ready, and Uncle Meng said he'd make me Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish. Let's go eat!"

"Alright."

Meng Zhu stood up, letting her pull him outside, the gloom in his eyes hidden.

[Did you all see it?]

[Tell me your dreams, ah no, tell me your thoughts]

[I'm a fan of ten years, I'll go first, I think Meng Zhu has changed a lot]

[Yes, in the past, he wouldn't have cared about this level of threat at all]

[Not only did his expression change, but it even affected his state of mind?]

[I checked the data, replacing the protagonist will be more deeply affected by the original host's memories and emotions]

[This, one sentence in the book, but the actual impact is so great?]

[Relax, haven't you read the original work? The original protagonist crushed a cup, now Meng Zhu merely changed his expression]

The bullet screen was right. Meng Zhu glanced at it twice and then withdrew his gaze.

Compared to the original host, he was indeed more tolerant now.

...

At dinner, a huge Mahogany Round Table was placed in the center.

Everyone sat together, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

At the dinner table, Meng Zhu didn't say much, only occasionally putting food on Nan Li's plate, carefully removing fish bones, and then placing them in her bone dish.

Nan Li enjoyed being fed with a clear conscience, but silently complained in her heart.

Speaking of Meng Zhu, he had always had two faces since childhood.

Outside, although he was steady, he always had a touch of human warmth; he would be helpless, indulgent, and even lose his temper from Nan Li's antics while sleeping.

But once he returned to Qinghe Garden, Meng Zhu seemed to switch systems instantly.

He would become courteous in everything, exuding the elegance and composure of a young master from an aristocratic family in every gesture, with perfect etiquette.

When he sat there, his back would be perfectly straight, and everything he did was as precise as if measured with a ruler, without a single flaw.

This was not a living person at all; he was clearly a refined gentleman who had stepped out of an ancient painting, perfect to the extreme, yet also cold to the extreme.

In short, he lacked human warmth.

"What are you daydreaming about? Weren't you just shouting that you were hungry?"

When his gaze fell on Nan Li, that cold and distant aura instantly dissipated, and a brief vitality appeared between his brows and eyes.

Nan Li pouted, poked the fish in her bowl, and quickly dispelled her inner complaints, feeling a little guilty.

No matter how many faces this person had, with her, there was always only the gentle side.

"I was thinking, Uncle Meng's cooking is truly amazing!"

Nan Li smiled as she stuffed the fish into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out.

Father Meng listened, and his usually stern face was full of smiles.

"Eat more if it's good, look how thin you are."

"Thank you, Uncle Meng!"

The dinner was joyful, filled with laughter and cheer.

The wedding was drawing nearer, and everyone knew it, but no one mentioned a single word about it in front of Nan Li.

The early summer evening breeze carried the dampness of the lake and the fragrance of lotus leaves, and night gradually enveloped Qinghe Garden.

The next day.

Meng Zhu got up early and went straight to Tingyu Pavilion.

Every time Nan Li returned to Suzhou, the next day she would definitely go to offer incense to Meng Zhu's grandfather.

When Nan Li pushed open the carved wooden door of Tingyu Pavilion, the bullet screen instantly erupted.

[So beautiful! What kind of divine attire is this?]

[Couple's outfit! Absolutely a couple's outfit! This ink wash style is absolutely stunning!]

[Sister Nan Li is so gentle today, completely different from her usual mischievous self!]

Both of them were dressed very formally today.

Meng Zhu wore a crisp white Zhongshan Suit, with a few ink-wash bamboo leaves embroidered with dark threads on the collar and cuffs, which accentuated his already cold temperament, making him even more elegant and refined, like a tall bamboo.

As for Nan Li, she changed into a fitted white Qipao, with faint ink-wash flowers dyed on the hem and waist, appearing and disappearing with her light steps. Her long hair was loosely tied up with a Jade Hairpin, and her usual charming playfulness was completely restrained.

Auntie Hua was waiting outside the courtyard gate, her eyes full of admiration as she watched the two walk side by side.

No matter how many times she saw them, the young master and young lady's looks and temperament were impeccable.

Nan Li, who was a little girl jumping around in the garden the day before, instantly became serene after changing into this outfit.

With downcast eyes and light steps, she was gentle and pleasant, truly a proper young lady from a misty painting.

The Meng Family was a traditional clan with strict rules.

Nan Li was not listed in the Meng Family's genealogy, so she should, by rights, never set foot in the ancestral hall.

However, the Old Master adored her greatly when he was alive, and Grandma even specially allowed her to enter and exit the ancestral hall to offer sacrifices at any time.

But to prevent the collateral branches of the Meng Family or those with ulterior motives from making an issue, whenever Nan Li came to the ancestral hall, Meng Zhu would definitely cancel all his engagements and personally accompany her.

The two stepped over the high wooden threshold. The ancestral hall was solemn and sacred, with a faint aroma of sandalwood lingering.

Nan Li walked to the Prayer Mat and knelt respectfully.

Meng Zhu stood half a step beside her, his posture straight, holding the lit Incense Sticks out to her with both hands.

Nan Li took the incense, closed her eyes, and spoke softly.

"Grandpa, Zhaoyu has come to see you. This time, I can stay in Qinghe Garden for a few more days."

"Zhaoyu is doing very well now. She's grown up and doesn't cause trouble like she used to."

She chattered on with these intimate words, her voice extremely soft.

Meng Zhu, standing beside her, quietly watched the girl's slender, gentle back.

After offering incense, Nan Li stood up and naturally linked arms with Meng Zhu.

The two walked out of the ancestral hall together.

The sunlight outside the door pierced through the thin mist, scattering upon their ink-wash intertwined garments, like a naturally formed painting.