A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

The courtyard was deathly silent. The spring breeze was still warm, but it couldn't dispel the heavy sorrow that permeated the air.

Wang Yanning's Adam's apple bobbed a few times, as if she were forcibly swallowing back the sob that was rising in her throat.

He lowered his eyes, staring at the pale green tea swirling slightly in the teacup on the stone table, his voice hoarse and weary: "So, now you can probably understand why there has always been a barrier between my father and me."

Chen Wanxing's heart was gripped by this heavy truth. She had thought it was just a typical stepmother and legitimate son, with entanglements over family property and interests, but she never expected that there was such a painful past behind it.

She didn't speak immediately, but sat quietly, giving him enough time to remain silent.

After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice soft yet carrying a comforting power.

"That wasn't your fault. You were just a child back then."

Your father must have been suffering a lot these past few years. Madam Wang, I imagine, cherishes you as the most precious memory left by her young mistress, feeling both immense love and immense guilt, unsure of what to do.

Wang Yanning raised her eyes and looked at her. Her gaze was clear and firm, devoid of pity, only filled with understanding and affirmation.

He may have said these words to himself countless times, but when she said them so calmly, they seemed to possess a strange magic, causing the taut string of self-blame in his heart to loosen slightly.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, but his fingers still trembled slightly.

"Thank you for your comfort, young lady."

These words were like a key, gently unlocking another lock in Wang Yanning's heart.

He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled, as if trying to release some of the gloom that had accumulated over the years.

"Indeed, as you said, my father has felt indebted to me all these years and has always wanted to make up for it, but I do not come home often and am unwilling to use the family's money."

So those rumors in town," Wang Yanning tugged at the corners of her mouth, her smile bitter, "about my estranged relationship with my father, are true."

But that's because I don't know how to face it. Every time I go back, seeing my father's cautious appearance, seeing Aunt Cui's hesitant concern, and seeing the faces in the clan that might remind me of the past, I feel like I can't breathe.

My mother chose my teacher, Master He, when she was still alive, so I didn't think about going to any other school, and I spent most of my time at the school.

But to outsiders, it was naturally seen as the stepmother being unkind and the father being stingy. Over time, that's how the rumors started.

To clarify things, I tried to appear in public with my father more often, but outsiders always had new stories to tell. After a while, I just decided to let them be.

Wang Yanning paused again, picked up the teapot and poured another cup of water, "Because of these old things, I am not close to my clan."

We met a few more times afterward, and they even vaguely mentioned my mother in front of me, saying that she lacked common sense and didn't consider the bigger picture back then.

Chen Wanxing frowned; she could imagine how suffocating that scene must have been.

Wang Yanning straightened his back a bit. "Today I returned home, and the good news just arrived. The elders came as soon as they heard the news, but their words still reiterated the old principles of prioritizing the family and knowing how to repay the debt."

Today I could no longer tolerate it and had a complete argument with them, which means we've completely broken off all pretense of civility.

This time, my father finally broke his silence and stopped trying to smooth things over. He stood by my side, even going so far as to request to leave the clan to show his support.

"Our relationship with the Wang clan is now completely severed."

Chen Wanxing frowned. Wang Yanning had been calm all along, and hadn't even mentioned this matter before she asked him. She hadn't expected him to suddenly reveal this information.

"It feels so good to break free from the old shackles," Wang Yanning said, tapping her fingertips on the table with a soft sound, her gaze becoming sharp and clear.

He paused for a moment, "It's just because of this that I'm currently facing a decision regarding my future studies, and I was originally planning to discuss it with you after we met."

He picked up the slightly cool teacup, took another sip, and continued, "On the way back, Brother Lin mentioned that his maternal grandfather had an old friend at the Kaifeng Prefectural School, who is now a lecturer there."

This year, the prefectural school is fortunate to have several retired scholars invited to give lectures in preparation for next year's provincial examinations, a rare opportunity.

Lin Lang's maternal grandfather offered to write a letter of recommendation for us, inviting us to study at the Kaifeng Prefectural School. Zhou Wenbo and Lin Lang have already decided to go, and Qian Wenbai, although he did not pass the imperial examination this time, also intends to go and seek teachers there.

His narration was steady, clearly explaining the cause and effect: "When Master He learned of this, although he did not say it explicitly, his words revealed his approval, believing that this was a rare step forward."

Wang Yanning's gaze fell on Chen Wanxing's calmly listening face, her voice lowered, carrying an imperceptible bitterness: "To be honest, when I first heard about this, I wasn't very interested, and even somewhat resistant."

When Lin Lang and the others brought it up, I gave a vague response and never gave a definite answer. At that time, I thought that staying at the Ruyang County School, although the teaching staff was limited, I could always go home on my monthly days off, live a stable life, and take things slowly; it wasn't a bad idea.

He omitted the sense of security and the desire to take things slowly, but most importantly, his selfish urge to stay by her side.

"However, after this incident at home," he said, his fingers tightening slightly, "I realized that what I had been thinking before might have been too comfortable, even somewhat escapist."

His gaze was fixed on her, not missing a single subtle change in her face: "Going to a better university might lead to a brighter future, but Kaifeng is far away, and it could take years. The coursework is heavy, and the return date is uncertain. I..."

His words caught in his throat again, and he was unable to continue for a moment.

The fear and reluctance born of attachment surged into my heart like a tide, almost drowning out the rational judgment I had just established.

The shadow of separation was so concrete and vast that just imagining it made him feel suffocated.

Looking at her serene face, and considering the uncertainties that might arise over the long years, a strong urge to grasp the certainty before him compelled that long-held thought to once again break through all his reservations:

"I really don't want to leave like this, with nothing but longing and worry. Miss Chen, perhaps we can make a reservation first..."

In the split second before the word was uttered—

As if by some unspoken understanding, after he finished recounting his family feuds and difficult choices, Chen Wanxing was struggling with whether to go to Kaifeng now or wait a while longer when she heard Wang Yanning's next words.

Lin Lang and the others invited him to study in Kaifeng together? What a coincidence.

Seeing his conflicted expression, she sat up straight, placed her hands folded on her knees, met his gaze with clear eyes, and smiled gently, a smile of relief mixed with a touch of playfulness, as she spoke directly:

"Young Master Wang, there is actually something I wanted to tell you today."

With everything settled at home, I originally planned to return to Kaifeng for a while, and then come back around winter.

"I found it quite a coincidence that you mentioned the Kaifeng Prefectural School earlier."

"……relative?"