Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 151

Outside, snow was falling, and inside, they were having a hotpot under the veranda.

The spicy broth accompanied by warm wine made for a hearty feast.

After a few drinks, Xu Shen turned to Lu Tang and said, “I heard from my father that your family is opening a branch in the capital?”

Lu Tang didn’t hide anything, “Yes, my mother and sister are already busy with it. I heard from Uncle Fu that the inn has already opened. My mother wants to add stage plays to the inn, so she’s still busy over there.”

Xu Shen looked down at his wine cup.

“Are you going to the capital after the New Year?”

Liang Cheng immediately felt a pang of anxiety, “Why would Little Tang go there? Auntie and Sister Shuqing are already there, someone needs to stay here.”

Although Liang Cheng didn’t know Qin Mo’s true identity, he knew he was an official in the capital.

Lu Tang understood what Xu Shen meant and felt a bitterness in her heart.

When someone had left, they had been so affectionate, asking her to wait for him and his proposal.

Hmph!

Months had passed, and Lu Tang hadn’t heard a single word from Qin Mo.

Knowing Qin Mo was a prince and aware of his urgency when he left, Lu Tang had asked around about happenings in the capital.

The news came back: no wars, no rebellions, no deaths in the palace.

Previously, she had been so busy with the inn that she only had time to miss Qin Mo occasionally. But now…

The pain in her heart was unbearable.

Tilting her head back, she downed her cup of wine and said to Xu Shen, “Yes, I’ll go after the New Year.”

Liang Cheng immediately interjected, “After the New Year, Auntie and Sister Shuqing might be back.”

Xu Shen glanced at Liang Cheng.

Before knowing Little Tang was a girl, he thought Liang Cheng had sensed something was off between her and Qin Mo, just like he had.

But since discovering Little Tang’s true identity, Xu Shen had noticed that Liang Cheng liked Little Tang.

Sipping his wine, Xu Shen said, “If Auntie and Sister Shuqing come back, Little Tang should still go. After all, no one knows the stage play better than she does. She should definitely go.

“Besides, Young Master Qin is in the capital. It’s been so long since Little Tang and Young Master Qin saw each other; she should go see him.”

Zhou Shu and Guo Dawei, unaware of the underlying tension, only knew that Young Master Qin had helped a lot with the Yuhang inn’s success.

“She should go. If Little Tang goes to the capital after the New Year, I’ll go too. I’ve never been there, and I hear the hotpot is even better,” Zhou Shu said, laughing as he picked up a piece of lamb and dipped it in sesame paste.

Guo Dawei looked at him in disgust and threw him a cloth, “Wipe your mouth, the sesame paste is dripping down your neck. It’s disgusting.”

After wiping Zhou Shu’s neck, Guo Dawei turned to Lu Tang, “Little Tang, are you planning to stay in the capital? If you are, I might join you. My father wants me to open a shop, and I haven’t decided where. Maybe I’ll try a town near the capital.”

Xu Shen added, “I’ll go too. I’ll bring my theater troupe. Maybe we can become the official troupe for Qiao Family Inn.”

Lu Tang thought of what Qin Mo had said about his sister-in-law being a junior sister of a troupe master.

Qin Mo again.

Lu Tang drank her wine in silence, “Go ahead, all of you. We should open a shop together instead of individually.”

Xu Shen was surprised, “Do you have a plan?”

Lu Tang shook her head, “No, I just liked how we worked together in Yuhang. It felt great, all of us working hard together.”

Guo Dawei slapped his thigh, “Me too! In Yuhang, we were exhausted every day, but those days were the best I’ve had. I wouldn’t want to do it alone, but with you guys, I’m motivated.”

Zhou Shu, once again getting sesame paste on his neck, was wiped clean by Guo Dawei as he spoke, “If that’s the case, I’m in. My brother and sister-in-law always tell me to learn from you. Maybe I’ll succeed if I stick with you guys.”

Guo Dawei rolled his eyes, “Succeed, my foot. Your brains are boiling, hurry up and get it out.”

Liang Cheng, on the verge of tears, sat there silently.

Xu Shen, after considering his words, said to Lu Tang, “Alright, let’s plan to go to the capital after the New Year and see what we can do there.

“By the way, Little Tang, you should tell us about you and Young Master Qin so I can prepare a big red envelope for you.”

Liang Cheng and Little Tang were both brothers to him.

Now that he knew Liang Cheng’s feelings and Little Tang’s situation with Qin Mo, Xu Shen couldn’t let this situation continue.

Better to address it now than let it fester.

At Xu Shen’s words, Guo Dawei and Zhou Shu were stunned, looking at Lu Tang in confusion, “Red envelope? You and Young Master Qin? What?”

As they questioned her, Liang Cheng dropped his cup, forgetting how to breathe for a moment.

“Xu Shen, what are you talking about? Little Tang and Young Master Qin—”

Liang Cheng’s voice trembled, betraying his shock.

Lu Tang didn’t understand why Xu Shen brought it up but didn’t shy away, “He hasn’t contacted me since he left. He said he would propose, but who knows what’s happening.”

Propose!

The mention of a red envelope had left a sliver of hope, but the word “propose” shattered all of Liang Cheng’s dreams.

Tears welled up in Liang Cheng’s eyes.

But he had no chance.

Zhou Shu fell to the floor in shock, staring at Little Tang, “Propose? You and Qin Mo? Getting married? Qin Mo is a guy, right?”

Guo Dawei knocked over his bowl in surprise.

The sesame paste he had been complaining about earlier was now dripping down his leg.

Lu Tang grimaced.

“This is too complicated to explain right now. If it works out, you’ll have a powerful ally. If not…”

Lu Tang’s heart ached.

Xu Shen picked up her words, “If not, there are plenty of other good opportunities out there.”

Lu Tang grinned.

Xu Shen glared at her, “Your smile is worse than crying, stop it.”

Lu Tang howled, “But I don’t want to cry. Doesn’t it show my deep feelings?”

Liang Cheng felt as though the snow outside had seeped into his bones, freezing him to the core.

Zhou Shu jumped up, pointing at Xu Shen, “You knew all along! You should’ve told us, it’s better to share happiness than keep it to yourself.”