Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 152

This New Year, although her mother and sister were not around, Lu Tang still had a lively celebration thanks to Zhou Shu, Xu Shen, and the others.

But deep down, she felt uneasy.

Throughout the entire first month of the lunar year, Lu Tang hadn’t received any news from Qin Mo.

However, not everything was bad.

The system task regarding the water management solutions had been nearly completed by Xie Yu, accumulating over 30,000 points.

The repair plans for the Liyang Dam that Xie Yu created were confirmed by the system to be correct.

With this repair plan, all Xie Yu needed was an opportunity, and Zhuang Yu, who valued Xie Yu’s abilities, would certainly provide him with that chance. Lu Tang wasn’t worried about this at all.

The only concern was the poison in Xie Yu’s body.

When Song Qingzhan had left to find his master, he got busy with Huang Yunsheng’s case, and this issue seemed to have been forgotten.

No one knew how things had turned out.

Since returning from Yuhang, Xie Yu had been living at the Qiao Family Inn in Sihe Town. Encouraged by Zhuang Yu, he buried himself in his studies every day. His only relaxation was playing with Da Bao, the small puppy, and Er Bao.

Before the New Year, Da Bao had been a little chubby, but now he was running around happily.

Lu Tang sat behind the counter, daydreaming, when she suddenly felt warm breath near her face. She turned her head—

Er Bao blinked his big, dark eyes. “Young Master.”

His voice was sweet and crisp.

Lu Tang ruffled Er Bao’s head, “What is it?”

During the New Year, Lu Tang had given out red envelopes to the inn’s staff. Er Bao, being young, received many red envelopes from others as well, making quite a fortune. His new cotton-padded jacket looked even more festive against his chubby face.

Recently, Lu Tang enjoyed pinching his cheeks for fun.

Er Bao smiled and leaned closer to Lu Tang, “I heard Old Xie say that you’re going to the capital soon?”

Lu Tang chuckled, “What do you mean ‘Old Xie’? Call him Brother Xie.”

Er Bao grinned, “I can’t call him Brother Xie.”

“Why not?”

“He calls Da Bao his son.”

Lu Tang: …

Right, and Er Bao also calls him Brother.

“Young Master, if you’re going to the capital, can you take me with you? I’ll cover my own travel expenses and take care of myself. I promise not to cause any trouble.”

He held up his short, chubby fingers next to his ear in a serious manner.

Lu Tang asked him, “Why do you want to go to the capital? Did your mother allow it?”

“I want to see my brother.”

Lu Tang felt a pang in her heart, suddenly feeling a deep sadness.

“I’ve been dreaming about my brother a lot lately. He says he misses me and our mother. My mother can’t travel far because of her legs, but I’m strong and can go. Young Master please take me. I promise not to cause any trouble. I’ll sit outside with the coachman, and I won’t ask for any wages this year.”

As Er Bao spoke, his eyes reddened, his voice choked with emotion, “My brother hasn’t written home for a long time. I really miss him.

“I heard that if someone frequently appears in your dreams, it means something has happened to them. My brother is in the army, and it’s dangerous there. I’m scared.”

Er Bao’s voice, neither crying nor gasping, became so choked with emotion that his words were barely understandable.

Lu Tang’s nose tingled. She turned her head to look at the fierce cold wind shaking the branches outside, “Alright, I’ll take you.”

Er Bao smiled through his tears and hugged Lu Tang’s arm, “Young Master, you’re the best. I’ll go tell my mother right away. She’s prepared a lot of good food for my brother. I’ll bring it to him.”

He smiled again, “You can have some too.”

Lu Tang ruffled his hair, unable to say anything.

Er Bao chattered on, “My mother also prepared several portraits for my brother to see potential brides. Maybe I’ll have a sister-in-law this year, and soon after, a nephew. I’ll be an uncle.”

Er Bao’s hopeful dreams stirred Lu Tang’s sensitive nerves. Unable to listen any longer, she fled hastily, “I’m going to see Xie Yu. Tell him to pack up too. We’ll leave soon.”

The official departure for the capital was ten days later.

Lu Tang couldn’t bear to listen to Er Bao’s endless chatter, so she put him and Xie Yu in the same carriage, along with Da Bao, their little dog. They had plenty to talk about.

Zhuang Yu, who had followed them from Yuhang to Sihe Town, now accompanied them to the capital.

However, he seemed to dislike the capital. From the start of the journey, he wore a dark expression, constantly cursing. No one wanted to share a carriage with him, so he sat alone, cursing the air until everyone’s ears hurt.

Liang Cheng wanted to share a carriage with Lu Tang but was stopped by Xu Shen.

“What’s your problem!” Liang Cheng demanded angrily as soon as they got on the carriage.

Since that hotpot dinner, Liang Cheng had been harboring a burning rage in his chest. Despite practicing martial arts day and night, he couldn’t dissipate this anger.

Why!

He had grown up with Lu Tang, always by her side, yet he couldn’t compete with a newcomer.

How long had that Qin fellow known Little Tang?

Liang Cheng had considered asking his parents to propose to Lu Tang’s family, but since she had never revealed her true identity, he didn’t dare act rashly, fearing he might harm her.

This torment was driving him insane.

All his emotions erupted towards Xu Shen.

Fortunately, Xu Shen had anticipated this and was prepared. He responded calmly, “No reason, just to avoid suspicion.”

Liang Cheng was furious, “Why should I avoid suspicion?”

Xu Shen looked at him, “Forcing something never ends well. If Little Tang could have had something with you, it would have happened already, regardless of Qin Mo’s presence.”

Liang Cheng fell silent, glaring at Xu Shen.

Xu Shen continued unhurriedly, “I know you’ve known for a long time that Little Tang is a girl.”

Liang Cheng’s eyes widened, “You…”

He glared, then slumped, deflated, “You know.”

Xu Shen nodded.

Liang Cheng asked, “So, how did you convince yourself?”

Xu Shen was puzzled, “Convince myself?”

Liang Cheng gave a bitter smile, “Don’t you like Little Tang?”

Xu Shen: Huh?

Realizing his mistake, Liang Cheng clarified, “You don’t? Then why…”

“I was helping Little Tang and Qin Mo cover up.”

Liang Cheng: !

You really are my brother!

Seeing Liang Cheng’s reaction, Xu Shen smiled, “You thought I liked Little Tang? Saw me as a rival?”

Liang Cheng: …

“Have you considered that your feelings for Little Tang might not be romantic love?”