After the Scholar Rejected Me, I Married the Rogue and Got Rich - Chapter 12

The old woman was intimidated by his fierce eyes and imposing aura. Seeing his tall and strong figure, and feeling the pain in her wrist from his grip, her arrogance immediately diminished. She said in a fierce but weak voice, “Who…who are you? Mind your own business!”

Zhou Han released his grip, took half a step forward, completely shielding Lin Sang and her brother behind him, and didn’t answer, just silently looked at her.

The old lady felt uneasy under his gaze, muttering “bad luck” under her breath. She grabbed her sobbing granddaughter and hurriedly disappeared into the crowd.

“Brother Zhou, thank you,” Lin Sang said again.

“Well, it was nothing, just a coincidence,” Zhou Han said, scratching his head sheepishly.

Seeing that Lin Song was still in shock, she squatted down to look him in the eye and softened her voice: “A real man is not afraid of trouble. If it is your own carelessness, apologize sincerely and try to make amends. If others bully you unreasonably, you should stand up straight and argue your case. Being afraid is useless.”

Lin Song looked at the tall and powerful older brother in front of him with admiration in his eyes and nodded vigorously.

As the sun approached noon, Lin Sang thought of Zhou’s help on the mountain yesterday and his rescue today, so she said, “Brother Zhou, it’s almost noon, let’s have a simple meal together as a way of thanking you for your help twice.”

Zhou Han quickly waved his hand: “No need, it was really just a small favor, Miss Lin, you don’t need to take it to heart, and I didn’t do anything.”

Lin Sang said seriously, “Brother Zhou, I don’t like owing favors, please give me this opportunity.”

Hearing her say that, Zhou Han suddenly thought of his mother’s abrupt marriage proposal before, and felt saddened. He thought she wanted to use this to draw a line between them and was afraid that he would cling to her. He could only whisper, “…Okay.”

The group arrived at a noodle stall on the street. This noodle stall was doing very well, with affordable prices and large bowls of noodles.

Lin Sang ordered a large bowl of shredded pork noodles for everyone, and worried that they wouldn’t have enough to eat, she specially went to the side and bought four meat buns.

During the pause between the two sides, the atmosphere was somewhat silent.

After struggling with his conscience for a long time, Zhou Han finally spoke carefully, his voice a little dry: “Miss Lin… Actually, when my mother came to propose marriage last time… she was too anxious about my affairs and was a bit abrupt. I… I apologize to you on her behalf, and I hope you… won’t take it to heart.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Sang looked up at him, her tone unreadable: “Oh? Brother Zhou means that it was just your mother’s wishful thinking, and that you yourself were actually unwilling?”

“I…I didn’t…this…” Zhou Han was stumped by her question and immediately became speechless. His face turned red, and he stammered for a long time, not knowing how to explain his complicated and humble feelings.

Looking at his clumsy and anxious appearance, so different from his usual fierce demeanor, Lin Sang suddenly burst out laughing, her eyebrows curving like the melting snow in early spring.

Zhou Han stared at her bright and radiant smile, momentarily stunned, his heart pounding.

Looking at his dazed expression, Lin Sang thought to herself, “This Zhou Han, though fierce on the outside, is honest and kind on the inside, and even… a little cute. He seems pretty good.”

During the meal, Zhou Han ate without tasting anything, feeling extremely uneasy. He was both moved by her smile and annoyed by his own clumsiness.

After finishing their meal, Zhou Han said goodbye, reminding them to be careful and to go home early.

Lin Sang watched his retreating figure and suddenly called out to him, “Brother Zhou.”

Zhou Han turned around.

Lin Sang looked at him, her eyes clear and bright, her tone calm yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible seriousness: “Actually… your mother wasn’t exactly abrupt last time.”

Upon hearing her words, Zhou Han froze, as if frozen in place.

Isn’t that abrupt?

What does this mean?

Is it… what he meant?

When he came to his senses and wanted to ask for clarification, he found that Lin Sang had already led her younger brother and sister-in-law into the crowd and gradually walked away.

He was left standing there alone, the words echoing repeatedly in his mind, his heart surging with emotion, unable to calm down.

————

Zhou Han returned home in a daze, his mind replaying Lin Sang’s words, “It wasn’t abrupt.” What did that mean? Was it just polite talk? Or…did she really not dislike him? Was she…different from those in the village who only saw his appearance? Could she see into his true heart?

He couldn’t understand it, and dared not think about it too deeply, for fear that he had misunderstood and would be disappointed.

When Aunt Zhou returned from outside, she saw her son sitting in the yard, staring blankly at the water vat. He didn’t even notice her coming in. Her heart skipped a beat. Her son looked so absent-minded. Could he have gotten into some trouble in town?

“Han’er? Han’er!” Aunt Zhou rushed over anxiously and grabbed her son’s arm. “What’s wrong? Tell your mother, has something happened?”

Zhou Han looked up at his mother’s worried expression and patted her hand reassuringly: “Mom, don’t worry, it’s alright.”

“Why are you acting like this if nothing’s wrong?” Aunt Zhou refused to believe her. “Tell me what happened!”

Looking at his mother’s anxious face, Zhou Han hesitated for a long time before finally recounting how he met Lin Sang and her brother in town that day, how he helped them out of their predicament, how Lin Sang invited him to dinner, and finally, her earth-shattering words.

After hearing this, Aunt Zhou was first stunned, then overjoyed. She slapped Ji Zi on the shoulder hard: “Silly boy! Don’t you understand? The girl has given in! She doesn’t think we’re being presumptuous, so there’s hope!”

“Really… really could it be?” Zhou Han was still somewhat incredulous, but a spark of hope had already ignited in his eyes.

“Definitely!” Aunt Zhou said decisively, her face beaming with joy. “I’ve been through this before, how could I not see it? If she had no feelings for you, she would have avoided you like the plague, why would she say such suggestive things? Good! Good! My son, you’ve finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel!”

She excitedly circled the yard twice, then suddenly stopped: “No, Mother will go to the Lin family again tomorrow to sound them out!”

“No! Mother!” Zhou Han quickly stopped her. “Last time was already too abrupt. If we go again, we might annoy people. Let’s… wait and see.” Afraid of pushing too hard, he closed the door again, which had just been slightly ajar.

Aunt Zhou slapped her forehead: “Yes, yes, look at me, I’m so happy I’m confused! Waiting, waiting is good too.” Although she said that, she couldn’t hide the joy on her face. She felt full of energy. After waiting for so long, she finally saw real hope.