Chapter 22: Favored In Plain Sight

“Have you finished eating?

If you have, then accompany me to the study,” Lu Zijin looked at Wei Lan and said.

“I’ve finished,” Wei Lan replied obediently.

Lu Zijin smiled at her and stood.

“Since you’re done, let’s go.”

Wei Lan could only follow behind Lu Zijin with an eager, pitiful look, and the two of them went to the study together.

Yun Xiang glared fiercely at Wei Lan’s back.

When Miss went to the study, she disliked being disturbed by anyone, yet now she had actually called this useless Wei Lan along.

Wei Lan, however, had no idea what Yun Xiang was thinking.

She simply followed Lu Zijin into the study.

At the end of every month, Lu Zijin summoned the shop managers from various branches for questioning, so her study was spacious and even furnished with a soft couch.

When she grew tired, she would rest there.

Wei Lan looked around.

Behind the desk stood an entire wall of bookshelves.

As expected of Lu Zijin—truly wealthy.

Seeing her staring at the books, Lu Zijin said, “Take whichever book you wish to read.

Release some pheromones.”

“Oh.”

She knew it.

She still had to be drawn from.

There was no medicinal plaster on Wei Lan’s neck, and the scent of fresh snow gradually seeped from her bond mark.

After estimating that she had released enough, Wei Lan walked to the shelves and selected a few travel journals.

She wasn’t very familiar with Great Zhou and wanted to learn more about this dynasty.

She glanced at the wooden chairs, then at the soft couch that looked much more comfortable.

Walking over to Lu Zijin, she asked, “Madam, may I lie on the couch to read?”

Lu Zijin raised her eyes.

Seeing Wei Lan ask so obediently, a faint smile curved her lips.

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Madam.

You’re the best,” Wei Lan said sweetly.

She quickly went to the couch, removed her shoes, lay down, and began flipping through the travel journals.

Lu Zijin, meanwhile, started handling the affairs of the past few days.

Since her heat had not yet passed, it was inconvenient to meet the shop managers in person.

She had the attendants wait outside and wrote her instructions on paper for them to deliver.

Lu Zijin was quiet while working, and Wei Lan was quiet while reading.

Soon, the study was filled only with the sound of turning pages.

After a while, Wei Lan grew sleepy.

The travel journals were written in classical prose and somewhat dry.

As she read, her eyes gradually closed, and at some point, she drifted off to sleep.

After finishing several matters, Lu Zijin looked up toward Wei Lan and saw that she had fallen asleep without her noticing.

The travel journal lay upside down on Wei Lan’s chest, and she seemed to be sleeping soundly.

Lu Zijin stood and stretched, taking the documents she had just written in hand.

Seeing Wei Lan asleep, she went to the door, stepped out briefly, and handed the papers to the attendants, instructing them to deliver them to the various managers as quickly as possible.

After giving her instructions, she returned to the study.

She looked at Wei Lan for a moment before walking back behind the desk to continue handling estate matters.

This past year had been arduous for her.

Especially after her elder brother passed away, the Lu clan relatives all sought to take a share of the estate.

Even smaller households that once could not compare to the Lu residence dared to scheme against her, repeatedly sending matchmakers under the pretense of marriage proposals.

In truth, they coveted the Lu family’s wealth.

At that time, she was the only one left at home.

She had no time to grieve and instead took full control of the household affairs.

Fortunately, there were still loyal people in the Lu residence, though more were opportunists hoping to profit from chaos.

She had been forced to cut off several businesses decisively to stabilize the overall situation.

Even now, though the Lu residence had largely returned to order, there were still many matters she had yet to address.

For instance, the servants.

When her brother had been alive, he ruled decisively, and the servants behaved themselves.

Over the past year, her focus had been on the businesses outside, leaving little time to discipline the servants within the residence.

This time, she could use Wei Lan’s matter to kill the chicken and warn the monkeys.

As Lu Zijin thought this, her gaze fell on the sleeping Wei Lan.

The little Qianyuan slept soundly, lips pursing faintly as though dreaming of something pleasant.

Lu Zijin’s brows curved slightly.

She was rather cute.

After looking at her for a few moments, Lu Zijin returned to her work.

By noon, most of the documents piled on her desk had been dealt with.

She stood and stretched before walking to Wei Lan’s side.

Wei Lan was still asleep.

These past few days, she had been drawn from almost daily.

She truly had worked hard.

Standing beside the couch, Lu Zijin reached out and gently touched Wei Lan’s cheek.

“Lord, wake up.

It’s time to eat.”

Her hand was soft and warm.

Wei Lan, half-asleep, instinctively leaned her face into the touch and nuzzled Lu Zijin’s palm.

A faint smile curved Lu Zijin’s lips.

“Good.

Wake up.”

Her hand slid from Wei Lan’s cheek to her neck, and her fingertip lightly brushed the reddened bond mark.

As expected, Wei Lan shrank her neck as though unable to bear it.

“Don’t.

That feels strange,” Wei Lan mumbled softly, opening her eyes.

She saw Lu Zijin looking down at her with a smile, her hand still resting at her bond mark.

Wei Lan looked at her pitifully, as though accusing her of disturbing her sleep.

Lu Zijin laughed.

“It’s time to eat.

Sleep again after.”

As she spoke, her fingertip deliberately brushed the bond mark again, causing Wei Lan’s pheromones to leak out.

“Mm~ Why are you touching me?”

Wei Lan rubbed her eyes.

Whenever Lu Zijin touched or bit her bond mark, she felt as though a current ran through her body.

It wasn’t unpleasant—almost comfortable—but she wasn’t used to it.

“I’m helping you wake up.

Get up.

I’ve had them prepare more delicious food,” Lu Zijin said solemnly, as though her actions had been entirely proper.

At the mention of food, Wei Lan’s mood improved slightly.

After getting up, she obediently followed Lu Zijin out of the study.

Smiling, Lu Zijin instructed, “Bring warm water for the Lord to wash her face.”

“Yes.”

The maids immediately bustled about.

Lu Zijin led Wei Lan back to the bedchamber.

Soon, a maid carried in a copper basin of warm water.

Wei Lan was about to wet the cloth herself when Lu Zijin stepped ahead of her.

“I’ll do it.”

She soaked the cloth in the basin, wrung it out, straightened it carefully, and stepped in front of Wei Lan.

One hand steadied Wei Lan’s shoulder while the other gently wiped her face.

Her movements were tender, her gaze fixed on Wei Lan.

It was Wei Lan who grew embarrassed.

Although Lu Zijin often bit her, she was undeniably beautiful.

Being stared at like this made Wei Lan’s ears turn red.

She averted her gaze.

As Lu Zijin wiped her face, she noticed Wei Lan’s flushed ears.

Following her line of sight, she saw Wei Lan staring intently at a round stool instead of at her.

If any other Qianyuan had shown such an expression before, Lu Zijin would have been displeased.

She disliked being coveted.

Yet seeing Wei Lan like this, she felt no anger—only the urge to tease.

Her hand slid from Wei Lan’s cheek to her neck, the warm cloth gently wiping the bond mark.

“Does it still hurt?”

Lu Zijin asked softly.

Already embarrassed, Wei Lan felt even stranger when touched there.

Her voice softened further.

“Don’t touch there.”

“Be good.

Almost done,” Lu Zijin said, brushing the spot again.

She saw that even Wei Lan’s cheeks had turned red.

The smile at Lu Zijin’s lips deepened.

Usually in bed, Wei Lan was impatient, eager for her to finish drawing so she could leave.

This shy look was rather novel.

Though amused, Lu Zijin did not wish to tease her too far.

After a few more gentle wipes, she withdrew her hand.

“All right.

Sit and rest.

The food will be ready soon.”

“Mm.”

Wei Lan let out a breath of relief and sat on the round stool.

Lu Zijin placed the cloth back on the tray and dismissed the maids.

The two maids who had remained in the room—one holding the basin, the other the tray—had witnessed everything.

Though they dared not stare, they had seen enough from the corners of their eyes and soon began whispering.

“Miss treats the Lord so well.

She even wiped her face herself.”

“Did you see?

The Lord’s face turned red.

She must really like Miss.”

“Exactly.

Who says the Lord isn’t favored?

Miss clearly dotes on her.”

Meanwhile, Wei Lan sat at the table, sipping honeyed tea, utterly unaware of the maids’ imaginings.

Her blush had simply been a reflex.

She was naturally introverted.

Anyone stared at for that long would turn red.

Lu Zijin sat beside her and ordered the meal served.

At once, Wei Lan’s eyes lit up.

The food here was truly delicious—no exaggeration.

Better than any grand restaurant she had eaten at in her previous life.

Living off Lu Zijin’s wealth was indeed fragrant.

Seeing her perk up at the mention of food, Lu Zijin’s eyes curved.

“Eat more later.

I had them prepare ginseng chicken soup for you.

You’ve worked hard these days.

Have more nourishing dishes.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Though Lu Zijin could be overbearing in bed, she was generous at least.

The food was plentiful, and that satisfied Wei Lan greatly.

Soon, various dishes were brought in.

The more Wei Lan looked, the hungrier she felt.

Still, she obediently asked, “Madam, may I eat?”

Lu Zijin chuckled softly.

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll start.”

Wei Lan immediately picked up a stuffed eggplant.

It was perfectly prepared—crispy outside, tender within, filled with fresh minced pork.

She ate three in quick succession.

Seeing her hearty appetite, Lu Zijin rose and ladled a bowl of chicken soup for her.

“This is century-old ginseng.

Very nourishing.

You’ve expended too much pheromone recently and need such tonics.

Though medicinal herbs were added, it tastes excellent.

Try it.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Wei Lan took a sip.

It was indeed delicious.

The chicken was so tender it melted in her mouth.

“Mm, it’s so good,” she praised sincerely.

Compared to Wei Lan’s appetite, Lu Zijin ate little.

Over the past year, she had managed the estate without a single day of rest.

Her appetite had gradually diminished.

Yet watching Wei Lan eat so heartily, she found herself eating more than usual.

Wei Lan had already picked up a piece of crispy fried pork cutlet.

The fat had been fried to a fragrant crisp, not greasy at all, and paired perfectly with the dipping sauce.

After finishing her meal, Lu Zijin sat sipping chicken soup while watching Wei Lan eat.

When her father and brother had been alive, their appetites had also been large.

She hadn’t expected a female Qianyuan’s appetite to be so great as well.

Despite eating so much, Wei Lan remained slender, looking little different from a Kunze.

It had been a long time since Lu Zijin had shared a meal with someone.

Watching Wei Lan eat now, she unexpectedly felt that perhaps this was not so bad.

But the thought lasted only a moment.

Wei Lan was merely a façade she had married to silence public gossip.

There would be no deeper entanglement between them.

If such thoughts arose, it must be because her heat had not yet fully passed.

After tomorrow, she would no longer think of Wei Lan so often.