Chapter 41: Unexpected Encounters and Hidden Agendas

Chapter Forty-Two

Meilin’s face fell. She clutched Lu Yuan’s clothes and looked warily in the direction of the voice.

The one who had called Lu Yuan’s name was a girl of about nineteen, seated in a luxurious carriage not far away. She wore a long, grey alchemist’s robe, identical to Lu Yuan’s, and her beautiful hair was tied up high, giving her a radiant and capable appearance.

It was Ruolin, the genius alchemist and beautiful young woman, who had been Lu Yuan’s formidable rival during the qualification assessment.

Though this supposed rival, a foe only in the imagination of others, had ultimately been utterly crushed by Lu Yuan.

“It’s you,” Lu Yuan said, his tone flat, as if speaking to a stranger he had never met before.

Ruolin’s smile stiffened slightly, but she continued, “After the event ended, I tried to find you, but couldn’t. Risdo told me you went to see President Stella. I waited for you for a long time, but you never came down. I never expected to run into you here. What a coincidence!”

“Is there something you need?” Lu Yuan asked.

“Hmm…” Ruolin hesitated, her words trailing off. “However, should we discuss it here? Why don’t you come to my carriage?”

She gestured towards her carriage, a quintessential noble’s mode of transport. Its luxurious interior was drawn by two magnificent, spirited steeds, exuding an imposing aura.

Etched onto the carriage door was a family crest that Lu Yuan did not recognize.

‘This girl might not be particularly skilled in alchemy, but her background is certainly impeccable.’

‘Come to think of it, it’s only natural that someone who could befriend Secevi, the Duke’s daughter, would possess such status.’

Lu Yuan glanced at Meilin. “Shall we go up?”

Little Meilin stared intently at Ruolin, her eyes wide with wariness, resembling a small puppy guarding its food. “Stare…”

For some reason, Ruolin felt a chill run down her spine.

“Uncle?” Meilin turned to Lu Yuan, a faint smile playing on her lips. “You want to get on that elder sister’s…”

“…carriage, don’t you?”

Lu Yuan was speechless.

Ruolin wiped away a bead of cold sweat, choosing to pretend she hadn’t heard the previous exchange. She then said, “I’m heading to the Temple of Magic soon to have my magical power tested. Perhaps we’re going the same way? I could give you a ride.”

“The Temple of Magic?” The two strands of snow-white hair on Meilin’s forehead twitched slightly.

Though she said nothing, Lu Yuan clearly sensed that the girl seemed highly interested in the so-called “Temple of Magic.”

“Since we’re going the same way, let’s take a ride,” Lu Yuan said softly, directing his words to Meilin.

“Ooh…” Little Meilin’s lovely eyebrows arched slightly, a hint of hesitation on her face.

“I’m also quite interested in that Temple of Magic. Let’s explore it before heading home,” Lu Yuan said with a faint smile.

“Mmm…” Little Meilin glanced at Ruolin, then at Lu Yuan. She then silently tugged on Lu Yuan’s sleeve.

‘This must mean she doesn’t object, right?’ Lu Yuan chuckled. Turning to Ruolin, he said, “Then we shall trouble you, Alchemist Ruolin.”

Ruolin had been utterly absorbed in the private, almost oblivious interaction between Lu Yuan and Meilin. Only upon hearing Lu Yuan’s words did she snap out of her reverie.

“Ah… please, come aboard.”

Inside the carriage, a circle of soft cushions lined the spacious interior. Lu Yuan led Meilin in and they took their seats.

Little Meilin remained silent, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Ruolin.

Ruolin continuously felt a prickling sensation on her back. She couldn’t understand why this little girl harbored such intense hostility towards her, especially when she hadn’t seemed to do anything wrong.

“Ruolin, what did you want to discuss with me? Please, speak.”

Just as Ruolin seemed at a loss for words, Lu Yuan began with an indifferent tone.

His tone was starkly different from how he spoke to Meilin, as if he were an entirely different person.

A hint of helplessness crept into Ruolin. Was this person inherently so unpleasant, or did he hold some specific grievance against her?

Ever since their initial encounter at the Alchemist Guild, his attitude towards her had been consistently lukewarm.

Originally, Ruolin had assumed he was harboring resentment over the matter involving Secevi and was deliberately acting this way to spite her.

Now, however, it seemed genuinely intentional.

Suppressing her displeasure, she acknowledged that she did indeed have something to tell Lu Yuan, though she was unsure how to begin.

Hesitantly, she stammered, “That… I wanted to talk to you about Secevi…”

Secevi, Lei Yin’s ex-girlfriend, had abandoned him the day after the fake medicine scandal erupted, leaving not a single word behind.

Lei Yin had even gone to the Duke’s estate to find Secevi, but he was thrown out before he could even see her, drawing countless jeers in the process.

Lei Yin’s three months of drunken despair were inextricably linked to that woman.

Until Lei Yin’s death, he never saw that woman again.

Therefore, Lu Yuan held no particular fondness for the woman, but neither did he harbor any ill will.

“Secevi… she… she…” Ruolin’s gaze flickered, and her words faltered. “She had her own difficulties.”

Lu Yuan sensed that even Ruolin herself didn’t quite believe her own words.

“Three months ago, she told me that if I ever met you, I should apologize to you on her behalf…”

Lu Yuan was silent. Yet, he found his inner self far from calm, as if an unnamed fire was surging within his heart.

His expression became stern.

‘Is this… a heart demon?’

‘Lei Yin? A heart demon?’