Chapter Ninety-Six: Discussing Matters

Lin Miaomiao looked at the delicate, temperamental man and said unceremoniously, “Could you stop being so willful?”

At her words, Li Yanhe lifted a brow. “Me? Willful?”

Lin Miaomiao nodded.

Li Yanhe glanced at her and asked, “What does willful even mean?”

Lin Miaomiao pursed her lips and said nothing. Seeing the unmistakable look of suppressed laughter on her face, Li Yanhe let out a sigh. “Are you trying not to laugh at me?”

At that, Lin Miaomiao looked at him and said, “Do I seem like the sort of person who sneaks a laugh? I usually laugh openly.”

Li Yanhe sighed again.

Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe played Monopoly for a while. Once Lin Langluan and Lin Langze grew tired of playing, the two of them switched to cards.

The two children were, of course, no match for Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe, and so they kept trying to wriggle out of losing. This time, though, Lin Miaomiao would not indulge them.

“Big sister, we’re children. Why can’t you let us win just once?”

Hearing Lin Langluan’s words, Lin Miaomiao rolled her eyes at once. “We’re all human for the first time. Why should I make concessions to you?”

Even after saying that, her expression remained perfectly calm, not a blush in sight. Though Lin Miaomiao had lived two lives, there was nothing wrong with her saying it like that.

Lin Langze did not understand what she meant, so he asked, “What does that mean?”

Lin Miaomiao rolled her eyes again. “It means exactly what it sounds like. Since everyone is human for the first time, why should you demand that others always give way to you?”

Lin Langluan and Lin Langze nodded thoughtfully. Then Lin Langluan, imitating Lin Miaomiao, turned to Lin Langze and said, “Exactly. We’re all human for the first time. Why should I let you win?”

He copied her with uncanny precision. Seeing the two children so childishly aping her, Lin Miaomiao could only roll her eyes hard.

That evening, as they headed back, Lin Miaomiao led the two children in singing.

Her voice was actually very pleasant. She sang a line, and Lin Langluan and Lin Langze echoed it line by line.

The next day, Lin Miaomiao stood in the kitchen guiding Spring Blossom in making braised stew, directing Summer Blossom in preparing milk tea, and teaching Autumn Blossom how to make cakes.

Winter Blossom was off making snacks, and Lin Miaomiao had even assigned Autumn Blossom an assistant—a young shop helper.

Whipping cake batter took a great deal of labor and equipment; Autumn Blossom, a girl on her own, could not possibly manage it, so Lin Miaomiao had the helper come over.

When the Ninth Prince, Li Yonghe, arrived, he saw Lin Miaomiao carrying a stool and sitting outside the kitchen.

He found it rather amusing. Smiling, he asked, “What are you doing? That smells amazing.”

Lin Miaomiao looked at him. “Why are you here?”

Li Yonghe replied, “I had some matters to discuss with my second brother, so I came over.”

At that, Lin Miaomiao nodded. “We’re making something delicious here. If you want some too, you can sit here and wait a while.”

Just after she finished speaking, she heard a familiar voice. Looking up, she saw that it was indeed the Fourth Prince, Li Deren.

Lin Miaomiao waved at him. “Long time no see. I haven’t seen you around in ages.”

Li Deren smiled a little at her words. “I’ve been ill lately, so I haven’t been able to come out.”

Lin Miaomiao’s lips curved into a lovely smile. “I see. Do you want some cake? I think Autumn Blossom’s cake should turn out well.”

Then she said to Li Deren, “We made a bit too much this time. You can take some back and share it with your friends.”

Hearing that, the Ninth Prince, Li Yonghe, said to Lin Miaomiao, “Your Grace, that’s a little unfair. Why does only Fourth Brother get to take some?”

Lin Miaomiao sighed. “You can take some too. The cookies and the cake should both turn out this time.”

After she said that, the servants behind her naturally brought tea and stools for the princes.

Li Deren asked Lin Miaomiao, “Why hasn’t Fifth Brother been coming by lately?”

Lin Miaomiao answered, “He’s finished learning what he needed to learn, so there’s no need for him to come anymore.”

A faint, pleasing smile appeared on Li Deren’s face. “And what was it he was learning?”

Lin Miaomiao gave him an inscrutable look. “That can’t be said.”

Li Deren’s handsome brows drew together. “Then it must be something confidential.”

Lin Miaomiao nodded. “Yes. There are some things that can’t even be told to friends.”

After she said that with a smile, she glanced at Li Deren and added, “Looks like there will be one more person freeloading lunch today. I’ll have to make extra.”

When Ninth Prince Li Yonghe heard this, he looked at Lin Miaomiao, the corner of his mouth curving in amusement as he thought to himself, So even Old Four has a day of defeat.

Lin Miaomiao glanced at Li Yonghe and said, “What are you laughing at? When everyone else is discussing something, you’re always the first to dodge the issue.”

“And after dodging it, you still use me as a shield. I can’t even be bothered to mention what happened last time.”

Li Yonghe gave her a handsome smile. “Those things are terribly dull. If they’re over, they’re over.”

Hearing that, Lin Miaomiao rolled her eyes. “Work is work. If you like it that much, doesn’t that make you a workaholic?”

Just then, Li Yanhe also came out of the study and saw the Ninth Prince and the Fourth Prince sitting beside Lin Miaomiao.

He gave a cold snort. “Weren’t you the ones who said you had matters to discuss with me?”

“What are you doing sitting at the kitchen door? Are we supposed to discuss business at the kitchen door?”

At Li Yanhe’s words, Lin Miaomiao’s lips curved into a bright smile. Then Crown Prince Li Hanwen said to Li Yanhe, “It’s nothing. Children can talk among themselves too.”