You need to raise your pet using a system [Era]

Chapter 322 Heartfelt Intentions

With Xie Qianyu's consent, Lu Yuanbo perked up and, without a second thought, ran to tell Lu Yuanqing the good news.

Xie Qianyu watched his rapidly departing figure with amusement.

"He's like a little kid, even though he's a father of three!" Xie Long said, shaking his head.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with it, nor did he think he was being unreliable; he just said it casually.

Xie Qianyu smiled and said, "He's doing very well!"

She had no ulterior motives, and she didn't need to guess his thoughts; all his ideas were crystal clear.

People change, I guess. She used to really like smart people when she was in school.

But now, all her likes, every aspect of her likes, and every rule she sets for them, have become Lu Yuanbo.

Xie Long was happy that their relationship was so good.

His granddaughter has had a hard life, and having someone like Lu Yuanbo treat her with such devotion is the best thing that could happen to her.

Lu Yuanbo had no idea that his wife and her grandfather were both very satisfied with him.

He rushed next door, intending to tell Lu Yuanqing the good news, but unexpectedly bumped into Lu Mingnan, who was also rushing out.

"Oh my! Fourth Uncle, what brings you here all of a sudden?"

"And you're one to talk?" Lu Yuanbo rubbed his chest, which had been bruised from the impact, and couldn't help but tap Lu Mingnan on the head. "Why are you running so fast? Are you in a hurry to find your Liu Zhiqing?"

Lu Mingnan: "..." Turning the tables?

Who runs faster?

"Fourth Uncle!"

What do you mean by "his Liu Zhiqing"? They have absolutely no relationship whatsoever!

Lu Yuanbo, impatient with him, waved his hand and said, "Alright, go find someone! I need to talk to Third Brother! You go ahead!"

Lu Mingnan: "..."

He made a childish face at Lu Yuanbo's back.

I haven't done it for many years. I admire Lu Yuanbo for letting me be childish for a while!

However, even after making the funny face, Lu Mingnan still remembered his own business and turned around to head to the place he had arranged to meet Liu Ling.

When we arrived, Liu Ling was already waiting there!

Upon seeing Lu Mingnan arrive, Liu Ling smiled brightly and excitedly placed the things she was holding in front of him.

"Look, my acceptance letter has arrived!"

Lu Mingnan was overjoyed at first, "Congratulations, I knew you could do it."

But then I thought, wasn't Liu Ling staying in the village after the exam just to wait for her acceptance letter?

Now that the notification has arrived, then...

Is she about to leave?

That's right, the New Year is just around the corner. If she goes home now, she can celebrate the New Year with her family. After the New Year, she can go to university and will never return to their Shihua Village again.

Lu Mingnan almost couldn't keep his smile on his face.

Although he had long anticipated this ending, when he actually faced this moment, Lu Mingnan realized that the pain he felt at this moment was far less than the pain he had imagined.

"So, when do you plan to go home?" Lu Mingnan still had a smile on his face.

He seemed very familiar with this scene, his heart filled with grief, but he showed no sign of it on his face.

Liu Ling's bright smile froze on her face. She looked up at him in surprise, only to meet Lu Mingnan's smiling face.

Liu Ling sensed that Lu Mingnan was genuinely happy for her.

Are you happy for her getting into university?

Or are you happy that she's leaving soon?

Is he really that happy for her to leave? Doesn't he feel any reluctance at all?

"You...you want me to leave?" Liu Ling asked softly.

Liu Ling thought her feelings were already very clear.

For someone who has always only cared about being well-fed, clothed, and comfortable, dedicating her time to one person is already the greatest gesture of her heart.

But Lu Mingnan congratulated her.

Congratulations on getting into university! Congratulations on being able to return to the city!

Does he really not like her at all?

Lu Mingnan felt that his eyes must be playing tricks on him, otherwise, why would he see sadness in Liu Ling's eyes?

Lu Mingnan was puzzled, but when Liu Ling asked him if he wanted her to leave, he couldn't help but say urgently, "How could that be? How could I possibly want to leave?"

"But you're working so hard because you want to go back to the city, right?"

"Now that you've finally been admitted to university, you'll be a college student and will definitely be leaving Shihua Village."

And he may not be able to leave for many, many years.

Liu Ling's sad expression paused, and her tone became somewhat urgent, "You mean... you don't really want me to leave so soon, do you?"

Liu Ling looked at him expectantly.

Is he still hung up on Cheng Ruolan? Will no one be able to get into his heart from now on?

Is it true that even though Cheng Ruolan is cruel to him, he still loves her as always?

She needs to confirm; let her confirm it again.

“Of course, we’re friends, why would I want you to leave!” Lu Mingnan said with a smile.

Liu Ling pursed her lips and continued, "Oh, is that so!"

Thank you!

His tone was incredibly sarcastic and unpleasant.

Lu Mingnan: "..."

"When are you leaving?"

Liu Ling almost bit her teeth to pieces.

"What? You just said you didn't want me to leave, and now you're kicking me out?"

"No!" Lu Mingnan said with a hint of annoyance, "I didn't chase you away. I just thought you had received your admission notice and there were only two weeks left until the New Year. You haven't been home for the New Year for several years, and your parents must miss you a lot. I thought you wanted to go home in a hurry."

“I don’t want to drive you away. If you don’t want to leave, you can spend the New Year in our village.”

Liu Ling's mind stirred, her eyes flashed, and she said, "This is a good place, I like it very much... I like the people here too."

"But I'm afraid I won't be able to come back in the future."

Fearing that her probing words might be misunderstood by Lu Mingnan, who was so dense, Liu Ling quickly added, "After all, once I go to university, my household registration from the countryside will also be transferred, and I will no longer be an educated youth from Shihua Village. I won't have anywhere to stay when I come back."

Lu Mingnan couldn't bear to see her so 'heartbroken', so he quickly patted his chest and assured her, "Don't worry, if you want to come back and visit in the future, you can come to my house. My house will always welcome you."

Liu Ling struggled to suppress the smirk that was creeping up her lips.

Not enough, this is still not enough.

She needed to determine if Lu Mingnan was interested in her.

If she has any, she won't hold back.

"Thank you, Lu Mingnan." Liu Ling smiled sweetly at him, putting on her best 'acting' performance. "I know you're so kind because you consider me a friend. You're really good. Compared to you, my family..."

"What's wrong?" Lu Mingnan pressed.

At this moment, Lu Mingnan finally recalled that Liu Ling had never returned to the city even once in the years since she came down to the countryside. She was one of only two educated youths, besides Cheng Ruolan, who did not have any family members sending her packages.

In this respect, the two differed again.

Cheng Ruolan would send food to her parents in the city.

Liu Ling, however, never contacted her family in the city.

Instantly, countless possibilities of Liu Ling's tragic family life flashed through Lu Mingnan's mind.

His pity for her grew stronger. "Has your family treated you badly?"

Liu Ling kept her head down. Her acting skills were just so-so. If she looked at Lu Mingnan's face again, she would break down.

But her silence and downcast head confirmed Lu Mingnan's suspicions about what he had said.

He should have thought of that sooner.

After all, if Liu Ling's family had treated her well, why hadn't they sent her a single package or even a letter during all the years she had been sent to the countryside?

If Liu Ling's family wasn't so unreasonable, how could she have never taken a single day of leave to visit her family? Does she really not miss her family at all?

Furthermore, after Liu Ling went to the countryside, she didn't resemble a typical educated youth at all.

Lu Mingnan didn't pay attention to these things at the time and didn't know what Liu Ling looked like when she went to the countryside. He didn't notice it then.

But he knew how hard Liu Ling worked to earn work points.

How could someone who had just moved from the city to the countryside be so skilled and hardworking in the fields?

What else could it be?

She wanted to live, but her parents treated her badly, so she had to desperately support herself.

“If they treat you badly, don’t go back. Come to my house during holidays. You’re always welcome!” Lu Mingnan said, then, as if remembering something, he quickly pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket and forcefully stuffed it into Liu Ling’s hand. “I’ll support you while you study. Study hard and don’t worry about money. If you need more, just tell me and I’ll send it to you.”

Liu Ling: "..."

So, what exactly was he imagining? His eyes even turned red.

“We receive a subsidy for our studies, so it doesn’t cost us any money.”

Liu Ling put the money back.

Lu Mingnan refused to accept it, saying, "How much subsidy would that be? It's barely enough to eat. Take it and don't mistreat yourself. I have money, I have a salary. You don't need to worry about living expenses or studying. Just focus on your studies."

Liu Ling: "...Why? We're just friends, aren't we? Why are you so good to your friends?"

She has made up her mind.

Then it was her turn to attack.

She grew up fighting with her many siblings for food, clothes, and everything she needed. Her greatest talent was seizing opportunities, and she couldn't let go of such a good person as Lu Mingnan.

"Uh, right? Is that so? Yes, I've always been very good to my friends," Lu Mingnan stammered.

Looking at his awkward explanation, Liu Ling clutched the wad of money in her hand, her heart softening terribly.

"But I can't accept it!"

Lu Mingnan turned around abruptly to look at her, and said anxiously, "Why won't you accept it? This is my own choice. I want to be good to you. Don't you consider me a friend? You're being too polite!"

Liu Ling: "..." This is the first time I've seen someone so self-righteous even when they've been taken advantage of.

"Save this for getting married. You're not young anymore, you need someone who's caring for you."

This is also what Liu Ling is worried about. She must win over Lu Mingnan and can't wait any longer. Otherwise, what will happen when Lu Mingnan gets married by the time she goes to school?

The Lu family has always been highly sought after in this area.

Lu Mingnan's third uncle is quite old, but because of his success, people still want to introduce him to young, unmarried women! What if someone discovers Lu Mingnan's good qualities and steals him away while she's not around? She can't miss out on such a good man.

(Lu Yuanqing, who is quite old and still being introduced to young, unmarried women: ...Please don't delete this, thank you!)

Marrying a wife?

Lu Mingnan listened silently to those three words, gently shook his head, met Liu Ling's concerned eyes, and said with a faint smile, "It's still early!"

"Let's not talk about that. Come to the village whenever you have a holiday! Your parents... if you don't want to go back, come stay with me. No one can bully you!"

Liu Ling: "..." Her parents didn't actually abuse her, really!

Their family had too many children, and because they were too poor, their parents didn't have the energy to take care of them. There wasn't much affection between the siblings; when they fought, they would just steal each other's things.