Chapter 52: Duan Ling’s Birthday! (2/2)

He stopped sweeping the spider webs, carrying the feather duster past them without getting involved.

Lin Ting ignored Jin Anazi.

Duan Ling didn’t linger; after she finished asking about his birthday, he quickly left the study.

After Duan Ling left the study, Jin Anazi came back with the feather duster and stood in front of Lin Ting: 

“You said you wanted to give him a gift; what are you giving?”

“What does it have to do with you?” 

Lin Ting was pondering how much silver she would need to buy the jade hairpin. 

She had borrowed three thousand taels from Lin San Ye and only had a few hundred taels left.

Jin Anazi replied indifferently: “An apple?”

Lin Ting understood why he was being sarcastic and swore: 

“I swear, next time it’s your birthday, I won’t give you an apple again.”

He shook the feather duster and hung it on the wall: “Not an apple, how about a peach?”

Lin Ting:”….”

She took the silver that Duan Ling had placed on the bookshelf and put it into the money cabinet and said: “Jin Anazi, is that how you see me?”

“Yes, in my eyes, you are someone who values beauty over friendship.” Jin An walked past her, lifting the curtain to go to the backyard to find the dog.

Lin Ting made a face at him and then returned to the Lin family to get her private money to buy a gift for Duan Ling.

***

On Duan Ling’s birthday, Lin Ting arrived early at the Duan residence with her gift.

Arriving too early, the other guests hadn’t arrived yet, so Lin Ting first went to Duan Xining’s boudoir and stayed with her. 

During this time, she kept drinking water, finishing four pots of tea in less than a quarter of an hour and needing to call a servant for the fifth pot.

Duan Xining wondered: “Leyun, why are you drinking so much tea today?!”

“I ate too many snacks and got thirsty.” 

In reality, Lin Ting was nervous; just thinking about having to publicly say “I want to marry you” soon made her want to dig a hole and bury herself.

Duan Xining took away the teapot next to her and advised: 

“You can’t drink so much tea at once; it’s bad for your health. Wait a while before drinking again.”

Lin Ting didn’t touch the teapot again.

“This is your first time coming to celebrate my second brother’s birthday.” 

Duan Xining was very happy; their relationship had finally eased, and it was no longer the previous facade of harmony with discord, and she didn’t have to be caught in the middle anymore.

Lin Ting didn’t know how to respond; if she could, she wouldn’t want to come to celebrate Duan Ling’s birthday.

Duan Xining looked at the gift Lin Ting had brought, picked it up to feel it, and exclaimed: 

“You even prepared a gift for my second brother? If he knows, he will definitely be happy. What is it?”

The gift was in a small box tied with a pink bow, and from the outside, it was impossible to tell what was inside, and even touching it didn’t reveal much.

Lin Ting: “A jade hairpin.”

Duan Xining put the gift back in its place:

“A jade hairpin? You really know how to pick gifts.” 

She had also struggled for a long time to decide what to give Duan Ling; choosing a gift was not an easy task.

A servant came in, bent down, and whispered a few words in Duan Xining’s ear before leaving.

Lin Ting didn’t ask.

Duan Xining got off the Rohan couch and said: 

“My mother heard that you came early and wants to call you and me to see her.”

Lin Ting thought that after today, Madam Feng wouldn’t frequently see her anymore.

They went to Madam Feng’s courtyard together, where Lin Ting saw Duan Ling. 

He was greeting Madam Feng and, upon seeing her, was not surprised, greeting her politely: “Miss Lin Qi.”

In Madam Feng’s room, incense was burning, and the fragrant smoke filled every corner, but the sandalwood scent on Duan Ling was not overshadowed by it; even standing a few steps away, Lin Ting could smell it.

Lin Ting looked at him: “Lord Duan.”

Madam Feng sat on a rosewood chair, turning her prayer beads and smiling gently at them: 

“You two are being too distant in your greetings. If I remember correctly, you have known each other since childhood.”

She wanted Duan Ling to call Lin Ting by her little name “Leyun” and for Lin Ting to call Duan Ling by his courtesy name “Ziyu,” so they would seem closer.

Duan Xining, worried that Madam Feng had heard about their previous discord, let go of Lin Ting’s hand, walked over, and nestled on her lap, acting cute: 

“Mother, I think there’s nothing wrong with them greeting each other like this; just leave it be.”

With Duan Xining’s interruption, Madam Feng didn’t bring it up again: “Let’s all sit down.”

Lin Ting sat opposite Duan Ling.

Servants came in one after another, serving tea and snacks. 

Lin Ting took a sip of tea. 

The more Madam Feng looked at her, the more satisfied she became, handing the prayer beads to a maid to hold: “How has Lady Li been lately?”

Lin Ting put down the teacup: “My mother is doing well; thank you for your concern, Madam Feng.”

Madam Feng asked her a few more questions, and after a moment, found an excuse to take Duan Xining away, leaving only a maid to guard the door, allowing Lin Ting and Duan Ling to be alone.

Duan Ling lowered his head to drink tea, not looking at Lin Ting across from him, as if unaware of Madam Feng’s intentions.

Lin Ting sat for a while, then stood up, took out the small brocade box from her long sleeves, and handed it to Duan Ling with both hands: 

“Lord Duan, happy birthday. This is the gift I prepared for you; I hope you like it.”

He raised his eyes and accepted the gift with both hands: “Thank you, Miss Lin Qi.”

The pink bow on the brocade box brushed against Duan Ling’s palm, tickling and tingling; his fingers curled slightly: “You came very early today?”

“Not too early.”

Duan Ling: “You came as soon as it got light; that’s not too early.”

Lin Ting:”…”

He teased the ends of the bow with his fingertips: “Can I open it now to take a look?”

Lin Ting retreated to her side of the table and sat down: 

“Of course, it’s yours now; you can look at it whenever you want.”

Duan Ling leisurely untied the silk ribbon binding the brocade box, revealing the jade hairpin inside.

Although the jade of the hairpin wasn’t the best quality, it was still decent, with a translucent color. 

The pin itself had no complicated patterns, and the surface was smooth and warm.

Only the head of the pin was carved with a white feather no larger than a thumb, with a tiny bell resting on it, wrapped in the white feather but actually pressing against it. 

It looked unique and was different from ordinary carved hairpins.

The white feather was taken from a feather, and the bell’s sound was the same as “feather,” indicating that she had put thought into it.

Duan Ling took the jade hairpin out of the brocade box, running his fingers over the white feather and the bell, feeling their contours: 

“I really like this gift.” 

Lin Ting felt even more pain in her heart; although this jade hairpin wasn’t particularly expensive, it had still cost her quite a bit of silver. 

She was afraid that the person making the hairpin would replace the jade she had chosen with inferior jade and had spent time watching them make it.

“I’m glad you like it, Lord Duan.” 

If he said he didn’t like it, she wouldn’t know what to do; Lin Ting’s financial situation only allowed her to buy gifts of this level.

Duan Ling placed the jade hairpin back in the brocade box.

Madam Feng and Duan Xining returned just in time; Lin Ting had just finished giving the gift when they came back.

An hour later, all the guests had arrived, and Lin Ting followed them out.

Duan Ling’s birthday was even livelier than Madam Feng’s; he was an official in the court, so he naturally had colleagues attending. 

Thus, a row of Imperial Guards dressed in flying fish robes sat in the western part of the main hall, and judging by the color and pattern of their official robes, they held considerable status in the Northern Town Protectorate.

On the eastern side sat noble families with ties to the Duan family, along with some noble girls who wanted to take this opportunity to inquire about Duan Ling’s marriage.

Lin Ting wasn’t outside the main hall; she was inside, and just like last time, she sat at the same table as Duan Ling, but they weren’t sitting close; Duan Xining and Xia Zimo were between them.

The main hall was lit with many red candles, and strings of large red lanterns hung from the eaves.

Lin Ting’s face was slightly flushed from the candlelight as she thought about her task, growing more and more nervous. 

Her hands, resting on her knees, moved restlessly, and she occasionally stole glances at Duan Ling.

Lin Ting’s movements were very subtle; even Duan Xining sitting next to her didn’t notice.

However, Duan Ling seemed to sense something and looked over at Lin Ting. 

She immediately pretended to be nonchalant and looked behind him.

He withdrew his gaze and chatted casually with those who approached, as if he had only glanced over casually.

Lin Ting was searching for the right moment to say that sentence, but before she could gather her thoughts, the system urged her. 

Today was the day to complete her task, and it was also the final deadline.

The time and place for completing this task were all arranged by the system, today at the Duan residence. 

The standard for “public” was over fifty people, and they had to hear it and know that the words were directed at Duan Ling. 

This was a test of Lin Ting’s thick-skinned nature.

She broke out in a cold sweat.

Duan Xining noticed the sweat on Lin Ting’s forehead and took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat: 

“Leyun, you’re sweating a lot; is it too hot?”

There were elders at the table, and Duan Xining couldn’t call a maid over to fan Lin Ting; that would be too conspicuous and could leave a bad impression of being spoiled. 

Although Duan Xining didn’t understand social etiquette well, she still had some sense of propriety. 

Lin Ting took the handkerchief from her and wiped away the sweat: “Just a little.”

Duan Xining quietly called over her personal maid and had her bring over a few ice basins, placing them not far from Lin Ting, which hardly attracted anyone else’s attention; only Duan Ling noticed. 

He glanced at Lin Ting, whose chin was slightly sweaty, just a quick look. 

With the ice, Lin Ting stopped sweating and felt cool, but her nervousness didn’t lessen at all.

She silently recited that sentence but couldn’t bring herself to say it. 

Lin Ting now greatly admired those who could propose in public; their courage was commendable.

With the momentum of the first strike, the second weakens, and the third exhausts. 

Lin Ting decided to go all out and stood up.

She faced Duan Ling.

Except for the servants standing behind to attend, all the guests were seated. 

When Lin Ting suddenly stood up, everyone instinctively turned their gaze toward her.

Madam Feng, with a kind smile, asked, 

“Le Yun, do you have something to say to Zi Yu?”

Lin Ting, with a look of determination, replied, “Yes.”

Madam Feng continued to smile warmly, considerately suggesting, 

“Should Zi Yu go out with you?”

“No need,” she said.

Duan Ling also stood up, facing her, “Miss Lin Qi, what do you want to say…”

After extreme nervousness, Lin Ting reached a state of utmost calm. 

In a very composed tone, she uttered a shocking statement, 

“I want to marry you.”

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar. 

The guests whispered among themselves, looking at her with various expressions. 

Duan Xinning was dumbfounded.

Xia Zimo wasn’t much better off, his jaw dropped, and the wine glass in his hand fell, rolled down, and hit the carpet on the floor with a dull thud. 

Even the usually composed Madam Feng was stunned, doubting her own hearing. 

But seeing the reactions of the surrounding guests, she could confirm it was real.

Lin Ting didn’t look at them, waiting for Duan Ling’s rejection, then planning to feign heartbreak and slip away.

After the commotion, the surroundings became quiet.

Duan Ling looked at Lin Ting without blinking, not speaking for a long time. 

Just as she and others thought Duan Ling would refuse with silence, he spoke, with just one simple word.

“Okay.”