Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with winning over Daiyu's favorability

Unlike Daiyu, Xiangling's favorability rating reached 50 upon their first meeting.

Perhaps this increase in favorability is closely related to the character's personality and experiences. A girl like Xiangling, who has suffered a lot, will cherish kindness even more when she suddenly receives it.

I just don't know how much favorability Lin Daiyu needs to reach before the reward is given...

On the other boat, Lin Daiyu recalled everything that had happened during the day and couldn't fall asleep, especially when she thought of Deng Zechen's words, "I've seen this younger sister before."

Just a few days ago, he said those words like the kind of carefree young master from a noble family would say, but today, in order to save Xiangling, he said them himself.

Lin Daiyu tossed and turned on the couch, soon disturbing Xueyan, who rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked Lin Daiyu:

"What's wrong, young lady? Are you thirsty?"

The cabin was pitch black, and Lin Daiyu couldn't see Xueyan's sleeping face clearly, but from the sound, she knew Xueyan was too sleepy to keep her eyes open. She turned her back and answered:

"It's nothing. My legs are just a little sore from walking too much today. It'll be fine in a bit. Go to sleep."

"Oh, then I'll give you a massage, Miss..." A rustling sound came as Xueyan groped her way to the end of the couch and gently massaged Lin Daiyu's calves.

The force became lighter and the frequency lower, and his head bobbed up and down like a chick pecking at rice. He was clearly getting so sleepy that he couldn't control himself.

Lin Daiyu found it somewhat amusing and rather forcefully sent Xueyan to bed.

"Alright, go to sleep by yourself. Don't fall asleep on my lap and end up lying on top of me, then you won't be able to move tomorrow."

"Oh, that girl, remember to call me if you need anything..."

After this interruption, although Lin Daiyu still had some doubts, she relaxed a lot. Maybe it was just a coincidence?

Lin Daiyu comforted herself with this conjecture, thinking to herself:

"Deng Zechen must not have had any bad intentions when he said such things. A person who can be the top scholar in a county must be exceptionally intelligent."

He's someone my father approves of, so if there's any real problem, my mother will definitely tell me.

Besides, given the circumstances, he said those things to protect Xiangling. My unfounded speculation, associating him with such a smooth-talking and reckless person, only makes me seem narrow-minded…”

Thinking of this, Lin Daiyu gave herself a little scolding and finally put the idea out of her mind.

Only then did Lin Daiyu feel the fatigue from walking around all day wash over her, and she gradually fell asleep in the gently swaying cabin...

The time on the ship was mostly monotonous, but Xiangling was curious about everything since it was her first time on a ship. After spending time with Lin Daiyu, she found that Lin Daiyu was quite easy to talk to most of the time.

He gradually grew bolder and often played around with Xueyan.

The two quickly became friends, and the sounds of girls laughing and joking often echoed from Lin Daiyu's boat.

Meanwhile, Deng Zechen stared wide-eyed in the darkness at the ever-changing favorability bar before him, utterly bewildered.

Lin Daiyu's favorability rating: 15/100

Lin Daiyu's favorability rating: 20/100

Lin Daiyu's favorability rating: 15/100

Lin Daiyu's favorability rating: 10/100

After several jumps, the number finally stabilized at 20 and stopped changing. At the same time, a new piece of information flashed across Deng Zechen's eyes:

[Reward obtained: Memory +1]

As the subtitles faded and disappeared, Deng Zechen felt a chill creep up from the top of his head and flow throughout his body.

My mind became much clearer.

Under the moonlight, Deng Zechen turned and disembarked. After looking around, his gaze fell on the wooden box beside the bed, which contained some of his books and old clothes.

With a try-it-out attitude, Deng Zechen hugged the wooden box tightly with both hands and lifted it over his head with a little effort.

I could lift this box before, but it was nowhere near as easy as it was now.

When boarding the ship, it took me and a servant from the Lin family to carry the box onto the ship.

With one hand free, Deng Zechen discovered that he could steadily lift the wooden box on his head even using only his right hand, indicating that his increased physique had also enhanced his strength!

Remembering that he had just received a reward that increased his memory, Deng Zechen put down the box, took out a book, lit the lamp, and began to read.

After reading it only three times, the content was already firmly memorized!

As expected of a system-generated stat boost, this improvement gives me a better chance of passing the imperial examinations in the future!

……

He slept soundly through the night. As dawn broke, Deng Zechen finished getting ready early and waited on the deck.

From a distance, the dock was crowded with people; it was unclear which of them were people sent by the Rongguo Mansion to pick up Lin Daiyu.

As the three boats entered the dock one after another and moored, Lin Daiyu, supported by Xueyan and Xiangling, disembarked first. Soon, several people from the waiting crowd came forward to talk to her.

Lin Daiyu nodded and followed one of the people into the carriage they had prepared. Deng Zechen also took out the letter that Lin Ruhai had given to the Rongguo Mansion and handed it to the Rongguo Mansion servants who were directing the unloading of the goods on the ship.

The guards and servants who accompanied Lin Daiyu to the capital went ahead to the Lin family's old residence in the capital, as instructed by Lin Daiyu.

The group quickly boarded the carriage and headed towards the Rongguo Mansion.

Behind the carriages carrying passengers, there were six or seven carts just for transporting valuables. Deng Zechen lowered the curtain and sighed again:

The Lin family is really rich!

Lin Ruhai truly dotes on his daughter!

Upon arriving at the Rongguo Mansion, Deng Zechen followed Lin Daiyu through a small gate. Servants first gave the letter to Grandmother Jia for her to read, and then went to give the letter to Jia Zheng.

Having read Lin Ruhai's letters, Grandmother Jia did not pay much attention to this young scholar.

After bowing respectfully, Deng Zechen stepped aside and sat down in the seat arranged for him by the Rongguo Mansion.

Upon seeing Lin Daiyu dressed simply, Grandmother Jia's eyes quickly reddened. She trembled as she embraced Lin Daiyu, crying out words like "my darling."

Lin Daiyu was also moved by what she heard. After the two comforted each other and calmed down, Grandmother Jia spoke again:

"Of all my children, your mother was the one I loved most. Now that she has left me first, without even being able to see her one last time, how can I not be heartbroken to see you today!"

Lin Daiyu listened and replied sincerely:

"My mother used to tell me that my maternal grandmother always favored her the most and often talked about her..."

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia pulled Lin Daiyu aside and inquired about her well-being. A short while later, a servant came to report:

"Master Bao is here!"

A young man dressed in extremely luxurious and noble attire entered the room, wearing a purple-gold crown inlaid with jewels and a gold headband with two dragons chasing a pearl tied around his eyebrows... Deng Zechen carefully examined Jia Baoyu's attire, which was indeed as exquisite and flamboyant as described in the book.

After Jia Baoyu entered the room and bowed to Grandmother Jia, he immediately saw Lin Daiyu standing to the side. His eyes were glued to Lin Daiyu, and he could no longer see anyone else. He was only staring at Lin Daiyu in a daze.

Lin Daiyu noticed the gaze that seemed almost tangible, and thinking of the纨绔公子 (spoiled young master) that Deng Zechen had mentioned when they were at the Lin residence, she felt a little displeased.

Seeing that Lin Daiyu remained silent, Jia Baoyu stared intently at her, muttering to himself:

"I've seen this girl before..."