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

Deng Zechen feigned profundity, maintaining the persona he had portrayed last time:

"This is the Land of Illusion. I have been entrusted by someone to come and help you resolve your troubles."

Lin Daiyu frowned upon hearing this, unsure how much of the same story she had believed after their second meeting.

"Who entrusted me with this? If you were here to relieve my worries, why have you only come now?"

"Naturally, it's your closest relatives who miss you and worry about you."

Everything has its own rules, and it took me quite a bit of effort to come see you.

Lin Daiyu felt much better after hearing this, her furrowed brows relaxed, and she replied, half-jokingly:

"It's kind of my mother to still remember me. Why does she care what I do?"

So what if I'm depressed to death?

Everyone has to die eventually, so I might as well die sooner and join my mother sooner.

Upon hearing this, Deng Zechen felt a tightness in his throat.

I used to enjoy reading about Lin Daiyu in books, where she would act like a sharp-tongued critic and say those things to others. Now that I'm in that situation myself, I realize how difficult it is.

Fortunately, Daiyu had imagined an identity for herself, and Deng Zechen followed suit:

"What nonsense are you talking about! You make it sound so easy, but have you ever thought about your father?"

Your father lost your brother and wife one after the other. If you were to pass away before him, how would he face himself?

You are not allowed to say things like that again!

Upon hearing these harsh words, Lin Daiyu immediately showed a hint of shame and could only silently agree.

The handkerchief in her hand was tangled up, and she looked down like a little girl who had done something wrong.

Deng Zechen noticed the change in Lin Daiyu and breathed a sigh of relief.

We finally managed to fool them!

Perhaps because the departure time was drawing near, Lin Daiyu seemed even more lost and uneasy.

Although she wondered why her mother didn't come to her in a dream in person, she tried to express her unease:

"What should I do now? My father is going to Yangzhou to take up his post. He said that I lost my mother at a young age and is worried about my future marriage. He wants to send me to my maternal grandfather's place."

My father's health is not good either, and I can't be by his side. When will we see each other again after this separation?

After she finished speaking, tears streamed down her face again.

In the past, Deng Zechen had always seen Lin Daiyu in various literary works and films as a talented, intelligent, and insightful woman who occasionally acted a little capricious towards her beloved.

Lin Daiyu, who so openly and completely revealed all her reliance, was someone I had never seen before.

"Why don't you want to go? That's your maternal grandparents' home; they won't mistreat you if you go."

They'll just need to raise you for a while; they'll bring you home eventually.

You know your dad is very busy with work, and he worries about leaving you alone at home all the time.

As Deng Zechen spoke, he carefully observed Daiyu's expression.

"How can that be the same? No matter how close your maternal grandparents' family is, they are still just relatives."

If I went there, I would only be living under someone else's roof, constantly having to be mindful of how others treated me.

How can anything compare to the freedom of being in control of everything at home?

Lin Daiyu's nose was slightly red from crying, making her look even more pitiful.

Perhaps because she finally had someone to confide in, Lin Daiyu poured out all the insecurities in her heart:

"Besides, I am all alone in the capital, with no one to rely on. If I encounter any trouble, I don't even have anyone to tell me the truth."

My father is far away in Yangzhou. Even if we could communicate, how could I bother him with the little things that happen to me?

My father overheard others talking about the loss of their mother. He was unhappy but didn't want to upset me, so he didn't want to say much to me. I knew those people had said even more hurtful things.

Words are like knives; how can I, an orphan, possibly cope?

Upon hearing this, Deng Zechen decisively interrupted Daiyu's emotions:

"Remember this, you are not some 'orphan,' you are the daughter of a third-ranked scholar, the daughter of a distinguished family of scholars!"

Your mother's family was a family of two dukes, and your father's family was a family of three generations of marquises!

You yourself are an excellent daughter.

You deserve the best; those mediocre people who don't deserve you are the ones who secretly belittle you.

That was their underhanded tactic, not your fault.

After listening to Deng Zechen's words, Lin Daiyu nodded thoughtfully and gradually stopped crying.

Seeing that Lin Daiyu had taken his words to heart, Deng Zechen, both to verify his guess and to strike while the iron was hot, continued:

"How could you be all alone in the capital? Now that you've gone there, your father will surely make appropriate arrangements."

When the time comes, ask your father to buy you a house in the capital. If you're unhappy in the Rongguo Mansion, you can move out and write to your father.

The young man who visited my home today seemed mature and steady to me.

If you ever have any urgent matters in the future, feel free to seek him out. He is a grateful person and will certainly not abandon you.

Although Ogaki is currently plagued by frequent wars and natural disasters, it is well-off and has always maintained an open social atmosphere. It does not have the strict separation of men and women that the previous dynasty did, so this statement does not seem abrupt.

"I see."

As he said this, Deng Zechen unconsciously picked up a piece of fabric and rubbed it gently with his hand hanging at his side.

Looking at the blurry face in front of her, Lin Daiyu was reminded of Deng Zechen, whom she had seen during the day.

Although they only met once during the day, Lin Daiyu always felt that this person was somewhat similar to Deng Zechen.

Especially the current habit of unconsciously rubbing clothes.

Lin Daiyu didn't dwell on it too much. "What's your relationship with Deng Zechen, who visited today?"

As she spoke, Lin Daiyu looked curiously at Deng Zechen's fingers, which were still moving.

Upon hearing this, Deng Zechen paused, but then felt that stopping abruptly would seem abrupt, so he slowed down while thinking about how to respond.

But Deng Zechen had only uttered half a sentence, "Oh, that's naturally because..."

But then I heard a cacophony of voices around me.

The illusory world before my eyes gradually faded away and finally disappeared.

Meanwhile, Xueyan saw Lin Daiyu sobbing softly in her dream, her face showing sorrow, and she was muttering incomprehensible words. She gently shook Daiyu awake from her dream.

When Lin Daiyu woke up, she was slightly stunned, and her disappointment was evident.

Meanwhile, Granny Wang had already gone to fetch the doctor from the manor, fearing that her young lady might be possessed by a nightmare and develop some kind of illness.

Seeing that Lin Daiyu had finally woken up, Xueyan asked worriedly:

"What did you dream about, young lady?"

While asking the question, he carefully wiped the fine sweat from Lin Daiyu's forehead and temples with a silk handkerchief.

Lin Daiyu was abruptly removed from the Land of Illusion and found herself back in her familiar boudoir, still somewhat dazed.

He answered after a long pause:

"It's nothing..."

When Deng Zechen opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the cramped little room where he had been resting.

Feng Ziming, who was standing beside him, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Deng Zechen wake up.

An elderly man dressed as a doctor, seeing that Deng Zechen had regained his senses, got up to pack his medicine kit and said without looking up:

"It's nothing serious, just a seizure caused by overthinking."

I'll prescribe some calming and sleeping pills; that should do the trick. Who's going to pay for the consultation and the medication?

What? You want my money?

Deng Zechen jumped up from his bunk. Feng Ziming had only called the doctor because he was worried about his condition, so he shouldn't have to pay for it.

Deng Zechen looked at the doctor who had packed his things and was waiting to collect the money:

"I'm completely cured, I don't need any medicine anymore. How much is the consultation fee?"