Chapter 1189 YUNYUE VS FENGHUANG (XXIV)

"SO, what did you and Mrs. Thompson talk about to get her so rattled?" Luo Yan asked casually as they strolled toward the dining car.

When their conversation ended, Mrs. Thompson announced that she would no longer stand in the way of Shen Ji Yun becoming Mary's guardian. She smiled as warmly as ever and reassured Luo Yan that if he ever felt uncomfortable, he could always stay with her and Miss Thompson. On the surface, she seemed to have accepted Shen Ji Yun's proposal, but Luo Yan could sense her reluctance. More than that, he noticed a flicker of something else in her eyes—a glimmer of loss, as though a deeply held belief had been shaken or called into question.

Afterward, Mrs. Thompson announced that she had a migraine and needed to rest. Miss Thompson, naturally, followed her back to the cabin. As a result, Luo Yan found himself alone with Shen Ji Yun, heading to the dining car for breakfast.

"She asked if I was serious about marrying Mrs. Winslow, and I told her I was," Shen Ji Yun said, his tone matter-of-fact. "She then questioned how that could be possible, given my status as a noble duke and Mrs. Winslow's position as a widow with a child. She brought up how society wouldn't accept such a match—or something along those lines. I told her I didn't care what society thought and that all I wanted was to be with the person I love. She seemed shocked after that and went silent. Not long after, she stopped voicing any objections."

Luo Yan raised an eyebrow. Based on Shen Ji Yun's account, their conversation hardly seemed intense enough to warrant Mrs. Thompson's reaction. So, why had she been so rattled? Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

"Could you tell me exactly how the conversation went?" he asked.

Shen Ji Yun nodded and began recounting every detail of his conversation with Mrs. Thompson.

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Shen Ji Yun's memory of the conversation was vivid, particularly Mrs. Thompson's reaction.

She had started with a sharp, skeptical tone, her eyes narrowing as she spoke. "Your Grace, are you truly serious about marrying Mrs. Winslow?"

"Yes, I am," Shen Ji Yun replied, his voice steady and firm.

Her frown deepened, her expression a mix of disbelief and incredulity. "How could that even be possible? You are a noble duke, a figure of status and prestige. Mrs. Winslow is a widow, already burdened with a child. A match like this would be utterly unthinkable in our society."

Shen Ji Yun's gaze didn't waver. "I understand your concerns, Madam, but I don't care about what society thinks. All I want is to be with the person I love."

And he's definitely not talking about Mrs. Winslow here. Maybe that's why he seemed more convincing.

The words seemed to land like a physical blow. Mrs. Thompson froze, her breath catching as if she hadn't expected such a direct and heartfelt response. Her stern demeanor faltered, and for a fleeting moment, Shen Ji Yun caught a glimpse of something raw in her expression—pain, perhaps, or regret.

Her lips parted slightly, as though she wanted to argue, but no sound came out. Instead, she turned her gaze to the floor, her hand trembling as she clutched the edge of her shawl. Her eyes, previously hard and unyielding, softened with a flicker of something akin to sorrow. It was as if his declaration had stirred something deeply personal within her, forcing her to confront emotions she'd long buried.

Finally, she drew in a shaky breath, straightened her posture, and gave him a small, resigned nod. "I see," she murmured, her voice quieter now, tinged with a sadness she couldn't entirely conceal.

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After listening, Luo Yan couldn't help but furrow his brows. There was certainly something strange about Mrs. Thompson's reaction. It wasn't just the hesitation or the sadness Shen Ji Yun described—it was the depth of emotion that didn't seem to align with her role as a mere NPC or even as a concerned guardian.

"What do you think about her reaction?" Luo Yan asked, his tone thoughtful as he glanced up at Shen Ji Yun.

Shen Ji Yun considered the question for a moment. "I found it… unusual. It felt like she was reacting to something more personal than the situation at hand."

Luo Yan hummed, his brows knitting further. "It's almost like she wasn't questioning you just as Mary's temporary guardian but from her own perspective. As if…" He trailed off, unsure how to put it into words.

"...As if she was speaking from experience?" Shen Ji Yun finished for him.

Luo Yan's eyes widened slightly before he nodded. "Exactly. That would explain why she looked so shaken. If this was personal for her, then maybe there's something about her backstory that connected to this."

The two walked in silence for a few moments, each lost in thought. It was rare for NPCs to display such depth of emotion unless it was tied to a specific quest or narrative detail.

Luo Yan tapped a finger against his chin. "Do you think it's worth investigating further?"

Shen Ji Yun gave a small nod. "It might not be relevant to our main objective, but it's possible it could lead to something useful."

Luo Yan smiled faintly, his curiosity piqued. "Well, if nothing else, it sounds like a mystery worth solving. Let's keep it in mind for later."

With that, they continued toward the dining car, though the mystery of Mrs. Thompson's reaction lingered in Luo Yan's thoughts. He decided to set it aside for now—there were more pressing matters to focus on. Like uncovering whether the eccentric old man Su Yuqi encountered last night was, in fact, Sherlock Holmes in disguise.

"By the way, you did great back there," Luo Yan said after a moment, referring to Shen Ji Yun's impressive performance earlier.

Shen Ji Yun glanced down at Luo Yan. A small smile tugged at his lips. "Can I say that I only learned from the best?"

Their gazes met, a quiet understanding passing between them. In Shen Ji Yun's eyes, Luo Yan caught a flicker of something unspoken yet unmistakably tender, leaving his heart just a little unsteady.

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