In recent days, Ling Jingxu has been busy getting along with Ling Jingyan, and the time spent accompanying Ling Xiao has decreased a lot.

  Lu Hong accompanied Ling Xiao every day, patiently guiding him on the classics and current events. Ling Xiao benefited greatly from this, as he had few opportunities to interact with boys of his own age, and found it quite refreshing. Lu Hong also deliberately humored him, and the two quickly became familiar with each other.

  Ling Jingxu sent someone to invite Ling Xiao to come to Qiushui Pavilion for lunch, and Ling Xiao naturally invited Lu Hong brothers to come together. Unexpectedly, Ling Jingxu was unhappy about this.

  Even if nothing is seen, indifference can be heard from Ling Jingxu's impatient tone.

  "Ah-jiao," Ling Xiao asked in a low voice, tugging slightly at Ling Jingxiao's sleeve, "aren't you very happy?"

  Ling Jingxu's expression immediately softened, and her tone was relaxed and cheerful: "Many people eating together is lively, how can I not be happy? Don't worry about it. The dishes are already ready, let's go now."

  As she spoke, she took Ling Xiao's hand and smiled brightly as she grasped Ling Jingyan's hand: "Sister Yan, let's go in together."

  Lu Hongluo was intentionally or unintentionally ignored by Lu Xing: "......"

  The two brothers exchanged a glance, each hiding their inner disappointment and desolation, and followed quietly.

  ......

  The dishes were sumptuous. Without elders present, it was also less formal.

  Ling Jingyan glanced over and couldn't help but laugh: "Are we having a whole fish feast today?"

  Most of the dishes on the table were fish, steamed, braised, sweet and sour soup, etc.

  "Ling Xiao loves to eat fish." Ling Jingxuan smiled slightly and explained in a simple sentence. Then she picked up a piece of fish meat, carefully and patiently removed all the fish bones, and put it into Ling Xiao's bowl.

  Ling Xiao had always liked eating fish. After losing her sight, eating fish became a troublesome matter. Ling Jingxuan was unwilling to rely on others, and the task of removing fish bones had always been done by her own hands.

  Ling Xiao's bowl was almost full, and Ling Jingyu finally stopped, saying softly: "Ah Xiao, the fish bones have been removed, you can eat with peace of mind."

  Ling Xiao happily nodded and started eating with her head down.

  Ling Jingyu saw Ling Xiao eating happily and a smile also spread across her face.

  That faint, gentle smile instantly lit up her beautiful face, with sparkling eyes that shone like jewels, radiating colorful lights.

  Under such a captivating and enchanting light, all words seem pale and powerless.

  Lu Hong took a deep breath and gazed at her with difficulty in controlling his emotions.

  So scorching, so focused.

  It's impossible to ignore.

  Ling Jingxian deliberately ignored her, and with a smile, handed Ling Jingyan some dishes: "Sister Yan, I don't know if these dishes suit your taste. Don't just sit there, eat some more."

  Ling Jingyan's eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement as she smiled and responded with a soft "en".

  A handsome young man with a elegant demeanor is sitting in front of her, but her younger sister doesn't seem to be moved at all. This composure is truly astonishing.

  "Jingyu, you've been picking fish bones for Xiao Ge and serving food to Yan Mei, but you haven't eaten yet!" Lu Qian broke the silence with a smile, enthusiastically serving Jingyu some dishes. In an instant, he piled up a bowl: "You must have had poor appetite these days, looking thinner than before. You should eat more."

  Facing such enthusiasm, Ling Jingxu couldn't keep a straight face either and had to thank them.

  It wasn't until then that the silent and eerie atmosphere at the dinner table was slightly dissolved.

  "Tomorrow is Grandma's birthday. What gift have you prepared?" Ling Jingyan asked curiously.

  Ling Jingxiao smiled and said: "I've been ready for a long time. I made a pair of shoes for Grandma, what about you? What have you prepared?"

  "I originally planned to make a dress for my grandmother, but my mother said that I was not skilled in needlework and that the clothes I made would not meet her standards. So I changed plans and made a sachet instead. The sachet contains dried chrysanthemum flowers and other things that have a calming effect on the mind."

  The two sisters chatted idly.

  Lu Hong was separated by a layer and it wasn't convenient for him to speak up.

  Lu Qian didn't care anymore, and smiled as he chimed in: "I copied a Buddhist scripture for my maternal grandmother." He then asked Ling Xiang with great enthusiasm: "Xiang older brother, have you prepared a gift for our maternal grandmother?"

  Ling Xiao felt a bit embarrassed and said in a low voice, "I also wanted to prepare the gift personally. But my eyes can't see, I couldn't copy the Buddhist scriptures..."

  It's really a case of "whichever pot is not opened, lift that one!" Clearly knowing that Ling Xiang is blind, he needs people to take care of his daily life, and it's impossible for him to prepare any gifts personally!

  Lu Qian secretly felt a pang of regret and hastily smiled: "Having this kind of filial piety is more important than anything else. Even if nothing was sent, Grandma wouldn't mind."

  Ling Xiao forced a smile, but his eyebrows were somewhat gloomy and unhappy.

  "I've actually thought of a way," said Lu Hong with a sudden smile. "It won't take too much effort, and it'll also make our great-grandmother happy."

  Ling Xiao's face lit up, and he asked with a hopeful expression: "Has Hong Shu come up with a plan?"

  Lu Hong leaned in close to Ling Xiao's ear and whispered a few sentences. Ling Xiao listened intently, nodding his head excitedly.

  Ling Jingxu's curiosity was also piqued, and she had intended to ask. But as soon as she saw Lu Xun's affectionate eyes, she felt a wave of disgust in her heart, and silently swallowed back the words.

  ......

  The Ling family in Dingzhou was a renowned and respected clan, with Mr. Ling serving as an official in the capital and Fifth Master Ling being a famous and charismatic figure in Dingzhou city, with extensive social connections. Additionally, there was Lu An, the son-in-law who had returned from afar after serving as the governor of Jizhou, so Old Mrs. Ling's 70th birthday banquet was naturally grand and lively.

  Early in the morning, the Lin's residence opened its main gate to welcome guests.

  Guests came in droves to congratulate and give gifts, the Lings' sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters all worked together to greet them, busy to the point of being unable to catch their breath.

  Ling Jingxu was also not idle. She and her sisters Ling Jingxian, Ling Jingwan, and Ling Jingyan were responsible for entertaining the young girls who came to visit with their elders.

  Those who are qualified to come and visit are all famous ladies in Dingzhou City. They are mostly familiar with Ling Jingxian, and when they meet, they can't help but chat warmly for a while.

  Half a day has passed and Ling Jingxu's mouth is dry and her tongue is parched, her throat almost smoking.

  Ling Xiao, due to his blindness, found it inconvenient to meet guests, but instead enjoyed the leisure and freedom. He obediently stayed by Old Lady Ling's side.

  The women who came to celebrate Mrs. Ling's birthday couldn't help but glance at Ling Xiao with a tinge of regret when talking to Mrs. Ling.

  This handsome, elegant and intelligent young man unexpectedly became blind in both eyes. He can't read or write, his daily life needs to be taken care of by others, no different from a useless person. It's really a pity.

  Ling Xiao seemed to be completely unaware of these unusual gazes... or perhaps he had noticed, but what could he do about it? Since the age of eight, he had been living under such scrutiny. Over time, he had grown accustomed to it.

  The guests who came to offer congratulations and gifts have finally dispersed.

  Old Lady Ling was in high spirits today, and didn't feel tired at all. She smiled at the Ling family and said: "Your father left early, and for so many years I've been holding on to raise you siblings. In the blink of an eye, I've also grown old."

  Seventy years of life is rare since ancient times. To live up to seventy and still be so spirited, indeed a long life.

  Ling's family had been sweet-talking since childhood, and they were used to coaxing Old Lady Ling. Upon hearing this, she immediately smiled and said: "Mother, your complexion is rosy and your spirit is high, you look like you're in your fifties at most, where does it show that you're old?"

  Old Mrs. Ling was coaxed into a hearty smile.

  Ling Xiao, who had been silent all along, suddenly smiled and said: "Grandma, I also have a birthday gift prepared for you!"

  Old Lady Ling suddenly became interested: "Since you've prepared gifts, why didn't you bring them up with the sisters earlier?"

  "The gift prepared by the grandson is different." Ling Xiao's smile was clear and pure, like a child who didn't understand worldly affairs, with an innocent and unworldly simplicity.

  Old Lady Ling had always been fond of Ling Xiao, and she smiled lovingly: "What is it after all? You've piqued my interest, and now I'm both curious and looking forward to it."

  Ling Xiao stood up, cleared his throat: "On grandmother's birthday, the grandson specially wrote a poem for his grandmother."

  It turned out to be a poem for celebrating longevity.

  Old Mrs. Ling listened with great interest.

  "Wine fragrance wafts, guests gather, as if collecting blessings and good fortune. The eastern tower's emerald peaks and ancient pines, the vast ocean's broad chest, a lifetime of glory. Longevity brings auspiciousness, shining brighter than the sun and moon, surpassing songs and poems in congratulating advanced age. The Southern Heaven relocates the Wutong tree, the mountain bestows immortal peaches already within the pavilion." Ling Xiao slowly recites, his voice clear and pleasant to hear.

  Mrs. Ling was quite discerning, and upon hearing this, her face lit up with joy, nodding repeatedly: "Good, good, good! This poem is truly well-written! Among all the gifts Grandma received today, this one is the most to my liking."

  Old Lady Ling spoke up, and others naturally chimed in with a few words of praise.

  Ling Xiao came out of the whirlwind, extremely delighted in his heart. Unfortunately, Ah Jiao accompanied a group of girls to the garden to admire the flowers and wasn't here, unable to share his joy.

  A familiar boy's voice sounded in his ear: "Xiao Shu-di, this birthday poem you wrote is really good."

  Ling Xiao smiled and said: "Thanks a lot to Brother Hong for giving me such a good idea."

  Lu Hong smiled humbly: "I just mentioned it casually, this birthday poem was all done by you yourself, I didn't help with even half of the work."

  He paused for a moment, then asked tentatively: "Xiao brother, were you just thinking of going to find Xiao sister? It's not convenient for you to go alone, I'll accompany you to go find her together!"

  Ling Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then quickly nodded his head.

  Lu Hong suppressed the joy in his heart and took advantage of everyone's distraction to slip out of the inner hall with Ling Xiao.

  It was indeed a correct decision to get along with Ling Xiang. This is the most convenient way to approach Ling Jingyu. The best part is that this time, taking advantage of the crowd, Lu Qian was also shaken off. Lu Qian always followed him, making it difficult for him to find an opportunity to express his feelings...

  Lu Hong's thoughts were in disarray, and Ling Xiao suddenly stopped in his tracks, speaking in a low tone that only the two of them could hear: "Hong, do you like Ah Jiao?"

  Lu Hong: “......”