To Hold One's Joy / Happy - Chapter 1 : The Devil Incarnate

Luo Sheng found herself lost in thought as she stared at the intricately carved silver scent ball under the green curtain. Her eyes, which usually seemed to be full of spirit and eagerness, now seemed a little dull. Meanwhile, the chatter from the little maid beside her grew more insistent.

"Miss, he's just Second Young Master Su. If you like him, why not snatch him away? It's not worth it to hang yourself for him. Wuu... wuu... wuu..."

Luo Sheng shifted her gaze to the maid who was near the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The maid, named Hong Dou, had an impressive knack for talking and crying at the same time. After three days of this relentless noise, Luo Sheng had pieced together her situation.

She was the daughter of General Luo and had been sent to her maternal grandfather's home due to some trouble. There, she fell for a guy, but after he turned her down, she was so enraged that she attempted to hang herself.

Wasn't this a fool?

"Stop crying," Luo Sheng said, her voice rough and her throat sore.

The crying suddenly ceased, and Hong Dou looked up in surprise. "Miss, you're finally talking..."

Before Hong Dou could continue, the bamboo curtain was swept aside, and a young girl charged in like a whirlwind. The maid outside exclaimed, "Miss, your Cousin Sister is resting..."

The girl rushed straight to Luo Sheng, scolding her fiercely: "Luo Sheng, do you have any shame at all? You've cried, made a scene, and even threatened to hang yourself over Second Young Master Su! Now Grandmother has sent my Mother to the Su family to talk marriage. I guess you got what you wanted, huh?"

Luo Sheng turned to the fuming girl.

The girl was around fourteen or fifteen, her cheeks flushed with anger, radiating vibrancy like a sunrise.

Hong Dou jumped up, even angrier than the girl. "How dare you talk to our Miss that way!"

The girl scoffed, her eyes filled with disdain. "Luo Sheng, others might be intimidated by you, but I'm not. If you're tough, go ahead and let them arrest everyone in the Sheng family."

Hearing this, the maid from the Sheng family turned pale with fear. "Miss, you should head back. Your Cousin Sister isn't well yet..."

If this 'Cousin Sister' got mad, she might really call the Jinlin Guards to arrest everyone in the Sheng family-those guys were ruthless and could even attack their own relatives without a second thought.

Just then, a clear voice came from the door. "Cousin Sister, why are you in my Sister's room?"

The girl turned toward the voice, her tone softening. "Cousin Brother, didn't you hear? My Mother is at the Su family."

The young man walked in, giving Luo Sheng a long, steady look, then told the girl, "I've heard about it, but that's an elder's decision. Having Cousin Sister come to my Sister isn't going to change anything, so you should head back."

The girl looked surprised.

Her Cousin Brother was actually backing Luo Sheng?

Though Luo Chen and Luo Sheng were siblings, Luo Chen had been living with the Sheng family for seven years to recover, and they had all treated him like family. When Luo Sheng had just arrived a few days earlier, Luo Chen barely acknowledged her. So what changed now?

Regardless, the girl bit her tongue and said, glaring at Luo Sheng, "You used some underhanded tactics to steal this marriage from me. I'll be watching to see how you and Second Young Master Su get along."

With that, she lifted the curtain and stormed out.

The curtain swayed gently, leaving the siblings staring at each other.

The boy, around twelve or thirteen, had a charming face, with red lips and white teeth, but his slender frame and pale skin gave him a slightly fragile look.

This boy who had just spoken for Luo Sheng suddenly turned cold, clearly annoyed and angry. He clenched his teeth and shot back, "Luo Sheng, is it your goal to get close to every good-looking guy out there? Could you show a little bit of shame?"

Hong Dou, who was hanging around, couldn't help but jump in for her young lady: "Second Young Master Su isn't just a handsome face..."

Are these girls really so shallow that they'd chase after anyone just because they're slightly handsome?

Luo Chen didn't even glance at Hong Dou and kept his eyes fixed on Luo Sheng.

Finally, Luo Sheng spoke up: "You just defended me."

Her voice was a bit hoarse from her throat injury, but there was no doubt in her tone-just certainty.

Luo Chen was taken aback, his pretty eyes widening in surprise before he quickly changed to anger and embarrassment: "You don't have to be sentimental. I just defended you because you are from the same mother as me. Do I feel proud when others point fingers at you and scold you? Now that Eldest Aunt is going to the Su family to discuss your marriage, I just hope that you can pretend in the future and don't embarrass yourself again!"

Luo Sheng, unbothered by her brother's reprimand, raised an eyebrow and asked, "So you think this marriage could actually happen?"

Luo Chen was stunned again, his face going red with frustration.

He could go on and on scolding her, but all she cared about was whether she would end up marrying Su Yao successfully.

What kind of sister did he get stuck with...

Luo Chen tightened his fists, battling a mix of anger and helplessness.

"You really think this marriage can work?" Luo Sheng asked, totally unfazed by her brother's anger.

Luo Chen shut his eyes, took a deep breath to calm down, and sneered, "You used all means, first crying, second making a scene, and third threatening to hang yourself, to force grandmother, how dare grandmother not obey you?"

The Sheng and Su families were old friends, and since their Father held a high position, if Eldest Aunt was off to negotiate the marriage, the Su family would likely go along with it.

Suddenly, Luo Sheng, who had been lounging against the headboard, stood up.

Hong Dou quickly grabbed her arm, asking, "Miss, what are you doing?"

Luo Sheng steadied herself, her legs now on the ground, and calmly replied, "Let's head to the Su family. Just lead the way."

Hong Dou didn't ask a single question, immediately helping Luo Sheng out.

Luo Chen lingered for a second before rushing to catch up.

...

The orange trees in the courtyard of Funing Hall hadn't bloomed yet. Inside, Old Madam Sheng sighed, saying, "I just hope once this girl's marriage is sorted, she can settle down, and I can finally get a few days of peace."

The woman beside her, the Second Madam of the Sheng family (or Luo's Second Aunt), couldn't help but think: It's gonna be a challenge to find peace with this niece around.

Old Commander Luo's letter mentioned needing help from Old Madam to find a decent match for Luo Sheng.

Thinking of that, the Second Madam wanted to smack her thigh: This means Luo Sheng will be tying the knot in Jinsha County and leaning on the Sheng family from now on!

Old Madam Sheng ordered the maid who brought the news: "Get the eldest girl over here."

Before long, the girl who had confronted Luo Sheng came in and bowed, "Greetings, Grandmother, Second Aunt."

Old Madam Sheng motioned for her to come closer and cautioned, "Jia Yu, don't go to your Cousin Sister to make trouble in the future. She is a guest in our house."

Old Madam sighed inwardly about her granddaughter: As for that girl, she just hoped the girl wouldn't stir up too much trouble.

Sheng Jia Yu was quite unconvinced.

Just as she was about to say something, a maid rushed in, looking flustered, and shouted, "Madam, the Cousin Miss just went to the Su family!"

Old Madam Sheng's face shifted instantly, and she glanced over at the Second Madam, clearly concerned.

Sheng Jia Yu, clearly fuming, lifted her skirt and dashed out, saying, "Grandmother, I'm going to check it out!"

Old Madam Sheng sat there quietly for a while, tapping on the coffee table and grumbling, "What a nuisance."

How could her sweet, polite daughter, who passed away so young, give birth to such a problematic child?