"Young master, there was just a fire here. It's very dangerous. You should go back quickly!"
The servants' mouths were filled with bitterness. If they hadn't feared Nan Shiying, they would have taken the young master away even at the risk of being punished. Now, all they could do was to advise him, hoping that the young master would understand the deeper meaning of their words and leave on his own.
"Leave? This young master is not leaving!"
The little fatty, with a stride that acknowledged no one, his eyes suddenly lit up upon seeing Nan Shiying. He ran to Nan Shiying's side with his short legs, looked up at her, and asked, "Pretty sister, what is your name? Why are you here? How old are you, and are you married?"
"If not, what do you think of me?"
As he spoke, he pushed aside a stray strand of hair falling on his forehead, clasped his hands into fists, and bowed slightly. In his heart, he felt as dashing as Pan An and as eloquent as Yingjie. He imagined that this beautiful woman with her captivating looks would be attracted to his charming, dashing, and handsome demeanor, falling for him and becoming deeply infatuated.
The Nan mansion servants couldn't help but cover their foreheads. There were a thousand paths in the world, but why did the young master choose a dead end instead of a safe one? Even if he hadn't seen the fifth miss, he should have known this was Pinglan Pavilion, and he should have heard who lived here now. Was he deliberately humiliating the fifth miss? If so, there were many ways to seek death, so why did the young master choose the most tragic one?
Nan Shiying's eyes curved into a smile. She reached out to the little fatty. The Nan mansion servants were instantly terrified and cried out, "Fifth miss, the young master is young. Please show mercy!"
"Fifth miss?"
The little fatty was slightly stunned. That hand, as white and tender as jade, had already fallen into his hair. He looked up, gazing at Nan Shiying's face, which was so close. She was smiling dazzlingly, the afterglow of the sunset casting a halo around her. The little fatty had never seen anyone so beautiful; even her elder sister, known as the most talented woman in the capital, seemed like a mere speck of light compared to her, like a shining moon. They couldn't be compared.
So, she was the jinx her mother spoke of, the one who was always at odds with her sister, bringing misfortune to her parents and husbands?
Bringing misfortune?
Doesn't that mean I still have a chance?
Pah, pah, pah! She's my half-sister. What am I thinking!
The little fatty patted his head. His hand touched her fingertips, and his ears turned a faint crimson. He opened his mouth, as if remembering something, and raised his hand to strike away the hand pressing on his head.
Nan Shiying pressed down forcefully. With her other hand, she easily grabbed the little fatty's claws and pulled upwards with all her might. The little fatty cried out in pain. His neck was about to be pressed into his shoulders, and his arm was about to be dislocated from his body. Was this heartless woman trying to tear him apart?
"Fifth miss!"
Seeing the young master's continuous wails, the servants immediately became anxious.
Nan Shiying raised her eyelids and scanned everyone from left to right. Upon meeting Nan Shiying's gaze, everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar. If they were only possibly going to be punished to death for watching the fifth miss harm the young master without stopping her, then if they dared to stop her now, they would certainly die.
Between a possibility and a certainty, they chose the former.
"You wicked woman, let me go!"
The little fatty waved his free arm, trying to free himself. However, he was plump but not tall, with short legs and short arms. His flailing was in vain and couldn't reach Nan Shiying's body, only tiring him out.
"Wicked? Weren't you just recommending yourself a moment ago?" Nan Shiying chuckled coldly at him. The little fatty's face was flushed red, whether from anger or shyness. He glared with bulging eyes. Inheriting the appearance of the Liu family, even though he was excessively plump, he was still a chubby boy with red lips and white teeth. He shouted, "That was because I was blind just now. To think I took a fancy to someone like you who brings misfortune..."
After saying only one word, the servants' hearts leaped into their throats. They couldn't imagine what this woman, who would set fire to houses at the slightest disagreement, would do if the young master finished his sentence.
Fortunately, the little fatty stopped after uttering just one word.
Nan Shiying's expression turned somber and cold. The fingers of the hand pressing down on the little fatty's head tightened. If she exerted more force, although she couldn't crush his head, she could pierce his flesh, making him wish he were dead. However, as he suddenly stopped speaking, Nan Shiying slowly loosened her grip and instead grabbed his hair. After thinking for a moment, she didn't lift him up but forced him to raise his head.
Even so, the little fatty's eyes reddened with pain.
"Brings misfortune to what? Why did you stop talking?" Nan Shiying asked with a smile.
The sky gradually darkened, and the last bit of sunlight fell on her side. Half of her face was shrouded in the dim twilight, while the other half was completely in darkness. The little fatty shivered inexplicably, feeling that although the beauty before him was still beautiful, she gave off a feeling like a ghost crawling up from hell, causing people to tremble and fear. However, to not lose his dignity as a man, he still straightened his neck and loudly replied, "A gentleman has his principles and his prohibitions. Attacking others with the vague theories of ghosts and fate is the behavior of a shameless villain. I disdain to do so!"
Nan Shiying froze for a long time, then suddenly released the little fatty's hair and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Interesting, truly interesting! Liu Shi's son, Nan Yuan'er's younger brother, could say such things. Didn't people say that one is influenced by their associates? How could he, under Liu Shi's constant influence, adopt Liu Shi's ways?
Seeing her laughing heartily, the little fatty looked around, then suddenly ran into the ruins, picked up a black wooden stick at random, shouted, and charged towards Nan Shiying, wielding the stick like a small calf.
As he charged, he shouted, "Although a gentleman has his principles and his prohibitions, you have insulted me, insulted my mother and sister. As a son and a brother, I must also seek justice for them!"
Lü Wan flashed in front of Nan Shiying. Before she could act, the Nan mansion servants madly rushed towards the little fatty. With a dive, they tackled him around the waist.
There were more than a dozen servants who came to put out the fire. Some held his waist, others his legs. Not to mention moving, the little fatty even found it difficult to breathe.
"What are you doing, you dogs? Let go of me quickly! This young master will show her today what the wrath of a gentleman is!"
Everyone: "..."
Young master, please stop courting death!