The next day, when Nian Jiaojiao handed the paper and brush to Xingyun, she received a bear hug from him.
It was the first time a man had clung to her, and Nian Jiaojiao's forehead was covered in black lines.
After Xingyun clung to her, there was no further action for a long time. Instead, he rubbed against Nian Jiaojiao contentedly.
Nian Jiaojiao: I have reason to suspect you are taking advantage of me.
Then, a blushing Xingyun was pulled down by Xuan Yi.
Xuan Yi glanced at Xingyun, then at Hu Rui, who was watching from the side, and said,
"There are outsiders. Watch your image."
Hu Rui raised her palm upwards:
"You continue, I'll watch the show."
Nian Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at her and ignored her, then instructed Xingyun again,
"This is black ink, and these few are colored inks, with six colors. Feel free to use them, don't be stingy. Buy more when you run out."
Xingyun quickly nodded, caressing the items in his hands with affection.
Immediately, Nian Jiaojiao said to the other three men,
"It was my oversight before. You guys have been at home and can't go out to wander around. After a whole day, you must be bored. If there's anything you like or want, just tell me, and I'll do what I can."
...
That night.
Xu Mansion.
Thick smoke billowed from the Xu Mansion.
"Qing'er, Xuan'er, you leave through the secret room in the study."
Mother Xu's gaze was resolute.
Xu Xuan's face was panicked, and she tightly grasped Mother Xu's hand:
"Mother, then what about you? And Father, and Xu Ruoliu, and the others?"
Mother Xu gritted her teeth, "You don't need to worry about us. Go! Go!"
If she followed them, the enemy would definitely pursue them, and then Qing'er and Xuan'er wouldn't be able to escape!
Xu Xuan cried, unwilling to leave.
Mother Xu said solemnly to Xu Qing,
"Qing'er, you are the elder sister, and you are also a Tong Sheng. You should be able to bear some responsibility now. Hurry and take your sister and go!"
Xu Qing, who was also flustered, met her mother's gaze, forced herself to calm down, and with a pale face, pulled the crying and unwilling Xu Xuan into the secret door.
Seeing them leave, Mother Xu breathed a sigh of relief. Then, the door was violently kicked open. Facing the arrival of death, Mother Xu's expression was exceptionally calm.
...
Clatter—
Yu Chuan was pouring water for Nian Jiaojiao when his hand slipped, and the cup he was holding fell to the ground.
Looking at the shattered pieces on the floor, Yu Chuan bent down to pick them up but was stopped by Nian Jiaojiao.
"Wait, the fragments will cut your hand. Be careful."
After speaking, Nian Jiaojiao wrapped her hand with a cloth, carefully gathered the fragments, and prepared to throw them out.
Xingyun, who heard the commotion outside the door, pushed the door open with a broom. When he saw the fragments in Nian Jiaojiao's hand, he was stunned for a moment, then asked in confusion,
"Wife, there's a broom at home..."
His expression made Nian Jiaojiao inexplicably recall what she had seen on television in her previous life, explaining:
The biggest difference between humans and animals is their ability to use tools...
Nian Jiaojiao: (≖_≖)
After Nian Jiaojiao returned to her room, she saw Yu Chuan still sitting on the chair, in a daze, and asked,
"Are you feeling unwell?"
Yu Chuan shook his head, then touched his chest and said,
"I don't know. I just feel a vague panic in my chest..."
"Then I'll go find a doctor for you!"
Nian Jiaojiao got up to go out.
Yu Chuan quickly got up and stopped her.
"Wife, it's nothing, and it's already late. If you go out, you might not find a doctor."
"Are you really alright?" Nian Jiaojiao confirmed again.
Yu Chuan nodded.
Seeing that his complexion seemed fine, Nian Jiaojiao said,
"Alright then, but I still need to have a doctor come see you tomorrow. Health is a major matter!"
Yu Chuan also nodded and agreed.
...
Seven days later.
Nian Jiaojiao and Tong Fu, along with several other classmates, were enjoying tea at a teahouse.
Given the previous encounter with the pervert Wang Zhilan at the restaurant, the group was now somewhat hesitant to go to "upscale" restaurants.
Xin Lian, as usual, was playing her role as a "little informant."
"What a sin, what a sin!"
"Did something big happen again?" Tong Fu asked.
"Didn't we mention last time that Wang Zhilan was attacked?"
The group nodded and looked at Xin Lian curiously, awaiting further details.
As an old acquaintance, Xin Lian didn't beat around the bush. The main reason was that such a "bizarre" event had been bothering her all night, and she felt compelled to speak now.
"This Wang Zhilan, as soon as her injuries improved, started seeking pleasure again!"
The group listened with indifference.
Tsk?
When has it ever been otherwise?
Xin Lian continued,
"But this 'seeking pleasure' is very different from before! She's actually looking for men now!"
Nian Jiaojiao: ???
Tong Fu: ???
Everyone else: ???
Something felt wrong...
Nian Jiaojiao couldn't help but ask,
"What's going on?"
Xin Lian sighed,
"It's said that because of the assassination attempt last time, she developed a phobia of women. When she looked for women again, she found she couldn't get aroused anymore. But when she saw men, she instead..."
Nian Jiaojiao: ...
Hu Rui was right to kill, she forcibly straightened those who were bent...
As Nian Jiaojiao was complaining in her heart, Xin Lian revealed a look of pity on her face:
"However, the other party is even more ruthless than before! And... because the target has changed to men, the methods have become more varied. Those men have been ruined beyond recognition..."
At this moment, a stranger woman's voice came from the tea seat behind them:
"Isn't that a good thing!"
Nian Jiaojiao and the others turned their heads and saw a woman with thick eyebrows and big eyes looking very fortunate.
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao and the others looking at her, she nodded at them:
"You're talking about the City Lord's daughter, right?"
Nian Jiaojiao and the others didn't respond.
The woman continued,
"Now that she's normal, at least we won't have to worry when we walk on the streets from now on!"
Hearing the woman's words, Nian Jiaojiao and the others simultaneously cast disdainful glances at her.
Putting aside the fact that even if Wang Zhilan was attracted to women, with this woman's appearance, she wouldn't be within the scope of her "hunt."
Moreover, if Wang Zhilan's attention shifted to men, it was certainly not something to be happy about.
After all, it meant how many men in Fengcheng were in danger, some of whom might even be their own relatives, their husbands...
Thinking of this, Nian Jiaojiao couldn't sit still. She said to Tong Fu,
"Xiao Fu, hurry back and inform Tong Ziyao. Tell him not to go out for a while."
After saying this, she bid farewell to her classmates:
"Sorry, I need to go home first."
At this point, the others also lost the mood for tea and returned home.
...
Wang Manor.
Basement.
A dozen men were imprisoned inside, huddled in a corner of the cages.
After the last incident, Wang Zhilan became much more cautious, fearing she would encounter such a situation again.
Even the seemingly weakest men were treated with extreme caution.
First, the person was taken into a heavily guarded prison, with heavy troops stationed around, which naturally gave her a sense of security.
Secondly, she was accompanied by five personal guards.
Not to mention going to the toilet, even when doing that, these people were watching.