SHUFFLE... SHUFFLE...
Cheng Yunsu staggered out of the woodshed. Her spirit utterly broken, she walked away one step at a time.
A moment later, Lu Chao emerged from behind the woodshed, his gaze fixed on Cheng Yunsu's retreating figure.
He murmured in a low voice, "Because I saw everything you did for me. Without you, I'm just a lonely ghost."
Wiping away his hot tears, Lu Chao secretly followed Cheng Yunsu.
'I'll approach her after she's calmed down. Until then, I have to stay by her side to make sure she doesn't do anything drastic.'
Soon, Lu Chao had followed her to the outside of her chambers.
He sat down again under the window at the side of her chambers, leaning against the wall and listening quietly to the sounds from inside.
"Lu Chao, you and I are not of the same world. You saved my life, and now I am returning it. That way, we'll be even."
"Mother, where are you?"
"If I weren't thinking of you, I would just end it all!"
「Outside the window...」
Lu Chao's heart trembled, but he also breathed a quiet sigh of relief. 'At least Xiao Su'er is thinking of her mother. She won't do anything drastic.'
And so, one sat in a daze inside her chambers while the other stood a silent vigil outside the window.
「The gates of the Cheng Mansion...」
Cheng Weishan returned from the City Lord's Mansion with his three children. Their expressions were grim; they had returned empty-handed.
"Miss Wu accepted our apology on the surface, but she still insists that we hold a grand wedding."
"And she wants it done within five days!"
Hearing Cheng Weishan's words, Cheng Chugong and Cheng Chuyan grit their teeth in frustration.
A wedding in five days meant they had to start preparing immediately.
The second son, Cheng Chugong, said hatefully, "Eldest Brother, what on earth did your 'good' daughter do to make Miss Wu so unforgiving?"
Cheng Chuming shook his head helplessly, not understanding why Wu Xin was still so relentless even after they had gone to her door to apologize.
Suddenly, Cheng Chuyan exclaimed in alarm, "Oh no! Cheng Gai went along to beat up that country bumpkin! It'll be a huge problem if he killed him."
Given Cheng Gai's temperament, he might very well have beaten the man to death. If that happened, the wedding would be impossible.
Not daring to delay, Cheng Weishan said, "Quickly, let's go and see."
Soon, the four members of the Cheng family arrived outside the woodshed, but the scene before them left them stunned.
They saw two guards lying unconscious outside, and the smell of blood wafted from within.
They rushed inside, only to see several household servants lying scattered on the ground, no longer breathing.
Cheng Gai was also on the ground, one of his legs twisted at an unnatural angle.
"Cheng Gai!"
Cheng Chuyan scrambled toward him frantically.
After a quick check, she discovered Cheng Gai had only passed out and let out a long breath of relief. A moment later, the others helped revive him.
When they finished hearing his account, the four of them were even more stunned.
Cheng Chugong said, "So that man isn't just some ordinary country bumpkin? His martial arts are strong, and he knows Cheng Yunsu?"
Supporting Cheng Gai, Cheng Chuyan glared viciously at Cheng Chuming...
"Well, well! So the country bumpkin is your precious daughter's old flame! I knew he wasn't so simple."
"How dare he break my son's leg! I'll make them pay a hundred times over!"
With that, Cheng Chuyan shoved Cheng Gai at her second brother, Cheng Chugong, and stormed out of the woodshed, radiating killing intent, to find Cheng Yunsu and settle the score.
Cheng Chuming's expression changed drastically at the sight, and he hurried after her.
「In front of Cheng Yunsu's chambers...」
Before long, Cheng Chuyan arrived, screaming, "Cheng Yunsu, you damn little bitch, get your ass out here!"
The door opened...
Cheng Yunsu stepped out, her body completely covered, her hazy eyes fixed on Cheng Chuyan. "That person has already left. Do with me as you will."
Her voice was devoid of joy or sorrow, as if she had long expected this moment.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Chuyan shrieked, "I want both of your legs broken!"
With a gust of wind, Cheng Chuyan lunged straight for Cheng Yunsu. Under her cloak, a bitter smile touched Cheng Yunsu's lips as she slowly closed her eyes.
「Under the window along the side wall...」
Lu Chao clenched his fist, True Qi circulating around it.
But just as Lu Chao was about to strike, Cheng Chuming arrived a step ahead. "Chuyan, don't!"
He flashed forward, blocking Cheng Chuyan's path.
But Cheng Chuyan didn't care if it was her eldest brother in front of her; she swung a vicious slap at him.
Cheng Chuming immediately caught her wrist. "Chuyan, calm down..."
Seeing she was no match for her eldest brother, Cheng Chuyan whipped her head around to look behind her. "Father! Second Brother! Come and help me!"
At that moment, Cheng Weishan and Cheng Chugong also caught up.
They exchanged a look, and Cheng Weishan spoke first. "Chuyan, Cheng Yunsu still has a wedding in five days. Don't be rash."
Cheng Chuyan froze at his words, then fiercely wrenched her hand from her eldest brother's grasp and turned to face her father.
Her face contorted in a snarl as she roared, "To hell with the wedding! This little bitch let that country bumpkin get away! It's off!"
At these words, Cheng Weishan froze and shot a look at Cheng Yunsu, his voice cold as he asked, "That country bumpkin... is he really gone?"
"Do with me as you will."
Cheng Yunsu's voice was still devoid of any emotion. Her heart had been thoroughly broken by the family before her.
Clenching his fists tightly, Cheng Weishan asked again, "Cheng Gai said you know that man. Who is he?"
Cheng Yunsu gave a detached smile. "I don't know him. We've never met."