"Heh, breaking that thing won’t kill you," he said, hands in pockets as he strolled leisurely upstairs.
The butler was somewhat shocked. This Third Young Master was really heartless towards his father. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
But a servant like him had no place to speak on matters of his masters; he just needed to do his own duties well.
As he passed by Ning Qinghua’s room, Ning Zihuan paused momentarily, a mocking curve forming on his lips.
Such a big incident, yet she hasn’t shown her face; truly someone who can keep her composure.
The room was dark. Ji Die fumbled to turn on the bedside lamp and placed the bowl on the nightstand.
Under the dim glow of the lamp, the man on the bed had his eyes closed, his features bearing traces of time, yet more mature and handsomely rugged.
She sat at the edge of the bed, gazing at him. She couldn’t help but reach out to touch his face. Feeling the warmth of his skin, she recoiled as if stung, her heart pounding rapidly.
After calming her heartbeat, she couldn’t resist reaching out again, her fingertips gently caressing his eyebrows and the corners of his eyes, her gaze filled with longing.
Their first encounter, after so many years, she still remembered it vividly.
The slender boy, led by Ji Huaixi, walked along the broad avenues of the estate. Sunlight filtered through the branches onto him. He walked seriously, eyes straight ahead, determined and persistent.
In the garden, the girl’s laughter was like the tinkling of silver bells, pleasantly melodious, floating under the blue sky and white clouds, genuinely conveying her happiness and joy.
The boy raised his eyes to look.
In the garden blooming with vivid colors, two girls were chasing butterflies. Yet his gaze, without any hesitation, fell on the girl with chestnut, wavy hair, wearing a blue puffy dress, beautiful and noble.
She appeared to be around ten, taller than her peers, her skin so fair under the sun it nearly reflected light. Those youthful but stunning features were like the most vivid strokes in an ink wash landscape painting, sketched with simple lines yet depicting the most bustling scenery. One glance was all it took for an eternity.
The girl’s smile was radiant, her features even more dazzling to behold, as if not even the intense sun could diminish her brilliance.
"Xiao Die, it’s all your fault for letting the butterfly escape. Is it because your name has the character ’butterfly,’ you think they are kin and you let it go on purpose? You’re in for it now, Xiao Die, I’m going to get you!" The girl’s voice was appealing, with a mix of coquettishness and sharpness, revealing her to be quite a lovable young lady.
"Miss, it’s all my fault. Please don’t be angry, okay? I really didn’t mean to let it go..." This voice was soft and tender, like biting into a sweet rice dumpling, sticky and pleasantly fragrant.
His gaze then reluctantly shifted from the girl to the other young lady.
This girl was shorter and thinner, her hair in an unfashionable braid, wearing the coarse linen shirt and black pants typical of a servant, the clothes too big for her slim figure, giving the impression a light breeze might carry her away. She had a very fair complexion and a sweet and neat appearance; when she laughed, she was genuinely pretty, a rustic and charming girl. But standing next to the other girl, her own light seemed to be perfectly concealed.
It was like the difference between a princess and her maid, such a cruel contrast.
"Yiyi," Ji Huaixi called out with a wave of his hand.
The young lady stopped her movements and turned back at the sound, the other girl turning to look as well.
Seeing the boy staring intently at her, the girl frowned displeasedly. It was as if she possessed a kind of magic; whenever she frowned, there arose an urge in others to smooth away her troubles. She was like a dazzling pearl, to whom worries and sorrows did not belong.
The moment her gaze met his, a seed was quietly planted in the boy’s heart.
"He is Qin Zhuan, your Uncle Qin’s son. He’ll be part of our family now. You guys should get along, understand?"
The girl snorted lightly, tilting her chin up proudly, the very image of arrogance.
"Hey, skinny bamboo pole, you’re not going to live in our house forever, are you?"
Ji Huaixi frowned, "Yiyi, how can you be so rude? You should call him brother."
"Mom only gave birth to me, I don’t have a brother. Now it seems anyone can come to our house begging for food." She made a face, glared at him, and then turned and bounced away.