“Elder Brother, take me with you…” Feng Jiu’er’s eyes brimmed with tears, yet she didn’t let them fall.

This look, as if she’d endured unbearable grievance yet dared not complain, was pitiable enough to break one’s heart.

Gong Xinyue turned back, staring at Feng Jiu’er with a cold, indifferent expression. “Let go of your elder brother!”

Feng Jiu’er’s whole body trembled, and she immediately stepped back half a pace, hiding behind Qiao Mu.

“El… der Brother.” She looked up, her tearful eyes fixed on Qiao Mu.

That gaze carried both fear and pleading.

“Elder Brother, I don’t want to…” Feng Jiu’er said, keeping her voice as low as possible, her expression showing fear pushed to its very limit.

“Elder Brother, please take me away. I don’t want to stay here, I don’t want to…”

Two lines of hot tears slid down her fair, delicate cheeks, making her small face appear even more luminous.

Those dark, jet-black eyes had long since turned red-rimmed.

Crystalline tears kept welling up and rolling, one after another, like brilliant stars scattered across the sky.

At this moment, Feng Jiu’er looked every bit like a pitiful little sister about to be abandoned by her own brother.

Suddenly, Mao Zhongcai stood up.

“Little sister, it’s all right! Your elder brother and second brother are leaving, but from now on I’ll be your second brother, and him too.” He pointed at Mao Linye.

“He’ll be your elder brother. With the two of us here from now on, no one will dare wrong you in the slightest.”

Hearing this, Feng Jiu’er silently scoffed inwardly.

No one being able to wrong her was true enough, but with a pig like you, and that wolf standing behind you, what would be left of me?

Feng Jiu’er was no one or two years old—she certainly wasn’t about to believe Mao Zhongcai’s words.

She dodged Mao Zhongcai’s touch, standing on Qiao Mu’s other side.

Mao Zhongcai looked at this injured little white rabbit, feeling utterly heartbroken.

“Come, come, come, brother will dote on you.” He reached his devilish claws toward Feng Jiu’er again.

Mao Zhongcai wouldn’t deny it—he really had been caught off guard this time.

He had no idea where this ragtag, scattered force had come from, that had managed to drive him to such a state.

He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d properly relaxed.

If he hadn’t been at the end of his rope, Mao Zhongcai would never have come to seek refuge with this elder half-brother of his.

Although Mao Zhongcai was the city lord, and Mao Linye merely the head of one town under his jurisdiction, Mao Zhongcai knew he was no match for this elder brother.

Back then, if his own mother hadn’t been the official wife, he wouldn’t have been able to inherit the position of city lord.

It could be said that whatever Mao Zhongcai had achieved today, he owed to his father—while Mao Linye owed his achievements entirely to himself.

Mao Zhongcai regarded this trip to seek refuge with Mao Linye as a disgrace; these past days, he’d hardly managed a proper smile.

Today, seeing a woman who could actually bring him joy, Mao Zhongcai certainly didn’t want to miss the chance.

“No!” Feng Jiu’er suddenly shoved Mao Zhongcai’s arm away with force and dashed toward the door.

Damn it, this man was truly disgusting.

“Little sister.” Qiao Mu looked up and reached out a long arm.

“I’ll go.” Gong Xinyue tossed out a cold sentence and strode off.

Qiao Mu watched Gong Xinyue’s retreating figure, truly wanting to ask—why wasn’t it her going instead?

Well, that was the price of being the elder brother!

The goose-yellow-robed woman wanted to chase after her, but the madam called her back.

“No matter, she won’t be able to get out.”

The madam gently patted Qiao Mu’s shoulder, then turned back to Mao Zhongcai, her face instantly piling on thick smiles.

“City Lord, my apologies! We’ll have her brought back in no time.”

The madam took hold of Mao Zhongcai’s hand, gently patting the back of it.

“Come, come, sit down first—the meal is all ready. City Lord, why not eat first? There’s still plenty of time today, isn’t there?”

The madam pulled Mao Zhongcai along and had him sit back down.

Outside the door, four women, dressed alluringly, tall and statuesque, with fine features, made their way in with graceful, swaying steps.

“Boss, you’ve arrived.”

“Boss, we’ve finally been waiting for you.”

“Boss, have you been thinking of Qiuhua lately?”

“Boss, who’s this?”

Chunhua, Xiahua, Qiuhua, and Donghua all came to Mao Linye’s side, arranging themselves two on each side.

“This is the city lord, our city lord of Plains City,” the madam quickly said, growing anxious.

“Chunhua, Donghua, why don’t you two keep the city lord company—he seems to be in a rather poor mood, so treat him well!”

Hearing the madam’s words, the four women immediately widened their eyes, a peculiar gleam rising in them.

“City Lord, is it really the city lord who’s come?”

“So this is the city lord—no wonder he’s so dashing and refined.”

Qiao Mu (inwardly): Dashing and refined? Are you sure you’re not covering your conscience while holding back the urge to vomit?

“With the city lord here, our establishment truly is graced with glory!”

“City Lord, shall Chunhua pour you some wine?”

Not just Chunhua and Donghua—Xiahua and Qiuhua were also busy flattering Mao Zhongcai.

However, the two who hadn’t been named, Xiahua and Qiuhua, were naturally reluctant to leave Mao Linye’s side.

The city lord, like a pig, was enough to turn anyone’s stomach just looking at him—much better to stick with their boss.

No one knew what was going through Chunhua and Donghua’s minds, but they still sat down on either side of Mao Zhongcai, smiling brightly.

“Go over to him instead,” Mao Linye said, waving a hand, ignoring Xiahua who was pouring him wine.

Xiahua, holding the wine jug, and Qiuhua, who was peeling grapes, both froze at once, their hands stopping mid-motion.

“Boss, this is…” A flash of tears welled up in Qiuhua’s eyes at once.

“Boss, you don’t want Xiahua anymore?” Xiahua’s eyes had also turned red.

Mao Linye glanced at each of them and said softly, “Today, I don’t need attending to—you two go serve my brother well instead.”

“Is that all it is?” Qiuhua asked.

“Boss, you’re not casting us aside, are you?” Xiahua echoed.

“I won’t,” Mao Linye said, gently patting both their hands.

“All right then.” Xiahua stood up.

“Whatever the boss says, Qiuhua listens.” Qiuhua too set down the grapes and stood.

Mao Zhongcai was suddenly surrounded by all four women, each attending to him with great care, yet his expression didn’t improve in the slightest.

Just as Mao Zhongcai looked up, about to say something, Mao Linye looked at the madam.

“Send the silver over to this gentleman right away.”

“Sure thing.” As the madam turned to head out, she patted Qiao Mu’s shoulder gently once more.

“Elder Brother, come with me—I’ll get you the silver right now, and I guarantee the full amount.”

Qiao Mu said nothing, simply following along.

As the two of them went downstairs, Gong Xinyue was pulling Feng Jiu’er back upstairs, and the four of them crossed paths just like that.

Behind Feng Jiu’er, two burly men also followed—brothel staff.

“What’s going on?” Gong Xinyue looked at Qiao Mu, as if not even seeing the madam.

“Going to collect the silver now,” Qiao Mu replied.

“I agreed—I’ll stay with her a few more days,” Gong Xinyue said flatly.

“No matter, no matter.” The madam waved a hand. “The room downstairs is all set up for the two of you—stay as long as you like.”

“Please, this way! Let’s settle the numbers first—my boss can hardly wait.”

The madam gave a light laugh and continued on downstairs.