The little girl ran closer and also saw them, involuntarily slowing her steps. She stood five or six paces away from them, biting her finger and staring at them curiously.

She seemed to have some impression of Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, but couldn’t quite remember, struggling so much that her eyebrows and eyes scrunched together into a ball, making her look quite amusing.

Xiangqin couldn’t help but laugh out loud rather unkindly, and then several other maids also laughed. The little girl blinked her large eyes, inexplicably feeling somewhat wronged, and couldn’t help but purse her lips, though she held back from crying.

Ren Yaohua turned to glare at her maid, and the maids immediately stopped laughing.

Ren Yaoqi smiled and bent down, saying to the little girl: “You’re Lei Pan’er, aren’t you?”

Upon hearing this, the little girl’s eyes lit up, and her previous grievance immediately vanished without a trace. She ran over with pattering steps and hugged Ren Yaoqi’s leg tightly: “Sister, you recognize Pan’er?”

Though the little girl was young, she was quite chubby. This sudden embrace caught Ren Yaoqi off guard, causing her to stagger back a step. Fortunately, Pingguo was standing right behind her master and quickly supported Ren Yaoqi, preventing her from falling.

Ren Yaoqi looked at the overly familiar little girl with mixed amusement and exasperation. Lei Pan’er’s wet nurse immediately came forward to pull Lei Pan’er away, continuously apologizing to Ren Yaoqi.

Lei Pan’er was still struggling in the wet nurse’s arms, trying to get back to them, while pitifully looking at Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua and calling out like a little kitten: “Sister, sister!”

Ren Yaohua frowned slightly and said to the wet nurse, “Let her come over. We’re from the Ren family. We met her at the Lin family’s full moon celebration.”

Upon hearing this, the wet nurse also remembered. The Lin family’s full moon celebration hadn’t been too long ago, and last time Lei Pan’er had also spontaneously climbed onto people and couldn’t be pulled away.

Seeing Lei Pan’er struggling fiercely and fearing she might get hurt, the wet nurse could only put her down again.

Lei Pan’er immediately ran back to Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, though this time she didn’t immediately hug their legs.

“Sister, sister, Pan’er remembers now! You peeled peanuts for Pan’er.” Lei Pan’er tugged at Ren Yaohua’s skirt hem, smiling so widely her eyes disappeared.

Ren Yaohua’s expression also softened. She reached out to pat the girl’s head, and Lei Pan’er obediently nuzzled her hand, just like a soft and gentle little animal.

Ren Yaoqi stepped forward and took her little hand: “Pan’er, how come you’re here?”

Lei Pan’er blinked her eyes: “Pan’er came with Papa. Papa is busy, so Pan’er plays by herself.”

Everyone present, thinking of the Lei family’s circumstances and hearing Lei Pan’er’s words, felt somewhat heartbroken.

“Pan’er is so good,” Ren Yaoqi said with a smile, gently squeezing her soft little hand.

Lei Pan’er smiled at her somewhat shyly.

“Does Pan’er want to stay and play with us?” Seeing Lei Pan’er like this, Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but soften her heart as well.

Upon hearing this, Lei Pan’er opened her large eyes wide and nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken: “Yes, yes! Pan’er wants to play with the sisters.”

Zhou Wen also noticed the commotion here and specifically came over to ask a few questions. Hearing that this was the young lady from the Lei family, he teased her a bit.

After only a few words, Zhou Rong called out from over there: “Brother, come quickly! Ants have crawled onto the table and scared Miss Yaoying!”

Zhou Wen immediately ran back.

Lei Pan’er craned her neck to look at the two young ladies in the distance who had been frightened by ants, then frowned seriously and asked: “Sister, can ants scare people? Pan’er even dares to catch them with her hands. That sister has such a small courage.”

Ren Yaohua had originally been somewhat displeased with Ren Yaoying and Zhou Rong’s affected behavior, but hearing Lei Pan’er’s childish words, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“The humidity is heavy here, and children might not be able to handle it. Shall we go walk over there?” Ren Yaoqi suggested.

Ren Yaohua was already annoyed looking at those people, so she immediately agreed upon hearing this. As for Lei Pan’er, as long as the two sisters played with her, she would go anywhere.

They had a servant woman go tell Zhou Wen, then Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua each took one of Lei Pan’er’s hands and led her in another direction.

The Lei family’s maids and servant women seemed quite familiar with this area. Not only did they raise no objections, but two maids even volunteered to walk ahead and lead the way.

“Is the Lei family’s estate nearby?” Ren Yaoqi asked the wet nurse who had been staying close to Lei Pan’er.

“Yes, Miss Ren. If you continue along this path, it’s less than a li away to our estate. The Yanbei Prince’s villa is also not far from there.”

So this path led to the Lei family’s villa? No wonder the maids and servant women weren’t anxious.

“Would the two young ladies like to rest at the estate for a while?” Xiangqin wove a hastily made flower crown and placed it on Lei Pan’er’s head. Lei Pan’er giggled excitedly with delight, and the wet nurse couldn’t help but smile as well, asking them while doing so. Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “We’ll be heading back shortly, so we won’t impose today.” With no master currently at the Lei family estate, going there rashly would inevitably be improper. The wet nurse had only asked casually, and Ren Yaoqi didn’t take it seriously either.

Indeed, the group hadn’t walked far before they could see the Lei family’s estate. The Lei family’s estate wasn’t large either, though it was much better than the Zhou family’s. Lei Pan’er said there was a pool inside the estate that emitted hot air, as large as a room.

As they walked around the front of the Lei family estate, Ren Yaoqi was amusing Lei Pan’er with conversation when someone came running out from inside the Lei family estate.

Everyone couldn’t help but stop and look back. A sixteen or seventeen-year-old young woman was trotting toward them. Having run somewhat hurriedly, by the time she reached everyone, she was slightly perspiring, which made her skin appear crystal clear and translucent, glowing white with a hint of pink. This girl’s appearance was merely above average, but her snow-white skin that could rival frost was quite remarkable.

This woman’s dress and appearance were much more respectable than ordinary maids, even better than young ladies from average families. However, Ren Yaoqi didn’t remember the Lei family having any teenage female masters. Could she be Lei Ting’s concubine? But looking at her hairstyle, she still wore a maiden’s style rather than a married woman’s.

As Ren Yaoqi was speculating about the newcomer’s identity, the girl was supporting her waist and breathing lightly while frowning at the wet nurse: “I only left for a short while, and you took the young lady and ran off. The master will be back soon, and what if he can’t find the young lady and gets anxious? How can you be a wet nurse like this!”

The wet nurse quickly smiled apologetically: “Miss Yuegui, the young lady was making a fuss about wanting to go out and play, and we happened to encounter the two young ladies from the Ren family…”

The girl named Yuegui glanced at Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua, quickly performed a curtsy, and said with a smile: “This servant thanks the two young ladies on behalf of our master. Our young lady has a lively and active nature, and she must have caused trouble for the two young ladies. When our master returns, he will certainly prepare gifts to express his gratitude.”

So she was a maid, and from her tone, one who could make decisions?

Xiangqin, also a maid, stepped forward with a smile: “No trouble at all! Our young lady and Miss Lei get along very well. Miss Lei is very lovable.”

Upon hearing this, Yuegui looked over Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua again, exchanged a few more pleasantries, then crouched down and said gently to Lei Pan’er: “Young lady, it’s getting late and time to go back. The master will be back soon.”

Lei Pan’er pouted and turned to her wet nurse: “I don’t want to go back, don’t want to go back. I want to play with the sisters.”

Yuegui patiently coaxed in a gentle voice: “Young lady, be good. Otherwise, when the master returns and doesn’t see you, he’ll be angry.”

Lei Pan’er made a face: “If Papa gets angry, Pan’er won’t play with him anymore. Pan’er will follow Second Uncle from now on. Second Uncle is so good, he knows everything.”

As she spoke, she counted on her fingers: “Second Uncle can fly kites, Second Uncle can make bamboo dragonflies, Second Uncle can tell stories… Oh yes, the sister in Second Uncle’s courtyard is prettier than you, too!”

Yuegui’s expression stiffened momentarily, then she softened her voice even more while reaching out to embrace her: “Young lady, stop being naughty and come back with this servant.”

Lei Pan’er quickly threw herself into her wet nurse’s arms, refusing to come out, while acting spoiled: “No, no! Pan’er doesn’t want to go back. Sister Yuegui is the most annoying!”

Ren Yaoqi quickly smoothed things over: “Pan’er, sister has been out for a long time today, and it’s time to go back too. Won’t Pan’er go back early as well? Next time we’ll come out and play together again.”

Only then did Lei Pan’er secretly lift her head, pouting as she thought for a long while, then asked: “Really? Next time, you’ll come find Pan’er to play?”

Ren Yaoqi glanced at Ren Yaohua, who nodded: “Mm, you can come find us to play.” The Lei family didn’t even have a proper female family member, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for them to visit the Lei family.

Lei Pan’er didn’t understand such matters and only thought about being able to play with the two sisters in the future, so she became happy again. She obediently let the wet nurse pick her up.

Yuegui wanted to step forward and take her, but Lei Pan’er hugged her wet nurse tightly and wouldn’t let go, wrinkling her nose like a little adult in disgust: “Pan’er doesn’t want you to hold her. Your fragrance makes Pan’er sneeze.”

The wet nurse quickly said, “I’ll carry her. The young lady has gotten much heavier, and Miss Yuegui, you can’t carry her.”

Yuegui glanced at the wet nurse, displeasure flashing briefly in her eyes, but she could only coax Lei Pan’er gently: “Then Yuegui won’t use incense next time, alright?”

“Alright then,” Lei Pan’er replied reluctantly, while waving goodbye to Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua.

After watching the Lei family people walk away, Ren Yaoqi withdrew her thoughtful gaze and looked at Ren Yaohua: “Shall we go back now, or…?”

Ren Yaohua shook her head: “Let’s walk around some more. They probably won’t be in a hurry to go back either.”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t mind either way, so she accompanied Ren Yaohua for another walk around the area. This place was full of villas and estates belonging to families of some reputation in Yunyang City. Ordinary people weren’t allowed in, and they had brought quite a few maids and servant women with them, so there was nothing to fear.

Walking and stopping like this for about the time of one incense stick, Ren Yaohua finally felt somewhat tired, so Ren Yaoqi accompanied her back.

Unexpectedly, when they walked back to the front of the Lei family estate, they saw Lei Pan’er’s wet nurse and the maid called Yuegui leading several people running out.

“Miss Ren, have you seen our young lady?” the wet nurse asked urgently.