This was the second time Ren Yaohua had seen Zeng Kui, but perhaps because she had heard what Ren Yaoqi said about Zeng Kui’s affairs, Ren Yaohua felt somewhat uncomfortable with the way Zeng Kui was looking at her.

The two couldn’t be considered acquainted, so after Ren Yaohua glanced at him, she looked away and planned to walk past him. Greeting and such things were unnecessary between two strangers who had never even spoken to each other – this was Ren Yaohua’s thinking.

However, the other party involved didn’t think the same way.

Seeing Ren Yaohua once again ignoring him and about to leave, Zeng Kui reached out to block her path, smiling sideways at her and saying, “Miss Ren San, we meet again.”

Ren Yaohua frowned, “I don’t recall knowing you.”

Upon hearing this, Zeng Kui seemed somewhat surprised, but the interest in his eyes became even more intense. He bowed very politely and said, “I was presumptuous. Last time we met, we didn’t speak to each other, so indeed we can’t be considered acquainted. I am Zeng Kui, my father is Zeng Pu, from the capital. I only came to Yanbei recently.”

With this display of manners, Zeng Kui didn’t seem like someone with a disability. Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but glance at him. To be honest, this version of Zeng Kui also didn’t seem like the dark-minded and violent person Ren Yaoqi had described.

One doesn’t strike a smiling face, so Ren Yaohua nodded, “Young Master Zeng, you are too kind.”

Zeng Kui smiled and stepped closer, not avoiding his frightening facial scar, staring at Ren Yaoqi and saying in a gentle tone, “Is Miss Ren San here today to worship Buddha or to eat vegetarian food?”

The scar on his face was hideous and terrifying, yet his speaking tone was unusually gentle. This scene was somewhat horrifying – at least Xiangqin was so frightened that she stepped back, earning a fierce glare from Wujing, although Wujing’s face had also turned somewhat pale from being scared by Zeng Kui.

Ren Yaohua, however, remained composed. She glanced at Zeng Kui and said in a light tone, “Both to worship Buddha and eat vegetarian food. My sister is still waiting for me to return. Young Master Zeng, please excuse me.”

Zeng Kui squinted slightly, then smiled and stepped back half a step. Ren Yaohua was about to walk past him when, unexpectedly, Zeng Kui suddenly raised his hand and grasped Ren Yaohua’s wrist.

Ren Yaohua was first stunned, then after realizing what happened, she forcefully pulled her wrist back. Although through her sleeve there was no skin contact, somehow at the moment Zeng Kui touched her, Ren Yaohua felt a bone-chilling coldness from his grip. Though it was only for an instant, it made Ren Yaohua’s heart turn cold with alarm.

As Ren Yaohua forcefully pulled her wrist back and Xiangqin and Wujing angrily stepped forward to help pull her away, Zeng Kui suddenly released his grip without warning. Ren Yaohua was thrown back by her own force and nearly fell to the ground, fortunately Wujing was standing beside her and caught her.

Ren Yaohua’s shocked and angry expression and the maids’ indignant, hostile gazes seemed to please Zeng Kui. He burst into laughter as if he had seen something that delighted him.

After Ren Yaohua steadied herself, she said coldly, “What is the meaning of this?”

Zeng Kui stopped laughing, but still couldn’t help panting slightly as he said, “No particular meaning. I just found your reaction interesting. I touched your hand, so I’ll take responsibility for it.” The last sentence was spoken in a mocking tone by Zeng Kui.

Ren Yaohua said angrily, “Nonsense! I see you’re quite ill. Did you forget to take your medicine when you came out?”

Zeng Kui had a peculiar temperament. Ren Yaohua’s scolding didn’t make him angry, but instead made him burst into laughter again.

Seeing that he was indeed not a normal person, Ren Yaohua didn’t want to entangle with him further. She kept a stern face and tried to leave, but Zeng Kui turned and followed her.

Ren Yaohua had no solution for dealing with such a person – scolding him didn’t bother him, and she couldn’t hit him. Moreover, this place was sparsely populated, so Zeng Kui could be as unrestrained as he wanted without fear.

Xiangqin and Wujing stepped forward to protect Ren Yaohua on both sides, their faces full of wariness as they watched Zeng Kui, seemingly very afraid he would touch her inappropriately again. At this moment, these two loyal maids even ignored Zeng Kui’s facial scars.

But Zeng Kui acted as if he couldn’t see them. When Ren Yaohua walked, he walked; when Ren Yaohua stopped, he stopped, all while wearing a grinning expression.

Ren Yaohua also found herself in a difficult position. There were no people around here now, but when they reached a crowded area and others saw them like this, they would misunderstand that there was some connection between them. In that case, Ren Yaohua wouldn’t be able to clear her name no matter what.

Seeing they were about to exit the narrow path, Ren Yaohua finally couldn’t bear it anymore and angrily rebuked, “Young Master Zeng, please conduct yourself properly! What are you trying to do by following me like this?”

Zeng Kui smiled, “This road doesn’t belong to you. You walk your way, I walk mine. What’s wrong with that?”

Ren Yaohua suppressed her anger and said, “Then may I ask whether you want to walk in front or behind? Can’t I let you go first?”

Zeng Kui looked at Ren Yaohua and smiled. The scar on his face looked even more terrifying and disgusting. His tone was slow and gentle, enunciating each word: “I say no! I’ll walk however I want to walk. You’re going to become my family’s daughter-in-law anyway, so what’s wrong with walking together with me?”

Xiangqin got angry first. Regardless of what status Zeng Kui had, she scolded, “Bah! Dream on! Our young miss would never marry someone like you! Get lost quickly, you’re disgusting to look at!”

The word “disgusting” caught Zeng Kui’s attention. He couldn’t help but turn to look at Xiangqin, sizing her up from head to toe, then licking his lips and smiling, “This is your maid? She’s quite pretty.”

Xiangqin, the useless girl, was so frightened she almost sat down on the ground.

This time, Ren Yaohua was truly furious – how outrageous!

Ren Yaohua had always been the type to flare up at the slightest provocation without regard for consequences. Just as she was about to have it out with Zeng Kui, she heard a steady, deep male voice from behind saying, “Miss Ren San, how are you here? I just saw Miss Ren Wu asking the temple monks about your whereabouts.”

Ren Yaohua turned around abruptly and saw Lei Ting, the head of the Lei family.

The surprise of encountering Lei Ting eased the anger that Zeng Kui had provoked in Ren Yaohua. She took a breath to calm herself and bowed to Lei Ting.

Lei Ting’s sudden appearance interrupted Zeng Kui’s interest. He couldn’t help but squint his eyes and size up Lei Ting with a half-smile.

Lei Ting and Zeng Kui had never formally met and were strangers to each other, so after Lei Ting glanced at him, he treated him as an unknown and looked away.

Ren Yaohua had completely calmed down. Somehow, she remembered what Lei Ting had said to her last time, and she knew she couldn’t make a scene with Zeng Kui at this moment. Zeng Kui had nothing to lose, but Ren Yaohua had to consider her mother’s and sister’s reputation in front of Madam Xu and those other madams and young ladies.

If she really made a scene with Zeng Kui here, in the end she might truly have no choice but to marry him as Zeng Kui said.

She couldn’t help but walk toward Lei Ting and say, “I got separated from my sister and the others. Where did you just see her, Master Lei?”

Lei Ting nodded, “I happen to be going there too. Let’s go together.”

Ren Yaohua now only wanted to quickly get rid of that madman Zeng Kui. Upon hearing this, she quickly said, “Then I’ll trouble Master Lei.”

Lei Ting nodded and led Ren Yaohua outside, somehow intentionally or unintentionally blocking Zeng Kui’s gaze toward them.

Zeng Kui watched the two walk past him without looking sideways, staring at Lei Ting’s back for a long time, then grinned, but it made people feel an indescribable chill.

After Ren Yaohua followed Lei Ting and escaped from Zeng Kui, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and once again formally curtsied to thank Lei Ting.