Zhao’er?

The Second Young Miss of the Duke’s estate.

How could she be here?

They saw her petite figure appearing even more delicate and endearing among the several young ladies.

Evoking a protective instinct in people!

Jingrong’s eyes suddenly darkened slightly.

Ji Yunshu quietly glanced at him and said: “That’s the woman you rescued before. After parting at the City Department, we haven’t seen her again.”

Deliberately reminding him.

Jingrong’s expression was poor.

Ji Yunshu continued: “That woman seems to have intentions.”

Jingrong replied: “Just because I saved her, must I be responsible for her to the end?”

“…”

“Moreover, my heart belongs to another. How could anyone else intervene?”

With that, he looked at Ji Yunshu with tender affection.

Stirring her to feel somewhat embarrassed.

Just as the two were being lovey-dovey—

Zhao’er actually noticed them.

She saw Jingrong at a glance, her cherry lips curving into an arc. “Big Brother Jing.”

Calling him quite intimately.

Jingrong felt his eyelid twitching.

But Zhao’er had already walked over.

At this moment, those several young ladies all looked this way.

Wondering who this “Big Brother Jing” Zhao’er mentioned was.

Among them, a woman in yellow saw—when she looked over, she completely ignored Jingrong, instead placing her gaze directly on Li Cheng who was using his fan to cover his face.

At first, she somewhat doubted whether that person was Li Cheng. But upon seeing the jade pendant hanging at his waist, she immediately confirmed it.

That was Li Cheng.

Fury flared in her eyes.

“Heartless scoundrel!”

Her voice like a great bell.

The woman in yellow clearly looked gentle and lovely, yet unexpectedly when she spoke, it was so rough and powerful.

Even Zhao’er, who had been about to walk over, froze in place because of this.

She couldn’t believe her usually good friend and sister would show such an angry, fierce appearance.

Completely transformed!

Li Cheng’s hand trembled, nearly dropping his folding fan to the ground!

He covered his head even lower.

But the woman in yellow had already walked over.

“Philandering scoundrel, even if you changed your skin I’d still recognize you.” The woman grabbed Li Cheng’s clothing.

With great strength, nearly yanking him upright.

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong looked at each other in bewilderment.

What was going on?

Li Cheng had already closed his folding fan, showing an ingratiating expression, smiling obsequiously at the woman: “Miss Lian, show mercy.”

This one he called “Miss Lian” was the eldest daughter of the Xiao family. Before Li Cheng left Gaoding, the two had a brief connection. Miss Lian had originally been engaged to Young Master Lu—they were supposed to marry last year. But Li Cheng, being playful, insisted on interfering, resulting in Miss Lian refusing to marry anyone but him and stubbornly breaking off that good match with the Lu family, causing the Xiao and Lu families to now have no contact until death. But who knew that after stirring up trouble, Li Cheng would just pat his behind and leave? Miss Lian had searched for him for a long time but couldn’t find him. A few days ago, she heard Li Cheng had returned to Gaoding. She wanted to confront him and demand an explanation, but after all, a year had passed, and she was someone who cared about face. If she really made a scene, everyone would know, so she’d been suppressing that anger.

Happening to see this bastard here, all rationality instantly vanished.

Only fury surged to her forehead!

If she didn’t kill this brat, it would be hard to calm the humiliation she’d suppressed for a year.

“I’ve finally found you today, heartless scoundrel. This young lady must kill you today.” Miss Lian said, pulling the golden hairpin from her head and aiming it at Li Cheng.

Li Cheng immediately blocked with his folding fan, saying: “Wait!”

“Heartless scoundrel, what else do you want to do?”

“Miss Lian, injuring someone means prison. If this hairpin goes in, it’ll be fatal.”

“Someone like you, even killing wouldn’t be surprising.”

“I, Li Cheng, am right with heaven and right with earth. Before you kill me, shouldn’t you give me a reason?” Li Cheng said miserably.

Miss Lian’s face was full of fury: “Fine! It seems now that you’re an official, you’ve forgotten everything from before. You caused me to ruin my engagement, then just walked away. Do you know I almost became Gaoding’s laughingstock?”

Li Cheng laughed once, his face full of disbelief: “I say, Miss Xiao, have you made a mistake? You broke off the engagement yourself—how is that blamed on me?”

“If it weren’t for you…”

“Wait, don’t pin this on me. I only drank a few cups of wine with you, recited a few poems. You yourself mistakenly thought I was devoted to you, which caused these consequences. I never once said I liked you or that I’d marry you. You were wishful thinking—I couldn’t help that.” Li Cheng shrugged, feeling quite wronged himself.

How did such a trivial matter get blamed on him!

Miss Lian had originally thought she’d just scold and hit him a few times and be done with it, but hearing him say this, the fire in her heart was suddenly fanned even higher.

“Good! So you really are a frivolous playboy—you’ve twisted black into white! Today I’ll show you the consequences of toying with women.”

With that, the hairpin in her hand thrust viciously toward him.

Fortunately, Li Cheng reacted quickly enough!

He blocked with his fan!

The golden hairpin directly pierced through that fan.

Li Cheng’s eyes widened: “You actually stabbed!”

“Stabbing you is exactly what I’m doing.”

Miss Lian gripped the hairpin and stabbed at him again.

Li Cheng could only dodge.

The two began chasing and fighting on the teahouse’s second floor.

Drawing a crowd of onlookers.

The several young ladies who came with Miss Lian all panicked, not knowing what to do.

Bai Yin and Lang Bo sat in their seats as if watching a show.

Zhao’er had been frozen in place. After a long while, she came to her senses. The slight curve at the corner of her mouth immediately tightened. Her face showing worry, she walked to Jingrong’s side and said: “Big Brother Jing, please persuade them.”

Those large eyes held crystalline tears.

Ji Yunshu was just about to get up when Jingrong pulled her back, saying: “No need to interfere.”

“But…”

“Romantic debts must be repaid sooner or later.”

“…” Ji Yunshu paused, then could only abandon the thought of breaking up the fight.

Zhao’er watched from the side, anxiously worried.

“Sister Lian, forget it. Don’t make this bigger.” She tried to persuade.

Miss Lian scoffed: “I’m not like that mute sister of yours who swallowed her losses without saying anything and slunk off to get married! Today I must dismember this heartless scoundrel into eight pieces.”

Li Cheng said while dodging: “Little Zhao’er is right. If you make this bigger, it won’t benefit anyone. Why don’t we sit down and have a good talk?”

“Who wants to talk with you!”

She chased even more fiercely.

Zhao’er really had no choice and could only go forward to pull her back.

She had just grabbed Miss Lian’s arm when Miss Lian accidentally pushed her forcefully.

How could her already petite body withstand such force?

She immediately stumbled backward several steps.

Her body swaying and falling.

Just as the back of her head was about to hit the table corner, fortunately someone reached out to catch her waist! Steadying her securely!