Mao Linye didn’t wait for Mao Zhongcai’s response. He withdrew his gaze and waved his hand.

“Xiaoxiao, come sit beside me and join me for the meal. I’m hungry.”

Feng Jiu’er glanced up briefly at Mao Linye, bit down on her thin pink lips, and only then stood up.

Perhaps it was from kneeling too long, but she stumbled and nearly lost her footing.

Feng Jiu’er reeled backward, and just as Mao Linye was about to steady her, Qiao Mu strode forward and caught her instead.

“Are you all right?”

she asked flatly.

There wasn’t much tenderness in her tone — it carried more of a reproach.

“I’m fine.” Feng Jiu’er let go of Qiao Mu’s arm and shook her head.

“Elder Brother, I’m fine. I need to go serve the boss his meal.”

Under the watchful eyes of Mao Linye and Mao Zhongcai, Feng Jiu’er went back to set down the wine jug, then bent down with visible effort to carry over a chair, placing it beside Mao Linye.

“Boss, let me go wash my hands first.”

She held out her fair, delicate little hands and rubbed them together.

“Bring in some water.”

The Madam immediately stood, stepped back twice, and waved her hand.

“Understood.”

Gong Xinyue moved ahead of the others outside, nodded, and turned to walk out.

She had no idea where to find a basin or water, but surely asking around would tell her.

“Sit.”

Mao Linye pulled the chair beside him slightly closer, until it was almost pressed against his own.

Standing on the other side of the chair, Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, nodded, and sat down cautiously.

“Eat up. Look how thin you are — you haven’t eaten properly these past few days, have you?”

Mao Linye asked with apparent concern.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at the table, then turned back to look at Mao Linye.

“Can I really…?”

Mao Linye picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and placed it in Feng Jiu’er’s bowl.

“Eat.”

His voice was very gentle.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and picked up her chopsticks.

But instead of eating right away, she first picked up a piece of meat for Mao Linye.

The piece she gave him and the piece he’d given her came from the same dish — pieces sitting right next to each other.

“Boss, you eat first!”

Feng Jiu’er said earnestly, looking at Mao Linye.

“All right.”

Mao Linye picked up his own chopsticks, lifted the piece of meat, and held it in the air.

“Bring out a few more dishes — this food’s gone a bit cold.”

“Yes.”

The Madam nodded and turned to go give the order.

Feng Jiu’er also picked up the piece of meat from her bowl and ate it, savoring it.

She glanced sideways at Mao Linye, and only once he turned to look back at her did she begin chewing carefully.

As the girl chewed, her brows and eyes curved with a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

Soon, Gong Xinyue brought in a basin of water and came to Feng Jiu’er’s side.

Feng Jiu’er set down her chopsticks, turned her body, washed her hands, fished the cloth out of the basin, wrung it out, and gently wiped her slightly flushed little face.

She placed the cloth back in the basin and looked up at Gong Xinyue.

“Second Brother, thank you.”

Gong Xinyue said nothing, took up the basin, and walked back outside.

Mao Zhongcai stared unblinkingly at Feng Jiu’er’s small face and sat back down heavily.

His mouth dry, he picked up the wine jug and began gulping it down.

When the Madam turned and saw Mao Zhongcai drinking to drown his sorrows, she hurried over, wrapping her arms around the jug in his hand.

“City Lord, why are you doing this?

Please eat something first — drinking on an empty stomach isn’t good for your health.”

Mao Zhongcai turned his body aside, dodging the Madam’s touch, and continued gulping down the wine in large mouthfuls.

After draining the entire jug, he threw the empty bottle aside with a “clang,” lowered his head, and began undoing something at his waist.

With a “thud,” a token of office was slammed onto the tabletop.

“You.”

He pointed at Feng Jiu’er. “Come here! If you go with me, this token is yours.”

Feng Jiu’er paused, pressed her pink lips together, and turned to look at Mao Linye, as if seeking his opinion.

Mao Linye continued rubbing Feng Jiu’er’s head with doting affection, his gaze shifting to Mao Zhongcai.

“Second Brother, this is the City Lord’s official token. For the sake of a woman of mine, you’re willing to give up even your position as City Lord?”

“I don’t need it anymore.”

Mao Zhongcai had long since had his head turned by lust.

At this moment, his eyes held nothing but this small figure across from him.

For a fleeting moment, Feng Jiu’er felt Mao Linye was almost pitiable.

Same father, yet one was born with everything handed to him, while the other had to work a thousand, ten thousand times harder than an ordinary person just to get by.

Pitiable as he was, though, she’d never feel sympathy for someone so ruthless in pursuit of money.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the gold token and thought, if you two don’t want it, I’ll gladly take it myself.

“Heh.” Mao Linye gave a dry laugh. “Since that’s the case, Xiaoxiao, shouldn’t you go thank the City Lord?”

Feng Jiu’er blinked, startled, and looked up at Mao Linye.

“Boss, this is—” Mao Linye’s eyes flickered, and his face broke into that distinctive smile of his, neither joyful nor sorrowful.

Feng Jiu’er swallowed hard, stood, and walked around to Mao Zhongcai’s side.

She reached out with both hands and carefully picked up the token.

Just as she looked up at Mao Linye, the man beside her suddenly lunged toward her.

“Ah!”

Feng Jiu’er let out a startled cry and dodged, narrowly avoiding Mao Zhongcai’s grasp.

Her body was small and frail, and stepping back like that sent her falling backward.

As she fell, Feng Jiu’er clutched the token tightly with both hands, leaving no free hand to catch herself, and she hit the ground hard.

“Little sister.”

Qiao Mu strode over and caught her.

Qiao Mu pulled Feng Jiu’er up, and Feng Jiu’er looked back at her helplessly. “Elder Brother, I…”

“It’s fine. The boss said seven days — during these next few days, he’ll surely protect you.”

Qiao Mu looked at Mao Linye and said in a deep voice.

Mao Linye’s thick brows rose slightly as he picked up the wine jug.

“Xiaoxiao, pour a drink for the City Lord.”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, nodded, and said, “Yes, yes.”

Before walking off, she seemingly casually slipped the token into Qiao Mu’s hand.

Qiao Mu said nothing, stepped back two paces, and stood watching over their “little sister” like a proper guard.

Watching Feng Jiu’er approach, Mao Zhongcai’s heart swelled with a peculiar sort of joy.

So much so that as she passed by him, he failed to react in time.

Feng Jiu’er kept her head lowered the whole way, returning to the table.

At that moment, three men entered, replacing the table with a fresh spread of steaming dishes, along with new wine and cups.

Feng Jiu’er took a new cup and filled it to the brim with wine.

She lifted the cup, stood, and turned to face Mao Zhongcai.

“Ci—City Lord, your wine is ready. Please, go ahead!”

The moment she finished speaking, she raised the cup with both hands and lowered her head.

Feng Jiu’er waited a moment, and sensing something odd, glanced up slightly.

To her shock, she saw a pig practically drooling.

Feng Jiu’er let out a startled cry and stepped back.

By then, Mao Zhongcai had finally come to his senses.

“Little girl, don’t go! Big brother will treat you well.”

He lurched forward on unsteady feet, lunging at Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er quickly pulled back, turned, and circled around the table, running toward Mao Linye.

“Boss, help—help me! Boss, I don’t want him, he’s ugly!”