Chapter 6: Backing Someone Up

Still unsure of your identity?

The butler grew even more annoyed, speaking up once more: "Second Young Miss, in this state, you truly have no way of winning Madam's favor. I think it would be best if you..."

He failed to finish his sentence.

With a *click*, his wrist was seized by two slender fingers, preventing him from moving even an inch forward.

In the next second, a surge of great force arrived. Caught completely off guard, the butler fell hard on his backside.

Ying Zijin lowered her eyelashes and said indifferently, "I told you to move."

The butler raised his head tremulously, his eyes widening in sheer disbelief.

"Heh."

At that moment, amidst the night, a laugh suddenly fell—it carried a hint of cynicism, but upon closer listening, it was wrapped in a thin layer of coldness.

"I didn't know even with my absence, the Ying family's servants would dare to command the masters. Is this how Madam disciplines them?"

The man had a tall and upright figure, also dressed in a black shirt with loosely undone buttons. His complexion appeared even more pale and cold against the snow, like polished jade or soft porcelain.

Standing beneath a tree, he became a landscape unto himself; even the snow and moonlight could not rival his romantic elegance.

Ying Zijin withdrew her foot and looked up, her gaze pausing slightly. "You haven't left yet?"

"I haven't left yet." Fu Yunshen kept one hand in his pocket, the corners of his lips curling upward. "If I left, our little friend here would get bullied."

A light breeze blew, parting his shirt to reveal a small patch of his collarbone, releasing a faint scent of emerald agarwood.

Steady and gentle, yet a fatal temptation.

Ying Zijin fell silent for a moment. "I can't be bothered."

She did not like to talk; saying even one more word was less efficient than simply taking action.

"Mm, I know." Fu Yunshen patted her head. "That's why I'm here to deal with it. You just watch from the side."

He turned his head, lifting his chin slightly, still smiling. "Who are you asking for an apology?"

The butler, already dazed from the fall, now didn't even dare to breathe. His face turned bright red, then pale, then blue; his legs were shaking so violently that he could do nothing but kneel.

Of course, he recognized the man appearing here—

The Seventh Young Master of the Fu family, Fu Yunshen.

The most profligate playboy in Shanghai, known for having no ambition.

It was said that because Fu Yunshen was too unrestrained, he had offended the heir of an Imperial Capital family, and the Fu family had sent him to Europe overnight.

Why was he suddenly back?

And why was he protecting the Second Young Miss like this?

Was he insane?

"I am sorry, Second Young Miss." Unable to withstand the pressure, the butler suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself, trembling. "I should not have been disrespectful to you. It is all my fault."

Fu Yunshen ignored him. "Let's go, little friend. This time, I'll personally escort you inside."

The butler didn't dare to obstruct them again. "Seventh Young Master, Second Young Miss, this way please."

While feeling humiliated, he also felt a sense of relief; at least Madam wouldn't blame him.

**

The door opened, and cold air swirled in, leaving a layer of frost on the luxurious carpet.

On the first floor of the old residence, the living room was filled with warmth.

A noblewoman sat on the sofa, flipping through a book with an elegant posture, every movement exuding the grace of a prestigious family.

This was Madam Ying, Zhong Manhua, born into the Zhong family, one of the four great aristocratic clans.

Zhong Manhua heard footsteps but did not look up, saying indifferently, "Has the Second Young Miss yielded?"

The old residence was well-insulated; the people inside would not hear the commotion outside.

The butler didn't dare to breathe heavily, only daring to whisper, "Madam."

"Hmm?" Zhong Manhua frowned and looked up. "If she hasn't yielded, then you—"

The rest of her words died in her throat the moment she saw the man.

Zhong Manhua froze, only reacting after a few seconds.

She put down her book and stood up to greet him. Acting as if she hadn't seen the girl, she smiled. "So it is the Seventh Young Master. I only heard from your father yesterday that you had returned from Europe. Coming to the Ying residence so late, is there some urgent matter?"

The Fu family was the head of the four great clans. Even if Fu Yunshen had left Shanghai for three years, as long as Old Master Fu was still around, the Ying family could not afford to offend them.

"Escorting the little friend home." Fu Yunshen's expression was indifferent. "I wasn't at ease; I was afraid she would be bullied."

Zhong Manhua's smile faltered. She clearly had not expected such an answer. Only then did her gaze fall upon the girl. "What happened?"

The butler hurriedly gave a brief account of what had just occurred.

After listening, Zhong Manhua frowned again. After taking a deep breath, she smiled again. "Seventh Young Master, this is a misunderstanding. I am sorry to have troubled you to make the trip. Zijin is also my daughter; how could I bear to see her suffer?"

"Is that so?" Fu Yunshen let out a low laugh, his stance relaxed. "That's good, then. I am relieved. If word gets out that Madam Ying treats her adopted daughter this way, it might even earn her a reputation for being benevolent."

Zhong Manhua's expression turned unsightly.

These words were clearly a mockery.

"It's just this servant—" Fu Yunshen glanced sideways, chuckling. "He has quite some nerve."

The butler's legs grew even weaker.

Zhong Manhua's face remained tense, and she said nothing.

"However, as an outsider, it wouldn't be right for me to discipline your servants on your behalf, Madam Ying." Fu Yunshen stopped paying attention to her. Instead, he turned his head toward the girl and waved his phone, his voice laced with a smile. "Little friend, I've saved your number. Contact me anytime."

The door was closed again, leaving a deathly silence in the room.

The butler breathed a sigh of relief, incessantly wiping away his sweat.

"Where have you been?" Zhong Manhua suppressed her anger, ultimately not changing her expression immediately after Fu Yunshen left. "Luwei said you left the hospital three hours ago. What were you doing?"

Running out alone on a snowy day—when would she ever give her peace of mind?

And specifically finding someone to come back and provoke her; how utterly ill-mannered.

Ying Zijin did not respond; she simply yawned.

Aside from being hungry, she felt sleepy.

Since she was suddenly acting like a normal person, she wanted to experience it fully.

Zhong Manhua said coldly, "I am asking you a question. Are you this impolite?"

Ying Zijin raised her eyes and said indifferently, "Why bother managing a living blood bank?"

Zhong Manhua could almost not believe her ears. Her mind went blank for a moment, and her body shuddered violently. "What did you say?"

The butler also looked over in shock, his face full of disbelief.

The fact that the Ying family had taken in an adopted daughter to serve as a living blood bank for Ying Luwei was no secret among the four great clans; the entire upper class knew.

But no one cared about it because it wasn't important. Occasionally, it would be discussed as dinner table gossip to add a bit of amusement, and the Ying family didn't feel anything was wrong with it.

But when this ugly truth was exposed so bluntly, Zhong Manhua felt as if all the veils of modesty she had draped over herself were being torn away. It felt like thorns in her back; the blood in her body turned cold, and her hands and feet went numb.

Zhong Manhua was, after all, from a prestigious background. She quickly regained her composure, her expression softening slightly, though she still spoke in a commanding tone: "What is this attitude of yours? I have prepared hot water for you. Go take a bath first; I have words for you in a moment."

The girl simply yawned again, ignored her entirely, and went upstairs.

Zhong Manhua's face turned ashen. With a *thud*, she slammed her teacup heavily onto the table.

The butler kept his head low, not daring to speak.

"Look at her attitude, and listen to what she says!" Zhong Manhua's heart ached with rage, but more so with grievance. "Does she think I want her to have her blood drawn? She is flesh and blood from my own body; how could I not feel for her?"