Chapter 6: The Crippled Young Lady (VI)

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Chapter 6: The Crippled Young Lady (Six)

That day, after Su Kui finished her usual routine of currying favor with the Old Madam, she ran headlong into a man with handsome, refined features, looking to be about twenty-one or twenty-two.

He wore a solemn expression, his gaze fixed straight ahead. With hurried, unwavering steps, he walked forward, clearly intending to ignore Su Kui entirely.

Su Kui gave a secret, bitter smile. In this household, the only male of that age was her own elder brother, Feng Zheng. She wondered just how unbearable Feng Yanran must have been for even her own brother to detest her so much.

Though Feng Zheng’s face remained impassive, his eyes had, in truth, already darted toward his sister countless times. He loathed his sister’s cynical and twisted demeanor, yet they were born of the same mother; how could he truly not feel a pang of concern?

However, he knew that if he were to ask, he would only invite another round of her cold sarcasm. He had intended to skirt past her to pay his respects to the Old Madam, but upon seeing her pouting in a bitter, forced smile, her large, cat-like eyes flickering with the shimmer of unshed tears, his steps faltered. They felt as heavy as lead, impossible to lift any further.

With a helpless sigh, he asked, "What is the matter now?"

Su Kui’s eyes lit up, her pretty face etched with even greater grievance. She wrinkled her nose and asked timidly, her voice thick with tears, "Brother... does Brother hate Yanran?"

Feng Zheng was struck dumb. How long had it been since Yanran had called him brother?

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"This..." He had intended to offer comfort, but the memory of Feng Yanran’s countless past pranks and her malicious, mocking laughter rushed back to him. The words he wanted to say were stuck firmly in his throat, refusing to come out.

He chose to remain silent, his face turning cold as he continued toward Fuzhen Courtyard.

As he reached her side, his robe was suddenly snagged by a small, fair, jade-like hand.

"Let go!"

"I won't!" Su Kui’s face was full of stubbornness. "If Brother doesn't give me an honest answer today, I will never let go!"

The maids and nannies nearby wailed inwardly; the Eldest Miss and the Eldest Young Master were at it again!

Feng Zheng was sick to death of Feng Yanran’s unreasonable antics. He ripped his robe away, his voice ice-cold as he spat out, "Yes! I hate you!"

He then strode away without looking back, leaving Su Kui standing there, blankly clutching a small scrap of fabric.

After a long moment, she suddenly turned her head and shouted in the direction Feng Zheng had gone, "Fine, fine, fine! I am detestable! I am loathsome! Mother is gone! Father despises me! And now, even my own brother hates me! What is the point of me living? I might as well just die and be done with it!"

Not far from Fuzhen Courtyard lay a small lotus pond. As it was early summer, the lotus flowers were in full bloom, soft pink and delicate, swaying gracefully.

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Su Kui had already set her sights on this pond. Having delivered her ultimatum, she didn't wait for the maids to act. She pushed the wheels of her chair with all her might, inching toward the water.

The maids and nannies were struck with sheer terror.

Nanny Gu turned deathly pale. Realizing what was happening, she rushed forward to stop her, her face streaming with tears. "Eldest Miss! My dear Eldest Miss, what are you doing? Please, don't do anything rash! The Eldest Young Master only spoke in anger, you..."

Su Kui cut her off, sobbing until she was breathless, her tears falling like shattered pearls. "Nanny Gu, don't stop me. I know the truth in my heart. The Eldest Miss of the Grand Tutor’s mansion is a cripple who cannot even walk. Who knows how many people outside are laughing at Father and Brother? It would be better for me to die and preserve the reputation of the Grand Tutor’s mansion!"

Su Kui struggled to push the wheels toward the pond while Nanny Gu pulled frantically from behind. The other maids stood stunned—what kind of scene was this?

"Let me die, Nanny Gu! Let go!"

As they neared the edge of the pond, Su Kui made a show of lunging forward. Nanny Gu grabbed her in a desperate embrace, wailing with a shrill, piercing cry, "Eldest Young Master! Please, come quickly! The Eldest Miss is trying to end her life!"

(Alright, I broke my word. This chapter is about winning over the brother.)