After being reborn, I became the apple of my enemy's eye.

Zheng Jihua still put Ning'er first.

A strange emotion flashed through the old lady's mind, but it was fleeting. Compared to her son who used to sit on the wooden chair, her son now was her real son, full of vigor and ambition. Even after years in the mansion, the wolf-like nature in his bones had not been extinguished.

"Ning'er is with Mr. Shu."

He didn't even finish his words.

A servant came to tell us that the carriage was ready.

Zheng Jihua immediately stood up: "Mother, I'll go fetch Ning'er and we'll talk in detail later." He had already asked the steward to prepare a carriage before he came here, as he still wanted to show his face to the old lady and leave the mansion immediately after seeing her.

After saying that, he left without hesitation.

Granny Zhu, standing to the side, said that the master had changed a lot.

The old lady knew her son well. She knew what her son had done, based on the news from the capital. There was nothing wrong with doting on her daughter, as long as it didn't interfere with important matters.

The hot tea that he had asked Granny Zhu to prepare was now being drunk by himself.

On the way to Shuyuan.

Sitting in the carriage, Zheng Jihua asked the steward when Ning'er had gone to Shu Courtyard. The steward did not hide anything and told her in detail about how the young lady liked to sneak out, and how the old lady was worried about the young lady's safety when she went out alone, so she specially went to invite Mr. Shu. He told her everything in detail.

Zheng Jihua remembered Mr. Shu. The old man had an eccentric temper. Even though he was famous, he hadn't taught many students. Ning'er had actually caught his eye, and Zheng Jihua was happy about that.

"Go to the study next door."

After Zheng Jihua had purchased a considerable amount of goods, the carriage finally headed to Shuyuan.

Zheng Jihua politely explained his purpose to the steward of the Shu family. The steward was somewhat surprised to see Zheng Jihua standing there, but since he was Mr. Shu's man, he immediately changed his attitude and said, "Lord Zheng, please come in."

The butler led Zheng Jihua inside. The things he brought were neatly piled up in a corner, looking quite impressive.

yard.

Yan Yun kept making mistakes in her writing today. Mr. Shu said that she was not calm and that writing like this was a waste of the Xuan paper. Yan Yun felt the same way, but she just couldn't calm down and felt depressed. She propped her head up and looked at Mr. Shu, but she couldn't explain why.

Outside the door, the butler knocked.

"Sir, a guest has arrived."

Mr. Shu didn't look up: "What kind of guests do I have like this? Who is it that you're talking about?"

The steward replied, "It is Lord Zheng Jihua of the Zheng family."

Yan Yun slammed his brush down, poking a hole in the Xuan paper beneath.

Mr. Shu gently placed the book on Yan Yun's head.

She gently scolded, "Even if your father were here, you shouldn't waste my paper like this."

Mr. Shu pulled back the covers and was about to get up when the butler stepped forward to help him. Mr. Shu looked at Yan Yun and said, "Then I must go see him." The butler was helping him change his clothes.

Yan Yun then understood why he was feeling uneasy; it was like a telepathic connection between his parents.

She now has a relationship with Zheng Jihua.

The words have not yet fallen.

A voice came from outside the door: "If it's inconvenient for Mr. Shu, I'll come in and disturb you."

Yan Yun looked over upon hearing the sound.

Zheng Jihua was already standing outside the door. When he saw Yan Yun, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

Yan Yun turned his head away and refused to look anymore.

Mr. Shu asked the housekeeper to tidy him up, as he couldn't stay in bed and see anyone, but leaving the room seemed unlikely.

After Mr. Shu has finished packing.

That's when they invited Zheng Jihua in.

He saw Yan Yun first, his eyes filled with love, and only when he saw his child did he feel at ease.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute and looked at Mr. Shu politely, saying, "Mr. Shu."

The butler brought him a stool to sit down.

Zheng Jihua said that he had come in a hurry today and had not been polite enough, and asked Mr. Shu for his understanding.

The butler didn't dare say that the things placed outside were already considered valuable.

Mr. Shu praised Yan Yun for his talent and said that he and Yan Yun got along well. He then showed the calligraphy that Yan Yun had written to Zheng Jihua.

Yan Yun was unwilling, but Mr. Shu was willing.

Zheng Jihua's smile never stopped as he looked at the words on the paper. He wasn't foolish enough to doubt that Yan Yun had written them.

He was simply happy, and he praised Yan Yun: "I knew Ning'er was naturally intelligent."

Mr. Shu does not deny his intelligence, but he would not have written so well without persistent effort.

"She might become a great talent in the future," Mr. Shu said.

Zheng Jihua smiled as well, reaching out to touch Yan Yun's head, "If Ning'er wants to, she will definitely become a great talent."

Yan Yun glanced at Zheng Jihua and immediately avoided him.

The atmosphere in the room instantly turned cold.

Mr. Shu and the housekeeper both felt that Yan Yun was acting this way because she hadn't seen Zheng Jihua for too long.

Yan Yun hid behind the butler.

Although Zheng Jihua's smile was somewhat cracked, it was only for a moment as he looked at his hands.

"It's been a long time since we last met, so we're probably not familiar with each other anymore."

Zheng Jihua awkwardly rubbed his hands on his legs. He was so nervous that he knew he couldn't force Yan Yun. Since she was afraid, he should take it slow.

Mr. Shu felt this was a family matter, not something he could teach, and that Zheng Jihua had to handle it himself. He looked at the steward.

"Go prepare dinner early. We've prepared a simple meal at the manor today. Lord Zheng, please stay and have some with us."

Zheng Jihua declined, saying, "There's no need to trouble yourself. We have guests at home. I'm here to take Ning'er back; my mother is waiting."

They brought out the old lady.

Mr. Shu could no longer keep them.

Ignoring Yan Yun's attempt to dodge behind the butler, Zheng Jihua reached out, grabbed Yan Yun's arm, and picked him up.

Yan Yun wanted to punch him directly, but she held back when she met Mr. Shu's probing gaze.

After Zheng Jihua carried Yan Yun out of Shuyuan, Yan Yun struggled to get down. Zheng Jihua kept comforting Yan Yun. Once they were in the carriage, Yan Yun hid in a corner and started reading a book by himself.

The butler saw them off.

Zheng Jihua boarded the carriage and saw that Yan Yun had already started reading. He thought of what Mr. Shu had said earlier about her being a great talent. Although the thought flashed through his mind, Zheng Jihua felt a sense of difficulty when Yan Yun remained silent. He could silence everyone else, but he could not let his daughter speak.

But such thoughts are fleeting.

After seeing the words Yan Yun had written, he was certain that his daughter could do things that others might not be able to do. How could he give up first?

Zheng Jihua felt a moment of disappointment with his own thoughts and his own conscience. He could not be indecisive about his daughter's affairs, and he absolutely could not let his daughter suffer bad things because of him.

Absolutely not.

He looked at Yan Yun, then said with absolute determination, "If Ning'er wants to study, then go ahead. If you want to become a great talent, your father will help you. If anyone stands in your way, your father will make them disappear. Your father will protect you for the rest of your life."

Such promises did not reassure Yan Yun.

If he's obligated to wipe out anyone who stands in his way, then aren't those people just like Yan Yun from before? Does Zheng Jihua not need him and just want to trample him underfoot, so he had his concubine kill him?

Yan Yun looked at the person in front of him again, and all that he had suffered made his heart ache unbearably.

She wanted to tell the person in front of her that she hated him, but now was not the time, so she raised her book to shield her face.

Back at the Zheng residence.

Yan Yun jumped off his horse.

Zheng Jihua didn't even have time to look before he was so frightened that he cried out to stop him.

"Ning'er."