Chapter 33: Like a rebellious non-mainstream

Zhou Yinhe left Feng Qi Yuan as soon as dawn broke; in the vast Feng Qi Yuan, only Ning Qing remained of the seven masters. She was unusually diligent today, and when Wu Feng brought Wu Xuan over, she was watering flowers in the garden.

Yang Butler stood not far away waiting; hearing footsteps, he glanced over. The gatekeeper strode over and whispered, "The director of the Wu Group has brought his young master here, saying he wants to visit Fifth Young Master."

"Fifth Young Master isn't here; go send him away." Yang Butler had also heard that the Wu Family's young master had been beaten and sent to the hospital, and he bore no goodwill toward the Wu Family.

The gatekeeper, somewhat helpless, said: "I told him Fifth Young Master isn't here, but he said he wants to visit Madam instead."

Yang Butler had no choice but to walk over to Ning Qing and ask: "Madam, the director of the Wu Group said he wanted to visit Fifth Young Master; upon hearing Fifth Young Master wasn't here, he said he'd like to see you instead. Would you like to meet him?"

"What does he want?" Ning Qing asked, puzzled.

"He brought his young master; I'm not sure exactly what it's about."

Ning Qing pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Let's see him, in the drawing room."

Yang Butler nodded, turned, and went to instruct the gatekeeper to pass along the message.

Wu Feng brought Wu Xuan inside; Wu Xuan looked around, unable to tear his gaze away, even forgetting his original nervousness, marveling that it was indeed the Zhou family—every detail everywhere exuded refinement.

"Madam Zhou," Wu Feng said with a fawning smile, greeting Ning Qing.

Ning Qing gave a slight smile, somewhat puzzled: "President Wu, why have you come all of a sudden?"

Wu Feng explained: "It's not that this good-for-nothing of ours recently angered Fifth Young Master; I've brought him to apologize to Fifth Young Master."

"Xiao Wu isn't here; he left early this morning."

"I know, I know; the gatekeeper just said so. It's not that, having come, it would be impolite not to visit you." Wu Feng gave an embarrassed smile and had Wu Xuan place the gifts he'd brought to one side.

Ning Qing glanced at them casually, lifted her English teacup, and took a sip of black tea.

To her, even a cursory look at these things counted as giving Wu Feng face.

Seeing she remained silent, Wu Feng, feeling embarrassed, pondered a moment and then told Ning Qing the whole story: "Madam Zhou, I brought this good-for-nothing straight from the hospital to make amends; could you, for my sake, persuade Fifth Young Master not to hold a grudge against him?"

Ning Qing frowned slightly. Her Xiao Wu may have a bad temper, but he wouldn't readily strike someone; if he couldn't tolerate something, he'd have others do it for him. How exactly did this Wu Family young master provoke her Xiao Wu to the point of personally striking him?

Ning Qing was already fiercely protective of her own, and besides, this was their pampered youngest. She sank her face and said lightly: "Let's wait until Xiao Wu returns to discuss this. Yang Butler, call Xiao Wu and tell him to come back quickly."

Yang Butler nodded, walked over to make the call, returned shortly, and hesitated: "Madam, Fifth Young Master said he'll be back later, because he's currently……"

Ning Qing lifted her gaze to him: "What's wrong?"

Yang Butler sucked in a breath, leaned close to Ning Qing's ear, and whispered in one breath: "Fifth Young Master is dyeing his hair."

"???" Ning Qing's face showed only three question marks at that moment.

What connection do those two words "dye hair" have with her Xiao Wu?

Why would her Xiao Wu suddenly go dye his hair?

So her Xiao Wu went out so early just to dye his hair?

One question after another flashed through Ning Qing's mind like barrage comments.

Yang Butler coughed; Ning Qing snapped back to attention, pursed her lips, and told the Wu father and son: "My Xiao Wu has something on; he'll be back later—please wait a moment."

Wu Feng gave a placating smile: "Of course, of course; we'll wait for Fifth Young Master—sorry for the disturbance."

Ning Qing shook her head, lowered her gaze, and continued to ponder.

The Wu father and son could only restrain their gazes, continually drinking the tea the butler kept refilling.

Until Zhou Yinhe returned, the two stood up, and upon seeing Zhou Yinhe they froze, dazed.

Ning Qing also lifted her gaze, so startled she didn't even know who the red-haired man before her was.

"You……" Ning Qing frowned tightly and asked: "You dyed it like this—won't your father scold you when he sees it?"

"Let him scold; does he ever scold me less?" Zhou Yinhe showed no concern, glanced at the Wu father and son, and said coldly: "Anything the matter?"

Wu Feng snapped to attention, patted Wu Xuan on the back, and gestured for him to step forward to apologize.

Wu Xuan approached nervously, stammering: "Fifth Young Master, I offended you last time at Nys; I hope you can forgive me."

Wu Xuan is 1.75 meters tall; Zhou Yinhe is considerably taller than him. At this moment, looking down at Wu Xuan, his narrow, black eyes icy and grim, Wu Xuan broke out in a cold sweat under his gaze.

"Xiao Wu, what on earth made you lash out?" Ning Qing rose, pulled Zhou Yinhe over, and asked curiously.

Zhou Yinhe glanced at the gossip‑filled mother's face, helplessly averted his gaze, sat on the sofa with legs crossed, and said indifferently: "No need to apologize; just remember the lesson."

Wu Feng hurriedly nodded, grateful: "Thank you, Fifth Young Master, for your magnanimity."

After exchanging farewells and preparing to leave, just as they reached the door, Zhou Yinhe said lightly: "Take the things back."

Wu Feng was about to say something when he heard Zhou Yinhe continue: "If the Wu family troubles that girl again, it won't be so simple."

The father and son hastily nodded, picked up their things, and left.

Ning Qing finally understood, pointing at Zhou Yinhe's nose and demanding: "Is it because of Wen Ling?!"

Zhou Yinhe furrowed his brows; Ning Qing continued: "Son, can't you stop revolving around Wen Ling? I've told you those things many times; you already know them without me repeating."

"Mom, I've said it too—don't meddle." Zhou Yinhe spoke unusually sternly.

Ning Qing pressed her lips, seeing his impervious attitude, and snapped: "If you keep getting tangled with her, I don't mind going myself to talk to Wen Ling!"

"Go look for Wen Ling if you want—I won't stop you—but my father probably doesn't know you ran off to a concert earlier and, after it ended, took a selfie with that pretty boy." Zhou Yinhe showed no panic, directly revealing what Ning Qing thought no one knew.

Yang Butler hid behind his back and chuckled; Ning Qing, furious, pointed at Zhou Yinhe and, while taking deep breaths, jabbed hard at his forehead.

"Fine, I won't go look for her then! Just do your own thing—if you get hurt again, don't blame me for not warning you!" Ning Qing glanced at his hair again and sneered: "What color did you dye it? It's hideously ugly."

Only then did Zhou Yinhe furrow his brows, uneasy: "Not good-looking?"

"What's good‑looking about it? It looks like a rebellious non‑mainstream!" Ning Qing disparaged her son, snorted coldly, tossed aside her love‑addled son, and returned to the garden.

Zhou Yinhe rose, went to the restroom, and arranged his hair before the mirror, his heart also somewhat torn.

At that moment his phone rang; Zhou Yinhe glanced at the caller ID.

It was Wen Ling.