Chapter 71: Red Marks Everywhere

Qin Yuyang, all fidgety, had just left school when he saw the butler standing at the school gate waiting for him, beside his grandfather.

He ran over, lifted his little face, and said, "Why is it you who came to pick me up?"

"Young master, the old master wants to see you; I've already greeted the master and mistress." The butler bent over, reached out and took Qin Yuyang's hand, smiling lightly: "What would you like to eat tonight, young master? I'll have it arranged in advance."

Qin Yuyang often stayed at his grandfather's place, which was fine, and his grandfather treated him extremely well—he could even skip homework if he wanted.

He thought for a moment, then discussed with the butler: "Can I have KFC and McDonald's?"

Normally, the family wouldn't let him eat those, but occasionally when he stayed at his brother's place, his brother, too lazy to bother, would order takeout for him.

He spoke in a negotiating tone, never expecting the butler to agree outright.

Qin Yuyang looked at the butler in surprise and delight; the butler's gaze was full of pity, but he was too young to understand it.

Upon entering the Qin Family villa, the butler carried two large bags of KFC and McDonald's, while Qin Yuyang walked ahead, smiling broadly, completely unaware of what would happen next.

After changing his shoes and walking to the living room, Qin Yuyang told the butler to bring the food to the living room table; he wanted to eat while watching cartoons, when he heard his grandfather calling him from upstairs.

"Yuyang, come."

Qin Yuyang happily waved at his grandfather, stepping up the stairs and saying, "Grandpa, the butler bought me lots of yummy stuff—what do you want to tell me?"

The old master smiled: "Come with me to the study."

The butler sighed as he set the things on the table, recalling the young master's excited expression just moments ago, then imagining how miserably he would cry later—still, he couldn't help laughing.

Qin Yuyang followed his grandfather into the study; as soon as he closed the study door, he heard his grandfather sternly say, "Kneel!"

Qin Yuyang froze for a moment, seeing his grandfather's stern expression, his mouth twisting as if about to cry, but he obediently knelt down.

He cried, "It was the butler who agreed to my purchase; it wasn't that I insisted." He still thought it was because he'd bought KFC and McDonald's.

The old master narrowed his eyes, picked up the ruler that had just been prepared on the table, and said coldly, "I'm asking you—did you do something bad?"

Qin Yuyang's sobbing hitched, his voice trembling with guilt: "I didn't."

"You didn't?"

"Isn't it just that I pulled a classmate's braid, punctured Xiao Yao's bike tire, ruined my mom's skincare, and egged on classmates to talk back to the teacher?" He wiped his tears, speaking with increasing indignation, then burst out wailing: "I've done this before, and you never scolded me for it!"

The old master was amused by his anger: "Stick out your hand!"

Qin Yuyang trembled, stretched out his shaking hand—smack! —the ruler struck his palm, the pain making him cry until his voice went hoarse.

"I'm asking you—did you previously go look for your cousin Wen Ling?" Seeing he couldn't recall, the old master bluntly asked, "That cousin who lives in Lang Po Wan!"

Qin Yuyang sniffed, thought for a long time before remembering, then sobbed as he explained: "MiaoMiao sister told me she likes to bully people and has made you angry, so I went to find her!"

The more he spoke, the angrier he grew, accusing: "You don't like her, do you? She even bullies MiaoMiao sister—why shouldn't I let her come, and yet you still hit me?"

"I'm hitting you because you're stupid!" The old master struck him hard again with the ruler, not easing up at all despite his being a child.

"You believe whatever others say, and you kept it from me, even warning the driver not to tell me—do you think I should or shouldn't hit you?"

The old master squatted down, seeing Qin Yuyang cry so pitifully, sighed, and said earnestly: "Your mistake lies in trusting others and being used by them."

Qin Yuyang had been spoiled since childhood, unaware of how wicked people could be; now, cradling his swollen hand, he wore a bewildered expression.

"All right, go on out." The old master stood, waved him away, then walked alone to the window, hands behind his back, gazing at the lush garden below.

He, too, had only just realized that Wen Ling had been raised pampered by Elder Wen; although she indeed had a bit of a temper, she wouldn't bully people the way MiaoMiao claimed.

He kept feeling something was off—how could he have believed MiaoMiao's words so readily?

He stood by the window for a long time before turning and going downstairs, where he saw Qin Yuyang sitting on the carpet, hiccuping between bites of hamburger and fries, his head aching; he felt that this little grandson of his had truly been ruined by his own indulgence.

He also didn't know whose big heart this kid had inherited.

Although Wen Ling had deliberately brought up Qin Yuyang and Ruan MiaoMiao to warn herself, she also didn't realize that a single remark of hers would cause Qin Yuyang to get a spanking.

After being woken by a phone call, she couldn't get back to sleep, got up, walked to the balcony, sat in the rocking chair, and lit a cigarette for herself.

Zhou Yinhe's car drove in, smoothly parked in the lot, and he walked over the stone path through the middle of the lawn.

Upon hearing the sports car's roar, Wen Ling stood, rested her arms on the railing, a slender cigarette held between her fine fingers, and lowered her gaze to watch Zhou Yinhe approaching from afar.

She shouted at Zhou Yinhe, who had come downstairs: "Aren't you supposed to be back at the Zhou Family? Why are you back so soon?"

Zhou Yinhe lifted his head to look at her, his stance casual and relaxed, his red hair glowing in the sunlight, that exquisite face unchanged as ever—only his eyes were still red and swollen, looking rather pitiful.

"I just called you and it showed you were on another call—I thought you'd blocked me again."

Before bed, Wen Ling changed into the strappy V-neck pajamas she liked to sleep in—this set was black lace‑trimmed, making her skin look even fairer, covered in red marks; now she lay lazily on the railing, causing Zhou Yinhe's Adam's apple to bob and a faint gloom to settle in his eyes.

"Although I'm angry, it's not that bad." Wen Ling noted his odd look, gave a light smile, crooked her finger at him, and drawled, "Wait a bit before coming up."

Knowing she didn't want him to inhale secondhand smoke, Zhou Yinhe smiled faintly, entered the villa, and saw the paper bags printed with brand logos still sitting on the table—obviously Wen Ling hadn't come downstairs after waking.

He placed the sandalwood box he'd been clutching in his hand on the table alongside those bags, sat on the sofa, pulled out his phone, and only then noticed a message from Ke Chengyu sent half an hour earlier.

【Young Master Zhou, can't we hang out a bit more? Tonight at the usual spot in Xishan, want to play?】

At that moment, Zhou Yinhe had his legs crossed, leaning sideways on the sofa arm, chin propped on his hand, thought a moment, and replied: 【Tonight, we'll see.】

Ke Chengyu instantly replied: 【Fine, ancestor.】

Since last night, Zhou Yinhe's mood had been excellent, and he replied with a sinister emoji.

Wen Ling, mindful of the spoiled young master downstairs, stubbed out her cigarette, took a shower, and changed into a white sleep dress with a hollowed‑out back and wooden‑ear trim; she doesn't like wearing other clothes at home, so she's bought all sorts of pajamas, filling half the wardrobe on the clothes rack.

Wen Ling walked slowly down the stairs, while Zhou Yinhe stared straight at her, his gaze following her movements as she descended.