Chapter 255: First Volume, Chapter 255: The Ungrateful One

First Volume, Chapter 255: The Ungrateful One

After bickering and playing all the way back to the Qin Residence, Qin Feng felt something was off the moment he stepped inside.

The courtyard was hung with colorful lanterns, yet not a soul was in sight.

The charcoal in the fire pan had long gone out, carelessly tossed into a corner.

The maids, upon seeing Qin Feng, all avoided him as if he were a plague.

Qin Feng thought, This is absurd—I finally made it back home, and not a single person came to greet me?

Is this family affection really so cold?

Qin Xiaofu, hiding far away, gave him a look of condolence and kindly warned: "Young Master, the three young ladies waited for you all day yesterday, but you? You slept a sweet sleep in the Xie Residence. Heh—heh, the three young ladies are surely furious with you."

Qin Feng sighed inwardly and reluctantly headed toward Liu Hongyan's Xiaoyuan.

Beyond the Gate, he saw Liu Hongyan sitting on a Stone Stool, organizing account books. Gathering courage, Qin Feng crept up quietly, wearing a pleading smile: "Second Sister, I'm back…"

Liu Hongyan acted as if she hadn't heard, continuing to tally her accounts.

Qin Feng thought, Liu Hongyan is truly angry—he hurried to her side, grinning foolishly: "This isn't my fault—it's all that old bastard Xie Bi. He snatched me to the Xie Residence without warning. Don't be mad."

Liu Hongyan flipped a page in her ledger, not even glancing at him, her face expressionless: "Why would I be angry? You didn't do anything wrong."

At these words, Qin Feng's heart sank halfway.

Women always speak in reverse—saying they're not angry, but secretly plotting to stab you with a knife.

Qin Feng gritted his teeth, circled behind Liu Hongyan, and wrapped his arms around her.

Liu Hongyan frowned sharply and snapped: "What are you doing? Let go! I'm your sister—how dare you be so disrespectful?"

Since she'd spoken so coldly, Qin Feng dared not let go—he held tighter, pleading desperately: "Second Sister, I couldn't eat or sleep properly in Beixi County. Every time I closed my eyes, your face appeared—I truly lost my appetite and sleep."

"I finally returned to Jingdu, eager to see you at once—only for that old bastard Xie Bi to ambush me on the road and drag me off for a whole night of candlelit talks about Military Strategy… My life is so hard…"

Learning that Qin Feng had spent last night with Xie Bi, not Xie Yun'er,

Liu Hongyan's icy face softened slightly, and hearing his complaints, her heart grew tender.

But to forgive him so easily felt unjust.

Liu Hongyan stopped struggling, yet let out a soft, indignant huff: "You ungrateful one—every time you send a messenger home, you only report to Father, never to let me know you're safe. Do you have any idea how much I worried? You're just saying words—you don't care about me at all."

Qin Feng immediately let go, turned Liu Hongyan to face him, and declared: "Heaven and earth bear witness! I'd forget anyone before I forget Second Sister!"

"Back in Beixi County, when I fought Zhong Ling, I nearly died—and at the critical moment, the name I screamed was yours."

Qin Feng's skill at lying had reached perfection—he didn't blush or flinch.

Liu Hongyan's eyes lit up: "Really?"

But then her expression darkened with worry: "So Beixi County was that dangerous? Poor Feng'er suffered so much."

Seeing Liu Hongyan had forgotten the matter of him staying at the Xie Residence, Qin Feng breathed a silent sigh of relief and seized the moment, enthusiastically embellishing his battle with Zhong Ling.

It was a tale full of twists and heart-stopping drama.

As for Zhong Ling being speared to death by Ning Hu in the chaos, Qin Feng chose to forget it entirely—not a word mentioned.

Liu Hongyan covered her mouth, her face alternating between pale and flushed with excitement.

She never imagined her little brother could be so heroic.

Liu Hongyan bit her lips gently, reached out, and brushed her fingers across Qin Feng's cheek, whispering softly: "Feng'er endured so much outside—yet when you come home, you're scolded. It's all my fault for being so capricious…"

Watching Liu Hongyan blame herself, Qin Feng's heart stirred—he pulled her into a full embrace, feigning sorrow while secretly delighted: "Sister, I missed you so much."

At that moment, a cold snort came from behind.

Qin Feng and Liu Hongyan jumped apart like they'd been shocked, glancing guiltily—and saw Shen Qingci standing coldly at the Gate, her gaze hostile.

"Hongyan, aren't you being too soft?"

"This fellow returned to Jingdu and spent the night at the Xie Residence—he clearly has no regard for us. Don't let his sweet talk deceive you."

Facing Shen Qingci's rebuke, Qin Feng looked utterly wronged: "Elder Sister, you misunderstand me—I spent the entire night talking with Lord Ning, and nothing happened. Ask Second Sister."

Liu Hongyan feared Shen Qingci would be too harsh, and quickly intervened: "Feng'er didn't overstep."

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow: "Really?"

Qin Feng slapped his chest, speaking with absolute conviction: "Heaven and earth bear witness! I'm incompatible with Xie Yun'er—we'd fight to the death if we met. How could anything happen between us?"

Seeing Qin Feng so earnest, Shen Qingci's displeasure eased slightly: "Hmph. That's better."

Qin Feng muttered inwardly.

Previously, both sisters had fiercely pushed him toward Xie Yun'er, insisting only Xie Yun'er was worthy to be Qin Family's Young Madam.

Why had everything changed after his trip to Beixi County?

The moment they heard he'd stayed at the Xie Residence, their jealousy nearly drowned the entire Qin Residence.

Liu Hongyan said gently: "Enough. Go pay your respects to Fourth Sister—Qian Ying waited for you all day yesterday too."

Qin Feng sighed. Facing his sisters felt more dangerous than facing Zhong Ling.

No choice—he had to soothe them.

As Qin Feng turned to leave, he didn't notice that Shen Qingci and Liu Hongyan's gazes at him had already changed subtly.

Liu Hongyan bit her lips, her eyes soft as water, whispering: "I never thought Feng'er could be so dependable when he's serious."

Even now, Liu Hongyan couldn't forget the image of Qin Feng charging toward Beixi County without hesitation.

A man who would risk everything for his family was worthy of any woman's lifelong trust.

Shen Qingci, though unwilling to admit it aloud, had already accepted Qin Feng. She murmured: "Earlier, Father told me the one who planned to plunder Mother was the Beidi Legendary Tooth General—exceptionally skilled in martial arts, a rare military talent, and astonishing in command."

"But… Zhong Ling fought Qin Feng twice. The first time, he nearly got annihilated and fled in panic. The second time, he was slain by Qin Feng's Little Marquis with a single spear—unbelievable."

Liu Hongyan, who had previously believed Qin Feng barely defeated Zhong Ling, now learned he'd lied—and instead of anger, she felt delighted: "What? My Feng'er is this heroic?"