Chapter 15: Moody (Part 1)

Upon seeing Dai Ning, Du Tian couldn’t help but feel her heart sink.

Ever since she arrived in this world, luck had followed her like a charm; she’d found two ginseng roots on a mountain, secretly sold them for money, and finally brought some comfort to her and her mother’s life. Du Tian kept quiet, telling no one.

But there was one source of frustration: every attempt she made to get closer to Zhao Yu was almost always thwarted by Ji Dai Ning. Even with her patience, Du Tian couldn’t help but feel a bit of anger whenever she saw Dai Ning.

Her face filled with a mixture of frustration and urgency as she said, “Miss Ji, I’m only trying to help. If Zhao’s father doesn’t receive treatment, who knows what will happen? Normally, I’d tolerate your antics, but this time you’re blocking me from saving a life. What if it worsens his condition?”

She glanced at Zhao Yu, hoping he’d back her up.

Zhao Yu frowned at Dai Ning, completely surprised by her return; he had thought she had left the village for good.

“Du Tian is right,” he said. “Miss Ji, don’t make trouble.”

It wasn’t that Zhao Yu entirely trusted Du Tian, but with the village doctor saying there was no hope for his father, she was the only remaining glimmer of hope.

Du Tian was elated, masking her joy as she moved to enter Zhao’s father’s room to examine him.

Dai Ning, fiddling with her flower lantern, gave her bodyguards an order: “Hold her back.”

The bodyguards immediately blocked Du Tian, whose expression changed. “Ji Dai Ning, what are you doing?”

Not only was Du Tian irritated, but even Zhao Yu’s face darkened. He could normally tolerate her behavior, but this was different. His father’s life was at stake, and here Dai Ning was, treating it like a game.

Dai Ning noticed the loathing in Zhao Yu’s eyes.

For the first time, he looked at her with such hatred, so reminiscent of the way he had looked at her in a past life.

This whole time, Zhao Yu had been kind to her, but now, he seemed ready to tear her apart. This abrupt shift in his attitude made Dai Ning feel indignant.

In her mind, Zhao Yu was no more than an ant, and she disliked that kind of look in his eyes.

Even Zhao Ping, who would usually blush when speaking to her, came over and stood beside his brother, clenching his fists like a little wolf cub.

“Wicked woman!”

Six-year-old Zhao An’an, clinging to the door frame, looked at her with pitiful confusion.

As long as she achieved her goal, Dai Ning couldn’t care less about falling out with them.

Yet, if the entire village came to hate her this much, she wondered if she’d make it back home alive. Ants, after all, could bring down an elephant, especially when supported by the fates of the male and female leads. The outcome was hard to predict.

Dai Ning mentally chastised herself for being careless. She should have stayed put rather than returning to the village for fun. Had she detained Du Tian the moment she arrived, Zhao’s father’s fate would have been sealed, and none of this would have happened.

Dai Ning’s gaze softened, and she chuckled lightly, “Don’t think that of me! I’m not here to cause trouble. Uncle Qian, go check on Zhao Yu’s father.”

Following her command, Uncle Qian headed inside.

Zhao Yu’s brows remained furrowed as he glanced over at her, unsure of her intentions. Dai Ning explained, “Uncle Qian is our family’s physician. He’s exceptionally skilled, with a doctorate and extensive experience. He’s seen all kinds of rare and difficult illnesses. He’s far more qualified than a half-trained doctor like Du Tian.”

Du Tian’s face fell at these words. It felt as though something significant, something that was supposed to be hers, had been taken away.

Still, she didn’t want to give up so easily. “Zhao Yu!”

Zhao Yu thought carefully. If what Dai Ning said was true, then Uncle Qian was indeed more reliable than Du Tian. After all, he had lived near Du Tian for so long and had never seen her treat anyone.

Dai Ning was certainly unpredictable, but she was of noble status, and it made sense she’d have a skilled doctor with her.

Having come to this conclusion, Zhao Yu said to Du Tian, “Let’s wait and see what Dr. Qian finds out first.”

For the next half hour, Uncle Qian requested various medications, making Du Tian feel anxious; they were the same herbs she had planned to use! If Dai Ning’s man managed to save Zhao’s father, would Zhao Yu ever be able to turn his back on her?

Zhao Yu stood guard outside the room, tense and watchful.

The entire family remained on edge until Zhao’s father’s convulsions ceased and his breathing stabilized.

Zhao Yu rushed inside, and seeing his father’s ashen face finally regaining color, he confirmed that the worst was over.

Uncle Qian stepped outside and bowed slightly, “Miss, the danger has passed.”

“Sigh,” Dai Ning murmured, pretending to be troubled.

The man was saved after all. Zhao’s father’s survival wasn’t ideal for her—if he kept falling ill, she’d have to keep Du Tian in check, unable to leave herself. How troublesome.

But she wasn’t foolish enough to voice her thoughts. Zhao An’an, timid yet happy, tugged on her finger and said, “Thank you, Miss.”

Dai Ning playfully flicked her forehead. “Silly child.”

Zhao Ping also looked embarrassed. He had just angrily called her a “wicked woman,” but now it was thanks to her that his father had been saved. Hesitating, he seemed unsure of what to do.

Since leaving wasn’t an option for the moment, Dai Ning decided to make herself comfortable.

With a mischievous smile, she winked at Du Tian, who was seething. Now that she hadn’t been the one to save Zhao’s father, Du Tian seemed out of place, an unnecessary presence.

“Zhao Yu,” she said, “since your father’s all right, I’ll head back for now. My mother and I will visit him another day.”

Zhao Yu was currently following Uncle Qian’s advice, feeding his father water. He looked up briefly and replied, “Alright.”

When Zhao Yu finally came out, he found Dai Ning sitting in the living room, enjoying a skewer of candied strawberries.

The elegant lantern she had carried lay on the table, while outside, twenty or so people were waiting. Some held various flower lanterns, and others carried boxes of sweets and gifts, awaiting her instructions.

Dai Ning crunched on her snack with satisfaction and said, “Now do you believe me?”

Zhao Yu murmured, “Thank you.”

“No need for empty thanks,” she propped her chin up. “You should repay me.”

Zhao Yu, feeling relieved now, nodded. “What would you like?”

A spark of interest lit Dai Ning’s face. “I’ve been walking all day, and my legs are sore. Massage them for me.”

Zhao Yu raised his gaze to meet hers.

Dai Ning gave a huff and tossed the skewer stick in his direction. “After the way you treated me just now, I didn’t even get mad. And now you won’t even give me a little massage?”

Zhao Yu replied, “…As long as Zhao Ping and An’an don’t see.”

Dai Ning beamed with delight. “Fine, come to my room then.”

She turned to Uncle Qian and Zhang Yongfeng and instructed, “Move my belongings to the village chief’s house. This tiny place can’t fit them all—don’t damage anything.”

Uncle Qian awkwardly glanced at Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu remained expressionless.

Not wanting to defy the young miss, Uncle Qian and Zhang Yongfeng took her things and left with their crew.

Dai Ning sat excitedly on the bed, swinging her delicate legs as she urged, “Zhao Yu, Zhao Yu!”

Zhao Yu closed the door and knelt down calmly in front of her.

The young lady wore her crystal lake shoes; upon closer inspection, the “flowing lake water” effect was actually made of tiny, smooth beads, and the shell was faux plastic. Plus, she was clean and fragrant—likely carried all day without walking at all.

The skill of talking nonsense with her eyes wide open was quite something.

Zhao Yu squatted in front of her, noticeably shorter. Dai Ning looked at him with satisfaction; this posture suited him well. By the time she met him in her past life, he was already a shrewd man and, later, the all-powerful CEO Zhao, who would never lower himself to anyone like this.

She lifted her chin. “Massage my legs.”

Zhao Yu asked, “Weren’t you supposed to be gone? Why did you come back?”

She looked innocently, “I went to see the lantern festival. The town was shabby, but the festival was fun. Zhang Yongfeng guessed several riddles right on the lanterns. You talk too much. Massage.”

The man looked at her with his dark eyes for two seconds and then started massaging her legs as she commanded.

Her skirt was adorned with large blooming roses, which only she could pull off. The hem reached her knees, and underneath she wore safety shorts.

Her legs were beautifully shaped—slender, fair, and straight. Her ankle was even slimmer than his wrist, though not overly thin, perfectly balanced and appealingly soft.

Zhao Yu wasn’t familiar with what’s called “legs that could go on forever,” but he thought if Dai Ning hadn’t been born into privilege, she would’ve ended up as some rich man’s plaything.

That “plaything” suddenly retracted her leg, kicking his shoulder.

“Hey! You hurt me!”

She didn’t hold back her strength. Her shoes had heels, and the kick to his shoulder made Zhao Yu groan.

Zhao Yu pursed his lips, “Ji Dai Ning!”

Dai Ning said, “I told you to massage my legs. What were you spacing out about? You hurt me, so I kicked you! Even Zhang Yongfeng’s massages feel better than yours.”

Dai Ning thought he was so clueless—how did he ever become the male lead?

Zhao Yu closed his eyes briefly, then stood up, knowing that her sugar-coated words often hid a sting, and refrained from responding.

“Ask Zhang Yongfeng to do it for you, then.”

With that, he opened the door and left.

Dai Ning watched his back, feeling baffled. Zhao Yu was suddenly so petty—what’s gotten into him?

—

Zhao Yu’s father had just overcome a crisis, but the next day, it was Du Tian’s mother, Du Yuexiang, who met with misfortune.

Du Yuexiang and Du Tian were down by the stream doing laundry when a wild boar from the mountain came down for water.

Wild boars can be ferocious, and it chased Du Yuexiang down the slope.

Seeing things go south, Du Tian ran back for help immediately, tears in her eyes as she cried, “Brother Zhao Yu, something happened to my mom. Please help save her!”

After listening to her account, Zhao Yu said without hesitation, “Let’s go.”

For years, the villagers refrained from hunting wild animals, so there hadn’t been any incidents involving wildlife attacks. It was likely just Du Yuexiang’s bad luck to encounter a pregnant wild boar.

Dai Ning, who had been eating breakfast, couldn’t help but remark, “Why did the wild boar only chase your mom and not you? Besides, can Zhao Yu really fight off a wild boar?”

The young lady’s probing question made Du Tian’s face flush with anger.