Zheng Yuanxi was furious, extremely furious!

Especially after hearing Jian Shuning’s weak explanation—

“Idiot! Someone tells you your mother is in the hospital and you just believe it? Why didn’t you call to verify first? Aren’t you afraid of falling for a scam?”

“I did call, but no one answered the home phone, and my dad’s cell phone was off…”

“Then why didn’t you wait for me to come back with you?”

“I was afraid it would be too late.”

“You… stupid girl, you’re driving me crazy! If I hadn’t been worried and followed you out of the supermarket, just in time to see you hurriedly jumping into a taxi, who would have come to save you? What would you have done if you encountered this kind of crazy stalker?”

“I know I was wrong, brother, don’t be angry…”

“How can I not be angry? Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier? I asked you why you came to Taipei, and you refused to say, even getting your parents to keep it a secret from me… And now, I have to clean up your mess!”

“I’m sorry.”

Seeing her brother so angry that he was about to explode, Jian Shuning could only admit her mistake.

But she also felt wronged. She hadn’t intentionally attracted Zhang Zicheng. Who would have known that just because she helped him pay for his meal one day when he forgot his wallet, and listened to him vent, he would become obsessed with her? He started stalking her at the shop, claiming to like her and wanting to get to know her better, but in reality, he was a terrifying stalker.

She had initially felt proud that a younger, handsome guy was pursuing her, but now she felt ashamed.

“You should feel ashamed! What do you think he sees in you? It’s just because you’re easy to bully!” Her brother’s words were harsh, not sparing her any dignity.

She was still a girl, after all! Just like any other girl, she was sensitive and delicate. Why did he have to be so merciless and make her feel so embarrassed?

That day, Jian Shuning was scolded until she was dizzy, wishing she could find a hole to hide in. She spent the afternoon at the police station giving her statement, and Zheng Yuanxi even hired a lawyer, scaring Zhang Zicheng so much that he promised never to bother her again.

Back home, Jian Shuning knew she had to make amends. She immediately went to the kitchen and made her brother’s favorite curry rice, along with a Caesar salad and an apple pie.

She stood at the dining table in her white apron, looking apologetic. “Brother, don’t be angry anymore. You must be hungry. Come eat.”

Zheng Yuanxi sat at the head of the table with a stern face, his arms crossed, looking like an ancient, cold-faced lord.

And she was the poor little maid.

“Master, please have your meal,” she said, playing along with the role.

Zheng Yuanxi almost choked, his cold eyes glaring at her.

She called him what? Master?

What was she thinking, playing cosplay games at a time like this?

“Master, today’s meal is all your favorites. Please try them. If you’re not satisfied, I’ll make them again…”

“You’re really getting into character, aren’t you?” Zheng Yuanxi’s sharp words cut through the air.

Jian Shuning shivered, her neck shrinking involuntarily, her eyelashes lowered, and her small, white hands clasped together in front of her, looking pitiful.

Anyone who saw her would think he was a cruel master bullying his maid.

This infuriating girl!

Zheng Yuanxi was annoyed and decided not to sympathize with her—why should he? She kept getting into trouble and making him clean up after her… Instead of being her maid, he felt more like her lady’s servant!

And when he saw Zhang Zicheng pressing her to the ground, ready to assault her, he felt like the world was about to collapse. His vision went black, and his rage burned away his reason.

He wanted to kill someone!

At that moment, he truly wanted to beat that guy until there wasn’t a single unbruised spot on his body!

Even now, recalling that violent thought made him shudder.

But she knew nothing about it, naively thinking that making a meal would smooth things over. This foolish girl needed a harsh lesson to learn how to protect herself! He couldn’t be by her side forever, and one day she would get married…

For some reason, thinking about this made Zheng Yuanxi feel even more gloomy.

Jian Shuning peeked at him from under her eyelashes, seeing his expression darken, and inwardly groaned.

This was bad, really bad. This time, her brother was truly angry!

What should she do?

Jian Shuning took a deep breath, mustering her courage, and then sweetly spoke up. “Master…” Seeing Zheng Yuanxi’s eyebrows furrow, she quickly corrected herself. “Brother…”

“Don’t call me brother!” Zheng Yuanxi slammed the table in anger.

The loud bang startled Jian Shuning, causing her to jump. She blinked her moist, round black eyes, looking at him with a pitiful expression.

He hardened his heart and stood up abruptly. “Jian Shuning, you need to reflect on your actions!”

With that, Zheng Yuanxi grabbed his car keys and stormed out the door like a whirlwind.

Jian Shuning stared blankly at his retreating figure, then looked at the untouched feast on the table. Her heart slowly twisted in pain.

It seemed… it hurt a little.

She slowly crouched down in a corner of the dining room, burying her face in her knees, and a tear fell.

From that day on, the two of them were in a cold war.

Zheng Yuanxi refused to acknowledge Jian Shuning, giving her no friendly looks. She could only obediently go straight to her room after work each day, deeply reflecting on her actions.

After a few days, she couldn’t take it anymore. After work, she invited Du Qingshuo to a Japanese restaurant for dinner and drinks, and poured out her complaints.

“Sister Qingshuo, tell me, isn’t my brother being too harsh? I’ve already apologized to him, what more does he want? Does he want me to kneel down and beg him?”

“Your brother is just worried about you,” Du Qingshuo said, defending Zheng Yuanxi. “You don’t know, that day when he couldn’t find you in the supermarket, he was really worried…”

Du Qingshuo paused, recalling the scene. Even she couldn’t have imagined seeing Zheng Yuanxi like that.

He claimed to be calm, but his actions said otherwise. He was restless, looking around anxiously, which made her tease him.

“Are you that worried about her? She’s an adult, nothing will happen to her.”

She still remembered Zheng Yuanxi’s embarrassed yet defensive expression at the time. “You don’t know, that girl Shuning… to put it nicely, she’s kind-hearted, but to put it bluntly, she’s dumb! A scatterbrain! If she gets kidnapped and sold, she wouldn’t even know it…”

“That won’t happen,” she laughed.

But Jian Shuning really did almost get into trouble. Later, when she heard about it, she couldn’t help but feel a chill.

Thinking about it, Du Qingshuo shook her head and gently advised Jian Shuning. “How did you get involved with a stalker? You really need to be more careful in the future!”

Jian Shuning was silent for a moment before sighing softly. “Yes, I know, this time… it really was my fault, but…”

She still felt wronged. “I know my brother is doing this for my own good, but does he have to scold me so harshly? He hasn’t spoken to me for days, not a single word… Every morning, I get up early to make breakfast for him, and in the evening, I specially cook his favorite dishes… He acts like he doesn’t see it, leaving me to eat all that food by myself, I’m so full I could burst…”

After a bottle of sake, she felt like crying, her heart filled with grievances.