Lin Feilu got up slowly and held the bowl of fruit in her hand. Just as she planned to go over to eat while watching the parrot, she heard a loud thump from outside, followed by Ran Ye’s screams.
Lin Feilu was stunned for a moment before she quickly took a few steps to open the jade door.
There was a patio outside with a white jade screen placed in the middle of the patio. However, at present, the jade screen had fallen to the ground and was torn apart. Ran Ye laid on the broken scraps of jade, holding his head as he screamed. The man standing in front of him was dressed in black with a lock of black hair that was neatly combed and tied. He used his fists to punch the boy on the ground.
Lin Feilu didn’t recognise the man’s figure, so she only shouted sharply, “Stop!”
Ran Ye suddenly shouted when he heard her voice, “Princess, save me! Ah-“
The man didn’t stop because of Lin Feilu’s words. Instead, he beat him even harder.
Lin Feilu placed the fruit bowl on the ground and rushed over to try to pull the person away. She rushed to the front, but when she saw the side profile of the assaulter, she was shocked, “Xi Xingjiang?! It’s you?!”
Ran Ye was tugged from behind and dragged into the courtyard just now, so he couldn’t see who was beating him at all. When he heard the words ‘Xi Xingjiang’, his screams suddenly became lodged in his throat as he became scared even to make any noise.
Xi Xingjiang grabbed his collar and lifted Ran Ye up, but he turned his head to look at Lin Feilu as he laughed, “Little Bean, long time no see.”
Lin Feilu was speechless, “When did you return to the capital? And why are you beating him up?!”
Xi Xingjiang still wore the same playful smile, “Just arrived last night.”
Ran Ye shivered under his hands, and Lin Feilu couldn’t stand it any longer, “You let him go first. Why are you beating him?”
Only then did Xi Xingjiang look down at Ran Ye, whose nose was bruised by the aggressive beating. He sneered, raised his hand and patted his face, “Even someone like you crave for swan meat when you’re merely a toad(1)?”
(T/N: Refers to one dreaming or fantasizing about something out of reach. I assume that Ran Ye likes Lin Feilu, but was halted by Xi Xingjiang as their ranks were too different— or maybe there’s a love triangle going on, who knows)
Ran Ye’s pupils dilated a little before he looked away in a flash.
Xi Xingjiang put him on the ground ruthlessly. Then, he stood up and brushed his fingers before looking at him condescendingly, “Scram and leave, get as far away as you can possibly be from me; if I ever see you again…”
Before he even finished speaking, Ran Ye had already gotten up and ran away.
Lin Feilu felt a bit troubled as Xi Xingjiang came over with a face full of glee. He looked up and down at her and raised his eyebrows, “Why are you still so short?”
Lin Feilu, “???”
She jumped, “I’ve grown taller!!!”
Xi Xingjiang held out his hand, “But I think I’m still looking at you with the same angle as I did before.”
Lin Feilu was so angry that she wanted to step on his foot, “That’s because you’ve grown taller too, you idiot!!!”
He sneered and before she could react, he quickly reached out and touched the top of her head. After patting her lightly, he said with regret, “Without the little side buns, the feeling is not as nice anymore.”
Lin Feilu swatted his hand away and pointed at the cracked jade, “You should pay for these!”
Xi Xingjiang pretended to be a coward, “If I have to pay, I will pay— this Young Master has the funds after all.”