Chapter 40 (1/2)

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Madman And Dog

Zhao Xiaobao's departure left Li Chengfeng miserable and depressed. The two handmaidens who brought him medicine were unlucky enough for him to vent his anger on them. He flung the medicine out of the door, causing everywhere to smell of pungent herbs.

“Out! Get out now!”

There was a loud flurry of furious yelling and gla.s.s shattering from the study.

The two handmaidens looked at each other, pitying the other handmaiden who was escaping out of the room.

“What's up with Young Master?”

“Yeah, I've never seen him like this before?”

“I'm afraid it's because of Xiaobao?”

“Sigh, why did Madam have to kick Xiaobao out anyway?”

“Shh, shut up!” A handmaiden gave her a look and they all turned.

“What's the matter?” Green Bead walked over with the newcomer, Su Yuehan.

The lead handmaiden curtsied slightly, “Sister Green Bead, Young Master… is throwing a tantrum.”

The plumper handmaiden quickly added, “Yeah, he broke three bottles of medicine.”

The last, short handmaiden said, “We're down to our last bottle, we'll have to get new ones if he breaks that too.”

Green Bead furrowed her brows slightly and sighed. She had been in the Li family longer than Zhao Xiaobao, and treated him like her own little brother. She did not know why Madam must kick him out. Why must she make him leave? Was it really a warning to all of them? Even Green Bead, with more than a decade of friends.h.i.+p with Madam Xie, could not convince Madam Xie to change her mind despite her desperate pleas. All she could do was secretly stuff some of her savings in Xiaobao's hand when he left.

She took the last medicine bottle and said, “Give it to me.” Before she took it, a gentle voice said, “Sister Green Bead, what about I do it?”

Green Bead turned to look at Su Yuehan incredulously. Su Yuehan lowered her head respectfully, “Sister Green Bead, let me try. If I fail, at least you can come in and turn things around in the end.”

Green Bead smiled. “You're smart. Alright, you go.”

Su Yuehan took the bottle of medicine and inhaled slightly. She focused her attention as she walked into the study. She knew that even if it was her 'first time' meeting him, the first impression was incredibly important. She must gain his trust as soon as possible and become one of his closest confidants. Zhao Xiaobao's departure had given her an amazing opportunity for that!

She had conquered the hearts of counts and kings with all sorts of trickery and deceit. With all kinds of magic at her disposal, she believed that as long as she worked hard, this mysterious boy would be wrapped around her finger!

However…. Su Yuehan never would have expected that when she confidently stepped into the room…. It was empty.

Su Yuehan stared at the opened windows, stunned. While she was very skilled, she still needed the man to be here!

He was just here! Where did that punk go now?!

Gritting his teeth in pain, Li Chengfeng limped out of his study, then went straight to his father, whom he usually never wanted to talk to, for help.

Li Chengfeng knew his mother loved his father very much. If he could convince his father to help beg for mercy, she might change her mind.

But the problem was… his father was only sane for short periods of time. Ever since he was young, he could only remember a few circ.u.mstances when his father had his wits about him. It didn't help that these years, the number of psychotic episodes only increased.

A conscious Li Chun could move his mother to tears just from a few normal sentences; a mad Li Chun could enrage his mother to her limits.

Zhao Xiaobao's fate was now tied to his father's sanity.

Li Chengfeng privately prayed to the heavens as he carefully stepped into the backyard.

The Li family's backyard and front yard were separated. People did not usually go there because it was Li Chun's private s.p.a.ce. Madam Xie was the only one to go there sometimes. She would sit there in silence, reminiscing past good times with Li Chun.

Upon entering the backyard, he saw Li Chun sitting under a paG.o.da tree. His head was lowered, unmoving, as if he was asleep. An old yellow dog lay next to him, the fur around its ears and on its head were white. It had accompanied Li Chun for more than a decade already, through both sanity and insanity.

This dog lay quietly by his side. It perked up its ears when it heard movement, looking up only to see Li Chengfeng. It whined happily, then lay back down.

Li Chengfeng crept up slowly, craning his neck to check on this father only to hear Li Chun speak in a low voice, “Your att.i.tude has been getting worse by the day!”

Li Chengfeng was startled, though it was good news. Father seems to be… conscious!

“Father?” Li Chengfeng probed cautiously.

“Hmm?” There was a rare dignity and seriousness in the tone. “You're here to speak to me?”

Li Chengfeng usually did not treat his father with much respect. How could one expect him to be filled with reverence and respect towards a madman? He often felt utterly embarra.s.sed whenever his father went around the city throwing their name into the gutter.

Yet at this moment, he felt very nervous. “Father, you're very smart to predict that your son will be coming to visit you.”