Wen Ning couldn’t help tugging at the corner of her lips, looking at him with absurd amusement. “Chief Fang, if I’m not mistaken, this is the main gate. Anyone has the right to pass through.”
“Still arguing!” Fang Wu clenched his fists tightly. “Who knows if you deliberately timed it to ‘coincidentally’ meet the young lady here!”
Wen Ning prided herself on her composure, but even she rolled her eyes, too lazy to argue further. Instead, she turned to Chen Wuyou. “The acne on your face is quite severe. If it isn’t treated properly soon, it may be difficult to heal—and even if it does, it will leave scars.”
Acne—what modern people call pimples.
No wonder Chen Wuyou wore a veil even at home. It was to hide her face covered in blemishes.
The maid who had just shouted at them to leave grew angry. “What do you know! Our young lady has already been receiving treatment!”
But it hadn’t improved at all—what could they do?
To her, Wen Ning’s words sounded like cruel mockery, deliberately provoking their young lady.
Wen Ning raised her brows slightly, speaking calmly. “If she’s been treated all this time yet still looks like this, then your methods are inadequate.”
“You…” The maid’s face darkened with fury.
But Chen Wuyou, crouched on the ground, froze. She lifted her head, gazing at Wen Ning pitifully, her eyes soft and innocent like a little rabbit—yet filled with fear and unease. “You… you say this because you know how to treat it?”
Wen Ning rather liked Chen Wuyou. In this household, she was one of the few who treated her kindly. Such a good girl, suffering from a face full of acne—it was truly pitiable. If she could, Wen Ning genuinely wanted to help. Besides, a thought had flashed through her mind earlier: if she could cure Chen Wuyou’s acne, she might gain Chen Jinfeng’s trust.
And if she dared think bigger—if Chen Jinfeng owed her this favor, she could secure his support. Then not only would leaving the Protector’s household be easier, but her future life and ambitions in Fenglin City would benefit greatly.
So she nodded. “Yes. Once the root cause is found, eliminating acne isn’t difficult.”
“Nonsense!” Fang Wu strode quickly between Wen Ning and Chen Wuyou, his eyes full of warning. “Lady Wen, you’ll say anything just to get close to the young lady! Even Physician Huo’s prescriptions couldn’t cure her face. Where do you get the confidence to claim you can?”
“You don’t have to believe me.” Wen Ning smirked. “After all, I’m not the one suffering from acne.”
“You…”
“Fang Wu!” Chen Wuyou, who had been crouching, suddenly stood up. She ran toward Wen Ning, her eyes brimming with desperate hope. “You… you really can cure my face?”
Fang Wu was stunned, almost at a loss. “Young lady, this must be just an excuse she’s using to get close to you…”
“Excuses can be made, but no one dares claim they can cure an illness without skill.”Wen Ning shot him an annoyed glance. If not for her own ulterior motives, she wouldn’t have wasted words on them. “You all have eyes. Whether I truly have the ability—time will tell.”
“You actually intend to treat the young lady’s face?!”
Fang Wu’s brows knitted tightly. “How could we possibly allow you to do anything to her…”
“Fang Wu, stop talking!”For the first time, Chen Wuyou found his nagging unbearably irritating.
Fang Wu, scolded by the usually gentle and kind young lady, looked utterly incredulous.
Chen Wuyou turned back to Wen Ning, biting her lip, her reddened eyes full of pitiful longing. “You truly can cure my face? You’re not lying to me?”
Wen Ning’s lips curved faintly. She resisted the urge to reach out and pat her head. “If you’re willing to trust me.”
“I… I trust you!” Chen Wuyou declared eagerly, without hesitation.
At this point, not only Fang Wu but even the maids around Chen Wuyou looked shocked. “Young lady!”
“Don’t say anything more. My mind is made up—I want to try!”
Though Chen Wuyou’s nature was gentle, she had grown up following her brothers in their struggles for power. When it came time to make a decision, she was never vague.
She bit her lip, her voice soft and pitiful, stirring sympathy. “For the past half year, the acne on my face has only worsened. I’ve tried countless remedies, but nothing works. If it continues, I won’t dare show myself to anyone! As long as there’s a way to restore my face, I’m willing to do anything!”
Those who knew her understood—once she spoke like this, there was no changing her mind. But how could they truly allow her to take such a risk?
Fang Wu clenched his teeth and said: “Young lady, this matter is too important. It must first be reported to the Protector.”
Seeing his uncompromising expression, Chen Wuyou realized this was his greatest concession. She pressed her lips together. “Very well. I’ll persuade Second Brother myself!”
With that, she suddenly grabbed Wen Ning’s hand and pulled her forward.
“I remember Second Brother has already returned today. I’ll go to him now!”
The others were stunned, then hurried to follow.
Fang Wu, flustered, said as he walked: “Young lady, wait! The Protector is meeting with Fourth Young Master and Mister Xu right now…”
“No matter. Lady Wen and I will wait outside!”
Wen Ning looked at Chen Wuyou, surprised at her firm determination. So she wasn’t just a simple little white rabbit—she was a rabbit with remarkable initiative.
As Chen Wuyou pulled her along, Wen Ning discreetly placed two fingers on her wrist to feel her pulse, her brows knitting slightly.
By chance, just as they reached Chengfeng Pavilion, Chen Jinbai and Xu Jiusi came out. Chen Jinbai’s face lit up at seeing his sister, but when he noticed who she was dragging along, his expression soured instantly. What—how had these two ended up together?!
Chen Wuyou, however, was delighted. “Fourth Brother, have you finished your discussion with Second Brother?”
“Yes, Wuyou, but you…”
Before Chen Jinbai could finish, Chen Wuyou pulled Wen Ning straight inside Chengfeng Pavilion, leaving him staring wide‑eyed, while Xu Jiusi raised a brow with amused interest.
Chen Jinbai quickly stopped Fang Wu, who was following behind, and demanded urgently: “Fang Wu, what is going on?! Why is Wuyou suddenly dragging that Wen woman to see Second Brother?!”
Meanwhile, inside the study, Chen Jinfeng had already sensed the commotion outside. His hand, which had been pressing his temple, paused. He turned his head, as if expecting it, toward the door where two slender shadows suddenly appeared.
Chen Wuyou stood with Wen Ning before the study door and called softly:
“Second Brother, do you have a moment? I have something I wish to tell you.”