“Big Sister! My surname is Leng, and my name is Leng Xingchen. I’m eleven years old this year. I’m the son of Leng Yao, the master of Xingyao Manor. My mother died giving birth to me. Three years ago, my father remarried. My stepmother soon became pregnant and gave birth to a son.
“Since I’m the eldest son, the manor was supposed to be inherited by me. My stepmother wanted her own son to inherit it instead, so she had me kidnapped. While escaping, I fell off a cliff. Fortunately, I survived, but I lost my memory. I only recently recovered my memories, so I planned to return to the manor and ask my father to uphold justice for me.”
Shen Qingyao looked Leng Xingchen up and down.
He was already eleven years old, yet he didn’t look it at all.
Judging by his height, he looked more like an eight- or nine-year-old.
Seeing how little more than skin and bones he was, Shen Qingyao immediately understood why.
It was the result of never having enough to eat, never having enough to wear, and growing up malnourished.
His name was quite nice, though.
Leng Xingchen.
Why did that name sound so much like the name of a novel’s male protagonist?
Even his life story sounded like one.
A mother who died in childbirth.
A useless father.
A vicious stepmother.
A younger half-brother coveting the position of manor master.
Kidnapped, losing his memory…
Wasn’t this the classic tragic, handsome, and powerful male lead setup?
Had she somehow transmigrated into some male-oriented web novel?
Could the boy standing before her be the protagonist who would eventually rise to power and take revenge?
The thought almost made her laugh.
Of course, whether this world was actually inside a novel, she had no idea.
And even if it was, she certainly didn’t remember reading one like this.
Looking at Leng Xingchen seriously, Shen Qingyao poured cold water over his expectations.
“Do you really think that if you go back, your father will stand up for you?”
She wasn’t overthinking it.
As the master of a manor, he hadn’t even been able to protect his own son.
Had his father really known nothing?
Or had he simply pretended not to know?
That was hard to say.
Leng Xingchen froze.
In truth, he had wondered the same thing.
Did his father really know nothing about his stepmother having him kidnapped?
Or had his father also decided that a son without a mother was no longer of any use?
That if he died, then so be it?
After all, his stepmother came from a much more influential family than his birth mother.
But he didn’t want to think of his biological father that way.
Even if he suspected it, he wanted proof before reaching a conclusion.
“I don’t know,” Leng Xingchen admitted. “But I still have to go back. I want to ask Father whether he really knew about my stepmother’s plan… whether he really abandoned me.”
As he spoke, his eyes reddened, and his thin, frail body trembled slightly.
Shen Qingyao shook her head.
A child was still a child.
No matter how mature he seemed, his thinking was still too innocent.
Not all parents loved their children.
Some parents could come to hate their own children over a single matter.
“If I were you, I definitely wouldn’t do that,” Shen Qingyao said. “You don’t even have the ability to protect yourself right now. Going back would just be walking into a trap. Whether your father knew or not, your stepmother will never let you go.”
Leng Xingchen looked up at her with red-rimmed eyes, his face full of hope.
“Big Sister… what should I do?”
He trusted Shen Qingyao with all his heart.
To him, the young woman before him was far more worthy of trust than even his own father.
The way he looked at her made Shen Qingyao feel a little uncomfortable.
She coughed lightly, picked up a mouthful of noodles, and took a bite.
Only after swallowing did she continue.
“How about this? I’ll give you two martial arts manuals. Start practicing from now on. Once you’re strong enough to protect yourself, then return to the manor. Investigate what really happened when you were kidnapped. Find out whether it was entirely your stepmother’s plan, or whether your father was involved as well.”
“Big Sister, I’ll listen to everything you say.”
Leng Xingchen nodded without the slightest hesitation.
He felt that she was right.
Before he had the strength to protect himself, he couldn’t act recklessly.
Not only would he fail to get revenge, he might even drag her into danger.
That was the last thing he wanted.
If he died, it wouldn’t matter.
But Big Sister absolutely couldn’t come to any harm.
His cheeks flushed slightly as he looked at Shen Qingyao shyly.
“Big Sister… could you take me in? I can do anything.”
His clear eyes were filled with pleading, hoping she would let him stay.
Looking into those eyes, Shen Qingyao simply couldn’t bear to refuse.
Besides, she had already decided that if Leng Xingchen asked to stay…
She would agree.
“Fine,” she said. “But don’t expect to live here for free.”
Keeping a straight face, she gave her answer.
Leng Xingchen immediately nodded and solemnly promised,
“Big Sister, don’t worry. I can do anything, and I’ll never cause you any trouble.”
“Remember what you just said.”
Shen Qingyao leisurely slurped another mouthful of noodles.
“I will, Big Sister.”
Leng Xingchen nodded earnestly.
After they finished eating, Leng Xingchen voluntarily washed the bowls and chopsticks.
Meanwhile, Shen Qingyao carried the bedding back into the carriage and made sure to completely extinguish the fire.
What if it started a forest fire?
When Leng Xingchen returned, Shen Qingyao handed him the horsewhip.
“Do you know how to drive a carriage?”
“Yes, Big Sister.”
Leng Xingchen nodded.
He was very grateful that when he was younger, he had learned carriage driving from one of the coachmen.
Although three years had passed, he still remembered how.
“Then you’ll be responsible for driving from now on. There’s no need to hurry. We’ll take our time.”
With that, Shen Qingyao climbed into the carriage.
Wonderful.
Now she didn’t have to drive herself anymore.
Although her skin wouldn’t tan, she still didn’t feel like sitting under the sun all day.
Seeing the sun once in a while was enough.
Holding the horsewhip, Leng Xingchen couldn’t help smiling.
This was wonderful.
Although Big Sister seemed cold on the outside, she was truly kind-hearted.
He had to work hard and never become a burden.
He wanted her to know that keeping him had been the right decision.
Sitting outside the carriage, Leng Xingchen gently tapped the horse’s hindquarters with the whip.
The horse stretched its strong legs and began moving forward.
After traveling for half a day, the two arrived at a small town.
Just before entering the town, Shen Qingyao lifted the carriage curtain and asked,
“Xiao Chen, do you have a Household Registration?”
Xiao Chen…
Was this a special nickname that Big Sister had given him?
That made him incredibly happy.
Leng Xingchen nodded. Although he had been living as a beggar, he still had a Household Registration.
Back then, after he fell off the cliff, a kind elderly couple had rescued him. They had never been able to have children, so they raised him as if he were their own son.
They even registered a Household Registration for him with the local authorities. Unfortunately, a year ago, the elderly couple passed away one after the other.
That left him all alone.
Leng Xingchen was his real name, but the name on his Household Registration was Wang Linde.
It was the name his adoptive parents had given him. His adoptive father was Wang Shouren, and his adoptive mother was Lin Xiaoya.
They had both been wonderful people and had treated him extremely well. Whenever the family had anything good to eat, they always saved it for him.
Sadly, good people rarely lived long.
His adoptive mother died after a serious illness, and his adoptive father was unable to bear the blow. Not long afterward, he followed her in death.
“Elder Sister, the name on my Household Registration is Wang Linde. My adoptive parents gave me that name. It’s not my real name.”
“That’s fine. As long as you have a Household Registration, it doesn’t matter what name is written on it,” Shen Qingyao said as she lowered the carriage curtain and returned inside.
In fact, she thought it was better for him to use the name Wang Linde. It would serve as a cover. Other than herself, no one would know that Wang Linde was actually Leng Xingchen.
The carriage entered the town without any trouble.
This town was called Yunying City, a medium-sized town.
After entering the city, they found an inn and decided to stay there for one night before continuing their journey.
The sharp-eyed waiter spotted the carriage and immediately ran outside to greet them respectfully.
“Honored guests, are you here for a meal or lodging?”
Keeping a straight face, Leng Xingchen answered in a clear voice, “Lodging. One standard room and one lower-grade room.”
Shen Qingyao climbed down from the carriage with a bundle on her back. Hearing his words, she immediately said to the waiter, “Don’t listen to him. We want two standard rooms. Also, feed the horse.”
As she spoke, she handed the waiter five copper coins.
“Certainly! Please come inside, honored guests!” The waiter beamed with delight after receiving the tip.
He respectfully ushered them into the inn while leading the horse to a simple shed nearby, where he tied it up and prepared some feed.
The two of them walked into the inn.
The lively chatter inside instantly fell silent.
Everyone turned to look at Shen Qingyao, their eyes glued to her, unwilling to look away.
Shen Qingyao frowned slightly, but quickly regained her composure and pretended not to notice anything.
Leng Xingchen’s face, however, darkened.
Damn it!
What are they staring at? Is Elder Sister someone they have the right to look at?
Another waiter hurried over.
His eyes gleamed with calculation. Shen Qingyao knew he had seen her give the other waiter five copper coins outside.
He wanted a tip too.
Money was the one thing she didn’t lack. After all, she possessed wealth that could rival a nation.
It wouldn’t be fair to reward one waiter but not the other.
So she tossed him another five copper coins.
The waiter was overjoyed.
Smiling from ear to ear, he led the two of them to the front desk.
After Shen Qingyao paid, the innkeeper completed the registration.
The waiter then led them upstairs to the second floor and showed them two neighboring rooms.
“Honored guests, these are your rooms. You may decide among yourselves who stays where.”
After saying that, the waiter withdrew.
Standing at the door of one room, Shen Qingyao decided that she would stay there.
Then she pointed to the room next door.
“That room is yours.”
“Thank you, Elder Sister. Actually, I could have stayed in a lower-grade room,” Leng Xingchen said quietly.
He didn’t want Elder Sister to spend so much money on him. A lower-grade room was much cheaper. As long as he had somewhere to sleep, that was enough.
There was no need to waste money.
Looking at the boy with his head lowered, Shen Qingyao said helplessly, “I’m not short of money. The most important rule for staying by my side is obedience. Whatever I tell you, just listen.”
With that, she pushed open the door, entered her room, and closed it behind her.
Leng Xingchen looked at the tightly shut door, gratitude flashing through his eyes.
Elder Sister is so kind.
Whether it was food or lodging, she always gave him the best.
Although she always wore a cold expression, she was definitely someone with a cold exterior and a warm heart.
The moment the “cold on the outside, warm on the inside” Shen Qingyao returned to her room, she slipped into her Space.
She enjoyed a long, hot bath, feeling that after two days on the road, her whole body smelled unpleasant.
She was even starting to feel exhausted.
Although she had been riding in the carriage the entire way, being jostled around for hours on end was still tiring.
She poured herself a cup of Spiritual Spring Water.
After drinking it, she immediately felt refreshed and much lighter, leaving her very satisfied.
Using her mind, she searched through her Space for quite a while before finally finding two beginner martial arts manuals.
She had promised to give them to Leng Xingchen, and she had no intention of breaking that promise.
What she didn’t know was that people downstairs had already begun talking about her.
“That young lady just now was truly beautiful. Judging by her bearing, she definitely wasn’t raised by an ordinary family.”
“Li Ergou, you didn’t need to say that. But with a face that beautiful, she must be from out of town. If she were a local, she’d never dare walk around looking like that. What if Young Master Li took a fancy to her?”
“What do you mean ‘what if’? He’ll definitely take a fancy to her.”
“What a pity. Such a beautiful young lady being targeted by that playboy… she’s going to have terrible luck.”
…