With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Ah Chao's voice was low, as if he were asking a casual question.

But he stood there, only half a step away from her, his eyes fixed on her.

"What...what do you mean?"

Shen Nannan tilted her head back, trying her best to make her voice sound steady.

Ah Chao didn't say anything, he just looked at her.

"This servant is merely curious."

He lowered his eyes, resuming his respectful demeanor.

"The young lady is kind to others."

He looked at her, and spoke each word carefully.

"Is it because they are useful, or—"

Shen Nannan felt uneasy under his gaze.

"She's my sister. Is there a problem with me being nice to my family?"

"Family?" Ah Chao raised his eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Is her surname Shen, and is this servant's surname also Shen?"

He just stared at her, his lips twitching slightly—very slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Shen Nannan felt uneasy at this reaction.

"You..." She took a half step forward, trying to see his expression clearly, "What are you laughing at?"

Ah Chao took a step back.

"This servant did not laugh."

"You clearly smiled!"

"Miss, you've mistaken me."

Shen Nannan choked.

This person—

She glared at him, and he lowered his head, looking respectful.

This person's thoughts are really hard to fathom.

"Get out of my way," she said irritably. "I'm going to find my brother."

Ah Chao stepped aside, "Take care, Miss."

Shen Nannan walked past him, and after a few steps, she suddenly turned back.

He was still standing there, head down, lost in thought.

The sunlight shone on him, casting a long shadow.

She suddenly remembered the pair of embroidered shoes she had washed so clean last night.

A strange impulse suddenly welled up inside her.

"Ah Chao, you caught me pretty well just now."

He didn't speak.

She then asked, "Have you practiced?"

He paused for a moment: "...This servant used to work in the market, handling goods that fell off horses."

Shen Nannan almost burst out laughing.

Take the goods that fell off the horse?

This person doesn't even bother to think before they lie.

But she didn't call her out on it; she just nodded and said, "Oh, then if I fall again in the future, I'll have to rely on you."

"Yes, sir."

Shen Nannan looked at him like this and suddenly laughed.

"Ah Chao," she said, "do you know where your hands were just now?"

Ah Chao's eyes flickered slightly.

"Place it on the young lady's waist."

Shen Nannan raised an eyebrow: "Is that where you should put it?"

He was silent.

"This servant has overstepped his bounds," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Please punish me, Miss."

"Punishment?" she asked slowly. "How?"

Ah Chao didn't say anything.

Shen Nannan walked up to him.

They are very close.

She was so close she could smell his cool, refreshing scent.

She looked up at him, and he looked down at her.

Eyes facing each other.

Shen Nannan suddenly reached out and tapped his chest.

"Next time," she said, "you should hold on firmly and not let go halfway through."

He looked up.

"Just now," she paused, "thank you."

Ah Chao looked at her without saying a word.

After a moment, he lowered his eyes and said, "It's good that Miss is alright."

Shen Nannan stared at him for a few seconds.

Then, she suddenly laughed.

"Ah Chao".

"exist."

"What were you thinking about just now?" she deliberately slowed her speech.

Ah Chao looked up.

Something flashed across those unfathomable eyes.

"I was thinking," he said calmly, "that the young lady's waist is very slender."

Shen Nannan was stunned.

She had imagined what he might say—"Afraid that the young lady would fall," "Anxious to protect his mistress," "In a moment of panic."

But is this what he meant?

Her face flushed red.

Ah Chao looked at her bright red ears, lowered his eyes, and slightly curved the corners of his mouth.

It's very light.

So light it's almost invisible.

Shen Nannan looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"I received the shoes."

Ah Chao's eyes flickered slightly.

"It looks great," she continued, her tone light and cheerful. "It looks even better after it's washed."

After she finished speaking, she turned and left without waiting for his reaction.

Her steps were light and quick, her skirt swaying gently.

Ah Chao stood there, watching that figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

half an hour.

He looked down at his hands.

Then he clenched his fist and tucked it into his sleeve.

After walking quite a distance, Qiu Yu caught up, panting, "Miss, you're walking too fast! What happened just now? Why did that old woman suddenly stop moving?"

Shen Nannan was taken aback: "What? It's not moving?"

Qiu Yu gestured to the name: "That old woman, she was about to stop you, but suddenly she just stood there and didn't move, like she'd been struck on an acupoint. It was terrifying."

Shen Nannan stopped in her tracks.

She glanced back—Ah Chao was still following behind, a dozen steps away, still looking harmless.

But she knew.

The old woman didn't move just now because of him.

She suddenly remembered that in her past life, Xiao Yunzhao had the same look in his eyes before killing someone.

It's faint; you can't tell anything from it.

Then, in the next second, the person was gone.

Shen Nannan felt a chill on her back, then a bit hot.

The chilling thing is—this person was definitely not a kind soul from the start.

What's touching is—the way he looks at her, protecting her.

She didn't say anything more and continued walking forward.

Only the corner of his mouth curved slightly.

-

Shen Run was indeed still not up.

Shen Nannan asked the maid to announce that the young master had drunk too much last night and was sleeping soundly at the moment.

Without saying a word, Shen Nannan pushed the door open and went in.

The room reeked of alcohol. Shen Run was lying face down on the bed, the blanket kicked to the floor, revealing one leg.

"elder brother."

no response.

"elder brother!"

Still no response.

Shen Nannan walked to the bedside,

She took a deep breath, bent down, and whispered in his ear:

"Shen Run! Fire!"

"Where? Where? Where? Where?!"

Shen Run jumped out of bed with a start, his hair a mess, and he started touching his shoes before he even opened his eyes.

Shen Nannan stood by the bed, arms crossed, looking at him.

Shen Run froze for three seconds before finally recognizing her, then collapsed onto the bed.

"Darling! You scared me to death! I thought there was a real fire!"

"Not getting up?" Shen Nannan raised an eyebrow. "Then I'm leaving."

"No, no, no!" Shen Run scrambled to his feet, hastily throwing on his outer robe. "What does my sister want? Tell me! What do you want? Silver? Jewelry? Or do you want me to beat someone up?"

Looking at his behavior, Shen Nannan felt both sad and soft-hearted.

This person has always been like this since childhood. He gives her whatever she wants. He covers for her when she gets into trouble. He steps in to help when she bullies others.

I never ask why.

"Brother, I have something important to do."

Shen Run was taken aback: "What important matter? Who bullied you? Tell me, and I'll go beat him up!"

"Nobody's bullying me," Shen Nannan said, looking at him. "I want the key to the accounting office."

Shen Run blinked: "An accountant? What do you need that for?"

"I want to manage the accounts!"

Shen Run paused for three seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Nannan, what are you talking about? You can't even calculate your own monthly salary, what are you managing the accounts for?"

Shen Nannan didn't laugh.

Shen Run looked at her serious expression, and his smile slowly faded.

"Are you really going to get involved?"

"Um."

Why?

Shen Nannan looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

She couldn't tell the truth. She couldn't tell him that the second wife might have problems, that the money might have flowed to the Crown Prince, or that her father had died in his previous life.

He said that with his temperament, he could go straight to the second wife's house and drag Tong out for a confrontation.

"I want to learn," she said. "My parents aren't home, and I'm the legitimate daughter; I can't be completely ignorant."

Shen Run looked at her, and his expression suddenly changed.

No longer the carefree playboy, but the look of an older brother looking at his younger sister—serious, focused, and with a hint of inquiry.

"My dear," he said, "have you heard something?"

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat.

"What?"

Shen Run was silent for a moment, then lowered his voice: "Something's not right with the second wife's side. But I have no evidence, so I can't say anything."

Shen Nannan was stunned.

My brother...he already knew?

"You know?" she asked.

"I know a little bit." Shen Run scratched his head. "That woman, Tong, is obviously no pushover. But since Dad's not here, I can't just fall out with Second Uncle. Besides, I'm a spoiled brat; nobody would believe me getting involved in these things."

As he spoke, he suddenly laughed.

"But now it's all good, because I have you."

Shen Nannan looked at him.

I saw a fleeting clarity in his eyes, so different from usual.

She suddenly realized something.

Her brother was never a true playboy.

He was just—

Waiting for the right opportunity.

"Brother," she called softly.

"Um?"

Will you help me?

Shen Run reached out and ruffled her hair, making a mess of her hair bun.

"Nonsense. You're my sister, who else would I help if not you?"

Shen Nannan's eyes welled up with tears, and she lowered her head so he wouldn't see.

"Okay, my sister wants to learn, then she can learn." He stood up, patted his chest, and said, "What kind of account books do you need? I'll go get them for you!"

"The accountant won't give it to us."

Shen Run glared at him: "Not giving it? Who's not giving it?"

"Manager Tong."

Shen Run slammed his hand on the table: "He's gone too far! Come on, I'll take you!"

-

At the entrance to the accounting office, Steward Tong was basking in the sun with a teacup in his hand.

Seeing Shen Run approaching with Shen Nannan, he quickly stood up, a smile plastered on his face: "Young Master, Young Miss, what brings you two here?"

Without saying a word, Shen Run went up and kicked him in the leg.

Manager Tong screamed and immediately knelt on the ground.

"Young Master! What are you doing, Young Master!"

"What are you doing?" Shen Run looked down at him. "My sister wants the account books, why won't you give them to her?"

Steward Tong's face turned pale: "This...this is the rule. The accounts in the manor have always been managed by the second wife. If the eldest young lady wants to see them, she must first..."

"What do you mean, 'first'?" Shen Run kicked him again. "My father is the General Who Guards the North, and my sister is the eldest daughter of the principal wife. Do I need anyone's permission to look at an account book? Are you tired of living?"

Manager Tong lay on the ground groaning, not daring to utter a sound.

Shen Run turned around and waved to Shen Nannan: "Nannan, come in! Bring me whatever you need!"

Shen Nannan stood at the door, looking at her brother's bandit-like manner as he entered the village, and couldn't help but laugh.

It's good to be alive.

It's good that everyone is alive.

She stepped into the tent, then suddenly remembered something and looked back.

The other end of the corridor was empty; there wasn't a single person in sight.

When they came out of the accounting room, Shen Nannan was carrying a stack of account books, while Linglong followed behind carrying an even thicker stack.

Shen Run clapped his hands: "Alright, if anyone dares to stop you in the future, tell me, and I'll beat them up."

Shen Nannan looked at him, then suddenly reached out and hugged him.

Shen Run froze: "Nannan? What...what are you doing?"

"It's nothing." Shen Nannan let go of him and smiled. "Brother, you should drink less alcohol in the future."

Shen Run scratched his head: "Okay, I'll listen to my sister."