Chapter 214: Why have you become so old-fashioned

Her eyes directly fixed on this side, she bore a noticeable trace of anger.

Seeing this, Pei Dongshi pushed Nan Jiaojiao and whispered, “Go now.”

Nan Jiaojiao stumbled forward, nearly falling, her half-lowered eyelashes just catching the sight of Jiang Yu squeezing the pipe tightly.

She steadied herself and walked over, reaching out with both hands.

“Master, please go ahead and hit me.”

Jiang Yu’s eyes twitched, “What do you mean by this?

Do you think a beating will just let you off the hook for this matter?”

Nan Jiaojiao pursed her lips, “I was wrong.”

Jiang Yu narrowed his eyes suspiciously, “I always said Shen Shichu was no good, but you insisted on being with him.

Now after taking a fall, you know to come back!”

“Yes, you were right, he’s no good.

I won’t have anything to do with him anymore.”

Jiang Yu was taken aback several times.

Nan Jiaojiao, with her eyes low and pleasing, did not argue back.

A bellyful of curses was stuck in her throat, clogging uncomfortably.

Jiang Yu glared at Pei Dongshi, “Did you teach her this?”

Pei Dongshi coughed, “Is it possible, that she figured it out herself?”

“Is that so?”

Jiang Yu snorted coldly.

She laughed briefly, a laughter filled with a faint trace of chill.

Nan Jiaojiao, still bowing her head, spread her hands, “Please hit me, hit me more, so I can become clearer.”

“I can’t be bothered!

Hitting you would only make my hands hurt!”

Jiang Yu sat down, pointing at them with the pipe, “Sit down yourselves.”

Pei Dongshi hurriedly pulled Nan Jiaojiao over to sit down on a pear wood chair each.

On the small table between them, two cups of tea were placed in blue and white porcelain cups, the covers slightly revealing their corners, the aroma of tea filling the air.

Pei Dongshi took one cup, blew on the tea leaves floating on top, and lightly sipped.

Nan Jiaojiao did not move.

“All I have here is tea.

Drink if you like, leave if you won’t!” Jiang Yu cursed.

Nan Jiaojiao’s hand trembled as she picked up the tea cup, lifted the lid, her brows pausing slightly.

It was milk tea.

Pei Dongshi saw it too and laughed jokingly, “Master, you forgave her long ago.

You’ve waited so long for her to come; if you really send her away, next time it will be you who have to coax her.”

“Who cares!” Jiang Yu snorted, glancing at Nan Jiaojiao, then looked away, her voice faltering, “I wasn’t begging her to come.”

The voice had softened considerably.

Pei Dongshi tried to smooth things over, “Alright, what about the pastries you prepared for Jiaojiao?

I’ll go fetch them.”

Jiang Yu pointed towards the kitchen.

Pei Dongshi gently pressed Nan Jiaojiao’s shoulder, “Be good, I’ll be away for a bit, don’t quarrel with Master.”

Nan Jiaojiao nodded her head, watching him walk away, then turned back to face Jiang Yu.

The Master was a typical woman from Jiangnan, with a sharp face, long eyebrows, small lips, half-lowered eyes, an indomitable languor and nobility in her bones, her hair done up in a classical style, secured at the back of her head with a wooden pin.

Lines had formed at the corners of her eyes, but the beauty of her youth was still underlying, though some white hairs had appeared amongst her temples.

Nan Jiaojiao felt a warmth in her eyes, “Master, it’s only been three years, how have you aged so much?”

“…”

There was a loud clatter.

The gardener, having accidentally dropped a watering can, stayed only for a moment before quickly drying the water, gathering his things, and hurrying away.

Jiang Yu’s pipe trembled in her hand, shaking off some ash.

She stared intently at Nan Jiaojiao, feeling more and more that the tears in this wayward child’s eyes were feigned.

“Where’s my ruler, dammit!

Where’s the ruler I just set aside?

Bring it here!”

A servant brought over a willow branch, handing it to Jiang Yu.

She walked over in a few steps, “Stretch out your hand!”