Like he had crossed a line no one else dared to and made it out alive Liang Zhong Zemin was treated like a young master in the Zhou mansion. Though they were scared to offend the little miss Zhong Zemin was not, and he did it time and time again while getting out unscathed by the usually haughty and unreasonable girl. At first, each time he provoked the girl they would all hold their breath and wait for her to burst out in anger, and she did. But most of the time it was only for a second before she dismissed his actions and ignored him again. Even Shuang Hui Ning could not control the girl as well as Zhong Zemin and although at first, he was worried about the consequences of their budding relationship.
He let it go after realizing the young man was only doing it for the girl's own good most of the time. Although he was young, he was diligent and serious about taking care of her, her eating habits and time spent studying were all monitored and scheduled by him. There was also no hidden intent behind his actions, he was straightforward and to the point. And Hui Ning relaxes even more when realizing the two seemed more like siblings than anything else. He did not fully let his guard down but he did give the girl more breathing room when she was with Zhong Zemin.
"Shouldn't you thank me?" Zhou Hua Fan pushes a strand of hair behind her ear and focused on finishing her homework. Absentmindedly answering his question without taking her eyes or attention off her work. "About what?" Zhong Zemin drawls out while flipping through a medical book across the table from her. They were both leisurely studying together in the parlor room without a care in the world.
"Without having to take drastic measures you can do more things without your grandfather worrying endlessly about your safety now thanks to me." Hua Fan's pink lips rose in one corner, without looking up she mocks him unhesitantly. "I did not think you were the type to seek praise." He snorts and sent her a sharp look, "I am teaching you manners. When someone does something for you the least you can do is thank that person."
Finally looking up she notes his look of boredom while lazily flipping through the book, she chuckles a bit blandly. "Have you already gone through all the books Ye Ye gifted you?" Zhong Zemin finally tosses the book onto the table a bit exasperated and annoyed, "How did you guess?" Hua Fan held back the urge to roll her eyes, and scoffs at him. "You never ask me such stupid questions unless you are bored of what you are reading. And don't toss the books, Ye Ye's gifts are precious."
Having been caught he unashamedly stole another one of her snacks the maids had left on the table for her. Having been used to this little lord's actions these past few days Hua Fan feigns ignorance and focuses back on her task at hand. Although he was not as unrestraint as the Qiu Shen, as he got more comfortable with her she noticed he took things he wanted without asking giving off a young lord kind of feel. But she liked this type, as long as he did not go over the line it was better than going around in circles asking for what he wants. At least this way she can use something against him in the future.
He may seem like a gentleman but unlike Huang Gou Heng he only "looked', like a gentleman and scholarly type. Take off his mask and he was just another short-tempered genius who cared for nothing but his books and the lucky few who manage to become his friend. He looks at his watch and taps her paper with his free hand to get her attention. "Finish up your last sentence, your singing lessons are in half an hour." Hua Fan then remembered her extra lesson and felt a hint of reluctance, but remembering it was her Ye Ye who told her to take the lessons she swallows her pride and stood up to stretch.
The little beauty was growing taller and her beauty was becoming even more obvious after being so meticulously cared for by her grandfather's people and Zhong Zemin. He had no doubt in a few years she would take the world by storm with just her looks alone. But he was not the type of person the fall for a flower trap and turns away to pay more attention to her lessons for next week. "Mrs. Han agreed to teach you in the garden once the snow is gone so Old Master Zhou had the koi garden torn down to be replaced by a mini marble pavilion. In February the new garden should be ready for use, I also mentioned it would be a good idea for you to be able to have one or two lessons outside as well so you could get more fresh air. The old master agreed so be ready for that as well."
Torn down? Why would Ye Ye not mention this to me first and only tell Zhong Zemin? She assumes that it was meant to be a surprise come spring but Zhong Zemin had told her on purpose completely selling out her grandfather's plans to her. Hua Fan frowns at him not hiding her displeasure at the thought of having the beautiful koi's home destroyed for her own gain. "But Ye Ye loves the koi garden. Instead of having it filled up and replaces why not expand it to a lotus pond." That way if she wanted she and her grandfather could have tea outside too while keeping the fish.
He rose a brow at her, "You are not afraid of bugs?" The girl scowls at him, "Who says I am not? But selling off Ye Ye's koi's is sure to be much more heartbreaking for him. I also prepared to attend an auction to buy Ye Ye another Showa to add to his collection so this is an impossible idea." Seeing her stubbornness rising again he sighed with a hint of irritation but despite his reluctance, he still took out his phone and called Assistant Wan for her.
This is why her grandfather most likely did not tell her, he did not want to displease the girl himself and made him the bad guy. "Am I your lackey? Do it yourself." The pretty girl huffs arrogantly looking down at him in an irritating manner. "What would be the point in feeding that mouth of yours if you don't use it?" Narrowing his eyes at her while the phone rang Zhong Zemin feigns annoyance and with malicious intent, he roughly ruffles the girl's soft hair with his free hand before she could reach out her claws.
With the force he used Hua Fan's head was only lightly pushed down as a flush of red splashes across her cheeks showing just how angry she was. Did he know how long it took to comb out knotted hair?! "You-!! Liang Zhong Zemin do you court death?!" Satisfied with the punishment for this untrained fox kit he did not bother hiding his smirk as Assistant Wan picks up the phone. His eyes slyly looking over to see the girl busily take out a mirror from who knows where to fix her hair with a permanent scowl on her face. "*snort" Hearing a snort of laughter she sent him a chilly glare shutting him up properly this time.