Zhou Hua Fan stood at a distance with a look of utter disgust as Liang Zhong Zemin offers her a glass of her favorite tea with a bitter smell emitting from the once sweet tea. A few days had passed since the pond incident and currently, the backyard was under construction so she and Zhong Zemin had moved into the spare villa closer to the city. The only ones who followed them were two maids for Hua Fan's comfort and a few cleaners and the cook. Housekeeper Shuang stayed back to watch over the house since he was not really one of Hua Fan's people and her grandfathers it was only right for him to wait for his master back home. Although the speed and efficiency of the chores were a bit lacking without housekeeper Shuang to take charge Hua Fan did not complain since the villa was big enough to the point where she could walk around without running into a single person.
And currently, she and Zhong Zemin were doing just that. While she and him were strolling the house to look at her Ye Ye's paintings out of boredom Hua Fan wanted to leave the house but Zhong Zemin refused. Then as if coming to a compromise after seeing her growing seriously angry he promised to let her go out only if she took the medicine he prescribed her. "Why do I need to drink that disgusting stuff? Even without your permission, I could walk out of the villa if I wanted to!"
The proud girl refused to back down and take that bitter medication, when it came to those disgusting drugs she utterly despised them. They brought back bad memories. Noticing her stubborn stance and clear aversion he did not pressure her immediately and only places the teacup back down. "Then do as you wish, but don't expect to be able to do anything without being followed closely by at least two bodyguards breathing down your neck." She stiffens and glances over reluctantly at the front door where she knew people were watching her every move.
She despised being supervised. But it was her beloved Ye Ye's orders so she had been tolerating it all this time as long as they did not enter her eyes sight. But hearing his reminder the defiance she felt slightly falters, it was not as if she could disobey her Ye Ye's orders. She knew he only did it for her own safety, but she just did not like seeing those men constantly watching her. Whether they were on her side or not it made her easily irritable and on edge.
Only when Zhong Zemin was nearby acting as her babysitter would they back off these days and become untraceable again. But she was still displeased at having to negotiate with Zhong Zemin, she was used to having her way no matter what. "It won't make a difference even if I take that stuff." He stiffens in his seat for a moment but then relaxes after realizing she was doing it on purpose to anger him and nonchalantly went to pick a book from the shelf. With his back to the girl, he feigned indifference.
"Suit yourself." Seeing she had failed in provoking him she felt even more bitterness in her heart and gritted her teeth before marched forwards. Her hand trembled as she reaches for the cup, yet before Zhong Zemin could turn around and notice her hesitation. Turning her back to him as well Hua Fan quickly gulps the hot tea down without any caution alarming Zhong Zemin whose indifference turned into shock and worry. "You-!" But the burning bitter medicine was already forcefully swallowed by the girl whose eyes grow red and hot at the familiar revolting taste. She could not feel the burning sensation all throughout her mouth and the tea scalding her tongue.
Before he reached for her hand that held the cup and notice her trembling Hua Fan threw the cup against the wall shattering the cup while spitting out venomously with her back still facing him. "Happy? Don't forget your promise we leave in an hour!" It was only then he noticed something wasn't right as she was not one to do something like this without reason. "Hua Fan!" The girl storms out of the living room and locks her door before he could stop her, his face full of concern. "Hua Fan open the door."
"We leave in an hour! Don't make me say it again!" Was her only reply, no matter how much he tried to coax her or bride her the girl refused to come out. "Young Master Liang?" Looking over to his left he fixes his expression into a neutral state. The maids who heard the commotion had followed him upstairs, concern written all over their faces for Hua Fan. "Is something wrong with the young miss? Should we notify housekeeper Shuang?"
Zhong Zemin hesitates, glancing at the door again he made up his mind quickly and smiled at them helplessly. "I apologize, it seems I have angered the young miss quite a bit today. She insisted on leaving the house alone but I refused her request causing her to get upset at me." The maids accept his explanation but they still send the door worried looks, "Was the young miss hurt?" He shook his head and eases their worry.
"She was far away from the wall and unharmed. There's no need to report this to the housekeeper and cause the old master endless worries. I have it handled, Miss Zhou, and I will leave to go out and play in an hour. May I trouble you to inform the guards ahead of time?" Seeing as the young man really did not seem worried and only resembled a helpless older brother facing his younger sister's temper tantrum their impression of him betters and they even give him encouraging smiles.
"Don't worry too much Young Master, the young miss has always had a bad temper since childhood. She was not particularly warm towards even the old master himself until recently." Hearing this important piece of information he hid the cogwheels that turn in his mind with another smile of thanks towards them. "I see. Thank you."