Chapter 10: Petty Jealousy is a Woman’s Trait

"Miss, Haizi says I'm lying to him, insisting that no one turns on the lights to watch TV at night. He thinks I'm just making things up to fool him."

Although Li Rui didn't understand what Xiaolian was saying, he found her coquettish complaints to Zhang Xiaolan quite amusing. Shaking his head, he watched them with a smile, thinking how they spent all day arguing back and forth.

Zhang Xiaolan stood up, took Xiaolian's hand, and hurried to comfort her. "He's just ignorant, don't take it to heart. Let's be magnanimous."

"Master, everything's ready—let's go!"

Just then, Haizi called loudly to Li Rui from outside, sounding as if he couldn't wait to leave. No one knew what he was in such a hurry for.

"You! Can't you argue less with Xiaolian? Why irritate a young lady and make her angry?"

Li Rui stepped out of the house, admonishing Haizi a little—not out of anger, but as a gentle reminder.

"Small-mindedness is for women. I wouldn't stoop to her level," Haizi retorted, still sharp-tongued as ever. The two of them bickered often, their banter more like that of old friends—or perhaps, a pair of endearing little adversaries.

“Hmph! Who are you calling small-minded?”

Xiaolian, coming out with Zhang Xiaolan, overheard Haizi’s comment and grew even more infuriated. She stormed up to him, one hand on her hip, pointing at his nose.

"I never said it was you! You’re the one who came out and admitted it!"

Haizi showed no concern for Xiaolian's anger, casually organizing his things as he replied, determined not to lose the exchange.

"You—what did I admit? Say it clearly…" Xiaolian bristled at his nonchalance, growing all the more incensed and making as if to step forward and give him a piece of her mind.

But Zhang Xiaolan quickly intervened, worried their argument would only escalate. She hurried to placate Xiaolian, while Haizi, sensing he might have gone too far, darted behind Li Rui for protection.

"Enough, Xiaolian, let's drop it. Even as women, we must be gracious and dignified—never let others look down on us."

Xiaolian rolled her eyes and huffed in response.

Haizi dared not talk back to Zhang Xiaolan, knowing Li Rui held her in high regard—he'd even instructed the servants to address her as 'Miss.' He’d overheard her just now and realized that perhaps he had been a bit lacking in grace, having argued with Xiaolian for so long.

"Where are you all going?" Zhang Xiaolan sought to change the subject, her curiosity piqued by the quiver of arrows on Haizi’s back and the bow in his hands.

"Today I'm going hunting with Master," Haizi replied with excitement. No wonder he was so eager; going out hunting with Li Rui was both fun and a chance to escape work—a prospect that thrilled him.

"That sounds so exciting! I want to go, too," Zhang Xiaolan exclaimed. She was eager to witness firsthand what hunting was like in ancient times, and insisted on joining them. Yet before Li Rui could respond, Haizi objected.

"No, no, today it's just Master and me. Miss, you wouldn’t be of any help, and it’s better for you to stay home. Besides, your injuries aren’t fully healed," Haizi said, thoroughly unwilling to let Zhang Xiaolan tag along—if she came, he'd have to look after her, and he was absolutely against that.

But unlike Xiaolian, Haizi was oblivious to the subtler feelings at play. He had no idea Li Rui held Zhang Xiaolan in special regard, assuming she was just there to recover for a while before being sent home.