Chen Yuan knocked gently on Cheng Xiaoyu’s door and said warmly, "Yu, it’s me. Can I come in?"
A few breaths later, Cheng Xiaoyu’s slightly hoarse voice came from inside. "Brother Yuan, I... I’m fine."
Knowing the girl was just being self-conscious, Chen Yuan pushed the door open and walked right in. He saw Cheng Xiaoyu curled up on the inner side of the wooden bed, hugging her blanket. Tear stains marked her face, and her cheeks were indeed a little red and swollen.
"Tell me what happened. You can trust me," Chen Yuan said gently, pulling up a stool to sit by the bed.
At first, Cheng Xiaoyu was hesitant, but under Chen Yuan’s soft-spoken comfort and the promise of good food and new clothes, she finally caved. After all, she was still a young girl at heart. She lowered her head and mumbled,
"Brother Yuan, I don’t know why, but the son-in-law seemed to be in a bad mood today.
"I was accompanying my young miss while she embroidered. Suddenly, he shouted from outside, asking who placed the flower pots by the door. I ran out, but before I could even open my mouth, he slapped me...
"I... I tried to explain... but he slapped me again... He threatened that since I couldn’t even handle such a small task, the next time he saw me..."
As she spoke, she started wiping her tears again and choked out, "I placed that flower pot perfectly fine. I don’t know why... I... I really don’t know..."
She felt someone had intentionally moved the flower pot, but it wasn’t her place to say so.
"And then what?" Chen Yuan suppressed the rising anger in his heart.
The young girl wiped her tears and continued, "He was going to hit me again, but the young miss ran out and stopped him... He said a few more things before leaving... Later, the young miss applied medicine to my face..."
Chen Yuan rubbed her head and said softly, "It’s alright. It wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry for letting you suffer like this. Just rest at home for the next few days. I’ll take care of this matter."
The young girl thought for a moment before adding, "Brother Yuan, the young miss treats me very well. I still want to serve her."
She was deeply conflicted. The young miss was wonderful, but the son-in-law was cruel and vicious. She didn’t know what to do in the future.
Chen Yuan smiled faintly. "Alright, I understand. I’ll handle this. You must be hungry, right? Eat something to fill your stomach, and then get some rest."
With Chen Yuan’s comforting words, his aunt reheated the food, and they finally managed to finish their dinner.
During the meal, he remembered something and asked Yu if she had gone to Senior Brother Huang for help. He had previously told her that if she ever ran into trouble in the Gu Family, she should just seek out Senior Brother Huang. However, Yu said she didn’t want to bother others or blow things out of proportion, which would only put her young miss in a difficult position.
Chen Yuan fell silent again.
After watching her daughter fall asleep in bed, his aunt pulled Chen Yuan aside and asked in a low voice, "Yuan, what exactly happened?"
Cheng Yong also silently leaned in to listen.
Chen Yuan said softly, "She was bullied by someone in the Gu Family. It’s a minor issue. I’ll make a trip there tomorrow; it won’t be too difficult to handle."
Hearing this, his aunt breathed a sigh of relief. "Yuan, we’ll leave this in your hands, then."
She now knew that her nephew was becoming increasingly capable.
Chen Yuan smiled. "It’s no trouble. Aunt, Uncle, it’s getting really late. You two should go rest as well."
The matter was laid to rest for the night.
After washing up, Chen Yuan returned to his room and closed the door. His expression instantly turned freezing cold. He knew exactly what had happened. Yu Yan had suffered a setback at his hands and had actually taken out his frustration on Yu.
He sometimes went to the Gu Residence to pick up Yu. Though he hadn’t bumped into Yu Yan, many servants knew about their relationship, so it wasn’t surprising that Yu Yan had found out.
In truth, his current monthly salary was more than enough to provide his aunt’s family with a comfortable life, but they were already accustomed to their current way of living. Yu had also mentioned that with him as her older cousin, she was doing very well in the Gu Family. Thus, Chen Yuan hadn’t interfered, but he never expected Yu Yan would actually dare to target her.
The flower pot? It was nothing but an excuse. He had most likely kicked it askew himself just to find fault with Yu. A slap on each cheek? And he would have kept hitting her if Gu Wantong hadn’t intervened? At this thought, his face grew as cold as ice.
For the Gu Family’s sake, he hadn’t wanted to make things difficult for Yu Yan anymore, but the man just had to push his luck. Did Yu Yan think that being the Gu Family’s son-in-law gave him the right to act however he pleased? He really didn’t know what was good for him, insisting on throwing himself into the line of fire.
Chen Yuan thought that since Yu felt this son-in-law was putting her in a difficult position, he would simply change the son-in-law. In the darkness, cold murderous intent boiled in his eyes.
That night, he stayed awake for a long time.
The next day, the snow was heavy and the wind was piercingly cold.
Chen Yuan got up early and headed straight for the Gu Residence. The servant guarding the front gate recognized Chen Yuan and said, looking slightly troubled, "Young Master Chen, it’s too early. Tributor Huang isn’t in the residence right now."
"I’m here to see Second Master Gu Ye and Yu Yan," Chen Yuan said calmly. "I have urgent matters to discuss. Please go and inform them."
"Please wait in the side hall for a moment, Young Master Chen," the servant replied. "I’ll go announce your arrival right away."
Chen Yuan entered the Gu Residence and sat down in the side hall, where a maid poured him hot tea. It was only natural for a young Bone-refining Martial Artist to receive such courteous treatment.
Less than a quarter of an hour later, Gu Ye, dressed in luxurious clothes, hurried in and asked in a serious tone, "Chen Xiaoyou, what brings you here so early? Does it have something to do with yesterday’s incident?"
He naturally associated the visit with what had happened the previous day, since Chen Yuan rarely visited and had even specifically asked for Yu Yan.
Chen Yuan stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Apologies for the sudden intrusion. My visit today has nothing to do with the incident at the restaurant. I am here for my cousin, Cheng Xiaoyu."
Gu Ye breathed a sigh of relief and said gently, "I see. I heard from the servants about your relationship with the girl, Yu. I’ve instructed the stewards to take good care of her. What exactly is the problem?"
He believed he had been quite considerate.
Chen Yuan nodded. "Thank you for taking care of her, Supervisor Gu. However, yesterday, my little cousin was slapped twice by Yu Yan for no reason.
"I heard that if someone hadn’t stopped him, he would have kept hitting her. I’m here regarding this matter."
The smile on Gu Ye’s face instantly froze. Having managed people and affairs for so many years, he immediately figured out the sequence of events. He cursed Yu Yan inwardly for being a troublemaker. He had just cleaned up the man’s scandalous mess at the restaurant yesterday, yet Yu Yan couldn’t even behave after returning to the Gu Residence. He had actually vented his anger on Chen Yuan’s cousin.
There was an unwritten rule that conflicts shouldn’t involve one’s family, but Yu Yan clearly had zero regard for it. It was no wonder Chen Yuan had come knocking at their door so early to demand an explanation.
"Don’t be anxious, Chen Xiaoyou," Gu Ye could only say helplessly. "I will give you a proper explanation for this."
However, he knew it would be virtually impossible to reach an outcome that satisfied both parties. In any case, the first step was to summon the perpetrator, Yu Yan, and then report to the Patriarch to resolve the matter face-to-face.
A short while later, Yu Yan appeared at the entrance of the side hall wearing a training suit, looking completely languid. Upon entering the hall, he cast a sidelong glance at Chen Yuan and sluggishly cupped his hands.
"So that blind servant I hit yesterday was your cousin? What a misunderstanding. I really didn’t do it on purpose.
"Brother Chen, you are a reasonable and magnanimous man. Surely you won’t take this to heart, right?"