As玟珂's face drew closer, Bai Ran subtly took a few steps back, a hint of distance in her eyes.
Jing Feng, standing by, hurried forward to block the overly close 玟珂, saying, "Miss, please mind your manners."
玟珂 glared at Jing Feng with disdain, "Go away, this is not your place to speak."
However, turning back, her demeanor became polite, her tone carrying a hint of apology, "Um, Miss, I was being too forward just now."
"Let me introduce myself formally. My name is 玟珂, the legitimate daughter of the 玟 family."
Beneath the gentle sunlight, she possessed a handsome, almost masculine air.
Bai Ran lowered her gaze and smiled, understanding dawning in her heart, "The rumors of you forcibly abducting women and being lecherous, perhaps they are all baseless?"
玟珂's gaze, though enthusiastic, held no trace of romantic affection. Bai Ran surmised she was deliberately feigning.
Upon hearing this, 玟珂's eyes showed a flicker of guilt as she looked around evasively, "Wh-what are you talking about? I only like women like you!"
At the same time, her elbow subtly nudged something behind her.
Bai Ran looked up to see two black-clad guards hidden in the crowd, who happened to avert their gaze.
Were they monitoring 玟珂? Bai Ran frowned and cast a sound-blocking barrier, "Miss 玟, just say what you need to."
Seeing the barrier, 玟珂 breathed a sigh of relief, "It's so tiring. That old man is really something, sending people to follow me even when I go out."
"But—you're really sharp," she said, looking at Bai Ran with a roguish smile, "How did you know I'm not lecherous?"
Bai Ran smiled faintly, "I wasn't sure earlier, it was just a guess."
Hearing this, admiration filled 玟珂's eyes. Few women were so discerning.
Since the rumors of her being lecherous and forcibly abducting women on the streets spread, sheltered flowers had been eager to keep their distance, fearing they might be targeted.
Yet, the woman before her not only didn't shy away but also saw through her act.
A smile curved 玟珂's lips, and she extended a hand to Bai Ran, "玟珂."
Not a demure young lady, nor a distinguished maiden of noble birth, but the bearing of a female general, clad in armor and leading iron cavalry.
Bai Ran similarly extended a hand, clasping the calloused palm before her, "Bai Ran."
Their eyes met, and a perfectly matching aura enveloped them. They felt like confidantes who had known each other for a long time, a truly extraordinary connection.
Jing Feng, standing by, opened and closed his mouth, completely unable to interject...
What was going on... Were 玟珂's rumors false? She wasn't actually lecherous?
After releasing Bai Ran's hand, 玟珂 laughed heartily, "You're from another city, aren't you? If you have nowhere to go, come to my 玟 family."
Bai Ran glanced at the teleportation array behind her and mused. City Lord Feng had gone to another city, and it was unclear how long he would be gone.
"Alright then," Bai Ran's eyes twinkled with a smile, "I will trouble the 玟 family head then."
Her wrist moved slightly, and the poisonous scales secretly crawled down, disappearing into the grass in the distance.
The sound-blocking barrier vanished, and 玟珂 reverted to her flamboyant persona, enthusiastically leading Bai Ran towards the 玟 mansion.
Jing Feng watched their retreating figures, his lips twitching. He quickly approached Bai Ran and whispered,
"Miss Bai, why don't we go to an inn?"
"I'm a little interested in her." kuAiδugg
Jing Feng was stunned, his small brain a bit fuzzy. Did Miss Bai have another plan...?
A moment later, at the 玟 mansion.
"You! Are you trying to anger me to death!!!"
The 玟 family head held a bamboo strip, his face flushed red with rage.
玟珂 cried out as she was whipped, her armor on her back cracking, "Old man! What's wrong with me not liking men!"
The 玟 family head glared at 玟珂, truly disappointed that she wasn't living up to expectations.
"Fine... fine! You've grown wings and become headstrong, haven't you! Bringing people back to the mansion again!!!"
The 玟 family head pointed at Bai Ran, his eyes practically spitting fire.
玟珂 looked at the exquisitely beautiful Bai Ran, blinking twice. Well, this was going to be impossible to explain now...
Bai Ran stood quietly to the side, feeling stifled by the inability to refute.
"She... she's a friend," 玟珂 pursed her lips, her expression troubled. Bai Ran was someone she had brought back, she couldn't let her be misunderstood by the old man.
But the 玟 family head seemed convinced, believing that 玟珂 had forcibly abducted the woman.
He turned to Bai Ran, his expression full of shame, "Child, you must have suffered. Today, I will beat this wicked creature to death!"
"Old man! Don't talk nonsense!"
Although 玟珂's tone was harsh, she still allowed the 玟 family head to whip her with the bamboo strip, never retaliating.
Jing Feng's lips twitched. It was his first time seeing a legitimate daughter scampering around being whipped with a bamboo strip... This 玟珂 really must be a man...
But why would she pretend to like women?
At this moment, a figure in vibrant blue suddenly rushed out, directly blocking 玟珂.
"Father, Sister didn't mean it. Besides, liking women is not a big deal."
The newcomer had large, soulful eyes, long eyelashes, and exquisitely carved features. She was like a gentler version of 玟珂.
Unexpectedly, upon seeing her, 玟珂's face darkened, "Get lost, I don't need your false pretense here."
The newcomer was 玟珂's half-sister, 玟双儿.
Hearing 玟珂's cold tone, tears welled up in her eyes. She looked like a wilting flower, so pitiful.
"双儿 knows Sister dislikes me, but 双儿 really doesn't want Sister to anger Father..."
Seeing her about to cry, the 玟 family head's heart softened, and he lowered the bamboo strip in his hand.
"Sigh," he sighed, looking at 玟珂 with disappointment, "If you were half as sensible as 双儿, I wouldn't treat you like this."
玟珂's face turned terrifyingly dark. She stood up and left the hall without looking back.
Bai Ran looked at 玟双儿 with a cold expression. Although she hadn't known 玟珂 for long, she felt that 玟珂 was a thousand times better than this 玟双儿.
"You're Sister's beloved, aren't you!" The tears in 玟双儿's eyes vanished instantly. She leaned towards Bai Ran and smiled sweetly.
"My name is 玟双儿, you can call me 双儿."
Bai Ran looked at the person before her, narrowing her eyes, "Who told you I was 玟珂's beloved?"
Perhaps her tone was a bit too cold, 玟双儿 lowered her head, appearing somewhat wronged, "But Sister brought you back to the mansion... perhaps 双儿 guessed wrong..."
Bai Ran scoffed, "You admit it was a guess, so why are you talking nonsense?"
It was as if she was trying to throw mud at 玟珂 and herself.