Chapter 15 brings another problem.

Tang Xiaoning had long since forgotten the slight unpleasantness caused by Zhou Wenyuan.

However, Li Minghua's excuse of "playing with things leads to the loss of ambition" was taken by her as if she had acquired some new and interesting toy, and she would seize any opportunity to bring it up and tease him about it.

"Minghua, look at this kite, flying so high. Isn't that a waste of time and energy?"

Or, "Oh dear, if this game of chess goes on for too long, won't it interfere with my 'improvement of martial arts skills'?"

Every time Tang Xiaoning saw Li Minghua's ears turn a barely perceptible blush as she teased him, his thin lips slightly parted as he tried to argue that "this is...rest and recuperation" or "this is...enhancing intelligence" but couldn't find a suitable reason, Tang Xiaoning couldn't help but smile, finding it particularly amusing.

On a sunny afternoon, the two were conducting their daily "Bamboo Broom Sword Technique" lesson in the courtyard.

The main thing was that Tang Xiaoning was holding a bamboo broom with a bald tail, and enthusiastically imitating the moves from the storybooks, making random gestures.

Li Minghua, wielding another weapon, easily parried and neutralized her flawed "offensive," always accurately pointing out no fewer than ten fatal weaknesses.

"Your wrists must be steady, your lower body must be unsteady, your breathing must be uneven, and your power must be applied incorrectly..." Li Minghua's voice remained as steady as ever.

Before he could finish speaking, Butler Fu appeared by the moon gate, his face a mixture of emotions, stroking his white beard as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

“Miss, Miss Li,” Uncle Fu cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound calm, “A young lady surnamed Liu has come from outside the mansion. She says she has come specifically to thank Miss Li for saving her life a month or so ago.”

Tang Xiaoning's broom, which she was swinging halfway through, suddenly stopped in mid-air, kicking up a few fallen leaves.

She turned to look at Li Minghua, who happened to be looking up at her as well.

The moment their eyes met, without a word, the words "As expected, they've come" were clearly reflected in each other's eyes, along with a hint of expected helplessness.

"Tsk, she really did... come knocking on our door..." Tang Xiaoning pursed her lips, put down the heavy broom, patted her dusty hands, and said with a hint of resignation, "Uncle Fu, please ask her to come to the side hall."

A moment later, Liu Yiyi followed behind Uncle Fu, walking in timidly with her head down.

She changed into a clean, light blue cotton dress, and her hair was neatly styled with a simple wooden hairpin. Compared to her disheveled and flustered appearance in the alley that day, she looked much more energetic.

However, the innate fragility and timidity in her eyes and brows did not diminish in the slightest.

The moment Liu Yiyi stepped into the hall and her eyes fell upon Li Minghua's tall and imposing figure, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

As if she had found her only refuge, she quickened her pace and stepped forward. Her legs buckled, and she was about to kneel and kowtow again, her voice trembling with tears: "My benefactor, heroine! My benefactor..."

Li Minghua had anticipated this. With a slight movement, his arm shot out like lightning, gently but firmly supporting her before her knees could truly bend. A gentle yet resolute force stopped her movement.

“Miss Liu, there’s no need for such formalities.” The voice was calm and even.

Liu Yiyi straightened up, but instead of backing away, she raised her eyes, which were filled with tears. Her gaze, like thick honey, was fixed on Li Minghua's face with deep affection and unwavering focus.

"That day, thanks to the great kindness of the heroine, who saved Yiyi from dire straits, my mother was able to take the life-saving medicine in time, and her health has now greatly improved."

Her voice choked with emotion, filled with boundless gratitude: "After settling the household affairs, Yiyi didn't dare delay for a moment and came to express her gratitude immediately. Yiyi will never forget the heroine's kindness in saving her life!"

Every word was filled with intense emotion, making Tang Xiaoning, who was standing next to her, feel a slight ache in her back teeth.

The girl was grateful, but why was her gaze fixed on Minghua as if it were rooted to the spot?

"Miss Liu, you're too kind."

Tang Xiaoning instantly put on a standard, gentle smile befitting a well-bred lady, but subtly took a half-step forward.

This step cleverly positioned her between Liu Yiyi and Li Minghua, creating a soft barrier.

She turned slightly to the side, partially blocking Liu Yiyi's overly intense gaze, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable sense of distance:

"It was just a small act of kindness, a simple act of helping someone in need."

Anyone who witnesses such acts of bullying the weak would be compelled to step in and help.

"Don't stand there, sit down and let's talk."

She then made a "please" gesture.

Only then did Liu Yiyi seem to finally notice Tang Xiaoning's presence. Following her gesture, she gave a slight curtsy in her direction and said softly, "Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Tang."

However, this polite glance was fleeting; her gaze immediately returned to Li Minghua like iron filings drawn to a magnet.

"It was just a small favor for the heroine, but for Yiyi it was a life-saving grace, a grace as great as that of her parents!"

Her tone grew increasingly earnest, even resolute: "Yiyi has come here not only to express her gratitude, but also... to fulfill the promise she made that day! I beg the heroine to allow Yiyi to serve by your side, to be your servant, and to repay your kindness with all her heart!"

She knelt down deeply again, her posture extremely humble.

here we go again!

The little drum in Tang Xiaoning's heart suddenly started beating loudly, pounding against her eardrums.

This stubbornness is even harder to shake off than a piece of chewing gum stuck to the sole of your shoe!

Li Minghua's brows were almost knitted together, and his troubled expression was even more pronounced than when he was facing Zhou Wenyuan.

Her tone remained calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness: "I've said it many times, there's no need for this. Taking good care of your mother and living a peaceful life is the best thing for you."

She tried to steer the conversation back on track.

“My mother is being looked after by a kind neighbor, and she’s doing well!” Liu Yiyi quickly looked up to explain.

Her eyes were filled with desperate pleading, as if she were grasping at the last straw:

"Please, heroine, have mercy and give Yiyi a chance to repay your kindness!"

Washing clothes, sweeping, serving tea and water, making beds and folding blankets... Yiyi was willing to do any kind of rough or tiring work, and would never dare to cause the heroine even the slightest trouble!

As she spoke, as if remembering something, her gaze suddenly turned to Tang Xiaoning, whom she had temporarily ignored, her eyes instantly filling with pleading and pitiful expression:

"Miss Tang, you...you are a close confidante of the heroine, and you are the most reasonable one. Please...please say a word for Yiyi in front of the heroine..."

She turned around and placed all her hopes on Tang Xiaoning.

This straight shot caught Tang Xiaoning off guard, leaving her momentarily stunned.

What should she say?

Saying, "Okay, come and serve my personal bodyguard"?

This sounds absolutely absurd!

She awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth, her eyes quickly glancing at Li Minghua beside her, only to see that he also looked helpless, as if "this matter is troublesome."

“This… Miss Liu,” Tang Xiaoning took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound gentle and reasonable, her fingers unconsciously twisting the edge of her sleeve.

“Miss Li is a quiet person and has always preferred solitude. Besides…” She paused, emphasizing the words “our household,” “we have enough staff in our household, so it is indeed inconvenient to add any new people…”

"Yiyi doesn't need wages!" Liu Yiyi interrupted eagerly before she could finish speaking, as if this was her only bargaining chip.

Her eyes shone brightly, with an almost martyr-like fervor and humility:

"Yiyi only asks for a simple meal, a... a corner to shelter her from the wind and rain, and to be able to... to see the kind face of her benefactor, the heroine, from time to time. That would make her feel at peace and secure. She asks for nothing more!"

Her words were sincere, yet her stubbornness was alarming.

Li Minghua: "..."

A feeling of exhaustion far exceeding that of fighting with others suddenly welled up in my heart.

She felt a dull ache in her temples, a feeling even more helpless than dealing with ten smooth-talking Zhou Wenyuans at the same time.

She was always one to respond to gentle persuasion but not force; she could handle weapons decisively and cleanly, but she was different when faced with this tearful, devoted gratitude that seemed to entrust her life to him.

Her pragmatic principles and efficiency-first logic were completely useless, leaving her with only a deep sense of powerlessness.

She even subconsciously rubbed the cold hilt of her sword with her fingertips, as if it could bring her some peace of mind.

Although reason told her that drawing her sword at this moment would be pointless.

Tang Xiaoning looked at Liu Yiyi's posture of "if she doesn't agree, she will kneel down to show her resolve," and then at Li Minghua's expression of "wanting to draw her sword to drive her away but unable to do so due to morality." Her feelings were complicated and hard to describe.

On the one hand, I found the girl's persistence somewhat amusing; on the other hand, the inexplicable feeling of unease in my heart grew stronger and more intense.

This Liu Yiyi is a hundred times more troublesome than Zhou Wenyuan, whom I can't shake off!

“Miss Liu,” Li Minghua took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation and helplessness in his heart.

She tried to persuade the other party with the simplest of principles, her voice calm yet penetrating:

"It is commendable to repay kindness, but there is no other way than to become a slave or servant."

If you are truly willing to repay this kindness, then in the future, work diligently in managing your household, live a good life, take good care of your mother, and may she live a peaceful and joyful life.

She looked at Liu Yiyi with clear eyes: "If this kindness can be passed on, that would be the best way to repay me."

She hopes the other person can understand that true value lies in an independent and stable life.

"But..." Liu Yiyi's tears flowed like beads from a broken string, gushing out instantly.

Her voice choked with despair, filled with deep self-reproach: "Besides this life and this body that can still do some hard labor... Yiyi... Yiyi really has nothing... I don't know... I don't know how I can repay the heroine's boundless kindness..."

Her thin shoulders trembled slightly, completely overwhelmed by an immense sense of powerlessness.

The air in the hall became incredibly still and heavy because of this desperate sobbing.

The situation remained deadlocked for a moment. Li Minghua unconsciously stroked the scabbard with his fingertips, and the deep furrows between his brows were enough to trap a moth.

Tang Xiaoning secretly clenched her sleeves, racking her brains to figure out how to get rid of this "tearful bodhisattva".