The torrential rain pounded down, the splashing water droplets like divine gifts to the world, and the exploding fireworks, however, were all shrouded in a gray, colorless sky due to the oppressive dark clouds, making the world appear lifeless and cold, carrying with it boundless loneliness.

Lucas asked softly, "What's wrong, Miss?"

“...That’s Aldridge.”

Ruan Qingan stopped and stood by the window, looking down at the view.

At that moment, Aldrich stood at the gate of the manor in the pouring rain. The exquisite iron gate and magnificent decorations made the entire manor appear noble and elegant, but he, standing in the rain, looked as dejected as a stray dog.

Seeing that Nguyen Thanh An had noticed that, Lucas stepped forward and came to her side, explaining, "Miss, since you didn't give any instructions, we didn't arrange anything for him after the talent test."

Ruan Qingan countered, "Really? What has he been doing lately?"

Upon hearing this, Lucas paused: "These days, my subordinates have been guarding outside the library and don't know much about it. After all, Aldrich has no talent and is not worth training. The servants probably haven't assigned him any tasks, so he probably has nothing to do."

"The only special case is the courthouse."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Qing'an raised an eyebrow and looked at Lucas: "The Tribunal? What's wrong with them? They want to come to my manor to arrest people?"

"Of course they wouldn't dare to arrest you, Miss."

Lucas said meaningfully, "You are a woman of noble birth, how dare the court act recklessly? But it was Aldrich who killed someone in the street, so if the court wants to cause trouble, it will naturally go after him."

But three days ago, Lucas believed that even if it were Aldrich, the court wouldn't have dared to test him so many times, after all—even if Aldrich had killed someone, he was still Nguyen Thanh An's man.

As Ruan Qingan said, even her dog is not one that everyone dares to step on, and the court wouldn't dare to touch it.

only……

"Heh, because of what happened three days ago?"

Ruan Qing'an chuckled: "Kevin is clever and has some shrewdness. He has been in the slave industry for so many years and has a wide network of connections. His network of interests with the nobility is also very intricate."

"Kevin is dead, and someone has to take responsibility. The interests of those nobles cannot be ignored. However, if the Lancaster family intervenes, they can only endure it."

She paused. "So, what's the situation?"

Hearing Ruan Qing'an's question, and not knowing whether she was angry or not, Lucas's thoughts shifted, and he lowered his head again and said, "Miss, having lost the protection of the Lancaster family, I have naturally been summoned by the Inquisition many times, but they have been testing your intentions."

"Summoned for interrogation?"

"Yes, miss."

Lucas continued, "A servant also came to report, but he only asked about the slave market and Aldridge's previous experience. That was all. They were released today."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Qing'an chuckled softly: "Is it because you heard that I'm leaving the library today?"

Upon hearing this, Lucas didn't dare to respond.

The torrential rain continued to pour down. Ruan Qing'an's leaden eyes were calm as she stood by the window on the upper floor of the manor, looking down at the man standing in the rain, like a statue.

Finally—Aldridge moved.

As if noticing the gaze, he slowly raised his head and met Ruan Qingan's eyes, but only for a moment before Aldrich looked away again, turned around, and walked outside.

But in just a moment, Ruan Qingan saw it clearly.

037 said: [It looks a bit like the slave market, but... will this really work, ancestor?]

Ruan Qingan paused, his hand gripping the window frame.

At that moment, Lucas, standing beside her, bowed respectfully and whispered, "Miss, is there anything else you need?"

"...Lucas."

Ruan Qing'an turned her head and looked at him with a smile in her eyes: "You handled the matter three days ago quite well, I am very satisfied."

What happened three days ago?

Lucas was stunned and didn't quite react, but at this moment Ruan Qing'an had already turned around and left quickly. He instinctively panicked, as if something was slipping out of his control.

As soon as Ruan Qing'an disappeared, Lucas hurriedly followed, not daring to linger for even a moment. What exactly had she said?!

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the manor, it was pouring rain.

The tall man now looked like a stray dog ​​in a sorry state. He reached out and touched the iron gate, wanting to push it open and leave, but then hesitated and withdrew his hand. The rain pattered down.

He seemed not to exist in this manor, because no one would even glance at him. People would hurry past him, and those who used to smile at him, show him favoritism, and make fairies fly out seemed to have vanished from his life...

Life in the courthouse was tough.

They had to consider both the yet-to-arrive Nguyen Thanh An and the ever-pressureding nobles, so they could only repeatedly demand that Aldrich recall the painful past, the moment of the murder, and then—

To determine which side's sins were more serious and whether Aldrich should be punished, it all came down to which side had more leverage. Only after hearing that Nguyen Thanh An had appeared did they send him back.

It seems that... his return is of no use.

Aldridge silently pushed open the iron gate, but just then—a voice suddenly came, as if the sound of the surrounding rain had subsided.

Even an abandoned dog will stay at its owner's house, let alone you—you have an owner, so why are you running around everywhere?

"..."

Aldrich was taken aback, and then he saw a small fire elemental sprite fly over and pat his hand. It seemed to hate the rain and angrily flapped its wings.

He instinctively reached out and caught the little elf, placing his large hand over its head to shield it from the rain.

Then, Aldrich slowly turned around, and a girl in a long dress was standing behind him. The lace hem of her dress trailed on the ground and was soaked by the rain. Her slender, fair hands held an umbrella.

As the rain fell, it seemed to isolate her from the world, highlighting her beautiful, flower-like eyes and her innate noble arrogance.

Ruan Qingan smiled and raised his hand, saying, "Come here."

She was simply irresistible just by standing there.

All the unspeakable grievances welled up inside him. Aldridge had never missed her so much. He didn't understand anything, but he knew that as long as she was looking at him, he felt as if he had everything.

Almost instinctively, he ducked under the umbrella, bent down, and hugged Ruan Qing'an tightly. Aldrich, clearly much taller, buried his face in Ruan Qing'an's arms: "Master, I missed you so much..."

She chuckled and ruffled his hair.

Are you still planning to leave?

Ruan Qing'an didn't hear a reply, but she felt herself being hugged tighter. The man, who looked like a big dog, rubbed against her shoulder, as if he had been wronged and couldn't help but act spoiled when he saw his owner.

However, his answer is no longer needed.

【Affection Level: 40】

This is domestication...

With her leaden eyes half-closed, she stroked Aldridge's hair. When she turned her head again, Nguyen Thanh An saw Lucas chasing after her from the manor. His face was pale, and he looked somewhat incredulous.

At that moment, Nguyen Thanh An gathered her slender fingertips and pressed them against her lips.

Shh—don't let him find out!

After meeting Nguyen Thanh An's eyes, Lucas finally understood her veiled meaning and what she meant by "well done"—she had used him to tame her Aldridge.

She never uttered a word, remaining silent, which led Lucas to repeatedly try to decipher her thoughts. And the villain who drove Aldridge away was not the never-before-seen Ruan Qing'an, but him…

Upon realizing this, Lucas felt a chill run down his spine.