Shen Ning pulled her cloak tighter and leaned back in her chair, gazing into the distance.
After a moment of silence, he looked down at the garden and asked, "Do you know carpentry?"
Mo Lin nodded: "Yes."
Although he only knows a little, he will definitely do it if she needs it.
Shen Ning pointed to a bare corner of the garden: "There used to be a swing there, but I took it down a couple of years ago. Can you make me a new one?"
Mo Lin: "Okay."
She said so, and he agreed.
Shen Ning glanced at him a couple more times, thought for a moment, and then smiled again: "Mo Lin, you'd better become even more capable. I can't do without you by my side."
Mo Lin's expression immediately became extremely solemn: "I will not let Miss down."
Shen Ning patted him on the shoulder, silent, but with the trust of entrusting him with an important task.
Looking at his eager expression of loyalty, Shen Ning suddenly understood Qin Zhuo's feelings.
She didn't use her kindness to blackmail or suppress Mo Lin, but he always felt that he had received too much from her and wished he could repay her with his life.
She felt the same way about Qin Zhuo.
The Shen family is a bunch of ingrates. She has spent her whole life being taken advantage of and resented. They all think she hasn't done enough or is not perfect enough, as if she was born to give everything for them without complaint or regret, and that she deserved to die.
Although she harbored resentment, she was still accustomed to giving and had forgotten how to accept kindness from others.
Qin Zhuo treated her specially, was willing to help her, and even saved her life. If it really came down to it, even if Qin Zhuo were to take a sword and kill her now, she might not necessarily resist.
The debt of gratitude is too great to repay, and there is nowhere to repay it; that feeling is very painful.
If Qin Zhuo wanted her body, she might hesitate, but she would definitely agree.
It's just a matter of innocence; would someone who's already died care about that? Besides, Qin Zhuo is so handsome and treats her so well; she's not at a disadvantage.
But if Qin Zhuo wanted her affection, then everything she said was wrong.
Mutual affection should not be based on the exchange of favors. One person bestows a favor and the other repays it; this is not true love.
She had never encountered this before, so she didn't understand. Although Qin Zhuo didn't force her, he wouldn't allow her to escape and insisted that she face his thoughts.
So perhaps he felt the same way she did, and when he offered help he had some ulterior motives, but he didn't really expect to use this favor to control anyone.
What he wanted was not the kind of sacrificial affection that only saw gratitude in people's eyes.
He wanted her to like him as a person, regardless of any gratitude he felt towards her.
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Shen Ning's actions were the focus of everyone's attention, and several people chatting looked over at the same time.
Green Plum nudged Purple Beauty's shoulder with an exaggerated expression, silently asking: What's going on?
Could her master's house have been raided?
The young lady doesn't like her master, but likes this Mo Lin?
Although her master doesn't have anything worthy of being liked, this Mo Lin is not good enough for the young lady, is he?
Furthermore, if the young lady doesn't stay with the master, what will happen to her and Ziyan in the future? Will the young lady still support them?
If they defect to the Shen family, their master probably won't hunt them down, right?
Zi Yan
------Under revision---
Shen Ning was both amused and exasperated, and had no choice but to accept the feeding.
"I don't want to be turned into a lazy good-for-nothing by you. After I finish writing this, I want to ask you to be my apprentice and teach me some skills."
Green Plum: "Why is Miss learning those crooked and evil ways of ours?"
Shen Ning: ...Where would someone admit to practicing crooked or heretical methods?
"After much thought, I've decided to expand my trade routes and continue my money-making venture. I might have to travel around with caravans in the future, so I want to learn some skills for self-defense. However, it might be too late for me to learn martial arts at my age, so I'll learn some more unexpected techniques."
"Making money and traveling the world?" Green Plum grabbed her hand, her eyes brightening. "Miss, take me and Ziyan with you. We'll protect you and do anything for you."
Shen Ning remained silent: "Have you forgotten who your master is?"
Green Plum winked knowingly: "That's just a matter of a word from Miss. Loyalty to the master and loyalty to the mistress are the same."
Shen Ning couldn't stand this: "Don't talk nonsense."
What mistress? That's a pipe dream.
Shen Ning was a studious student, and under the dual charm of money and personality, Lü Mei and Zi Yan naturally taught her wholeheartedly. Even if Shen Ning only learned a little bit, they would praise her to the skies, which would always make Shen Ning glare at them.
With a funeral recently held at home, the New Year celebrations were naturally a bit quiet. Shen Ning didn't create any festive atmosphere. Instead, he gave everyone double their monthly allowance and added New Year's bonuses, allowing those who could go home to celebrate the New Year, while those who couldn't stay at the mansion to have a New Year's Eve dinner together.
Although it was simpler than in previous years and less lively, the host family was understanding of what was happening, and since they still received money, no one was unhappy.
Of course, only the Shen family's residence was deserted; the outside world remained as lively as ever.
Tonight, fireworks will be set off in all directions in Beijing, with dazzling fireworks soaring into the sky and illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime.
The Shen family's residence was relatively close to the palace, and the fireworks displays inside the palace could be clearly seen from the Shen family's attic.
Shen Ning had some fruits and snacks brought upstairs, and everyone gathered around the stove, drinking tea and watching fireworks, enjoying the New Year together.
There weren't many people, including Liu Ying, Yu Zhu, Mo Lin, Mo Xue'er, Lü Mei, and Zi Yan, but they were all around the same age. They sat together chatting and didn't feel sleepy at all.
Shen Ning looked at Mo Lin, who was sitting quietly drinking tea in a corner. This taciturn person had been talking less and less lately.
There weren't many people, but he always managed to be overlooked.
Noticing her gaze, Mo Lin looked up, his cold, hard features seeming to soften a bit: "Young Miss."
Shen Ning walked over and sat down next to him in a very natural and generous manner: "You've worked hard these past few days. If there's anything you need, just let me know. I won't hesitate to agree to anything I can."
Mo Lin tugged at the corners of his lips, as if he wanted to laugh, but his cheeks were stiff. He hadn't laughed for a long time and was really not used to it, so he had to give up in the end.
"It's not hard work, Miss has already given me more than enough."
She saved his and Xue'er's lives, gave them a place to live, and never looked down on Xue'er, always pampering her and granting her every request.
He had already received too much kindness from her and dared not ask for more. His only wish now was to become stronger so that he could stay by her side and prevent anyone from hurting her.
Shen Ning understood what he meant. A debt of gratitude is too heavy, and people will always feel unworthy of it, unable to repay it, so how dare they ask for more?
Shen Ning was both amused and exasperated, and had no choice but to accept the feeding.
"I don't want to be turned into a lazy good-for-nothing by you. After I finish writing this, I want to ask you to be my apprentice and teach me some skills."
Green Plum: "Why is Miss learning those crooked and evil ways of ours?"
Shen Ning: ...Where would someone admit to practicing crooked or heretical methods?
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