Young Master Zhou didn't expect something so interesting to happen on his visit to Huashu Study. He and Ludovic had been watching the whole thing from the beginning.
"Brother, brother, help me." Ragnar saw Young Master Zhou and shouted. His face was bruised and swollen, blood flowing from his nose.
A flash of disgust passed through Young Master Zhou's eyes. He really didn't want to admit this was his cousin. So foolish and cowardly. Always bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Using the family name to cause trouble in Danyang City. Their father had long planned to deal with his family.
"Shut up," Young Master Zhou said lightly.
Ragnar immediately closed his mouth.
Aenwyn saw more people coming and released her foot. "Want to stand up for him?"
She asked Young Master Zhou. This man had been shot with an arrow by Indigo earlier, but it seemed he had mostly recovered.
Her eye makeup made her eyes look longer, and her large pupils gave her a bit of innocence, even though her tone was cold and proud.
Young Master Zhou smiled. "He was no match and asked for it himself. Why should I defend him?"
Ludovic looked at Aenwyn and felt she looked familiar. He couldn't recall where he had seen her. His expression remained calm. This was a Zhou family matter.
Ragnar climbed up. "Brother, this brat humiliated our Zhou family in public!" He was furious. Though he had caused trouble for years, this was the first time someone had stepped on his face in front of a crowd.
If he didn't take revenge now, how could he survive in Danyang City?
"You got slapped, fine. But don't drag the Zhou family into everything," Young Master Zhou said with a smirk.
Aenwyn didn't want to get entangled. Since the newcomer wasn't taking his side, she planned to leave.
She took her book and walked toward the counter. Passing by Ludovic, she said, "Excuse me."
As they brushed shoulders, their clothes briefly touched, and Ludovic's heart skipped a beat.
He lowered his head to look at her. He felt an odd sense of affection.
Aenwyn also thought the world was small. Another familiar face. They had met recently at the medical clinic.
His refined features and aura stood out. Compared to Indigo, he was a completely different kind of man.
Graceful as jade, a young master like no other.
She wondered if she might get the chance to sketch him. She had never drawn a man with such a unique aura.
Intrigued, Aenwyn gave him a rare polite smile.
Young Master Zhou saw her leaving.
"Hold on. Even if he was wrong, you still hit someone. Don't you think you should give some explanation?" His tone was serious.
What more did he want? An apology? He was clearly the one who started it. Aenwyn turned back, irritated.
She didn't have a bad impression of him. After all, she had just spent his silver.
Aenwyn's dark pupils stared at him. Young Master Zhou stepped back. He hadn't intended to stop her, but he just felt uneasy watching her walk away.
It had been a long time since Young Master Zhou met someone this interesting. Not just the looks, but the attitude too.
But when she stood in front of him, he suddenly ran out of words. He hadn't meant to pick a fight.
Young Master Zhou's gaze scanned him from head to toe, finally stopping at his slim waist.
Aenwyn got annoyed. Where was he looking? He had already touched her before. Even now, dressed as a man, was he still interested?
But that was a misunderstanding. Young Master Zhou was looking at the badge on her waist.
"So you're joining the Huashu Gathering too," he said.
"You're good at painting and calligraphy?"
Aenwyn raised an eyebrow, not sure what he was getting at. "I know a bit," she said with a pressed lip.
"Perfect. Break her hand and see how she draws," Ragnar said viciously.
Aenwyn was truly angry now. Her fury surged inside. Her hands were what she cared about most, more than her face.
"That's too much," Ludovic frowned and said to Ragnar.
Young Master Zhou kicked Ragnar aside. "You're a disgrace."
Ragnar tumbled, then quickly got back up. Even though he was high and mighty, no one around dared help him.
He was actually very afraid of Young Master Zhou. Though he called him "brother" all the time, this man was the little tyrant of the capital and the rightful heir of the Zhou family. Ragnar had no status to oppose him.
Hatred flashed in Ragnar's eyes, but after getting kicked, he didn't dare make a sound.
"Since you're good at drawing, if you can make me laugh with a sketch, then we'll forget what happened today," Young Master Zhou said, straightening his robe. He smiled confidently, full of energy and charm.
Aenwyn looked up at him. "Can you make sure he won't bother me again?" She pointed at Ragnar.
She didn't want trouble from the local bullies. Besides, Indigo was still injured.
She couldn't just stand there and get beaten either.
"If you can do it, I can guarantee it," Young Master Zhou said.
"Fine."
Manager Ye watched the scene and called someone to prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
"I don't need that," Aenwyn said.
Time was getting late and she was hungry. She wanted to finish quickly. "Do you have charcoal pencils?" she asked.
Manager Ye paused, then said, "Yes." Charcoal pencils had only appeared in recent years, mainly for convenience. Scholars rarely used them.
"Go to my room and bring a charcoal pencil," he told the assistant.
While they went to fetch it, Aenwyn picked her own paper. Sketching paper couldn't be traditional rice paper. She chose a stiff kind of invitation card paper.
The paper was white, tough, and lightly scented. Not perfect, but good enough. It wasn't going to be a real artwork, just something to make someone laugh.
"Young master, what's he planning to do?" Servant Mo asked Ludovic. All this charcoal and special paper confused him.
Ludovic shook his head. "Let's wait and see."
A crowd had already gathered, but when they heard someone would be painting on the spot, even more people came, surrounding the area in layers.
Young Master Zhou frowned and ordered the area to be cleared.
Once the crowd backed off a bit, Aenwyn started painting.
She began playfully, casually scribbling a few strokes like a child drawing. The crowd began whispering, many shaking their heads. It was clear she had no idea how to paint.
Ragnar watched her with a dark smile.
Young Master Zhou, on the other hand, looked entertained. "Ludovic, what do you think?"
"No idea."
"But judging by how confident she looks, she probably isn't just scribbling randomly."
Aenwyn kept painting, occasionally looking up at Young Master Zhou.
"Why does she keep looking at me?"
"Seems like she's drawing you," Ludovic laughed. From the outline, it looked like a human figure.
Young Master Zhou pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Drawing him? Was she not afraid of angering him if she didn't do it well?
Portraits like this were not easy to paint.
What they didn't know was that the portraits of the ten noble ladies of the capital had each been revised multiple times. It had taken over ten days before the women were satisfied.
Yes, Aenwyn was drawing this nobleman. And it was in chibi style.
No reason. It was just the fastest way.
In a few strokes, a lively chibi version of Young Master Zhou appeared on paper, looking both proud and adorable.
Now, no one spoke. They secretly stared at Young Master Zhou, shocked. His features were exaggerated and odd, yet it still looked just like him.
And to make such a noble figure look that cute?
The person being drawn was quite pleased. "Interesting."
Ludovic glanced at Aenwyn. To outsiders, it looked fun, but to those who understood, her brushwork was not simple at all.
"This is more than just interesting."
"I couldn't do that," said Ludovic.
Young Master Zhou was surprised. Even Ludovic admitted he couldn't do it when it came to painting.
Shopkeeper Ye stroked his beard and nodded. He had seen many paintings, but never one like this. No matter what happens tomorrow, Hua Book House must have this talent.
Just then, a young servant came over and whispered in Shopkeeper Ye's ear. He gasped, "The master really came?"
"Yes." The servant pointed upstairs.
Shopkeeper Ye looked up. "Ridiculous."
The master was in such poor health, and they still let him come out? This was outrageous. He rushed off quickly.
Aenwyn then started painting Ragnar.
In her painting, Ragnar looked fierce and vicious, with a clear scar on his forehead. That obvious mark made it easy to recognize him even without seeing the rest.
Ragnar was furious and tried to tear up the drawing, but someone stopped him.
"What are you doing?"
"I think it looks great," Young Master Zhou said with a smile. It really was a good drawing, just not flattering.
As the painting neared completion, everyone could tell it depicted the moment Young Master Zhou had kicked Ragnar earlier. It was clearly a form of mockery. Ludovic chuckled. She was definitely a proud one.
The chibi scene was funny and exaggerated. Ragnar's fierce personality was vividly captured. One looked bright and elegant, the other crude and mean.
At the end, Aenwyn habitually left her mark, a hidden set of initials.
The handsome nobleman paused when he saw it. That beauty painting
He had studied it day and night. Even though the symbols were well hidden, he recognized them.
Could it be, she was the one who painted that portrait? Ludovic was shocked and suspicious.
"Hahaha, excellent." Young Master Zhou couldn't hold back his grin. He took the drawing like a treasure.
Aenwyn smiled slightly. If the goal was to make people laugh, what could do it better than a chibi drawing?
"It's yours. Now please keep your word, and don't let him bother me again." She looked at Ragnar.
"I gave my word. I won't go back on it." Young Master Zhou pulled Ragnar aside. "Did you hear that?" His gaze made it clear Ragnar had no choice.
Ragnar gritted his teeth. "Fine." Then left with his men.
His anger burned like fire. He refused to believe Young Master Zhou could protect her forever. This wasn't over.
With everything settled, Aenwyn was about to leave when a strong arm wrapped around her neck.
"I like you. Let's go drink." Young Master Zhou, strong as iron, dragged her away.
"Let go of me." Aenwyn was furious. What was wrong with these people, always getting handsy?
"No." He said as he leaned in, sniffing her.
"You smell nice," he said.