Chapter 37: Chapter 37: He’s Not Going to Hit Someone, Is He?

The guard spoke, his tone apologetic.

"So, the situation is delicate. I must remain by the Lord County Magistrate’s side, so I won’t be able to come and pick Miss Shen up in a couple of days."

But Shen Ningning was very worried. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

The guard gave a resigned smile. "Lord County Magistrate doesn’t want Miss Shen to get involved. He said that if you were to ask, I should just tell you he’s gone to an outer county for an inspection and won’t be back for a while."

Unfortunately, the little one was too smart and immediately noticed the change in the guard’s expression.

Looking at her big, clear eyes, the guard naturally didn’t want to lie to her.

Shen Ningning lowered her long lashes, her expression dimming on her small, fair, round face.

’Grandpa County Magistrate must not want her to worry.’

The little one raised her glistening eyes. "I understand, Brother Guard. I won’t cause any trouble for Grandpa Fu."

She boarded the carriage and headed for the private academy, already thinking about how she could help.

Just as Shen Ningning’s carriage departed, Mo Lingwei’s carriage entered Xiangyun Village from another main road.

This time, guards cleared the way, their presence grim and imposing.

When had the villagers of Xiangyun Village ever seen such a spectacle? They rushed to the entrance to watch.

An ornate carriage was being pulled by two fine, date-red horses.

A guard stood outside the carriage, bowing as he spoke to someone behind the hanging curtains.

The old village chief was puzzled. "What’s been going on in our village lately? Why do so many distinguished guests keep showing up?"

His grandson said in pleasant surprise, "Could it be that Little Wolf Sister did another good deed, and they’ve come to thank us?"

Just then, one of Mo Lingwei’s guards stepped forward.

"Is there a four-year-old child in your village named Shen Ningning?"

"Yes, there is!"

"Is she... still alive?" the guard asked cautiously.

The villagers were taken aback.

The old village chief found this odd and said, "Of course! Ningning is alive and well. I just saw her yesterday at her house in the village."

After speaking, he turned and pointed deeper into the village.

The guard, looking immensely relieved, turned and hurried back to the side of the carriage to report the news.

The villagers stared at the carriage, even more bewildered.

’Just who was this important person, acting so mysteriously?’

A moment later, a hand with well-defined knuckles, adorned with Buddha Beads, pushed aside the carriage curtain.

A handsome, cold, and noble youthful face was revealed.

Mo Lingwei was dressed in a red robe embroidered with cranes, his Golden Dragon Crown dazzling. Beneath a pair of jet-black, sword-like brows, his eyes were somber and deep.

He disembarked directly from the carriage and walked before the dumbfounded villagers.

"Is Shen Ningning at home right now?" Mo Lingwei asked.

His voice was as clear and cold as his temperament—like a piece of frigid Jade, yet laced with a dangerous, baleful aura.

It made one afraid to look directly into his eyes.

The old village chief, stunned for a moment, couldn’t help but stutter, "Sh-sh-she... she went to school today."

’School?’

Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow.

’Shen Ningning is doing better than I imagined.’

"When will she be back?" he pressed.

The old village chief scratched his head. "Uhm... in two days, I think?"

’Two days...’

Mo Lingwei considered this. ’I have to pass through here on my way to the Capital for some business. If all goes well, I can be back in about two days.’

But there was no rush to leave just yet. He raised his head and said in a mild tone, "Take me to see her house."

"Yes, right this way, sir." The old village chief hastily led the way.

The guards followed behind them in an orderly formation.

Seeing that each man was clad in brocade and carried a long sword, the villagers only dared to watch from a distance.

Sister-in-law Liu was astonished. "Good heavens! What kind of lucky star is Ningning born under? How important must this official be?"

’This young man is clearly no ordinary person!’

Her husband, Uncle Liu, on the other hand, frowned with great vigilance.

"It’s a year of disaster, and there are many who steal children. No matter what he’s here for, we need to ask him straight." As he spoke, he grabbed the carrying pole for his water buckets and hurried after them.

"Hey!" Sister-in-law Liu was scared out of her wits. "You fool, don’t go!"

Mo Lingwei entered Shen Ningning’s village house.

The house had been recently renovated. The paint was still drying, and it was nearly finished, just needing a final layer on the roof.

His dark, somber eyes swept over the arrangements in the courtyard.

’She had a home but wouldn’t return, choosing to live in a cave with a wolf instead. Was she suffering in a place like this?’

Not knowing the purpose of his visit, the old village chief explained from the side, "Ningning used to live here all this time."

Just then, Uncle Liu, who had shaken off Sister-in-law Liu, caught up to them.

"What exactly are you here for? Why are you looking for Ningning?" Uncle Liu demanded, clutching his carrying pole fearlessly.

Mo Lingwei shot him a cold, sideways glance.

A guard immediately drew his Cold Sword and pointed it at Uncle Liu, ready to strike.

But he was stopped by Mo Lingwei’s calm voice. "Lower your sword."

"Yes, sir." The guard sheathed his sword and fell back.

But Uncle Liu remained unafraid, still standing his ground and waiting for an answer.

Sister-in-law Liu, who had just caught up, said hurriedly with trembling legs, "Your Excellency, my lord, please don’t be angry with this fool of mine!"

"Ningning is our village’s benefactor. She’s so young and lives with just her grandmother. She was almost abducted by traffickers not long ago!"

"That’s why we’re so worried about your intentions. We’ve been terribly rude, please don’t take offense!"

Mo Lingwei slowly raised an eyebrow, his expression nuanced. "She is my benefactor as well."

"I am looking for her to repay a debt, of course." His tone was commanding, leaving no room for doubt.

Meanwhile, Shen Ningning had arrived at the private academy.

When her classmates saw her arrive with a food box, they couldn’t help but gather around.

"Ningning, did you bring more delicious food today?"

"Can I have a taste at lunchtime?"

The little one, dressed in a bright yellow outfit, smiled sweetly. Like a small butterfly fluttering, she was surrounded by a group of smiling faces as bright as flowers.

"Of course! My grandmother made lots of food for me to bring and share with everyone!"

The classmates immediately let out a happy cheer.

Just then, Lan Qian walked past her with a smug look.

"Shen Ningning, you’re done for today!" she said with a malicious smirk, then turned and entered the classroom.

The little one was completely bewildered. "Finished? What’s finished?"

A kind-hearted classmate beside her whispered a reminder, "Ningning, today... Lu Shaoyuan is here."

The name sounded familiar. Shen Ningning paused for a moment before she remembered.

He was the one whose seat she had taken, which had sent Lan Qian into a rage.

The little one stepped into the classroom in her pristine white embroidered shoes.

Sure enough, someone was already sitting in the seat Mr. Huang had assigned her.

He looked to be only about three years older than her.

He was handsome, but the eyes staring at Shen Ningning were like piercing, burning thorns.

Lan Qian stood beside him, adding fuel to the fire with a sly grin. "Brother Shao Yuan, I already told her this is your seat, but she still refuses to give it up."

"She even said that if you had the nerve, you should come back and take it up with the teacher yourself."

Some of the other students couldn’t stand it and retorted on Shen Ningning’s behalf, "Ningning never said that! Stop twisting the truth!"

Lan Qian shot them all a glare.

’Still helping Shen Ningning?’

’Just wait until Lu Shaoyuan loses his temper. This whole group will go mute. They won’t dare to so much as fart!’

Lu Shaoyuan was notorious at the academy for his terrible temper.

He had gotten into a fight once and badly injured another student’s eye, and his family had to pay a great deal of Silver in compensation.

Shen Ningning blinked her glistening eyes and walked over to Lu Shaoyuan.

Her voice was soft and sweet. "Mr. Huang gave me this seat. If you sit here, where will I sit?"

The moment she said this, the other students gasped.

Lan Qian had a sly grin on her face, her expression one of eager anticipation for the drama to unfold.

Lu Shaoyuan stood up abruptly. He was lean, but still a full head taller than Shen Ningning.

"So you’re Shen Ningning?" he asked, his eyes filled with a scrutinizing gaze.

The little one nodded silently.

The expression in Lu Shaoyuan’s eyes flickered, changing in an instant.

The other students broke out in a cold sweat for her.

’What’s he going to do? He’s not going to hit her, is he?’