The Rogue Villager Chen Erbao

Song Rui wanted to leave, but he was afraid Zhao Ruoying would say something reckless. If she drew everyone's attention to him, he would be completely finished.

'So, the more anxious I get, the more important it is not to lose my composure!'

His mind raced as he desperately searched for a way out.

Time ticked by, and soon it was noon.

"Mom, Xiang'Er, Ruoying, I'll go get some food for you all. You must be starving..."

Song Rui said, getting to his feet.

"I'm on a diet, brother-in-law. I don't want to eat."

Zhao Xiang'Er, who was standing watch by the door with Zhao Ruoying, refused Song Rui's offer.

Zhao Qi also shook her head.

"I can't eat a thing."

'She was filled with a burning rage. She was already full of anger—as if she could eat a damned thing!'

Han Yi and Zhao Ruoying, on the other hand, were famished. Fang Yi also seemed quite exhausted.

"Tell the kitchen to make something light. Your father might be able to eat a little this afternoon."

Han Yi said wearily, rubbing her temples.

"Of course, Mom!"

It was a little unexpected that Zhao Xiang'Er and Zhao Qi weren't eating, but it hardly mattered.

'Those two have zero fight in them, and they're simple-minded. One's a naive fool and the other's a fucking idiot. I can handle them!'

Song Rui went to the end of the hallway and called for the butler, telling him to prepare their meal.

When he returned, he found Zhao Ruoying's eyes fixed on him.

'Afraid I'll make a run for it?'

Song Rui sneered inwardly.

'If there's enough time later, I'll give you a fucking good time!' he thought venomously.

The Zhao Family Manor employed a team of professional chefs, so in just twenty minutes, a dozen or so dishes were nearly ready.

"Mom, I'll go check on the kitchen."

Song Rui stood up and left.

He went to the kitchen, located in a side courtyard, and picked up the main tureen of soup.

"Is this soup light?"

The head chef nodded.

"Young Master, it's a mushroom-based soup made specially. It's guaranteed to be savory and light."

"Let me have a taste. Our guests today are very tired; we can't afford to be careless."

Song Rui held the spoon between his thumb and forefinger and scooped up some mushroom soup. As he did, his ring finger and pinky subtly twitched a couple of times.

He took a sip and nodded with a sound of approval.

"Mm, this soup is perfect. Go ahead and serve it."

With that, he turned and left.

Zhao Ruoying was getting drowsy. She was dozing on a stool, leaning against the door, when she suddenly heard footsteps.

"The food is ready. Everyone, come and eat."

It was Song Rui.

The dining room was adjacent to the living room. The group moved to the dining table and took their seats.

Once all the dishes had been served, they began to eat.

Zhao Qi and Zhao Xiang'Er had no appetite and remained at the doorway, continuing their watch.

Zhao Ruoying only felt comfortable enough to come eat because Zhao Xiang'Er was there.

Song Rui stood up, soup ladle in hand, and began to serve the mushroom soup from the tureen.

"The chef was just telling me this soup is made from fresh mushrooms they bought today. It smells incredible. Everyone, have a taste."

He walked over to Fang Yi first, stirred the soup a couple of times with the ladle, and a rich aroma wafted across the entire table.

"Mr. Fang, you're our guest. Please, be the first to try it."

Fang Yi nodded and held out his bowl.

Song Rui ladled out a spoonful and was just about to pour it into Fang Yi's bowl when a voice suddenly called out from the stairwell.

"What's this about mushroom soup? Let me have a taste, will ya?"

At the sound of this voice, everyone's faces lit up with surprise and they all rose to their feet.

Song Rui's expression stiffened, his hand, holding the ladle, frozen in mid-air.

He turned his head and saw Chen Erbao walking toward him, a cold smirk on his face.

THUMP... THUMP... THUMP...

Song Rui stared into Chen Erbao's eyes and saw only mockery and derision in their depths.

He could almost hear his own heart pounding, and his arm began to tremble uncontrollably.

'He couldn't possibly know...'

'He was sleeping just now, how could he possibly know?'

'Perfect. I'll just serve him a bowl, too. Save myself the trouble later and get rid of this disgusting bastard for good...'

'No, something's wrong. Of all the times to wake up, why now? What if he's discovered something...?'

'No, I can't risk it...'

A thousand thoughts flashed through Song Rui's mind, but he dismissed them one by one. Finally, under Chen Erbao's cold gaze, he chose to play it safe.

CRASH!

The soup bowl suddenly fell to the floor. The sharp, cracking sound startled everyone. The large porcelain bowl shattered into two pieces, spilling its entire contents onto the ground as the savory aroma filled the air.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, so sorry, Mr. Fang! I lost my grip... Let me get that for you..."

Some of the soup had splashed onto Fang Yi's pant leg. Song Rui apologized profusely as he grabbed a nearby cloth and knelt to wipe it for him.

Fang Yi, however, wasn't bothered by such a small detail. He took the cloth and began wiping his trousers himself.

Chen Erbao's eyes narrowed. He glanced at Fang Yi and let out a sigh.

"It seems I arrived at an inconvenient moment. A perfectly good bowl of soup, wasted. It's all my fault!"

"Not at all, you've arrived at the perfect time! Just in time to eat. Butler, have the kitchen prepare another serving! Divine Doctor Chen, please, have a seat. We owe you so much for today. If it weren't for you..."

Song Rui walked over, pulled out a chair for Chen Erbao, and began arranging the place setting with a smile.

Chen Erbao sat down nonchalantly, grabbed Song Rui's arm, took the utensils from him, and looked up to ask,

"If it weren't for me, what?"

Song Rui stared into his eyes for two seconds, the corner of his mouth twitching as he forced a smile.

"If it weren't for you... my father-in-law would have been in real danger!"

Chen Erbao remained expressionless. He didn't release his grip, but simply stared at him coldly.

Song Rui struggled to make his smile look more natural as he met Chen Erbao's gaze.

The two stared at each other for a moment until the atmosphere grew thick. Then, Chen Erbao let out a sudden laugh.

"I'm so exhausted today, I've completely forgotten what I was going to say... Let's all eat first. After the meal, I'll get right to treating Mr. Zhao!"

"Hahahaha, yes, let's eat, let's eat!"

Song Rui also roared with laughter. One moment he was putting food on Han Yi's plate, the next he was describing the dishes to Fang Yi. The table was suddenly filled with cheerful laughter.

The "harmonious" lunch soon concluded, with everyone appearing to have enjoyed themselves.

A housekeeper came to clear the table, and the group returned to the living room.

"Divine Doctor Chen, is my husband's condition serious?"

Led by Chen Erbao, the group entered Zhao Feng's room once more.

Han Yi asked worriedly, her eyes on the sleeping Zhao Feng.

Although Zhao Feng hadn't woken up, his complexion looked much better than before. He at least looked like a normal, sleeping middle-aged man.

Chen Erbao took out a set of acupuncture needles, lit a candle, and began sterilizing the silver needles in the flame.

"Mr. Zhao isn't ill," Chen Erbao said seriously as he continued to sterilize the needles, his gaze sweeping over the group, "he's been poisoned."

"Poison?"

Everyone was shocked. Even Fang Yi was stunned.

His face filled with doubt.

"Impossible. I personally reviewed Mr. Zhao's medical reports from his checkup abroad. He was in perfect health, with no signs of poisoning whatsoever!"

Han Yi and the Zhao sisters were terrified.

'Someone poisoned him?'

"Brother Chen, who was it? Who used poison?"

Zhao Xiang'Er asked, standing up with a look of disbelief on her face.

Han Yi and Zhao Ruoying exchanged a glance, a sense of dread dawning on them as the situation suddenly felt far more complex.

"Divine Doctor Chen, tell us! Who poisoned my father-in-law?!"

Song Rui's face was a mask of fury, his expression vicious and his fists clenched so tight his knuckles were white.

Chen Erbao's gaze swept across the room. He paused for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"I don't know who administered the poison. But I am certain it's someone Mr. Zhao interacts with on a regular basis."

At his words, the four members of the Zhao family stared at one another in stunned silence.

'The poisoner is one of us!'

A horrifying thought surfaced in their minds.

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