"You're not going?" The Eldest Miss narrowed her eyes at her younger brother and enunciated every word. "I went through all that trouble and pulled every string I could, relying on our ancestors' old friendship to invite Senior Sister Zhang here for you, and you say you're not going? I'll give you one chance to answer again!"
"Not going!" Seventh Young Master shrank his neck, but his mouth still refused.
"Zhao! Jingfan!" The Eldest Miss clenched her fists. "Don't make me beat you the moment I get back!"
Hearing that familiar clipped phrasing, Seventh Young Master seemed to recall some painful memory. Even his reply grew much quieter. "Zheng Fa carries back piles of books every day and stays up late drawing these Talisman Diagrams for me..."
The Eldest Miss froze slightly. The anger on her face gradually stiffened, as though she had not expected him to give such a reason.
Seventh Young Master continued, "He works so hard. If I suddenly tell him not to teach me anymore, won't he think all his painstaking effort was wasted? Wouldn't he think I look down on him? How could I be so disloyal?"
"That's why?"
Seventh Young Master nodded, sounding somewhat dejected. "If not for how hard he works, I would've run off long ago. Could a tiny little vine really stop me?"
The Eldest Miss looked at her brother. The anger on her face slowly faded, replaced instead by a faint smile. "We haven't seen each other for ten years. I was worried you'd grown crooked, but it seems you're a little more sensible than I thought."
"I'm not stupid. How could I not know who treats me well?" Hearing his sister praise him, Seventh Young Master snorted proudly. "Anyway, Zheng Fa will teach me! I think I've improved a