Zhu Xiangyao’s voice was cold. "You have no say in this."
She struck out with a palm, intending to grab Zhu Yanyi and leave. She believed no one had noticed her attempt to stop her. However, Zhu Yanyi was not someone she could easily catch. Before her hand reached her, she shifted her steps and dodged gracefully. Luo Gang appeared instantly, punching Zhu Xiangyao and sending her flying.
Zhu Xiangyao hit the ground, his body aching. Although he was a veteran, he sensed a stronger, blood-and-iron aura from Luo Gang than his own. "Who are you?" he asked.
Luo Gang ignored her and turned to Zhu Yanyi. "Miss, are you alright?"
Zhu Yanyi waved her hand slightly. She looked at Zhu Xiangyao. "Uncle Xiangyao, do you know why my family lets me go out alone so freely?" A faint, mischievous smile touched her lips, followed by a sweet grin. "Because I have bodyguards."
She walked past her. "Uncle Xiangyao, if I report that you tried to kidnap me for no reason, do you think you can keep your job? Actually, you won’t keep it anyway once Aunt Qiaolian has her second child. But…" Zhu Yanyi’s voice grew heavy. "Your job is none of my business. I just hope you never appear before me again. If you do, I will hit you every time. That is just how I am."
With that, Zhu Yanyi left, ignoring Zhu Xiangyao’s reaction.
Zhu Xiangyao felt heavy-hearted. She realized clearly that if Zhu Yanyi truly had bodyguards, she could not take her away. Rubbing her painful chest, she frowned. It seemed the plan had failed. She went straight home.
Gan Juhua saw him enter. "Why are you back? Didn’t I tell you to take the people directly to the mountains?" To her, catching a little girl should have been easy for Zhu Xiangyao.
"I wanted to, but I couldn’t take anyone," Zhu Xiangyao said with a bitter smile. Who would have thought Zhu Yanyi had bodyguards?
Zhu Guifu was smoking a pipe. Hearing this, he asked, "What happened?"
"That girl has bodyguards," Zhu Xiangyao frowned. "And I can tell the bodyguard is from the army." Zhu Xiangyao still liked the military, but he had been forced to retire because he lacked the ability to stay.
Zhu Guifu frowned slightly. "You mean Ani has a bodyguard from the army?" Although Zhu Guifu was a scoundrel, he was not ignorant. Having a bodyguard was not normal for an ordinary person.
"Yes," Zhu Xiangyao replied, not thinking too deeply. "It seems taking her to the mountains is impossible. Now I just hope she doesn’t hold a grudge." Zhu Guifu or Gan Juhua might not know, but Zhu Xiangyao did. If Zhu Yanyi could afford an ex-military bodyguard, someone powerful backed her. She assumed it was the Cheng family’s arrangement. Jealousy rose in her heart. Why did the Cheng family help Zhu Shunyao’s family so much but not her? She began to resent Zhu Shunyao.
Zhu Guifu thought for a moment, frowning but saying nothing. Gan Juhua spoke up. "I heard her masters went to the capital. Did they hire these people for her?"