"Why so much nonsense?"

  Ning Yan took the incense box directly and opened it. Mu Shu hurriedly took a few steps back, thinking that even if he couldn't fight back, he had to stay clear-headed while getting beaten!

  The scent first made Ning Yan feel a bit muddled. He instinctively frowned—sure enough, he didn’t like these things. The only exception was the incense made by Bai Qingqing.

  His mind gradually became cluttered, his blood surged, and an urge welled up inside him—an urge to do something, to indulge recklessly. Bit by bit, it eroded his will, making him want to act impulsively without a second thought.

  However, Ning Yan remained indifferent. After experiencing it firsthand, he picked up the prepared "Calm Yourself" sachet from the side and took a light sniff. The restless feeling slowly faded away.

  "As expected, it works."

  Thinking that his own resistance might not be the best measure, he pressed Mu Shu down and made him smell it too.

  Mu Shu, looking aggrieved, had no choice but to comply. His reaction was much stronger. Under the effect of the incense, he even dared to challenge Ning Yan. But after being brought back to his senses by "Wake Up," he silently shrank into a corner, pretending that nothing had happened.

  Ning Yan ignored him, lowering his gaze to the sachet in his hand. Seeing that his life was no longer in danger, Mu Shu shamelessly leaned in again. "Sir, where did this sachet come from? It's amazing! Just one sniff, and I feel completely refreshed. I should get one for myself too."

  Ning Yan flipped his hand and put the sachet away, looking at him with a half-smile. "Sober now? Good. Time to settle accounts."

  "Sir..."

  …

  Bai Qingqing carried pastries from Yani Pavilion as she returned home. As soon as she entered her parents' courtyard, she heard a commotion inside—chickens fpping, dogs barking, and general chaos.

  Dressed in blue, Bai Rui dashed out from inside. Seeing her, he ran straight over. "Sister, help me say something! I was doing a good deed this time!"

  From inside the house, Bai Jinghuai’s furious voice rang out. "A good deed? Not only did you go drinking at a pleasure house, but you even got into a brawl that spilled onto the street! Today, I’m doing a good deed too—I’ll break your legs so you won’t embarrass us outside anymore!"

  He stormed out, clutching a stick. Bai Rui took one look and bolted, running in circles around the courtyard while shouting, "I was really doing a good deed! Dad, can you be reasonable and hear me out?"

  "It doesn’t matter if I listen or not—I'll beat you first, then we’ll talk! Stand still!"

  Bai Qingqing found the scene incredibly familiar and watched with amusement for a moment before stepping inside.

  Inside the house, Madam Qiao listened to the commotion with an expression of complete calm. "This happens every month, and they never seem to tire of it."

  "Mother, I brought these pastries from Yani Pavilion. They taste really good—try some."

  The mother and daughter sat inside, drinking tea and chatting as the noise from the courtyard fluctuated in the background. Strangely enough, the atmosphere was quite cozy.

  After estimating that the time was about right, Madam Qiao dusted off the crumbs from her hands and walked to the door. Bai Jinghuai, now thoroughly exhausted, was panting heavily but still stormed over indignantly. "Wife, just look at him! He’s getting more and more out of hand!"

  Madam Qiao took a handkerchief and gently wiped his sweat. "Think about your age. Do you still think he’s a little boy you can just grab and spank?"

  Bai Jinghuai, enjoying the attention, let her wipe his face. Bai Rui, hiding behind a tree, poked his head out. "Mother, you should talk some sense into Father too! He didn’t even bother figuring out what happened before grabbing the family rod. At his age, isn’t he worried about exhausting himself?"

  Bai Jinghuai bristled with anger again, but Madam Qiao shot him a gre. "Go inside."

  Then she turned to her youngest son. "Come in and expin yourself. If it's truly your fault, you won’t escape the family punishment."

  "...Oh."

  Bai Rui muttered under his breath as he trudged inside. "No one ever takes my side..."