When Serena Feng returned from the Yun family, daylight was already in full bloom. Fortunately, she was used to pulling all-nighters; even after a sleepless night, her spirits were high. With just a quick wash and change, she looked so fresh and radiant that it made others jealous.
After finishing breakfast, Serena took the gifts prepared by the steward and set out to visit the Wang family. She had just stepped out the main gate when Summer blocked her way.
"M-miss..." Summer hesitated, but Serena didn't have time to waste. She gestured for Summer to speak quickly, or else she would leave.
Summer dared not hesitate any longer and immediately explained her purpose: "Miss, Young Master Owen (Dorian Owen, Lord Bean) is asking you to come over."
"Young Master Owen? Who's that?" Serena looked confused; she didn't recall knowing anyone with the surname Owen. (She is referring to Dorian Owen, codename Lord Bean.)
"It's the assassin we caught last night," Summer hurried to explain. Because Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) and Zuo An had a special connection, and Serena had rushed out yesterday without saying how to deal with Dorian Owen, no one at Feng Manor dared disrespect him.
"You mean that idiot assassin?" Serena frowned. "What does Dorian Owen—Lord Bean—want with me? Is he planning to try killing me again?"
Summer shook her head. "I don't know either. Yesterday, Young Master Zuo An gave instructions, so I wouldn't dare neglect Young Master Owen (Dorian Owen, Lord Bean)." This was Summer's way of telling Serena that she wasn't taking it upon herself to honor an assassin.
"Got it. I'll go take a look." After all, it was necessary to clarify how Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) would be dealt with.
To repay evil with kindness—then how would you repay kindness? Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) tried to kill her; letting him off was impossible. But taking his life seemed equally out of the question.
Serena was still pondering how to deal with Dorian Owen (Lord Bean), when he acted as if they were old friends. As soon as Serena entered, he called out, "Serena Feng, hurry up and bandage your Lord Bean's wounds. I'm in agony over here!"
Zuo An had only instructed them to keep a close eye on Dorian Owen (Lord Bean), not to treat his wounds. Dorian Owen was still wearing yesterday's blood-soaked clothes; the bleeding had stopped, but dried blood covered him, making him look pretty miserable.
"You want me to bandage your wounds?" Seeing Lord Bean battered and bruised did please Serena, but hearing him ask so matter-of-factly just made her want to strangle him.
Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) might be a big shot in the Assassin Alliance, but that didn't mean Serena owed him anything.
"Of course! You're a doctor, aren't you? Hurry up and bandage all my wounds." Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) was so righteous and entitled that even the guards and maids stared at him in disbelief.
This assassin must have taken a hit to the head—how dare he ask Miss Feng to treat his wounds? Seriously... he was begging for a beating!
Serena took a deep breath, half-smiling as she said, "Just because I'm a doctor, I have to bandage your wounds? What kind of logic is that?"
"Obviously. If you need wounds bandaged, who else would you go to but a doctor?" Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) looked at her like she was the dumb one.
"You're right, I'm a doctor, so it's not wrong to ask me to treat your wounds. But have you forgotten who you are—and who I am?" Serena stepped closer, leaning in.
Seeing the cold sharpness in Serena's eyes, Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) finally sensed something was off and instinctively backed away. "W-what do you mean by that?"
"Don't you get what I mean, Lord Bean? You're an assassin, and I'm your target. Do you really think I'd be dumb enough to heal you up so you can try killing me again? I'd have to be some kind of saint to save the person who wants me dead. I'm not you, Lord Bean—my brain hasn't been crushed by a door."
"Fine, I won't kill you anymore," Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) replied, as if it were no big deal. He wasn't Zuo An—he didn't have to finish every job he took. If Lord Bean felt like it, he'd do it; if not, no one could force him.
Serena snorted. "Lord Bean, I think you've got it twisted. You're the prisoner here. It's not about whether you want to kill me—it's about whether I want to kill you."
"Kill me? You want to kill me?" Lord Bean acted like he'd just heard the funniest joke. "Serena Feng, don't be ridiculous. If you really dared to kill me, you would've done it yesterday. You... you don't have the guts."
Who says Lord Bean is stupid? Who says he's slow? Look, he knows exactly what cards he's holding. No one dares touch him, and that's why he acts so cocky.
"With Zuo An here, I really can't kill you. But I could ruin you. You said I'm a doctor, right? Well, doctors don't just heal—they can kill, too. Believe it or not, I could use just one patch of medicine and turn you into an idiot for life." Serena locked eyes with Dorian Owen (Lord Bean), threatening him.
She thought, even if she couldn't scare Dorian Owen (Lord Bean), at least he'd understand his situation and behave. But instead of being frightened, Dorian Owen got excited: "Are you serious? You really have that kind of drug? Where is it, where is it, hurry, give me one! Hahaha... I'll feed it to Zuo An and turn him into a little idiot."
Ignoring his own injuries, Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) reached out to grab Serena's sleeve.
As an assassin, Dorian Owen (Lord Bean)'s movements were lightning fast. Serena saw it coming but couldn't dodge, so she could only watch as his bloody hand smeared her clothes.
"Let go!" Serena ground her teeth in anger.
She still needed to visit the Wang family, but now she'd have to change her clothes again.
"No way. Serena Feng, I'm begging you, please! Just give me a dose of that medicine that makes people stupid, okay? I'll buy it with silver if I have to—name your price, I promise I won't haggle." Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) pleaded pitifully. Anyone watching might think he and Serena were close friends.
How thick-skinned did you have to be to react like that?
Serena ground her teeth, reminding herself again and again not to stoop to the level of this idiot—he'd drive a saint insane just by breathing.
Serena yanked her sleeve free with force. No surprise—the sleeve was wrinkled and stained with blood. No way she could meet anyone like this.
"Serena Feng, I'm begging you." Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) didn't care if she was angry; he only cared about getting what he wanted. He reached out again to grab her clothes.
"Lord Bean, don't push your luck." Serena retreated three steps, pressing her back to the wall to finally dodge his grab.
"I don't care, I don't care, Serena Feng, just sell me one dose. I'll pay you in silver."
Serena sneered and ignored him. Seeing that begging wasn't working, Dorian Owen (Lord Bean)'s eyes darted around, and he said slyly, "Serena, think about it—if we teamed up to turn Zuo An into an idiot, wouldn't that be satisfying? He's the number one assassin right now! If we make him a fool, put a rope around his neck, hang a sign that says 'I'm killer Zuo An' on his chest, and parade him around every day, wouldn't that be hilarious?"
When pleading didn't work, Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) switched tactics and tried to drag Serena into his scheme, endlessly listing the 'benefits' of drugging Zuo An into stupidity.
Serena already thought Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) was an idiot, but now she could only ask the heavens—did the gods mess up? Did Dorian Owen and Zed get swapped at birth?
One was clearly an adult, yet acted like a dumb child; the other was a kid who looked adorable but was more ruthless and cunning than any grown-up. If only those two could switch places, the world would finally have some peace.
Seeing Serena silent, Dorian Owen (Lord Bean) kept counting on his fingers, rattling off all the fun things they could do to Zuo An if he was drugged stupid, his eyes sparkling with excitement as if he'd already succeeded.
Serena could only rub her forehead in defeat. As Dorian gleefully fantasized about torturing Zuo An a hundred different ways, she finally lost patience and yelled, "Zuo An! Get in here and deal with this idiot!"