Asking for Trouble, Serena Is Not Pleased

Unfortunately, Left Shore was too busy saving himself at the moment. He couldn’t hear Serena’s inner thoughts, and even if he could, he wouldn’t be able to help. As for Doudou, Left Shore had no solution either.

Doudou, seeing that Serena still hadn’t left, urged her impatiently, "Serena, what are you dawdling for? There’s no time to talk—come on, let’s hurry to the city gate! If we’re late, all the good spots will be gone. I just heard someone say that Young Marshal Colin Si, the famous divine archer, has arrived. Tons of people are going to greet him, and I hear he’s really handsome. He’s brought his elite arrow battalion and will be doing a test shoot outside the city."

Doudou’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Even Simon Sun, who’d just come out, could see his anticipation. But Serena was unmoved, staring into the distance with a cold smile: "Young Marshal Si? Colin Si?" That was fast.

"Yeah, yeah, I think his name is Colin Si. What a weird name." Doudou would never admit he was jealous.

Ugh, why does everyone else have such nice names, and he’s stuck with ‘Dorian Owen’? His master was just lazy, giving him such a silly name.

"No matter how weird other people’s names are, none are as weird as yours," Serena shot Doudou a glare.

She really couldn’t figure out why Doudou kept pestering her. She hadn’t been nice to him lately at all.

These past few days, every time Doudou came to bother her, she’d kick him flat on the ground, leaving him struggling to get up for ages. Yet, no matter what, he’d show up again the next day, acting like a shameless rascal who couldn’t be beaten or scolded away.

"What’s so weird about my name, huh? Serena, don’t think that just because Ninth Royal Uncle protects you, I won’t dare hit you. I’ll say it again—stop calling my name weird." Doudou tried to sound stern, his chubby little face all serious, but it was so funny that Serena couldn’t help but laugh.

Doudou stomped his feet in frustration: "Don’t laugh! Don’t laugh! If you laugh again, if you laugh again..."

"And what if I do?" Serena said mischievously. "Doudou, don’t forget whose house this is. Next time you threaten me, think twice about who’s standing behind me."

"Don’t call me Doudou!" Doudou’s handsome face flushed bright red—mostly from anger. If he hadn’t wanted to go see the excitement at the city gate, he’d probably be rolling on the ground by now, crying that Serena was bullying him.

"Like I enjoy calling you that," Serena muttered, not bothering to argue further. "Aren’t you dying to see the commotion at the city gate? What are you waiting for? Go on, or you’ll lose all the good spots."

Serena instinctively wanted nothing to do with the city gate spectacle—because she herself had once been the biggest spectacle there.

"No way, you have to come with me! You’ve barely left the house lately, and staying cooped up isn’t good for you. If Ninth Royal Uncle found out, he’d be worried sick." Doudou hadn’t forgotten his mission to drag Serena along, and now he came up with a lofty-sounding excuse.

It would’ve been fine if he hadn’t mentioned Ninth Royal Uncle, but now Serena was even more annoyed. Without looking back, she turned away: "Not interested. Go by yourself."

"No, no, no—come on, Serena, come with me!" Doudou, in true Doudou fashion, threw himself down and grabbed onto Serena’s leg.

"I don’t care, I don’t care! You have to come with me. I—"

"Ah—!" Out of reflex, Serena’s legs were suddenly grabbed by Doudou, throwing off her balance and sending her toppling forward.

Doudou’s move was so sudden and Serena so unprepared that, no matter how agile she was, she couldn’t keep her footing.

"Quick, quick—something’s happened to the young lady!" someone shouted. The Valley Master and Dr. Redwater rushed over to watch the excitement, while the others hurried to help Serena. But...

A distant fire can’t put out a nearby blaze—there was a thud, and Serena fell straight to the ground. Luckily, there was a cushion under her.

"Ugh..." The hidden guard who’d become her emergency cushion was on the verge of tears.

He felt like last night’s dinner was about to be squeezed out of him.

Being a hidden guard for Miss Serena really was dangerous work. He wanted to apply for a transfer.

"Serena, are you okay? Are you? I didn’t mean it! If you’re mad, you can kick me a couple more times—I promise not to fight back." Doudou realized he’d caused trouble and scrambled up to help Serena, but Simon Sun beat him to it.

"Master, are you alright?" Simon Sun carefully helped Serena up, looking as tense as if he were facing a deadly enemy.

Doudou was just too dangerous.

Supporting her lower back, Serena waved a tired hand. "I’m fine. Check on him instead."

At her words, the hidden guard shot up from the ground, ignoring his own pain, and shook his head firmly: "I’m fine, Miss."

With that, he vanished.

"Whoa... so fast, such skill!" Doudou was stunned. As an assassin, he hadn’t even noticed anyone nearby.

Well, to be fair, Feng Manor was crawling with people, so it was normal not to notice.

Serena looked at Doudou—the culprit—spacing out again, and her anger flared. Hands on her hips, she yelled, "Dorian Owen!"

"Here!" Doudou answered reflexively. Realizing it was Serena, he immediately put on a pitiful face and begged, "Serena, are you okay? If you’re fine, just take me to the city gate, please—we’re really running out of time."

Serena’s fury instantly deflated.

Getting mad at Doudou was pointless—she’d just end up driving herself crazy, since he never understood why she was upset.

Serena took deep breaths, in and out, telling herself to stay calm. Simon Sun watched from the side, thoroughly impressed.

Her composure was getting better and better—after being thrown around like that, she could still laugh.

After finally tamping down her anger, Serena forced out a very fake smile. "If you want to go to the city gate, go yourself. Turn left at the door—I’m not seeing you off."

"No, no, I... I..." Doudou lowered his head, looking embarrassed.

"What’s wrong?" Serena marveled at her own growing patience—thanks to Doudou.

Doudou mustered his courage and blurted out, "I don’t know the way. I’m afraid I’ll get lost—you have to take me!"

As soon as he said it, his whole face turned red. At least the kid knew how to be shy.

"So you dragged me along just so I could show you the way?" Serena said through gritted teeth. If Doudou admitted it, she’d kick him for sure.

With all the people in Feng Manor, of all people Doudou had to pick her. And not only did he pick her, he’d made her take a fall.

Even with someone to cushion the blow, it still hurt quite a bit.

Doudou really wanted to nod and say yes, but seeing Serena’s fierce look, he wisely shook his head and grinned, "Of course not! I heard Young Marshal Si is amazing at archery, so I wanted to see for myself. Your last hidden weapon broke, right? I thought... Since Young Marshal Colin Si is so skilled, he must know all about bows and arrows. I want to ask him for some tips, so I can make you a little sleeve arrow—for killing people more easily."

Oh wow, he really was clever—coming up with such a perfect excuse on the spot. Hahaha, Doudou was a genius.

"Really?" Serena was clearly skeptical, but Doudou nodded with determination. "Absolutely!" At this point, even if it wasn’t true, it had to be.

"Alright then, I’ll go with you—just make sure you finish my sleeve arrow when we get back." Doudou was digging his own grave, and Serena was happy to help.

Seeing how unconcerned Doudou looked, Serena added, "You can’t have anyone else do it—especially not Left Shore. If you’re going to make me a hidden weapon for self-defense, you have to do it all yourself."

Uh... why does it have to be like this?

Doudou’s smile froze instantly. He looked as miserable as Ninth Royal Uncle did when he saw Serena’s half-blackened letter.

What was written in those blacked-out lines?

What was it, anyway?