Respect Yourself, I Return the Same Words to You

Her apricot-colored long dress was wrinkled across the bodice, the hem stained with blood and filth. Sweat had plastered stray hairs across her forehead. Compared to Charlotte Chase’s elegant composure, Serena looked utterly disheveled.

“I apologize for my appearance,” Serena said calmly, not caring in the slightest about how she looked.

Charlotte Chase felt awkward, stepping back with a hint of embarrassment. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you…” She’d thought Serena was avoiding her, not that she truly wasn’t fit to receive guests.

“It’s nothing, just a trivial matter. Please don’t worry about it, Miss Chase. What brings you here?” Serena didn’t waste time on small talk, getting straight to the point.

Both carriages were surrounded by guards, so ordinary people wouldn’t dare approach. The quiet lane had no shops nearby, making it unlikely anyone else would witness their conversation.

Thinking of this, Charlotte Chase regained her composure and spoke: “Miss Feng, I came to thank you. My father fell ill on the road, and Simon Sun—the Little Divine Doctor—saved him. I wanted to bring a small gift in person, but…”

She didn’t finish, but both of them understood the implication.

The truth was, Serena didn’t live in her own manor anymore—she’d moved into Ninth Prince Manor, making it hard for Charlotte Chu to find her.

Serena smiled, pretending not to notice the hidden meaning. “There’s no need for thanks, Miss Chase. Healing the sick is a doctor’s duty—Simon Sun just did what any physician ought to. He doesn’t deserve special gratitude.”

“You’re right, Miss Chase. I was overthinking it. Simon Sun said the same, but I couldn’t let it go. Hearing you say this, I finally feel at ease.” Charlotte Chase looked grateful, but in the next breath, her tone sharpened: “Simon Sun did only what was expected of him—just as we all ought to do what is expected of us. Defying convention may look romantic, but not everyone has the privilege to do so.”

Serena’s stay in Ninth Prince Manor had become everyone’s favorite weapon against her—a headache neither she nor Ninth Royal Uncle (Nolan Dongling) had anticipated.

To them, it was just a matter between the two of them. Ninth Royal Uncle (Nolan Dongling) wanted Serena close, never imagining how much trouble it would bring her.

Everyone has to answer for their own choices, right or wrong. Serena wasn’t angered by Charlotte Chase’s digs, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t strike back.

Serena gave a cold laugh, arms folded as she sized Charlotte Chase up from head to toe, then back again. Only when Charlotte started to squirm did Serena speak, slow and deliberate: “Miss Chase, I’ll return your own words to you.”

With that, she turned to get back in her carriage, but Charlotte Chase blocked her way. “What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.” Serena’s lips curled into a cold smile. “If you didn’t understand, let me spell it out. Defying convention may look romantic, but not everyone has the privilege. This world is always harsher to women. If a man publicly likes someone, people say he’s young and passionate. If he flirts with many women, he’s called charming. But a woman who admits her feelings is called shameless. A woman tangled up with several men? She’s branded a whore.”

Serena spoke lightly, but Charlotte Chase’s face went pale. She staggered back, and if her maid hadn’t caught her, she would’ve collapsed right there.

“Miss, are you all right?” the maid asked anxiously. Charlotte Chase just shook her head, biting her lip stubbornly as she stared at Serena.

She wasn’t wrong. She’d declared her love for Ninth Royal Uncle, wanted to marry him for the sake of Chu City. She hadn’t rejected the other suitors—not out of vanity, but to find one worthy of carrying Chu City’s burdens. She wasn’t wrong; everything she did was for her city.

“I wasn’t wrong.” Charlotte Chase clenched her fists, her voice trembling.

So while she’d been laughing at Serena, she’d been a joke in other people’s eyes too.

“I don’t think I’m wrong either. But the world doesn’t see it that way. If there’s nothing else, Miss Chase, I’ll be leaving now. As for Simon Sun treating your father—please forget about it. Don’t use this as an excuse to approach Simon again. He took your consultation fee; we’re even. I don’t want anyone dragging my disciple into your city’s mess.” Serena didn’t know what Charlotte Chase was really thinking, but she warned her anyway.

She didn’t want Simon Sun swept up in the chaos of Chu City. To others, Chu City and Charlotte Chu were prizes worth fighting for. To Serena, they were nothing but trouble.

Simon’s world was simple. His future wife could have a powerful background, but she couldn’t be anything like Charlotte Chase.

Charlotte Chase’s dowry was Chu City itself. To marry a woman like her, a man needed nerves of steel—or a background even stronger than hers. Otherwise, he’d be nothing but a live-in son-in-law.

These days, no one respects a live-in son-in-law. Any man with ambition would never marry Charlotte Chase, no matter how much she brought to the table.

After saying goodbye to Charlotte Chu, Serena went back to tending Zed’s wounds. Only by keeping busy could she avoid thinking about all the mess.

Nothing else happened on the road. In the Capital, a carriage bearing the Ninth Prince Manor crest could go anywhere unhindered. Soon, the coachman delivered Serena straight to Feng Manor.

“You can go now.” Serena helped Zed out of the carriage and spoke to the coachman and guards.

“But Miss Feng, we were ordered to protect you. We can’t leave.” The coachman and guards hesitated, refusing to budge.

“No need. My house has guards, and I’m already home—there’s no danger here.” Serena didn’t care whether they left or not; she just told them to go and led Zed into Feng Manor.

Returning to Feng Manor, Serena was happy—and so was Zed. He was finally out of that hellish place and never wanted to go back.

Knock, knock… Serena lifted the iron ring on the vermillion gate and rapped lightly. Soon, the doorkeeper’s voice came from inside: “The master isn’t home—she’s gone to Ten-Li Pavilion outside the city for treatment. If you wish to see her, please leave a calling card. When the master returns, we’ll notify you. The Little Divine Doctor, Simon Sun, is treating patients there.”

It had only been a few days, but Serena felt a strange timidity at the doorstep. She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said softly, “It’s me.”

Just two simple words, but the servant inside shouted with joy, “Miss?”

“It’s me.”

“Quick, quick—open the gate! Miss is back, Miss is back!” The servants inside cheered, so happy they forgot to open the door right away. Serena didn’t mind at all, standing outside with a foolish smile.

See, this was her real home. Here, the welcome wasn’t formal—it was genuine, from the heart.

It wasn’t that the servants treated her like family—they simply knew Serena was the true master of Feng Manor. Only with her here did this place deserve to be called Feng Manor. Everyone’s livelihood depended on her…

Her honor was Feng Manor’s honor; her humiliation was Feng Manor’s humiliation.