"Hey, what's with the way you're talking, lady? What do you mean, 'coming out dragging my tail'?" The middle-aged woman—who looked a bit like an auntie—shouted loudly.
"I... I was just..." Crap, why did she have to run her mouth like that? Now she's in trouble for sure!
"You, you were just what? Look at you—daring to come out looking like a ghost. Aren't you afraid you'll scare people to death?" The auntie's shrill voice quickly drew a crowd.
"Hey, just ignore her, she's that foolish miss from the Shen family." Someone in the crowd piped up, and the auntie immediately burst into laughter, her big yellow teeth shaking as she cackled. "Oh, so she's that foolish miss! No wonder she's so brainless."
Hearing this, Ivy Shen—always proud—curled her fingers in anger, clearly about to lose her temper.
"So that's why you were staring at my tail in shock..." The woman glanced at Ivy's legs, then covered her mouth and giggled. The crowd burst out laughing too. Ivy was totally confused—what the heck did that mean? Why were they all laughing?
"If you're so clueless, you should at least bring a servant with you. Oh, right, I heard you married four handsome husbands—where are they? Why aren't they with you?"
As soon as she finished, someone else in the crowd called out, "Everyone knows this foolish miss bought her husbands with money. Who would want to be seen shopping with her? Isn't that embarrassing? Am I right?" The crowd all shouted their agreement in unison.
"What are you all doing? Move aside!" Liam Willow came running over and hurriedly pushed through the crowd when he saw Ivy Shen surrounded.
"What do you think you're doing?" Liam squeezed into the crowd, grabbed Ivy Shen, and hid her behind him. Then he bravely looked at everyone and demanded an explanation.
"Whoa, isn't that this year's Number One Scholar from Draken City!" someone in the crowd called out, recognizing him.
"So that means he's the foolish miss's husband! You finally made it as top scholar, but instead of becoming an official or marrying a highborn lady, you lowered yourself to marry this fool?" someone complained loudly, as if Liam had disgraced all men.
"Yeah, totally!"
"How can you talk like that? She's not what you say—she's my wife! Please show her some respect, okay?" Liam Willow shouted, face flushed red. But even yelling, he couldn't win over the crowd. Scholars just don't have much presence, and since he didn't take an official post, no one took him seriously.
"Wow, this scholar is so good-looking! What a waste for you to be with that fool. How about you come with me instead?" The silent auntie couldn't help drooling at Liam Willow's handsome face, her hand unconsciously reaching out.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Liam Willow's face instantly turned bright red at being teased in the middle of the street.
"Aww, you're blushing! So cute! Let me touch you, okay?"
"Show some respe—" Liam Willow tried to reason with her angrily, but before he could finish, he felt someone tug him aside. Suddenly, a slender figure darted in front of him, grabbed the auntie's arm, and yanked hard—sending her flying in a perfect arc before crashing to the ground.
"Fool, you called me stupid? Watch me shut your big mouth!" Ivy Shen, fresh from her shoulder throw, hauled the auntie up again and unleashed a flurry of kicks and throws—side kick, double kick, spin, sweep. The auntie's whole body whipped back and forth, her tail smacking the ground with every move: 'wham,' 'thud,' echoing through the street.
At that moment, the crowd could only stare, eyes wide and mouths hanging open, frozen in shock. Even the air seemed to pause.