If You Keep Petting Me, All My Fur Will Fall Out

Prince Rowan Dongling really did hit the nail on the head—Sweet Dumpling's nightmare has come true!

Of course, this nightmare coming true isn't because the Valley Master or the others are tormenting her, but rather...

Little Dumpling sent people to fetch Sweet Dumpling in the middle of the night, claiming: 'It's been so long since I've seen you, I miss you terribly!'

Miss her terribly my... Sweet Dumpling forced herself to swallow the last word.

Do they really think that just because she's holed up in Mystic Healer Valley, she doesn't know anything?

Her rotten brother—he'd only miss her if pigs could fly.

"Grandpa Valley Master, I don't want to go. I can't bear to leave you." At this moment, Sweet Dumpling clung tightly to the Valley Master's leg, refusing to return to the palace no matter what.

With Father and Mother away from the palace, and even Uncle Shaoqi gone, her brother can torment her however he likes. No way is she going to walk right into his hands and let him squeeze her like a toy.

"Grandpa Valley Master can't bear to part with you either." The Valley Master stroked Sweet Dumpling's head, feeling deeply reluctant...

If Sweet Dumpling leaves, what will happen to his herb garden?

He doesn't trust anyone else with it, but doing it himself is too tiring. It's really a troubling matter.

So worried, so worried...

Little Dumpling is just too wicked—he never comes for her early or late, only when the herb garden is at its busiest. Isn't he just giving Grandpa Valley Master extra work?

"Grandpa Valley Master, I don't want to leave. Can you talk to my brother and let me stay?" Sweet Dumpling's eyes were already red...

Right now, the person she fears most is her brother Little Dumpling. Back in Xuansky Palace, her brother tormented her miserably.

She'd rather pull weeds, feed toads, and massage backs than go back to the palace and face her brother alone. Her brother is just too annoying...

"Well, um..." The Valley Master looked at the Eighteen Riders who had come to fetch her, not knowing how to begin.

If only his word was enough to decide such things.

Little Dumpling is even harder to deal with than his father. All of the Valley Master's future research funding depends on Little Dumpling—he doesn't dare offend his patron.

"His Highness said, if the little princess refuses to return to the palace, he can come fetch her himself." The Eighteen Riders looked at Sweet Dumpling with sympathy...

Princess Lily, just accept it—His Highness the Crown Prince isn't going to let you off. He said siblings should share hardship; now that he's suffering, there's no way Sweet Dumpling gets to enjoy herself in Mystic Healer Valley. So...

Princess Lily has to return to the palace and suffer alongside His Highness.

"Why?" Whenever it comes to adult matters, she's always the unlucky one.

Is it just because she's small and powerless?

Sweet Dumpling was so sad she couldn't even cry anymore...

"Little Princess, you'd better pack up and head back. His Highness is waiting for you," the Eighteen Riders advised kindly. Either way, you'll have to leave sooner or later—might as well make it quick and keep His Highness happy.

If His Highness is happy, maybe he'll torment the princess a little less—that's a good thing, right?

"Okay..." Sweet Dumpling replied sadly, her tear-filled eyes sweeping from the Valley Master to Serenity, finally landing on Prince Rowan.

"Brother Rowan, will you come to the capital with me? Sweet Dumpling wants to be with you." She needed someone to protect her—otherwise...

No matter how her brother punished her, she could only accept it—how tragic.

"Well..." Prince Rowan looked troubled. "Your Brother Rowan is officially dead in the capital—it's not safe for me to show up." He would like to go, but...

On second thought, better not—if he went to the capital, who knows what he'd end up doing.

Once so high and mighty, Prince Rowan now had to accept his fate. Even though he'd come to terms with it, it still stung—better to stay out of sight.

"Sweet Dumpling, neither Brother Rowan nor Sister Serenity can enter the city. You..." better fend for yourself.

Serenity didn't say the last four words, but everyone understood what she meant.

Little Dumpling wouldn't fetch her for no reason—Sweet Dumpling was sure she'd have to suffer a bit, but maybe it would toughen her up.

"Sister Serenity, I'll miss you all..." Ahhh, I really don't want to go!

Bad brother Little Dumpling, he's just the worst.

"Be good, we'll miss you. Go and come back soon," Serenity said, encouraging her.

Little Dumpling knows his limits—even if he torments Sweet Dumpling, he won't let her get hurt. At worst, she'll just have to suffer a little.

It's good for kids to suffer a little—otherwise, they'll end up like her, tripped up by life when they're grown, barely able to get back up...

"But, but..." Sweet Dumpling sobbed, but couldn't bring herself to say more, afraid Little Dumpling would overhear.

"Be good, Grandpa Zhai and I will be waiting for you in the Valley. Hurry back, Sweet Dumpling." Marshal Steele and Elder Zhai smiled like Bodhisattvas—their smiles could warm the heart, but Sweet Dumpling only felt cold...

"Sweet Dumpling, get to the capital soon and give your brother my regards." Dr. Redwater made no effort to hide his smile or his glee.

Hahaha... Every villain meets their match—Sweet Dumpling, this is your day of reckoning! Let's see if you dare plot against me next time.

But is Sweet Dumpling so easy to get rid of?

Her brother bullies her, and she doesn't dare fight back—but that doesn't mean she can't stand up to those who abandon her!

With teary eyes, Sweet Dumpling glanced at the Valley Master, then turned sadly to Dr. Redwater: "Dr. Redwater, you're just too awful! No wonder Grandpa Valley Master told me to tell Grandpa Guo all about you flirting with pretty aunties down the mountain."

"What? Valley Master?" Dr. Redwater shouted, glaring fiercely at the Valley Master. "It was you!"

"Sweet Dumpling!" the Valley Master cried, but it was too late—Dr. Redwater had him in a headlock, and he could only keep smiling and pleading: "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding, let me explain!"

"Explain my foot! I always wondered how Sweet Dumpling knew so much—so it was you, old man, you're done for! How dare you set me up!"

So... Sweet Dumpling hadn't even left, and the Valley Master and Dr. Redwater were already fighting. No one remembered to try and keep Sweet Dumpling from leaving.

Sweet Dumpling wasn't angry. She waved goodbye through her tears and set off for the palace. Only...

Would Sweet Dumpling really just accept her fate?

Absolutely not!

Once is enough for that kind of suffering—she refuses to let it happen again.

Her brother Little Dumpling may be tough, but...

Heh heh...

But Father and Mother outrank him!

Sweet Dumpling was perfectly well-behaved on the journey, so the Eighteen Riders gradually relaxed. Sweet Dumpling was always clever—if she couldn't dodge trouble, she'd accept her fate. But this time, the Eighteen Riders miscalculated.