By the time we returned to the main residence, it was already bustling with activity.
Jing Ning saw us and coldly averted his gaze.?Whatâs with him? Did my actions earlier injure his ego?
I couldnât care less about him and looked around for my target.
Miss Jing Yan was sitting beside my little uncle who was playing chess with Old Master Jing. Jing Tian sat on the other side and watched the game too.
Gee, what a coincidence!
?I walked towards them and called out when I was standing behind Jing Yang, âOld Master Jing! Teacher! Little uncle!â Jing Yan turned around with annoyance, probably to scold the person who dared to shout in such close proximity to her ears.
However, the next second her body leaned back and she knocked into the chessboard. âAh!â She screamed. That scream caught everyone by surprise, including me.
I was not expecting her to react so violently. Regardless, I hurried forward to help her. âBig Sister Jing Yan, are you alright?â
Jing Yan batted my hands back and slithered away from me. âGhost! Donât come any closer! Ghost!â
âWhat ghost?â The other young misses yelped in fear. Jing Ni was frightened too. I hugged her and realized she was shivering.
Old Master Jing was so incensed by this show of impudence that his face was white. He demanded, âCalm down!â
I immediately pulled Jing Ni to hide behind Jing Tian and my uncle.
Jing Yan hugged her head and cowered on the ground, trembling. âThis is impossible! She is a ghost! She has to be a ghost!â
Old Master Jing demanded angrily, âJing Yan, what is your problem?â Jing Yan couldnât hear him.
Old Master Jing shouted, âWhere is Jing Ning? Jing Ning!â Jing Ning hurried over. âGrandpa, Iâm here!â At the same time, he pulled Jing Yan up from the ground. Jing Yan curled into her brotherâs embrace and cried, âThereâs a ghost!â
Jing Ning frowned and tried to talk to her. âJing Yan? Open your eyes and look at me. Iâm your big brother. What nonsense are you talking about?â He shook Jing Yan whose face was getting paler by the seconds. Jing Yan finally opened her eyes. When she saw my face behind Jing Tian, she erupted in tears immediately.
Jing Ning pulled her tighter into his embrace. He patted her back and consoled. âWhatâs wrong? What did you see? What have frightened you so? There is no such thing as ghost. Jing Yan? Donât you see that grandpa is here? You really canât scare him like that.â
Then I realized Jing Ning was quite a schemer. In my previous life, I must have been incredibly foolish to not notice it. The last sentence he made was for the sake of Old Master Jing, perhaps this whole show for his grandfather to see.
In any case, Jing Yan slowly calmed down with Jing Ningâs help.
Jing Ning pulled her back and asked gently, âJing Yan, what happened? Why did you get so scared? Go and apologize to grandpa, you have ruined his game.â
Then Jing Yan realized the trouble she was in. She hurried forward and knelt down before Old Master Jingâs still angry face. âGrandpa, Iâm so sorry.â
Old Master Jingâs expression softened. âOkay, get up.â
My little uncle was holding two pieces of chess in his hands. He toyed with them and then asked gently, âWhat came over the first young miss? You were only watching the game, werenât you?â My little uncle turned to glance at Old Master Jing and then at Jing Tian, âSo what really happened?â
Jing Tian didnât speak and looked at Jing Yan sternly.
âThis is all my fault. I shouldnât have spoken so suddenly. I must have frightened Sister Jing Yan.â I said with deep apology.
Jing Yanâs body shook. I moved forward to help her up from the ground. Her hand was cold and clammy. âSister, please stand up.â I moved in closer to help her.
When I was close to her ear, I whispered softly, âBig sister, itâs so scary here at South East Asia! But Iâll be getting you to come accompany me!â
âAh!â Jing Yan screamed and pushed me away. She staggered backwards and fell into Jing Ningâs arms.
I also lost my balance being shoved by Jing Yan. Jing Tian materialized behind me to catch me before I fell.
I regained my composure and asked Jing Yan with concern. âSister Jing Yan, whatâs wrong? Itâs me, Nanxing!â
Jing Yan suddenly knelt down before me. âIâm sorry, Nanxing! I shouldnât have plotted against you and have you sold to South East Asia!â