Meanwhile, Rui Li and Xiaoyu were sitting outside the inner courtyard with a table set up for crafting. From the looks of it, they were either making bracelets or tassels. The table had beads, colourful silk threads and rhinestones scattered all over the place.

They were so immersed in their task that they didn’t notice the scornful looks coming from Rui Yewan who was circulating his seraphic energy through his atherial veins to strengthen his aether.

“What do you think? Will he like it?” asked Xiaoyu raising a half complete green sword tassel. Her eyes were shining bright like a puppy as though seeking praise.

Rui Li looked at the hideous looking tassel that looked like it was spat out from a cow’s mouth and choked on the nice words she was about to say.

She intended on taking a casual glance at first and reply perfunctorily but when she saw the hideous monstrosity she couldn’t give a casual response.

She swallowed her saliva to moisten her throat that had experienced drought just by looking at that thing and said, “I, uh….. it’s.”

Xiaoyu’s smile froze and her lips gradually turned down. “Is it….. that bad?”

“Um…. uh, may-may-be…,” stammered Rui Li wondering how to break it to the female lead that her craftmanship was crap.

Lucky for her, she had a frank and cold-blooded brother for that. Rui Yewan’s gaze focused on the tassel and in a matter of seconds, it was in his hand making Xiaoyu cry out in surprise.

“Hey!” she yelled as she glared at him with a green flash in her eyes, “give it back.”

Rui Yewan had no intentions of doing that, in fact, he had a smirk on his face as he said, “Jiejie, this didi is doing you great service because this looks like it got chewed by a donkey before it got spat out.”

Rui Li found herself biting hard on her bottom lip struggling to suppress her laughter. She supported this older sister and wished her a positive result in pursuing Yao-ge but Rui Yewan’s statement was funny because it was true.

She couldn’t help it and felt a little guilty because of it. “Li-er, is it true? Is it ugly?” asked Xiaoyu turning to look at Rui Li who was caught of guard. She was forced to maintain a straight face which was incredibly hard. Just as she mastered the courage to comfort this poor soul, Rui Yewan carried on roasting Xiaoyu’s handmade tassel.

“Don’t bother asking her because she doesn’t have the balls to tell you that even a blind man won’t accept your artwork. I bet even a toddler can do a better job than this…..,” said Rui Yewan while scrutinizing the tassel, “if you give this to Yao-ge not only would he refuse it but he will also zap it to ash. It makes my eyes sore looking at it what more Yao-ge?”

Here is the thing, Rui Yewan is good at lying but he also has a mouth that could get him in trouble because of his brutal honesty. And having touched a woman’s sore spot he would naturally get into trouble. The more he ran his mouth the angrier Xiaoyu got but he showed no signs of stopping.

“And you say you have been practising for a year. If I were you I would ask for a refund from your teacher because this can’t be classified as a year’s worth of practice…. shit!” he swore as luminous green spikes flew towards him.

With the swipe of his hand, a black shield appeared before him in defence. The green spikes immediately disintegrated on point of contact. One would assume that the fight would end there but nah, this was just the beginning.

Xiaoyu leapt up and made a hand signal mid-air before firing explosive spheres in Rui Yewan’s direction. Rui Yewan ducked down before joining his middle and index finger together producing black shadows shaped like cards. He leapt up in the air and spun around as he sent the cards flying in her direction.

Xiaoyu counterattacked and managed to dispel his attack. But before she could relax another black card flew from behind her. She tilted her head to the side narrowly escaping this sneak attack that trimmed part of her hair.

Xiaoyu, “….”

This little boy had almost given her a nonconsensual haircut. Pissed off she upped her game planning to strike him off the island but before she could execute her attack, the courtyard gate was suddenly kicked open bringing this conflict to an abrupt end.

“Not in my fuckin house,” yelled Ji Wen who had been gambling in the main hall when he heard the commotion, “behave or I will tase yo-u oh my god!” he said when he saw Rui Fei enter the inner courtyard.

He looked like he had gotten in a fight with a flock of chickens and lost.

“You,” murmured Ji Wen pointing at him.

Everyone, “…..”

Rui Fei was in such a bad mood that he didn’t bother with the pleasantries walking past them. One can only imagine their faces when they took a look at Rui Fei’s butt swaying left and right with thorns sticking out. How could they maintain straight faces while faced with that?

As soon as Rui Fei closed the door to Ji Yao’s bedroom everyone burst into laughter attracting the attention of the crew members who were patiently waiting for their captain to come back.

“He looks like a fuckin porcupine….. Hahahaha,” joked Rui Li rolling on the ground in laughter.

“Hahaha….. a good looking porcupine hahahahaha,” chimed in Rui Yewan who couldn’t bear it anymore.

Just as he said this the door was slid open and Rui Fei glared at him with an eerie gaze that had him shrink in himself like a turtle. That warning sufficed because the roaring laughter immediately died down.

Ji Wen cleared his throat recalling he was the adult in this situation. “Ahem….. it’s uhm…. it’s not funny. Yewan, how about your help your brother with the pfft….. the um thorns stuck up his ass…,” he said with his face twitching as he struggled to stop himself from laughing. He had to leave otherwise he would die from holding it in.

Rui Yewan who had drawn the short end of the straw, “WTF!”

“Why me?” he muttered unwilling to be the focus of Rui Fei’s anger.

Rui Li glared at him and said, “If not you then who else?”

Rui Yewan looked around and realised she had a point. He put down the tassel, a crime against arts and crafts, before walking towards the closed door.

Ji Wen, who was about to leave noticed the tassel and showed a look of disapproval as he asked, “Did this get spat out of a donkey’s mouth? It’s horrible.”

Rui Li, “…..”

Rui Yewan, “Thank you!!! I have been vindicated.”

As for Xiaoyu, she was as red as cherries blushing profusely in embarrassment. She had reached the final stage of grief and accepted that her craftsmanship skills were nonexistent.. Good thing she didn’t give this to Ji Yao.