A Little First Love Shock for the Demon Lord - Chapter 28.2
Ying Ning frowned—but before she could speak, Aunt Li turned to Matchmaker Sun and added, “Well? What do you think of our Ah Ning? Isn’t she just lovely?”
Matchmaker Sun gave Ying Ning a long once-over, her eyes crinkling in a sly smile.
“Not bad, very pretty. But other girls her age already have toddlers running around. Is there something wrong with this one…?”
Ying Ning opened her mouth to respond, but Aunt Li beat her to it— “Now listen here, I won’t tolerate that kind of talk! Ah Ning is—”
Ying Ning opened her mouth to speak, but Aunt Li beat her to it. “I don’t like what you’re implying! Ah Ning is such a good girl—I couldn’t bear to marry her off to just anyone. I’ve been too selective, and now I’ve delayed her prospects.”
Matchmaker Sun nodded in agreement, then casually walked around Ying Ning, examining her from head to toe like she was a product up for sale.
Ying Ning felt deeply uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze. Lowering her head in embarrassment, she quietly searched for a way to escape the situation. But before she could think of one, Matchmaker Sun suddenly raised her hand and patted Ying Ning on the butt.
Startled, Ying Ning let out a sharp “Ah!” and jumped forward.
Minglou immediately stepped forward, pulling Ying Ning behind him protectively, his eyes blazing. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Matchmaker Sun froze, startled by his sudden appearance.
Aunt Li quickly attempted to defuse the tension. “He has a short temper,” she said with an awkward smile. “Just a good friend of Ying Ning’s, that’s all. He can’t stand to see her being treated like this.”
Matchmaker Sun sneered. “That won’t do. A girl being so close to a man makes it difficult for me to arrange her marriage.”
Aunt Li hastily reached out, pulling Ying Ning away from Minglou and to her side. She offered a strained smile. “Don’t worry, they’re just friends. My girl is pure.”
“Aunt Li…” Ying Ning looked at her in distress.
But Aunt Li covered Ying Ning’s mouth lightly and continued speaking to Matchmaker Sun. “So? Do you have a suitable match for Ah Ning?”
Matchmaker Sun tilted her chin, weighing her options, then leaned closer to Aunt Li and whispered, “The girl is nice, but I noticed her hips are a bit narrow. She might have trouble bearing children in the future. A girl who’s fertile has a better chance at a good marriage, you know.”
As she said this, she subtly rubbed her fingers together, clearly implying she’d need more money to make it work.
Although she spoke quietly, Minglou heard every word. His expression darkened as he watched Ying Ning’s face pale with humiliation.
Without another word, Minglou pulled Ying Ning away from Aunt Li and into his arms.
“The way you people handle marriage is ridiculous,” he said coldly, glaring at both Aunt Li and Matchmaker Sun. “Why don’t you ask her what she wants? All you do is judge her as if she’s livestock.”
Matchmaker Sun’s face turned green at the sight of their closeness. She pointed at them and stammered, “T-This is outrageous!”
Minglou narrowed his eyes and sneered. “You talk as if childbearing is all that matters. You look like a prime candidate yourself. Why don’t you go become a holy fertility bodhisattva and marry every man in the country?”
Matchmaker Sun was stunned speechless. It took a while before she reacted.
“You brat! You filthy-mouthed little punk! I’m going to teach you a lesson!”
She rolled up her sleeves and charged forward, but Minglou prepared to cast a spell and bury her on the spot—fertilizer for the flower fields.
Before he could act, Ying Ning broke free from his embrace and stepped in front of him, her eyes blazing with fury.
“Enough!”
Her voice rang out like a crack of thunder, her chest rising and falling with emotion. She turned to Matchmaker Sun, her tone sharp and clear. “I’m a human being, not a vegetable in your garden! I won’t stand to be picked over like produce! Please leave—I don’t need your help finding a husband. And if you’re only here to scam money, don’t blame me for being rude. I don’t know if I’m good at having children, but I do
know I don’t hold back when I hit people!”
Her presence was so commanding that both Aunt Li and Matchmaker Sun were stunned into silence.
Behind her, Minglou couldn’t help but lift the corners of his mouth in admiration.
Even angry, Ying Ning was breathtaking.
She turned to Aunt Li, her tone firm. “Aunt Li, please stop trying to arrange marriages for me. I don’t want to get married.”
Aunt Li flinched slightly under her gaze, but still mumbled, “But how can that be? Every girl has to marry someday. Your brother doesn’t care about you, and when I’m gone, there’ll be no one left to look after you.”
Ying Ning understood that Aunt Li meant well, in her own way. But they were speaking past each other. No matter what she said, Aunt Li wouldn’t understand.
So, Ying Ning played her final card.
She took a deep breath and said solemnly, “Aunt Li, didn’t you know? I’m already engaged. My brother promised me to Zhuang Wensheng. I’ll wait for him to return.”
Minglou, who had been quietly smiling behind her, suddenly froze, his smile vanishing.
With those final words, Ying Ning grabbed Minglou’s wrist and stormed off toward home.
Though a surge of disappointment swept through him, Minglou looked down at the hand holding his and quickly composed himself.
It didn’t matter, he thought. That man was long gone. As long as he stayed by her side, one day she’d forget Zhuang Wensheng.
When they reached her yard, Ying Ning let go of his wrist.
Minglou took a cautious step forward. “Ying Ning… can I stay at your place tonight?”
She glanced at him, then turned her back. “No.”
Unfazed, Minglou persisted, “Then… can I at least wait outside your window?”
“…Don’t,” Ying Ning replied flatly. “That would make you a creep.”
Minglou wanted to explain he had never peeked or done anything inappropriate.
But before he could open his mouth, Ying Ning cut him off softly, “Minglou, please don’t come near my yard anymore.”
With that, she turned and ran inside, shutting the gate firmly behind her.
Minglou stood in place, frowning, the weight in his heart deepening.
Maybe he was imagining it… but just now, Ying Ning looked like she was about to cry.
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Inside her room, Ying Ning climbed under the covers fully dressed, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt.
She curled into herself and cried silently.
Why did Aunt Li have to bring Matchmaker Sun when Minglou was there?
Why did something so humiliating have to happen in front of him?
She hated it—being pitied by him all over again.