陈阿宁把林氏那套虚头巴脑的话甩到脑后，心里把那对狗男女又编排了一遍。 lace up her shoes, she hurried out of the house, feeling a sense of power surge through her body. The scorching summer sun beat down on the ancient courtyard, turning the air into a thick, almost suffocating heat. The stone path under her feet was already hot enough to burn her bare feet if she wasn't careful.

"Hey, Miss Chen!" a familiar voice called out from behind her.陈阿宁 turned around to see a young maid, Liang Er, chasing after her with a bundle of laundry over her shoulder.

"Ah, Liang Er,"陈阿宁 replied with a hint of frustration, "what are you doing here? The master is looking for you."

Liang Er, a lively and smart girl, had been working in the Chen family for several years. She had always been fond of 陈阿宁, not just because she was the master's favorite, but also because she genuinely admired 陈阿宁's courage and spirit. "I just finished my chores and saw you rushing out," she explained, "I thought you might need some help."