Chapter 30: I Beg You

Ling Wei could not bear to tear herself away from the bustling streets for even a moment. Following the commotion, she saw a growing crowd gathered around a monkey show, where the performer was tugging a small monkey out by a rope.

The terrified monkey began its "performance" amidst the clashing of cymbals, shouted commands, and the jerking of the rope. It mimicked human actions—turning somersaults, wearing a hat, pretending to smoke, grinning, bowing, and holding out a tattered straw hat for coins—all of which sent the onlookers into fits of laughter.

When the monkey grew exhausted and refused to continue, it would leap onto a wooden crate in protest or hide behind it. Each time, the performer’s whip would crack down. Struck, the monkey would shriek and scramble about in a panic, looking from its master to the audience like a pitiable child searching for its mother in distress, only to be forced back into its "performance" by the tug of the rope. The crowd roared with laughter.

The deeper Ling Wei watched, the more her brows furrowed. Was a monkey show truly this cruel? The little creature could barely walk, yet the tall performer continued to swing his heavy whip viciously. *Crack, crack, crack*—each strike drew a piercing shriek as the monkey jumped and tumbled. The bystanders only laughed harder.

Ling Wei found nothing amusing about it. The poor monkey’s eyes were rimmed with red, and she even spotted two crystalline tears. The onlookers showed not a shred of sympathy for the beaten, fleeing creature. She balled her small, chubby hands into tight fists. What detestable humans!

"Little fool, why are you so angry?" Xuanyuan Hongyu leaned in, whispering deliberately into her ear. His warm breath brushed against her sensitive, delicate earlobe, turning it a deep shade of pink. "You were the one who wanted to see the monkey show so badly. Look at those people laughing; they’re so happy. What are you upset about?"

Ling Wei didn't notice a thing, her mind entirely focused on how to get down. The mischievous Xuanyuan Hongyu had intentionally brought her atop the high wall of his estate—a place the little one had complained about countless times—hoping she would beg him to help her down. Seeing that the little person in his arms remained unaffected by his proximity, he bit her flushed earlobe in frustration. *Hmph, your mind may not care about me, but your body’s instincts won't be able to hide!*

Ling Wei pondered for a long time. Not far away, the little monkey had collapsed, too exhausted to stand, yet the whip spared it no mercy. Lash after lash fell upon the tiny body, and its sharp shrieks faded into weak whimpers.

"Stinky bag, send me down!" The little one refused to beg the youth for anything.

Xuanyuan Hongyu narrowed his phoenix eyes. "Hmm? Little Dumpling, what did you just call me?"

Ling Wei looked at the wretched monkey, then at the heartless crowd. She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them quickly. "Xuanyuan Hongyu, I beg you, send me down."

The youth smiled in satisfaction and pressed a kiss to her rosy cheek. "Good girl. I’ll take you down now." With a display of skill, he drifted lightly to the solid bluestone pavement.

"Let me down!"

Ling Wei was desperate to run over, but Xuanyuan Hongyu held her firmly, refusing to let go. Anxious and trapped, the little one ignored his threats and issued an instinctive command.

"Little Dumpling, is that your attitude? You are truly ungrateful. No wonder it has been said since ancient times that 'only women and small-minded people are difficult to deal with.'" Xuanyuan Hongyu could not help but tease her to mask his own dissatisfaction.

Ling Wei took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the urge to curse. *You dead pervert, you disgusting ghost!*

"Please, let me down, will you?"