Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 92

“Do you want to stay in the main hall for a while, or would you like to go upstairs? Oh, by the way, were you planning to go out just now?”

Years of enduring various forms of bullying and abuse had left Xie Yu with a burly appearance but a fragile and sensitive heart.

Lu Tang spoke as gently as possible.

Xie Yu, holding the little puppy, was too embarrassed to admit he had originally come down to check out, “I’ll stay in the main hall for a while and let it enjoy some sunlight.”

Lu Tang smiled, “That’s fine, feel free to sit anywhere, but there’s one thing I need to clarify. Although this puppy is now yours, you can’t take it back to your room.”

Xie Yu immediately grew anxious, his eyes widening as he asked, “Why?”

Lu Tang reassured him, “Puppies shed hair and might have fleas. Bringing it into the room wouldn’t be fair to the next guest. I’ll set up a small bed for it in the backyard. You can take it home when you leave.”

Hearing the word “leave,” Xie Yu felt a tightness in his throat. He wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. After staring at Lu Tang for a moment, he finally nodded, “Then, playing with it at a table in the main hall isn’t a good idea either, right?”

Lu Tang responded, “I overlooked that earlier. You’re right, it’s not very appropriate. Why don’t you take it to the backyard and play with Er Bao? He likes the puppy too. Oh, and Er Bao named the puppy ‘Da Bao.’ If you don’t like the name…”

Before Lu Tang could finish, Xie Yu stood up abruptly, “No, I like it!”

He then quickly headed toward the backyard.

Of course, he liked it!

He heard that Da Bao was Er Bao’s brother, which meant Er Bao would often come to see the puppy. This way, he could interact with Er Bao more and maybe even become friends with him.

Seeing through Xie Yu’s little thoughts, Lu Tang felt relieved.

She had feared that the many injuries Xie Yu had suffered might have made him one of those obsessive characters often described in novels, someone who could only accept one friend, someone who believed his friends could only belong to him, and refused to accept anyone else.

But she had worried too much.

Despite the many injuries he had suffered, Xie Yu’s heart remained open, yearning for friendship.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to get close to him so easily.

Zhou Shu and the others were in the corridor by the kitchen, plucking leaves from the flower stand. Seeing Lu Tang approach, Zhou Shu immediately asked, “What was that about just now?”

Lu Tang glanced around and, seeing no one else, lowered her voice and recounted Xie Yu’s story, omitting the part about Xie Chengnian and focusing on Xie Yu’s age and the bullying he had endured over the years.

When she finished, Zhou Shu angrily rolled up his sleeves, “What? They bullied him like that? They even cooked his dog? Why didn’t they just cook their own dogs, those bastards!”

Xu Shen’s face also darkened, “He must be sick, right? Otherwise, why would someone look forty-five when they’re only fifteen? Either it’s an illness or he’s been poisoned.”

Lu Tang suddenly remembered that Qin Mo had mentioned Song Qingzhan was skilled in medicine the night she had a stomachache at Chunxi Inn.

“Being ugly isn’t his fault…” Guo Dawei paused, then spat twice, “Being ugly isn’t his fault, but going out and scaring people isn’t right either. I’ve said this before without thinking much of it, but it must be so hurtful for him to hear. Poor guy, enduring so much but not turning against society. He’s impressive!”

The three of them sighed and patted each other on the back before heading to the backyard.

“Let’s go play with the puppy!”

Once they left, Lu Tang went into the kitchen and instructed the cook to steam a bowl of egg custard with shrimp for Room B on the second floor.

The cook, a tall and chubby man, had been about to go to the restroom when he overheard Lu Tang and her friends talking in the corridor. He had stopped out of politeness, ending up overhearing their conversation.

Previously, he had thought of these young masters as irresponsible and had looked down on them a bit.

But after the incident with Gu Yunhe, he realized their young master was indeed clever.

Gu Yunhe had tried so hard to harm them, but not only did their young master escape, he also managed to put Gu Yunhe in jail, ridding Qingshui County of a major scourge.

While he acknowledged Lu Tang’s intelligence, he had attributed much of their success to luck, thinking it was fortunate timing with the Justice Ministry’s arrival.

Now, after hearing their conversation, he felt a bit conflicted.

These so-called scholars, supposed to be paragons of reason and virtue, included scoundrels like Lu Deren and Gu Yunhe, who even cooked someone’s dog.

But these seemingly unruly young masters, despite their carefree appearances, showed genuine concern for a bullied boy they hardly knew.

Not one of them expressed disdain.

Such empathy wasn’t something one could learn from books.

No wonder Qiao Family Inn was thriving.

Lu Tang, unaware of the cook’s thoughts, noticed his silence and asked, “What’s wrong?”

The cook rubbed his hands together and smiled, “Nothing, I just wanted to ask if the inn is still looking for a bookkeeper or manager.”

Lu Tang’s eyes lit up, “Do you have a recommendation?”

The cook replied, “My neighbor used to be a manager at a restaurant in Dayang Town. His son was one of those taken to the capital by Gu Yunhe. After the scandal broke, he personally went to the capital. Luckily, his son was still alive and hadn’t suffered too much. He’s very grateful to you for putting Gu Yunhe in jail. When he heard our inn needed a manager, he wanted to give it a try. But because his son had been in such a place…”

Lu Tang understood what he meant.

Gu Yunhe’s actions had made him a hated figure in Qingshui County, and the young men he harmed were the victims, yet they also faced societal scorn.

They had done nothing wrong, simply harboring ambitions and hopes for success.

Some of them might have had impure motives, but others were genuinely good-hearted.

Yet, because they were victimized by Gu Yunhe and rescued from such a place, they faced relentless stigma.

This societal scorn was no less damaging than their time in Qingfeng Courtyard.

People could be cruel.

It’s like blaming a woman who is attacked at night for her attire or being out late, rather than the perpetrator.

In some people’s eyes, the victim is always at fault.

Feeling a pang of sadness, Lu Tang said, “Alright, let him come over when he can for an interview.”