The butler finished speaking and went back to get the key.
The door was locked, and Xiang Si Yuan had nowhere to hide. Seeing Peng Fei stumble after him, he was terrified and ran around the yard.
"Don't come near me! I'm warning you, my mom sent me here to calm down for a couple of days at most, she didn't mean to hurt me. If you dare lay a hand on me again, I'll really not be polite with you!"
"My mom gave you the right to discipline me, but my dad didn't! Do you know who my dad is? He's a famous movie star in the entertainment industry! He won't let you get away with this!"
"And the neighbors next door! Do you know who he is? Zhan Bei Jue! That's my uncle! If you dare hurt me, they won't let you get away with it!"
Peng Fei couldn't care less who lived next door or who his dad was at this moment.
He only knew that these seven children had been entrusted to him, and he had to take them back completely intact.
If he indulged them in setting fire today, who knew what they would dare to do tomorrow.
He had to teach these brats a lesson.
So, instead of chasing Xiang Si Yuan first, he pulled out the water pipe and splashed it on his own face to wash himself properly.
In the middle of winter, cold water on the face was truly piercing, but it also helped him to sober up.
Peng Fei wiped his face a few times with his sweater, finally able to somewhat recognize his own face, and his energy also recovered. He then turned it off.
He directed the six little ones huddled together.
"You guys, stand up, go over there, and line up according to height."
The main door hadn't opened yet, so they couldn't run away. The group knew they were no match for him, so they could only obediently do as he said.
Seeing them lined up, Peng Fei looked at Xiang Si Yuan again.
"Don't try to talk your way out of it with me. Since I accepted this job, I'm not afraid. Say it, come over yourself, or I'll catch you."
Xiang Si Yuan was speechless: "Is there something wrong with your brain? Can't I make myself clear to you?"
"Fine. That means you'll wait for me to catch you. Xiang Si Yuan, you're finished."
Peng Fei moved his legs, and Xiang Si Yuan's knees weakened with fear. He yelled and ran with all his might, while also shouting to his brothers.
"Come and help! Help me hold him down, we'll go at him together, he can't beat all of us!"
"Are you guys brothers or not? You can't just watch me get beaten, can you? Come and help!"
But not a single one dared to move.
Soon, Peng Fei caught up with him.
With a pounce like a hungry tiger, he grabbed him from behind by the neck and pinned him to the ground.
Xiang Si Yuan's hands were then tied behind his back.
Peng Fei held him with one hand and looked at the few figures in the distance.
"Throw me the water pipe."
No one moved.
He roared again: "Are you deaf? Throw it over here! You're next!"
The youngest one had the weakest psychological resilience and, terrified, quickly ran over and handed the water pipe to him.
Peng Fei used the water pipe to wrap around Xiang Si Yuan's hands and feet, turning him over like a silkworm, and grabbed him by the collar of his down jacket.
"Why did the fire start? Speak, was it you? You're unbelievably bold. If I hadn't come back in time today, do you know what the consequences would have been?"
Since he had been caught, Xiang Si Yuan was also resigned to his fate.
He looked at Peng Fei through gritted teeth: "It was me, so what? Can't I burn my own house? I have money, I'm happy, who cares?"
"What do I care about the consequences? It's best if it's considered your dereliction of duty, that's exactly what I wanted, for my mom to kick you out!"
"I hate you to death, who do you think you are? Disciplining me? One day I'll get revenge!"
Having made a mistake, he was still arrogant without any remorse.
Peng Fei slapped him across the face.
"Say it again if you dare."
Xiang Si Yuan felt his face go numb from the blow, his head buzzed, and stars swam before his eyes.
In his life, he had never suffered such humiliation.
Tears of helplessness streamed down his face.
"You dare hit me? My Mommy and Daddy have never hit my face, who are you!"
"I'll fight you to the death! Today, I'll risk my life to fight you! Ah!!"
Saying this, he tilted his head to smash it into Peng Fei's face, but Peng Fei easily dodged it and grabbed his hair.
"Hitting you is already light. For a brainless fool like you, who only knows how to be overbearing and arrogant, I wish I could kill every one I see."
"No remorse? Then you can stay here. You won't be released until you realize your mistake!"
After speaking, he wrapped the water pipe around him a few more times, making sure he couldn't break free, and then roughly pushed him aside. He then stood up and looked at the other few who were pale with fear.
"Tell me, do you know you were wrong?"
"Your own house caught fire. You have money, so you might not care, but what if it had spread to the neighbors? What if someone got hurt? What if someone died? Would it make the news? Would your parents be proud if they found out?"
"I won't preach to you. I'll just ask you one thing: Were you wrong? Will you dare to do it again in the future?"
After being beaten as a warning to others, coupled with seeing the house in such a state, they felt a bit guilty and all nodded, admitting their mistakes.
Peng Fei then didn't lay a hand on them.
"Considering you guys are somewhat sensible, I won't beat you today. But don't think you can go back just because the house burned down."
"I won't tell your parents about this. Take off your jackets and go clear out the garbage inside. You can rest when the house is cleaned up, otherwise, you'll all be sleeping in the yard tonight!"
Huh?
They were being told to go clean up the garbage? Or they wouldn't even get to sleep?
They looked at each other, all unwilling.
Peng Fei roared again.
"Do you have to force my hand, and end up like him before you're satisfied?"
There was no choice. They pushed and shoved each other, reluctantly taking off their jackets.
Soon, the butler came with the key and opened the main door.
He was accompanied by the nanny and Zhan Jing Chun.
Hearing that Chen Jiao Jiao and Xiang Yang were not home, and that Xiang Si Yuan had set the house on fire by himself, Zhan Jing Chun was worried he might be injured.
Unexpectedly, upon entering the yard, she saw a large group of boys.
Tall and short, their faces unfamiliar and solemn, but Xiang Si Yuan was missing, creating a strange and heavy atmosphere that startled her.
She hurried inside, asking them.
"Who are all of you? Who let you in? Where is Xiang Si Yuan?"
Peng Fei didn't expect to come into close contact with Zhan Jing Chun so soon.
Although he knew she lived next door and could meet her with a little effort, he wasn't ready.
Upon hearing her voice, he thought he was hallucinating and quickly looked over.
Coincidentally, Zhan Jing Chun's gaze also fell upon him.
She noticed a particularly tall and familiar figure. While she was wondering who this man was, their eyes met.
Although Peng Fei's face was covered in soot, as if he had just come from digging coal, and his body was dirty.
His build, his posture, even the angle of his head turning, were all too familiar to her.
She recognized him at a glance.