Wenxiu Lord stayed in Severus Snape's bedroom for a long time, and the two discussed many topics.
During this period, there was no sign of Tobias Snape returning.
It was not until evening that a reeking and unsteady Tobias Snape staggered over, clutching a liquor bottle and banging heavily on the front door: "Bam! Bam! Bam!"
Hearing the commotion in the master bedroom, Eileen Snape quickly put down her sewing and walked out to open the door for him. The moment she pulled the door open, a liquor bottle came flying straight at her head.
With a crash, the moment the bottle struck her head, Eileen Snape collapsed to the floor. Glass shattered everywhere as fresh blood streamed down her forehead, dripping steadily from her chin onto the ground.
"Why did it take you so long to open the door!" The man staggered, kicking the woman blocking his way, and reached out with curses to grab Eileen Snape's hair, intending to smash her head against the floor.
"Ah!"
"Stop!"
Just as her face was about to hit the ground, a cool, youthful voice suddenly rang out from the top of the stairs, halting his actions. The muddle-headed man couldn't tell whose voice it was and simply assumed it was his son.
He looked up, ready to hurl a torrent of abuse, but to his surprise, what came into view was a clean, elegantly built young man he had never seen before.
Standing behind the youth was the black-haired, black-eyed monster from his own household, glaring at him with pure hatred.
The youth's air of noble distinction reminded the man of his own past days of affluent living, instantly twisting his face with jealousy.
Seeing his monstrous son standing behind the youth and glaring fiercely at him, Tobias Snape redirected all his pent-up fury toward the boy.
Kicking aside Eileen Snape, who was collapsed on the floor and covered in blood, Tobias Snape stumbled forward with flying fists, charging right at Severus Snape behind the youth.
Wenxiu Lord took a step sideways to block Severus Snape. Seeing this, Severus Snape panicked and tried to pull Wenxiu Lord away, but the youth gripped his wrist in reverse to stop him.
Watching the fist about to land on Wenxiu Lord, Severus Snape closed his eyes tightly, not daring to watch what was about to happen.
Wenxiu Lord showed no trace of fear on his face, simply watching calmly as the fist grew larger before his eyes, and spoke in an even tone.
"Doesn't Mr. Snape want to possess a fortune to escape his current destitute life?"
The fist stopped a few centimeters away from the youth. The youth's cool voice and the content of his words sobered the man up considerably.
He lowered his arm, steadied himself against the hallway banister in front of the youth, and looked Wenxiu Lord up and down suspiciously.
No matter his attire or appearance, the boy looked entirely out of place in their household.
"What do you mean by that?"
Seeing that Tobias Snape had regained a shred of sanity, Wenxiu Lord gestured for him to sit on the sofa first. Using his clothing pocket as cover, he withdrew a potion from his system inventory and handed it to Eileen Snape. "Madam, you should go back to your bedroom to apply medicine."
"Where is this bitch worthy of it!"
Seeing this, Tobias Snape tried to strike again, but Wenxiu Lord sidestepped him, fixing him with a cold gaze.
"I don't like seeing anyone get hurt in front of me."
Hearing this, Tobias Snape could only sullenly sit back down on the sofa. Compared to punishing these two wretches who had brought him such misfortune, escaping his current impoverished life was clearly much more important to him.
Severus Snape had stood frozen in place the entire time, his sordid family exposed directly before the youth. He assumed the youth would recoil in disgust and distance himself from their home and from him forever.
He never expected Wenxiu Lord to shield him, which brought a flutter of joy to his heart. Perhaps he truly could find a friend who would accept every part of him.
Nearby, Eileen Snape, still sitting on the floor, took the potion handed to her by the youth, muttered a soft thank-you, and felt a lingering wave of terror.
If that fist had actually struck Wenxiu Lord, Eileen Snape didn't think the youth would let her husband off lightly. If anything happened to Tobias Snape, Eileen Snape felt she wouldn't be able to go on living either.
Seeing that Wenxiu Lord was completely unharmed, the heavy stone weighing on her heart was finally lifted.
Watching the two of them standing there in a daze, Tobias Snape let loose a string of venomous words, "You hateful bitch, get your monstrous son and get upstairs right now!"
Eileen Snape shuddered violently, scrambled to her feet, and quickly pulled her still-dazed son toward the second floor.
"It's all because of this damned witch woman and her monstrous son that I've ended up like this."
Watching the backs of the two figures, one large and one small, leaving the room, Tobias Snape's eyes were filled with venomous hatred.
"I really want to kill him."
Wenxiu Lord found the man before him increasingly distasteful, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes. He sat down opposite him and spoke with a veneer of hypocritical warmth, "I'd like to strike a very profitable bargain with Mr. Snape."
Having sobered up for the most part, the man looked at the calm and poised youth across from him, guessing he might be the scion of some prominent family. Remembering that his fist had almost smashed into the youth's face, he asked cautiously and somewhat apprehensively, "What kind of bargain?"
"For certain reasons, I cannot return to my family at present. I would like to stay temporarily at Mr. Snape's house, and for the days I stay, I will give you one gold coin per day as compensation."
Hearing that he could receive a gold coin every day, Tobias Snape's eyes lit up instantly, though he remained cautious enough not to agree right away.
"How am I supposed to believe your words? You're just a kid."
Hearing his question, Wenxiu Lord unhurriedly picked up the teapot on the coffee table and poured himself a cup.
So much time had passed that the water in the pot had long since turned cold. Wenxiu Lord took a small sip and frowned almost imperceptibly. "Tomorrow you will receive the gold coins for today and tomorrow. I will hand them to Mrs. Snape."
After a long silence, Tobias Snape was finally tempted. "Fine, you can stay here."
Wenxiu Lord: "Since you agree, we can discuss the conditions. Throughout these next few days, I do not wish to see you engage in any further acts of harm toward this mother and son—verbal abuse is out of the question as well."
"They are devils! If it weren't for—"
"Mr. Snape," Wenxiu Lord interrupted, "I can easily find somewhere else to stay temporarily. You are not my only option, and you only get one chance."
Wenxiu Lord decided that if the man refused, he would simply cast a charm on him to alter his memories.
Tobias Snape felt a slight chill down his spine under that gaze, but weighed down by the immense temptation of a gold coin a day, he nodded and agreed.
Wenxiu Lord stood up with satisfaction, ignored the man, smoothed out the creases of his clothes, and walked up to the second floor.
Knock, knock, knock.
Eileen Snape pushed open the door to find Wenxiu Lord wearing a gentle smile.
"Mrs. Snape, how are your injuries? I've already worked things out with Mr. Snape, so I'll be imposing on you all for a while."
Eileen Snape glanced around the hallway, failing to see the figure of her husband, and said, "Thank you for the potion, the wound has already healed. Since my husband has agreed to let you stay, follow me."
Wenxiu Lord followed behind Eileen Snape as she continued to speak.
"For this period, you will share a room with my son. We don't have any spare rooms in our house, as you saw for yourself earlier. Putting you in that other room before was truly a last resort."
Wenxiu Lord nodded to show his understanding. After all, that room was simply too dilapidated and freezing cold. Since he was paying for his stay, he naturally wanted to live as comfortably as possible—plus, he would be rooming with Severus Snape. At this thought, a small surge of excitement bubbled up inside him.
Eileen Snape led Wenxiu Lord to the door of Severus Snape's bedroom. Once Severus Snape inside opened the door, Eileen Snape stepped aside to reveal Wenxiu Lord standing behind her.
The moment he opened the door, Severus Snape heard his mother telling him that he would be sharing a room with Wenxiu Lord.
"What!" For once, Severus Snape's face showed emotional fluctuations beyond a mere frown of disgust as he let out a shocked exclamation.
Eileen Snape looked somewhat helplessly at her shocked son standing before her. "We don't have any extra rooms in the house, and that other room doesn't have any furniture fit for living. We can't let Mr. Lord keep staying there."
Severus Snape knew what kind of state their home was in. After the initial shock, he agreed anyway.
Standing beside Eileen Snape, Wenxiu Lord blinked at Severus Snape and curved his lips into a smile. "Sorry to intrude for this period, Severus."
Hearing Wenxiu Lord use his given name, Severus pressed his lips together without a word, effectively tacitly approving the form of address.
When Wenxiu Lord stepped into the room, Severus nodded to Eileen Snape and closed the door.