Chapter 31: You Like Her

Chapter 31: You Like Her

Shen Yanchuan gave a mocking smile. "A few years apart, and your eyesight has grown even worse."

Xiao Wu looked toward the direction of the voice and saw a man in his early twenties climbing through the window.

He wore a blue brocade robe with a jade pendant hanging from his waist. His features were handsome and sharp, yet he possessed crescent-shaped eyes that added a touch of approachability whenever he smiled.

Xiao Wu glanced at Shen Yanchuan again, calculating silently in her heart—*Hmm, this one is still the best looking!*

Xie Anbai, of course, had no idea what this soft little milk bun was thinking. He flipped up his hem and sat down casually opposite Shen Yanchuan, casting a few careful glances at Xiao Wu.

With a "swish," he unfurled a snow-white folding fan, the corners of his mouth curling up. "True enough. This little girl is much easier on the eyes than you. I doubt you even have the ability to produce one like her."

Shen Yanchuan handed a black stone to Xiao Wu. "Want to play?"

Xie Anbai raised an eyebrow, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.

Shen Yanchuan appeared gentle and polite, but in reality, he possessed the heart of a Yama.

As long as he wished, he could turn anyone into a friend who spoke highly of him, but the number of people he truly cared for or took seriously was incredibly small.

And yet, now, he was acting like this toward a little child...

"This child really isn't yours?" Xie Anbai found it somewhat unbelievable.

Shen Yanchuan couldn't be bothered to respond.

Xiao Wu reached out her chubby little hand, grabbed the black stone, and looked back at the chessboard.

Seeing her small face filled with such seriousness, the corners of Shen Yanchuan's lips curved slightly, and his long, jade-like fingers tapped the board.

"How about playing here?"

Xiao Wu bit her finger and thought for a long time, then—she placed her piece in the adjacent position.

The black pieces, which had originally been in a dominant position, instantly cut off their own retreat and fell into danger.

Xie Anbai burst into laughter. "You just handed this opportunity to me on a silver platter!"

*Clack!*

Without hesitation, he dropped a white stone, seizing the black pieces by the throat.

The previously clear situation instantly turned chaotic, with the victory and defeat becoming hard to distinguish.

Xiao Wu seemed to realize she had made a mistake; she tilted her head up and looked at Shen Yanchuan with a bashful, pleading gaze.

Shen Yanchuan patted her head and praised her, "Well played."

Xiao Wu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but she refused to play casually anymore, instead sitting obediently to the side and watching.

*—Usually, when I want to watch Sister play chess, she always finds it a bother. Even though our skill isn't as good as hers, watching is a good way to pass the time!*

Shen Yanchuan didn't seem to care about the outcome of the game, placing his pieces casually at the edges.

"You seem exceptionally idle. What, did your father kick you out again?"

The smile on Xie Anbai's face froze instantly.

Why bring up the one thing he wanted to forget!

He snorted and said dismissively, "Hardly! It's just that I don't want to serve him anymore! His quirks are beyond belief, as you well know! With that foul temper of his, who could stand it!"

Shen Yanchuan raised his eyelashes slightly and glanced at him. "Let me tell you in advance, I don't have extra money to support you."

"What!?" Xie Anbai was utterly shocked and heartbroken. "Are we even brothers anymore! You—you're telling me you have no money!?"

Shen Yanchuan pointed to his left chest. "It was mostly spent on medical treatments."

Xie Anbai was speechless. "...What kind of black-hearted doctor did you run into?"

Xiao Wu widened her eyes at him—*Who are you calling black-hearted! There is no one better in this world than Sister!*

Unfortunately, her glare lacked any intimidating power, and Xie Anbai didn't notice it at all.

Shen Yanchuan, however, noticed and smiled. "Don't talk nonsense. Doctor Ye has actually saved my life."

"For real?" Xie Anbai snapped out of it and looked around the courtyard. "No wonder you're staying in this little clinic. To think such a small place could house such a remarkable person?"

He knew how severely Shen Yanchuan had been injured, so he had been extremely curious before arriving.

Hearing Shen Yanchuan say this, he wanted to see her with his own eyes even more.

"You have no idea. Because you're so hard to kill, someone is practically dying of anger." Xie Anbai recalled something and couldn't help but sneer. "I heard she hasn't eaten or slept well for days."

Shen Yanchuan glanced at Xiao Wu.

"The child is here. Say something nice."

Xie Anbai: "...???"

He crossed his arms and stepped back repeatedly, looking at Shen Yanchuan as if he were a stranger.

"No way. Shen, since when did you start caring about this sort of thing?"

This man had seen everything; when had he ever shown a shred of soft-hearted tenderness? And now, he actually—

Xiao Wu blinked, looking as if she either didn't understand or simply didn't care.

Shen Yanchuan: "Just say—it was our first meeting, and I even played a game with you. Give her a red envelope."

Xie Anbai was incredulous.

"So you're playing the saint now! You—"

Before he could finish, he was met by a pair of large, clear, and lustrous eyes like black grapes.

Xie Anbai choked for a long time before finally resigning himself to fate, pulling out a gold whistle and handing it to Xiao Wu.

"I left in a hurry and didn't bring anything good. I'll give you something better next time!"

He couldn't let that man, Shen, look down on him! No matter how destitute Xie Anbai was, he was still generous when he gave!

Xiao Wu hesitated.

Shen Yanchuan: "This is a greeting gift from your brother. Won't you accept it and thank him?"

Only then did Xiao Wu step forward, taking the gold whistle with both small hands, and then tilted her face up to give Xie Anbai a smile.

Xie Anbai instantly felt a soft tug in a corner of his heart.

Even if that man, Shen, was a jerk, this little milk bun was truly adorable!

At that moment, the sound of light footsteps suddenly came from the courtyard outside.

Shen Yanchuan seemed to sense something. He turned his head and saw that indeed, Ye Chutang had returned.

It was already dark, and she was partially hidden in the shadows, so only her slender silhouette could be seen.

Candlelight from the adjacent room filtered through, casting light upon her face, making her skin appear as white as snow and as smooth as jade.

Her thick, long eyelashes curled slightly upward, looking like the most exquisite silhouette.

When Xiao Wu saw her, her eyes lit up instantly, and she ran out with pitter-patter steps.

Ye Chutang turned her head to look.

The light and shadow seemed exceptionally gentle toward her, lending a unique charm to every inch of her being. When she looked over, her dark, warm, and clear eyes were like the brightest stars in the night sky.

She leaned down and pinched Xiao Wu's cheek. "It's so late, why are you bothering Master Shen again?"

Shen Yanchuan smiled. "I called her over to play. She's very well-behaved."

Ye Chutang's gaze shifted slightly, landing on Xie Anbai. "And this is..."

"This is a friend of mine. He was passing through Jiangling and stopped by to visit. Doctor Ye won't mind, will she?"

Ye Chutang's eyes curved into a smile. "Of course not. Please make yourselves at home. I will take Xiao Wu back first."

With that, she led Xiao Wu away, seemingly uncurious about Xie Anbai's identity.

Shen Yanchuan watched her leave, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly as he thought to himself: *The case is already settled; how exactly does she plan to turn the tables?*

Before he could finish his thought, a cold laugh suddenly came from beside him.

"I knew it! A minor injury that you've nursed for so many days, and you even had me send a greeting gift to that little kid... so that really isn't your child, but your lover?"

"Shen Yanchuan, you like her, yet you drag your brother along to do your favors? Have you no shame?!"

(End of Chapter)