Chapter 96: Stimulating the Heart (1/2)
“I’m willing to!” Lin Xiao walked beside him, gaze fixed on his profile. “In my heart, Hua Shuirou is the perfect woman, also because… you are stronger than me. You’ve even left a scar on me! Even if the engagement between me and Hua Shuirou has been witnessed by the Emperor, even if General Hua is known for keeping his word, your existence still makes me tremble with fear. I know my fear is not without reason, though it is very unlikely for me to lose face. You had completely defeated me in every stage of the competition that day, even when I had a hundred percent confidence with myself. After that, I realized, in front of you, I shouldn’t have confidence.”
Ye Wuchen did not answer, instead his footsteps slightly slowed.
“I, Lin Xiao, am a coward. Since I was young, I’ve been afraid of being bullied and humiliated by others, and refused to be below anyone. As a result, I have done my utmost efforts to strive hard with all my might to become the dragon among all the rest. At this point, my current achievements are no longer from luck, as I had risked my life to strive for them. I tried hard, so I’m proud of what I have become, since these are the things that I have achieved myself, not something bestowed upon me by my family. For a long time now, I thought myself good enough to look down upon Tian Long, no one could be classified as above me among my peers. After all these years, I have never been afraid of anything, but your presence has destroyed the security of my mental state. When I learned that you desired Hua Shuirou, I felt restless and uneasy even when eating or resting. Afterwards, I had come to think that during the competition, you had already used every kind of method to stir up her heartstrings. At that point, I have already fallen short.”
Ye Wuchen stopped his footsteps, turned around and said, “If that’s the case, then you should take the initiative to give up the wedding. In this way, I, Ye Wuchen, might even be grateful to you for a period of time and you don’t have to carry a burden of torment upon yourself, to everyone’s delight and satisfaction.”
Lin Xiao clenched his teeth and said firmly, “If you would give up… any condition… as long as I’m able to do it, I will agree to it!”
“Master Lin is a person with an intermediary nature, but based on your affections you are prejudiced against me. What a pity that I am the same as Master Lin for things that I want, even if it is a person or a grain of sand, I will not allow them to fall into other people’s hands. Even if I need to fight for it, I will snatch them back. I can easily tell you that Elder Hua has already agreed to the marriage between Xiao Rourou and I. You must return home to prepare to end your news spreading and engagement feast. I am done talking, farewell.”
Ye Wuchen turned around to leave, quickly disappearing into a corner, leaving behind the baffled Lin Xiao. He turned his head to look at the gates of the Hua residence, mumbling, “Since I, Lin Xiao, existed, why would there be need of a Ye Wuchen.”
He was not a coward, but the pressure that accompanied Ye Wuchen was quite heavy, so heavy that he was willing to bend his head instead of fighting him in the open. From his childhood until present he never had such an enemy before. Now there existed a man who could step on him, and would firmly hold him down under the soles of his feet. The effect he had on everyone was not as huge as his own in the competition with Ye Wuchen. When Ye Wuchen played the A Dream Remembering the Past, it had completely smashed his A Dream of Worldly Affairs tune, and his ultimate pride had been completely shattered into pieces.
Upon returning to the Ye residence, Ye Wuchen proceeded to Wang Wenshu’s room. “Today at dusk, there will be two visitors coming, prepare more food and wine… Ah, no. Wine will not be necessary.”
“Visitors?” Wang Wenshu, who was embroidering a pair of mandarin ducks onto a pillow, lifted her head, face full of doubt.
“Yes, but their identities will not be disclosed temporarily. You will learn about them when time comes.” Ye Wuchen said, laughing mysteriously.
“Then I will prepare right away.” Wang Wenshu put down the items in her hands. She suddenly remembered something, and turned around. “Oh, by the way, Chen-er, I have arranged for a room in my courtyard. You may let the mother of that child, Leng Ya, move into my place. Since your father is not always home, it’s good to have someone accompany me. This morning, I went to see her, and it seems like she has been through a lot of trials., She has been very unfortunate, but her manners are quite exceptional; simply incomparable with other women from ordinary families, she must have come from an influential family.”
“Yes!” Ye Wuchen responded with a nod.
When Ye Wuchen brought home Leng Ya, Ye Wei and Ye Nu were opposed of it. After all, Leng Ya was from the Gale Nation, whom they treated as their enemy. But luckily, their opposition was not that strong, and with the insistence of Ye Wuchen, they had eventually agreed. Wang Wenshu had agreed to let Leng Ya’s mother, Leng Qiu, stay at her courtyard which was also a suggestion from Ye Wuchen. Because this was his request, naturally as his mother, she surely agreed with it.
At this time, Leng Ya was helping his mother walk slowly around the courtyard. Leng Qiu’s complexion had obviously improved compared to the previous day. Upon seeing Ye Wuchen’s return, Leng Ya coldly called out a “young master”. Leng Qiu was so grateful that she felt like she wanted to bend her waist in greeting, yet Leng Ya kept her up. Ye Wuchen also hurriedly stepped in front to stop her, “Auntie, your body is still unwell, Leng Ya and I are friends, I really don’t deserve this.”
Leng Qiu shook her head, and thankfully glanced at him. “I’ve already heard from Xiao Feng. If it wasn’t for you, Xiao Feng might have been captured, you saved both of our lives! Now that you have healed my eyes, which have been blind for so many years…… We both have nothing, we simply don’t know how to repay your kindness!”
Ye Wuchen quickly waved his hand and said, “Auntie, please don’t feel that way. The reason I saved Leng Ya is because of my selfish motives. Besides, Leng Ya can be considered as my friend, it is right and proper to help him. Leng Ya, please help auntie to return and take some rest, I have something to tell you.”
After Leng Ya helped the deeply grateful Leng Qiu back, they dilly-dallied for a long while before he finally returned and silently followed behind Ye Wuchen. Upon hearing his approaching footsteps, Ye Wuchen asked without even turning his head, “Have you thought over the things that I have told you yesterday?”
“What do you want me to do once I return to the Gale Nation?” Leng Ya asked.