66 Intrigue (2/2)

Ye Jiayao was furious as she saw Chunyu's cocky look. She really wanted to kick him.

The beautiful lady brought out some green grapes, almonds, preserves, and a plate of crispy small dried fish, as well as a pot of Liu An tea.

Xia Chunyu waved her away.

”Do you want to know Aunt Jiang's situation?” Xia Chunyu poured tea for Ye Jiayao and he poured himself a glass of wine.

Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes and ignored him.

Xia Chunyu just kept talking, ”Their family is going to be coming to Jin Ling in a few days. They just set out to look for their son in Ji Ning first. They were forced to become bandits. It was a good thing that this time, Uncle Jiang did the right thing and cooperated with me. I had the police take their case off so they can go back to their hometown without any concerns.”

Ye Jiayao was happy to hear that. She was curious as to what kind of case Uncle Jiang was involved in, though.

”Do you know why they became bandits?”

”There was a gangster who was interested in Uncle Jiang's daughter and wanted to rape her. In the urgent situation, Uncle Jiang used a hoe to knock him out but he accidentally killed him, instead.

Ye Jiayao didn't know that the fatherly Uncle Jiang she met had that much guts.

”I also let Auntie Zhao and the rest of the people who were forced to go up the mountain free. I tasked Feng Chaolin take care of the people who didn't really do bad things.”

Ye Jiayao couldn't stop herself from asking, ”What about Peng Wu? I heard that you framed him.”

Xia Chunyu squinted at her and smiled ambiguously. ”What do you think?”

”He treated me very well and called me big sister all the time. He was hardworking and he helped me out a lot.”

Xia Chunyu scoffed, ”You can't judge someone's nature just by that. He didn't talk much and he worked very hard, yes, but he was also the fiercest killer in Black Wind Ridge. At the time when the group of Bai Chongye has just expanded, most of the bloody cases involved him and Sheng Wu. They wiped out whole villages. Their hands were full of blood.”

Ye Jiayao was shocked. I guess it's true that you never really know what's inside a person's heart.

”He was as a serious criminal, and I handed over to the governors to take care of. He might not be able to evade death.” Xia Chunyu finished the alcohol in his cup. The topic of their conversation seemed to have gotten very heavy and it was not his intention. He only wanted to get closer to her by talking about the old memories they shared.

Ye Jiayao drank her tea in silence, her heart saddened. Even though he was as bad as Second-in-charge, he has never shown her anything but kindness. Ye Jiayao has always believed that even the evillest person has a good side.

”Yaoyao, go back to your family. I am here, I won't let them do anything bad to you again,” Xia Chunyu told her earnestly. He was starting to actualize his plan.

Ye Jiayao looked at him as if he was the biggest idiot she has seen. ”You don't need to worry about my issues.”

Her life was full of happiness now. Why would she want to face the people she hated? To torture herself? No, thank you.

”Do you want to stay in Heavenly Residence for life?”

”Of course not! I'll be working there for three years at most, and then, I will open my own restaurant and earn lots of money,” Ye Jiayao said casually. Ay! Why did I tell him my plans?

”So you're planning to be a ladyboy for the rest of your life?” Xia Chunyu asked.

Ye Jiayao blinked and said unhappily, ”What do you mean ladyboy? I'll have you know, everyone praised me as a pretty, young man.”

Xia Chunyu frowned. She even called herself pretty. Truly admirable.

”Pretty is a word used to describe beautiful girls. Handsome is the word for guys, or smart, or dashing. Understood? If they're calling you pretty, they might mean that you are a bit...” Xia Chunyu trailed off.

Ye Jiayao put the teapot aside and stared at him angrily. ”What? Your brain is full of strange ideas!”

”It is because I know who you really are.” He looked at her flat chest which was wrapped and concealed tightly by her clothes.

Ye Jiayao covered her chest. ”What are you looking at?”

They might have done the deed before, but they don't have any relationship now. He has no right to see or even think of her in that state anymore.

Xia Chunyu smiled as if he couldn't care less at how indignant she was. ”I heard that if you wrap it tight like that, the blood will clot and you're going to fall ill easily.

”That is none of your business.” Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes.

Another boat matched up to their pace. It was a summer night so the windows on both boats were open from all sides to let in the cold wind. It also made watching the night scenery of the river easier.

”Oh? Is that Xia Chunyu?” Zhao Qixuan who was cruising in the boat next to Ye Jiayao's exclaimed. ”Xia Chunyu! Xia Chunyu!”

Xia Chunyu looked to the side and saw Zhao Qixuan on the boat beside theirs, waving his paper fan. He really didn't want to have a conversation with him so Xia Chunyu merely nodded and held up his wine glass as a greeting.

Ye Jiayao found the calling voice familiar so she also turned around to take a look.

Zhao Qixuan was taken aback when he saw Li Yao. ”Um... Li Yao? What are you...”

Zhao Qixuan found this too odd. It would make sense if it was Li Yao and Little Jing cruising together... but he was with Brother Chunyu! How did the two of them know each other? And why were they cruising together on a very late night?

Ye Jiayao smiled and waved awkwardly, silently cursing herself. Why did I have to show my face? Damn you curiosity!

”Xia Chunyu, do you want to have a drink together?” Zhao Qixuan offered.

Xia Chunyu smiled calmly and said, ”No, thank you. Perhaps some other day.”

”Alright. It'll be my treat then,” Zhao Qixuan said graciously, still perplexed.

As the two boats drifted apart, Zhao Qixuan worried. Did Xia Chunyu turn down his offer to drink together because he was spending time with Li Yao? Did Little Jing know about this relationship?