101 I will hug you when you are tired (2/2)

It was almost 11 PM by the time they went back to the shore.

Helian Jing said, ”Yaoyao, where do you live now? I'll send you home.”

Since Ping An had been cautioned by his big brother, he hadn't sent anyone to follow Yaoyao again. Anyway, he only did it then because he was afraid Yaoyao was going to run away.

”I'm living in someone else's place at the moment. And there's no need to send me home, I can get back by myself,” Ye Jiayao declined tactfully.

”It's not a bother, we're free tonight anyway,” Xia Chunfeng said.

Uh, that's not going to happen. I'm not giving your brother any more ammunition against me.

”There's no need for that, I'm not a woman. If you do that, I'll just have to return the favor,” Ye Jiayao reasoned with a laugh.

”You would look gorgeous if you dress as a woman,” Zhao Qixuan said jokingly.

However, Helian Jing and Xia Chunfeng sized up Yaoyao seriously. They had always thought that Yaoyao looked delicate and a bit too pretty for a man. Zhao Qixuan's words made them rethink Yaoyao in a new light. He would indeed be a gorgeous lady. He already has a fair skin, slim waist, petite figure...

”Little Su would still be prettier, though,” Zhao Qixuan added. He was nothing but loyal to his heart.

Helian Jing and Xia Chunfeng turned to him scornfully.

Ye Jiayao played along and said, ”Whatever you say, Zhao Qixuan. I'm going to leave now so I don't get sucked into all your activities again!”

Ye Jiayao walked away immediately in case they start protesting. When she got a distance away and confirmed that she wasn't being followed, she relaxed a bit. They already had their suspicions, she can't give too much away again.

She walked down the dark alley, so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize that someone had been waiting for her in the shadows.

”Did you have fun tonight?”

Ye Jiayao jumped about a foot in the air in shock.

Xia Chunyu walked out slowly, his hands behind his back, his eyes cold.

”Wha…why are you hiding there? You almost scared me to death,” Ye Jiayao berated. She would have probably scampered away if she hadn't recognized his voice.

Xia Chunyu just continued to look at her with those cold eyes. ”I told you that I'd come see you today and yet you went cruising on the lake with others.”

His voice wasn't raised but it was tight with anger.

He did say that, but Ye Jiayao thought that he couldn't leave since the Emperor has commanded him to stay home. From how angry he was, he must've been waiting for her for a long time. Her first inclination was to yell at him defensively, but then she remembered how he risked his life to protect her.

”I thought that you couldn't leave your home today. And I really didn't want to go to the lake since I am so exhausted but Little Jing insisted. They interrogated me because of what you said yesterday in the palace,” Ye Jiayao explained.

Xia Chunyu blinked. ”What did they ask you?”

”They want to know what kind of relationship we have. Don't worry, I didn't tell them the true story.”

”I didn't have a choice.”

Ye Jiayao didn't mean to blame him. ”I know. I muddled through their questions and luckily they believed my answers.” Suddenly, she groaned and complained, ”Ahh, my back hurts. Go home, Chunyu, I'm going to retire to my room and rest my back.”

Xia Chunyu stopped her with a hand on her arm. ”You want to run again? We haven't talked this through yet! Even if they persuaded you to come with them, couldn't you have come back a bit earlier?”

Ye Jiayao was helpless. ”I'm not running. My back really does hurt. Do you think I've emerged unscathed from how rough you were yesterday? Chunyu, I'm tired and I feel like I've been run over by a carriage. I don't have the patience for this.”

Xia Chunyu stepped back carefully. He really had been a little harsh with her yesterday. He asked with concern, ”Where are you hurting? Do you want a doctor to take a look?”

Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes angrily. ”Yes, why don't we seek a doctor's opinion, hmm? I'm sure he'll tell me to avoid getting manhandled by arrogant Heir-Son Lords.”

Xia Chunyu had the grace to look embarrassed. ”Then it's best not to have the doctor over.”

”As long as you quit,” Ye Jiayao retorted.

”What? You want to be a widow?” Xia Chunyu laughed and swept her up into his arms.

”Hey, put me down. This is so embarrassing! What if someone sees? Chunyu...”

”It's so late, there wouldn't be anyone else out. Aren't you tired? Let me carry you,” Xia Chunyu told her with a soft smile, his earlier melancholy and anger miraculously disappearing.