TMBIABHL: Chapter 31

 Glossary

·Shen Yanchuan (沈延川): The Marquis of Dingbei. Currently recuperating at the Ye Clinic.

·Little Five / Xiao Wu (小五): The youngest Ye sister, approximately 4 years old.

·Xie Anbai (谢安白): Shen Yanchuan's friend from the capital.

·Ye Chutang (叶初棠): Female protagonist. Heir to an ancient medical family. Runs the Ye Clinic.

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Chapter 31: You Like Her

Shen Yanchuan let out a soft, derisive laugh. "It's only been a few years, but your eyesight has deteriorated terribly."

Following the sound of the voice, Little Five saw a man of about twenty climbing in through the window.

He was dressed in a blue brocade robe with a jade pendant at his waist. His features were handsome and sharp, his brow carrying a keen intensity, yet he was also blessed with smiling, crescent-moon eyes that lent him an approachable air.

Little Five glanced at Shen Yanchuan again and made her own private assessment—Mmm, this one is still the best-looking!

Xie Anbai, of course, had no idea what the soft, pudgy little milk bun was thinking. He flicked his sleeve and sat down casually opposite Shen Yanchuan, giving Little Five a closer look.

With a sharp snap, he opened his snow-white folding fan, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth. "You're right. This little one is much more pleasant to look at than you. I doubt you'd have the capability to produce a child this cute."

Shen Yanchuan held out the black Go stone in his hand to Little Five. "Would you like to play?"

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

Shen Yanchuan seemed gentle and polite on the surface, but in reality, he had the heart of a king of hell. If he wanted, he could befriend anyone, earning their effusive praise, yet those he truly acknowledged and took to heart were exceedingly rare.

And now he was behaving like this toward a mere toddler...

"This child truly isn't yours?"

Xie Anbai found it somewhat unbelievable.

Shen Yanchuan couldn't be bothered to dignify that with a response.

Little Five stretched out her plump little hand, took the black stone, and looked back at the game board.

Seeing her small face so full of concentration, a faint smile touched Shen Yanchuan's lips. His slender, jade-like finger tapped a spot on the board.

"How about placing it here?"

Little Five nibbled on her finger, pondering for a long moment, then—placed the stone on an adjacent spot instead.

The black stones, which had held a dominant position, immediately severed their own line of retreat and fell into danger.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Xie Anbai burst out laughing. "You handed this opportunity to me yourself!"

Tap!

Without hesitation, he placed a white stone, seizing the black group's vital point.

The previously clear situation instantly became chaotic, the outcome now difficult to judge.

Little Five seemed to realize she had made a mistake. She looked up at Shen Yanchuan with wide, somewhat abashed eyes.

Shen Yanchuan patted her head in praise. "Well played."

Little Five seemed to relax a little but refused to make another move, simply leaning obediently against his side to watch.

—Normally when I want to watch Big Sister play, she always says it's too much trouble. Even though their skill isn't as good as Big Sister's, watching them is still a nice way to pass the time!

Shen Yanchuan didn't seem to care about winning or losing this game either, casually placing another stone in a corner.

"You seem particularly idle. What, did your father chase you out again?"

The smile on Xie Anbai's face instantly stiffened.

Poking the sore spot!

He snorted, putting on an air of complete indifference. "Not at all! I was the one who got tired of serving him! His peculiarities are endless, as you well know! With that terrible temper of his, who could possibly stand it!"

Shen Yanchuan glanced up at him. "Let's be clear upfront. I don't have any spare funds to lend you."

"What!?" Xie Anbai was shocked and aggrieved. "Are we still brothers or not! You, a man of your stature—you're telling me you're broke!?"

Shen Yanchuan pointed to the left side of his chest. "Spent it all on medical treatment. It's nearly gone."

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

Little Five widened her eyes at him—Who are you calling black-hearted! There's no one in the world better than Big Sister!

Unfortunately, her glare lacked any real intimidation, and Xie Anbai didn't notice at all.

Shen Yanchuan, however, did notice and chuckled. "Watch your words. Physician Ye saved my life, you know."

"Really?" Xie Anbai reacted, looking around the courtyard. "No wonder you're staying in this little clinic. A place this small actually has such a remarkable talent?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

He knew exactly how severe Shen Yanchuan's injuries had been, which was why he had been intensely curious before arriving. Hearing Shen Yanchua say this now only made him want to meet this person even more.

"You have no idea, but because you're so stubbornly hard to kill, someone is absolutely fuming," Xie Anbai said, thinking of something and unable to hold back a scornful laugh. "I heard they haven't been eating or sleeping well for days."

Shen Yanchuan looked at Little Five.

"The child is here. Say something more pleasant."

Xie Anbai: "......???"

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

"No way, Shen. Since when do you care about such things?"

This man had seen it all; when had he ever shown an ounce of softness or tenderness? And now he was—

Little Five blinked, seeming not to understand, or perhaps not caring at all.

Shen Yanchuan said, "Just say—since it's your first meeting, and she even played a move with you, you should give her a red envelope."

Xie Anbai was incredulous.

"So you get to be the good guy! You—"

The rest of his words died in his throat as he met a pair of large, clear, glistening eyes, dark and bright like black grapes.

Xie Anbai choked for a good while before finally resigning himself to his fate. He pulled out a small golden whistle and handed it to Little Five.

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

He couldn't let this Shen fellow look down on him! No matter how down on his luck Xie Anbai was, he was still generous!

Little Five hesitated.

Shen Yanchuan said, "This big brother is giving you a meeting gift. Shouldn't you accept it and thank him?"

Only then did Little Five step forward, using both little hands to take the golden whistle. She then looked up and gave Xie Anbai a bright smile.

Xie Anbai instantly felt something in his heart go soft.

Sure, the guy surnamed Shen is a dog, but this little milk bun is truly adorable!

At that moment, light, quick footsteps suddenly sounded from the courtyard outside.

Shen Yanchuan seemed to sense something and looked over. Sure enough, it was Ye Chutang returning.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

By now, the sky was dark. She was half-hidden in the shadows, only her slender silhouette visible. The adjacent room was lit by candlelight, which spilled out and fell upon her face, making her skin appear even more like snow, pure white and smooth.

Her thick, long eyelashes curled slightly upward like the most delicate silhouettes.

Seeing her, Little Five's eyes instantly lit up, and she pattered out on her little feet.

Ye Chutang turned her head to look.

The light and shadow seemed exceptionally gentle with her, each contour carrying a unique charm. When her gaze settled on them, her dark, warm, yet clear and bright eyes were like the most brilliant stars in the night sky.

She bent down and pinched Little Five's cheek. "It's so late. Did you come to bother Young Master Shen again?"

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

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

"This is a friend of mine. He was passing through Jiangling and stopped by to see me. I hope you don't mind, Physician Ye?"

Ye Chutang's eyes curved into a smile. "Of course not. Please make yourselves at home. I'll take Little Five back now."

With that, she took Little Five's hand and left, seeming not at all curious about Xie Anbai's identity.

Shen Yanchuan watched her leave, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly as he pondered to himself: The case is settled. Just how does she plan to turn the tables?

Before he could think it through, a cold snort came from beside him.

"So that's how it is. A minor injury that you've been recuperating from for so many days, even making me give that kid a gift. So it's true she's not your child—she's your sweetheart, isn't she?"

"Shen Yanchuan, you like her, and you even dragged your brother into helping your courtship? Do you have any shame?!"

(End of Chapter)

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