Chapter 102：I will hug you when you are tired

Ye Jiayao tried her best to appear unaffected. The curious and suspicious looks these guys have do not bode well for her. This all seemed too planned. It was like she walked in on an ambush... holy sh*t! Was it possible that Chunfeng followed her yesterday? 

"You know what, I can't be bothered talking to you guys," Ye Jiayao muttered sulkily, shrinking back to hide in the shadows. She could feel her face burning up.

Helian Jing looked at her meaningfully. "Yesterday, even when my brother mentioned that you were my benefactor, it did no good. It's only when Brother Chunyu said that you and him..."

Ye Jiayao's heart was beating so fast she was afraid that it'd jump out of her chest. What the f*ck did Chunyu say?

Xia Chunfeng continued, "My brother said that he met you at Black Wind Ridge. Yaoyao, why were you at Black Wind Ridge?"

Ye Jiayao forced herself not to show her relief. They're asking about Black Wind Ridge so that means... they don't know that I'm a girl. 

"I was a chef there, of course!" Ye Jiayao responded blithely. "One day, when I was traveling, I was captured and brought to the mountains." 

At least, that was some semblance of the truth. She was abducted to the mountains, and she was indeed, Chunyu's personal chef.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Helian Jing said.

"What is there to tell? My time up there was anything but good. I wanted to forget about it," Ye Jiayao said bitterly.

"My brother said that you achieved great merit in defeating the Hei Feng Gang. Tell us, what was the situation like? Were the bandits there cruel?" Chunfeng asked, the interest clear in the sparkle of his eyes.

Ye Jiayao almost choked on her tongue. Chunyu does know how to talk nonsense. What possible merit could she have achieved?

"Of course, the bandits were cruel. And I really didn't do anything. I just tipped him off," she answered casually. Well, she wanted to tip him off, but she ended up relaying a trap instead. Oh, and she also got locked up by the underboss. Great times.

Zhao Qixuan said, "Hey, don't sell yourself short. May it be war or business, the most important thing is information. An essential intelligence will determine a triumph. Li Yao, you are too humble and so indifferent to fame, it is admirable."

Oh, no. I'm definitely not indifferent to fame.

"That's just who Yaoayao is," Helian Jing declared proudly.

"My brother said you saved him," Chunfeng added.

Ye Jiayao raised a brow. It seemed like Chunyu was willing to use any excuse just to save her.

"It wasn't like that, really. I just cooperated in a few acts with him. I wanted to save myself, too, you know," she said humbly.

The three of them looked at her with obvious admiration.

"You're making light of what happened. From what I know, the situation back then had been extremely dangerous. We heard that Bai Chongye was very sly and very cunning," Helian Jing countered.

"Yes, that was what my brother said. The boss was always on guard around him," Xia Chunfeng supported.

Zhao Qixuan cheered, "Li Yao, you are truly amazing! From now on, you are my brother!"

Xia Chunfeng raised his teacup and said, "Yaoyao, you are one of the few people I respect."

Ye Jiayao had no other choice but to toast with them as she hid the shame she was feeling. If they were to find out the truth about her, how would they react?

After assuaging their doubts, Helian Jing and Xia Chunfeng moved on to other topics. They talked about what happened yesterday in the palace, echoing each other from time to time. Xia Chunfeng even mimicked his brother's expression vividly.

Ye Jiayao was moved. It was all thanks to their upholding safeguard last night that she was still able to continue on her life.

Thinking about how she got to this point befuddled her. She started off as a woman that was forced into a relationship with Chunyu. She escaped and picked up Little Jing along the way. She helped solve a small scuffle which landed her a job in Heavenly Residence. Now, as a head chef, she was connected to a bunch of enthusiastic and distinguished nobles. Was it just all her charisma or was she really that lucky? 

Xia Chunyu waited at Uncle Jiang's house for a while. He was supposed to stay at home and ponder over his mistakes so he wasn't able to leave in the morning time. He had to wait until dark to sneak out and find Yaoyao.

Which was why he was so irritated that she still hasn't come back until now.

"Heir-Son Lord, according to the people at the restaurant, Lade Ye went to the lake with Young Royal Highness Jing and Third Young Master," Song Qi reported as soon as he ran in.

Xia Chunyao's eyes dimmed. That woman was outrageous. He said that he would come and find her! 

Meanwhile, on the boat, Ye Jiayao and the three nobles were being entertained by some beautiful and graceful dancing women. The lute and pipe flute were being played in the background by two musicians.

The three nobles looked at Li Yao, wondering if anyone has caught his fancy, but he seemed to be disinterested which they found quite odd.

Ye Jiayao was barely able to conceal her boredom. What does she care for pretty women, she is a beautiful woman. It would've been better if it were a few handsome men dancing. She imagined a picture of four attractive men dancing to 'Little Apple' to entertain herself.

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.