Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Struggle

"Zhuang Yu, have you finished your conversation?" Lan Ruofeng inquired as he entered.

Zhuang Yu nodded, glanced at Ye Shi and stated, “We’re done here.”

Ye Shi watched as Lan Ruofeng and Zhuang Yu walked away together, clenching his teeth tightly.

As soon as Zhuang Yu left, the facade of strength that Ye Shi had put on in her presence crumbled, his face turning ashen.

"Ayu, what did you say to him?" Lan Ruofeng inquired.

Zhuang Yu sighed, "I tried to guide him back to the right path, to stop him from getting lost in a fantasy. But it seems he didn't appreciate my concern."

Shrugging, Lan Ruofeng commented, “Ayu, you’re too kind-hearted. Many in this world can’t recognize benevolence. You try to help them, and they might just think you're plotting against them."

“I don’t care about his perceptions, as long as I know my conscience is clear,” Zhuang Yu replied calmly.

Chen Da noticed Ye Shi's distraught demeanor in the kitchen and couldn't help asking, "Ye Shi, what's wrong? Are you ill?"

Ye Shi looked terribly distressed, causing Chen Da to grow worried. Ye Shi had always been strong; only something deeply unsettling could have caused this reaction.

"Did that servant of Young Master Mu Chen say something to you?" Chen Da inquired with a furrowed brow.

Ye Shi shook his head, his face pale, "No, he didn’t say anything." But then, who did?

"What's this?" Chen Da asked, pointing at the food box beside Ye Shi.

"The pastries were sent over by Mu Chen," said Ye Shi.

Chen Da paused, remarking, "Young Master Mu Chen is truly considerate."

Ye Shi bit his lip, speaking with a hint of melancholy, "He is considerate, but why is he so considerate towards me?"

Chen Da looked at Ye Shi puzzled, "Shi, what's bothering you? Isn't it good that Master Mu Chen treats you well?"

Taking a deep breath, Ye Shi said, "It is good, but he's too good."

...

"Has the package arrived?" Mu Chen snapped back to reality from his meditation, asking Ren San.

Ren San nodded, confirming, “They were.”

“Did he say anything?” Mu Chen inquired, lifting his gaze.

Ren San nodded, his hands behind his back, replied, "Young Master Ye Shi said not to rush things, to take it slowly and not overwork yourself. After all...after all... given your lack of talent, even if you were to toil day and night, it’s not guaranteed you'd succeed in crafting the elixir."

Mu Chen: “...” His Ye Shi, always so stubborn. Clearly concerned yet never straightforward about it.

…………

At nightfall, Ye Shi wrapped himself in a blanket, biting its corner, his eyes emanating a faint green glow.

Waking up in the middle of the night, Chen Da was startled by Ye Shi's appearance. He thought: This isn't like Ye Shi, who has always been food protective and usually devours anything edible. Yet today, he claimed not to be hungry and even shared the remaining pastries.

The pastries sent by Young Master Mu Chen were incredibly delicious. Even the head pastry chef in the tavern was full of praises after tasting them.

Chen Da recalled Ye Shi mentioning that the pastries made by Mu Chen were delectable, only that there wasn't enough of it; they disappeared after just a few bites.

"Shi, what’s going on?" Chen Da inquired, looking at Ye Shi.

Ye Shi lifted his head, meeting Chen Da’s eyes, and said, "Zhuang Yu claimed that Mu Chen's kindness towards me is only because of the close relationship between his grandfather Mu Ke and mine. He wants to curry favor with Mu Ke."

Chen Da frowned, replying with some frustration, "Shi, can you really trust Zhuang Yu's words? With so many admirers around, he still never refuses the advances of those rich young masters. Perhaps he's just envious because Mu Chen no longer pays him attention. Isn't that just human nature? He took Mu Chen for granted before, and now that Mu Chen ignores him, he feels slighted.”

Raising his head, Ye Shi asked, "Uncle Chen, are you suggesting that Zhuang Yu deceived me?"

"Of course. Young Master Mu Chen is Mu Ke's direct grandson. While your grandfather may have a good relationship with Mu Ke, it's just that - a good relationship. For Mu Chen to go to such lengths to impress Mu Ke, it doesn't make any sense," Chen Da reasoned patiently.

Ye Shi gritted his teeth, responding, "Uncle Chen, you're right. Zhuang Yu must have lied to me."

"Master Shi, if you have feelings for Young Master Mu Chen, you can't always let him be the only one showing care. You need to reciprocate!" said Chen Da.

Ye Shi bit his lip, his gaze wandering, deep in thought.