Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Shen Yuan's lips twitched, but he remained silent.

Well, of course. They were all treating him as a laughingstock, so how could there not be plenty of laughter and joy?

"But A-Yuan, you must understand, when Young Master Lin wants something, he never fails to get what he wants," Song Zijuan said, his tone unusually serious.

Shen Yuan fell silent for a moment. "What if I return the twenty gold ingots he rewarded me with? Would that work?"

Song Zijuan was momentarily stunned before replying, "Once Young Master Lin gives something away, even if it's worth a thousand pieces of gold, he never takes it back. If you really did that, it would be no different from insulting him."

He then asked, puzzled, "Also, do you truly believe Young Master Lin is someone you can reason with? That he would allow anyone to refuse him?"

"Ah..." Shen Yuan thought for another moment, his expression grave as he asked, "If I'm just unwilling, would Fifth Uncle kill me?"

Song Zijuan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "I thought you had the courage to refuse the Xie family because you weren't afraid of death."

"Of course not," Shen Yuan said, looking ahead, thinking of Dashu Village and the teahouse. "I have family and friends, things I enjoy doing. How could I not be afraid? If they were truly threatened with their lives, then of course I would have no choice."

But that's precisely a weakness one cannot press.

If it were truly exploited, it would only breed enmity. How could they coexist peacefully then?

Song Zijuan looked up at the crescent moon. "A-Yuan, to be honest, Young Master Lin gave me three days to persuade you. This is my last chance."

Shen Yuan frowned. "What happens if you don't succeed?"

"I'll probably die. Young Master Lin doesn't keep useless people around," Song Zijuan replied, still smiling as if telling a lighthearted joke.

Seeing his expression, Shen Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid of death?"

Song Zijuan shook his head. "I, Song, have no attachments in this world, so naturally I'm not afraid."

Shen Yuan's frown deepened. He reached out and patted Song Zijuan's back. After a momentary pause of surprise, Song Zijuan turned his head to look at Shen Yuan. "Pitying me?"

"No," Shen Yuan answered truthfully. "I think you're amazing. To have achieved such a position all on your own, while being all alone, is admirable and worthy of respect."

The ever-present smile on Song Zijuan's face froze for a split second. He stared at Shen Yuan's face as if trying to discern something, but soon his smile widened even more. "Since failure is inevitable, I might as well enjoy a good meal before I die. I've decided on that request. For the remaining days, I want to eat steamed sugar pastry every day. And bring some back for my colleagues too. Remember to make extra."

Due to limited ingredients, the teahouse couldn't even keep enough steamed sugar pastry to meet demand, let alone set aside extra.

Song Zijuan wasn't unaware of this. Today at the teahouse, when he wanted another bowl, Ji Xingwang had already explained it.

Shen Yuan felt Song Zijuan was just making up colleagues as an excuse to eat more. "Those 'colleagues' are just you, right..."

"A-Yuan, be tactful," Song Zijuan said, neither admitting nor denying.

Shen Yuan was at a loss for words. "At most, I can give you four bowls a day. Besides, eating too much isn't good for your stomach."

"Ah, tsk tsk tsk," Song Zijuan chuckled as if his teeth hurt. "A-Yuan is softening his heart, concerned about me? If you can't bear to see me die, just go to the Xie family ancestral home before midnight two days from now. That will save my life."

Shen Yuan stopped walking and looked seriously at Song Zijuan. "Were you using a strategy just now to make me soft-hearted and believe you? Tell me the truth. Don't lie to me."

Perhaps it was the sheer seriousness in Shen Yuan's expression that caused the smile on Song Zijuan's face to freeze completely.

He didn't give an answer but instead fell back on his habitual probing. "What if I was? What if I wasn't?"

"What's the difference between the two?" Song Zijuan asked.

Shen Yuan said earnestly, "The difference is, if you lied to me, I will never believe another word you say from now on."

The answer most beneficial to himself should have been blurted out immediately. But Song Zijuan paused subtly and asked softly, "Why do you want to save me? I've tricked you before, and don't you dislike me?"

"Because living well all alone in a world like this is incredibly difficult. Losing your life over such a small matter... I don't think it's right," Shen Yuan said.

"I'm not sure if going to Fifth Uncle will make him spare you, but I don't want you to really lose your life because of this."

By the moonlight, Song Zijuan's gaze swept over Shen Yuan, as if trying to find any signs of deception.

They had only met a few times. Why would he care if he died?

Unfortunately, he found none. Just as he couldn't understand why Shen Yuan treated people this way.

Song Zijuan managed to force a smile, masking his true feelings. "Didn't I say, I'm not afraid of death..."

Shen Yuan looked up at him, his clear, black-and-white eyes pure and sincere. "Really?"

Meeting his gaze, the words caught in Song Zijuan's throat. At this moment, he seemed to lose his ability to speak, unable to utter either truth or lies.

"So, Brother Song, were you lying to me?" Shen Yuan asked him again.

Song Zijuan closed his eyes, not letting himself look at Shen Yuan's face, and let out a soft sigh. "No."

This was one of the rare times he told the truth.

Hearing this, Shen Yuan patted Song Zijuan's arm comfortingly. "Since you've worked so hard to live, you don't truly want to die. So try a little harder. What if it works? I will definitely help you talk properly with Fifth Uncle tomorrow."

Song Zijuan composed himself, returning to his usual demeanor with a smile on his lips, his true emotions indistinguishable. "A-Yuan, why do you think Young Master Lin would be willing to have a proper talk with you?"

"Fifth Uncle has a very serious case of mysophobia, right?" Shen Yuan asked.

He had once played a character with mysophobia. Although the role had few scenes, it had given him some understanding.

Judging by how Xie Yulin needed to control the cleanliness of his surroundings before entering a space, his mysophobia was severe.

Not to mention the gloves he wore. If there were breathable masks here, he'd probably wear one all day.

After receiving a confirming nod from Song Zijuan, Shen Yuan continued, "That day, the dirt on my feet was obvious, and Fifth Uncle couldn't help but glance at it several times. With Fifth Uncle's power and status, he could easily have ordered someone to forcibly change my shoes. But he didn't. Instead, he endured it and listened to the storytelling."

"I think it was because he didn't want to interrupt the storytelling that had already begun," Shen Yuan said, scratching his head. "Although Fifth Uncle can be forceful at times, he values etiquette highly and is a reasonable person. Otherwise, he could have dealt with me afterward."

"So, I think what Fifth Uncle cares more about is how to solve the problem. I have no other talents; only my storytelling is novel, which is why it caught Fifth Uncle's eye." Shen Yuan was optimistic. "I think he probably needs storytelling for something. If we have a good talk tomorrow, we should be able to find a solution to this matter without me having to join the Xie family."

Song Zijuan was lost in thought for a long time.

He looked at Shen Yuan, his gaze complex. "A-Yuan, has anyone ever told you that you always think the best of people? It's as if, in your eyes, there are no bad people."

Even Young Master Lin, whom no one dared approach, he could find good qualities in.

Young Master Lin is reasonable?

How could those two possibly go together?

Song Zijuan was utterly baffled.

Shen Yuan nodded. "Yes, they have."

“To see someone’s strengths, the other party must first possess them to be seen,” Shen Yuan said helplessly. “Just like those five petty officials—except for the one with only four fingers on his right hand, I couldn’t see anything good about the other four.”

Song Zijue felt he’d been praised out of the blue again.

This Shen Yuan really… made you want to get close and made it hard to deceive him.

Having exploited Shen Yuan's kindness and sincerity, Song Zijue felt a twinge of guilt—it really weighed on his conscience.

He looked up at the moon, his heart filled with sighs. Young Master Lin, oh Young Master Lin, I’ve even thrown my conscience away for you.

…

Back at the teahouse, Ji Xingwang had already hitched up the flatbed cart, and the goat was already loaded on.

Ji Ping’an hadn’t returned home but waited at the teahouse for Shen Yuan so they could go to Dashu Village together.

Although Magistrate Pang had previously conducted large-scale bandit suppression, it was already late, and going alone still wasn't safe.

Ji Ping’an was worried.

Shen Yuan drove the cart with Ji Ping’an, while Song Zijue followed in the carriage behind. The coachman knew kung fu and went along to protect Shen Yuan on the way back to the village.

Listening to the sound of hooves and the jingle of bells outside, Song Zijue lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the rickety flatbed cart ahead.

He couldn’t help but wonder whether his acting as a protector and feeling worried were actually part of Shen Yuan’s scheme.

Were the tactics he had used on Shen Yuan now being turned back on him?

Ever since listening to the storyteller at noon, he had known that the lure of profit wouldn’t work.

Shen Yuan’s storytelling would, in the near future, earn him considerable profits. Money didn't sway Shen Yuan.

Song Zijue thought he had grasped Shen Yuan’s soft spot—his kindness. He had deliberately drawn closer to build rapport and seized the moment to reveal a mix of truth and feigned sincerity, certain he could persuade Shen Yuan.

He just hadn’t expected that, after being immersed in an environment of deceit and trickery for so long, he would nearly falter under Shen Yuan’s sincere and honest eyes.

Fortunately, the final outcome was still within his control, and Shen Yuan had agreed to meet and discuss.

Dashu Village, Auntie Ping’s house.

Auntie Ping’s home, which usually never lit an oil lamp, was now illuminated. In the courtyard, Wang Sanhu and Auntie Ping were still waiting for Shen Yuan’s return.

From the carriage, Song Zijue watched as the elderly woman and the man he had seen at the teahouse warmly and worriedly pulled Shen Yuan aside; he heard their concerned words and their relieved joy at seeing him safe.

It wasn’t until Shen Yuan walked toward him that he snapped back to reality.

“Brother Song, on your way back, could you drop my brother off at the Ji family if it’s convenient?” Shen Yuan asked, then added, fearing Song Zijue might find it troublesome, “If it’s not convenient, it’s fine.”

It would just mean his Brother Ping’an would have to make do for the night at Uncle Liu’s house—Auntie Ping’s home really had no space left to sleep.

Song Zijue gazed at Shen Yuan’s slender yet handsome face under the moonlight and smiled slightly. “Sure.”

It was getting late, so Ji Ping’an didn’t delay. He boarded the carriage and thanked Song Zijue.

Shen Yuan said to the coachman, “Uncle, thank you for your hard work. Be careful on the road.”

The coachman paused for a moment before nodding with a stern expression.

Shen Yuan then called out to Ji Ping’an, who had leaned out to urge him inside, and to Song Zijue, who hadn’t reappeared, “See you tomorrow, Brother! See you tomorrow, Brother Song!”

Sitting inside the carriage, listening to Shen Yuan’s voice, Song Zijue’s mind was filled with one thought: Now that's skillful maneuvering!

He looked at Ji Ping’an, who was still waving at Shen Yuan, and recalled what he had previously investigated about Ji Ping’an—a difficult person to get along with, who kept to himself and avoided closeness with others.

But looking at him now, there wasn't even a hint of that.

Song Zijue couldn’t help but think that if Shen Yuan were to become a strategist or a spy, wanting to win someone over, he’d be unstoppable.

The Xie Family Ancestral Residence.

After dropping off Ji Ping’an, Song Zijue returned to report the day’s events to Xie Yulin and set the time for tomorrow’s meeting.

Xie Yulin had gone to the family graves on the mountain today to bury his uncle.

Upon returning, he began bathing and had already changed the water six times, washing for over an hour.

Song Zijue waited respectfully outside the door.

After the seventh water change, a servant invited Song Zijue inside.

Behind an armchair stood a good-looking, slender servant wearing gloves, carefully drying Xie Yulin’s hair with a cloth.

Candles burned on the table, their warm, gentle glow unable to cast even a hint of warmth upon the figure as cold as the moon.

Even after what Shen Yuan had said, Song Zijue still couldn’t imagine how such an aloof and icy Young Master Lin could allow himself to be refused.

When Xie Yulin’s slightly cold gaze turned toward him, Song Zijue instantly lowered his eyes, not daring to look further. “This subordinate pays respects to Young Master Lin. Shen Yuan said he can come to the ancestral residence tomorrow to meet and discuss.”

Xie Yulin acknowledged with a hum. “Have him come at a quarter past nine in the morning.”

Song Zijue quickly calculated the time. That hour wasn't during Shen Yuan’s storytelling but Wang Sanhu’s. He immediately replied, “This subordinate will go to the teahouse first thing tomorrow to inform him.”

Not long after Song Zijue left, a black-clad guard silently entered the room, knelt respectfully, and reported everything Song Zijue had done that day.

When he heard that Shen Yuan had dragged Song Zijue into a fight, Xie Yulin’s eyes flickered slightly.

“Quite wild.”