Chapter 46 Sober You mustn’t do this.

Chapter 46: Sober. Don’t be like that.

Zhong Yao genuinely wanted Xie Chi to treat her like his grandmother.

That way, Xie Chi would take care of her, look out for her, and be filial. If she offended someone outside, she wouldn’t have to worry, as she could just pin it on Xie Chi.

If she was in a bad mood, she could even hit Xie Chi a few times, and he probably wouldn’t fight back.

Not like now, where even though leaning on Xie Chi’s broad chest felt reassuring, there was always a voice in her head reminding her this wasn’t proper.

“Forget it,” Zhong Yao sighed. “Just treat me like a regular girl.”

If she were a regular girl, holding her like this wouldn’t fly.

Xie Chi caught the implication.

Zhong Yao was pinned in his arms in a controlling hold, something you could call “teaching her a lesson,” like when Xie Chi got mad and pinched Zhong Yao’s face.

If you took the “teaching her a lesson” part out, this was clearly out of line.

But honestly, Xie Chi wasn’t holding her that tight, nowhere near as intimate as that crazy, impulsive thing he did the other day.

He frowned, paused, then let go of one hand, but didn’t release Zhong Yao.

With his free hand, he grabbed the thin cloak nearby, spread it open, and wrapped it around her, putting a layer between them. She went from a weak woman pinned by him to a silkworm cocooned in the cloak.

“A regular girl would have her eyes shut and be asleep by now,” Xie Chi said. “So shut your eyes and your mouth too.”

Zhong Yao squirmed a bit but couldn’t break free from the cloak. She figured this was fine.

After all, she was leaning on Xie Chi. If any wild animals came, she’d know as soon as he moved.

Xie Chi would take care of them for her.

Happy with that, Zhong Yao closed her eyes.

As for propriety? What was that compared to her own comfort?

Besides, debts didn’t bother her; worst case, she could just take in a husband later.

Outside the ruined temple, the wind still howled like wild beasts, nonstop, like beasts could burst through the drafty walls any second. But now, another sound filled her ears.

“Thump—thump—”

It was Xie Chi’s heartbeat, strong and steady, taking over her whole attention.

Her cheek pressed against his chest, and besides the heavy heartbeat, she felt the solid warmth through the thin fabric.

Zhong Yao couldn’t help thinking Xie Chi had a great build—it felt as good as it looked, smooth muscles, lean and solid. Even her second brother would be jealous.

She wanted to sneak a feel, but she couldn’t move, and if Xie Chi caught her, he’d definitely get mad again.

Zhong Yao sighed to herself. If she had the same place in Xie Chi’s heart as his grandmother, she wouldn’t have to worry about him getting mad.

Resting easy against Xie Chi’s chest, she closed her eyes and murmured, “Heir Xie, I really envy your grandmother for having a grandson like you.”

Xie Chi was looking down at her face as she slept.

When Zhong Yao was quiet, she looked so obedient it softened your heart. Hearing that, his tenderness shattered in an instant, turning into bitter frost.

Xie Chi’s face went dark. He wanted to smack Zhong Yao!

And she had the nerve to say he treated her like Xue Fang?

Xue Fang wasn’t as annoying as her!

Without a word, Xie Chi grimly lifted the cloak and pulled it over Zhong Yao’s head.

But that didn’t stop her yapping. Soon, her muffled voice came from under the cloak, “No one got to bathe today… but you don’t stink, Heir Xie. Even if you stink one day, I won’t be as rude as you and call it out, because I’m nicer than you.”

Xie Chi: “…Shut up!”

She shut up for less than half a minute before her voice came from under the cloak again.

This time, her voice was full of worry. “If my second brother really has a kid with that female bandit, and it’s a girl, let’s name her Ruoxian. Zhong Ruoxian—I gave myself that name when I was little. I loved it, but my parents wouldn’t let me change it…”

“If you don’t shut up, go back to the carriage!”

Zhong Yao panicked and quickly begged, “Last sentence! Just one more!”

“Say it!”

Zhong Yao cherished this chance to speak her last words, carefully considering before saying, “Heir Xie, why did you cover my head with the cloak? It’s so stuffy.”

“Because I’m afraid I’ll lose control and hit you,” Xie Chi said coldly, then declared decisively, “Say one more word, and I’ll really throw you back into the carriage.”

With that, Xie Chi stared at Zhong Yao through the cloak. Seeing her settle down, he thought he’d finally be free, when suddenly a faint sound came from inside.

It was like a “hmph” or an “mm,” similar to the murmurs of someone half-asleep.

But Xie Chi knew it wasn’t a dream; it was Zhong Yao weakly provoking him.

Should he keep his promise and kick her out to the carriage?

Frowning deeply, Xie Chi thought for a moment, then yanked the cloak open, fixing Zhong Yao with an icy glare.

Zhong Yao lay in his arms, eyes tightly shut, motionless.

Xie Chi shook his arm, but she didn’t open her eyes, her body swaying limply with his movement, as if she’d fallen into a deep sleep the moment she’d spoken, and wouldn’t wake even if the sky fell.

Doing such an annoying thing, yet the orange firelight favored her, turning her cheeks into a brilliant pale gold, dancing on the tip of her nose and eyelashes, dressing this detestable little woman in a guise of radiant charm and obedient cuteness.

Xie Chi stared at Zhong Yao for a long time, his emotions still churning, while her breathing gradually steadied, and she truly fell asleep.

Things had developed as Xie Chi had commanded, but he felt little joy.

After waiting a while longer, he slowly lowered his head, his lips about to touch Zhong Yao’s forehead, then stopped. He looked at her for a moment longer, and in the end, he merely reached out to smooth the stray hair at her temple.

Many base thoughts had crossed his mind, and he’d said some excessive things in impulse, but when it came to actually doing something, he could still restrain himself.

—As long as he wasn’t under the influence of external drugs, Zhong Yao’s seduction, and his own mind was clear.

—Kissing the top of her head, touching the ends of her hair, or brushing her earlobes didn’t count.

“Aren’t you annoying?” Xie Chi said softly.

Zhong Yao naturally did not respond.

Seeing her sleeping so soundly, so defenseless, Xie Chi started overthinking again—didn't she know how cute she was, or did she trust him so much she forgot he was a guy?

After all, he'd said such harsh things, yet Zhong Yao not only brushed them off but even thought he was treating her like he treated Xue Fang.

Had he ever scolded Zhong Yao like he scolded Xue Fang, or held Xue Fang like this to rock him to sleep?

Thinking of Xue Fang, the kid came back.

Ever since Xie Chi took him under his wing, Xue Fang had gained freedom, seen more, and learned many skills. He could handle all sorts of weapons in camp, and had tried his hand at weird stuff like taming eagles and catching leopards in the wild, so night hunting was no big deal for him.

He'd caught a lot and had a blast. The night wind out in the wild was a bit chilly, but he came running in all sweaty.

The guards outside warned him, so Xue Fang was pretty quiet. He ran in and plopped down next to Xie Chi, trying to keep his excited voice down, his eyes shining as he said, "Bro, look!"

He held up his right hand, showing a tiny green snake.

He had its head pinched in his fingers, while its long body coiled around his wrist, squirming hard.

It was obviously a venomous snake, and it was still alive.

Xie Chi felt like he must've done something terrible in a past life to get such payback in this one. He'd just gotten one annoying girl to sleep, and now a rowdy kid shows up.

"Is your skin itching again?" Xie Chi muttered under his breath. "Kill it or toss it far away!"

Scolded, Xue Fang pouted and sulkily took the little snake outside. After getting rid of it, he came back to find Zhong Yao still leaning on Xie Chi, her cheeks rosy, fast asleep.

Xie Chi hadn't moved; he was still holding her, but with one free hand, he played with a strand of Zhong Yao's hair that had fallen loose, staring off into space.

Xue Fang was too hyped up from playing to sleep. He glanced over a couple times and asked, "Bro, are you and the young lady gonna get married?"

Xie Chi looked up and saw he had a complicated look on his face, with both worry and acceptance, along with a bit of relief that the bad news had finally come.

Xie Chi said, "Nope."

"Ah?" Xue Fang was surprised. After thinking a moment, he asked, "Is it 'cause she doesn't like you?"

"..." Xie Chi felt that Xue Fang, at twelve years old, needed someone to teach him how to talk right, or he'd get himself beaten to death one day out on his own.

Having been beaten plenty, Xue Fang was sharp at sensing danger and scooted a bit away from Xie Chi, then added, "If you're not getting married, why are you holding her while she's sleeping? Grandma said a man has to know his manners and behave properly—no intimacy with a girl before marriage. Aren't you setting a bad example for me?"

Grandma had indeed said that.

In matters of love between men and women, her trust in men was like dandelion fluff, gone with the wind.

When Xie Chi traveled in his youth, before each departure she would nag endlessly: don't flirt, don't bully women, don't visit brothels, and so on.

Upon his return, she wouldn't first ask about his safety but would instead look behind him and interrogate the accompanying guards about any women who had been close to Xie Chi, fearing he might have lost control in his youthful recklessness and done something beastly.

Later, when Xie Chi never developed feelings for any girl, the old lady even wondered if she had been too strict.

But she still had to give the same advice, and she hadn't missed a single word with Xue Fang.

Xie Chi indeed had selfish motives, but he didn't say that Zhong Yao had leaned in because she didn't see him as a man. He scolded in a low voice, "When you can manage yourself, then you can meddle in my affairs."

When would that ever be?

Xue Fang huffed angrily, picked up a branch, and vigorously poked the fire, sending sparks flying and stirring up a cloud of dust.

Xie Chi turned slightly, looking at the peacefully sleeping Zhong Yao in his arms, and noticed a speck of dust had landed on her raised hair.

Frowning, he wiped away the dust, then with one arm around Zhong Yao's back and the other under her knees, he lifted her horizontally.

His movements were already very gentle, but they still startled Zhong Yao awake.

She opened her eyes in a daze, and upon seeing it was Xie Chi, her body relaxed. Her hand, resting on his shoulder, patted him twice as if soothing a dog, then her head lolled to the side as she drifted back to sleep.

Xie Chi didn't understand how Zhong Yao could still infuriate him without saying a word.

He barely held back his anger, walked to the carriage, and lightly tapped on the door. Shu Feng immediately came out.

"Guard her well," Xie Chi said.

After settling Zhong Yao back in place, he returned to find the fire had been extinguished by Xue Fang's antics.

The fire had been for light, and since it was late, its dying didn't matter. Xie Chi ignored it and asked under the faint moonlight, "What else did Grandma say? Repeat it to me, one sentence at a time."

Perhaps influenced too much by his grandmother, Xie Chi didn't trust himself much in matters of love—especially after that day when, under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs, his base nature had erupted.

Now that he had recognized himself, he felt the need to sober up to prevent doing or saying anything excessive in a moment of impulse.

Xue Fang was lying on a mat, tossing and turning unhappily. At the question, he said, "Too much, I can't remember all at once."

"Say whatever comes to mind."

Xue Fang thought hard and said, "Grandma said the young lady has terrible taste. If you two ever marry, the gifts she gives her won't be good, so she needs to stash away some nice things for herself in advance."

"..."

Xie Chi realized he had been mistaken—his retribution wasn't two people, but three.

But he didn't agree with his grandmother's words.

"Where is her taste bad?"

The clothes and ornaments she liked clearly suited her and were very beautiful.

"Her taste in men is terrible," Xue Fang said, lying back with his legs crossed. "She could even fancy someone like Fei Anxuan."

That was true.

Xie Chi said, "You can't blame her entirely. How many men has she met? The other party was too good at pretending."

Xue Fang pouted, thinking that his grandmother was indeed sharp—every word she said was right. Before they were even married, his big brother was already forbidding him from saying anything bad about the young lady.

"Then it's still partly her fault," Xue Fang insisted stubbornly. "She likes flashy men, and she got fooled."

Xie Chi: "...?"

Frowning, Xie Chi asked, "Who likes flashy men?"

"The young lady, she said it herself last time. She said she wanted to find a handsome man to marry into her family, and he had to seduce her." Xue Fang said bluntly, then laughed, "She even got all dreamy-eyed thinking about it, not a bit embarrassed."

When he finished and heard no response from Xie Chi, Xue Fang suddenly remembered that his big brother liked Zhong Yao. He flipped up like a carp and scrambled over to Xie Chi, saying nervously, "Big brother, don't you go seducing her! Otherwise, she'll be so smug, and she'll bully me and Grandma even more mercilessly."

Xie Chi: "...Go to sleep!"