Chapter 28 [TSS 6]

At that moment, Little Apple became slightly worried. It anxiously asked Yan Yi Ming, “Will Jian Yu Yan really stop coming because of what Jian Yu’er said?”

Yan Yi Ming’s current identity allowed her to do as she pleased without regard for her reputation, but it was still rather restrictive. For example, if Jian Yu Yan truly stopped visiting Yan Yi Ming, Yan Yi Ming would have no way of seeing Jian Yu Yan again no matter what she did.

Thus, if Yan Yi Ming could not see Jian Yu Yan, then their mission would not be able to proceed further.

Yan Yi Ming sighed, “It’s hard to say, but he will come today, so we must find a way to make him reconsider.”

Little Apple nodded, leaving its host to think of a method by herself. It was only responsible for reminding its host, “After Jian Yu Yan and Jian Yu’er finished talking last night, Jian Yu Yan’s favorability gauge suddenly increased by twenty percent around two in the morning.”

Little Apple was a bit puzzled. After talking to Jian Yu’er, why was it Yan Yi Ming’s favorability that suddenly increased?

“Because of guilt,” Yan Yi Ming lightly commented, “Jian Yu Yan has entangled with an innocent person because of his selfishness. Now, because of his selfish actions, this innocent person is about to be hurt. Hence, he was bound to feel guilty. Moreover, he has already started having feelings for said person.”

Because of his promise to Jian Yu’er, Jian Yu Yan would definitely drop by Plum Blossom Pavilion today to satisfy Jian Yu’er’s wishes.

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Ah Ming gazed up at him. When he met her clear and expectant eyes, his heart softened once more.

He had originally intended to tell Ah Ming that he would not be coming back again, but just as the words were about to come out, he realized that hurting Ah Ming was harder than he had imagined. He could not bear to say such words to make her sad.

It was he who entangled with her first.

And now he was also the one who would let her down and cause her grief.

He realised that he was not able to utter words such as ‘I’m never coming back again,’ to her. So after a momentary pause, Jian Yu Yan continued, “Ah Ming, let me redeem your contact, alright?”

After saying this, Jian Yu Yan suddenly felt much lighter.

During the times he spent with Ah Ming, Jian Yu Yan was immersed in blissfulness but was also inexplicably fearful. He was always worried that one day someone who knew Yu’er would spot Ah Ming and see through his intentions. He was even more afraid that Yu’er would discover Ah Ming’s existence.

Yesterday, Yu’er told him that she had seen him with Ah Ming. This caused Jian Yu Yan to break out in a cold sweat. He belatedly remembered that Ah Ming was wearing a veil that day before he managed to breathe a sigh of relief.

He did not want anyone else to see Ah Ming. Now, a perfect opportunity presented itself, hence, he asked her if she was willing to let him redeem her.

The maid serving Yan Yi Ming was so shocked that she covered her mouth, looking at her with envy. After a moment of daze, Yan Yi Ming suddenly understood Jian Yu Yan’s intentions for coming today.

Yan Yi Ming could not help but sigh. Jian Yu Yan was indeed the one with the highest EQ among the four male protagonists. This approach was truly impressive

Redemption was just a veil for compensation. Yet, this compensation was undoubtedly the greatest temptation for a courtesan.

Jian Yu Yan’s move was brilliant. He did not mention breaking off their relationship, and even now, he still looked at her affectionately, as if he suddenly suggested redeeming her because he really liked her and did not want her to suffer anymore.

For Jian Yu Yan, redeeming a courtesan’s contact required no effort, and giving her a peaceful life was even easier. In the future, even if he parted ways with her and sent her away, it would be all for her own good because entangling with him would only waste the best years of a woman’s life.

He was originally the one who wronged her the most, but now, he would become the one she was most grateful to.

Furthermore, this was a win-win situation. He would be able to keep his promise to Jian Yu’er and from then on, no one would ever see her face and uncover his secret.

Yan Yi Ming suddenly felt a bit angry. After entangling with her, he wants to run away? There’s no such easy thing in the world!

She looked into Jian Yu Yan’s still affectionate eyes and her red lips opened and uttered a single word, “No.”

Jian Yu Yan’s smile froze, but he quickly returned to his senses and asked her gently, “Why not?”

“Because,” Yan Yi Ming walked up towards Jian Yu Yan and sat on his lap. Her arms circled his neck as she whispered in his ear, “Because I know that after my redemption, I will never see Young Master Jian again.”

Jian Yu Yan’s expression changed as if she saw through all his hidden intentions. The hands around her waist tightened and he forced a smile, “That’s not true.”

Ah Ming smiled, “Yan Ge-ge is very nervous, to the point that you didn’t even realise that I addressed you as ‘Young Master Jian’.”

Jian Yu Yan fell silent.

“Yan Ge-ge, must be wondering how I knew? In fact, I’ve always been thinking about it. When Young Master Jian first saw me, you were so shocked. Then you treated me so well after that as well. So many beauties constantly surround Young Master Jian and I know I’m not exceptionally beautiful, so the reason why Young Master Jian cares so much about me must be because my face resembles someone else…”

Jian Yu Yan suddenly panicked.

“It must be because of this person that Yan Ge-ge treats me so well. And now, the reason why you’re planning to leave me is also because of her. She is someone who Yan Ge-ge loves to the point of being engraved in one’s bones, and yet, was someone unobtainable.”

Engraved in one’s bones, but was unobtainable.

She knows everything!

Jian Yu Yan felt as if something in his heart had collapsed with a bang.

Previously, there was another woman who, on a late night when no one else was around, smiled and questioned why he and Jian Yu’er were obviously siblings, but he never treated her as so.

Jian Yu Yan would never forget the shock that statement brought him. Yet, at this moment, Ah Ming’s words caused his breath to get stuck at the back of his throat.

He held Ah Ming tightly in his arms, not daring to look at her face. He did not dare think about when Ah Ming had figured it out, nor did he dare wonder why she had never spoken of it despite clearly knowing everything.

He could no longer bring himself to tell her that he was leaving. After a long while and with much difficulty, he managed to call out, “Ah Ming…”

Ah Ming raised her head and lightly pressed her lips against his to stop him from speaking. After a long time, she asked softly, “Yan Ge-ge, isn’t it tiring to love someone for so long and not have your feelings reciprocated?”

Was it not tiring? 

Jian Yu Yan felt bitterness in his heart. How could it not be tiring? He had thought about her for so many years, yearned for her for so many years to the point that he no longer even knew what exhaustion felt like anymore.

“Hence… since it’s already so tiring, why not let Ah Ming stay by your side? In actuality, you also want me to stay by your side, right?…”

That day, after Jian Yu Yan fled from her courtyard, Little Apple happily reported, “Jian Yu Yan’s favorability has increased by another ten percent. Host, fighting!”

Yan Yi Ming smiled silently. She had managed to keep Jian Yu Yan by her side, and the outcome was even better than she had imagined.

====

Ever since then, Jian Yu Yan never mentioned this matter again, but he also did not say anything about it to Jian Yu’er.

Jian Yu Yan had not been to Plum Blossom Pavilion in the past several days. But not because he did not want to, but because he did not dare to.

During the night, whenever he closed his eyes, he would occasionally think of Jian Yu’er, but it would always eventually turn into a pair of eyes that were sometimes cunning and sometimes observant. With a cinnabar mole at the corner of her right eye that seemed to have imprinted on his heart. Her smile, her tears, and the way she curled up in his arms before falling asleep peacefully.

Jian Yu Yan suddenly felt that his arms were somewhat empty.

When he woke up from his dream, he could still hear Ah Ming’s familiar voice echoing in his ears, ‘Yan Ge-ge, isn’t it tiring to love someone for so long and not have your feelings reciprocated?’ 

Her sentence lingered in his mind for a long time. 

‘Since it’s already so tiring, why not let Ah Ming stay by your side?’

Looking at the empty space beside him, Jian Yu Yan smiled bitterly.

Indeed, in all honesty, he also wanted to.

Unable to fall back asleep, he got up in the middle of the night and took out the unfinished painting from that day. In the painting, there was a woman whose smile was as beautiful as ever. However, she was missing a beautiful cinnabar mole at the corner of her right eye.

Jian Yu Yan picked up a brush and carefully touched up the painting of the woman before finally adding the cinnabar mole.

There was no mistaking anymore, Jian Yu Yan smiled faintly, put down his brush, blew out the lamp, and left the study.

The next day, Jian Yu’er came to Jian Yu Yan’s courtyard to play. Ever since their conversation that day, Ge-ge had indeed not gone out to look for that courtesan as he promised. In a good mood, she went searching for him but was unable to find him.

Jian Yu Yan was no idle person. Perhaps he had gone to the Eastern Palace during the day to handle official matters. Jian Yu’er did not mind his absence. Since she dropped by, there was no harm in going to his study to pick out a few books to read. However, she did not expect to spot a completed portrait on his desk.

Jian Yu’er glanced at it and a smile appeared on her lips.

That was because the woman in the painting was clearly herself.

Jian Yu’er pouted and complained softly, wondering when Ge-ge secretly painted it. She picked up the painting and looked at it carefully. She thought to herself that her brother’s portrait painting skills had indeed become better and better. However, she could not remember when she had owned this goose-yellow outfit?

Jian Yu’er could not remember, but she did not care. Under her careful observation, she noticed a small red dot at the corner of the woman’s right eye.

If she had not looked closely, she would not have noticed it.

“Was it an accident?” Jian Yu’er murmured, reaching out to rub the red dot, but it was still there.

Jian Yu’er found it a little regretful, but the flaw did not hide the beauty of the painting.

When Jian Yu Yan returned from Jian Xiang’s place, he saw Jian Yu’er staring at the painting. His heart tightened slightly, and he quickly strode over and carefully took the painting from Jian Yu’er’s hands, “When did you arrive? Were you bored waiting?”

“I wasn’t, I was just admiring Ge-ge‘s painting. Since I’ve seen it, why are you still hiding it?” Jian Yu’er smiled and continued to ask, “When did you paint this? I didn’t even know when you painted this.”

Jian Yu Yan had just been in a hurry not to let Yu’er see Ah Ming’s painting, so he had hastily wanted to put it away. But Jian Yu’er’s tone clearly showed that she had mistaken the person in the portrait for herself.

Jian Yu Yan suddenly felt a little dazed. Why had he not thought of this just now?

That was because he had been with Ah Ming for too long that he no longer treated her as just a substitute. Two people might have similar appearances, but after such a long time, he could clearly distinguish between them.

Yu’er was Yu’er, and Ah Ming was Ah Ming.

Jian Yu Yan put away the painting in his hand. “It’s not finished yet. I’ll give it to you after I’m done and have framed it.”

Jian Yu’er nodded happily, without further objections.

On that day, in Plum Blossom Pavilion, Yan Yi Ming received the well-framed painting. It was the one Jian Yu Yan had painted when they were on the boat at the lake a month ago.

Yan Yi Ming was satisfied with the woman’s portrait in the painting, especially with the addition of a cinnabar mole at the corner of her eye. She had the painting hung in her room, and a hint of playfulness flashed in her eyes as she softly murmured, “The time is about right. It’s time to add more fuel to the fire…”