The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: You Fancy Her

Shen Yanchuan chuckled. ”A few years apart, and your eyesight has gotten even worse.”

Xiao Wu looked toward the source of the voice and saw a man of about twenty climbing in through the window.

He wore a blue brocade robe with a Jade Pendant at his waist. His features were sharp and handsome, and there was an air of keen intensity about him. Yet, he had eyes that curved into crescents, adding a touch of warmth when he smiled.

Xiao Wu glanced at Shen Yanchuan again and mused to herself— ’Hmm, this one is still the best-looking!’

Xie Anbai, of course, had no idea what this soft and squishy Little Milk Group was thinking. He flipped up the hem of his robe, casually sat down across from Shen Yanchuan, and studied Xiao Wu for a few moments.

With a SWISH, he unfolded a snow-white fan, his lips curling. ”You have a point. This little girl is far easier on the eyes than you. I doubt you have what it takes to have a kid like this.”

Shen Yanchuan handed the black Go stone in his hand to Xiao Wu. ”Want to play?”

Xie Anbai raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Shen Yanchuan might appear gentle and courteous, but in truth, he was utterly ruthless.

If he so desired, he could charm anyone into becoming a friend who sang his praises, but those he genuinely took notice of and cared for were few and far between.

Yet now, he was treating a small child with such...

”Is this child really not yours?”

Xie Anbai found it rather unbelievable.

Shen Yanchuan couldn’t be bothered to answer him.

Xiao Wu reached out her chubby little hand, grabbed the black Go stone, and turned her gaze back to the board.

Seeing the serious expression on her little face, Shen Yanchuan’s lips curved into a smile as his long, elegant fingers tapped a spot on the board.

”How about playing here?”

Xiao Wu bit her finger, thinking for a long moment, before—placing her stone on the spot right next to it.

That single move instantly cut off the escape route for the black stones, which had been in a dominant position, throwing them into peril.

Xie Anbai roared with laughter. ”You served that opportunity right up to me!”

CLACK!

Without hesitation, he placed a white stone, seizing the black stones by the throat.

The once-clear game was instantly thrown into chaos, the outcome now anyone’s guess.

Xiao Wu seemed to realize she had made a mistake. She looked up at Shen Yanchuan, her gaze both embarrassed and pleading.

Shen Yanchuan patted her head and praised her, ”Well played.”

Xiao Wu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but she refused to place another stone so casually. Instead, she just leaned against him, watching obediently.

’Usually, when I want to watch my sister play Go, she says it’s too much trouble. Even though these two aren’t as good as her, watching them is a nice way to pass the time!’

Shen Yanchuan didn’t seem to care about the outcome of the game and casually placed another stone in a corner.

”You seem to have a lot of time on your hands. What’s the matter? Did your old man kick you out again?”

The smile on Xie Anbai’s face froze.

’Why’d he have to bring that up!’

He snorted and said nonchalantly, ”Of course not! I’m the one who refused to serve him anymore! It’s not like you don’t know how ridiculously difficult he is! Who could possibly put up with that rotten temper?”

Shen Yanchuan glanced up at him. ”Just so we’re clear, I don’t have any spare cash to lend you.”

”What!?” Xie Anbai was utterly aghast. ”Are we even brothers? You, of all people—you’re telling me you have no money!?”

Shen Yanchuan pointed to his left chest. ”Used it for my treatment. It’s almost all gone.”

Xie Anbai was left speechless. ”...What kind of charlatan doctor did you run into?”

Xiao Wu’s eyes went wide as she stared at him. ’Who’s he calling a charlatan! There’s no one in the world better than my sister!’

Unfortunately, her glare lacked any intimidating power, and Xie Anbai didn’t notice it at all.

Shen Yanchuan, however, noticed and chuckled. ”Don’t be reckless with your words. Doctor Ye saved my life.”

”Really?” It dawned on Xie Anbai, and he glanced around the courtyard. ”No wonder you’re staying in this small clinic. Who would’ve thought a little place like this would be home to such a master?”

He knew how severe Shen Yanchuan’s injuries had been, so he was already immensely curious before he even arrived.

Now that he’d heard Shen Yanchuan’s account, he was even more eager to see this doctor for himself.

”You have no idea, but because you’re so hard to kill, someone is absolutely furious.” Thinking of something, Xie Anbai couldn’t help but sneer. ”I heard they’ve been unable to eat or sleep properly for days.”

Shen Yanchuan glanced at Xiao Wu.

”There’s a child here. Let’s talk about something more pleasant.”

Xie Anbai: ”...???”

He crossed his arms and took a few steps back, looking at Shen Yanchuan as if he were a complete stranger.

”You can’t be serious, Shen. Since when do you care about something like this?”

’This man has seen it all. When has he ever shown an ounce of tenderness? And now he’s actually—’

Xiao Wu blinked, looking as if she either didn’t understand or didn’t care at all.

Shen Yanchuan said, ”How about this—it’s your first time meeting her, and she even played a move with you. You should give her a gift for the occasion.”

Xie Anbai was incredulous.

”So you get to look like the good guy! You—”

He never finished his sentence, his gaze meeting a pair of large, limpid eyes that shone like black grapes.

Xie Anbai was speechless for a long moment before he finally, with a resigned sigh, took out a golden whistle and handed it to Xiao Wu.

”I left in a hurry and didn’t bring anything valuable. I’ll get you a proper gift next time!”

’I can’t let Shen look down on me! No matter how down on my luck I am, I, Xie Anbai, am always generous!’

Xiao Wu hesitated.

Shen Yanchuan said, ”It’s a gift from your big brother. Aren’t you going to accept it and say thank you?”

Only then did Xiao Wu step forward and take the golden whistle with both her little hands. She then looked up at Xie Anbai and smiled.

Xie Anbai instantly felt a soft spot in his heart get poked.

’Even though Shen is a real jerk, this Little Milk Group is truly adorable!’

Just then, the sound of light footsteps came from the courtyard outside.

As if sensing something, Shen Yanchuan turned his head and saw that it was, as he’d expected, Ye Chutang returning.

Night had fallen, and she was half-shrouded in darkness, only her slender figure visible.

Candlelight spilled from an adjacent room, illuminating her face and making her skin appear as white as snow, as smooth and luminous as cream.

Her thick, long eyelashes curled upward slightly, like an exquisite silhouette.

Xiao Wu’s eyes lit up upon seeing her, and she ran out with a PITTER-PATTER of her feet.

Ye Chutang turned her head toward them.

The light and shadow seemed to treat her with a special tenderness, imbuing her with a unique charm. When she looked over, her dark, gentle eyes, clear and bright, shone like the most brilliant stars in the night sky.

She bent down and pinched Xiao Wu’s cheek. ”It’s so late. Why did you run over to bother Mr. Shen again?”

Shen Yanchuan smiled. ”I’m the one who asked her to come play. She’s been very good.”

Ye Chutang’s gaze shifted, landing on Xie Anbai. ”And this is...?”

”This is a friend of mine. He was passing through Jiangling and stopped by for a visit. I trust Doctor Ye doesn’t mind?”

Ye Chutang’s eyes curved. ”Of course not. Please, make yourselves at home. I’ll take Xiao Wu back now.”

With that, she took Xiao Wu’s hand and left, apparently incurious about Xie Anbai’s identity.

Shen Yanchuan watched her leave, his phoenix eyes narrowing as he wondered to himself: ’The verdict on the case is already set. How does she plan to turn things around?’

Before he could come to a conclusion, a cold sneer sounded from beside him.

”That explains it. Nursing a minor injury for all these days, making me give a gift to that little kid... So, she really isn’t your daughter. She’s your lover?”

”Shen Yanchuan, you’re sweet on her, and you’re dragging your brother into it to win her favor? Have you no shame?!”