The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: She Looks Very Familiar to Me

Lian Zhou stepped back and to the side, clearing the way. ”Doctor Ye, please.”

Ye Chutang gave a slight nod.

’She was a woman of principle. Since she’d taken the man’s silver, it was only natural to do her best to meet his requests.’

Ye Chutang entered the inner room. A partially played game of chess sat on the table before Shen Yanchuan. Hearing her, he looked up and smiled faintly. ”My apologies for troubling you.”

Ye Chutang sat down across from him, her smile gentle and graceful. ”Mr. Shen, you’re too polite. It’s my duty.”

Seeing them so calm and harmonious, it was hard to imagine they had once threatened and guarded against each other in a dark alley.

Ye Chutang took Shen Yanchuan’s pulse once more.

Shen Yanchuan discreetly suppressed his internal energy and looked at Ye Chutang. ”Doctor Ye, how is it?”

Ye Chutang’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. She withdrew her hand and said in a gentle voice, ”Mr. Shen, your previous injuries were quite severe. Although you’ve recovered ninety percent, your vitality has been greatly damaged, so you must continue to recuperate properly. The good news is that you no longer need medication. Quiet rest and recuperation will suffice.”

The corners of Shen Yanchuan’s lips curved up slightly. ”Thank you.”

Ye Chutang looked at him. She knew he was a man of great intellect and strategy, so she didn’t bother beating around the bush.

”To be honest, my family and I plan to leave Jiangling in a few days. This clinic won’t be staying open. So—”

The intention of kicking him out could not have been more obvious.

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised. ”Leaving? May I ask where Doctor Ye plans to go?”

Ye Chutang sighed softly. ”A lot has happened recently. There has been much trouble, and who knows when the dust will settle. Besides, we aren’t from Jiangling originally. After thinking it over, we’ve decided to go and stay with some distant relatives.”

”Distant relatives?” Shen Yanchuan’s eyes sharpened. His gaze fixed on her face, not missing the slightest flicker of her expression.

’If I remember correctly, Ye Chutang and her siblings fled here from the north as refugees. How could they have so-called ’distant relatives’?’

Ye Chutang seemed to know what he was thinking. She nodded slightly, a faint smile on her lips, and explained, ”We didn’t know about them before. It was only by a recent stroke of luck that we managed to get in touch with them.”

In this day and age, it was indeed very difficult for a seventeen-year-old girl to raise three younger siblings. Seeking refuge with relatives was perfectly normal.

But—this was Ye Chutang. Coming from her, the explanation felt strange in every way.

Although they had known each other for less than a month, Shen Yanchuan was already certain that the young woman before him was nowhere near as gentle and harmless as she appeared on the surface.

’Seeking refuge with distant relatives... That’s a decent excuse.’

Shen Yanchuan smiled. ”I see. That’s good, then. It’s just a shame. Doctor Ye’s medical skills are superb. I fear it won’t be easy to see you again in the future.”

Ye Chutang said, half-joking and half-serious, ”I’m a doctor. Seeing me is never a good thing. I’d rather hope that Mr. Shen remains in good health from now on, and that we never have to meet again.”

With that, she stood up and gave a curtsy. Without even glancing at Shen Yanchuan’s expression, she turned and left.

Lian Zhou quickly glanced up at his master, then immediately lowered his head, silently giving Ye Chutang a thumbs-up in his heart.

’Not only is she kicking us out, she’s saying it so harshly! She might as well have thrown our belongings out and told us to scram!’

’With our master’s handsome features and elegant bearing, any other woman would be blushing shyly for ages. But when it comes to Ye Chutang, she avoids him as if she’s afraid of being associated with him in any way. Even I can see her disdain! How could Master not see it?’

’Come to think of it, this must be the first time Master has ever been given the cold shoulder by a woman like this, right?’

”Lian Zhou.”

A cool voice called out, and Lian Zhou jolted. ”Your subordinate is here!”

Shen Yanchuan glanced at him. ”Didn’t you hear what Doctor Ye said? Go pack our things. We wouldn’t want to delay her.”

His tone was as calm as ever, but for some reason, Lian Zhou felt an inexplicable chill run down the back of his neck.

He quickly cupped his fist. ”Yes, sir!”

He turned and was about to head out when he nearly ran right into Xie Anbai.

”Eh? You’re in such a hurry. Where are you off to?” Xie Anbai asked, puzzled.

Lian Zhou bowed to him. ”Mr. Xie, your subordinate is going to prepare the carriage.”

Xie Anbai froze for a moment, then realized what was happening. He turned his head to look at Shen Yanchuan. ”You’re leaving?”

Shen Yanchuan didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on the chessboard, lost in thought.

Xie Anbai strode over. ”Hey, why so sudden? You haven’t even made a move on Doctor Ye yet, and you’re in a hurry to leave? At this rate, it’ll be ages before you ever win her over!”

Shen Yanchuan found Xie Anbai to be particularly noisy today.

Without looking up, he said, ”Your father wrote to me. He’s asking where you are.”

Xie Anbai had just sat down, but upon hearing this, he shot right back up. ”You didn’t tell him, did you?! We’re brothers, don’t sell me out!”

Shen Yanchuan remained noncommittal.

Xie Anbai grew anxious. ”Fine, fine! Do whatever you want! I won’t ask, alright? If you want to go back to the Capital City, you can go by yourself. I’m not going back!”

Shen Yanchuan was completely indifferent as to whether he returned to the Capital City. He was concerned about someone else. ”She’s going back to the Capital City.”

”Who?” It took Xie Anbai a moment to register. ”Doctor Ye? Did she just tell you that?”

’He had just arrived and saw Ye Chutang leaving Shen Yanchuan’s room. So that’s what they were talking about?’

”She didn’t say. I guessed,” Shen Yanchuan said.

Although Ye Chutang hadn’t revealed it, he had a strong intuition that she was, in fact, returning to the Capital City.

He lifted his gaze slightly. ”You said last time that you happened to hear her younger brother mention the Red Date Chestnut Cake from Fuyue Building, which is how you deduced they were from the Capital City. Did you hear anything else besides that?”

Xie Anbai tapped his chin with his fan, thinking for a long moment before shaking his head.

”No. And I only heard that by chance as I was leaving that day. It was her fourth brother trying to soothe the little one. He didn’t say much else.”

Fuyue Building was a famous pastry shop in the Capital City, and its prices weren’t cheap. The fact that they could afford the Red Date Chestnut Cake from there proved that their family had been well-off in the past.

But why would a family like that suddenly leave the Capital City and become refugees?

That year, the north had been hit by heavy snow and severe famine, but it hadn’t affected the Capital City.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Suddenly, a fit of giggles came from outside. A Little Milk Group was seen clutching a purse tightly as she rushed into Ye Chutang’s arms.

She raised her chubby little hand high.

—Big Sis! My purse is all packed!

Ye Chutang chuckled at the sight of the heavy purse and tapped the girl’s nose.

”Xiao Wu is the best. Later, go see if there’s anything else you want to bring and tell your third brother.”

The Little Milk Group nodded vigorously.

Shen Yanchuan watched this scene quietly.

Sunlight spilled down, illuminating the woman standing under the veranda. Her profile was elegant and exquisite, and her dark, gentle eyes sparkled with laughter.

It was a complete contrast to the distant coldness she had shown when telling him to leave.

Suddenly, Xie Anbai, who was beside him, said, ”Huh? This Doctor Ye... why does she look a little familiar?”

Shen Yanchuan’s brow twitched. He glanced sideways and asked in a low voice:

”Oh?”