The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: He’s So Useless

Curious onlookers glanced over, their gazes shifting between Han Yao and Ye Chutang.

Gifts?

Those two...

Ye Chutang smiled faintly. ”My sincerest apologies, Mr. Han. On the day you visited, I had already left early in the morning with Yan, Yun Feng, and Xiao Wu. I didn’t even have a chance to greet you, which was terribly rude of me. As for your gifts, they’ve been with my second uncle this whole time. I hear from him that each one is quite rare.”

Han Yao’s smile froze for a few seconds.

’The way she said it, it’s as if his gifts weren’t for Ye Chutang at all, but for Ye Heng.’

Ye Heng also sensed that something was amiss and immediately chuckled, explaining, ”Nephew, we are all well aware of your sincere intentions.”

He and Ye Chutang had parted on bad terms that day. She had turned and left without so much as glancing at the boxes, and he had forgotten all about it afterward.

’Who would have thought Ye Chutang would say such a thing in public!’

Han Yao vaguely sensed something was off. The awkwardness on his face quickly vanished, replaced by a practiced smile.

”That’s good, that’s good!”

’The last time at the clothier’s, she gave me the cold shoulder, so I knew this marriage proposal wouldn’t go smoothly.’

’But it doesn’t matter. As long as Ye Heng agrees, that’s all I need.’

’After all, Ye Chutang is currently living under someone else’s roof. She’s just a seventeen-year-old girl whose parents are both dead; naturally, all major decisions have to be made by Ye Heng.’

He wanted to strike while the iron was hot and continued to ask, ”By the way, last time I—”

”Xiao Wu should have arrived by now, and I must go get her. Please excuse me.” Ye Chutang’s tone was gentle, but she cut Han Yao off with an air of finality.

Without waiting for Han Yao to reply, she turned and started walking forward.

Confused, Han Yao subconsciously reached out to stop her. ”Wait a—”

THWACK.

Ye Yunfeng, walking at Ye Chutang’s side, lifted his hand to block Han Yao’s advance. The sound was neither loud nor soft.

He glanced sideways, his eyes roguish and wild, a sharp glint hidden within them.

”Whatever it is, you can say it when my sister has time to listen.”

Han Yao nearly laughed in anger. Deliberately ignoring the stinging pain on the back of his hand, he looked Ye Yunfeng up and down. ”I was speaking to your second uncle and your sister. What gives you the right to interrupt?”

Ye Jingyan glanced at him and said coolly, ”Delaying us from picking up Xiao Wu is no great matter, of course. But if the Princely Heir is kept waiting, I’m afraid that would be inappropriate.”

Hearing this, Han Yao’s expression changed slightly. ”What—what Princely Heir?”

Ye Yunfeng dusted off his hands as if he were afraid of getting something dirty on them, and raised an eyebrow nonchalantly. ”The Heir of Duke Dingbei, of course. What, does Mr. Han not know him?”

Han Yao had no time to be angry at his gesture; panic instantly seized his heart.

’This... this means... Ye Chutang is going to meet the Heir of Duke Dingbei right now? No, wait, her youngest sister—how could she be with the Heir of Duke Dingbei?’

Countless questions flooded his mind, but Han Yao didn’t dare to ask any of them. An image suddenly surfaced in his memory: a cool glance from that man back at the Ye Mansion.

Indifferent, calm, and piercing.

Han Yao shivered involuntarily.

’Even if I were ten times bolder, I would never dare to provoke that man!’

While Han Yao was still frozen in a daze, Ye Chutang had already walked past him and headed straight for the polo field.

Ye Shixian’s hand, clutching her handkerchief, tightened. She shot Han Yao a look of bitter disappointment.

’He just let such a perfect opportunity slip away!’

’If only he had said a few more words just now, shown a little more backbone, everyone would have surely assumed there was something going on between him and Ye Chutang.’

’But now—a complete waste!’

However, Ye Shixian didn’t let her feelings show. Instead, she offered an apologetic smile.

”Mr. Han, I do apologize. My cousin just returned to the Capital City not long ago, so her temperament is still a bit reserved and cautious. Besides, she raised Ling Zhi herself, so she’s naturally more concerned about her. If she’s slighted you in any way, I hope you can forgive her, Mr. Han.”

Han Yao had no reason to refuse the olive branch she was offering.

He laughed heartily. ”Of course! Of course!”

...

The polo field was wide and open, with goals standing at either end. Two teams had already gathered on the sidelines.

The horses were all powerfully built with sleek, glossy coats. The young scions from various families, ready to mount for the match, were dressed in athletic attire with tall boots, holding their mallets.

A single glance revealed a scene of high spirits and dashing vitality.

Quite a few people had already arrived. Ye Chutang discreetly scanned the grounds and soon spotted a tall, slender figure.

Shen Yanchuan.

Xiao Wu was nestled obediently in his arms, her little arms wrapped around his neck. Her chubby, fair little face was filled with curiosity and excitement as she looked around.

Many of the people who had arrived early saw this scene and froze on the spot.

This was especially true for the noble ladies from various families who had been eagerly waiting. The moment they saw that exquisitely handsome face, the smiles that had just begun to form on their lips froze solid.

”Isn’t that... the Heir of Duke Dingbei? Why is he holding a child?”

”Which family’s little girl is that? I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before!”

”He... he hasn’t been back in the capital for years. That couldn’t be his daughter, could it?!”

As soon as this was said, many of the young women looked panicked.

Someone nearby immediately retorted, ”Of course not! That little girl has nothing to do with the Young Master Heir! That’s Ye Chutang’s youngest sister! They say the little girl was sick not long ago, and the Princely Heir was worried she might have a relapse if she caught a chill, so he brought her along.”

The name Ye Chutang had certainly been mentioned quite a lot recently.

So with this explanation, everyone immediately knew the identity of the Little Milk Group and collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

”Oh, so that’s how it is...”

That Ye Chutang had saved the Eldest Princess and had been frequently visiting the Long Princess Mansion lately, so it was only normal for Shen Yanchuan to take extra care of her and her youngest sister.

...

Suddenly, the big one and the little one seemed to sense something.

The moment Shen Yanchuan stopped walking, Xiao Wu was already waving her little hands frantically at Ye Chutang.

’Sister! We’re over here!’

Shen Yanchuan turned his head as well.

Their eyes met.

Shen Yanchuan gave a slight nod, while Xiao Wu, still in his arms, beamed with a brilliant smile.

Ye Chutang paused, suddenly feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

’This scene... why does it feel so strange...’

”Sister?”

Ye Yunfeng called out, puzzled that she had stopped moving.

Ye Chutang snapped back to her senses.

’Perhaps it’s because... I rarely see Xiao Wu staying so obediently in a stranger’s arms, so seeing it all of a sudden feels a bit jarring?’

Ye Chutang lifted her skirts and walked forward.

When she reached them, she curtsied and thanked him warmly, ”My apologies for keeping you waiting, Princely Heir.”

Shen Yanchuan smiled faintly. ”There’s no need to be so formal, Doctor Ye. We actually just arrived ourselves.”

Hm?

Ye Chutang paused for a moment.

’We came by carriage, so we should have been here much earlier. How could they have ’just arrived’?’

Just as she was thinking this, Xiao Wu opened her arms.

Ye Chutang was about to take her, but then she saw Xiao Wu open her little hand.

A single copper key lay quietly in her palm.

Ye Chutang blinked. ”You solved the interlocking lock?”

Xiao Wu nodded emphatically, covering her little mouth as she laughed, her eyes curving into crescents.

’Young Master gave me a little extra time just for this, so of course I solved it!’

Seeing her expression practically begging for praise, Ye Chutang couldn’t help but smile, and she gently pinched her soft, tender cheek.

”How is our Xiao Wu so amazing?”

...

In the distance, the Eldest Princess watched this scene and couldn’t help but remark:

”Why is Yanchuan so useless? Other men his age are already married with children. And him?”