Chapter 85: The Runaway Nephew

Chen Yan said sadly, “I was bought home by Dad and Mom. I’m not their real child. Sob, Uncle, can you help me find my real parents?”

Ji Xiao couldn’t help but laugh. “Who said you were bought?”

“Xiao Lü said so.” Chen Yan clutched his clothes tightly, pouting, on the verge of tears. “Before, they didn’t have children, so they bought me home and I was the only child. That’s why they were so good to me. Now they have a little sister, they don’t love me anymore. And later there will be a little brother…”

“Uncle, I don’t want to be kicked out. Can you help me find my real parents?”

Ji Xiao’s face darkened.

He thought Yan Wan had just joked around and Chen Yan took it seriously.

He didn’t expect someone else was involved.

“Who is Xiao Lü?”

“Xiao Lü is the maid who takes care of me,” Chen Yan tugged at his clothes. “Uncle, are you not going to help me find my real parents just because I’m not their real child?”

“Don’t think nonsense. You are their real son, and also my real nephew.”

“But…”

Chen Yan leaned into his arms, looking like he couldn’t believe it.

“Xiao Lü is right. Now that they have a little sister, Mom doesn’t pay attention to me anymore and scolds me every day. Dad ignores me too. They only dote on little sister. If they have another little brother, I’m done for.”

Ji Xiao patted his head. “How did you get out?”

Chen Yan said crisply, “There’s a dog hole in the yard. I crawled out.”

Ji Xiao: “…”

After a moment, Xiao Nan came to report again. “Master, there’s a couple outside claiming to be your elder sister and brother-in-law…”

“Yes.”

Chen Yan was startled. He scrambled down from Ji Xiao and ran to hide behind Lian Ying.

His small figure was completely blocked by Lian Ying’s body.

Lian Ying: “…”

Ji Xiao: “?” Hide if you must, but logically, shouldn’t he hide in his uncle’s arms?

Lian Ying looked like a keep-your-distance type, yet his nephew instinctively hid behind him?

Yan Wan soon stumbled in, her face full of panic. “Xiao’er, Yan’er is missing! Please help your sister find him!”

Chen Fang also ran in behind her, his face flushed.

Ji Xiao stood up and reached out to support Yan Wan, who was sweating profusely. “Sister, don’t worry…”

“How can I not worry!” Her voice was tearful, full of urgency and fear. “Yan’er is still so young. If something happens to him, that would be the end of me! Xiao’er, send people to help your sister find him…”

Chen Yan secretly tilted his head. Seeing his usually strict mother now so fragile, he was a bit stunned.

Chen Fang also ran up, panting. “Please help, Xiao’er…”

“Don’t worry, Yan’er is with me.” Ji Xiao looked at Lian Ying.

Lian Ying reached behind him and lifted the little boy out.

“Mommy!”

Chen Yan hugged her, crying as if he couldn’t breathe.

Yan Wan couldn’t bring herself to hit him.

Over the past few months, Chen Yan had become increasingly mischievous. She had to take care of their two-month-old daughter, and every time she wanted to discipline him, he would run away. She couldn’t catch him and had to soothe the baby, so she always put it off.

Who knew that today he would actually disappear!

She had searched the entire Chen residence but couldn’t find him.

Ji Xiao poured two cups of water. “Sister, brother-in-law, sit down and have some water first. Take a breather.”

Chen Fang was indeed thirsty. He thanked him and sat down to drink.

Yan Wan couldn’t help but hit him once. She said angrily, “If you wanted to come see your uncle, you could have told me and I would have sent someone to bring you! Why did you have to sneak out!”

“Sister.”

Ji Xiao softly told them about Xiao Lü.

Yan Wan got even angrier. She hit Chen Yan again. “Are you stupid? Do I have so much money that I’d buy a child who angers me like you? If you weren’t born to me, I would have thrown you away long ago!”

“Wah wah wah…”

“You only know how to cry! You believe whatever nonsense others say. If you have doubts, why don’t you come ask me? Huh?”

Chen Yan let go of her and turned to hug Ji Xiao instead, crying even harder.

Ji Xiao picked him up, placed him on his lap, and gently wiped his tears. “What’s your name?”

Chen Yan hiccuped. “Chen Yan. Uncle, did you forget again?”

“Your father’s surname is Chen, your mother’s surname is Yan. If they didn’t love you, why would they name you with their combined surnames?” Ji Xiao reasoned.

Chen Yan sniffled. “Xiao Lü said that because I’m not their real child, they couldn’t be bothered to think of a name for me. They just casually combined their surnames…”

Yan Wan raised her hand.

Chen Yan shrank back into Ji Xiao’s arms.

Yan Wan slapped Chen Fang on the shoulder instead. “What a good son you’ve fathered! What a fine maidservant your Chen family keeps! I’m going to sell Xiao Lü off when I get back.”

Ji Xiao turned Chen Yan’s face towards him. “You must have looked in a mirror, right? Take a look. Your eyes and nose are like your father’s, your face and lips are like your mother’s. With that, you’re still not their real child?”

“Xiao Lü said…”

“Chen Yan!” Yan Wan said angrily, “Is she your mother or am I?”

Chen Fang nodded repeatedly. “Son, you don’t know. When we found you were missing, your mother almost went crazy with worry…”

“I, I was worried to death…”

Chen Yan looked at them, his face full of worry.

Ji Xiao put him down and gave him an encouraging look.

Chen Yan walked up to Yan Wan, head lowered. “Mom, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

Yan Wan kept a straight face and ignored him.

Chen Fang patted his head. “Next time, don’t make your mother worry like this. In your heart, are we not even as trustworthy as a maidservant?”

Chen Yan looked at him with teary eyes. “But Xiao Lü was given to me by Mom and Dad. And she really likes Dad. She often told me how great Dad is, that I’m not worthy of being Dad’s son, and she embroidered many clothes and shoes for Dad…”

“Chen Fang!”

“I don’t know about this!” Chen Fang’s legs went weak. He swore to heaven, “Wife, you have to believe me! In my heart, there’s only you. If I…”

“Enough!”

Yan Wan picked up Chen Yan and stood up.

“Let’s go home. Watch me tear her apart!”

Chen Fang took Chen Yan from her obsequiously. “Wife, let me carry him. Save your energy for tearing her apart when we get home.”

“…”

Yan Wan suppressed the urge to hit him and said to Ji Xiao, “Xiao’er, I’m going back to deal with family matters. I’ll bring Yan’er and Jingjing to see you another day.”

Ji Xiao said, “Okay.”

Chen Yan obediently lay on Chen Fang’s shoulder and waved at Ji Xiao. “Uncle, I’ll come see you again!”

Ji Xiao smiled.

After they left, Ji Xiao couldn’t help but laugh. “This kid is actually quite fun.”

Lian Ying said coldly, “Mischievous.”

Ji Xiao reached out his hand. “I’m a bit tired. Ah Ying, carry me back to rest for a while.”

Lian Ying stood up, pulled his hand, and lifted him into his arms, walking towards the room.

Ji Xiao stroked the flower branch on his right forehead and said softly, “Good thing there’s this mark to distinguish you from Lian Yu. Otherwise, since you two look so alike, I’d probably mistake you.”

Lian Ying lowered his eyes slightly. “It’s better if Master doesn’t make a mistake.”

“Oh?” Ji Xiao smiled. “Even if I make a mistake, I’m your master. What can you do?”

“A shadow guard must obey his master’s orders.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Mm, I’ve said it before. In bed.”

“If Master mistakes me for my brother, then no matter what I do, it won’t count as disobeying orders.”

“…”

Ji Xiao said, “Just teasing you. But if that situation really happened, what would you do?”

Lian Ying kicked open the door and then closed it with his foot. He placed Ji Xiao on the bed and stood by it, looking at him coldly. “I would take my brother away so that Master would never see him again.”

“Ha.”

Ji Xiao crooked his finger at him, pulling him onto the bed and flipping over to pin him down. “I take back what I said before about you being boring.”

Lian Ying said, “Didn’t Master say he was tired?”

“Not tired anymore now.”

“…”

Lian Ying tilted his head up slightly, accepting his kiss, and closed his eyes.

No shadow guard was ever without a rebellious one.

Once the shackles were loosened, one had to be prepared for the shadow to bite back.

…

At the Changhe Tavern.

Lian Yu and Cao Mengyang sat at a table on the second floor. The table was laden with fine food and wine.

He drank alcohol; she drank tea.

“I say, Brother Yang,” Lian Yu downed a cup and looked at her teasingly. “You’ve taken me out to eat and drink all these days, but I’ve never seen you drink a single cup. What’s so good about tea? Have a drink?”

Cao Mengyang shook her head. “I don’t drink.”

Lian Yu looked at her delicate, pale face and couldn’t help leaning in to pinch it. “Your parents named you Yang Meng, is it because you look like a girl?”

Cao Mengyang slapped his hand away, her brows furrowed. “I told you to keep your hands to yourself. Where do I look like a girl?”

‘I am clearly a girl!’

“Hehe…” Lian Yu rubbed his fingers. Just as he was about to compliment her soft skin, he caught sight of a figure coming up the stairs out of the corner of his eye. He muttered an exclamation and grabbed his sword, about to jump out the window.

“Brother Lian!”

“…”

Since he was called out, Lian Yu forced a smile and turned around, facing the girl who ran over. “Miss Qi, what brings you to this small town?”

“Passing through. I didn’t expect to meet Brother Lian here! What a coincidence!” Qi Qian looked at Cao Mengyang, who was calmly sipping tea. “Is this your friend?”

Lian Yu sat back down. “Yes, he’s my buddy. We have business to discuss. Miss Qi, go enjoy yourself.”

Qi Qian ignored him and sat down beside Cao Mengyang with a grin. “Sir, you’re very handsome. I’m Brother Lian’s fiancée. My name is Qi Qian.”

Cao Mengyang put down her teacup. “Mm.”

Lian Yu slammed the table. “Miss Qi, better not talk nonsense. There’s nothing between you and me.”

Qi Qian gave him a coy look. “What nonsense am I talking? The two masters have agreed on it.”

“Whoever’s master agreed, you can be their fiancée.” Lian Yu stood up impatiently, pulled Cao Mengyang to his side, and walked out. “Enjoy your meal, Master’s wife. We’ll be going.”

“Lian Yu!” Qi Qian couldn’t keep up the act any longer. She was both angry and aggrieved. “Who are you calling Master’s wife!”

“It was my master who arranged the marriage with your family, not me. So naturally, you’re my master’s wife now.” Lian Yu pulled Cao Mengyang away without looking back.

Qi Qian chased after them, pulled out a flute, and swung it in front of them. “Is it because of him? Who is he, really!”

“Are you annoying or what?” Lian Yu pushed her hand aside. “He’s clearly my buddy. Who else could he be?”

Qi Qian said, “Who are you fooling? You’re ‘buddies’ with a woman? Your master clearly said you were to be engaged to me!”

“Engaged? Does he know my birth date and time? Have we exchanged betrothal certificates? There’s not even a hint of it. If you don’t care about your reputation, I care about mine. I think you’re getting blind, can’t even tell a man from a woman.”

Lian Yu was fed up with her pestering. He directly put his arm around Cao Mengyang’s waist and, instead of taking the stairs, leaped downstairs.

Qi Qian threw her flute at them. “You’re the one who’s blind! You’re blatantly lying! He’s clearly a girl, and you’re hugging him! Ah, Lian Yu, you bastard!”

Lian Yu scoffed. “Is he your buddy or mine? Don’t just accuse someone of being a girl because he looks like one. I touched… ???”

Cao Mengyang looked down at the hand grabbing her chest and twitched her mouth. “Good feel?”

Lian Yu said dazedly, “Soft, soft, soft…”

“Let go?”

“Let go, let go, let go.”

Good heavens!

My buddy’s chest is so soft!

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