The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 18

The next day, Bixin noticed that Jiang Chaoyun was a bit absent-minded. He nearly put his shoes on the wrong feet, and he couldn’t seem to smooth out his belt properly. She stepped forward to help him. “…Young Master, what’s the matter?”

Jiang Chaoyun snapped back to reality and said vaguely, “Nothing.”

Bixin whispered, “Young Master has his own little secrets now.”

Jiang Chaoyun thought of something, and his cheeks turned slightly red. Bixin stared at his face and froze. It was her first time seeing Jiang Chaoyun like this; searching her mind for the right words, she found that “spring heart fluttering” (smitten) was quite fitting.

His eyes were like ripples of spring water, and the rosy flush on his cheeks made his usually pale face look exceptionally beautiful. Even Bixin felt her heart skip a beat looking at him. She couldn’t help but ask, “Young Master, what is going on with you?”

Jiang Chaoyun gave her a fleeting glance and pursed his lips. “What do you mean ‘what’s going on’?”

Bixin pointed to her own cheek. “Young Master, your face is so red.”

Jiang Chaoyun reached up and touched his face, finding it indeed quite hot. He felt bashful but kept his voice steady. “It’s nothing. Maybe it’s just too hot.”

Bixin was skeptical. Because of Jiang Chaoyun’s constitution, he was actually very resistant to heat. Currently, even though the room was warm—bordering on stuffy because the windows weren’t open—for Jiang Chaoyun, it was just the right temperature. Even in this heat, his hands and feet were often icy cold. It was because of this constitution that the doctor said he likely would never have children.

In short, Jiang Chaoyun was the person least likely to be “too hot.”

However, Bixin knew her place. Even if she grew up with him and was the most favored maid, she wouldn’t overstep. Seeing him obviously lying, she pretended to believe him. “I see. It seems I burned a bit too much charcoal. But being hot is better than being cold; please bear with it, Young Master.”

Jiang Chaoyun gave a noncommittal response. His heart was still restless because of what Han Jiangmu said last night—

He is a precious gem, and should be pampered and loved…

Han Jiangmu was so good with words. How could he be so silver-tongued? Did he truly feel that way? It must be true, because he said it with such a serious tone; how could it be false?

When Jiang Chaoyun heard it at the time, his chest felt a wave of tingling numbness, so much so that he forgot to say anything and had to pretend to sleep out of awkwardness. Now, reflecting on those words, the aftereffects seemed even stronger.

The warm jade he wore and all those trinkets were given by Han Jiangmu. Though they weren’t expensive, they required a lot of heart; Han Jiangmu must have searched the markets for a long time. Even the “Beautiful Lady” kite was intricately made; most kites in the market were swallows or kites, yet Han Jiangmu found one in the shape of a beauty. Such thoughtfulness was truly rare and precious.

Jiang Chaoyun felt an uncontrollable small joy, yet he was also at a loss. This state lasted until after lunch before he slowly recovered.

After lunch, Jiang Chaoyun usually took a walk, though his range was limited to his own courtyard. His courtyard was likely the largest in the Jiang mansion. He walked for a bit to aid digestion, and as he was about to return, he saw Mao’er entering from outside, cradling a small white dog in his arms.

Mao’er brought the puppy to Jiang Chaoyun, a wide smile on his face. “Young Master, look! This is the puppy Guard Han sent us. Isn’t it beautiful!”

Jiang Chaoyun’s eyes fell on the snowy-white puppy. Seeing its pitch-black eyes, he fell in love instantly. “…What kind of dog is this? Does it bite?”

Mao’er put his hand near the puppy’s mouth. It let out a soft “awoo,” stuck out its tongue, and licked his finger, making Mao’er laugh out loud. “Young Master, it’s so good!”

Jiang Chaoyun was also moved. He reached out toward Mao’er. “Let me hold it.”

Bixin ran over at that moment, shouting, “Mao’er! How dare you bring some random dog to the Young Master! If he gets scratched or bitten, see if Madam doesn’t teach you a lesson!”

Mao’er was startled and immediately put the dog down, even giving it a light kick. “I didn’t!”

The puppy, having been kicked, gave a pitiful “awoo.” As if knowing who the true master was, it trotted over to Jiang Chaoyun’s feet and pawed at his cloak, making “wuu wuu” sounds in its throat.

Jiang Chaoyun’s heart softened instantly. He couldn’t help but scold Bixin softly, “Bixin, it’s so good; it won’t bite me.”

Bixin saw the puppy’s appearance clearly as she approached. She hesitated. “Young Master, you still have to be careful. And this dog looks a bit dirty; who knows if touching it will make you sick.”

Jiang Chaoyun knelt down to touch the puppy. Bixin cried out, “Young Master!”

Jiang Chaoyun didn’t listen, stubbornly placing his hand on the puppy’s head. The puppy actually rubbed its head against his palm. Feeling the fluffy texture, Jiang Chaoyun was overcome with uncontrollable affection. “It’s so beautiful. Look, Bixin, it isn’t biting me. It’s so good.”

Watching the well-behaved puppy, Bixin’s last bit of dissatisfaction vanished. She also knelt down and stroked its back. “It really is good. Young Master, what breed is it? I’ve never seen one like this.”

Mao’er put on a look of being more worldly than Bixin. “This must be a Lion Dog from the Western Regions, right? I heard Lion Dogs are snowy white.”

Bixin was surprised. “Then isn’t it very expensive? Where did a guard like Han get so much money?”

Mao’er mumbled, “Sister Bixin, you don’t understand. Those who travel the world always have their own ways. Do you think Guard Han could be that young yet so skilled if he were just a simple guard? Perhaps beneath his ordinary face is a heroic knight of the jianghu, or the descendant of a famous sect. In that case, getting a little Lion Dog is a piece of cake!”

Bixin nodded convincingly. “I see.”

Jiang Chaoyun stroked the puppy, thinking to himself: You’re all wrong, he’s a Prince! But given Han Jiangmu’s identity, Jiang Chaoyun also felt the dog might indeed be a Western Lion Dog. He loved it to bits, but accepting so many things from Han Jiangmu—how was he to handle that?

After thinking, Jiang Chaoyun had Bixin report to Jiang Lin-shi, asking her to send Han Jiangmu one hundred taels of silver. It’s Madam thanking him; what does it have to do with me, Jiang Chaoyun?

Mao’er remembered something and said quickly, “Young Master, Guard Han said the dog isn’t weaned yet; it needs goat milk.”

Since he adored the dog, Jiang Chaoyun would give it whatever it needed. He immediately had someone buy several mother goats from the market to be “wet nurses” for the puppy. He even had the kitchen uncle build a spacious kennel.

Later, he pulled out Buddhist scriptures he hadn’t touched in ages, wanting to find a name for the puppy. However, after flipping through them, he wasn’t satisfied with anything.

Bixin, seeing him fret over a name, whispered, “Young Master, I see this dog is snowy white with bright eyes; it isn’t ordinary. How about we call it ‘Gousheng’ (Dog-Leftover)?”

Jiang Chaoyun: “???”

“Does ‘Gousheng’ have anything in common with what you just said?”

Bixin hummed. “Young Master, a lowly name makes them easy to raise. But if you aren’t satisfied, how about ‘Wangcai’ (Prosperous Wealth)?”

Jiang Chaoyun raised his voice, “Vulgar! My little puppy cannot have such a vulgar name!”

Bixin hesitated. “Then ‘Fugui’ (Riches and Honor)? This name is grand and fits the status of our Jiang family.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…” He looked utterly dejected. “I’ll think of one myself.”

After thinking seriously for a long time, Jiang Chaoyun slapped his leg and cried out, “I know what to call it!”

“What?” Bixin asked.

“Let’s call it Xiaobao (Little Treasure).”

Bixin: “…”

Jiang Chaoyun was quite satisfied with this, muttering to himself, “It’s my treasure now; Xiaobao is perfect.” Bixin could only nod in agreement.

With the puppy in the courtyard, the air seemed more lively, and even Jiang Chaoyun’s spirit seemed much better.

That night, Jiang Chaoyun asked Han Jiangmu, “Why did you give me a dog? Are you trying to harm me? If it bit me, would you be happy?”

Han Jiangmu said, “Madam sent me a hundred taels; I thought it was because Young Master liked it very much and was rewarding me.”

Jiang Chaoyun was choked up, arguing, “My mother rewarded you; what does that have to do with me? I never thought of rewarding you.”

Han Jiangmu said, “Since Young Master doesn’t like it, return it to me. Though the dog is small, its skin could be stripped to make a neck warmer for you.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…” He stopped talking and retracted his head under the covers.

Han Jiangmu asked, “Did you give it a name?”

“I’m not telling you,” Jiang Chaoyun whispered.

Han Jiangmu said, “The name I gave it was Baidi (White Emperor). ‘At dawn I leave the walled city of Baidi among the colored clouds; a thousand miles to Jiangling, I return in a single day.’”

When he spoke, his voice was very soft. Jiang Chaoyun’s ears felt as if they were lightly brushed by a feather—a bit itchy. This itch spread to the tip of his heart, stirring an even deeper (throb of emotion).