The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 19

Jiang Chaoyun covered his tracks. “Vulgar, too vulgar. Besides, he already has a name; he’s called Xiaobao.”

Han Jiangmu was silent for a moment before saying, “That’s a good name.”

Jiang Chaoyun huffed. “Of course it’s good. Look who picked it.”

Han Jiangmu looked down at him. Their gazes met, and Jiang Chaoyun’s eyes flickered as he quickly looked away. It wasn’t Han Jiangmu’s imagination; Jiang Chaoyun always seemed to lack the courage to look him in the eye.

Han Jiangmu lifted the lamp cover and blew out the candle, plunging the room into darkness. This night was a peaceful one.

A few days later, the weather warmed slightly. The white frost on the grass had melted in the sun, and walking through it would leave one’s hem dampened with heavy moisture.

The orchard had a bountiful harvest this year. Many fruits had ripened, and a batch was delivered to the Jiang mansion. Jingrou and several servants from Jiang Lin-shi’s quarters delivered a large basket of oranges, red dates, and pomegranates to Jiang Chaoyun’s courtyard.

Bixin accepted them with a smile and immediately washed a small plate of red dates for Jiang Chaoyun. As he ate, he watched the snowy-white puppy chasing Mao’er, making “awoo awoo” sounds.

Standing beside him, Bixin said with confusion, “Why does this dog only say ‘awoo awoo’? Aren’t dogs supposed to go ‘wang wang wang’?”

Hearing this, Jiang Chaoyun also felt it was strange. He beckoned Xiaobao over. The white puppy was still very young and chubby with puppy fat; as it ran over, its little belly wobbled and nearly touched the ground. Just looking at it made Jiang Chaoyun chuckle foolishly.

“Wuu wuu,” the puppy whimpered, nuzzling against Jiang Chaoyun’s feet.

“Why is it still whimpering?” Bixin asked. “Dogs should bark, right?”

Jiang Chaoyun said to Xiaobao, “Wang wang wang!”

Xiaobao: “Wuu wuu.”

Bixin said, “It’s over. This dog doesn’t know how to bark!”

Jiang Chaoyun felt the puppy was adorable no matter what. If it didn’t know how to bark, he could teach it! He said to the puppy again, “Wang wang wang. Xiaobao, come and learn from me. Wang wang wang.”

Xiaobao: “Wuu wuu, awoo!”

Jiang Chaoyun: “Wang wang wang, Xiaobao, wang wang wang.”

Xiaobao: “Wuu wang! Awoo!”

Jiang Chaoyun untiringly taught the puppy for a long time until his throat was a bit hoarse. Finally, Xiaobao managed to bark out a proper “wang wang wang.”

Jiang Chaoyun smiled at Bixin. “See? Doesn’t he know how to bark now?”

Bixin looked closely at Xiaobao. “I suppose he’s smart enough.”

At noon, after finishing lunch, Jiang Chaoyun was taking a walk in the courtyard for digestion when Han Jiangmu arrived.

This time, he entered through the front door. He was very tall, and he even had to tilt his head slightly to get through the doorway. Before he could speak to Jiang Chaoyun, a small white dog lunged from Jiang Chaoyun’s side, baring its teeth and growling, “A-wang wang wang!”

Han Jiangmu: “…”

He furrowed his brows slightly and stopped, staring down at the dog. Xiaobao seemed to feel a trace of fear; he retreated a few steps and nuzzled against the hem of Jiang Chaoyun’s cloak as if acting spoiled.

Jiang Chaoyun’s gentle voice, filled with a warm smile, rang out. “Xiaobao, be good. We aren’t afraid of him.”

Xiaobao: “Wang wang wang!”

Han Jiangmu’s brow relaxed slightly, and the corners of his mouth tilted up. “Did Young Master teach it to bark?”

Facing Han Jiangmu, Jiang Chaoyun’s previously relaxed expression immediately became tense. He whispered, “Yes, so what? Is that not allowed?”

Han Jiangmu smiled and didn’t speak, but his gaze was fixed on the little dog with a look of warning. Xiaobao yelped and dove into the folds of Jiang Chaoyun’s cloak.

“Ah!” Jiang Chaoyun cried. “It tickles! Xiaobao, come out quickly.”

He lifted his cloak and bent over to pick Xiaobao up, poking its wet nose with his finger. Seeing it let out a tiny sneeze, he couldn’t help but reveal two small dimples. An exquisite and refined youth like Jiang Chaoyun had a smile that radiated a moist, clear breath like the spring tide—like an ink painting of the Jiangnan water towns.

Han Jiangmu watched him, his gaze deepening. “…Would Young Master like to go out for a walk?”

Jiang Chaoyun froze and lifted his eyes, meeting Han Jiangmu’s gaze. He felt an inexplicable throb in his heart and quickly turned his head away. “No. Why are you asking that? Are you trying to lure me out of the house?”

He raised his voice slightly, speaking with a touch of cold arrogance. “If something happens to me outside, can a minor guard like you take responsibility?”

He was acting quite heartless, yet unlike before, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Han Jiangmu to see his reaction. Such small movements couldn’t escape Han Jiangmu’s eyes. He paused and said solemnly, “If that’s the case, then never mind.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…”

“I’ve changed my mind. I want to go out,” he huffed.

The corners of Han Jiangmu’s mouth curled slightly and then quickly flattened into a line. His brow was set low and his brow arch was swept upward, giving him an air of deep thought and sharpness like a blade. Combined with his high, somewhat aloof nose and thin, well-shaped lips, his whole face gave an impression of coldness and unapproachability.

But when his lips curled slightly into a smile, those dark eyes seemed to radiate light, showing a brilliance that could move anyone. Jiang Chaoyun hadn’t looked closely at Han Jiangmu’s face before, but now he couldn’t help but peek—and he caught the smile as it vanished.

Startled by the sight, he blinked, and the Xiaobao in his arms let out an “awoo” of pain. Jiang Chaoyun realized he had accidentally squeezed the puppy too hard and quickly set it down, telling Mao’er to take it to the sheep pen for milk.

He then sent someone to inform Jiang Lin-shi. After receiving permission and bringing along Bixin, Jingrou, and Mao’er, he was finally allowed to leave the house. Han Jiangmu followed behind them like an ordinary guard, and Jiang Chaoyun gradually stopped paying him any mind.

Jiang Chaoyun’s body was easily fatigued. Usually, he only had the energy to walk around the courtyard. But after Ma Wenfeng arrived, his energy was much better; in his previous life, it was also at this time that he had frequent opportunities to go out.

Jiang Chaoyun didn’t dislike going out; in fact, he quite liked the outside world. The Jiang family was immensely wealthy in this region, and nearly half the businesses in Huaizhou were under their name. Jiang Chaoyun could walk into any shop on the street and, without guessing, it would be a Jiang shop.

This meant Jiang Chaoyun was the legitimate “Young Boss.” Because he had appeared at important events before, the managers generally recognized him. He entered a bookstore, where the manager personally attended to him, having his staff serve top-quality tea and snacks.

Jiang Chaoyun ate snacks and read for a long while. When he set the book down and looked up, he found that Bixin and Jingrou, who were supposed to be guarding the shop, were gone. Only Han Jiangmu remained.

A sense of inexplicable tension rose in Jiang Chaoyun’s heart. “Where are Bixin and Jingrou?”

“I sent them to buy snacks,” Han Jiangmu replied. He added in a low voice, “Young Master likes the snacks from that shop, doesn’t he?”

Jiang Chaoyun relaxed. “I see.”

Han Jiangmu seemed to be an expert at reading expressions. “Is Young Master tired?”

Jiang Chaoyun was indeed a bit tired. His body was sickly and far too delicate; walking around the courtyard was fine, but once he left the house and walked a bit more, his feet would ache. Like now, sitting in the chair, he couldn’t help but stretch his legs out to avoid contact with the floor.

Far too pampered, Jiang Chaoyun thought, I am a man, after all. So he said with a stern face, “I’m not tired.”

“Then let’s wander a bit more,” Han Jiangmu said.

Jiang Chaoyun said nothing. He stood up and walked to Han Jiangmu’s side, noticing that his gaze usually only reached the man’s chin. He asked as if by accident, “How did you grow so tall? What did you eat when you were little?”

Han Jiangmu looked down at him. “Do not worry, Young Master. You can still grow.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…” He stopped talking.

Preoccupied with his thoughts, Jiang Chaoyun didn’t notice he had followed Han Jiangmu into a secluded alley. When he snapped back to reality, he stopped abruptly and looked around. He questioned Han Jiangmu, “Where is this? Why did you bring me here?”

If it were anyone else, Jiang Chaoyun might have suspected a kidnapping. But Han Jiangmu was a prince; there was no need for him to kidnap him—had he upset the man so much that he wanted to teach him a lesson? It didn’t make sense; he had just sent him all those toys. Why would he turn on him now?

While Jiang Chaoyun was overthinking, a young boy walked toward them and said in a clear voice, “Excuse me.”

Jiang Chaoyun instinctively stepped aside. At that moment, Han Jiangmu leaned down and whispered into his ear: “Young Master, look at him. Doesn’t he look very much like your father?”

His hot breath sprayed against Jiang Chaoyun’s ear, and his voice was soft, yet Jiang Chaoyun couldn’t seem to understand the words.

Han Jiangmu straightened up and strode forward, saying to the boy, “Please wait, you dropped your coin purse.”

The boy turned around. Jiang Chaoyun saw his face clearly; though his features hadn’t fully developed, he was seventy percent similar to Jiang Zuoling.

The boy looked at the purse in Han Jiangmu’s hand, his gaze honest, and said, “That is not my purse.” With that, he turned and left.

Han Jiangmu returned to Jiang Chaoyun’s side and said in a low voice: “He and your father look more like a father and son than you and your father do.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…” His breathing suddenly became ragged.