The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 3

Han Jiangmu’s behavior was, in fact, quite impolite. After all, he was merely a guard and should not have spoken to a member of the master’s family in such a manner.

However, Jiang Chaoyun knew his true identity. In his heart, there was both respect and fear. He hadn’t been prepared to face him at all, and now that they had actually crossed paths, his mind had easily devolved into a chaotic mess.

Why can’t he look at me? Naturally, it’s because if he looks at me, he will fall in love with me—

But would a man like Han Jiangmu truly fall for him just because of his appearance? Was he really that superficial a person?

Jiang Chaoyun didn’t know. Suddenly, a sudden stroke of inspiration hit him: regardless of whether Han Jiangmu liked him for his looks or not, as long as he displayed some unlikable traits, Han Jiangmu likely wouldn’t harbor any feelings for him.

This was a perfect opportunity.

Jiang Chaoyun could feel the scorching heat of his cheeks beneath his palms. He lowered his hands, intending to look Han Jiangmu in the eye, but as soon as his gaze touched those obsidian-like eyes, he recoiled as if burned. As a result, his subsequent words lacked any real conviction. “I… I am your Young Master, and you are just a guard. You are not allowed to look at me!”

Perhaps because he was too nervous, Jiang Chaoyun accidentally bit the tip of his tongue. He let out a sharp hiss of pain, and his beautiful little face immediately crumpled.

Bixin asked anxiously, “What’s wrong, Young Master?”

The corners of Jiang Chaoyun’s eyes grew faint red from the pain. He covered his mouth for a moment before whispering, “I bit my tongue.”

“Let me see,” Bixin said frantically. “Is it bleeding?”

Jiang Chaoyun kept his mouth covered and shook his head, refusing her request.

Bixin didn’t push him. She glanced at Han Jiangmu and said to Jiang Chaoyun, “Young Master, let us hurry back. If the Madam finds out we stayed out this late, she might be angry.”

Jiang Chaoyun was more than eager to leave any space where Han Jiangmu existed, so he nodded vigorously.

He still didn’t quite dare to look at Han Jiangmu, but feeling that his previous words had lacked authority, he added, “You are too tall. I don’t like being looked down upon. You aren’t allowed to look at me like that ever again.”

Because he had just bitten his tongue, his speech was somewhat slurred, his voice carrying a soft, breathy quality.

Han Jiangmu watched his reddened earlobes and said nothing.

Seeing that he didn’t respond, Jiang Chaoyun’s courage ebbed further, while his fear of Han Jiangmu resurfaced. He turned his head and said loudly to Bixin, “Bixin, let’s go.”

Bixin answered and reached out to support him, but Jiang Chaoyun wouldn’t let her. Bixin had to settle for grabbing onto his cloak, terrified that he might slip on the bridge.

Jiang Chaoyun hurried away from Han Jiangmu.

Only after Jiang Chaoyun was out of sight did Old Man Liu find his voice. However, much like the Young Master, his aura was somewhat weak. He said tactfully, “Jiangmu, you shouldn’t have spoken to Young Master Chaoyun like that just now.”

Han Jiangmu glanced at him. By now, his eyes seemed devoid of emotion. Old Man Liu felt his heart relax, telling himself that the previous sensation had been an illusion. His attitude toward Han Jiangmu became casual again. “The Jiang family is our employer, after all. You should be more respectful when speaking to him; you can’t be so casual. Besides, Young Master Chaoyun is frail. You shouldn’t be so rough with him. If something happens, it will be hard to explain to the masters.”

Upon hearing this, Han Jiangmu gave an irrelevant answer: “Am I very tall?”

Old Man Liu froze for a moment, looked Han Jiangmu up and down, and nodded. “Yes, your stature is indeed a bit too tall.”

Old Man Liu was considered large and sturdy himself, but compared to Han Jiangmu, he was half a head shorter. Furthermore, Han Jiangmu carried an indescribable aura that made Old Man Liu feel as though he was always standing a level below him during conversation.

Perhaps it was this quiet temperament of Han Jiangmu’s that naturally commanded submission from the bottom of one’s heart?

Old Man Liu didn’t feel it was shameful to be so intimidated by a youth ten years his junior; after all, it was a fact that he had lost to Han Jiangmu in a fight.

Han Jiangmu said nothing further. Old Man Liu didn’t find it strange; Han Jiangmu had always been a man of few words, which actually made him seem very reliable.

The extent of Jiang Chaoyun’s physical weakness was evident from how he was already panting heavily after only a short jog.

As Bixin patted his back to help him catch his breath, she grumbled, “Young Master, why were you running so fast? It’s not like there were wild beasts chasing you.”

Jiang Chaoyun leaned against a pillar for a while before asking, “Was that man really Guard Han?”

Bixin felt an inexplicable sense of oddity. It seemed the Young Master was paying far too much attention to Guard Han. Still, she didn’t think too deeply on it and replied, “Yes, it was.”

Then, remembering that Jiang Chaoyun’s personality was usually mild, yet he had acted that way toward the guard… Bixin immediately shifted her stance and said to Jiang Chaoyun, “Guard Han did come from the streets, after all. He has no manners whatsoever.”

Jiang Chaoyun couldn’t help but speak up for him. “If it weren’t for him just now, I would have fallen into the water. He saved me.”

Bixin paused. “That is true.”

Jiang Chaoyun said, “The things I said to him just now… it was far too ungrateful.”

Bixin couldn’t quite gauge his mood, but worried that he would catch a cold from the sweat, she hurried him back into the house.

Jiang Chaoyun took off his cloak, his fingers stroking the fluffy white fox fur over and over. After thinking it through, he said to Bixin, “How about we send him some silver as a reward?”

He thought for a moment and added, “Don’t say it’s from me. Ah, tell Mother about it and have her handle it.”

Bixin was a bit puzzled, but she said nothing and quietly complied.

Han Jiangmu sat by a stone table, wiping his sword. Old Man Liu watched from the side, his eyes full of envy.

It was common knowledge among the Jiang Manor guards that Han Jiangmu possessed a fine sword. The blade was less than three feet long with exquisite patterns along the center. At first glance, it didn’t look much different from an ordinary sword, but it cut through iron like butter—no different from a legendary divine weapon.

Old Man Liu thought back to a previous sparring match where Han Jiangmu had sliced a decorative rockery in half with a single strike. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead again—that strike had almost hit his head. It was lucky he had been quick enough to dodge; otherwise, he’d likely still be bedridden.

While Old Man Liu was lost in thought, a maidservant entered the courtyard carrying a tray. She asked loudly, “Is Guard Han here?”

Old Man Liu snapped out of it and said with a hint of jealousy, “Another one looking for you.”

Han Jiangmu didn’t even blink, continuing to wipe his longsword.

Knowing his temper, Old Man Liu shouted at the top of his lungs, “He’s over here!”

The maidservant followed the sound. When Old Man Liu saw her, he realized it was Jingrou, the Madam’s favorite maid. His eyes lit up, and his tone softened. “Ah, it’s Miss Jingrou.”

Jingrou didn’t even look at him. Her eyes were fixed tenderly on Han Jiangmu, her voice sweet as she said, “Guard Han, the Madam heard that you saved the Young Master. She specifically sent me to bring you some things as a token of her gratitude.”

Han Jiangmu’s face was truly striking. Ever since he entered the manor, he had caught the attention of many girls. Even the young misses of the second and third branches felt their hearts flutter. Had they not been constrained by their noble status, they likely would have crowded around him as well.

But naturally, everyone knew Han Jiangmu was only a guard. He couldn’t possibly be a match for a Miss of the Jiang family. However, for a maid like her, marrying him would be no loss at all.

With this in mind, Jingrou looked at Han Jiangmu’s flawless, handsome face, unable to hide the longing in her eyes. “Guard Han?”

Han Jiangmu lifted his eyelids to look at her and sheathed his sword. The blade met the scabbard with a crisp metallic ring. His voice was somewhat cold: “What is this?”

Jingrou pulled back the red cloth cover to reveal neatly arranged silver ingots. Madam Jiang Lin was never stingy when it came to matters involving Jiang Chaoyun; therefore, there were exactly three hundred taels of silver.

This was a massive sum. A top-tier maid like her, who had the Madam’s favor, only earned two taels a month. Further down the line, there were many servants who only earned a few hundred coins.

And for a guard like Han Jiangmu, his monthly salary was only one tael.

Three hundred taels was enough for him to buy a very decent house outside and even hire a few servants and laborers. With such a dowry, if she married him, she wouldn’t have to worry about a hard life.

Thinking of this, Jingrou’s voice grew even more tender. “Guard Han, here are three hundred taels of silver. You saved the Young Master’s life; this is what you deserve. Please accept it.”

There was a strange note in Han Jiangmu’s tone. “How did the Madam know I saved the Young Master?”

Jingrou blinked and replied, “Naturally, the Young Master’s maid reported it. That is how the Madam found out.”

Han Jiangmu said, “So, it is the Young Master who wishes to reward me?”

His tone was actually a bit cold, but for some reason, Jingrou heard a slight upward tilt of emotion.

An illusion, surely?

Jingrou said hesitantly, “This is the Madam’s intention.”

Han Jiangmu lowered his eyes. “Is that so?”

Jingrou felt a bit awkward at his counter-question, and her heart full of affection was tinged with a bit of complaint. The Madam had sent a reward; if he didn’t want to accept it properly, fine, but why say “Is that so?” Did he think himself unworthy of the Madam’s reward?

He was handsome to look at, but he understood nothing of social graces.

Jingrou set the tray down, took one last careful look at his handsome features, and her annoyance vanished. She said coyly, “I’ll leave the reward here then. Guard Han, please put it away quickly. I must return to report to the Madam.”

Having said that, she left reluctantly.

Old Man Liu said enviously, “You really are a block of wood. Miss Jingrou spoke to you like that, yet you didn’t even give her a proper reply.”

He continued nagging, “Miss Jingrou is a head maid before the Madam; she has great face. If you married her, you could settle down in the Jiang family. That would be the blessing of a lifetime…”

As Old Man Liu spoke, Han Jiangmu looked at him. His gaze was calm, seemingly devoid of emotion. But Old Man Liu felt an instinctive shiver and suddenly went silent. His gaze drifted away involuntarily in a moment of inexplicable awkwardness. “Am I being too talkative? Haha.”

Han Jiangmu ignored him. He simply kept his eyes lowered, using the hilt of his sword to nudge the tray of silver a few times, a slight smile touching the corners of his lips.

He thought of a “big cat” he had seen in the woods not long ago. Its fur was sleek and glossy. It looked… very suitable for making a fur coat for him.