The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 32

Bixin brought a basin of water for Jiang Chaoyun to wash up, unable to resist saying to him, “Young Master! Last night, Xiaobao bit that black-boned chicken Dr. Ma sent over to death! Of the batch, only that one was left. I was even saying we should wait for it to hatch a brood of chicks, but now, there isn’t a single one left.”

Jiang Chaoyun let out an “ah” and said with great tolerance, “Forget it. We’ll just raise more in the future.”

Bixin grumbled, “Xiaobao has really taken a liking to biting things lately. He even pounces on and bites his wet-nurse dog. I think his nature is just wild; he might not be able to be tamed.”

Jiang Chaoyun brushed his teeth gently with a toothbrush. Hearing Bixin say this, he only blinked his eyes and didn’t take it to heart.

Once he finished washing up, he went outside to see Xiaobao. Seeing the dog rush toward him so enthusiastically, his heart felt utterly soft, and he wished he could give the pup only the very best.

However, the cook had said that dogs shouldn’t be allowed to eat raw food; if they eat too much raw meat, they become fiercer, which might lead to them hurting someone. Jiang Chaoyun felt he couldn’t let him continue biting living creatures. Thus, he scooped the dog up, sat on a chair, and began to reason with him.

Every time Bixin saw this scene, she found it inexplicably amusing, yet she didn’t disturb them.

Jiang Chaoyun scratched Xiaobao’s chin. Xiaobao made “awoo awoo” sounds from his throat. For some reason, no matter how Jiang Chaoyun taught him, he always forgot how to bark “woof woof” and instead frequently let out “awoo” cries.

Bixin couldn’t help but call him stupid, but Jiang Chaoyun felt he was very clever. After all, the moment he beckoned, the dog knew he was calling and would trot over happily. Like now—when Jiang Chaoyun spoke to him, he would even respond with an “awoo,” as if he understood.

With Xiaobao responding, Jiang Chaoyun became even more spirited in his lecture. Finally, he gave a very serious summary: “In the future, you aren’t allowed to bite your foster mother anymore. She gives you milk and is like your second parent. As for biting chickens, forget it—I can have many chickens, but you only have one foster mother. If you bite her to death, she’ll be gone.”

Xiaobao let out an “awoo” and nuzzled Jiang Chaoyun’s palm, sounding quite like he was pleading for mercy.

Jiang Chaoyun laughed and set Xiaobao on the ground, but the dog ran out the door without looking back.

Bixin muttered, “He’s clever at times like this.”

Jiang Chaoyun said, “He’s much heavier; I can hardly hold him anymore.”

Bixin said, “This dog is raised quite precious. He only eats meat; I gave him vegetables and he actually refused to eat them. If he were out in the world, he’d surely starve to death. Only our family can afford to raise him.”

The matter of the dog ended there. Since the courtyard where he stayed was very large, Xiaobao had plenty of room to run wild, and Jiang Chaoyun was quite at ease with him.

After breakfast, Jiang Chaoyun intended to ask Lin Yuerong about Han Jiangmu, but he found it hard to bring up. He and Han Jiangmu had no real relationship; if Lin Yuerong asked, how should he answer?

…That he’s very good at keeping watch?

Talking to Bixin was fine, but saying that to Lin Yuerong wouldn’t work.

However, at this thought, Jiang Chaoyun suddenly froze. Since Lin Yuerong had already dismissed Han Jiangmu, why was he insisting on having him keep watch at night?

Jiang Chaoyun himself was perplexed, not quite understanding his own thoughts. But soon, he remembered his original goal—oh, right, he was supposed to make Han Jiangmu hate him. If the man wasn’t here, he couldn’t do anything to make him hate him!

Thinking of this, Jiang Chaoyun finally felt a bit of joy—his thoughts were entirely without selfish motives; they were purely for the sake of a noble sacrifice!

He set out happily. Perhaps because of this cheerful mood, his eyes were tinged with a bit of vitality. He truly didn’t look like a sickly person; at least, that was how everyone in the Lin family felt upon seeing him.

Yuerong has truly raised him well, thought Madam Mo, the wife of Lin Rui. Her smile deepened.

When Lin Yuerong had first married out, Madam Mo had already been in the Lin household for some years, and her eldest son, Lin Shiyan, had already been born. However, the relationship between the sisters-in-law wasn’t particularly good back then because Lin Yuerong had been very willful, and they rarely saw eye-to-eye.

But over a dozen years, Lin Yuerong had matured and settled down, and the sisters-in-law had grown closer, finding more things to talk about.

The atmosphere in the Lin family was indeed much better than in the Jiang family. Currently, the one in charge was still the elderly Matriarch Lin. Madam Mo assisted slightly but would never overstep. Furthermore, the positions of the Lin sons were quite similar, so there was no major conflict of interest; the various branches lived in harmony.

Moreover, prestigious families like the Lins firmly believed that “one should marry a virtuous wife.” Consequently, the wives the Lin sons had married were all ladies from prominent families. Being reasonable was the most basic requirement. Their attitude toward Lin Yuerong was also very kind, never making her feel the slightest bit uncomfortable.

In truth, there were many cases of women marrying out and then returning to live with their maiden families, but most were met with disdain because it was considered shameful and would lead to gossip. However, Lin Yuerong’s situation was unique; she had returned after a divorce with her entire dowry in tow. Not only did no one gossip, but matchmakers had already begun coming over to propose marriages.

Of course, the quality of the matches wasn’t as good as when she was a young maiden. Matriarch Lin had rejected them all, still fantasizing about finding a fine young man to marry into the family for Lin Yuerong.

Lin Yuerong was moved by this. Had she not married Jiang Zuoling, her life surely would not have been bad. But had she not married him, she would not have had a son like Jiang Chaoyun. Thinking of it this way, she didn’t care much anymore.

She motioned for Jiang Chaoyun to sit, and he sat obediently beside her, holding a hand warmer. It was covered with a sleeve made of tiger skin, which he brought out just for a moment, catching Madam Mo’s eye. “Chaoyun, is that tiger skin?”

Jiang Chaoyun acknowledged her, lifted the hand warmer, and smiled. “Indeed, it is a sleeve made of tiger skin.”

Madam Mo said, “It is quite exquisite.”

As she spoke, Lin Shiyan entered with a young girl. When the door opened, a cold wind rushed in, making Jiang Chaoyun—who had exposed his neck after removing his cloak—shudder.

No one else noticed, but the girl did. She said, “Is Cousin afraid of the cold?” Then, she said to Lin Shiyan, “Brother, hurry and close the door.”

Lin Shiyan realized and quickly shut the door.

Lin Yuerong looked over and couldn’t help but laugh. “I didn’t look closely at the welcome banquet last night, but looking now, Jingxian has grown so much; she truly is a young lady now.”

Madam Mo called Lin Jingxian to her side, took her hand, and said, “Jingxian is sixteen this year; she is indeed a young lady. Our family always has fewer daughters than sons, and we usually pamper them, yet she has no sense of propriety and loves to cause trouble.”

Hearing this and seeing Lin Jingxian’s delicate features, Lin Yuerong felt a sense of kinship. “Causing trouble is fine; one can only do so when beside their parents. That is a good thing.”

Although she understood Madam Mo’s intent, she was mindful of Jiang Chaoyun’s health and couldn’t directly settle on a match, so her attitude remained somewhat ambiguous.

Madam Mo also sensed this. In truth, she wasn’t entirely in favor of this marriage herself, as she had heard that Jiang Chaoyun’s health was poor. However, since Lin Rui had this plan, she had submissively complied. Seeing Lin Yuerong’s equivocal attitude now, she actually felt a sigh of relief.

Actually, if the matter could be finalized, there were benefits. First, Lin Yuerong would surely be a good mother-in-law. Second, with Jiang Chaoyun’s gentle and simple personality, he wouldn’t bully Lin Jingxian. Finally, even if they were to move out and establish a new manor, it wouldn’t be far, making visits easy. More casually, they could even live together in the Lin household—it would truly be a case of the family staying together.

There were pros and cons. Whether it happened or not, Madam Mo would feel relieved rather than disappointed.

However, Lin Jingxian looked at Jiang Chaoyun, her eyes shifting slightly as if she were quite interested.

Being stared at, Jiang Chaoyun didn’t panic and stared back directly. Yet, his skin wasn’t as thick as hers; after staring for only a moment, his face couldn’t help but turn red. He let out a light cough and asked, “Cousin, why do you keep staring at me? There isn’t anything on my face, is there?”

Lin Jingxian said with a smile, “I am staring at you naturally because you are handsome.”

At these words, even Madam Mo couldn’t help but say, “Jingxian! Mind your words!”

Lin Jingxian said, “I am telling the truth.”

Jiang Chaoyun felt these words were familiar. He suddenly remembered that Han Jiangmu had also said this. He couldn’t help but reach out to touch his own face, a moving expression appearing in his eyes.

Seeing this look, everyone felt a bit surprised. Lin Jingxian herself froze and actually became a bit embarrassed—this cousin seemed much simpler than she had imagined.

Everyone assumed Jiang Chaoyun was bashful because of Lin Jingxian’s flirtatious remark. Lin Jingxian immediately became much more well-behaved and said to Madam Mo, “It was my oversight. I hope Aunt and Cousin will not take offense.”

Jiang Chaoyun didn’t know how others saw him. Hearing Lin Jingxian apologize, he hurriedly waved his hands and said softly, “It’s nothing; I don’t mind.”

As he spoke, he was slightly lost in thought. Both had said the same flirtatious words, so why did his heart thump so violently when Han Jiangmu said them? Why didn’t he have that feeling when others said them?

Jiang Chaoyun didn’t understand, so he stopped thinking about it. He gave Lin Jingxian a small smile and said softly, “Cousin doesn’t need to apologize. We are family; you can speak freely.”

His voice was crisp yet carried a hint of softness. When he gazed at someone with those clear eyes, it always gave them the illusion that they were the only one.

Lin Jingxian hadn’t originally taken what Lin Shiyan told her to heart, but now, meeting Jiang Chaoyun’s clear, beautiful eyes and hearing him speak so gently, her cheeks suddenly turned red, and she took on a bit of a maiden’s bashful posture.

The parents on both sides took this scene in, exchanged a look, and began to recalculate in their hearts.

Jiang Chaoyun, however, had no idea about the plans of his mother and aunt. He only considered it as coming over to keep Lin Yuerong company and didn’t take the interlude with Lin Jingxian to heart.

However, on the way back as Lin Shiyan accompanied him, he asked as if casually, “Cousin, what do you think of my sister?”

Jiang Chaoyun was a bit distracted, wondering where Han Jiangmu was. Hearing Lin Shiyan ask, he paused for a moment, recalled the question, and said naturally, “Cousin is naturally very good, very beautiful.”

Lin Shiyan’s eyes lit up, and he asked quite directly, “Then do you like her?”

Jiang Chaoyun gave an “un” and said, “Of course I like her.”

Lin Shiyan said, “Then would you like to marry her as your wife?”

Jiang Chaoyun was jolted awake, fully coming to his senses. “Ah?”

Seeing his dazed look, Lin Shiyan repeated the question.

To Jiang Chaoyun’s ears, these words were like a bolt from the blue. He moved his lips, about to speak, when a voice came from behind:

“He doesn’t want to.”

At that familiar voice, Jiang Chaoyun turned his head and saw that it was indeed Han Jiangmu. He was tall and his presence should have been extremely strong, yet Lin Shiyan hadn’t noticed him, let alone Jiang Chaoyun.

It was unknown how long he had been following or how much he had heard. In short, his expression was very cold, and there was a hint of murderous intent in his gaze as he looked at Lin Shiyan.

Lin Shiyan was a bit hesitant and felt inexplicably pressured. “I am asking my cousin…”

Han Jiangmu walked to Jiang Chaoyun’s side, holding his sword, and said coldly, “I will answer for him. He doesn’t want to.”

Lin Shiyan: “…”