The Paranoid Male Lead’s "White Moonlight" Has Reborn - Chapter 7

This latest flare-up of his cold affliction left Jiang Chaoyun bedridden for several days.

The room was kept perpetually toasty—so warm that Bixin would break into a sweat after staying only a short while. However, for Jiang Chaoyun in his post-illness state, this level of heat was just right.

His current energy levels were poor, as if all the life had been drained out of him, leaving even his complexion deathly pale.

Starting from this evening, someone new came to keep watch over him at night: Han Jiangmu.

Jiang Chaoyun was quite puzzled and asked him, “Why is it you keeping watch over me?”

Han Jiangmu replied in a very steady tone, “It was the Madam’s arrangement.”

Jiang Chaoyun fell silent. In truth, he really should have said “thank you” to Han Jiangmu, since it was the man who had come to his rescue the previous night. But if he spoke those words, it would contradict his initial intention to be unlikable.

And so, Jiang Chaoyun remained quiet. However, because he had slept too much during the day, he found himself unable to fall asleep now.

He curled up in his blankets, leaving only his head exposed. Perhaps because he had consumed so many tonics since childhood, Jiang Chaoyun’s hair was naturally beautiful without any special effort—inky black, fine, and silky. At the moment, he had carefully gathered it into a bundle and laid it by his pillow, where it shimmered with a supple, seaweed-like luster under the candlelight.

Han Jiangmu’s gaze fell upon that waterfall of dark hair. His fingers, hanging at his side, twitched slightly before he finally reached out.

With his back to Han Jiangmu, Jiang Chaoyun nonetheless felt a slight tug at his scalp. His heart jumped, and he whipped his head around to look, only to see Han Jiangmu leaning down, holding his long hair in his hands.

“What are you doing? Who allowed you to touch me!” Jiang Chaoyun demanded. Nervousness instantly gripped him, and he put on a fierce, malicious expression.

Han Jiangmu lifted his eyelids to look at him. “I saw a spider.”

Jiang Chaoyun’s eyes widened, and his entire body tensed up. His voice trembled. “A-A spider?”

Han Jiangmu gave a soft “Mhm.” “It was as large as a finger, with a crimson underbelly. A venomous one.”

Jiang Chaoyun screamed, “Quickly! Help me catch it!”

He tried to scramble up, but his long hair was still in Han Jiangmu’s grasp. As soon as he moved, his scalp was gently tugged, causing a bit of pain. He was forced to freeze in place, his voice bordering on tears. “Help me, catch the spider! Where is it?”

The corners of Han Jiangmu’s mouth tilted up slightly, a strange light flickering in his eyes. His voice grew even softer as he said, “It’s in your hair. Don’t move; I see it.”

Jiang Chaoyun closed his eyes in terror, not even daring to open his mouth too wide. “…Did you catch it?”

Han Jiangmu’s palms were broad, his fingers long with slightly large knuckles. His palms were covered in thick calluses, and his knuckles bore many scars. No one would ever look at these hands and think they belonged to a man of leisure.

It was these very hands that held Jiang Chaoyun’s beautiful long hair—and even moved wantonly toward his head. His fingers sank into the thick, soft strands, lightly brushing against Jiang Chaoyun’s scalp.

Jiang Chaoyun’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. An indescribable sense of tension flooded his mind, forcing him to open his eyes.

Han Jiangmu’s gaze fell upon his fair, tender face. From this angle, he could see Jiang Chaoyun’s cheeks, which were as soft and rounded as a child’s, his high and elegant nose, and those full, pale lips that were still trembling slightly.

As their eyes met, the fear and nervousness in Jiang Chaoyun’s clear pupils were unconcealed. Under the candlelight, they possessed an exceptionally bright, bewitching quality.

Han Jiangmu’s body suddenly tensed. He lowered his gaze, his fingers combing through the boy’s hair from top to bottom before finally reaching the ends. He lightly curled his fingers and said to Jiang Chaoyun, “I’ve caught it, Young Master.”

Jiang Chaoyun’s fingers gripped the quilt tight. “You really caught it? So fast?”

Han Jiangmu’s lips curled into what seemed to be a smile. “Young Master, it was on your hair to begin with.”

Jiang Chaoyun said nothing. Han Jiangmu raised his closed fist. “Does the Young Master wish to see it?”

Jiang Chaoyun pulled the quilt up to cover his face, his voice muffled. “Don’t show me!”

Han Jiangmu finally laughed. He leaned closer to Jiang Chaoyun and whispered, “Are you sure you don’t want to see? It’s a very big one, Young Master.”

Jiang Chaoyun always felt that the way “Young Master” left the man’s lips had a strange intonation that made his skin crawl. He hugged himself tight under the blankets and shouted, “I said I won’t look, so I won’t! Get away from me!”

Hearing this, Han Jiangmu obediently backed away.

Jiang Chaoyun carefully poked his head out from the blankets to look at him, his eyes as clear as water. “Where did you throw the spider?”

“Out the window, Young Master,” Han Jiangmu replied.

Jiang Chaoyun asked pointedly, “You didn’t kill it?”

“I did not.”

Jiang Chaoyun said maliciously, “You should have killed it! What if it comes back in and bites me?”

Han Jiangmu bowed his head. “It was my oversight. Next time, I will crush it to death.”

Jiang Chaoyun: “…”

He felt a bit foolish. No one would feel mercy for a small venomous insect; saying such a thing wouldn’t make Han Jiangmu dislike him.

Being unlikable is truly a profound science, Jiang Chaoyun thought.

The recent scare had been quite draining. Though he hadn’t been sleepy before, the ordeal had made him weary. He couldn’t help but squint his eyes and soon fell asleep again.

Seeing that the person on the bed was breathing steadily, Han Jiangmu sat down by his side.

Without any hesitation, he reached under the quilt to feel the boy’s arm.

A cold affliction was not considered a major illness; with proper regulation, one could live like a normal person. Han Jiangmu had assumed Jiang Chaoyun’s condition was the same, but it appeared that was not the case.

Han Jiangmu took his pulse. His slightly sharp brows furrowed briefly before relaxing. According to the pulse, it truly was a state of depleted Qi and blood, with cold energy having invaded the body.

He placed Jiang Chaoyun’s hand back under the quilt and sat down on the chaise longue the maid had prepared for him nearby to continue his watch.

The next morning, when Jiang Chaoyun woke up, Han Jiangmu had already left.

Bixin brought him water to wash up. Seeing that his complexion was a bit more ruddy, she guessed he was in a better state and said with a smile, “Young Master, how are you feeling today?”

Jiang Chaoyun reached out and made a fist, a smile appearing on his face. “Quite well.”

As they were talking, a servant boy came to report that Young Master Long had come to visit him.

Jiang Chaoyun’s expression visibly slumped. Bixin, observing his reaction, whispered, “If the Young Master doesn’t wish to see him, then don’t.”

Jiang Chaoyun bolstered his spirits. “It’s no matter. Please invite him in.”

Young Master Long—also from the second branch of the family—was Jiang Yulong, the younger brother of Jiang Shujin. He was sixteen this year, a year younger than Chaoyun, but he had already passed the entry-level exams to become a Xiucai (Scholar) and held an official title.

The Jiang family had truly been born at the right time. In the past, no matter how wealthy merchants were, they were barred from taking the imperial exams. However, the current dynasty had relaxed these conditions, and merchants were now permitted to participate.

Jiang Yulong was only sixteen yet already a Xiucai; his future prospects were limitless. Because of this, even though Jiang Zuoling was the current head of the house, Jiang Yulong held great weight within the family.

In his heart, even Jiang Zuoling likely hoped this nephew would bring glory to the family name. As long as the family could produce a single Jinshi (Successful Candidate in the highest exams), their social standing would be transformed.

Facing this younger cousin, Jiang Chaoyun couldn’t help but feel an indescribable sense of dejection.

Jiang Yulong entered the room and called out “Brother Chaoyun” with a beaming smile.

Jiang Chaoyun smiled back. “What brought you here?”

Jiang Yulong sat down before him as his servant stepped forward and placed a box on the table. “Good brother, naturally I’ve come because I have something wonderful to give you.”

Jiang Yulong opened the box to reveal an inkstone of exquisite, meaningful craftsmanship, a jade-handled brush, and paper as tall as a finger, adorned with fine yellow osmanthus flowers. Jiang Yulong smiled at Jiang Chaoyun and said, “Uncle sent me some items. When I looked, I saw this inkstone was from the final batch produced by the Jiangnan workshop ten years ago. It’s now priceless and impossible to find on the market; it could fetch hundreds of taels easily. It’s too precious for me to keep, so I’ve brought it to you.”

Jiang Yulong took out the inkstone, brush, and paper. “This paper is also precious—it’s called Zaihua paper, ten taels for a single blade. Uncle sent me an entire crate. I asked Uncle if you had any, and he said you have no use for it. So I thought, Brother, though your body is weak, you can still read and practice calligraphy in your room, so I brought some for you.”

Jiang Chaoyun’s heart suddenly felt heavy, as if a stone were pressing down on it. It felt stifling and suffocating, making even breathing difficult. It was hard to understand the source of this dejection, so he simply chalked it up to Jiang Yulong’s concern and forced a smile. “I really have no use for it. I haven’t practiced calligraphy in a long time; my wrists can’t even exert any strength.”

Jiang Yulong said regretfully, “Is that so? What a shame. I remember your writing used to be even better than mine, yet now it has fallen into neglect.”

Jiang Chaoyun said, “It can’t be helped. The doctor says I mustn’t overexert myself; I need to rest.”

Feeling the heat, Jiang Yulong asked, “It’s so warm in here. May I remove my outer robe?”

Jiang Chaoyun naturally nodded in agreement.

Jiang Yulong removed his robe, stood up, and walked around a few steps. “Brother Chaoyun, it’s too stuffy in here. Staying in such a stifling place for too long will make you sick. Shall I open a window to let in some air?”

Jiang Chaoyun agreed to that as well. Jiang Yulong opened the window and returned to his side.

Jiang Chaoyun’s gaze was drawn to a teardrop-shaped piece of jade hanging around his cousin’s neck. Seeing his gaze, Jiang Yulong’s lips curled up slightly. “Brother Chaoyun, what are you looking at?”

Jiang Chaoyun said sincerely, “That jade around your neck is truly beautiful.”

Jiang Yulong laughed. “Brother, you haven’t seen this treasure before, have you? It’s called ‘Warm Jade,’ and it’s worth a fortune. When worn in winter, it keeps the body feeling very warm.”

Jiang Chaoyun was surprised. “It’s that good?”

“Of course.” He untied the jade pendant and placed it in Jiang Chaoyun’s hand, saying magnanimously, “If you’re curious, I can let you play with it for a bit.”

Jiang Chaoyun looked at the Warm Jade in his palm and was amazed. “It really is warm!”

Jiang Yulong said, “Uncle gave this to me as well. I only happened to mention to him that it was very cold in the study, and he sent me this Warm Jade immediately. Thanks to this jade, I don’t feel the cold at all while I’m studying.”

Jiang Chaoyun’s expression slowly froze. “…Oh. So my father gave this to you too.”

Jiang Yulong smiled. “Uncle is so good to me; I cannot let him down. I must study hard, pass the exams, and bring glory to the family.”

Jiang Chaoyun felt a bit bitter in his heart, but since the other person was being so open with him, he couldn’t be petty enough to think the boy had “stolen” his father’s affection.

Jiang Zuoling was very good to him as well, so it was fine.

Jiang Chaoyun let out a breath and smiled at him. “I have high hopes for you. I’m sure you can do it!”