Transmigrated as the Villain and Driven Crazy by the Vengeful Male Lead - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Tianjin Lane

Cheyue now feels as if dark clouds cover his eyes and he has nothing…

“Traumatized??”

As soon as Su Qingyang finished saying, “The little girl is named Rourou; she suffered a bit of a fright a few days ago,” Lyu Shuyao questioned him: “That can’t be right. I had a brief chat with her just now, and she seemed like a perfectly normal little girl.”

He pulled a candy wrapper—which he hadn’t had the chance to throw away yet—from his sleeve. “She even treated me to candy.”

Su Qingyang hated being interrupted by him. He shot a sidelong glance at Lyu Shuyao. “I am speaking with Ayue. Why are you still here??”

…What kind of tone is that?? You’re the one currently being interrogated here, alright?!

“It’s almost dawn. Go and bring back some breakfast.”

Lyu Shuyao said, “I’m not going.”

With the mysteries unresolved, how could he leave Su Cheyue here alone? What if Su Qingyang’s “scandal” came to light and he did something unfilial or unbrotherly?

However, the person he was worried about didn’t appreciate the gesture at all. Su Cheyue said, “Go, since my brother told you to.”

Fine. At it again.

Even when they had caught the person red-handed, Lyu Shuyao’s level of trust with Su Cheyue was still lower than that of a prime suspect.

Lyu Shuyao clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and put on a smile. “Fine.”

Anger aside, he still left the Zhanquan sword on the table just in case of an emergency.

As he stepped out the door, Su Cheyue suddenly spoke: “Don’t be lazy. Go and return quickly; my brother and I are waiting for you.”

Huh?

Lyu Shuyao turned back, bewildered.

He really just wants me to buy breakfast?

He saw Su Cheyue raise an eyebrow—one that reached deep into his temples—with an expressionless face. “Aren’t you going yet?”

“Oh…”

…

It was the peak of winter, and the New Year was only a few days away. Scattered vendors were setting up their stalls on the street. Looking at the bright red New Year decorations and the abundance of food, Lyu Shuyao felt exceptionally good. He didn’t linger; he bought the red bean buns Su Cheyue loved most along with a few other breakfast items and hurried back.

When he reached the door, he happened to hear Su Cheyue speaking inside.

“Brother and I grew up together. Uncle was physically weak, so it was Father who guided us in cultivating our spiritual cores and led us through our first trials until both you and I could stand on our own. Father often said that my nature was too quiet and my mind too heavy; he said if a sudden catastrophe occurred in the future, things would turn to their opposites—I would easily erupt with a hostility that couldn’t be contained.” He smiled and asked, “Brother, don’t you think Father had a piercing insight?”

“Brother, you are different from me. Right now, Cheyue is like a man with dark clouds covering his eyes, possessing nothing. You, however, still shine as bright as the sun with a brilliant future. For the Su family to have you is the glory of our house; for the Baoshan Sect to have you is the hope of the cultivation world; for the world to have you is the fortune of the common people.”

“Brother, you won’t forget the path we came from, will you?”

Su Qingyang listened quietly and then said, “Of course not.”

Lyu Shuyao breathed a soft sigh of relief and knocked.

“Come in,” Su Cheyue said.

Red bean buns, soy milk, and purple potato cakes were laid out neatly. Su Qingyang glanced at him. “He certainly knows what you like to eat.”

Of course, of course! I put a lot of heart into this, okay!!

So can the Hatred Points drop by even one percent!!

Su Cheyue gave an “Mhm” and made a gesture of invitation. “Brother, let’s talk while we eat. Why was Rourou frightened?”

“A few days ago, evil spirits broke out near their house. I didn’t notice she was standing behind me while I was exorcising them. The form of that Rat Demon was grotesque and terrifying; I imagine it scared her. She didn’t speak for several days and often woke up screaming from nightmares. Her parents were worried sick. Since it was my fault, I suggested taking her back to the Baoshan Sect to recover with hot springs and pills. Perhaps it will work.”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t Brother tell us sooner?”

“I spent several days on the road putting in a lot of effort—cheering her up and coaxing her to sleep—before she improved slightly and could say a few words to me. Tonight was her most peaceful sleep yet, and you two almost disturbed it. Ayue, in a situation like this, how would I dare let her see strangers all at once? I was thinking I’d tell you everything on our way back to the sect after your business was settled.”

Su Cheyue’s eyes—clear as a cat’s yet sharp—watched him for a moment. Lyu Shuyao was also half-doubting.

“What? You don’t believe me?”

Lyu Shuyao looked at Su Cheyue.

“Of course I believe my brother,” Su Cheyue said.

Su Qingyang nodded. “Then I should ask, why did you two suddenly appear in front of her room?”

Su Cheyue pursed his lips and remained silent, so Lyu Shuyao stepped up as the shield. “Oh, she got lost in the night and I took her back to her room. I felt uneasy, so I woke up in the middle of the night to check on her. Who knew I’d alert the Second Young Master and he’d follow…”

Lyu Shuyao pulled the colored paper wrapper he hadn’t thrown away from his sleeve. “Look, the candy wrapper is my proof.”

“Lyu Shuyao, Rourou is only seven years old.” Su Qingyang sat up straight and warned him, “Children like beautiful things and have no discernment; they follow anything pretty without thinking. Even so, if you had any upbringing, you should know what can and cannot be done toward a seven-year-old girl.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Lyu Shuyao spread his hands. “Is the Eldest Young Master complimenting my looks?”

“Furthermore, we both visited her room in the middle of the night. Why is it that I have ‘sinister motives’? One sees others as a reflection of oneself; if the Eldest Young Master sees me this way, is it because his own motives are impure?”

This was likely the first time Lyu Shuyao had directly confronted Su Qingyang. Su Qingyang was used to lecturing him and couldn’t figure out why he had suddenly grown a backbone. “You! Lyu Shuyao!”

Lyu Shuyao feigned hiding behind Su Cheyue’s wheelchair. “Second Young Master, he’s very scary.”

Su Cheyue’s long brows knitted slightly, but for once, he let Lyu Shuyao hide there and said nothing.

What’s with this change in temperament?

…

The two returned to the room. Su Cheyue remained silent. Lyu Shuyao helped him onto the bed. “You still have doubts, don’t you? You saw that little girl last night; she wasn’t as afraid of people as Su Qingyang claimed. Maybe it was just an excuse he made up.”

Su Cheyue said, “No. Perhaps it was a hallucination that made me hear those unusual voices.”

“Second Young Master, do I really look that easy to fool?” Lyu Shuyao said with mock grief. “If you truly believed him, why didn’t you expose me just now when I was lying through my teeth?”

Su Cheyue sneered. “I enjoy watching a fool perform.”

“…” Lyu Shuyao let out a long “Sigh,” as if he were exhaling all the sorrow and resentment in the world. “Second Young Master, have you noticed? You are like two different people when you speak to your brother versus when you speak to me.”

“Only an idiot would just now realize that.” Su Cheyue was cold and heartless. “Lyu Shuyao, the fact that I haven’t killed you yet means you should be prostrating yourself in gratitude.”

“…” Hearing the word “kill,” Lyu Shuyao quickly asked the system in his head: Has the Hatred Value changed?

[No change, Visitor.]

Good, good… wait, it didn’t go up but it didn’t go down either. It’s stuck! How frustrating!

Lyu Shuyao went back to his couch dejectedly. Seeing Su Cheyue still lost in thought, he said casually, “If you’re still uneasy, why don’t we go to her house and check?”

Su Cheyue thought for a moment. It was a plan. “Fine.”

…

Tianjin Lane was located at the corner of East City Street, a place that felt like quietude amidst the noise. The people in this lane loved to grow flowers and greenery—one house had an old scholar tree, another had Boston ivy, and next door was a pear tree that wasn’t very tall, clearly recently planted.

Because it was winter, the trees were desolate, and the north wind blew with only a dry rustling sound. Lyu Shuyao tightened Su Cheyue’s cloak again and pushed the wheelchair, following closely behind Su Qingyang, who was leading Rourou.

“Brother Su, why are we home again?” Rourou asked Su Qingyang, looking up with an innocent face. Her fist was so small it could only grasp Su Qingyang’s pinky, but she held on tight.

Su Qingyang looked back and slowed his pace to explain: “The other Brother Su wants to see your parents. We’ll leave after that, okay?”

The wind blew withered, blackened leaves toward the roof. Rourou followed them with her eyes and suddenly lunged into Su Qingyang’s arms. “I’m scared!”

Her soft voice was filled with a crying tone. Lyu Shuyao leaned down to exchange a glance with Su Cheyue, his eyes saying: Did we really get it wrong?

Su Cheyue had been quietly observing the surroundings. When Lyu Shuyao leaned down, he whispered: “I have been here before.”

“Mhm, that’s right,” Lyu Shuyao whispered back near his ear. “The child you saved a year ago, Qingsang—his family lives in Tianjin Lane.”

He was close, and the warm breath from his words tangled with the freezing wind, creating a narrow current of warmth that made the back of Su Cheyue’s ear itch slightly.

Su Cheyue drifted for a second before shaking his head: “More than that.”

With just those few words, Su Qingyang stopped and patted the back of Rourou’s head. “We’re home, Rourou. Go call your father and mother out.”

Su Cheyue looked at the courtyard in front of him and suddenly said: “Meng Shijie, Teacher Meng.”

Rourou pushed the door open and then hid behind Su Qingyang again. A young woman came out to greet them. She was surprised to see Su Qingyang, and even more astonished when she saw who was behind him.

“Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master?” She froze for a few seconds before excitedly shouting into the house: “Meng-lang, distinguished guests are here!”

A man with a scholarly air and refined manners walked out—the two stood together, the same young couple they had seen that morning.

Lyu Shuyao realized: “You’ve been here too.”

Meng Shijie led his wife forward to pay their respects. Both were very happy and busily ushered the noble guests inside. Neither the courtyard nor the house was large, but it was simple and tidy, and the room was kept spotless. The decor was somewhat like Xieyue Pavilion—with a desk, bookshelf, and ancient zither—but the materials were far less refined.

“Meng-lang teaches at the academy. The academy is poor; please don’t laugh at us, Young Masters.” Mrs. Meng picked up Rourou and began to re-comb her hair.

“One can tune a simple zither and read the Diamond Sutra,” Su Cheyue praised. “The teacher is truly refined.”

He scanned the room. “Do you still keep any cats?”

The faces of the couple both changed. “We haven’t kept any since that incident seven years ago. We’re afraid of scaring the child.”

Su Cheyue nodded in understanding. “I haven’t seen you in a long time. I wanted to see how you’ve been faring these past few years.”

“It is wonderful that the Second Young Master could come.” Meng Shijie’s gaze unconsciously drifted downward. “It’s just that the Second Young Master has worked so hard. With such a sudden visit, we haven’t made the proper preparations…”

This was a polite remark, but Su Cheyue didn’t like hearing it. He said, “Yes. I can’t help solve your worries now; I’ve become a burden on this trip.”

…How is one supposed to respond to that?

The atmosphere in the room turned awkward instantly. While the Meng couple used the excuse of getting some old books they had kept for the Second Young Master, even Su Qingyang said: “Ayue, why must you be so sensitive?”

Su Cheyue’s eyelashes dropped as if tired, and the light in his eyes dimmed with a bit of loneliness.

Meng Shijie returned with a book that had been flipped through so much it was fading. “I originally collected quite a few, but fearing it would be inconvenient for the Second Young Master to carry them, I chose this one. It’s a bit old, but it was my favorite thing to read a few years ago—an annotated copy of the I Ching. I give it to the Second Young Master.”

Su Cheyue took it and flipped through a few pages casually, until his gaze stopped silently on a certain spot.