The flower boat was not small. It was decorated with great luxury. In the centre of the boat was a spacious area where men and women mingled. Among them were many beautiful women. Though it could not compare to the glittering nightlife of bars in his previous life, it was not far off. Soft voices and laughter filled the air. Many young nobles revelled in drunken indulgence.
“This flower boat is luxurious, isn’t it? But that’s not the best part. The real reason people can’t tear themselves away is the girls here. Every one of them is stunning!” Liang Shan boasted to Ye Chu. “After tonight, this young master will take you out to enjoy yourself properly and help you forget Su Rong!”
Liang Shan was convinced Ye Chu had returned to Yao City for Su Rong. Ye Chu could not explain otherwise and simply pretended not to hear. “This is a flower boat, a place of romance. How could Su Rong be here? Unless she fancies men and this boat also offers male companions?”
His words made Liang Shan jump in fright. He glanced around quickly. Seeing no one had noticed, he let out a breath of relief. His face somewhat pale, he hurried to Ye Chu’s side. “Big brother! Don’t talk nonsense like that. If anyone hears, we’re both finished. Don’t you know Su Rong’s standing in Yao City? For a remark like that, countless people would swarm to tear you apart!”
Seeing Ye Chu pay no heed to his warning, Liang Shan could only sigh helplessly and explain. “Though a flower boat is a place of pleasure, when there’s an event, someone can hire the whole thing. Do you still remember Fang Xinyuan? This time, it’s that fellow who booked it.”
Fang Xinyuan was the eldest son of Marquis Fangtian and had a minor reputation in the capital. Three years ago, he had shown promise in both scholarly and martial pursuits. Ye Chu had no real dealings with him, though there had been some clashes with his younger brother, Fang Xinhu, over petty rivalries.
“Miss Su Rong has arrived!”
The commotion around them snapped Ye Chu from his thoughts. Following everyone’s gaze, he looked towards the other end of the boat. A group slowly emerged. Though the men were handsome and the women alluring, all eyes were involuntarily drawn to one woman.
She had long, straight hair that flowed gracefully. Her oval face was the epitome of classic beauty. Her forehead was smooth, her skin fair as snow. Beneath arched brows, her eyes were deep and bright. Her nose was straight, her lips curved in exquisite softness, tender enough to invite a bite. Her chin was delicately rounded. In short, a flawless face. A fitted pale-yellow dress outlined her ample bosom and slender waist, faintly revealing the curve of her hips. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
The moment she appeared, she became the centre of attention. Ye Chu’s gaze was also drawn to her. Seeing her again after three years still brought a sense of wonder. Something stirred in his heart, as if a lingering attachment lingered in the depths of his soul. Ye Chu knew clearly that this came from the remnants of the original owner’s feelings.
A crowd flanked Su Rong. Besides a sweet-faced woman at her side, several handsome young men accompanied her. The Fang brothers stood to her left, tall and proud with a dashing air. The other youths around her were all figures of some renown in Yao City.
“Well? Ready to give up?” Liang Shan said to Ye Chu. “Every man beside Su Rong is more outstanding than the last. Fang Xinyuan is merely one of them. Besides, Su Rong has exceptional talent in the martial path. She is doted on by thousands, even acknowledged as an adopted daughter by the king. A woman like that is beyond the dreams of people like us.”
Listening to Liang Shan’s sigh, Ye Chu could not help laughing. “Raising others’ morale while crushing your own! By belittling yourself too much, you naturally elevate the woman you admire to goddess status. Do you know what women are?”
“What are women?” Liang Shan asked curiously.
“Women are like eggs!” Ye Chu grinned. Seeing Liang Shan’s confusion, he continued. “The shell looks very hard, the white is very pure, but the yolk is very lewd! Once you crack the shell and peel away the white, what’s left to conquer? Don’t tell me you can’t dominate a woman once you’ve got her into bed!”
“Damn!” Liang Shan could not help cursing, suddenly feeling Ye Chu was even more lecherous than before. What kind of analogy was that? If a woman heard it, she would drown him in spit. Yet… it was remarkably apt! Heh heh… Liang Shan suddenly felt much less inadequate before Su Rong. After muttering to himself, he recalled something and asked Ye Chu, “Then what about men? Surely we’re far purer inside than women!”
Seeing Liang Shan’s shameless grin, Ye Chu shrugged. “Men are like mangoes! Yellow on the outside, and inside… even yellower!”
“Damn! I thought you’d say something flattering about us men!” Liang Shan was deeply dissatisfied with the answer. “Still, Su Rong’s eggshell is extremely hard to crack. I advise you to give up!”
“I think the issue now isn’t whether I give up or not, but that trouble is coming to find me.” Ye Chu looked ahead, feeling a headache coming on. He thought to himself that the previous Ye Chu had truly left him a mountain of problems. Even standing in such a remote spot, he could still be recognised and confronted.
Following Ye Chu’s gaze, Liang Shan saw Fang Xinyuan’s group heading their way. Surprise flickered in their eyes, quickly replaced by disgust.
“Ye Chu?” Fang Xinhu spotted them from afar. Seeing someone who greatly resembled the notorious scoundrel from three years ago, and standing with Liang Shan, he suspected it was indeed Ye Chu. Yet he also doubted how Ye Chu would dare set foot here again.
“Long time no see! I didn’t expect you to still remember me!” Ye Chu smiled. “Everyone gathered here—surely it’s not to throw me a welcome party!”
Liang Shan nearly cried. A welcome party? They’d be lucky not to pelt him with rotten eggs. Pasting gold on his own face like that—he should at least read the room. Admitting he was Ye Chu at a time like this!
Seeing Ye Chu confirm it himself, the group exchanged glances, their disgust intensifying. They had never imagined the scoundrel banished from Yao City would dare return, let alone appear before them.
“Su Xiaorong! Long time no see!” While the others were still lost in memory, Ye Chu leaned lazily against the wall and gave the graceful, elegant Su Rong a casual smile.
Surprise flashed in Su Rong’s eyes. She was no stranger to Ye Chu; she had heard of his infamous reputation in Yao City and knew he had harboured intentions towards her. Yet in the past, he had never dared speak to her, only watching from afar. She had not expected that, three years later, he would address her so naturally as Su Xiaorong, leaning indolently against the wall with a distinctive air of roguish freedom.
“Who are you to call her Su Xiaorong?” Before Su Rong could speak, the sweet-faced woman with a mole at the corner of her mouth stepped forward and snapped at Ye Chu.
Zhang Su’er was furious. Su Rong was her closest friend, and she knew full well that only those extremely intimate with Su Rong could use the diminutive “Xiaorong”. For Ye Chu to say it—if misunderstood and rumours spread that Su Rong had any connection to Yao City’s greatest scoundrel, it would disgust Su Rong to death!
Fang Xinhu also recovered and roared at Ye Chu. “You still have the face to set foot in Yao City! Get out at once! Otherwise, this young master will throw you into Han Lake to feed the fish!”
Ye Chu was not surprised by this outcome. He shrugged and smiled at Fang Xinhu. “If you throw me into Han Lake, at least the fish will eat me! But if you went in, I’m afraid even the fish wouldn’t touch you.”
Liang Shan could not help laughing. Ye Chu’s tongue was still as sharp as ever. Yet remembering where they were, his heart immediately tightened. If Ye Chu clashed with them now, it would be no different from courting death.
“You’re tired of living!” Fang Xinhu bellowed. Veins bulged on his arms. Seeing this, Liang Shan’s heart nearly leapt from his chest. He knew Fang Xinhu’s strength well; the man had made solid progress in martial cultivation and ranked above average among their circle of young nobles.
Though Liang Shan did not know what Ye Chu had done in the past three years, he clearly remembered how frail Ye Chu had been before. One punch from Fang Xinhu would leave him half dead, if not worse.
