The news of Ye Chu’s return to Yao City spread quickly through the circles of the younger generation. Naturally, the story of his defeat of Qing Xiangming also circulated widely and caused a huge stir.
The scum of Yao City from three years ago had actually come back as an expert. This completely overturned everyone’s understanding. Those who heard the news at first suspected it was a joke. Only after the young masters and ladies who had witnessed it swore they had seen it with their own eyes did people move from half-belief to full acceptance.
The younger generation’s circles in Yao City erupted in uproar and were shaken by the news.
Ye Chu’s past misdeeds were dug up one by one. Many people began to curse him. Overnight, Ye Chu once again became infamous in Yao City. Everyone was filled with righteous indignation, denouncing him and declaring they would drive him out.
Of course, while some cursed, others were thrilled. The group of dandy disciples who had once followed Ye Chu were ecstatic. When they learned he had the strength to defeat Qing Xiangming, they went wild with excitement.
After Ye Chu left three years ago, they had been forced to keep a low profile. In Yao City, it would not be an exaggeration to say they lived with their tails between their legs. Even Liang Shan had been made to stay home studying and cultivating. None of them had expected Ye Chu to return. Did that not mean they could once again indulge in romance, drinking, and extravagance just like old times?
Naturally, a few things Ye Chu had said were widely repeated by them. They all began to call themselves accomplished in both civil and martial arts, chosen by heaven.
This was something Ye Chu had not foreseen. At that moment, he had returned to Bai Xuan’s mansion. When he placed the three-hundred-year lingzhi in front of her, the mature, charming, and alluring woman showed surprise in her beautiful eyes. “You really brought the lingzhi back?”
Bai Xuan had exquisite, ripe beauty. Her figure was graceful and curvaceous, extremely tempting. As she spoke, her full lips released a fragrant, rosy breath. She was the kind of woman who could radiate charm in every frown and smile. Ye Chu considered himself to have seen many beauties in the past three years, yet he still could not help losing himself for a moment.
Stared at so openly by Ye Chu, a captivating blush appeared on Bai Xuan’s delicate face. She subtly took a few steps to avoid his gaze and tucked the quilt properly around her father.
Ye Chu knew Bai Xuan was very guarded against him. He shrugged. “For this lingzhi, I am probably being cursed behind my back by millions of people right now. If you went out, you would likely hear things like ‘That scum Ye Chu is back’ or ‘Why isn’t that scum dead yet’. I am genuinely worried they will ruin their throats cursing me!”
“Pfft…” Bai Xuan could not help laughing. The laugh was full of mature charm and utterly captivating. She found it amusing. Who worried that others would hurt their throats cursing him?
Looking at Ye Chu shrugging helplessly, Bai Xuan felt that this man everyone called scum was not so frightening after all. She could not resist asking, “Do you really not care at all about all this abuse?”
“If they want to curse me, am I supposed to curse back? Think about it. There are so many people in Yao City. One spit from each could drown me in disgust!” Ye Chu laughed. “With that time, I would rather take a nap!”
Seeing Ye Chu completely unconcerned by millions of curses, Bai Xuan found it remarkable. Ye Chu was only just over seventeen. At that age, most people loved attention, acted immaturely, could tolerate no slight, and hated hearing bad words. Yet to face thousands of curses with such calm humour showed a composure far beyond his peers.
Bai Xuan suddenly felt the outside world’s judgement of Ye Chu was greatly mistaken. With this bearing alone, how could he be the person rumoured to commit evil just for attention?
“Why are you staring at me?” Ye Chu asked Bai Xuan curiously. The woman had been looking at him for a long time. He wondered if he had become even more handsome lately, enough to entrance such a beauty.
“Ah!” Bai Xuan snapped back. “I was thinking. If people knew you could treat the general’s tomb yin invasion, they probably would not curse you so fiercely!”
“No!” Ye Chu quickly waved his hand. “Do not let that get out! It would bring a heap of trouble. Between being cursed and being lazy, I will choose being cursed every time!”
Watching the lazy Ye Chu, Bai Xuan laughed softly. His thinking really was strange. She looked at the lingzhi in her hand, bit her lip, and finally said gratefully, “Thank you so much this time!”
“No need for that! Just curse me a few times less in your heart and stop telling Yao Yao to stay away from me.” Ye Chu smiled.
The words made Bai Xuan’s face flush red. She was so embarrassed she almost wanted to find a hole to hide in. She had not expected Ye Chu to know about the things she had secretly said to Yao Yao!
“I only…”
Bai Xuan tried to explain, but Ye Chu interrupted with a laugh. “No need to explain! I know my reputation. It is not strange that you did that! But rest assured, I am not beast enough to harm a three- or four-year-old girl!”
Bai Xuan stood there, flustered and at a loss. She had never felt more embarrassed.
“Hahaha! If I were to harm anyone, it would be you. You are the one who could make me lose control! Keep your distance from me in future and be on guard!” Ye Chu warned Bai Xuan. “Living under the same roof, who knows. One quiet night I might sneak into your room!”
“You dare!” Bai Xuan said sternly, but she quickly realised Ye Chu was only teasing to scare her. She glared at him fiercely. This fellow really was bad.
Yet watching Ye Chu laugh heartily as he walked away, a small smile appeared on Bai Xuan’s lips. After being frightened by him like that, she suddenly found she was no longer so afraid of Ye Chu! Thinking how he had stayed in the mansion these past two days and behaved properly, Bai Xuan felt this notoriously bad man was not as terrible as imagined.
At the very least, he was especially good to Yao Yao. Whenever he had time, he played with her to relieve boredom. He even looked after her eating, drinking, toileting, and sleeping. The rumour that “Ye Chu only knows how to do evil and nothing else” simply did not happen.
It was precisely because of this that, despite Bai Xuan repeatedly telling Yao Yao not to follow Ye Chu, Yao Yao could not help being close to him.
“Perhaps I misunderstood him.” Bai Xuan exhaled softly. Setting aside Ye Chu’s reputation, he had helped her a lot. The first time, he saved them. This time, he did everything to save her father. Yet she had been guarded against him everywhere. It really was rather ungrateful.
Bai Xuan looked at the three-hundred-year lingzhi in her hand and suddenly remembered to ask Ye Chu how her father should take it. She hurried after him.
“Big Brother Ye Chu! Yesterday Little Aunt told me again not to play with you!” Yao Yao pouted, looking conflicted. “Little Aunt is so mean! I will not like her anymore!”
“Little Aunt was only joking with you. She did not really mean you should not play with me. Little Aunt likes you very much. If you do not like her, she will be very sad! Little Aunt is lonely on her own, so she hopes you will keep her company more.” Ye Chu pinched Yao Yao’s nose, squatted down, and gently brushed the dust off her clothes. His movements were very gentle, as if afraid of hurting her if he used too much force.
“Really?” Yao Yao brightened up. “I thought Little Aunt did not like you and did not want me to play with you!”
“…”
Bai Xuan stood outside the door, listening to Ye Chu and Yao Yao, watching him gently brush dust from Yao Yao’s clothes. Her expression grew complicated.
“A man who has the patience to teach even a child. How bad can he really be?”
