ATAFBS Chapter 15

With the rain approaching, the air pressure was so low that it looked like the surrounding was stagnant.

Zhou Huiyue raised his head. Yu Juan was standing in front of him, holding the phone with the screen lit up.

On it was the thing that made Yu Juan angry, but he was unwilling to say it aloud.

“Eldest Young Lady.”

Zhou Huiyue calmly said the three words he had used as Yu Juan’s contact name.

Yu Juan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

He didn’t believe that the person who had saved his number under such a contact name would actually not show any guilt even when caught red-handed.

It was as if Zhou Huiyue could read Yu Juan’s mind, saying, “It isn’t to ridicule you.”

Yu Juan’s brows furrowed. He didn’t want to listen to what Zhou Huiyue had to say since it was most likely some kind of sophistry.

In a low voice, Zhou Huiyue spoke clearly and without a single hint of ambiguity, “You’re really beautiful.”

The moment the door was opened, the first thing Zhou Huiyue had noticed was Yu Juan’s green eyes. Zhou Huiyue’s memory was excellent, so that scene was etched in his mind to this day. Simply put, it was like that depressive and lifeless room suddenly had the brightness of an entire summer.

Yu Juan tilted his head, looking as if he didn’t quite understand the logic in those words.

Zhou Huiyue met his gaze and continued, “I just think that it really suits you, doesn’t it?”

He sounded serious and sincere.

Yu Juan couldn’t help but think that if this person was currently lying, then he must really be good at deceiving others.

It should not be necessary, though, right? It was just like himself, the name he gave Zhou Huiyue was “Count of Bu Yu Mountain”. He didn’t think much about it at that time, simply believing it to be both amusing and suitable.

Such a reason did indeed convince him that it shouldn’t have been out of malice.

Yu Juan’s eyebrows drooped down, no longer as tense as before, and he stared fixedly at Zhou Huiyue for a moment. Then, with a slightly doubtful expression, he asked, “Is that so?”

In fact, there were a few nicknames he absolutely did not like others calling him by. If he really had to choose one…well, fine, “Little Young Master” and “Eldest Young Lady” were both equally annoying.

Though “Little Young Master” should be more realistic.

Believing was one thing, but he still stubbornly said, “I won’t allow it either way.”

Yu Juan seemed to see the corner of Zhou Huiyue’s lips curl up, but he wasn’t able to confirm it before he heard the other say, “I’m really sorry if you find it offensive.”

“However, I don’t want to change it.”

Yu Juan, “?”

What was the meaning of this? Apologising sincerely, yet refusing to change no matter what?

In an angle Yu Juan couldn’t see, a hint of amusement flashed in Zhou Huiyue’s eyes. “If you really hate it, then you can just make it your demand for me.”

“If it’s one of your requirements, I’ll change it.”

Yu Juan’s requirements— there were one hundred of them for his fiancé.

With Zhou Huiyue being in a wheelchair, the height difference between him and Yu Juan was quite large. He might not be able to look at him directly, but he could notice some of Yu Juan’s very subtle actions.

Just like now, when Yu Juan lifted his chin, his eyelashes quivered slightly. He was biting his lower lip, looking to be indecisive.

So Zhou Huiyue handed over the right to choose to Yu Juan: “Will this be one of your requirements?”

Yu Juan’s temper was really bad as he had been spoiled by his family since he was young. When his grandparents passed away, the endless wave of people approaching him with ulterior motives exhausted him to the point that his temper grew even worse.

Countless people had a good impression of Yu Juan and hoped to gain his approval through various means, but Yu Juan always turned them down. He did not need these things.

But this person here was not the same. It was Yu Juan who took the initiative to put forward those requirements. He had said there were a hundred of them without thinking– all of this was based on his subjective wishes; he was simply doing whatever he wanted to do with absolutely no regard to whether it was rational or not.

However, with Zhou Huiyue asking like this, it would just be like he was admitting defeat if he said it aloud.

So Yu Juan turned away, not looking at Zhou Huiyue anymore, “Forget it, just do whatever you want.”

The phone call had already ended earlier due to it being unanswered for much too long, and the room was in complete silence.

A short while later, Zhou Huiyue asked, “Are you angry?”

Yu Juan glared at him and stubbornly refused to admit defeat, “I’m not.”

Underneath the proud appearance was such a green-eyed eldest young lady with a naïve heart.

*

After the rainstorm was over, the temperature seemed to have dropped and it did not seem as hot as before.

Yu Juan appeared to be quite busy and had a lot of matters to attend to. Grandma Liu asked him to come over again, so he went out first thing early in the morning.

Through the window, Zhou Huiyue caught sight of Yu Juan’s figure shuffling in between the lush green branches and leaves before disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Afterwards, he got through Sun Qibai on the phone and said, “Something happened, can you come over?”

Sun Qibai found it really strange as this was the first time Zhou Huiyue had called him. He did not have any plans whatsoever regarding this unusual matter, so he did not inform Su Li yet as he was scared of losing his job. If he could not resolve it properly and something were to happen, the boss would be unsatisfied with his performance.

And so, as soon as he hung up, he drove over to Zijin Mountain Villa immediately with a recorder on him.

The bicycle was not in the living room– Yu Juan had gone out.

Sun Qibai went upstairs alone, his footsteps heavy, and opened the door to Zhou Huiyue’s room.

Zhou Huiyue was seated by the window, and he looked over to Sun Qibai when he heard the sound of the door opening. His crossed arms were resting lightly on top of his knees, and his complexion was still as pale as ever.

He nodded and said, “You’re here.”

Zhou Huiyue seemed a bit different compared to before.

That was what Sun Qibai thought.

He asked, “Is there something wrong?”

When he first got this job and gained a simple understanding of Zhou Huiyue’s background, Sun Qibai thought that this should not be an easy matter to handle. Zhou Huiyue might be hysterical and endlessly stir up trouble. After all, he had fallen from so high up, from being the heir to a rich and powerful family to being a person with a disability exiled by his family in just a day. Very few could endure this kind of fall.

However, Zhou Huiyue’s expression had always been really calm– so calm that it was almost indifferent and unlike a person who was truly alive. Rather, it was like some kind of pretense.

It was not normal.

Sun Qibai wanted to expose this act of his to get more money from Su Li, but he was unable to get ahold of any evidence.

He could not succeed.

If this was really a pretense, did Zhou Huiyue truly have no desire to change this shackled lifestyle of his? Such hardship, it was almost impossible to bear. Even if he couldn’t care less about food and clothing, could the same be said for his legs that would soon become disabled with no possible treatment?

Sun Qibai had no choice but to give up.

Zhou Huiyue looked at him and spoke in a simple, direct manner, “I’d like to discuss business with you.”

On the screen of the phone was displayed a string of numbers. It was the payment he had prepared.

Sun Qibai had no reaction at first. He froze for a moment, then walked a few steps forward. There was something he wanted to ask, but he could not say the words. He had kept an eye on Zhou Huiyue for such a long time, yet never found out that the latter could connect with the outside world. This was by no means someone who had nothing to their name, even having the ability to bribe him.

Why now? Sun Qibai slowly moved closer. When he glanced at the numbers displayed on the phone, he didn’t want to know.

In fact, he already had no choice with the situation having come to such a point. Even if he disclosed this matter, Su Li would not trust in him and his ability anymore.

However, Sun Qibai was too greedy. This much was not enough.

Zhou Huiyue’s payment was revealed too early, and it was also too much.

A moment later, Sun Qibai withdrew his gaze and pretended to be serious as he said, “I was someone brought over by the Madam to look after you, how could I possibly accept your money?”

Zhou Huiyue paid it no mind, not wanting to expose this lie that could not be any more false as it would only be a waste of time, and brought forward a condition that Sun Qibai would not be able to turn down, “Your wife will also get access to the best treatment.”

Sun Qibai was completely frozen in place.

His wife was suffering from a hereditary chronic disease that had suddenly worsened when she became middle-aged. There was no cure for it, so she could only keep on maintaining her condition. Even with money, finding a good hospital as well as a suitable doctor were all things that required connections and a lot of time. It was obviously something he could not solve immediately and on his own.

Yet, this person here was willing to do him a big favor and save him from the time and effort.

He could not think of anything else and asked anxiously, “Are you sure you won’t deceive me?”

Zhou Huiyue stared at the person in front of him and, without any impatience on his face, he said, “You’ll agree. Isn’t that right?”

Sun Qibai had no reason to disagree.

Just as Sun Qibai was about to ask Zhou Huiyue what he needed to do, Zhou Huiyue said, “Can we exchange recorders?”

Sun Qibai was unable to keep the smile on his face. He paused for a few seconds and stared at Zhou Huiyue, looking to be thinking about those words, before admitting defeat and placing the recorder he had taken out of his pocket on the side of the table.

Zhou Huiyue pushed over a recorder from the other side, which was of the exact same brand and model.

This couldn’t be a coincidence.

Sun Qibai felt a drop of cold sweat drip down his forehead and couldn’t help but say, “Investigating me for this long, just what exactly do you want me to do?” [T/N: The “you” used here isn’t informal like before]

“Don’t be so nervous,” Zhou Huiyue’s voice was still as cold as ever, “Just a little favor. It’s completely within the scope of your ability.”

Zhou Huiyue’s request was indeed really simple. It was just to pretend to not hear or know anything. There was no need to contact Su Li to probe for information.

After coming to an agreement, Sun Qibai didn’t stay for even a moment longer and walked out. He had begun to feel some fear towards Zhou Huiyue.

Once he got in the car, he switched on the recorder. A vague conversation was saved on it, and, unexpectedly, it was of himself blackmailing Zhou Huiyue.

Sun Qibai felt a sudden chill, and the back of his clothes got drenched in cold sweat.

*

The old man wasn’t home today, having gone to a relative’s home to lend a hand, so Grandma Liu felt bored and called Yu Juan over for a meal.

Since he arrived quite early, the two of them went for a walk. Grandma Liu couldn’t help but pick a few bamboo leaves when she saw that they were growing nicely, saying that she wanted to make zongzi for Yu Juan to eat. [T/N: Zongzi is a pyramid-shaped glutinous rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaves, a traditional Chinese food]

As a result, the current situation became like this– Yu Juan, watching from the side, would help as much as he could in passing.

His phone vibrated.

He was holding the bamboo leaves with his right hand, so he used his left one to take out the phone. When he turned it on, he saw that it was a message from Zhou Huiyue.

“It’ll be raining in two hours, when will you be coming back?”

The first time he had gone out, Zhou Huiyue had expressed concern over his safety. The subsequent times, Yu Juan would always receive a message from Zhou Huiyue.

Just as Yu Juan was about to reply with a “I’ll come back right away”, Grandma Liu called out his name, making him click on the video call function accidentally during his haste.

There was no time to hang up as the call was already connected through.

Zhou Huiyue saw less than half of Yu Juan’s face stretched across the screen.

His wet lips were slightly parted, wrapped around a bright red cherry.