Chapter 180: with translation of chapter title

He isn't! He didn't! He's not blind!

Fu Hanxiu denied it three times to clear his name.

He won't take the blame for this!

Ye Qingran eyed Fu Hanxiu suspiciously, "Why are you so worked up? You're not him, so how do you know whether he has a hidden lover? Men always have some shameful secrets they won't let others know."

Fu Hanxiu broke out in a light sweat on his forehead.

How could he explain this?

If he told her that he was actually the blind Emperor Sovereign she spoke of, Ye Qingran would surely fly into a rage, kick him out, and never speak to him again.

He couldn't say it; this matter seemed hard to explain clearly.

"Miss Ye, it's like this. Our National Master, at least in Western Extremity, is someone of standing and has had some contact with that Emperor Sovereign. As his subordinate, I also know him a bit. According to the people of Zhuolu Peak, that Emperor Sovereign is very chaste; for all these years he hasn't had a woman by his side, so how could he do something like keeping a hidden lover? Don't you think there might be a misunderstanding?"

Really?

Ye Qingran wasn't very familiar with Western Extremity's situation. These years she's focused all her thoughts on finding the child, with no spare energy to reach out to the distant, mysterious Western Extremity. Although she's recently begun to open up the Western Extremity market, it's just started, so a lot of information is still incomplete.

"Absolutely true!" Fu San almost swore an oath to heaven.

Ye Qingran then half-believed, half-doubted, nodding as she stroked her chin and muttered to herself, "If the Emperor Sovereign really is as Fu San said, keeping away from women, then what Lin Zhishang said isn't true. Lin Xueyan going to Western Extremity Shengyu is no doubt, and she may well have ties to the Zhuolu Peak faction, but she certainly isn't there as the Emperor Sovereign's woman."

Having figured this out, Ye Qingran felt a slight ease in her heart. Although she didn't know much about that Emperor Sovereign of Western Extremity Shengyu, she had heard a bit of his might; offending him would likely have dire consequences.

She had originally worried that Lin Xueyan had latched onto the Zhuolu Peak Emperor Sovereign as a powerful backer, making her hard to deal with, but now she needn't worry.

After finishing her thoughts, Ye Qingran lifted her eyelids and met a pair of blazing eyes.

She blinked, feeling as if something had struck her chest, her heartbeat skipping a beat.

Why are you staring at me like that?

Ye Qingran pressed her lips, turning her gaze away somewhat unnaturally; her smooth, delicate skin like congealed fat flushed with a rosy glow.

In that instant, it was as if spring water reflected pear blossoms.

Seeing Fu Hanxiu remain silent for a long while, Ye Qingran shifted her gaze back to him.

Fu Hanxiu's eyes grew even deeper; those distant pupils were like a black hole, seeming able to suck one into the endless Abyss!

Ye Qingran instantly felt a bit flustered.

"Master National Master, I'm tired; please do as you wish." Ye Qingran said, standing up and heading for the room, her steps slightly disordered, as if fleeing in disarray.

Fu Hanxiu's gaze remained blazing, following her silhouette until it vanished behind the door.

This woman probably didn't realize just how beautiful she had been a moment ago.

Alluring and charming, a natural enchantress.

Even that sentence she'd just spoken before leaving carried a hint of coquettish annoyance, soul‑stealing and heart‑seizing, making him willing to give up his life without hesitation. He had always been cold‑hearted and unfeeling; for over twenty years he felt nothing for women, or rather, he found it hard to invest emotion in anything at all.

Some say he suffers from severe empathy and emotional expression disorders.

He never said it aloud, but deep down he agreed. After all, when facing his son he was most of the time an aloof, cold‑hearted father.

Until he met Ye Qingran.

He finally realized he didn't truly have severe empathy or expression disorders; he just hadn't met the right person.

Ye Qingran, she is that right person.

At first sight of her, he felt a sense of familiarity, as if they had known each other in a past life…

Afterward, each trial and interaction made him more fascinated by this woman. She was like a bottomless treasure box, hiding one astonishing secret after another.

Just now, he felt a strong yearning: to hold her in his arms, cherish her, love her…

But he also knew that fulfilling this wish still had a long road ahead.

After a while, Fu Hanxiu finally rose, gazing at the tightly shut door with a helpless smile.

Given his nature, when he takes a liking to something he ought to seize it by force; yet with Ye Qingran he becomes extraordinarily cautious, afraid of even slightly offending her…

He knows why.

And he finds it quite sweet.

In this life, being able to love a woman, cherish her, and grow old together seems like a fine thing as well.

Let's go.

Fu Hanxiu said lowly to Fu San, then turned and left on his own.

In the room, Ye Qingran held a book, not turning a page for a long while.

"Miss, it's upside down."

Ye Qingran didn't hear; her eyes were on the book in her hands, but her gaze was unfocused.

"Miss?"

"Huh? What's up?" Ye Qingran then reacted, looking with a puzzled gaze at Han Xing, who had called her.

Han Xing pointed at the book in Ye Qingran's hands, laughing and crying, "It's upside down."

Upside down?

What's upside down?

Ye Qingran looked at the book in her hands and only then realized it was her own book turned upside down.

This…

How embarrassing!

She'd been pretending to read for ages, holding the book the wrong way!

Cough!

Ye Qingran cleared her throat, feigning composure as she flipped the book right side up.

Pfft~

Han Xing couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"You little Xing Er, you actually dare to mock me! I think you're itching!" Ye Qingran puts down the book, pouts, rolls up her sleeves, acting cute and fierce.

"Miss, I didn't mean to either; who made you so funny? Even with the book upside down you can read for half a day."

"You still dare to talk back?"

"Miss, what were you thinking just now? You were so absorbed. I heard you chatting with the National Master outside; was it because of him?"

Ye Qingran's complexion looked a bit unnatural.

Han Xing's eyes lit up; this is getting interesting!

Ye Qingran didn't miss the mischievous glint hidden in Han Xing's bright eyes; she squinted and said, "Xing Er, you still dare to speak—watch how I deal with you!"

Saying that, she went to tickle Han Xing.

Han Xing hates being tickled the most, especially on the waist; as soon as someone touches it, she laughs until tears flow. Ye Qingran knows Han Xing's weak point well and is determined today to give her a taste of hardship, avenging the earlier mockery.

But lacking the strength, Han Xing could only let Ye Qingran bully her, laughing while repeatedly begging for mercy. The Xiao Naihu, who had been sound asleep nearby, was startled awake; seeing Han Xing's miserable state, she quietly tucked in her little tail, trying to lessen her presence.

Leng Yue heard the commotion and came in from outside.

"Yue Er… Hahaha… quickly, quickly save me… Hahaha…" Han Xing was already laughing tears.

"What's going on here?"

Ye Qingran turned her head and glared at her, "Xing Er said she's missed my tickling technique for a long time, so today I'll let her really feel it!"

Leng Yue let out a startled gasp.

She's also extremely ticklish.

Seeing Han Xing's pleading eyes, Leng Yue quickly looked elsewhere and said, "Oh, I forgot I still have something unfinished!"

"Xing Er, may you wish yourself good luck, go for it!"

Saying that, she closed the door and left.

Before leaving, she didn't forget to clench her fist, cheering Han Xing on.

Han Xing: "..."

Where's the deep sisterly bond we promised?

Is this the plastic‑flower sisterhood the Miss often talks about?

Fu Hanxiu received an invitation letter the next day, sent by Ye Qingran, inviting him to have lunch at Qin Ge tomorrow noon.

It was originally just an ordinary invitation, but for Fu Hanxiu it was not.

Because the invitee listed on the letter was Wuhen.

Fu Hanxiu stared at the name Wuhen, his brows furrowing into a "river" shape.