Chapter 1245: Rules for Raising a Loyal Dog 09

The parrot caught Xu Huaiyu's attention; he lay on the stone table with his arms together, tilted his head to tease the parrot, a change from his recent listlessness.

Jin Chen found it strange, 'Just getting the engagement called off makes you this happy.'

Engagement called off!

Liu Chengze widened his eyes, secretly thinking his guess was indeed correct.

'Actually, calling off the engagement is a good thing! Huaiyu, you don't know, that Zhu Zhaohong is now even fooling around with my hot-tempered younger half-brother!'

'If I weren't afraid of hurting your feelings, I would have told you already.'

Xu Huaiyu, however, shook his head, smiling, and said, 'I'm not sad anymore.'

As long as he knew that person wasn't Zhu Zhaohong, he wouldn't be sad, because that was someone else's affair.

Jin Chen naturally knows why he is like that, but he has some doubts; since he can confirm that this Zhu Zhaohong is not that Zhu Zhaohong, Xu Huaiyu isn't worried at all—has the former Zhu Zhaohong not returned?

But in the end it's not his concern; as long as it doesn't involve Yajiu, there's no need to get involved.

Jin Chen lost interest in playing with the parrot after a while; it wasn't fun, and the parrot even pecked his hand.

'Boring, this Heir Apparent is going home!'

At this time, Yajiu should have woken from his nap; teasing him is far more amusing than teasing the parrot—just a few more words and he'll blush.

Jin Chen hurried back, but before he had taken a few steps, he heard Liu Chengze wonder, 'Why are you rushing back like that? You don't even have a consort!'

He finally got a chance to show off.

He flicked his sleeve and waved his hand, his arrogant face showing a bit of youthful pride: 'Compared to you, a poor wretch without anyone to warm your room, there's hardly anything to say!'

Having said that, he strode away arrogantly.

Liu Chengze: '???'

'He insulted me!'

'Pfft...'

Xu Huaiyu suddenly laughed out loud, mysteriously saying, 'You don't know—my older cousin has raised a formidable person in the side courtyard, and it's exactly the time he's doting on them.'

'Ah!' Liu Chengze made a bitter melon face, 'No wonder even this strange parrot finds it boring! From now on I can only play with you!'

——

On this side, Jin Chen returned to the prince's mansion; just as he entered the side courtyard, he heard the rustling of footsteps, as if someone had hurriedly run into a room.

A smile flickered in his eyes as he walked with his hands behind his back, saying in a nonchalant tone, 'Oh dear, what's making this racket in broad daylight? Could it be that a mouse has gotten into the side courtyard?'

Yajiu had just lain back down on the bed when he heard the sound; after waking from his nap, he had been waiting at the side door for his master for quite a while, which was already against the rules, and now he felt even more embarrassed.

With a flushed face, he burrowed into the brocade quilt, and upon hearing Jin Chen's approach, he even pulled his head in as well before stopping.

The patterned lattice window was half-open; fine light filtered through the sandalwood screen into the room, just casting a glimmer of Youyou beneath the couch.

As Jin Chen stepped inside, he happened to see Yajiu cautiously emerging from the soft silk quilt to catch a breath, his long brows and beautiful eyes, his cheeks faintly flushed.

Their gazes met, and Yajiu could no longer pretend to be asleep; he could only sit up nervously.

'Master,' he whispered softly, his eyes darting to the window side and the beast-headed incense table, but daring not to look at Jin Chen.

Jin Chen still had his hands behind his back, walked to the bedside, leaned forward with a smile, his eyes full of curious interest.

'What were you waiting for outside just now?'

The master indeed heard it!

Yajiu felt a bit nervous, seemingly absentmindedly picking at his fingers.

But the little assassin couldn't learn to lie; he only spoke the truth.

'I was waiting for the master.' He pressed his lips together and added, 'It's my fault; the master said he had to go out on business.'

'All right, there's nothing fun outside either; wait until you heal your injuries, then I'll take you out for a stroll.'

Jin Chen handed Yajiu the candied haws he had picked up along the way, then casually took a handkerchief to wipe his fingers.

Yajiu, overwhelmed with favor, bit into a hawthorn ball, chewing slowly as the sour-sweet flavor stimulated his saliva.

He was overjoyed, his eyes shining brightly, and only in front of Jin Chen did he show a bit of youthful bearing.

'What are you looking at? If you don't eat it quickly, the old mansion doctor might see it later and throw it away.' Jin Chen lightly rested his hand on Yajiu's waist and said arrogantly, 'This wasn't specially bought; I just happened to see it on the way.'

Yajiu dared not get too close, but his heart leapt with joy; his faintly flushed face was truly pleasing to behold.

After so many days together, Yajiu had learned that the master loved to say the opposite of what he meant; only his actions were the truth.

He lowered his eyes, ate the hawthorn balls one by one, and felt only moved in his heart.

The master is truly kind to him.

He must recover quickly to protect the master.

Just then Jin Chen asked him, 'Today I'll let you try in the courtyard—how is your martial arts recovery?'

In the original plot, Yajiu still clung to the desire to regain his martial arts even until his death at the end, and Jin Chen would never let him repeat that mistake.

'It's much better already,' Yajiu hurriedly said, 'Only the whip wounds on his back are fairly severe; they'll heal soon.'

Not just severe—it's practically skin split and flesh torn.

Jin Chen's breath sank a little; the hand resting on Yajiu's waist gently squeezed, 'Why do you insist on not saying who injured you?'

He had asked more than once, but Yajiu each time deliberately changed the subject; the boy's wronged look, pitiful for no reason, made Jin Chen relent and stop asking.

Yajiu's smile faded a little, and he unconsciously gripped the bamboo skewer of the candied haws, pressing it deep into his fingertip.

Today Jin Chen obviously had no intention of letting him brush it off; with a strong pull of his long arm, he easily drew the person into his embrace, leaving only a few inches between them.

'Keeping it hidden like this—do you not regard this Heir Apparent as your master, or do you have ulterior motives?'

Those words were enough to make Yajiu panic and feel flustered.

Now that the token has arrived, he only wants to stay and exert his full strength to protect the master—how could he have ulterior motives?

'No...' Yajiu, who is naturally inarticulate, became even more incoherent when anxious; truly afraid of angering Jin Chen, he grabbed the master's hands with both of his and knelt on the couch, pleading pitifully, 'I'm afraid the master will get dragged in, afraid the master will be targeted by them—that place is no good, and the people there are no good either.'

'I've already escaped, so I'm not afraid, and I don't want to bring it up again.'

If that's the case, you should have said so earlier; it got me all worked up for nothing.

Jin Chen deflected blame, then hugged the startled boy and ruffled his hair, saying, "Alright, alright, if you dare to cry, I won't come tomorrow."

How could this be...

Yajiu's eyes reddened slightly, and he unconsciously pursed his lips, "I'm not crying."

He never used to like crying, but since coming to the master's place, he wishes his tears would never stop.

Yajiu couldn't figure out the reason.

Jin Chen, half-coaxing and half-threatening, got Yajiu to stop being upset, then teased and played with him a bit, only leaving when it was time for the review homework ordered by Xu Wangyue.

Just as he stepped out of the side courtyard's Main Gate, his expression momentarily stalled.

It felt like something was off.

After saying all that just now, Yajiu still didn't tell who those people were!

He angrily flicked his sleeves.

If you won't tell me, fine—I'll find out myself!