Chapter 503 - 503: 503. See who’s crazier
Chapter 503: 503. See who’s crazier
The wind was gentle, the clouds thin, and the sunlight warm.
Both Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu were stupefied, unable to believe how things had turned out: Sheng Yue didn’t even wait a month and proposed to Yan Shiba on the spot, this is too outrageous!
However, Yan Shiba’s act of issuing a challenge was also absurd, so Sheng Yue’s calm response seemed more normal.
“Could it be that Sheng Yue has had his eyes on Miss Yan all along?” Ji Xiaoshu scratched his head, the world of grown-ups’ relationships so full of strange turns and mysterious happenings. Weren’t those two supposed to be enemies?
Zhengzheng furrowed his brows slightly, “No way.” They all knew how Sheng Yue and Yan Shiba became enemies. If it weren’t for Yan Shiba’s usefulness, Sheng Yue would have killed her long ago. Sheng Yue liking Yan Shiba would only happen when the sun rose from the west.
“I think Sheng Yue is simply trying to break the deadlock this way,” analyzed Zhengzheng, “After all, Yan Shiba threw him quite a challenge. If he waited a month and said he wasn’t interested in her, he wouldn’t know what she might do within this month. But he knows her intention isn’t because she likes him or wants to be with him, so he tries to counter her directly.”
Ji Xiaoshu sighed, “That’s probably it. Sheng Yue is really difficult to deal with, and it looks like Miss Yan is going to lose this round too.”
Just as Zhengzheng was about to say something, they heard Yan Shiba’s voice again, “You bastard, how dare you joke about such a matter?”
Zhengzheng imitated Sheng Yue’s tone and whispered, “I’m not joking.” His voice and words perfectly matched Sheng Yue’s from the other side…
Ji Xiaoshu peeked his head out from behind the wall, unable to see them as Yan Shiba and Sheng Yue were inside the room, “If Miss Yan asked for my advice now, I would suggest she agree. No matter the consequences, she mustn’t back down or she’ll truly lose! This round is all about who’s crazier!”
Zhengzheng silently covered Ji Xiaoshu’s mouth, thinking it would be better for Yan Shiba to cut her losses in time, as she stood no chance of winning against Sheng Yue in wits.
Next moment, they heard the sound of a table being slammed, followed by Yan Shiba’s furious shout, “What am I afraid of? If you dare to marry, I dare to wed! Let’s see who backs down first! The loser will be a turtle and bastard!”
Zhengzheng leaned his head on Ji Xiaoshu’s shoulder and sighed, “Miss Yan is too impulsive.”
Ji Xiaoshu didn’t think too much, “Senior brother, stop worrying. They’re both adults and staying in our house; as long as Sheng Yue and Miss Yan don’t fight to the death, there’s nothing serious.”
A blue figure flashed past, and Yan Shiba had already stormed out of the courtyard.
Zhengzheng quickly pulled Ji Xiaoshu along and ran after her.
Feng Ming, who had just returned from the Peng Mansion, holding a bouquet of flowers given to him by Peng Wu, almost collided with Yan Shiba.
Feng Ming wondered why Yan Shiba was in his and Zhu Zan’s courtyard, and why her face looked so unpleasant. As Feng Ming raised his hand to greet her, Yan Shiba seemed not to see him and vanished without a trace.
Feeling somewhat puzzled, Feng Ming entered the courtyard and saw an empty room with the door open. He walked over and looked inside.
Just as Sheng Yue was about to get up to sleep, their eyes met. Sheng Yue looked calm, while Feng Ming hesitated for a moment, “When did Young Master Sheng arrive?”
“This morning.” Sheng Yue’s expression was indifferent, and seeing the beautiful bouquet in Feng Ming’s hand, he said, “Congratulations. I heard you’re getting married.”
“Thank you.” Feng Ming smiled. Since Sheng Yue was here and staying, he must have been approved by Gu Ling and Su Liang, so Feng Ming had nothing to say.
Then, Sheng Yue didn’t invite Feng Ming in, but walked over and closed the door, “I’m going to rest.”
“Rest well, Young Master Sheng. If you need anything, feel free to ask me,” said Feng Ming before returning to his own room. There was an empty vase on the windowsill, and he added some water and placed the bouquet in it, letting it bask in the sun, a smile forming on his face.
After a while, Feng Ming thought of Yan Shiba again. Zhu Zan was not there, and Yan Shiba stormed out because of Sheng Yue? That would make sense, as Feng Ming knew they had a grudge against each other. Maybe Yan Shiba failed in doing something to Sheng Yue?
Yuanming Pavilion.
When Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu came in, they didn’t see Yan Shiba. They didn’t know where she had gone. The two then rushed upstairs to find Su Liang and Gu Ling and report the latest situation to them.
“Miss, something terrible has happened!” Ji Xiaoshu entered with a serious expression. “Something really terrible has happened!”
Su Liang frowned in cooperation, “What’s wrong? Are they fighting again?”
“No!” Ji Xiaoshu shook his head. “Miss, you would never guess!”
Just then, Gu Ling, who was reading a book, got to the point. “Sheng Yue wants to marry Yan Shiba, and he wants to do it now.”
Zhengzheng wore a “I knew this would happen” expression and went to play with Gu Xiaonuan.
Ji Xiaoshu ran to Gu Ling, put his little head close to Gu Ling, blocking Gu Ling’s book, looked straight into his eyes at close range, and asked, “Master, be honest, can you really read minds?”
Gu Ling pushed Ji Xiaoshu’s head away with one hand and turned a page in the book. “Just now you know?”
“What am I thinking now?” Ji Xiaoshu got close again.
Gu Ling’s thin lips opened slightly, “You’re thinking that whatever I say you’re thinking, you’ll say I’m wrong.”
Ji Xiaoshu: … Master is truly a demon!
Su Liang laughed softly, “Don’t disturb your master’s reading, tell me quickly, what happened?” In fact, she had already guessed, and was just playing with the child earlier. Yan Shiba and the two little strategists thought that Sheng Yue would never agree to such a thing, but Su Liang had always felt that Sheng Yue would definitely make a choice they would never expect.
Then Ji Xiaoshu told Su Liang about the conversation they had overheard between Yan Shiba and Sheng Yue.
“In the end, Miss Yan didn’t give in, but what are we going to do about this? Are they really going to get married now? Or should we wait and see who will run away first?” Ji Xiaoshu said that adults really play big.
Su Liang countered, “Do you think anyone will run away?”
After thinking for a while, Zhengzheng said, “I think if someone is going to run away, it might be Miss Yan. Sheng Yue is completely fearless of this kind of thing and looks like he doesn’t care at all.”
Ji Xiaoshu cupped his face, “Sigh, I think so too. The less calm Miss Yan is, the more calm Sheng Yue becomes, and he really wins. I’m a bit regretful about giving Miss Yan this bad idea, as it now puts her in a difficult spot.”
“Where is she?” Su Liang asked.
“I don’t know.” Zhengzheng shook his head. “We thought she would come here after running out of Sheng Yue’s place, or maybe she went back to her own courtyard. Shall we go and see?”
Su Liang nodded, “Let’s go and have a look.”
As the two children ran off again, Su Liang saw Gu Xiaonuan was getting sleepy, so she put her on a little bed and covered her with a blanket.
“Great God, do you think Yan Shiba and Sheng Yue have a chance?” Su Liang sat next to Gu Ling.
Gu Ling took a bookmark from the table, placed it in the position he had just read, closed the book, put it down, and put his arm around Su Liang. She leaned on Gu Ling’s body as they both looked out the window at the shadows of the trees outside. There was a magpie on the tree, motionless, as if it was frozen in place.
“It’s possible,” Gu Ling said. “One is ice, the other fire, they’re quite a match.”
Su Liang coughed lightly, “I’ve only heard of water and fire being incompatible and ice and fire poles apart. There are no good words for them, so how can they be a match?”
“Yan Shiba told Sheng Yue to marry her, and Sheng Yue immediately agreed, which is just right for them. This wouldn’t happen with other people,” Gu Ling said.
“That’s true,” Su Liang nodded. “If Yan Shiba said such a thing to Cheng Yun, Cheng Yun would definitely run away at lightning speed. Sheng Yue is living in our house and knows that Yan Shiba is one of our people, so he doesn’t worry about anything. But honestly, I still think there’s no hope for the two of them. The problem isn’t with Yan Shiba, it’s that Sheng Yue hasn’t shown any interest in romance yet.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Ling suddenly laughed.
Confused, Su Liang asked him why he was laughing. Gu Ling kissed Su Liang’s cheek and said, “At the beginning, didn’t you also think that I had no interest in romance? But by that time, I had liked you for a long time.”
Su Liang admitted that he was still moved by Gu Ling’s beauty and gentleness even now…
Seeing Su Liang lost in thought, Gu Ling laughed softly, “What are you thinking about?”
Su Liang coughed lightly and pushed Gu Ling’s face away. “I was thinking that I didn’t know you had a crush on me back then, but we can’t compare this situation. Are you suggesting that Sheng Yue has a crush on Yan Shiba?”
Gu Ling shook his head, “Maybe not. I’m just saying that he might not necessarily be uninterested in matters of men and women. Maybe he just wasn’t interested before.”
Su Liang keenly noticed that Gu Ling didn’t say ‘romance’ but ‘matters of men and women.’ This covered feelings and more than that, including physical aspects.
Su Liang frowned, “Great God, are you saying that if they really end up in the bridal chamber because of the bet, Sheng Yue wouldn’t mind sleeping with Yan Shiba?”
Gu Ling nodded, “He’s a normal man, and at that point, he’d even have a proper title. He wouldn’t refuse such a thing.”
“So, no matter what, Sheng Yue can’t possibly wuss out, unless Yan Shiba gives up first,” Su Liang sighed softly. “This situation is really disadvantageous for her. With her temper, the more she’s provoked, the more she’ll escalate. I just hope she doesn’t suddenly fall for Sheng Yue. As long as she doesn’t have feelings for him, other things aren’t that big of a deal.”
Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu went to Yan Shiba’s courtyard and, as expected, found her there.
“Miss Yan,” Ji Xiaoshu pushed the door open and poked her head in.
In broad daylight, Yan Shiba was sitting at the table drinking alcohol alone. The room was filled with a strong smell of alcohol.
As Ji Xiaoshu and Zhengzheng entered, both thought about how to comfort Yan Shiba. But to their surprise, she laughed. “You two were eavesdropping, weren’t you?”
Zhengzheng nodded, “Miss Yan, are you alright?”
Yan Shiba burst out laughing, “What could be wrong with me? That scoundrel must have been secretly in love with me for a long time since he wanted to marry me right away!”
Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu exchanged glances, both thinking that Yan Shiba was drunk and not just a little.
Yan Shiba put down her wine glass and smirked, “I’m getting married too! Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”
Zhengzheng, worried, held Yan Shiba’s hand. “Miss Yan, calm down. You don’t have to think about the bet. We won’t laugh at you, and outsiders won’t know. Marriage isn’t something to mess around with.”
Ji Xiaoshu nodded, “Yeah, Miss Yan, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have suggested that bad idea. I can go talk to Sheng Yue myself and tell him it was just a joke. We won’t tell anyone else about this, other than our masters and mistresses!”
Yan Shiba didn’t interrupt but kept shaking her head. After Ji Xiaoshu finished speaking, she laughed and said, “You’re overthinking it. I’ve decided that I’m going to marry Sheng Yue! Are you shocked? That’s right, I want that effect!”
Zhengzheng furrowed his brows even more, “Miss Yan, whether we’re shocked or not actually doesn’t matter. Your happiness is the most important thing.”
Yan Shiba ruffled Zhengzheng’s hair and then Ji Xiaoshu’s, “Anyway, I’ve made up my mind. Don’t try to persuade me. It’s just getting married. That scoundrel is actually quite good looking, can beat me in a fight, and he’s missing a hand- how interesting! And both of us used to be in the mafia!”
Ji Xiaoshu blinked, “Miss Yan, I believe now you really want to marry Sheng Yue. But what is your real intention?”
A meaningful smile appeared on Yan Shiba’s face, “Hmm, this is not something you kids should be worrying about. Just wait for the time to drink the wedding wine!”
Zhengzheng thought that Yan Shiba was not thinking clearly because she was drunk, but Ji Xiaoshu felt that she really had a plan to deal with Sheng Yue, which she didn’t disclose.
So, the two children ran back to the Yuanming Pavilion to share the news with their master and mistress.
Seeing that Gu Ling and Su Liang were not surprised, Ji Xiaoshu asked, “Master, Mistress, do you know Miss Yan’s real purpose? Tell us, please! She won’t say!”
“Have you practiced martial arts today?” Gu Ling asked.
Ji Xiaoshu was speechless, “Master, don’t change the subject! We’ll practice later!”
“Go now.” Gu Ling said.
Zhengzheng obediently walked out, and Ji Xiaoshu ran over, stepped on Gu Ling’s foot, and turned to run, “Senior Brother, wait for me!”
Gu Xiaonuan was sound asleep, and Su Liang asked Gu Ling, “What do you think Yan Shiba’s purpose is? It can’t be… she’s planning to conquer Sheng Yue with her body, can it?”
Gu Ling nodded, “There’s nothing impossible about it; that’s something she could do. If it weren’t for Cheng Yun being a little monk and your interference, Yan Shiba might have already caused trouble for Cheng Yun.”
Su Liang held his forehead, “Sheng Yue and Cheng Yun are biological brothers, so what is this, a twist of fate? But seriously, Sheng Yue is quite good-looking and has the temperament that Yan Shiba likes. He and Cheng Yun share a common trait—they both look very abstinent. I’m referring to Cheng Yun in the past.”
“What about me?” Gu Ling asked.
Su Liang couldn’t help but laugh, “Great God, you were quite abstinent at first too, but now, not at all, at least to me.”
“In fact, I occasionally restrain myself.” Gu Ling stared intently.
Su Liang knew what Gu Ling was hinting at and hurriedly pulled the conversation back, not wanting to roll in bed during the daytime when the children could come over any time, “Yan Shiba’s purpose…is that really it? This is too ridiculous, but if it happens to those two and they’re both willing, it’s not our place to interfere. Maybe they can develop affection over time.” She meant it literally…
After a moment, Su Liang sighed lightly, “Actually, it makes sense. Yan Shiba couldn’t possibly like any normal man since she’d find them boring, even the now secular Cheng Yun. Sheng Yue also doesn’t seem like the type who would be into gentle girls, considering his worldly wisdom and experience, which surpasses those of a typical transmigrator. Maybe their rivalry will spark some different kind of passion?”
Gu Ling nodded, “Let’s see who will have the upper hand.” He also meant it literally.
At this moment, Weng Ran had just learned about Yan Shiba’s plan to marry Sheng Yue and hurriedly tried to persuade her to reconsider after his shock.
Yan Shiba snorted, “Why is it okay for you all to pair up, but I can’t?”
Weng Ran looked helpless, “You can find a man you like.”
Yan Shiba threw out a sentence, “Then why don’t you give Cheng Yun to me?”
Weng Ran: …
Yan Shiba laughed, her face bearing her signature arrogance and defiance, “I stopped liking Cheng Yun long ago; he’s way too dull for me now that he’s secular! Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I can’t wait for that scoundrel Sheng Yue to kneel before me and sing ‘Conquer’! So what if he’s better at martial arts than me? He’s just a man! Let’s see how I deal with him!”