Chapter 53

Chapter 53: A Powerful Noble

By the time the last guest had been seen off, Su Yan finally remembered what she’d promised.

“Damn it. I told Little Hao I’d play with him.”

She grabbed her skirt and ran across the street to the teahouse, breath coming quick, heartbeat still humming from the chaos of opening day.

“I’m looking for someone,” she told the clerk.

The clerk smiled as if he’d expected her. “Boss Su—upstairs, private room.”

“Thank you.”

Su Yan rushed up the stairs.

At the second-floor landing, a sweep of black caught her eye.

She stopped short and looked up.

Long black hair spilled down his back like ink. Golden eyes, lifted at the corners, watched her with a cold, bright focus that made the hallway feel narrower.

His face was carved with a brutal, perfect kind of handsomeness—too sharp, too clean, too untouchable. Even the air around him felt a shade quieter.

His lips were pressed into a thin line.

“Uh…” Su Yan’s mind went blank for a moment. “I… I’m going in.”

He studied her, and his brow tightened. “You don’t remember me?”

Su Yan searched her memory and came up empty. A man like this wasn’t someone you forgot. “I’m sorry. You must have mistaken me for someone else.”

She stepped around him and went into the private room.

Little Hao was curled on a soft chair, looking like he’d been abandoned by the entire world.

Su Yan’s heart melted instantly. “I’m here, I’m here. I came to play with you.”

Little Hao popped up like a spring, tail swishing wildly, joy radiating from every inch of him. In two steps he was against her knees, begging, scolding, pleading all at once with his eyes.

“So happy?” Su Yan scooped him up, fingers sinking into that silky, gleaming fur. The day’s tension loosened in her chest, unraveling as if his warmth had pulled the knots out by force.

Little Hao sprawled in her arms and began licking her fingers, shamelessly trying to charm her.

Behind her, the man’s voice cut in, controlled and cool. “His name is Pei Yun Yang. His childhood name is Little Hao.”

Su Yan turned. It was the same man from the stairs. “And you are?”

“I’m his father.” His gaze held hers. “Pei Xuan.”

He stepped closer and addressed the cub. “We’re going home.”

“Awoo…”

Little Hao clung to Su Yan with obvious reluctance, pressing into her like he could anchor himself there.

Su Yan rubbed his round head, forcing herself to be sensible. “Go with your dad. I still have work to do. We’ll play another day.”

“We live at No. 1, Royal Beast Street,” Pei Xuan said.

He reached out to take Little Hao, and because the cub pressed himself tight against Su Yan, Pei Xuan’s arm brushed against a soft, sensitive place.

Heat surged into Su Yan’s face.

A flicker of awkwardness crossed Pei Xuan’s expression too, but he smoothed it away almost immediately. “If you want to see him, you can come anytime.”

“Mm.” Su Yan clasped her hands behind her back, trying to look calm. “Okay.”

Pei Xuan’s eyes lingered a moment, as if he already knew she wouldn’t come.

Then he said, “Come on the first of each month and spend a day with him. I’ll pay ten crystal coins.”

Su Yan stared. “What?”

“If that’s too little,” Pei Xuan said evenly, “you can name your price.”

“No.” Su Yan shook her head quickly. “You don’t have to pay me.”

She looked at Little Hao’s hopeful eyes and felt the last of her resolve wobble. “I can come play with him. As long as I’m free.”

“Good.”

Pei Xuan turned to leave.

“Wait.” Su Yan reached into her system space and pulled out a bottle of vitamins. She handed it over. “One a day. It’ll help his bones grow.”

Little Hao recognized it immediately. “Awoo!”

He grabbed the bottle himself, holding it in his mouth like a treasure.

Su Yan patted his head. “Goodbye, Little Hao. Listen to your dad. Don’t run off again, understand? There are bad people out there.”

Pei Xuan paused, looking back. “Tomorrow is the first.”

Su Yan blinked, caught off guard. She’d already agreed, though—she couldn’t take it back. “Then… yes. I’ll come tomorrow.”

“No. 1, Royal Beast Street,” Pei Xuan reminded her.

“Right. No. 1, Royal Beast Street.” Su Yan leaned in and rubbed Little Hao’s head one more time. “See you tomorrow, okay?”

“Awoo!”

Little Hao yipped happily.

—

Back at the inn, Bai Kai Xin didn’t even have time to eat. After everything finally settled, he nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

Little Xian Zi brought him a bowl of braised pork rice. Steam rose thick and fragrant; the smell alone made Bai Kai Xin’s stomach cramp with hunger.

“A guest ordered it and then didn’t want it,” Little Xian Zi said. “They already paid.”

“Don’t waste it.” Bai Kai Xin grabbed it and started eating like he hadn’t seen food in days.

Little Xian Zi glanced toward the teahouse across the street. “Why does Sister Su keep going over there? Our tea tastes better.”

“If you want to do business in the Imperial Capital,” Bai Kai Xin said between bites, “you have to know how to make friends with nobles.”

Little Xian Zi snorted. “And you think nobles sit in that teahouse?”

Bai Kai Xin’s eyes flicked up, sharp and excited. “There’s a powerful noble in there—one you wouldn’t even imagine.”