Chapter 295: Chao Chao’s Bottom Line
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Those hands were right before his eyes.
Soft and plump, like delicate jade, with a faint scent of milk lingering in the air.
He could only see Lu Chao Chao.
A glowing Lu Chao Chao.
Li Si Qi raised his hand, his large palm clasping her small one. His eyes burned, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Lu Chao Chao grew anxious.
“Brother Si Qi, are you doing Chao Chao’s trick too? Falling down and not getting up unless someone coaxes you?”
She helped him to his feet, completely unaware of his tearful gaze locked onto her.
“You’re really silly. If you’re going to fall, at least do it where no one can see.”
“See, now you’ve been stepped on.”
The little girl patted the dust off his clothes, concerned. “Does it hurt, Brother Si Qi?”
Li Si Qi shook his head.
“Are you cold? Why are you trembling so much?” Lu Chao Chao eyed him suspiciously.
A young servant from the Protectorate Duke’s Manor hurried over and slapped himself as soon as he saw Li Si Qi.
“It’s all this servant’s fault for letting the young master suffer. Young Master, shall we return to the manor?”
If word spread tomorrow that the legitimate eldest grandson of the Protectorate Duke was blind, the entire capital would be in an uproar.
Li Si Qi gripped Lu Chao Chao’s hand tightly. “No.”
“Young Master, you—” The servant wanted to persuade him, but then he saw his master kneel down and gently wipe the oil stains from the corner of Lu Chao Chao’s mouth.
He was stunned.
The young master could see?!
“Chao Chao, I can’t see well at night. Can you hold my hand?” Li Si Qi looked at her earnestly.
His eyes were so bright, so beautiful.
Lu Chao Chao was filled with sympathy. “Of course! Don’t be scared, Chao Chao will take you home later. I’ll hold your hand and be your eyes!” she promised confidently.
Yu Shu and Yu Qin exchanged glances. No wonder Young Master Li seemed a bit odd.
Li Si Qi smiled. His world was darkness, and Lu Chao Chao was his only light.
His master!
The master he had searched for through countless lifetimes!
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was customary to release floating lanterns into the water. Lu Chao Chao carefully set a lantern afloat, watching it drift.
Li Si Qi, however, only watched her.
The river was dotted with floating lanterns, the shimmering ripples reflecting the glow beautifully.
Suddenly, a panicked voice cut through the air.
“Help! Someone fell into the water! Save my lady!”
In the river, a figure struggled, flailing desperately, while a maid on a small boat cried out in terror.
“Save my lady! Help!” The maid’s voice broke with sobs.
Lu Yan Shu had been conversing with his colleagues on a pleasure boat. Hearing the cries, he immediately rose to his feet.
Sure enough, not far away, a young woman was sinking into the water.
Watching her struggle, he recalled his own past—when no one had come to his rescue.
He stepped onto the boat’s railing, ready to leap in when—
With a loud splash—
A young woman had already dived in before him, swimming swiftly toward the drowning lady.
Due to the dim lighting, only glimpses of her form could be seen in the water.
Lu Yan Shu hesitated. It was Zhou Shu Yao.
Zhou Shu Yao was an excellent swimmer, but the panicked woman clung to her tightly, refusing to let go.
Zhou Shu Yao nearly got dragged under.
Fortunately, her strength was formidable. With great effort, she managed to pull the woman toward the shore.
The pleasure boat docked, and Lu Yan Shu strode over.
“Give me your hand,” he called out.
Zhou Shu Yao glanced at him, then used his support to climb ashore.
Nearby, a once-lush willow tree now stood oddly bare, its leaves mysteriously plucked away.
Zhou Shu Yao leaned against it, catching her breath.
The rescued woman coughed violently, expelling a large amount of water. Her drenched clothes clung to her figure, accentuating her graceful curves.
“Miss!” The maid sobbed as she pushed through the crowd, draping a cloak over her lady’s shoulders.
Though flushed and disheveled, the lady remained breathtakingly beautiful even in her most distressed state.
“T-Thank you, Young Master, for saving my life.” Her voice was soft and delicate.
But her maid stomped her foot in distress. “Miss, you’ve had skin contact with a man! What will you do now?” Her gaze flickered wildly toward Lu Yan Shu.
At these words, Lu Yan Shu raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? Then perhaps you should take a better look and see who actually saved her.” Zhou Shu Yao coughed slightly, pointing at her own soaked figure.
Lu Yan Shu quickly averted his gaze.
A gentleman does not stare.
Lu Yan Shu had already sent a servant to purchase a high-quality set of dry clothes for Zhou Shu Yao, which she accepted with a nod of thanks.
“Don’t thank the wrong person. I jumped in to save you. What does this have to do with Young Master Lu?” Zhou Shu Yao teased the rescued woman.
Lu Yan Shu’s face flushed red. He remained silent.
“It wasn’t Young Master Lu?” The young lady gasped.
“Impossible! I saw him lift his robe and climb onto the railing!” The maid grew flustered. She had seen him prepare to jump!
“I’ve never seen someone falsely claim a savior before. His hair isn’t even wet—how could it be him? Or do you want it to be him?” Zhou Shu Yao spoke bluntly, causing the young woman’s face to change colors.
Between a man and a woman, if there was skin contact in public, the deed was as good as sealed.
“Young Master Lu…” The woman pleaded pitifully.
But Lu Yan Shu turned his head away, adopting the stance of a true gentleman, unwilling to spare her another glance.
“Let’s go.” The woman bit her lip, humiliated, and left with her maid, covering her face in shame.
“Top Scholar Lu, your doorstep hasn’t been trampled down yet?” Zhou Shu Yao laughed with reckless abandon.
“Someone was even willing to risk their life for you.”
Lu Yan Shu sighed deeply.
For nineteen years, he had never encountered such ardent admiration.
He didn’t even understand where it stemmed from.
Every day after court, women would bump into him.
Or throw handkerchiefs.
Now, someone had even staged a near-drowning.
“Thank you, Miss Zhou, for resolving this situation today.” He knew that if it hadn’t been for Zhou Shu Yao, he would have been the one in the water.
Zhou Shu Yao waved her hand dismissively. “No big deal. Young Master Lu, you should keep more people around you.”
“A woman’s life is confined within the household—obeying her father, then her husband, with no choices of her own. To secure a good marriage, she’ll use every means at her disposal. It’s not disgraceful; it’s survival. They have no choice…” Zhou Shu Yao sighed.
She was different. In an era of arranged marriages and measured propriety, she refused to be shackled.
If love wasn’t mutual, she would rather remain alone forever.
“I understand,” Lu Yan Shu nodded.
Meanwhile…
“That’s my big brother! My real big brother!” Lu Chao Chao stood with her hands on her hips.
“Yes, yes, real blood-related! Big Brother loves me the most!”
“Ten taels of silver for a brush Big Brother used…”
“Thirty taels for a stool he sat on…”
“Fifty taels for a teacup he drank from!”
“If you help me with my homework, free, free, free!” Lu Chao Chao’s eyes sparkled. Her big brother was a walking business opportunity!
Every day, beautiful young ladies asked about what he ate, drank, and read.
They offered endless delicacies.
But Lu Chao Chao had her limits!
Yesterday, someone offered her Northern-style braised pork knuckle, and she didn’t sell out her brother.
Until they raised it to three pork knuckles!
What a profit!