Chapter 273 - His Hidden Condition 8

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Qi Qingyao looked at Xiaobao. As if she was just casually mentioning something as an afterthought, she said, “The treatment of Lu Yan’s condition requires a period of a hundred days.”

Everyone looked at her curiously.

They waited for her to continue.

Qi Qingyao continued, “Also, I’ve written out a plan. He needs to look for a compatible partner and they have to be a woman. So, he decided that I would be the most cost-effective option.”

Jiang Yeqian heard this and his brows instantly furrowed.

Si Jin did not make a sound; he was waiting for her decision.

The children looked at one another doubtfully.

Xiaobao, ever diligent, asked, “Mommy, what is a partner?”

Qi Qingyao scratched her head, feeling a little embarrassed having to explain this to a child. “That is... Lu Yan he… has an illness now. A mental illness! I’m the doctor and I need to cooperate with the patient’s treatment. So, when we go out, I have to pretend to be his girlfriend, the kind where you have to hold hands.”

Xiaobao gave an “oh”. “Is it that Uncle Lu who Mommy wanted us to call Grandpa but was rejected by him?”

“Yep, that’s him.” Qi Qingyao nodded continuously like she was pounding garlic.

Dabao looked all around at the big house. “And she got this house by beating him.”

Si Jin quietly added some charcoal to the brazier.

Jiang Yeqian’s expression was a bit conflicted. His gaze was slightly lowered, his thoughts a mystery.

Erniu’s pink and tender face was ruddy red. “Grandpa said before that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Mommy also said that he is sick. You are a doctor, so you should cooperate with him for a bit and help treat him.”

Xiaobao cocked his head, thinking very seriously for a moment. A flash appeared in his big, sharply contrasting eyes. “Although I don’t know what a mental illness is, it must be pretty serious if he had to personally come to Mommy to get treated. When we were praying at the Koi Temple, I overheard someone say that saving a life is better than building a seven-story high statue of Buddha. So, Mommy should help him.”

This house used to be Uncle Lu’s.

If Mommy were to treat his illness, who knows what else she could win from his hand in the future…

Seeing that the three children had agreed in no time...

Jiang Yeqian’s expression turned darker and darker. He said solemnly, “I don’t agree to this.”

Qi Qingyao’s expression looked as if she was inviting him to express his opinion. “Tell me what you think.”

Si Jin was also frowning. “You having to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend with him is a no-no.”

Jiang Yeqian was shocked. He did not think that Si Jin would be on his side this time and hurriedly added, “That’s right. I also don’t think it’s good.”

“Tell me your reason,” said Qi Qingyao.

Jiang Yeqian answered seriously, “You’re still going to get married in the future. If you play pretend with him like this, you both will become actual partners in the eyes of the public. It’s equivalent to you helping him resolve the rumors about his reputation as a eunuch, yet he will still be using you to solve his psychological barriers.”

Qi Qingyao reminded, “There’s a consultation fee.”

Jiang Yeqian shook his head and said, “It’s not about whether or not there’s a consultation fee. You both have to hold hands, and you might even need to embrace one another.”

Qi Qingyao muttered under her breath, “It’s just hand-holding.”

The children listened in on the adults’ conversation and were confused.

Their minds were filled with questions. ‘What’s a eunuch… What’s a mental barrier?!’

Jiang Yeqian felt that their following conversation might not be suited for the children’s ears and so he said to the three of them, “You three go and play first. Your mother and I have to deal with this issue and have a good talk about it.”

“Okay~”

Uncle Jiang had taught them a lot of things recently.

That was why the children were quite obedient to his instructions.

So, they went and played with a little rocking horse at the side.

Uncle Lu had given them the little rocking horse this morning! Riding it was fun!

After seeing that the three had gone further away to the corner to play with the rocking horse...

Jiang Yeqian then looked at her seriously. “Qi Qingyao, you went missing in Qingzhou City four years ago and had three children. Now, you’re in Qingzhou City again. Did it not occur to you that you would meet the children’s father?”

“...” Qi Qingyao raised her eyebrows at this question. Why would he bring this up?

Si Jin also could not help but blink instantly.

Jiang Yeqian asked, “Did it not occur to you to try and find out who the children’s father is?”

Qi Qingyao, “...” She truly had not thought of this. If he had not brought this up, she would have completely forgotten about this matter.

Jiang Yeqian saw through what she was thinking and reminded her, “If the children’s father is someone in Qingzhou City, what if he sees you when you are preparing to head out and about Qingzhou City as Lu Yan’s partner?”

“So?” Qi Qingyao asked.

Jiang Yeqian’s thin lips parted slightly. “Then what?”

Qi Qingyao loosened the grip of her hands as she asked calmly under pressure, “What does the children’s father have to do with me?”

Jiang Yeqian did not expect them to talk about this topic at all, nor for her to be so calm about it. “It’s not something serious, but what if he shows up to take the children away?”

A flash of indifference flashed through Qi Qingyao’s dark pupils. “Does he even know the children are his?”

Jiang Yeqian, “...”

Qi Qingyao swept a casual glance at Jiang Yeqian who seemed to be more agitated about the issue than she was despite only being an observer. She said, “You’re a really weird guy. The reason I’m trying to cooperate with Lu Yan now is that I find him pitiful. I just want to help treat his mental illness. You make it seem as if I were going to take advantage of Lu Yan to climb up society’s ladder to reach the top of the mountain. If that’s the case, you’re really looking down on me. I admit that I find him good-looking, but I’m not interested in him, just like how I am not interested in you.

‘What do you mean you’re not interested in me, I’m the one who isn’t interested in you!!’ “It never crossed my mind that you were trying to climb up society’s ladder…”

Qi Qingyao replied helplessly, “Sure, sure, I’m a single woman with kids, even if I were to think about it, it would be impossible. I’m very aware of this.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Jiang Yeqian was at a loss at how to explain himself.

“Then, what do you mean?” Qi Qingyao questioned him flatly. “All I’ve been hearing from you is talk about the children’s father. What does the children’s father have to do with me? Do I know him? Even if he were someone from Qingzhou City, the children would never go with him!”

Jiang Yeqian added a potent argument. “What if he intends to snatch the children from you?”

“Snatch?” Qi Qingyao sneered as if she had just heard some ridiculous joke. Then, she said with a superficial smile, “If he really were to appear to snatch them away, I’d like to see him try. I’m the private doctor of the richest man in Northern Liang, Master Lu. I guess this is considered as having some connection to him, yes? I’m also Heir Pei’s savior. Do you think that with my connections, that person would be able to snatch them from me even if he were to show up?

Jiang Yeqian, “...”

Qi Qingyao added, “I’ll say this! That person took away Qi Qingyao’s innocence. If I find out who it was, I will send you and Si Jin over in the middle of the night to have them and their entire family killed in secret!”

Jiang Yeqian, “...”

Qi Qingyao taunted calmly, “And you think they still want to take my children away from me? Ludicrous!”

Si Jin secretly wished to applaud Qi Qingyao. ‘Sister’s right, just kill the man!’

Jiang Yeqian most likely understood what she was implying, that she would not be bewitched by Lu Yan and that she would not like him romantically. She would not become interested in him—Jiang Yeqian—either. For some reason, a large rock seemed to have fallen to the base of his heart when he thought about this.

Then again.

Jiang Yeqian thought about Heir Pei, Lu Yan, and himself.

He had not seen this woman show any interest in any of them.

Even if she was caught off guard by their appearances the first time, in the end, it was nothing more than astonishment.

After that...

Her gaze went calm, always calm like a lake...

She... was really elusive.

Like how she acted with him, he was so handsome, yet she was not tempted at all, what the f*ck!

Was she made of stone?!