Chapter 27

Jian Yuyan had never stayed overnight at Yan Yiming’s place, nor had he told her he would come. Yet, Yan Yiming had left a lamp lit for him.
Unconsciously, Jian Yuyan’s footsteps grew even lighter. Only when he entered the courtyard did he notice the dim, yellow light still glowing in Yan Yiming’s room, where her slender figure was faintly visible.
It was long past midnight, yet Yan Yiming had not retired for the night. Wrapped in a thin robe, she sat alone at the table, staring blankly at the candle flame before her.
A faint candle flame, a solitary silhouette, Jian Yuyan suddenly remembered how, not long ago, Yan Yiming had told him that the night she was sold off by her family was just as quiet. Every time she closed her eyes at night, time seemed unbearably slow.
So this was how A’Ming endured those sleepless nights.
Abruptly, a sharp pang of pain pierced Jian Yuyan’s heart.
He approached her quietly. Lost in thought, Yan Yiming did not notice him until he wrapped his arms around her from behind. She stiffened momentarily, then relaxed as she recognized his familiar face, her voice tinged with surprise.
“Why have you come, Young Master?”
Jian Yuyan did not answer. Instead, he enveloped her ice-cold body, his lips brushing against the pale nape of her neck as he asked, “Why aren’t you asleep?”
“...I slept too much during the day and don’t feel like sleeping now.”
Jian Yuyan sighed. How stubborn she was, claiming she didn’t want to sleep when it was clear she couldn’t. How had he never noticed before?
“You’re freezing like this and didn’t even think to put on more clothes,” he chided, gripping her icy hands. Yet she stubbornly insisted, “I’m not cold… Ah!”
In one swift motion, Jian Yuyan scooped her up. Yan Yiming gasped in surprise and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.
Carrying her directly toward the heated chamber, he walked straight to the bed and gently laid her down, pulling the embroidered quilt tightly around her. As warmth enveloped her body, Yan Yiming shivered slightly. Jian Yuyan chuckled and pinched her cheek.
“Still saying you’re not cold? Be careful not to catch a chill.”
“I’m used to it. I’m not that delicate,” Yan Yiming retorted, clutching the quilt as she gazed at Jian Yuyan with her beautiful almond-shaped eyes. “Then, Young Master, will you be leaving tonight?”
Jian Yuyan remained silent.
Yan Yiming pushed the quilt aside and sat up, burying her face against his back. Her arms encircled his waist, her hands wandering restlessly downward toward his abdomen.
“Don’t leave tonight. Stay here with me, please.”
Jian Yuyan caught her wandering hand, turned, and pressed her back onto the bed, tucking the quilt securely around her. “Stop fooling around.”
Held tightly in his embrace, her cheek pressed against his chest, she could even hear the faint, rapid beating of his heart. Yan Yiming let out a soft laugh, lifted her head, and gently nipped at his collarbone. Her warm breath brushed against his neck, seductive and alluring. “Young Master… don’t you want to?”
Jian Yuyan sighed, cupped her chin, and kissed her rosy lips. After a lingering kiss, he pressed his lips lightly to hers once more and said, “I’m not leaving. I’ll stay here with you. No more mischief, go to sleep now.”
Yan Yiming instantly settled down and closed her eyes.
The night grew deeper. Yan Yiming's breathing gradually steadied as she fell into a sound sleep, but Jian Yuyan remained awake.
By the faint candlelight, Jian Yuyan gazed at Yan Yiming's brows and eyes for a long time, his fingers gently tracing her cheek. When he reached the spot with the red mole, he paused for a while, then covered it with his thumb.
Yan Yiming seemed completely unaware, as if already asleep. Perhaps dreaming of something, she buried her head in Jian Yuyan's chest.
The hand covering the red mole was pushed aside. Jian Yuyan's hand froze awkwardly in place. After a long moment, he stroked Yan Yiming's smooth, long hair and finally closed his eyes.
A breeze seemed to pass through the room, causing the candle flame to flicker unsteadily before finally extinguishing.
With the lights out, Little A returned to Yan Yiming's side, drowsy. “Hurry up and sleep, I'm exhausted.”
“Sleep,” Yan Yiming, who had deliberately waited half the night and then accompanied Jian Yuyan through his antics, was already very tired. She freed herself from his embrace. “Goodnight.”
“...Goodnight.”
Jian Yuyan returned to his usual self, visiting Yan Yiming every day. But what made the others in Plum Garden most jealous was that from that day on, Jian Yuyan not only came during the day but also stayed overnight.
This infuriated those like Yu Mei, who had thought Yan Yiming had fallen out of favor and were waiting to watch the drama unfold.
What kind of bewitching potion had Yan Yiming given Jian Yuyan? What did Young Master Jian see in her? Her looks, her voice, or her skills in bed?
Jian Yuyan had never maintained interest in a woman for so long. Even the once-famous top performer Yu Mei of the capital hadn't been able to keep him for three days. Yet Yan Yiming had kept such a man by her side for two whole months!
As the weather grew warmer, Jian Yuyan no longer just visited her in Plum Garden. When he had time, he would personally take her boating on the lake to paint on a boat.
Jian Yuyan, the capital's top young master, excelled in both family background and appearance, and his paintings of beauties were highly sought after by everyone.
Stroke by stroke, he painted with exquisite detail. Yan Yiming stretched her legs restlessly. Jian Yuyan set down his brush and walked over with a smile. “Are you feeling bored?”
“A little,” Yan Yiming said, turning over to sit up on the couch and resting her head on Jian Yuyan's lap with a coquettish laugh. “Let's take a break before painting. I'll sing a tune for you, alright? What would you like to hear? How about 'The Oleander'?”
Without waiting for Jian Yuyan to choose, she began singing, “My lover's charm fills my heart, gently embraced, slowly drawn near, my bosom damp with sweat, spring desires overflowing...”
Jian Yuyan glanced at the unrestrained Yan Yiming. “Change the tune.”
After a long while.
“All sorts of idle chatter can be sung, listen as I sing the Eighteen Touches... Ah, I won't sing anymore, it tickles... I, let's just continue painting...”
The boat glided across the silent lake, occasionally carrying a melodious and graceful voice that would suddenly vanish, leaving behind only the light laughter of a woman.
The painting was nearly complete, nine-tenths finished. The woman in the portrait had delicate features, slender willow-leaf eyebrows, and lips as red as cinnabar, yet a red mole was missing at the corner of her eye.
Yan Yiming pretended not to notice and turned to ask Jian Yuyan, “Will you give this painting to me, Young Master?”
“Once I finish it after we return, it will be yours.”
As they disembarked, Jian Yuyan took a veil to cover her beautiful face. Yan Yiming blinked and asked, “Why must I wear the veil?”
Jian Yuyan’s expression remained unchanged. “Because I don’t want others to see you.”
A glint of amusement in her eyes, Yan Yiming leaned closer and teased him in her charming voice, “Does the Young Master wish to be the only one who sees me?”
Jian Yuyan raised an eyebrow at her mischievous gaze, then leaned down and playfully nipped her as punishment. “Isn’t it enough that I’m the only one looking?”
“For now... it is enough,” Yan Yiming replied, taking the veil from his hands and putting it on herself. “I will always listen to you, Young Master.”
A sudden pang of guilt washed over Jian Yuyan. He had asked Yan Yiming to cover her face not for the romantic reason he had just implied, but because he didn’t want others to notice how strikingly she resembled Jian Yu’er. He didn’t want anyone familiar with Jian Yu’er to see Yan Yiming. He didn’t want Jian Yu’er to find out that he was spending his days with a woman who looked just like her.
He had been spouting nonsense, yet the woman before him had never doubted him. Jian Yuyan suddenly felt that he had been truly despicable from the start, dragging an innocent woman into this. Seeing her somewhat dejected expression, he softened his voice to comfort her.
“From now on, don’t call me Young Master.”
“Then what should I call you?” Yan Yiming giggled. “Jian Lang? Yu Lang? Yan Lang?”
Jian Yuyan couldn’t help but laugh, unable to resist her playful teasing. He casually joked in return, “How about calling me 'Qing Gege' (Dear Brother)?”
“Qing Gege is too dull. I’m sure many others have already called you that,” Yan Yiming scoffed, looking up at him with seductive, smiling eyes. “How about I call you Brother Yan instead?”
Jian Yuyan’s heart skipped a beat, and in his daze, he missed the chance to refuse. Yan Yiming tugged at his sleeve. “Brother Yan, a few days ago, someone from Yu Jin Lou said the dress is ready. Shall we stop by on our way back?”
“Brother Yan?”
Every time she called him “Brother,,” Jian Yuyan’s heart trembled involuntarily. Meeting her gaze, he smiled tenderly. “Alright, whatever you say.”
Yujin Pavilion was an exceptionally prestigious tailor shop in the capital, renowned for its fine fabrics and master craftsmen. Only the wealthy and noble could afford to shop there. Even though the tailors there looked down on Yan Yiming, they still crafted the dress exquisitely out of respect for Jian Yuyan.
Seeing Jian Yuyan and Yan Yiming arrive together, the shopkeeper hurriedly invited Jian Yuyan to have some tea and had someone escort Yan Yiming to try on the dress.
The moon-white gauze dress was meticulously embroidered with silver thread on the belt, cuffs, and collar, elegant and exquisite. The shopkeeper thought to himself that although this girl came from a humble background, her demeanor was truly exceptional. Yet, with her face veiled, only her eyes and brows were visible, leaving her full appearance a mystery.
Young Master Jian truly dotes on her. In the past, aside from Miss Jian herself, he had never brought any other woman here.
No sooner had they seen the two off than, as if summoned by their mention, Miss Jian and Young Master Jiang entered together. The shopkeeper hurriedly escorted them to the second floor and personally attended to them, casually remarking, “If you had arrived just a moment earlier, Miss, you would have run into Young Master Jian.”
“My brother?” Jian Yu'er exclaimed in surprise.
“Yes, Young Master Jian just left. Oh, look, you can still see him.”
Jian Yu'er stood by the window and, glancing down, caught sight of Jian Yuyan walking out of the Yujin Pavilion with a slender woman. Jian Yuyan was dressed in a blue brocade robe that day, while the woman wore a moon-white gown. From behind, the two looked exceptionally well-matched.
“I wonder which young lady that is. Brother never mentioned her to me,” Jian Yu'er murmured softly. No wonder she hadn't seen much of her brother lately, it turned out he had found someone he fancied.
For some reason, a faint pang of bitterness tugged at Jian Yu'er's heart.
“Oh, what young lady? She's just an actress, a performer...”
Jian Yu'er abruptly looked up. After the shopkeeper had left, her delicate brows furrowed as she said, “I've long heard others say that Brother often enjoys frolicking with women of that sort, but I never believed it. So it's all true... Are those women really that captivating?”
“Many women in such circumstances are pitiable souls who fell into this life after their families met with misfortune,” Jiang Yi replied. Having grown up in humble circumstances himself, he did not share the typical scholar's disdain for these women.
Jiang Yi's gaze lingered on Jian Yuyan and Yan Yiming. Just as he was about to turn away, the woman suddenly looked back, her eyes meeting his directly. There was no trace of surprise in her gaze upon seeing Jiang Yi; instead, it held a hint of amusement.
Jiang Yi was momentarily taken aback.
When he looked again, the woman had already turned her head away, as if that fleeting glance had been an illusion, as if the certainty that she had known he was there was also just his imagination.
Jian Yuyan escorted Yan Yiming back to Plum Garden and spent the next several days almost entirely there. Only after quite a few days had passed did he return to the Jian residence. Shortly after arriving, he heard movement and looked up to find Jian Yu'er, with whom he hadn't spoken in quite some time.
“Yu'er,” Jian Yuyan's heart skipped a beat, and his voice softened involuntarily. “Is there something you need me to do?”
Jian Yu'er's gaze held a wounded expression. Did she only come to him when she needed something? Biting her rosy lips, she lifted her head and slowly said,
“Brother... you haven't been home for quite some time.”
Jian Yuyan noticed the wounded look in Jian Yu’er's eyes and suddenly felt a pang of guilt. “I've had important matters to attend to lately.”
“Then why haven't you even returned to the residence at night?”
Jian Yuyan fell silent for a moment. “Has Yu’er heard something?”
Jian Yu’er opened her mouth, perhaps taken aback by how directly he had asked. Suddenly, she felt afraid of this version of Jian Yuyan, afraid that he would no longer listen to her as he used to. But she couldn't let him continue down this path of ruin.
“I... I happened to see you leaving with a woman at the Yujin Pavilion the other day. The manager there said she was... an actress from the Plum Garden,” Jian Yu’er struggled to say. “Brother, you haven't even married yet. This kind of behavior... it really damages your reputation.”
Jian Yuyan said nothing. He had initially thought he would be overjoyed to learn that Yu’er was looking for him, but after understanding her meaning, he couldn't muster even a shred of happiness.
He wanted to change the subject and avoid discussing it further, but Jian Yu’er was unusually persistent.
“These past few days, I couldn't find you no matter how hard I looked. Father is also a bit displeased. From now on, could you please... not see those people anymore?”
Jian Yuyan looked at her solemnly. “Yu’er doesn't like me like this?”
Jian Yu’er's eyes reddened as she nodded.
After a long silence, Jian Yuyan finally agreed.
“Alright.”