“This…”
In the jianghu, it was an unwritten rule that names and identities were not to be inquired about in places of pleasure.
Although Jiang Yin was merely a transmigrator, she knew that in such a place, one should not casually ask about another’s background.
Thus, she shook her head: “A Yin does not know… A Yin only knows that young master is A Yin’s benefactor. That is enough.”
“…”
For some reason, the young master fell silent for a moment before asking in return: “Only a benefactor?”
When he asked this, there was no particular expression on his face, but he withdrew the hand that had been caressing Jiang Yin’s cheek.
Jiang Yin reasonably guessed that this answer did not satisfy the young master.
She pondered for a moment and added: “A Yin’s status is lowly, and beyond this, I dare not hope for more.”
“Good… good.”
After uttering two “goods” in succession, the young master remained quiet for a while before groping for the brocade box on his right and pushing it toward Jiang Yin.
Under Jiang Yin’s puzzled gaze, he spoke in a calm tone: “What happened last night was my fault. Considering that the young lady was untouched, I ought to take responsibility. However…”
Hearing the word “however,” Jiang Yin’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
She had thought the reward was lost, but unexpectedly, the young master paused before continuing: “However, I still have some family matters to attend to. Please wait here peacefully for half a month. After half a month, I will personally come to welcome the young lady into my household.”
“…”
???
!!!
Jiang Yin’s mind was thrown into confusion by these words. It took her a while to process what she had just heard.
Welcome… welcome her into his household?
This…
Since the incident had already occurred, and she was no staunch defender of chastity, she had originally intended to seize the opportunity to ask for some silver, buy herself commoner status, find a safe place to wait for the System to repair itself, or, if the young master was in a good mood, have him spend a small sum to redeem her, so she would no longer have to worry about being sold off every day.
But the idea of being promised to the young master was something she had truly never considered.
After all, Jiang Yin knew that this place was unlike reality—power reigned supreme, hierarchy was strict, and social classes were rigid. A noble young master who appeared wealthy and influential would absolutely never bring a qinglou woman into his household.
Moreover, this particular qinglou woman’s appearance was barely passable.
…
After pondering for a long while, Jiang Yin still spoke up to decline: “A Yin appreciates young master’s kindness. But this matter is ultimately improper, and A Yin does not wish to tarnish young master’s reputation… I beg young master to reconsider.”
“…Reconsider?”
The young master tilted his head slightly, a trace of confusion appearing on his face: “The young lady is unwilling?”
“…”
Saying she was unwilling was certainly not an option. It was natural for the young master to reject her, but for her to reject him would be nothing short of an insult.
Jiang Yin hurriedly denied: “That is not the case, only…”
But the young master interrupted her, his expression slightly restrained, as if displeased, though not overtly so: “I understand… The young lady sees that I am blind and despises me for not being whole… Is that it?”
“…”
Jiang Yin’s eyelids twitched, and her hands resting on her knees unconsciously tightened as she continued to deny: “No, A Yin only…”
The young master still did not listen to her, proceeding on his own: “Good… Since the young lady does not despise me for my disability, then it must be because she sees that I am a regular at Zui Xian Ju, believes I am idle all day, indulging in pleasure and debauchery, and thus of poor character, and therefore unwilling to entrust herself to me. Is that it?”
“…”
Jiang Yin could no longer care about whether to decline or not. Her mind was filled with the need to prove she hadn’t looked down on him, lest she upset him and waste all her efforts from the night before.
She took a deep breath, gathered her thoughts, and explained, “A Yin has never thought of you that way. You saved me yesterday, and I am endlessly grateful. In my heart, you are the finest person in this world. How could I insult you with such petty thoughts?”
The young master turned his face away, unwilling to accept her explanation. “But I offered with sincere intentions, and you repeatedly declined. There must be a reason.”
“…”
A reason…
She didn’t want to, and she couldn’t.
The task was already completed. As soon as that wretched System returned, she could leave this world. Why create more trouble for herself?
But she couldn’t say that…
After struggling for a long while without finding a way to refuse, Jiang Yin felt as though she were being roasted over a fire, tormented to the extreme.
In her helplessness, she simply gave up. She thought it would be better to take things one step at a time—agree first to stabilize the situation, then figure out what to do later.
So, Jiang Yin curled her fingers and changed her words. “A Yin is not unwilling. I was just worried about troubling you… If this decision truly reflects your intentions, then A Yin is overjoyed.”
“…Really?”
“Really.”
“Good.”
The young master’s tone sounded a bit lighter. He reached out again, feeling for the brocade box, and opened it.
Inside was a thick stack of silver notes.
Jiang Yin was stunned as the young master spoke. “This amounts to one thousand taels of silver. Consider it a token of my sincerity. Please accept it. For the next ten or so days, I will be staying here at night and will need you to keep me company… As for other matters, I will make the necessary arrangements. You need not worry.”
“…”
One thousand taels… fifteen days.
If the System returned within these fifteen days, Jiang Yin could leave smoothly.
If the System didn’t return within these fifteen days, Jiang Yin could still protect herself and have one thousand taels of silver as a fallback.
—No matter how she thought about it, this deal was a bargain.
The frustration she had built up earlier vanished completely. Jiang Yin felt relieved, and her voice lightened. “Thank you, young master.”
“It’s nothing.”
The young master’s tone remained unchanged as he withdrew his hand, adjusted his sleeves, and continued, “There is one more thing I must ask you to remember carefully.”
Jiang Yin’s gaze was fixed on the box of silver notes as she nodded. “Please go ahead, young master.”
As if sensing her distraction, the young master tapped his knuckles on the corner of the table in front of him, drawing her attention before speaking slowly. “During these two weeks, please stay in this room and do not go out. If anyone disturbs you and insists on asking questions, simply refuse and do not mention your relationship with me… Is that clear?”
“…”
These words sounded a bit strange, but upon careful thought, they didn’t seem particularly unusual.
Adhering to her principle of not causing trouble, Jiang Yin didn’t press further and agreed readily. “Rest assured, young master. A Yin understands.”
“Good,” the young master nodded slightly, then added after a moment’s thought, “My childhood name is Azhuo. From now on, you may call me Azhuo.”
“…Azhuo?” Though she had no real interest in knowing, since he brought it up, Jiang Yin thought for a moment and asked curiously, “As in ‘outstanding and peerless’?”
“No, as in ‘cleansing the filth and uplifting the pure.’”
“Ah… I see.”
“…Mm.”
After this exchange, the two fell into silence together.
…
The room was quiet and serene, with soft, gentle light. The lingering intimacy from the previous night had already dissipated. Two figures, one large and one small, nestled together, creating an illusion of peaceful, timeless tranquility.
Having achieved her goal, Jiang Yin no longer dwelled on her own affairs. Instead, she cleared her mind, focused inward, and savored this rare moment of calm.
…And so, she missed the gaze directed at her by the person beside her.
In the stillness, Shen Shouyu looked at Jiang Yin once more.
His eyes silently swept over her lightly trembling eyelashes, lingered on her slightly parted lips, and then shifted to her hands, folded on her lap.
Those hands appeared pale and frail, seemingly lacking strength. Yet Shen Shouyu knew this was not the case.
When she had rushed over to embrace him yesterday, her unwavering determination, which left him no room to break free, had not only saved herself…
It had also saved Shen Shouyu.
On any ordinary day, no matter how breathtakingly beautiful Jiang Yin might be, he would not have spared her a second glance.
But it happened to be yesterday… of all days, it was yesterday.
After a long while, Shen Shouyu finally withdrew his gaze, unconsciously touching his now-empty index finger.