Chapter 272: His Hidden Condition 7
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
That night.
Lu Yan was lying down in his room but was not sleepy at all. So, he got up, put on a white fox fur cape, and stood by the window. He opened the window and let the cool breeze float in along with the rain, blowing at his face, somber and cold. The temperature was low, but Lu Yan did not feel cold, he even felt a warmth in his heart.
How many years had it been?
Apart from the few close relatives who knew what had happened back then, he had never told anyone about it.
He had taken a long time to build his resolve before he started talking to that woman today. He thought he would be met with all kinds of ridicule after sharing his tale, but her reaction had been calm as if she were a real healer.
It gave him a lot of comfort.
Naturally, he would love nothing more than to be cured of this.
The next morning.
Lu Yan had just arrived at the side hall when he saw that Qi Qingyao was already up and was talking to her children about some mathematical problem. The children were all listening with stupefied expressions, but also with their full attention. Lu Yan, however, did not understand what she was talking about.
Qi Qingyao noticed him enter.
She waved at him.
After Lu Yan walked over, she took out a thick stack and handed it to him.
“I’m done with the treatment plan.”
Lu Yan had just flipped open the papers when he heard Qi Qingyao say firmly, “From today onward, you will listen to my orders except for when it comes to the accounting matters of your house.”
Lu Yan pointed at the papers. “Can I look at the contents of the papers and prepare myself mentally?”
“You can.” Qi Qingyao added rather profoundly, “The plan can be modified based on your special needs.”
The plan was really long.
It filled up seven to eight full pages.
Various items had been written out comprehensively.
The only unusual thing was that, ‘Lu Yan’ was written beside (A), but as for (B), the name of some woman was written next to it.
Lu Yan pointed at it and asked suspiciously, “Who is this woman?”
Qi Qingyao replied relaxedly, “You can choose one. At least, let it be someone you don’t actively hate. It can be a close maid of yours or someone by your side; they just have to be a female.”
Lu Yan’s expression turned troubled for a second. “Do I need a female to help me overcome my psychological barrier?”
“If not a female, would you perhaps like to find a man to help you?” Qi Qingyao joked calmly, “If you are willing to look for a man, you can do that as well. I have no objections.”
“Let’s… stick with a female.” Lu Yan’s tone was somewhat hollow. He glanced at the plan again. It was a step-by-step plan and was very detailed. Fine sweat began forming on his forehead.
Feigning flippancy, Qi Qingyao said, “I’ll give you an hour’s time. After you’ve found someone, I’ll arrange for them to live next to you.” They would be able to cultivate feelings easier in close proximity.
He had to look for some female stranger? Even more sweat formed on Lu Yan’s forehead. He thought for a bit then said, “There’s no need for me to find someone.” He pointed at Qi Qingyao and said her name. “I’ll just go for you.”
1
“Huh?” Qi Qingyao immediately spat out the tea in her mouth.
The children had been thinking about the positive and negative numbers that their mother had been talking about with their fingers. When they saw her spitting out her tea, they immediately raised their heads.
Qi Qingyao laughed. She waved to the children and motioned for them to continue playing.
The children lowered their heads and continued trying to understand what negative one was.
His expression unchanged, Lu Yan said, “I choose you.”
Qi Qingyao put down the tea bowl, wiped the tea from her chin, and asked curiously, “Why do you want to choose me?”
Lu Yan explained casually, “Your plan includes holding hands and some other intimate things like hugging that I would have to do in the later stages. If I were to choose a stranger, I would not be able to do any of that. I’m also afraid that the other party will fall for me and this would make things troublesome. Besides, I also don’t want others to know about this matter. So, it’s more convenient to choose you since you know of my situation and already have children. You also despise me a little so you definitely wouldn’t fall in love with me. I won’t fall in love with you either… It’s simply more convenient for me to be in contact with someone as a friend. It’s a qualified and useful position.”
Qi Qingyao rubbed the space between her brows; she did not know whether to cry or laugh. “It truly is a sound and reasonable explanation.”
Lu Yan asked unhurriedly, “Name your price. How much do you want to willingly be my experiment partner?”
Qi Qingyao cradled her forehead in her hand and pondered for half a minute. “It’s not a question of money, Little Yan. Didn’t you see that one of the important requirements I wrote in this one-hundred-day plan was for both parties to pretend to be each other’s boyfriend and girlfriend? That’s why I wanted you to find someone who you would not hate. If you choose me now, you’re basically saying you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend to help you get rid of your psychological barriers!!!”
Lu Yan shot back, “And is there a problem with that?”
“Of course there is.” Qi Qingyao patted the table. “I have three children, if I were to pretend to be your girlfriend, we would have to interact with one another when we’re outside. For the sake of your reputation, we definitely can’t tell people it’s only for show either. In the eyes of those outsiders, we would truly be each other’s boyfriend and girlfriend. What then? Tell me, what do you think the rich and powerful people in Qingzhou City would think?”
“What do you mean by that?” Lu Yan asked again.
“Are you stupid?” She was quickly losing her patience with this fool. Qi Qingyao said calmly, “If Master Lu, the one and only richest man in Northern Liang, were to be seen going out with me, everyone would basically think that I am your concubine. Of course, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it—I can even use your reputation to get some free meals—but what about you? People will think you have an extreme taste! To aim for a single woman with children… they’d think you’re sick!”
Lu Yan replied, “I don’t care what the others have to say as long as you can treat my condition.”
“…”
Qi Qingyao looked at him, noting his shamelessness and dead seriousness, and said, “I actually admire you a little bit.”
Lu Yan looked at her solemnly.
He was awaiting her answer.
In any case, he was her patient. Seeing his serious appearance, Qi Qingyao also felt a little embarrassed to find herself grinning so cheekily, so she said, “Let me think about it.”
During breakfast, Lu Yan had his meal in his room while the six of them, including Qi Qingyao, had theirs in the dining hall. As they were eating, the maid wanted to come forward and serve them, but Jiang Yeqian refused. So, the maids and servants all waited outside.
The servants all wondered if the new owner had the same problems as the head of the Lu family, that they did not like people waiting on them!
Regardless of when it came to meals or living in general, the hostess and the two masked servants seemed to not like others being too close to them.
The children also did not need any servants.
How.. .strange.
They have the same habit as Master Lu.
Then why did they say that Master… ‘No way’!
After they were done with their meals, Qi Qingyao had the servants take the dishes away and wipe the table clean.
They moved to the side hall. Si Jin came over with a teapot and after serving the tea, Qi Qingyao waved over the children who had their tummies filled.
“Come here, all of you, I want to discuss something with you.”
Jiang Yeqian closed the door to the side hall to prevent anyone from coming in.
Only then did he remove his mask.
The three adults and kids sat together at the small round table. Jiang Yeqian peeled some apples for the children as he watched her with raised brows.
“Hm?”
Xiaobao asked as he peeled an orange, “Mommy, what did you want to say?”