Chapter 23: Just Keep Your Underwear On!

Jin Jianshui’s face held a hint of disdain as he reiterated, “I won’t avenge her. If it weren’t for her, I…”

He trailed off, but Yan Xiaoyue understood.

His mother’s questionable character had cast a shadow on him, and she now understood the volatility of his temperament.

But…

She glanced at Jin Chao, who was still talking to the elder Jin outside. If the elderly couple truly doted on him, would his temper be so erratic?

Yan Xiaoyue grew suspicious. Even among the young masters of Kyoto, none…

She seemed to have discovered something.

She withdrew her gaze and had Jin Jianshui build a small stove for her, a sturdy structure made of mud.

“What’s this for?” Jin Jianshui was curious. He’d only seen such large pots used during the New Year by families raising pigs, big enough to hold a whole pig.

“Nothing, just for boiling meat.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie; Jin Chao was also “meat,” wasn’t he?

“We don’t slaughter pigs. Why such a large pot? Can you even buy that much meat?”

Jin Jianshui’s eyes darted around, seeming to make a decision.

“Auntie, everyone says Third Uncle can’t have children anymore. Does your family need a child? I can be adopted by Third Uncle.”

Jin Jianshui’s words were shocking. Seeing Jin Chao approach, his expression dark and frightening, she quickly looked away.

“Xiaoshui wants to be my son?”

Jin Chao’s lips curved into a smile, his eyes lowered, his thoughts unreadable.

“Third Uncle, I…”

That was Jin Jianshui’s intention, but Third Uncle didn’t seem pleased.

“Your mother only has you now. Your father should be back soon. Your older brother is missing, not dead as your mother casually claims. If your older brother is truly gone, you’ll still need to support him in his old age.”

Jin Chao spoke more than usual, unusually verbose these past few days.

“Understood, Third Uncle.”

Jin Jianshui sat down, head bowed, then burst into tears, “Wah…” and ran out.

Yan Xiaoyue shook her head. This kid was hiding something; he seemed to know quite a bit.

Indeed, the male lead’s younger brother was quite intelligent.

She continued adding herbs to the large pot, the firewood burning fiercely below.

As the rice cooked in the pot, the water in the large pot boiled. She added the most important ingredient: ginseng.

“Jin Chao, bring the herbs from the room.”

Yan Xiaoyue had stored many herbs in the room, prepared last night. She intended to give them to Jin Chao today, hoping he’d consume them and leave sooner.

The moment Jin Chao left, she retrieved a jade box from her space.

Inside, a white lotus bloomed, translucent and beautiful.

“Ah, Xiaoxue, I need you again.”

This Qianshan Snow Lotus was nurtured by her spiritual spring water. She’d bought the house precisely because of this lotus.

Now, seeing the beautiful Qianshan Snow Lotus, she felt reluctant.

Yan Xiaoyue closed her eyes, plucked a petal, and quickly dropped it into the pot.

Closing the lid, she seemed to lessen the pain of loss.

Watching the murky liquid turn clear, Yan Xiaoyue’s eyes lit up.

After sending the “dog man” away, she would focus on her career. Saving money, she could find a beautiful place to retire, never worrying about hunger again.

How wonderful.

The thought of avenging the original owner furrowed her brow; it was exhausting.

She truly didn’t want revenge.

“What medicine do you need?”

Jin Chao appeared silently behind her, startling her. Seeing the dark liquid change color, his eyes flickered.

“Add this last herb, and you can go in. Eat first.”

Yan Xiaoyue served herself a bowl of fragrant rice. She’d also made some for Jin Jianshui, but since he’d left, Jin Chao finished it all.

Seeing the empty bowl of egg custard, she felt disheartened. She should have made more, knowing how much he ate.

Hadn’t he been full from the previous meal?

“Aren’t you going out?”

Jin Chao urged her, his gaze intense.

“Who’ll watch the fire if I go out?”

Yan Xiaoyue was speechless. She’d planned to have Jin Jianshui tend the fire. Now, the boy was nowhere to be found, not even finishing his meal.

“Oh.”

Jin Chao began to undress before her.

Yan Xiaoyue watched intently, his muscles firm, his lines elegant, surpassing any physique she’d seen in short videos.

Our Captain Jin was indeed strict with himself, maintaining his training even while injured.

“Seen enough?”

Jin Chao felt that the gazes behind him were becoming more and more presumptuous, and began to look at his pants unscrupulously.

“What are you staring at? Just keep your underwear on.”

Yan Xiaoyue urged. This was her reward; why shouldn’t she look? Humph, she would look.

A chance to openly admire a muscular man; only a fool wouldn’t cherish it.

Seeing her serious expression, Jin Chao calmly continued undressing. But after removing his pants, Yan Xiaoyue stopped him.

“Wait.”

She needed to check the water temperature. If it was too hot, she’d boil him alive, becoming a murderer.

Stepping forward, she touched the pot. It bubbled and steamed, but the temperature was only around 40 degrees Celsius.

“Go in.”

Turning around, she patted her chest, relieved she hadn’t messed up. Otherwise, it would have been utterly embarrassing.

Jin Chao stepped in, his entire body submerged.

Luckily, she hadn’t used too much water. Otherwise, with such a large person, the entire kitchen would be flooded.

Watching Jin Chao submerge, she pulled out a silver needle case—actually from her space.

“Jin Chao, it might be painful; bear with it.”

The leg nerves are connected to the whole body. This method would accelerate the healing of Jin Chao’s injuries.

The original owner didn’t know about her past life, and neither did she, but this man was righteous. For that alone, she would save him.

Even without feelings, having a powerful backer would be beneficial.

As she inserted the first needle, she saw Jin Chao’s muscles tense.

She stroked his back, softly saying, “Don’t be nervous, relax.”

Her gentle, soothing tone was reminiscent of her time as a volunteer teacher in a mountainous region. Children there cried easily, over small things, inconsolable.

Most of the children were left-behind children, their parents working elsewhere, only grandparents at home.

She’d felt sorry for them, using her meager teaching salary to buy them treats.

Later, when she had some money, she’d regularly send them things.

Looking at their impoverished homes, she understood her responsibility.

Having a space, she couldn’t simply give up. She had to make a difference, at least help those in need.