Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  A step behind Ziqing, Jiu Yan immediately recognized the blindfolded man blocking the way. It was the youth who lived at the foot of the mountain, in Zhe Yan village, those many years past.

  North-south of Mount Qi was a village called Zhe Yan. It had a history spanning a hundred years.

  For a long time, that village remained deserted. One day, a youth of several summers settled in the abandoned town. The man with white gauze covering his eyes was precisely that man.

  Back then, Jiu Yan recalled informing his Master of this new development. His Master’s response had been lukewarm, and thus he let the matter go.

  Jiu Yan could not fathom what the youth – now a man – was he trying to do.

  Ziqing merely glanced at him, and his voice was clear and cold. “You know Xiao Bao.”


  Judging by the fact that the man knew Qin Shu by her nickname and the oppressive weight to his words, Chao Yan was fairly certain he knew who the man was. “I know her. You are her Master, aren’t you?”


  “What’s it to you?” The man retorted curtly.

  Although the man had not admitted it directly, there was no doubt in Chao Yan’s mind that he was speaking to Qin Shu’s Master.

  He would be lying if he said he was stronger than Qin Shu’s Master. Indeed, he could sense the difference in their strength quite keenly, but it did not mean he feared him either. “I wish to make a deal with you. Are you interested?”


  “I don’t need any deal.” The man ignored Chao Yan and continued walking with Qin Shu in his arms.

  Chao Yan was not surprised he had been given the cold shoulder. It seemed the man’s reaction was well within his expectations. “What would you do if I said I know the reason for her amnesia?”


  A person is only as strong as their weakest link. No one is invulnerable, no matter how they make themselves out to be; that was Chao Yan’s belief.

  The man paused midstride, giving Chao Yan a long, hard look before heading for the second floor.

  When Jiu Yan walked past, he gave Chao Yan a long look. It was his first time meeting someone who had the nerve to provoke his Master.

  His Master had disappeared upstairs by then, so he hurried to catch up.

  The pressure disappeared as soon as the man left, and the hall returned to its previous silence.

  Chao Yan felt a fishy sweetness in his throat as if his heart had been gripped in a vice. It was suffocating. His pale complexion took on a sickly hue.

  Yin Shi sensed something was wrong and quickly stepped forward to support him. “Master.”


  Chao Yan swallowed the fishy sweetness in his throat. “Let’s go back to the guest room.”


  Yin Shi did not tarry. He supported his Master and helped him back to his room on the second floor……

  As the sky brightened, a ray of light pierced through a gap in the curtains.

  Qin Shu felt she had slept for a long time. When she opened her eyes, a feeling of bloatedness overcame her. It made her lightheaded and more than a little uncomfortable.

  She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and found a person sitting on the bed with her. It was a handsome man of extraordinary temperament, a figure straight out of a painting.

  All she remembered was climbing up the mountain…… a sudden flux of images bombarded her mind, yet she could not grab ahold of any of them. It was like she was trying to scoop up air.

  “You’re awake.” The man said, his voice ringing cold and clear.

  Qin Shu looked at him in confusion. “Yes, and you are?”


  “I’m your master.”


  “Oh. Master……”
……

  Master?

  Qin Shu jolted upright, staring at the man in disbelief. Immediately, she scanned her surroundings. They were in her room. With some hesitation, she asked, “If you’re my Master, then what about Xiao Jiu?”


  “Xiao Jiu is sleeping next door.” The man replied.

  Qin Shu heaved a sigh of relief. “Did you bring me back to the inn?”


  “Yes, I did.”


  “What happened yesterday? I remember I going up the mountain, but nothing of what transpired afterwards……”


  The man did not answer her. Instead, he said, “I’ve saved my number in your phone.”


  Qin Shu picked up her phone, scrolling down her list of contacts. At the very bottom was her Master’s contact details.

  She heaved a sigh of relief. It would be much easier to contact her Master in the future with his number.

  She looked up at the man, her Master, wanting to say something but hesitated.

  “You have a lot of questions for me now, haven’t you?” The man spoke without any inflexions in his voice.

  Qin Shu was glad her Master was the first to broach the topic. “Yes, I have a lot of questions to ask you, Master.” She nodded in affirmation.

  “I, too, have questions. Unfortunately, I have no answers.” The man looked his disciple in the eye and said, “I have no answers save one.”


  Excitedly, Qin Shu asked, “What can Master tell me?”


  “Some things, Xiao Bao…… Some things are best left unknown. Ignorance is bliss.” The man responded by way of an answer.

  Qin Shu was left speechless. It was obvious, to her, how much her Master knew. Yet, there was nothing she could do if he refused to reveal the truth of her memory loss. No. There was still away; there had to be.

  While there was a will, there was a way. She would recover her memories herself if it came to it.

  She would know the truth, one way or another.

  She looked up at the handsome man in front of her and sighed. His youthful looks contrasted greatly with the experience reflected in his eyes.

  “If Master does not wish to talk about it, then don’t.” Qin Shu threw open the covers and got out of bed, slipping on her slippers as she did so.

  Qin Shu’s tepid reaction was not something the man had expected. So much so, he could not help but stare.

  Working out the kinks in her sore limbs did wonders for her circulation. She felt much more comfortable now. Smiling, Qin Shu asked, “Don’t you find Xiao Jiu annoying? He’s so noisy.”


  The man looked at her for a while but did not see anything suspicious. “No.”


  Qin Shu was a little surprised. “It seems Master has a good temper. He doesn’t think Xiao Jiu is rowdy at all.”


  “He’s cute.” The man stood up, ready to leave.

  If she had thought her Master was tall while seated, then it was nothing compared to his towering height when he stood up. Now that she had a better look, he was very likely taller than even Fu Tingyu.

  “If you need anything, call me. There’s no need for you to come to Mount Qi.” The man said.

  “Okay. If Master misses Xiao Jiu, you can visit him in Jiangcheng.”


  “Alright, be careful on your way.” The man left once he had said his piece.

  Qin Shu shrugged helplessly. It was time for her to focus on finding a way to recover her memory.

  Not long after, Jiu Yan entered with Xiao Jiu in his arms. “Xiao Jiu just woke up. Here are his milk bottles and pull-up pants.”


  He placed Xiao Jiu’s bottle bag on the table at the side as he spoke.

  Qin Shu was not paying attention to what Jiu Yan was saying. Her gaze was fixed on Xiao Jiu. After not seeing him for a month, the little fellow had grown a little. His pair of pitch-black eyes stared right back at her. Perhaps it was because he had not seen her for a long time, so there was a curious light in his eyes.

  “Xiao Jiu, Mommy’s missed you so much.” She could not wait to step forward and hold Xiao Jiu in her arms. She noticed Xiao Jiu staring at her. “Don’t you recognize Mommy?”


  Although they had not seen each other for a month and Xiao Jiu most likely did not remember her, Qin Shu did not cry or make a fuss. Instead, she stared at her child for a long time, a smile brightening her features.

  Qin Shu’s heart melted.

  Seeing this, Jiu Yan quietly excused himself.

  Qin Shu played with Xiao Jiu and even prepared his milk bottle together. While he sat on the bed drinking his milk, Qin Shu went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

  Ye Luo entered the guest room carrying President Ba in his arms. The Young Madam must have returned if the door was ajar. His reasoning rang true when he saw Xiao Jiu rolling on the bed drinking from his milk bottle. Xiao Jiu eyed the curious pair who entered the room with black eyes.

  The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Qin Shu was washing up.

  President Ba hissed and kicked, leaping out of Ye Luo’s arms and quickly ran to the bed where he happily pounced onto the fluffy mattress. It all occurred in a smooth, practised motion.

  “Meow” President Ba meowed at Xiao Jiu…… He strolled towards Xiao Jiu with feline grace, raising his forepaws and digging into the baby boy’s hands as if to say hello.