Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  By then, Xiao Jiu had finished his bottle of milk, and he was happily chewing on his pacifier. When he saw President Ba, the young boy kicked his empty bottle aside, clambering towards the black cat.

  He grabbed President Ba’s forelimbs and refused to let go, intent on playing with him.

  President Ba sheathed his claws, swiping at Xiao Jiu playfully.

  Ye Luo stood by the bed and did not stop President Ba – he would prove a sufficient distraction for the child while the Young Madam was washing up.

  Fortunately, President Ba was exceptionally intelligent for a cat and knew not to harm Xiao Jiu despite their rough play.

  President Ba was a stickler for hygiene, cleaning himself every day. He even rinsed his mouth at night, when everyone was asleep so that his mouth would always be squeaky clean the next day.

  The bathroom door slid open, and Qin Shu stepped out. She was not surprised to see Ye Luo in the room.

  While showering, she had heard President Ba’s unmistakable cry, which could only have been possible if Ye Luo was in the vicinity.

  Ye Luo greeted his Young Madam upon her exiting the bathroom. “I’ll go prepare breakfast,” he said, excusing himself in the process.

  Qin Shu smiled happily as Xiao Jiu played with President Ba. Picking up her phone, she called Fu Tingyu, excited beyond measure. She wanted to tell him as quickly as she could that Xiao Jiu was with her.

  The line beeped a few times before connecting. “Baby Yu, I’ve got Xiao Jiu. I’ll return to Jiangcheng first thing tomorrow morning.”


  “Did you climb Mount Qi alone?” Fu Tingyu asked.

  “That was the plan. Though…… I don’t know why Master carried me down afterwards.”


  Qin Shu finished her last sentence with some hesitation. She could not understand why her recluse of a Master would do such a thing.

  Doubt flashed in Fu Tingyu’s eyes, but he kept his thoughts on the matter to himself. “Did you get a chance to talk to Master?”


  Qin Shu sighed helplessly. “You know what Master is like – he’s as cold as an iceberg. He said very little if anything at all. Master refused to tell me how I got down the mountain of why I lost my memory. He said it was for my own good.”


  Fu Tingyu was silent for a time. “Then what are your plans?” he asked.

  “There must be a reason why Master refuses to tell me anything. I’m not sure why he thinks hiding it from me is best…… He must know the cause of my memory loss. Don’t worry. I don’t plan on pressuring Master for an answer; I’ll think of some other way to recover my memory instead.”


  “That’s for the best. I’m sure we’ll find some other means of achieving it.”


  “I’ll be back in Jiangcheng the day after tomorrow. Take care of yourself and Xiao Jiu.”


  “I will. You take care too.”


  Qin Shu ended the call, putting away her phone. President Ba and Xiao Jiu were rolling around on the bed. Being a baby, Xiao Jiu was quite flexible, and in a feat of gymnastics only a child of such a young age could possess, he grabbed hold of President Ba’s hindlegs, refusing to let go.

  Affectionately, she picked up Xiao Jiu, cradling him in her arms. “Xiao Jiu, stop teasing President Ba. It’s time for breakfast. Let’s go and have it together.”


  Xiao Jiu seemed to like President Ba very much. Despite being separated, he continued flailing his limbs, trying his best to grab hold of President Ba.

  “Meow!” President Ba meowed indignantly. He did not like being manhandled, let alone by a child the same size he was. With a flick of his tail, he hopped off the bed and matched his mistress’s stride.

  The food was ready and waiting by the time Qin Shu arrived. Ye Luo had been very efficient. He even made arrangements with a waiter for a baby chair.

  Qin Shu took her seat at the table once she was sure Xiao Jiu was seated comfortably in his baby chair. She could not wait to dig in.

  Xiao Jiu, who was already more than five months old, stared at Qin Shu with curious eyes. He seemed fascinated by the food his mother was eating.

  Yin Shi led Chao Yan to the dining area. When he saw Qin Shu and Xiao Jiu at the dining table, he whispered, “Master, Miss Qin and Xiao Jiu are eating at the table.”


  Chao Yan knew the layout of Fengyue Inn like the back of his hand. Judging by the sound, he turned in Qin Shu’s direction and said, “Let’s go and see her.”


  “Yes, Master.” Yin Shi led Chao Yan to the table where Qin Shu enjoyed her meal. He pulled out a chair for his Master and poured him a warm cup of white wine. Only then did he instruct a waiter to have breakfast served for his Master.

  Chao Yan picked up the cup of warm white wine and took a few sips before putting it down. “When do you plan to return to Jiangcheng?”


  Qin Shu looked up, noticing Chao Yan across her for the first time. She did not know when he had appeared, so engrossed as she was with her meal. “I’m heading back tomorrow morning.”


  Chao Yan expected as much. “Don’t you plan to do any sightseeing? I know you’ve stayed here before, but have you seen all its sights?”


  Qin Shu took in her surroundings with a sigh. “Feng Yue sits below Mount Qi. I lived here for almost four years. It’s more like a house call than a tourist attraction. I-I don’t remember everything just yet, and staying for another day or two is going to do much for me. So, no. I’m not planning on staying longer.”


  She took a deep breath and continued more slowly, “I want to know my past. I want to know what we were like back then.”


  “Are you merely curious, or do you truly desire to know the truth?” Something about Chao Yan’s question weighed heavily in the air, though it was only for a split second.

  Qin Shu took a bite out of her fried dumplings, her eyes glued on Chao Yan opposite her. It was obvious to anyone who looked that she was deep in thought.

  At this time, Yin Shi returned with his Master’s breakfast. He set the table just as he usually did, placing the cutlery and dishes in their respective positions. “Master, breakfast is ready.”


  Yin Shi retreated to the side, awaiting further instructions once he had completed his task.

  Chao Yan picked up his cutlery and ate slowly.

  The scene reminded Qin Shu of their first meeting. She recalled her surprise when she learned he was blind and how it had transformed into astoundment when she saw him eating without any difficulty. Although Chao Yan waved it off as muscle memory and the use of habit, it did not detract from his accomplishment, overcoming his physical impairment.

  She could not help but ask, “I didn’t promise to be your girlfriend or anything now, did I?”


  Even now, the promise she had made Han Xiao gnawed at her conscience. She prayed she was not some lovestruck fool who made pacts with others willy-nilly. That would be…… unfortunate.

  Thinking of the things Chao Yan had done for her in the past, Qin Shu’s thoughts naturally took that turn. Why else would he treat her so well?

  Not only did she owe Han Xiao, but she also owed this person in front of her.

  Chao Yan nearly spat out the crispy golden spring he was on the verge of swallowing when he heard Qin Shu’s question. It took him a great force of will to control his reaction and hide his surprise with a choked laugh.

  Although he had suppressed his laughter to the best of his ability, it still came out as a muffled chuckle. Naturally, Qin Shu, as the target of ridicule, caught wind of Chao Yan’s laughter at her expense.

  Chao Yan and Han Xiao’s personalities were like night and day.

  Han Xiao was the sort to keep his thoughts to himself. He was cold and aloof, appearing more so when he had nothing he wished to say.

  Chao Yan was the opposite. He was frank and forthright, saying whatever he felt like saying, wearing his heart on his sleeve.

  The fact that she did not know what he wanted out of her was terrifying.

  “.……” Yin Shi closed his eyes in embarrassment.

  “.……” Ye Luo debated whether he ought to report this piece of information to the Fourth Young Master.

  It took a while, but Chao Yan eventually curbed his giggling fit. “Why would you ask me a question like that?”


  “I just wanted to confirm something.” Qin Shu pointedly replied.

  A smile lit up Chao Yan’s face, “Don’t you know what kind of person you are?”


  Qin Shu thought carefully about the meaning of his words. She did not believe she was a nymphomaniac when she was young.

  She was different from the man in front of her and Han Xiao.

  As for Han Xiao……

  Before she recovered her memory, she had no way of knowing what kind of person she had been in the past.

  Nevertheless, her mood was greatly improved when she ascertained no words of that nature had passed her lips, and she continued eating her breakfast contentedly.

  Chao Yan could not see her expression, but he knew she had resumed eating.

  Almost casually, Chao Yan continued, “You never did profess your undying love for me, but you did not fulfil the promise you made me.”


  Qin Shu, whose mood had improved, suddenly heard this sentence…… She paused, eyeing Chao Yan doubtfully. “What did I promise you?”