Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  The pitiful way Chao Yan spoke made it sound like he had suffered a great wrong.

  Qin Shu knew Chao Yan’s temperament. Being the way he was, how could he not show his dissatisfaction when he felt wronged? It made her feel a little guilty. Still, why should she feel guilty if she could not remember the past? It was a strange contradiction she could not answer.

  If she had promised him something, she should remember something of the promise she made. The problem was: she could not remember. Qin Shu was, if nothing else, someone who took her word seriously. She would not make a promise she could not keep.

  Why then did she feel guilty?

  Chao Yan smiled that enigmatic smile of his, “If you treat me better, I will let bygones be bygones.”


  Qin Shu was caught flatfooted. Her lips drew a thin line, no reply being forthcoming. She knew Chao Yan was up to something – some ploy to guilt-trip her into treating him better – yet there was nothing she could do but play along. There were still things she needed Chao Yan’s help with, and who’s to say she never made such a promise to him in the past?

  She bowed her head and continued eating her breakfast. It was bland.

  She only ate a few mouthfuls before putting down her chopsticks and calling for the waiter to take away the half-eaten plates of food.

  Qin Shu lifted Xiao Jiu out of his baby chair, rocking him back and forth, teasing him.

  Children are simple-minded. They find amusement in the simplest actions, laughing and gurgling at the silliest things.

  Chao Yan heard Xiao Jiu’s childish giggles and tilted his head, listening to the wonderful innocence filling it.

  Qin Shu noticed Chao Yan’s attention and thought of the matter she had mentioned before climbing up the mountain. “Would you like to hold Xiao Jiu?” she asked.

  Chao Yan nodded. “Yes, I would.”


  Qin Shu carried Xiao Jiu over to Chao Yan. “Xiao Jiu, this is your uncle. Be good, alright? Uncle wants to carry you for a while.”


  As she spoke, she placed Xiao Jiu into Chao Yan’s arms and waited for him to get a firm hold over Xiao Jiu before letting go.

  Chao Yan kept a firm hold on Xiao Jiu. It would not do to be careless. He needed to take every precaution necessary since he could not see him.

  Xiao Jiu did not cry or make a fuss while in the arms of a stranger. He was surprisingly well-behaved, quietly appraising the man in whose arms he was being held.

  “Xiao Jiu is such a good child. He isn’t making a fuss despite me carrying him.”


  “Xiao Jiu may be young and naive, but he’s very smart.” Qin Shu remarked, watching the byplay from the side. The five months since she last saw her child had done much to change his features. Her son looked more like Fu Tingyu by the day. Everything from the shape of his eyes to the arch of his brows reminded her of him. He was shaping up to be quite the cute miniature of her husband.

  Chao Yan grinned and said, “That’s true. With two highly intelligent parents as his father and mother, there can be no doubting his intelligence. I’m sure Xiao Jiu will surpass his father in time.”


  Xiao Jiu stared at Chao Yan intently, curiosity burning in his dark eyes. Perhaps he felt no ill will from the man holding him, so when an opportunity arose, he waved his arms, trying to grab at Chao Yan’s gauze wrapped eyes.

  Chao Yan felt the little tyke’s hands reaching for the gauze around his eyes, those cute, chubby arms doing their best to grab ahold of the elusive material inspiring his interest. It was endearing. Chao Yan could not help but laugh.

  Unfortunately, Xiao Jiu, being the child he was, did not have enough strength to yank the white gauze off of Chao Yan’s face, even though he tugged at the fabric several times. Nevertheless, it did not stop him from trying.

  Qin Shu watched Chao Yan and Xiao Jiu’s interaction with keen eyes. An inexplicable desire bubbled up from deep within her. If Xiao Jiu managed to tug free the gauze covering the greater portion of Chao Yan’s face, she would finally get the chance to see what he looked like without it. Qin Shu cheered for Xiao Jiu from the depths of her heart. She went so far as to make a silent promise of giving him candy if he pulled off the heist successfully.

  It dawned on her then that her son still could not savour the wonders of candy. He was not old enough yet!

  Instead, she changed the object of her promise. So long as Xiao Jiu succeeded, she would buy him a new toy.

  To Qin Shu’s dismay, her son’s small hands were as ineffectual as a fly trying to move a mountain. His chubby arms flailed left and right, swatting nothing but the air around Chao Yan’s face, failing to tear even a small bit off.

  Yin Shi gleefully recorded the entire scene on his phone.

  –


  It was snowing outside and a biting chill hung in the air. Xiao Jiu was still young. It was easy for a child his age to get frostbite or hypothermia if not kept sufficiently warm.

  Qin Shu hose to stay indoors with Xiao Jiu for the rest of the day.

  Xiao Jiu spent most of his time playing with Chao Yan. Despite his lack of sight, Chao Yan was a competent companion who managed to keep up with the energetic young boy throughout his various escapades.

  Naturally, Xiao Jiu was happy to have another playmate.

  Even President Ba joined in on the fun by ferrying toys back and forth between Chao Yan and Xiao Jiu.

  It brought a smile to Qin Shu’s lips. Watching her son play with Chao Yan was happiness in and of itself. As she observed Chao Yan and Xiao Jiu, Qin Shu soon realised that adults were not so different from children. This newfound perspective was enlightening, and for once, she felt like she could cast aside her worries and fears if she only took a moment to enjoy the simple things in life.

  Tomorrow, they would take a plane back to Jiangcheng.

  Qin Shu woke at the crack of dawn. She did not have much on hand, and everything was packed and ready to go after a short while. Ye Luo carried her luggage for her.

  With Xiao Jiu in her arms, she walked downstairs.

  When she arrived at the main hall, she was stunned to see Chao Yan sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed as if he had been waiting there for some time.

  Yin Shi stood by his master’s side. The moment he saw her, he whispered in his master’s ear.

  Chao Yan got up and walked over.

  Before Qin Shu could say anything, Chao Yan cut in and said, “I’ll send you to the airport.”


  Qin Shu had wanted to decline politely, but that went out the window as soon as Xiao Jiu tried to hug him. Xiao Jiu leaned so far forward that she would have had to be blind not to notice what he was trying to do.

  Children are like that. As long as one is willing to spend time with them, patiently familiarising oneself with their likes and dislikes, they eventually grow attached.

  In the end, two small hands found their way around Chao Yan’s collar, tugging at them playfully. It was obvious Xiao Jiu wanted a hug from Chao Yan.

  “Let me hug Xiao Jiu for a while,” he said.

  “Okay.”


  Xiao Jiu only let go after Chao Yan had hugged him.

  “Let’s get in the car.” Chao Yan carried Xiao Jiu and walked out of the inn, Yin Shi leading.

  –


  An hour later, at the airport……

  Chao Yan was a little reluctant to part with Xiao Jiu. After saying a few words to him, he passed Xiao Jiu to Qin Shu.

  Qin Shu carried Xiao Jiu and waved at Chao Yan using his small hand. “Say goodbye to your Uncle.”


  Chao Yan smiled, returning the gesture. “Goodbye.”


  Qin Shu bade Chao Yan farewell, then turned around and walked towards the ticket gate with Xiao Jiu in her arms.

  When the plane took off, Chao Yan was standing outside the airport, listening to the roar of the engines as they awakened from their slumber.

  “Meeting her once again makes me feel like I haven’t met her at all.”


  Yin Shi regarded his master in solemn silence, feeling the immeasurable sorrow in his master’s words.

  –


  Jiangcheng……

  Ning Meng was the most excited person to see Xiao Jiu again upon his return. She cradled him in her arms like he was the most precious thing in the world to her. If it were not for how late it was, she would have continued hugging Xiao Jiu.

  Qin Shu was tired after a day of flying. She slept until eight o’clock the next day.

  It was a phone call that woke her.

  She rubbed her eyes and picked up the phone. A female voice sounded in her ear, “Ling Bao, Ling Yan is in trouble.”


  The familiar voice and style of address could only mean it was Yan Shuang on the line with her.

  Fu Tingyu was in trouble?

  She bolted upright. “What did you say just now? What’s happened to Fu Tingyu?”


  “I can’t explain the situation clearly in one or two sentences. You’d best come over.” Yan Shuang inhaled deeply before continuing, “You have to be mentally prepared, and you must have faith in Ling Yan. I’ll go through everything in detail when you arrive.”


  Qin Shu did not know how to respond and could only listen mutely. Why did she have to prepare herself mentally? What was going on?

  By the time she found her voice again, Yan Shuang had already hung up. There was no time for hesitation. Qin Shu dressed as swiftly as she could and instructed Ye Luo to have a plane ticket ready for her immediately. She was heading for North Star.

  Ye Luo did not know what was going on, but he knew that the Fourth Young Master was currently in North Star, so he quickly booked a plane ticket as Qin Shu told him to.

  Before Qin Shu went out, she told Ning Meng to take care of Xiao Jiu, then rushed out of the door.

  From the car to the airport to the plane’s boarding, Qin Shu was extremely nervous all the way.

  She called Fu Tingyu’s cell phone on the way, but it was turned off.

  Then, she called Shi Yan’s cell phone number.

  After she dialled, the first thing she said was, “What’s wrong with him?”