Chapter 61: Possession

Xue Ao was frustrated beyond measure; every time he tried to speak, he was interrupted. Was this heaven punishing him? Yet he believed himself upright and blameless, and even when he resorted to schemes, he never harmed others—naturally, those who deserved it were not counted among “others.” No, he had to speak plainly with her today; if he didn’t, what if Jin Ling stole her away?

“Chuchu, do you remember being kidnapped when you were five?”

Liu Chuyan only heard Liu Guanjiu call Xue Tan over, startling her so much she nearly jumped down. If he saw her now, her reputation would be ruined. Xue Tan would surely think she was a fickle woman—first entangling him, then provoking Jin Ling, and now unclear with Xue Ao. “Second Master Xue, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please let go of me so I may go down.”

Seeing her unwilling to listen, Xue Ao’s face darkened. Yet, seeing her panic-stricken expression, he doubted she was truly so bold. He glanced at her sideways and loosened his grip just slightly. “Are you brave enough to go down yourself?”

With her support gone, Liu Chuyan felt like a vine torn from its tree, collapsing onto the high platform.

Xue Ao laughed heartily, hurried to help her up, and held her waist tightly.

Liu Chuyan instinctively clung to his shoulder, not daring to let go or open her eyes, tears glittering like raindrops on a pear blossom.

“Zisheng, what are you two doing?” While they struggled, Xue Tan had arrived at the platform below, looking up in surprise, his handsome brows furrowed.

“We have something to discuss. Brother, please wait outside for a while,” Xue Ao answered without hesitation.

“But it seems Miss Liu is rather unwell. Don’t force her too much.”

“I know.” Xue Ao truly did know, but once she was free, she wouldn’t listen properly, so he resorted to this shameful method.

Xue Tan, helpless, spread his hands. “Zisheng, the Zhao family has sent Zhao Jiali to the residence of His Excellency Nine Thousand.”

“What?” Xue Ao was startled. “The Zhao family intends to sacrifice their daughter to curry favor with Nine Thousand. If he gets involved, things will be difficult. If he turns everything upside down… how despicable!” As he spoke, Xue Ao carried Liu Chuyan down, calling for Song Ling to help her.

Liu Guanjiu saw Liu Chuyan’s palms were sweaty and her face pale, feeling both guilty and sympathetic, so she remained silent.

“Zisheng, you’d better hurry and check. I heard you stayed at the Han residence all morning, didn’t even return for lunch. What are you up to?” Xue Tan glanced at Liu Chuyan, then fixed his gaze on Xue Ao, looking utterly exasperated.

“I had important matters, so naturally I couldn’t return home,” Xue Ao replied briskly, as if it were only logical.

“Fine, I won’t ask what you’re doing. Just, finish your business quickly. If you mess it up now, all previous efforts will be wasted.” Xue Tan frowned slightly.

Xue Ao looked at Liu Chuyan, feeling especially troubled, and pouted. “Brother, how come you have the leisure to come in person today?”

“Wow, that’s sour,” Liu Guanjiu suddenly chimed in, clicking her tongue and grinning mischievously.

“Too much talking!” Xue Ao tapped her on the back of her head, admonishing her.

Xue Tan merely curled his lips before speaking seriously. “This is a matter of great importance; I happened to learn of it. If I sent someone else, I wouldn’t be at ease, and I fear you wouldn’t take it seriously. That’s why I came myself. But you and Miss Liu…”

“Brother, Chuchu is mine; you can’t take her from me!” Xue Ao knew the case of Zhao Panyu was urgent, but he truly feared Liu Chuyan might be stolen away. Watching the ambiguous expression on Xue Tan’s face, his sense of crisis deepened. He grabbed Liu Chuyan’s wrist, asserting his claim, “Brother, I’ve always let you have your way since childhood, but Chuchu is mine—I won’t give her to you.”

“Oh.” Xue Tan’s expression cooled, his thoughts inscrutable. After a moment’s silence, he allowed his page to wheel him away.

Xue Ao watched him leave and breathed a sigh of relief, yet his heart still raced. He and Liu Chuyan had too many entanglements, especially after what happened in the palace. Who knew if his brother had already taken a fancy to his Chuchu? Would the two brothers fight? Still, Xue Tan could never beat him, so there was no need to worry.

“Ao Brother, what does ‘oh’ mean?” Liu Guanjiu, acting like a little adult, rubbed her chin and delivered another blow.

What did ‘oh’ mean? It was neither denial nor acceptance—proof that his worries weren’t unfounded. Xue Ao cursed inwardly.

“Too much talking!” Xue Ao scolded her again, poking her forehead. “Guanjiu, if you keep talking so much, you’ll never get married!”

“I don’t need to marry; I’ll take in a husband,” Liu Guanjiu giggled.

“You won’t find a man for that either.” Xue Ao really locked horns with her, glaring.

“I’ve already found one—I just have to wait until he grows up.”

“You found a man at your age?” Xue Ao was so surprised his jaw nearly dropped.

“No, he’s still a boy, but in the future, he’ll be stronger, more handsome, and more impressive than you—a true man! He won’t bully Sister Chuyan like you. If I’d known you’d scare her so badly, I wouldn’t have helped you.”

“How did you help me?”

“I realized helping you was bad for Sister Chuyan, so I helped Brother Tan instead. Too bad Brother Tan wasn’t decisive enough.” Liu Guanjiu shook her head and sighed.

While the two bickered, Liu Chuyan fell deep into thought, entirely unaware her wrist was still held by Xue Ao. He’d mentioned the kidnapping when she was five—she’d heard correctly, hadn’t she? Ten years ago, her parents were alive, and the case was resolved quickly. Though traumatized, she recovered in a few days, and it had little impact locally. Few remembered it now. Even her great-aunt was never told, so she didn’t know. How did Xue Ao find out?

Could it have been Brother Jun Cheng who told him?

Unlikely—if Jun Cheng had told him, Jin Ling should have recognized her in the General’s residence, but he looked at her as a stranger. That couldn’t be.

This matter was truly strange.

“Chuchu.” Xue Ao patted her cheek, but she remained lost in thought, unwilling to return to herself. His mind was also occupied with Zhao Panyu’s case—he couldn’t delay further. So he pressed her head gently toward him and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Chuchu, I’ll tell you all about it when I return. Give me two days.”

Song Ling knew Second Master Xue was deeply attached to her cousin, but such unrestrained affection was something she’d never seen before. She could only bow her head and pretend not to notice.

“Song Ling, take good care of her. Don’t let any other man near her—especially Young Master Jin.”

“Yes.” Song Ling, having benefited from his generosity, readily agreed to his instructions.

“Sister Chuyan, why does Ao Brother call you Chuchu?” Liu Guanjiu watched Xue Ao leap over the wall and leave, then turned to see Liu Chuyan still distracted, shaking her arm. “Sister Chuyan, Sister Chuyan!”

“Ah?” Liu Chuyan awoke as if from a dream, looking confused.

“Sister Chuyan, why does Ao Brother call you Chuchu?” Liu Guanjiu narrowed her eyes, looking like a mischievous cat.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Liu Chuyan’s heart was a tangled mess, unwilling to answer. She pulled Liu Guanjiu along toward Qingxin Residence. At a time like this, the matter of dividing the household must be finished. They’d have to move in the next day or two, but the second branch’s new quarters were still undecided. What were their plans? She and her great-aunt would move with them, so she cared about this especially.

Liu Guanjiu didn’t know why she avoided the question, but she refused to give up until she pried an answer. “Is Chuchu your childhood name? Like mine is Sese?”

“Your childhood name is Sese?” Liu Chuyan was momentarily stunned, then her brows arched and she smiled radiantly.

Whenever she told others her childhood name, she always wore this expression. Of course, Liu Guanjiu understood what she was thinking and pouted. “It’s the ‘se’ from ‘qinse’—zither and harp. But I don’t allow my parents to call me that; it sounds awful. But if you tell me the story of ‘Chuchu,’ I’ll let you call me Sese.”

That should be a tempting exchange, Liu Guanjiu thought, but Liu Chuyan only smiled, refusing to let her pry further. She changed the subject: “Guanjiu, the Han residence is dividing the household, and I have to pack my things. In two days, I’ll have to move. I’m afraid I won’t have time to entertain you today. I’ll have someone escort you home soon, all right?”

“You’re driving me away?” Liu Guanjiu’s little face fell, lips pouting, ready to cry.

“I’m not driving you away, but there’s much to do here, and I really can’t spare the attention to look after you. When we’re settled, I’ll invite you over every day to play, and I’ll keep you company—will that do?”

“No,” Liu Guanjiu refused flatly.

“Guanjiu, Miss Liu.” It was Zhou Fuyun, coming out from the west wing, apparently ready to head home. Seeing Liu Chuyan and the others, he hid something behind his back.

Liu Chuyan’s sharp eyes recognized it as a sachet, embroidered by Han Shujing. So the two had already exchanged gifts in private. She’d worried about Han Shujing for nothing.

Liu Chuyan pursed her lips but said nothing more, greeting him politely, though a bit shyly. “Master Zhou, would you mind escorting Guanjiu back to the General’s residence for me? With things so busy here at Wukang Marquis’s estate, I’m afraid I can’t look after her properly.”

“All right. My Su Su is still at the General’s residence, so I can bring her back as well.”

Liu Guanjiu was reluctant to leave, but her eyes lit up at the mention of Zhou Ruosu. “Su Su is still at my house? Can she stay tonight and sleep with me?” Zhou Fuyun looked troubled, but Liu Guanjiu didn’t wait for his answer and continued, “If you don’t let her stay, I won’t go home—I’ll cling to Sister Chuyan. Hmph—”

“This…” Liu Chuyan hesitated; she couldn’t let Zhou Fuyun be put in a difficult position for her own sake.

Zhou Fuyun quickly waved his hand. “Miss Liu, don’t worry. I’ll take Guanjiu back to the General’s residence. As for Su Su, since she and Guanjiu haven’t seen each other in a while, let them play together for a couple of days.”

“Thank you, Master Zhou.” Liu Chuyan entrusted Guanjiu to him and went to find Old Madam Han. As expected, they were already packing. Though the bedding was still out, the treasures, cabinets, and bookshelves had all been packed into wooden chests.

“Chuyan, why are you still here? Hurry back and pack! We have to finish by tomorrow, so we can move the day after.” Old Madam Han glanced at her while sorting jewelry in her dressing box, smiling.

Seeing her so cheerful, Liu Chuyan smiled as well. “Great-aunt, you said we’d move the day after tomorrow—have you found a place?”

“It’s settled. Don’t worry. When we move, I guarantee it’ll be better and bigger than your current courtyard. And I heard one of the courtyards has several magnolia trees and is called ‘Nianchu Pavilion.’ Isn’t magnolia your favorite flower? I’ve already reserved that courtyard for you. Though it’s a bit secluded, I’m afraid you’ll be lonely, so I plan to add a swing for you to play on.”

Magnolia trees, Nianchu Pavilion?

Was it coincidence, or was it planned?

Liu Chuyan felt no joy upon hearing this, her lips pressed tight. “Who owned that courtyard originally? It sounds wonderful.”

“Oh, it was the Jin family’s, part of Lady Xue’s dowry, right next to the Duke of Xinguo’s mansion. Hearing we had nowhere to live, they sold it cheaply to your second uncle.” Old Madam Han made no secret of it, her expression kind and honest.

“Was it Second Master Xue’s idea?” Liu Chuyan hesitated for a long time before finally asking.

Author’s note:

Lately, the wind of censorship is sweeping everywhere. Even “Settling Down” has been caught in the crossfire! The title was censored and changed to what it is now!

Though the style is vastly different—from “Reborn: Serving Others with Beauty” to “The Overbearing Male Lead [Reborn]”—yes, it’s still me!

Awo awo awo!

Do you still recognize me? Even if you don’t, you must recognize a certain overbearing, arrogant, trouble-making character! Mwah ╭(╯3╰)╮

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