You're Just Too Bored

Compared with the Three-Part Fragrance Pavilions that had made a name for themselves in the great kingdoms and famous cities, the branch in Maple Forest City was probably insignificant. But anyone who had seen Miao Yu would never say that.

Fang Zehou was one of the current leaders of the Fang Family. He was Fang Heling's birth father and Fang Pengju's uncle. A man who had traveled far and wide and seen much of the world, he had even opened up a trade route to the Cloud Kingdom on his own. With both ability and reputation, he was all but certain to become the Fang Family's next patriarch. And a man like that was utterly infatuated with Miss Miao Yu. Every time he returned from a trading trip, his first stop was the Three-Part Fragrance Pavilion, where he could enjoy himself.

There were countless such stories. Fang Zehou wasn't the first important man to fall at Miao Yu's feet, nor would he be the last.

And Zhao Rucheng, a man who loved flowers and flirted with women, was among them. Ever since he'd heard of Miao Yu's beauty, he'd spent money like water, practically making the Three-Part Fragrance Pavilion his home. He was determined to have her, or die trying.

"That's impossible," Zhao Rucheng said calmly. "No woman who refuses to see me has ever been born."

He added silently, Jiang An'an doesn't count as a woman, of course. She's just a little kid.

Miao Yu gave a slight nod, as if agreeing. "It's true. Young Master Zhao is exceptionally handsome, and exceptionally generous. You're capable, come from a good family, and have a bright future. Your heart is as clever as a finely carved jade, and your words are sweet as honey. What woman could resist you?"

"But..." As she said the word, a hint of sorrow surfaced between her brows, making everyone ache to wipe it away. "But you don't like me enough..."

As if Zhao Rucheng's inadequate affection was what saddened her.

"Heh heh heh..."

A lewd, jarringly out-of-place laugh shattered the atmosphere.

Huang Azhan had apparently woken up at some point, though the drunkenness hadn't completely worn off. Now he was propping his chin on his hand, staring dreamily at Miss Miao Yu. "Heh heh heh..."

It was obvious what he was thinking.

Jiang Wang covered his face and said nothing. He'd recognized Miao Yu as the Red-Robed Woman he'd bumped into earlier, but in a place like this, he had no say in anything.

Du Yehu was already reaching to drag Huang Azhan outside and kill him, so they wouldn't all be disgraced again. He was wondering whether it was worth carrying a murder charge with him before joining the army.

"How can you say I don't like you enough?" Only Zhao Rucheng managed to be shameless without losing his composure. Calm as ever, he acted as if he didn't know Huang Azhan at all, the seasoned rake through and through. "I've never pursued a woman for this long. Ever since I met Miss Miao Yu, I've spent more time at the Three-Part Fragrance Pavilion than at the City Daoist Academy. My love is overflowing. It's almost flooded this whole place."

He rose from his seat and glided toward Miao Yu.

"Here." He pressed a hand to his heart.

It had to be said: with the scene, the moment, and such a handsome young man before her, even the madam, who had weathered every storm in her life, felt lightheaded and found her heart difficult to restrain.

But Miao Yu stopped him with a single sentence—

"You don't really like me. You're just too bored."

The charming smile on Zhao Rucheng's face faded. He halted and went no farther.

"I really don't like you anymore," he said. "I hate women who are too clever."

Jiang Wang had always known that Zhao Rucheng hated trouble and took almost everything in stride. There didn't seem to be much he cared about. Drifting along and taking each day as it came was his life motto.

He spent money like water and wasted his time. Just as he squandered his money, he squandered his talent. But that was his business, and nobody had the right to interfere.

So Jiang Wang could understand the casual way Zhao Rucheng tossed around words like "like" and "don't like."

Still, talking about whether you liked someone in a brothel was a joke in itself.

"Come on, let's go home. I still have to cook for An'an," Jiang Wang said as he got up.

"Third Brother." Zhao Rucheng looked at him earnestly. "Can we take some food home instead? Don't cook."

Du Yehu nodded solemnly from the side, still shaken. "An'an's just a kid."

"..." Jiang Wang's face darkened. "Are we going or not?"

"Let's go, let's go."

Du Yehu hoisted Huang Azhan up, ignoring his struggling, drunken giggles, and the whole group scattered.

Miao Yu watched them leave with a smiling face and said nothing.

But with a delicate twist of her fingers, a tiny white pellet she'd prepared in advance slipped onto Jiang Wang's back without anyone noticing.

Then it seeped inside.

Du Yehu took his drunken friend away, and Young Master Zhao naturally returned to his residence to rest. Jiang Wang went alone to the Dao Academy dormitory to pick up An'an.

When he met Jiang An'an, she was clearly in a bad mood, her little mouth puffed out as she sulked over something.

"What's wrong, my little An'an?" Jiang Wang asked with a warm, kindly smile.

"Nothing," Jiang An'an said, pouting.

"That's good." Jiang Wang beckoned. "Let's go home."

"..." Jiang An'an was stunned. Was he really not going to ask anything else or show her a little more concern?

Ling He didn't try to keep them there. He only waved. "Goodbye, An'an."

Jiang Wang understood. His big brother had probably been eager to cultivate for a while, but had held back because he needed to look after Jiang An'an. His talent wasn't the best, but his diligence certainly was.

"Goodbye, Brother Ling He." Jiang An'an wasn't very happy, but she still had basic manners.

"Oh, right." Just before leaving, Jiang Wang said casually, "We transferred all our Dao Merit to you. If you pool it together, you should be close to having enough for a Vein-Opening Pill. Keep at it and exchange for one soon."

Ling He was silent for a while before saying, "You should've given it to Rucheng first. He's the youngest, and he has the best talent. It shouldn't go to waste."

"He's not interested," Jiang Wang explained, taking care of everything at once. "And Brother Hu plans to join the Jiujiang Black Armor and follow the Ancient Military School's path of using qi and blood to break through the meridians."

Ling He didn't refuse again. He only said, "All right."

He knew Zhao Rucheng really wasn't interested, and no one could sway Du Yehu's decision either. There wasn't much he could do. For now, all he wanted was to make sure none of this Dao Merit—or the goodwill behind it—went to waste.

"Home we go!" Jiang Wang lifted Jiang An'an onto his right shoulder, and carried her home with steady steps.

Jiang An'an suddenly cheered up. She shouted, "Giddyap!" and swung her little legs in front of him.

On the way out of the Dao Academy, she was in high spirits, even speaking on Jiang Wang's behalf. Whenever someone greeted him with, "Hello, Senior Brother Jiang," she'd chirp back, "Hello to you, too!"

Jiang Wang went along with her, merely nodding in greeting.

"Is Brother Ling He really bored?" Jiang Wang asked casually as they headed home.

"Classes hadn't even ended, and he was already waiting at the door. I still had things to do after class, but he wouldn't let me. He followed me around the whole time," Jiang An'an said, biting her finger.

Ling He was a kind and dependable person. He was the safest choice to look after Jiang An'an, and sticking by her side every moment was just the bare minimum.

"What could you possibly have to do?" Jiang Wang said, pulling her finger away. "Don't bite your nails."

"Hey!" Jiang An'an was so angry she nearly jumped down right then, but when she remembered they still had a way to go before reaching home, she gave up. "I'm busy, all right? I can't be bothered to tell you."

Jiang Wang didn't think much of it and continued chatting on and off. "Brother Ling He is a good person. An'an, you should be polite to him."

"Don't give him the cold shoulder."

"And stop biting your nails."

Their voices gradually faded into the distance.

"Got! It!"