Love Three Thousand

Chu Chanyin turned his head and looked at her seriously: "You're not angry anymore?"

Zhao Youyi placed a piece of green vegetable on his plate, then smiled gently and asked, "When have my cousin and I ever had any disagreements?"

Chu Chanyin finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her answer.

"Cousin, did you come here this time for the matter of military pay?" Chu Chanyin picked up the lotus root slices she had put in her bowl and took a bite. The lotus root slices were very soft and powdery, and the meat filling inside was just the right amount of sweet.

"My cousin is very intelligent." Zhao Youyi smiled.

“In that case, I will certainly lend my cousin a hand,” Chu Chanyin poured her a cup of tea. “If you need anything, just say the word, and I will do my best.”

Zhao Youyi offered him a cup of tea instead of wine, saying, "Then I thank you in advance, cousin."

After Zhao Youyi finished his meal with Chu Chanyin, seeing that it was getting late, he said, "Mumu said that my cousin hasn't been home for a long time. Although military affairs are important, my cousin can't neglect his health."

Zhao Youyi sounded a little guilty when she said this, after all, she spent far more time away from the General's Mansion than Chu Chanyin did away from the Prince's Mansion.

Fortunately, Chu Chanyin was unaware of this. Upon hearing this, he simply smiled and said, "Then let's go back to the manor today and see how Mumu is doing with her studies."

The two got into the carriage. Noticing that her hair was a little messy, Chu Chanyin took out a small wooden comb that was kept in the carriage. "Shall I help my cousin tidy up her hair?"

He spoke in a very gentle tone, and his affectionate peach blossom eyes were filled with laughter, captivating anyone who looked at him.

Zhao Youyi leaned closer and lowered her head slightly, feeling the gentle touch of his hair. His fingers were warm, and he accidentally touched her earlobe. Zhao Youyi subconsciously turned her head to look at him, and the two smiled at each other.

"Alright." Chu Chan's ears turned red under her gaze, and he coughed lightly to create distance between them.

Zhao Youyi took out a small bronze mirror he always carried with him and looked at it. "My cousin is very skillful."

Embarrassed by the praise, Chu Chanyin lowered his head and looked down to hide the joy in his eyes. When he was a child, he always tied his own hair, and when he got a little older, he would tie Zhao Youyi's hair. He had become quite skilled at it.

Chu Chanyin stroked her hair. "How does it compare to when you were little?"

Looking at Chu Chanyin's profile in the bronze mirror, Zhao Youyi saw his gentle and affectionate face as always. He had a face that no one could resist, and his eyes and brows exuded a pitiful charm. Zhao Youyi felt her heart being drawn to him, drifting aimlessly.

“Just as good.” Zhao Youyi looked at him tenderly.

My thoughts drifted back to many years ago, to the little boy under the willow tree, gently combing her hair with a small wooden comb. From her clumsy first attempt to her skillful hands now, it had only been a year.

He would never hurt her, treating her as the most fragile treasure, carefully protecting her.

"How about I wear my hair in double buns today?" Chu Huai Cong asked her gently.

While eating dried fruit, Zhao Youyi nodded, "Sure, Brother Huai Cong can stick whichever one is convenient for him!" After saying that, she even handed a piece of dried fruit to Chu Huai Cong's lips behind her.

"Your Highness, Miss Zhao, we have arrived at the Prince's residence." The voice from outside the carriage interrupted Zhao Youyi's thoughts. Chu Chanyin got off the carriage first and stood outside, extending his hand to her.

His fingers were long and slender, his palms had intricate lines, his skin was very fair, and there was a small red mole next to his thumb that caught the eye.

Zhao Youyi placed her hand in his and stepped down from the carriage. The gentle touch of their palms made his heart race.

As soon as Zhao Youyi got off the carriage, she heard a male voice calling her by her nickname. She turned around and saw that the person was Chi Yuming.

Chu Chanyin looked in the direction of the "niao niao" sound, and his smile froze when he saw Chi Yuming's face.

It's him again!

Chu Chanyin felt that the good temper he had cultivated over the years was about to be shattered by Chi Yuming's repeated sudden appearances!

"Why has Young Master Chi come to Fuzhou?" Chu Chanyin regained his gentle smile, dressed in a white robe, looking dashing and elegant, attracting attention with his graceful demeanor.

Chi Yuming, holding Zhao Zhile's hand, looked at Zhao Youyi with burning eyes, ignoring Chu Chanyin's words: "Niao Niao, I went to your residence and heard that you came to the Chu Prince's residence, so I brought Lele to find you and go back."

Upon hearing the word "go back," Zhao Zhile broke free from Chi Yuming's grasp and threw herself into Chu Chanyin's arms, her voice crisp and clear: "Don't go back! I want to go to my uncle's house to find Mumu!"

Chu Chanyin held the little girl and smiled at Chi Yuming, a hint of smugness in his smile.

Chi Yuming stared blankly at his suddenly empty hand, then glanced at the three people opposite him, feeling as if anger was burning him up.

Zhao Zhile had lived in his mansion for two years. Although he didn't spend every day with the little girl, he often gave her snacks. So why did Zhao Zhile run into Chu Chanyin's arms as soon as Chu Chanyin appeared? Could it be that the Zhao family has a hereditary penchant for women?

Thinking of this, Chi Yuming's gaze shifted to Zhao Youyi. Seeing her smiling and turning her head to look at Chu Chanyin, he felt his blood boil and stared at Chu Chanyin, thinking to himself, "Vixen!"

This King of Chu is indeed a vixen! He must have offended a fox in his past life, which is why God sent a vixen who constantly overpowers him to torment him in this life!

Chu Chanyin was in a good mood under Chi Yuming's death stare, especially when he heard Zhao Youyi also ask Chi Yuming why he came to Fuzhou.

"Of course it's because of you, Niao Niao." Chi Yuming composed himself and revealed a refined smile.

"Me?" Zhao Youyi looked at him, puzzled.

“Didn’t you write to your father to tell him that you needed help while doing business in Florida? That’s exactly why I’m here to help you.” When mentioning the purpose of his visit, Chi Yuming glanced at Chu Chanyin with a hint of smugness, the meaning in his eyes was self-evident.

Chu Chanyin naturally noticed Chi Yuming's gaze, after all, Chi Yuming was practically glaring at him to death. Chi Yuming's eyes were clearly saying that not only could he help Zhao Youyi, but he could too.

Chu Chanyin didn't take it to heart. After all, it was good to have someone help Zhao Youyi. Although Chi Yuming was a hypocrite, he was quite talented in business. After all, he was the young master and future heir of the wealthy Chi family in Jiangzhou.

Moreover, ever since Zhao Youyi learned that Chi Yuming had a concubine in his mansion who resembled her, Chu Chanyin understood that there was absolutely no possibility between Zhao Youyi and Chi Yuming. After all, Zhao Youyi was such a proud person, from childhood to adulthood, she would not allow any flaws in her feelings. Their relationship hadn't even started yet, and Chi Yuming had already created a substitute to annoy her. Even if there was a childhood betrothal, Zhao Youyi would not choose Chi Yuming.

Zhao Youyi frowned slightly upon hearing Chi Yuming's words. Ever since she learned about her cousin's feelings and his romantic affairs, she found it difficult to view him as she had viewed her brother before.

In her letter to her uncle, she also subtly indicated that she did not want Chi Yuming to come. Of course, she knew that if Chi Yuming knew that she was going to do business in Florida, he would definitely come to help. She just didn't want to owe Chi Yuming anything. In the end, it became even more complicated. She didn't expect that even though she made it clear, her uncle still let Chi Yuming come.

Chi Yuming smiled slightly when he saw her looking at him, as if he had guessed what she was thinking: "Is Niao Niao wondering why it was me who came?"

Zhao Youyi raised an eyebrow with interest upon hearing this, awaiting his reply.

“Niao Niao, I still don’t trust the people under my command. I finally managed to persuade my father. Doesn’t Niao Niao welcome me?” Chi Yuming said, feigning sadness.

Even if Zhao Youyi harbored resentment towards him, she wouldn't openly express it. After all, Chi Yuming was her cousin, and he meant well: "Of course not, but I have important matters to discuss with... A Cong. Why don't you go back to your residence to rest first, and we can discuss business matters tomorrow?"

Upon hearing this affectionate address, Chu Chanyin's brow twitched. Although there was a suspicion that Zhao Youyi was using him as a shield, this was the first time Zhao Youyi had addressed him so intimately since their reunion. It transcended the relationship between cousins ​​and childhood friends, and instead made them seem like a real couple.

Chu Chanyin's ears turned slightly red, and Zhao Youyi was also a little embarrassed. On the other end, Chi Yuming, who heard this intimate address, was filled with disbelief, but since Zhao Youyi had said so, he could only grit his teeth and agree: "I see. Then I will wait for Niao Niao in the manor."

Zhao Zhile, who had been ignored for a long time, became anxious and started waving his arms and legs: "Auntie and Uncle! I want to see Mumu!"

Looking at the precious little girl's face, which resembled Zhao Youli's by six or seven points, Chu Chanyin couldn't help but smile: "Alright, your uncle will take you to see your Mumu brother."

Chu Chanyin carried the little girl Zhao Zhile in one arm and held Zhao Youyi's hand with the other as they walked towards the Prince's Mansion. Chi Yuming, who had thought Chu Chanyin would politely invite him into the mansion, was furious and stared intently at Chu Chanyin's back.

Chu Chanyin naturally knew that according to etiquette, he should greet Chi Yuming and the two of them exchange a few perfunctory pleasantries. However, he could tell that Zhao Youyi did not want to spend time with Chi Yuming at this moment. Faced with Zhao Youyi and so-called etiquette, he would naturally choose the former without hesitation.

As soon as they entered the mansion, Zhao Zhile clamored to see Chu Muqing, so the two of them had no choice but to take her to Chu Muqing's courtyard. The two children were so happy to see each other that they cried and howled. Chu Chanyin instructed Chu Muqing to take good care of his sister while pulling Zhao Youyi away.

"Although they're usually quite cute, they can be pretty scary when they argue," Chu Chanyin explained, trying to cover up his misunderstanding as he released her hand.

"Does your cousin not like children?" Zhao Youyi asked, tilting her head.

Hearing that she no longer called him Acong, Chu Chanyin couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. "It's not a matter of liking or disliking. Anyway, I won't have my own children in this life. I'll just take good care of this brat Mumu."

Zhao Youyi was somewhat surprised to hear this. Although she had long known that Chu Chanyin had no interest in power, she did not expect him to be so indifferent to worldly desires that he did not even want to have children.

Could it be... that it's not working?

Seeing her gaze, Chu Chan belatedly realized that his words were ambiguous.

Zhao Youyi patted his shoulder and comforted him earnestly, "Mumu is also very good. You can tell he respects and loves you very much."

Her words of comfort clearly indicated a misunderstanding, and Chu Chanyin's handsome face turned completely red. "I'm not incapable!"