Chapter 44 Give Me a Chance

The bright moon hangs in the sky, its light filtering through the carved window lattices and reflecting off the bright candlelight inside.

A gentle night breeze rustled through the treetops and leaves in the courtyard.

Green leaves twirl down, only to be blown away by the wind and drift off to who knows where.

The room was not large, and the furnishings were very simple.

The man's large hand pressed on Shen You's shoulder. It seemed like he wasn't using much force, but it was enough to immobilize her.

She was trapped like that, with only her bright almond-shaped eyes able to move.

She scanned the room thoroughly, looking at the windowsills and the floor, but dared not look at the person in front of her.

The warmth of Chu Xiao's palms seeped through the thin fabric, making his shoulder feel hot against his skin.

The fingertips, coated with ointment, were calloused and rough to the touch, yet the touch was made with exceptional care and delicacy.

Shen You was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed and couldn't help but move her legs. "Are you done yet?"

With this movement, their knees came even closer together.

She instinctively shrank back, making too much noise, and her heel kicked the table leg.

Shen You hissed softly, and Chu Xiao had already bent down to check her legs.

"No need to look, it doesn't hurt," she quickly pressed him down.

Chu Xiao then straightened up and slowly wiped the remaining ointment off his fingertips with a handkerchief.

“Shen Linhui’s leg will most likely never fully recover,” he said, gripping the armrests of Shen You’s armchair with both hands. Though not as close as when he was applying the medicine earlier, he still held her firmly. “Shen Yao might not dare to openly report this to the authorities for the sake of his reputation, but he won’t let it go easily. If he really finds out something…”

He knew exactly what he was doing.

Shen Linhui will likely never be able to stand up again for the rest of his life.

"Will you let them find out anything?"

Shen You raised her eyes and looked at him very seriously.

Putting everything else aside, she was aware of Chu Xiao's abilities.

If he dares to kidnap Shen Linhui tonight and break one of his legs, he has plenty of ways to prevent Shen Yao from finding out about him.

Hearing her words, Chu Xiao's deep gaze fell into her eyes, sticky and filled with a certain hope, "Chen You, you're worried about me."

Shen You unconsciously clenched the fabric of her dress with her hands resting on her lap, pursed her lips, and avoided looking at him again. Her voice turned cold. "It's only human nature."

She seemed to have thought of something, and she straightened up and leaned back, widening the distance between them.

The next instant, the armchair squeaked loudly as it scraped against the ground.

Shen You was dragged close, chair and all, and trapped in the chair.

The man's presence suddenly drew near.

In the flickering candlelight, he saw the girl's fair and gentle profile, with her black hair and clear eyes. Her delicate features seemed to be bathed in soft light, and she was the deepest desire in his heart.

The two large hands gripping the armrests of the armchair slowly tightened, the veins on the back of their tanned hands bulging.

Chu Xiao lowered his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he forcefully suppressed the urge to pull her into his arms.

A slight twitch appeared in those deep, dark eyes, concealing both sadness and anticipation.

He lowered his head, his voice low and slightly hoarse, "Chen You, give me a chance, okay?"

A chance to stand with you openly and honestly again.

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent, so quiet that... you could even hear the faint crackling of the candle wick.

Shen You lowered her brows and eyes, her lips unconsciously pursed, her expression both cool and stubborn.

"Chu Xiao..." she said softly, "You've helped me a lot, and I know that this can't be repaid with just a few gifts..."

"If you need my help in the future, I will not hesitate for a moment."

Now that things have come to this, she realizes that since they are both in Lin'an City, it is impossible for them not to meet, nor is it possible for them to have absolutely no interaction.

But she didn't want to...

Take another gamble with your own scars.

We can't afford to gamble anymore.

Moreover, one's life doesn't necessarily require any one person to be indispensable.

She doesn't necessarily die without Chu Xiao.

"You know, what I want is never these gifts of gratitude from you."

Chu Xiao leaned down with his broad shoulders, but restrained himself from hugging her. His voice was dark and strained. "I did these things not so that you would thank me, nor so that one day you would be at odds with me."

"Shen You, please give me another chance, okay?"

He looked down at her, and before he knew it, the girl's lips had turned slightly pale from pursing them together.

Perhaps it was because she was thinking about the grievances of the past, but her eyes were slightly red.

When he looked up again, his misty eyes were filled with the glow of candlelight, and Chu Xiao could not see his own reflection in them.

His breathing became slightly labored, and the impulse to hug her that he had just suppressed was about to break free of its cage like a trapped beast struggling.

But he didn't dare.

He was afraid, afraid that she would look at him with the same eyes she used to.

He was afraid that his impulsiveness would push her further and further away.

“But I don’t want to gamble anymore,” Shen You sniffed and stared at him intently.

She can't forget those past events, nor can she forget the hurt she suffered.

But actually... there's no need to deliberately forget it.

She just didn't want to choose him anymore.

That's all.

Shen You raised her hand and slowly pulled away his hands that were surrounding her, her voice very soft, "Chu Xiao, thank you."

"But I won't send you a separate gift for what happened tonight."

Chu Xiao saved her, and she also helped him.

If they were to insist on settling scores, who knows how long they would have to dig up old grievances.

"If you need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to make the trip again, Mu Geng."

As soon as she finished speaking, she pulled the man's hand away.

Shen You stood up and walked out without looking back.

The night was deep, and the wind of late summer and early autumn swept up the fallen leaves on the ground, bringing a biting chill.

She subconsciously pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, put on her hat, and completely concealed the emotions in her eyes.

As he passed by the wisteria and pothos, he whispered, "Let's go."

After a moment of confusion, the two maids quickly realized what was happening and hurriedly followed Shen You out of the courtyard.

Mu Geng was left standing alone under the eaves, completely bewildered.

After shivering from the cool breeze, he turned around and stepped onto the stairs.

But as soon as he looked up, he froze on the spot.

Even back in the south, when he fought to the death against Qi Wulin's former subordinates and thought he would never be able to kill his enemy, he had never seen Chu Xiao so dejected and defeated.

The figure sitting in the wheelchair still had a broad back, but the shadow cast on the ground by the candlelight clearly concealed endless desolation.

***

At dawn, the morning dew begins to touch the ground.

The servants of the Marquis of Chengde's mansion had just opened the gate to clean when they caught sight of a person lying on the steps.

He was startled, all his morning sleepiness vanished, and when he got closer, he hurriedly shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Butler Liu!"

"Young Master...Young Master..."

A quarter of an hour later, the Songtao Courtyard was brightly lit by candlelight.

Shen Yao and Chen Qiurong had fully regained their senses; one had a dark, brooding face, and the other was wiping away tears with a handkerchief.

The physician was sitting by the bed, examining Shen Linhui's injuries.

After a moment, he stood up and shook his head regretfully, "My lord, the young master's injury is indeed quite serious."

"What?" Chen Qiurong's tears flowed even more fiercely. "I only have one son. If he's gone, how am I supposed to live?"

"The physician said, 'Madam, rest assured, the young master's life is not in danger.'"

“But…” he said, lowering his head and carefully choosing his words, “but the injury to your leg is very serious, and you must be prepared for the possibility that you may be unable to walk properly in the future.”

"What did you say!"

Shen Yao's eyes widened in disbelief.

Fearing the man's wrath, the physician quickly said, "My medical skills are limited. Perhaps... perhaps... I should ask Doctor Lin from Baicaotang to take a look. I wonder if there's any chance of recovery."

He left his words unsaid, knowing full well that even if Lin Gu came, it would be difficult to restore Shen Linhui to his former state.

But given the current situation, we have to give it a try.

Moreover, Lin Gu is highly respected, and even if things don't work out, Shen Yao wouldn't dare to lose his temper with Lin Gu.

Shen Yao looked extremely pale, and the butler Liu quickly handed him the strip of cloth that had been taken off Shen Linhui's body.

On the strip of cloth, four large characters were written crookedly in burnt firewood ash: "Pay back your debts."

Enraged, Shen Yao raised his hand, intending to tear the strip of cloth into four or five pieces.

Butler Liu quickly stopped him, "My lord, you mustn't do that."

"evil creature!"

"evil creature!"

Shen Yao's face flushed red as he pointed at Chen Qiurong and questioned, "I made him kneel in the ancestral hall to repent, but did you secretly let him out?"

Chen Qiurong was startled and denied it, saying, "Who in the manor would dare to disobey the master's words?"

"That means the little brat sneaked out of the gambling den again! That's why he got caught."

Now that things have come to this, Shen Yao has also figured it out. None of what Shen Linhui said that day was true. It's possible that he didn't study properly in Yuzhou and that the debts he owed were not just what he asked for at the Marquis's mansion that day.

He was raised in the Marquis's mansion when he was in Lin'an. Although he was a bit active and mischievous, he was personally supervised by the Marquis. His academic performance was passable, but he never made any major mistakes.

He had only been in Yuzhou for a short time, but he hadn't expected to come back with these bad habits and now he'd been beaten into this terrible state.

Shen Yao was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. Chen Qiurong, standing to the side, cried and sobbed, "My lord, Hui'er is so badly injured. You must do justice for him!"

"Make decisions? What decisions?" Shen Yao sneered. "Are you going to beat the drum in front of the Jingzhao Prefecture to appeal for justice on his behalf? Or are you going to find a lawyer to write a petition and submit it?"

"this..."

"You may not care about your reputation, but I do!" Shen Yao said angrily, shoving her away.

If this matter were to reach the Jingzhao Prefecture, then the entire city of Lin'an would know that the Chengde Marquis's mansion had produced a gambling addict who was burdened with gambling debts, had his legs crippled, and would never be able to stand up again for the rest of his life.

He would never bring such absurd things to the forefront.

"But are we just going to stand by and watch Hui'er suffer like this?" Chen Qiurong wrung out her handkerchief and shed tears, looking at her unconscious son on the bed, her heart aching terribly.

Shen Yao paused for a moment and said, "If we can't report to the Jingzhao Prefecture, then we'll investigate privately!"

Although it will take some time, it is better than reporting it to the authorities and making it known to everyone.

Chen Qiurong choked up, but couldn't say anything to refute it. She could only turn to her servants and scold them, "Hurry up and go to Baicaotang to invite Doctor Lin."

Yes, yes.

The servant received the order and hurriedly ran out.

As dawn broke, the Chengde Marquis's residence was already in complete chaos.

Shen You closed the doors and windows tightly, drew the bed curtains, covered himself with the brocade quilt, silently counted the stars, and forced himself to go back to sleep.