Chapter 87: Nonsense Writing

[Young Master Yun drew his blade, pointing the tip at Young Master Wang as he shouted, “You base scoundrel! If you were pursuing me properly, I would have nothing to say. But what was your hand doing just now? I must cut off one of your hands, you lecher!”]

Lian Li: “Uh… isn’t the artistic license a bit much? I wouldn’t say it’s exactly like the truth; I’d say it’s completely unrelated.”

Yun Huizhou: “When you wrote the story about capturing Ma Tie, you also changed the process beyond recognition.”

“Fair point,” Lian Li replied, then continued reading.

[Seeing the two men come to blows, even aiming for the kill, Young Master Lian suddenly burst into tears like pear blossoms in the rain. He rushed forward and cried out, “Stop fighting! If you must fight, take it outside! There are people in the restaurant; don’t hurt anyone!”]

As Lian Li read this passage, scenes from Top on the Forbidden City began playing on a loop in his mind. He subconsciously looked out the window; it wasn’t raining.

Now, even Yun Huizhou couldn’t find any words to defend the author of the article. His lips twitched visibly as he managed to say, “I cannot imagine you crying like ‘pear blossoms in the rain.'”

Lian Li smiled and said, “I can’t imagine it either.”

Yun Huizhou looked at Lian Li. Initially, he had thought Lian Li was a delicate flower, so fragile that a slight bit of force would snap him.

He had originally intended to send him to the Qinghong Sword Sect, but this person had piteously and tactfully expressed that he didn’t want to go there and wanted to follow him instead.

He had considered that the Qinghong Sword Sect had so many disciples, and while Zhao Honglan was a good person, he had so many Junior Brothers and Sisters to look after that oversights were inevitable.

This person looked difficult to sustain; if the Qinghong Sword Sect actually let him die, Zhao Honglan probably wouldn’t have the face to see him again.

Furthermore, he didn’t really want to lose a wealthy and generous friend like Zhao Honglan.

Besides, there weren’t many normal people on Drunken Dream Island; bringing one back to relieve the boredom was quite nice.

Later, when he brought the man back to raise him personally, he discovered that this person was much stronger than he had imagined.

The condition for getting good medicine from his Junior Uncle was to wear women’s clothing, and he actually wore it for a year.

Practicing martial arts was hard work, especially certain techniques. Given this kid’s poor physical foundation, many standard exercises were far more painful for him than for an ordinary person.

Yet, he hadn’t even knit his brows. Every day after practice, he looked like he was about to die, but after a night’s sleep, he would be lively and bouncing again the next day.

He looked like he could die at any moment, yet he lived on tenaciously.

The sound of Lian Li reading the report again interrupted Yun Huizhou’s thoughts.

[Young Master Wang and Young Master Yun fought with increasing fury, their attacks becoming more and more lethal. At the moment Young Master Wang slashed Young Master Yun’s arm, Young Master Lian joined the fray with his whip.

With one move, he forced Young Master Wang back. Under Wang’s hurt gaze, he turned to support Young Master Yun.

His vermilion lips parted slightly as he spoke in a faint, melodious voice: “Senior Brother, are you alright?”

Young Master Yun gripped Young Master Lian’s hand in return and replied, “Junior Brother, I am fine. Do not worry; I will not let anyone take you away.”

After soothing Young Master Yun, Young Master Lian turned to face Young Master Wang. His originally gentle features instantly turned cold and sharp. He pointed his whip at Young Master Wang and said coldly, “Young Master Wang, please leave.”

Young Master Wang’s lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, but when he met Young Master Lian’s indifferent gaze, he gave up. He turned and left the restaurant, his retreating figure looking desolate.

Inside the restaurant, having driven away his love rival, Young Master Yun wore a triumphant smile. He clasped hands with Young Master Lian, and they gazed into each other’s eyes with deep affection.]

Lian Li read the entire article in one breath, not daring to stop and complain midway.

He feared that if he stopped, he would be too embarrassed to continue.

Now that he was finally finished, he opened his mouth to rant but didn’t know where to start.

He could only lock eyes with Yun Huizhou, hoping the other man could see the stomachful of complaints he didn’t know how to voice.

Yun Huizhou merely chuckled and said, “This person is imitating your style of writing storybooks. Did you notice?”

“Eh?” Hearing this, Lian Li picked up the newspaper again and read it from beginning to end. He said in surprise, “How could you tell?”

“Because it’s so good at making things up, and it has an indescribable feeling.” Yun Huizhou thought for a moment before saying with certainty, “It’s that kind of toe-curling awkwardness that makes you cringe, yet you can’t help but want to keep reading.”

Lian Li smiled slightly. That was exactly the feeling he aimed for.

“Still, what’s written here is too outrageous. It makes it sound like the two of us really have something going on.” After laughing, Lian Li brought up the serious matter: “If this continues, both our reputations are going to suffer.”

Yun Huizhou sat lazily in his chair, seemingly unconcerned.

Seeing no reaction, Lian Li walked over and tugged at his sleeve, asking, “Do you have any thoughts?”

Yun Huizhou blinked and said, “What thoughts could I have? It’s all nonsense anyway. And even if I had thoughts, what could be done? Write a manuscript to clarify? No one likes reading those.”

Hearing him say this, Lian Li also felt it made sense. Even if they wrote a direct clarification, few people would probably read it. Everyone just liked watching the drama; who liked reading serious, upright matters?

This article about them fighting for love was placed in the “Jianghu Anecdotes” entertainment section; it was just for people’s amusement, and not many would truly take it seriously.

After a few days, it would be forgotten. Besides, most people would never have much interaction with them in this lifetime anyway. They only needed to explain things clearly to those around them.

If they really went out of their way to issue a clarification, it would make people think they cared too much about the matter, which would instead make them look suspicious.

Clarification pieces wouldn’t be placed in the entertainment section. They wouldn’t want people who don’t even read the entertainment section to see the clarification and suddenly become interested in the scandal.

Moreover, there would be plenty of times for them to appear in public together in the future. When everyone saw how they actually interacted, they would know what was going on.

Thinking this way, Lian Li stopped dwelling on the matter.

Yun Huizhou turned his head and stared at the Beauty Ranking booklet Lian Li had set aside for a long time. Suddenly, he asked, “What did you say you wanted to do next?”

Lian Li didn’t expect him to change the subject so abruptly, but he quickly recalled his previous plan.

“I was thinking, if there’s nothing else to do, we could go to the grasslands to catch horses,” Lian Li said.

“That’s close to what I was thinking. Originally, I intended to head to the grasslands after this nest of bandits was cleared,” Yun Huizhou said, clutching the booklet.

Hearing him say it was the “original” plan, Lian Li knew his plans had changed. He asked, “So, did you suddenly think of something else you need to do?”