Chapter 14: Blushing, Taking His Pulse, Is Master Jin Weak?

Jin Yuchuan’s impatient brow was tinged with a hint of irritation. His dark eyes swept across the room, his side profile sharp and grim.

Ling Qiao was so startled that he immediately shut his mouth and bowed his head to eat. But since the ingredients weren't cooked yet, he busied himself by pretending to be occupied.

Jin Yuchuan sighed in resignation. He pointed at Ling Qiao and introduced him to Ye Chunxi, "From now on, he will follow you whenever you go out to protect you."

Ye Chunxi froze for a moment, confused. "Him? Protect me?"

She thought he and her brother were quite close. Why did her brother’s tone sound as if he were speaking to a subordinate?

Jin Yuchuan nodded. "He is highly skilled. With him protecting you, I can rest easy."

Upon learning that this was her brother’s special concern for her, Ye Chunxi felt a secret thrill of joy.

Butler Kong walked over. "Young Master, everything is ready. Why don't you have a bite before you leave?"

Jin Yuchuan sniffed the air, the intense, spicy aroma making him visibly uncomfortable. Suddenly, he felt a tug at his sleeve. He looked down to see Ye Chunxi gently pinching the corner of his clothing, shaking it slightly.

"Brother, your health is what matters most. Please, stay and eat a little before you head to work."

Her voice was sweet and well-behaved, a stark contrast to her naturally aloof temperament, yet it was surprisingly pleasant to hear. Jin Yuchuan calmly withdrew his hand and looked away.

"Very well."

He sat down beside Ye Chunxi, and a servant promptly brought over a bowl and chopsticks. Butler Kong, unsure of Ye Chunxi’s preferences, had ordered a variety of common dishes to be prepared. However, faced with such an abundance of ingredients, Jin Yuchuan found himself at a loss as to where to begin.

Ye Chunxi glanced at him as if by chance, noticing his awkwardness.

Ling Qiao had begun eating before them, and in the blink of an eye, the contents of the pot had vanished into his stomach. Ye Chunxi watched his whirlwind-like eating style, her mouth twitching slightly. Seeing only a few slices of meat left in the pot, she took a slotted spoon and scooped them all out, dividing them into her own and Jin Yuchuan’s bowls.

Ling Qiao, having finished his full bowl and ready to scoop more, looked at the now-empty copper pot in confusion. "Huh? How did it get eaten so fast?"

Ye Chunxi: "..."
Jin Yuchuan: "..."

Ling Qiao hurriedly brought over a large basin of meat to add to the pot, leaving the others speechless. Ye Chunxi turned her head and peeked at Jin Yuchuan, who had yet to start. "Brother, aren't you going to eat?"

"Yes." Jin Yuchuan gave a faint reply and picked up his chopsticks.

The moment the food entered his mouth, the spicy sensation stung his taste buds, causing a momentary flicker of discomfort. He had never been one for gluttony and usually handled most food well, but he had a poor reaction to anything heavily spiced.

Ye Chunxi was unaware of this. Perhaps tired of the bland hospital food, she had tossed all the ingredients into the spicy broth, and since Ling Qiao was a lover of all things spicy, the mild broth had remained untouched.

Butler Kong, watching from the side, felt a cold sweat break out. He couldn't help but reach out to stop Ye Chunxi as she prepared to serve Jin Yuchuan more. "Miss Ye, the Young Master doesn't handle spice very well."

Ye Chunxi’s hand froze mid-air. She turned to look and, upon closer inspection, noticed that Jin Yuchuan’s face was faintly flushed.

She was instantly alarmed and, feeling at a loss, tentatively asked, "Brother, are you alright?"

Ling Qiao, who had been focused solely on eating, looked up at the sound and was startled to see Jin Yuchuan’s flushed face. "How are you blushing in front of your little sister?"

Jin Yuchuan shot him a look, a surge of irritation rising within him, but he held his tongue with Ye Chunxi present. He picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth.

The butler promptly handed him a glass of water, and Jin Yuchuan drank it down in large gulps. His sharp, blade-like jawline was taut and firm. As he tilted his head back, his Adam's apple was exposed, bobbing rhythmically. A stray droplet of water rolled down, sliding past his throat and into the quiet sanctuary beneath his clothes. It was both sexy and mesmerizing.

Ye Chunxi shook herself out of a daze. She took the oil-based dipping sauce from in front of him and ordered a servant to prepare a fresh one.

Once Jin Yuchuan finished his water, his complexion recovered slightly. He looked down to see the girl beside him placing ingredients into the mild broth.

Ling Qiao finally realized what was happening and teased, "Oh, little sister, you didn't know? Mr. Jin is very sensitive to spicy and stimulating foods. Usually, the servants are extra careful. I never expected him to get caught out just by having a meal with you." He laughed heartlessly.

Ye Chunxi turned her head. Her deer-like eyes, hazy and misted, looked up. As the steam dissipated, they appeared clearer and more luminous, shimmering with a gorgeous, faint light.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, feeling a twinge of self-reproach.

Jin Yuchuan steadied himself and comforted her, "It's fine. You didn't know beforehand."

Ye Chunxi lowered her eyes. "I will be more careful in the future."

Ling Qiao, realizing he was being ignored, went stiff, looking at the two people across from him with a speechless expression. "The girl didn't know, but you—don't you know your own situation? You can't handle spice, yet you ate it anyway. Are you intentionally trying to make her feel bad for you?"

Jin Yuchuan remained silent, but his dark, cold eyes swept over Ling Qiao with crushing pressure. Ling Qiao immediately shut his mouth, not daring to speak another word, and buried his head back into his food.

Ye Chunxi blanched several pieces of tripe and placed them into Jin Yuchuan’s oil dish, still puzzled. "Why force yourself?"

Jin Yuchuan avoided her gaze. "It's nothing serious."

He hadn't eaten spicy food in a long time and had forgotten the sensation of his face flushing. Moreover, he had only intended to stay for a few bites before leaving, so he hadn't given it any thought.

Ye Chunxi’s grip on her chopsticks tightened. She muttered under her breath, "You really don't pay enough attention to your own health."

The loose-lipped Ling Qiao couldn't help but interject again, "Mr. Jin has so many private doctors tending to him; why would he ever worry about his own health?"

He seemed to know he would be met with a death glare, so he kept his head down while speaking. The sight of him being terrified yet unable to stop his tongue was truly amusing.

Ye Chunxi took a long breath, her lips parting as if to say something, but the words died in her throat.

Jin Yuchuan listened to Ling Qiao’s remark, his expression tightening slightly. His deep, beautiful peach-blossom eyes shifted, a faint light flashing through them.

"You have a real talent for Traditional Chinese Medicine," he said, tentatively extending his hand. "Since you're so worried about me, why don't you take a look?"

Ye Chunxi raised an eyebrow, her gaze dropping to the hand that had suddenly appeared before her. She stared at it.

While reading those medical texts, she had realized she possessed a certain aptitude for the subject. However, it was purely theoretical; she had never truly practiced it. With Jin Yuchuan offering his pulse for her to check, she felt a flicker of trepidation. Having lost her memories, she could only recall fragments through the books. She didn't consider herself qualified to diagnose a pulse.

As she hesitated, Jin Yuchuan extended his hand a little further. His usually cold tone had softened, feeling like the warmth returning in spring.

"Just give it a try. There's no harm in it."

Ye Chunxi bit her lip, set down her chopsticks, and placed her hand on his pulse.

The weather was slightly chilly, and both their hands felt cold. As their skin made contact, it stimulated their nerves, but it also carried a warmth that began to rise, eventually adding a touch of sultry heat to the air.

A wave of sharp pain shot through Ye Chunxi’s brain, and she frowned in discomfort.

After a long while, she finally spoke: "You have been overworking yourself lately, you seem a bit deficient..."