TNIBFT -Chapter 273 If You’re So Good, Then You Do It!

Sifang City, inside the hotpot restaurant.

“Don’t… don’t come any closer!”

Awake now, Xiao Xun’er shrank into a corner, holding her hands up in front of her face. She didn’t want Ye Tian to see her like this.

After raising her hands, she suddenly remembered something and hastily hid her right hand under the blanket. Her long hair in disarray, she cried bitterly: “I beg you… all of you, please leave. Can I just be alone?”

“I don’t want to see any of you! I don’t want to see any of you!”

Xiao Xun’er curled up in the corner, hugging her legs tightly, resisting all contact with anyone. She wouldn’t listen to anyone, and seeing people only filled her with fear—there was no way to communicate like this.

Outside the door, Ye Tian exchanged glances with the three children.

Ye Yunting’s small face was serious.

Ye Shuangxue frowned, her expression anxious.

Xiao Jiang looked helpless.

Ye Tian held the dishes in both hands and spoke in a low voice: “No matter what, eat something first. Even if you don’t want to see me, you can’t let yourself go hungry.”

“No matter what you become, you will always be my friend.”

Xiao Xun’er’s body stiffened. Her frail shoulders trembled, and her black hair, messy, fell across her face. Choking back sobs, she said, “I… I don’t want to see you!”

“In this state… neither human nor ghost, I’m disgusted even by myself. Ye Tian, I beg you… please leave me some dignity.”

Her voice shook, filled with pleading.

She had always been confident before. Whether in family background or appearance, she believed that as long as she wanted to be friends with Ye Tian, he would be happy about it—just like any merchant in the city, grateful for her attention as if it were a blessing from their ancestors.

But now…

She had nothing left. Her father was dead, she was no longer the daughter of the city lord, and the privilege to be willful and reckless was gone. On top of that, in her current state, she felt like a rat in a gutter, unsure how to face Ye Tian.

Looking at Xiao Xun’er, Ye Tian felt helpless.

Xiao Jiang tugged at Ye Tian’s sleeve: “Maybe… I should bring the food to Sister Xun’er?”

“You?”

Ye Tian was a bit incredulous. How could this kid think he could handle something that Ye Tian himself couldn’t?

Xiao Jiang raised an eyebrow: “Aren’t you trying to ask about Grandfather Sun’s whereabouts?”

“You go first. I’ll tell you after I find out!” With that, Xiao Jiang confidently winked at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian was momentarily taken aback.

Standing on tiptoe, Xiao Jiang reached for the dishes in Ye Tian’s hands. Seeing his son volunteering, Ye Tian couldn’t refuse. He handed the dishes to him: “Dad trusts you. Do a good job!”

Ye Tian said this perfunctorily, glancing back every few steps, and then disappeared into the backyard.

Ye Shuangxue and Ye Yunting waited outside the door.

Xiao Jiang carried the food inside. Xiao Xun’er hadn’t reacted yet. Clumsily, Xiao Jiang closed the door behind him. Xiao Xun’er opened her mouth slightly but, seeing it was Xiao Jiang, said nothing and buried her head back in her knees.

“Sister Xun’er?”

“Sister Xun’er, don’t be sad!” Xiao Jiang approached. He leaned over the blanket, close but not too close, looking at Xiao Xun’er with sincere eyes.

Xiao Xun’er glanced at him but remained silent.

Xiao Jiang said, “The injury on your face… even though the other doctors couldn’t help, it doesn’t mean my master can’t.”

Xiao Xun’er looked up in shock.

If it was Doctor Qiu, maybe it could really be cured!

But by the time Doctor Qiu arrived, it might be too late. And besides, she had no connection to him—would he really help her?

Xiao Xun’er’s gaze flickered nervously. Hesitant, she asked, “Am I… scary to look at?”

“Not at all!”

Xiao Jiang’s voice was soft and sweet as he continued quietly, “You’re still the Sister Xun’er I like. Sister Xun’er can ride horses, can use a whip—stronger than many women in the world. You’ve never relied on your looks; we rely on our talents!”

Looking at the mischievous little Xiao Jiang, Xiao Xun’er’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Xiao Jiang’s eyes twinkled as he went on, “I’ve already sent a message to Master. Once he arrives, Sister Xun’er, your face will be back to normal.”

“Really?”

Xiao Xun’er, excited, reached out and grabbed Xiao Jiang’s shoulders. “Xiao Jiang… thank you!”

Xiao Jiang said, “So you see, fate hasn’t been fair to you, Sister Xun’er. Many people are ugly their whole lives, but you—beautiful all your life—only got disfigured for a few days. Isn’t that right?”

Xiao Xun’er chuckled softly.

Seeing the moment was right, Xiao Jiang sighed. “I just don’t know about Grandpa Sun… if he’s been disfigured too, Master will have to treat him as well…”

Mentioning Sun Wuji, Xiao Xun’er’s pupils shrank, and she grabbed Xiao Jiang anxiously. “Xiao Jiang, if Senior Sun hasn’t returned, he must have been trapped by those people.”

“I can’t wait—I have to find Senior Sun!”

Panicked, Xiao Xun’er scrambled off the bed. Xiao Jiang grabbed her gently. “Sister Xun’er, tell me where Grandpa is, and I’ll have my father bring people to rescue him. If you go alone, it’ll be like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den, and Grandpa Sun will be in danger too.”

Xiao Xun’er nodded repeatedly. Seeing Ye Tian earlier, immersed in the sadness of her disfigurement, she had almost forgotten to ask about Senior Sun.

“They were wearing red robes… all women… outside the city, about twenty li away, in Jianggu Village. That day, I had planned to leave Sifang City and go to the Liuzhou hotpot shop…”

Xiao Xun’er fell into her memories.

Outside the door, Ye Shuangxue’s eyes were blank, her little hands tightly clenched into fists.

Her aura was clearly off.

Ye Yunting turned and saw his younger sister’s eyes, as dark as ink, like a black night capable of devouring everything—frightening. He whispered, “Shuangxue?”

“Shuangxue!”

“Huh?”

Ye Shuangxue came back to herself and looked at her older brother. “What is it?”

Ye Yunting frowned, staring into her eyes. Everything seemed normal. Had he just imagined it?

“Big brother, wait here for Xiao Jiang. I’m going to the main hall!”

“Okay!”

Everything seemed normal, yet there was still something off. Ye Yunting shook his head and continued to listen to Xiao Xun’er and Xiao Jiang’s conversation.

…

Meanwhile, Old Yang was in the backyard helping Ye Shuangxue wash her shoes.

The child’s shoes were smaller than his hand, tiny and cute. In the past few days, this little lady had been running around everywhere, and seven or eight pairs of shoes had gotten wet. Since becoming Ye Shuangxue’s caretaker, Old Yang had been freed from dishwashing duties, and he was quite content with that.

The key was that over time, he had grown to really like her domineering personality.

Straightforward, decisive, and if she didn’t accept something—she fought!

He genuinely cared for Ye Shuangxue. To Old Yang, this little star was his “heaven-sent orphan,” and now he was training Ye Shuangxue to take care of him in the future.

“Uncle Yang!”

“Uncle Yang!”

Old Yang froze, as if he had heard things incorrectly. Was that Ye Shuangxue’s voice again?

“Uncle Yang, can you take me out of the city?”

Old Yang turned and saw Ye Shuangxue standing behind him, her expression serious, her eyes fixed on him. He shook the water from his hands and brushed his cotton jacket, surprised: “Why do you want to leave the city?”

“Did you tell your father about this?”

“No!” Ye Shuangxue shook her head.

Old Yang waved his hand, indicating there was no room for discussion. He turned to continue washing shoes, when Ye Shuangxue suddenly leaned on his back: “After Xiao Jiang went home, Father doesn’t like me anymore, and you don’t like me either. If you won’t go, I’ll go myself!”