TNIBFT -Chapter 64 Fighting Poison with Poison

Tao Ling’er’s refusal slipped out instinctively.

Xiao Tianyi, confident and composed, smiled as he appraised her slowly and said in a leisurely tone, “Whatever my Second Young Master says, there’s nothing that can’t be done.”

“Miss, I’ll be waiting for you at the City Lord’s mansion!”

After speaking, Xiao Tianyi turned to the two city guards and said, “Take him away!”

His voice was cold, completely devoid of emotion.

Seeing Shen Jie’s face covered in blood, Tao Ling’er felt her heart race, unconsciously taking a few steps forward—but at the doorway, Xiao Tianyi’s attendants drew their swords to block her.

“Brother Shen!”

Tao Ling’er refused to give up and shouted toward Shen Jie.

Xiao Tianyi and his men didn’t even look back, and Tao Ling’er kept pushing against the attendants.

It wasn’t until Xiao Tianyi climbed into the carriage that one attendant, clearly annoyed, said, “Stop chasing. No one taken by the Second Young Master ever comes back alive. I advise you to give up this foolish hope.”

What?

Hearing this, Tao Ling’er felt as if struck by lightning, her eyes widening as she froze in place.

“This kid… who knows what he did, ending up in the Second Young Master’s hands. Tsk tsk…”

“Yeah, in this Sifang City, there’s no one the Second Young Master can’t play to death.”

Listening to their conversation, Tao Ling’er collapsed to the ground.

“What should I do?”

“What should I do…”

…

Elsewhere, Ye Tian’s business hours lasted until three in the afternoon.

With all the ingredients sold out, he thanked his guests and closed the shop.

The hotpot restaurant’s fame had already begun spreading throughout Sifang City, and every day customers came in endless streams, drawn by its reputation.

“Thirty taels.”

“Thirty-one…”

“Thirty-seven taels.”

With a daily gross profit of over thirty taels, Ye Tian counted the silver in the private room, placed it in a pouch, planning to deposit it at the bank later. Of the remaining seven taels, five would be used to stockpile food.

The snowfall had gradually lessened over the past two days, so he planned to repair the house during this time.

Once the house was finished, he would begin stockpiling grain in preparation for the post-New Year cold snaps, ensuring enough food until the following summer.

As for the three children…

Ye Tian had already thought of a way to deal with them.

Around five o’clock in the afternoon, after finishing his shopping, Ye Tian returned from the city.

The sky had darkened slightly. Looking at the few scattered houses on the wasteland, the dim, yellow light made one yearn to return home even more.

“Eldest!”

“Eldest, Xiao Jiang…”

As soon as he entered, Ye Tian called out the children’s names, his expression abruptly irritable—a stark change from his usual demeanor.

Previously, when Ye Tian came home, he would always be smiling gently, never shouting loudly.

Hearing his voice, the first reaction of the three children was that he had been hurt. Xiao Jiang was the first to rush out from the house and ran to Ye Tian’s feet. “What happened?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

The little one was very anxious, running around Ye Tian in circles.

Ye Tian didn’t speak.

Ye Shuangxue lifted the curtain and came out, her face full of concern, scanning him from head to toe. “Were you beaten again? Or bullied by someone?”

After speaking, she looked toward the door. Only when she saw no one outside did her expression relax.

Ye Yunting’s gaze also scanned Ye Tian carefully. Seeing that he was unharmed, he finally felt at ease.

“Why are you so slow?”

Ye Tian ignored the three children, furrowed his brow, lifted the curtain, and sat directly in front of the fire. “I’m starving. Has dinner been made?”

Ye Shuangxue frowned, glancing at her brother. What’s going on with Ye Tian today?

Could it be that his mind has cleared?

Has he turned back into the old Ye Tian?

“Is the meal ready?” Seeing no answer, Ye Tian raised his voice.

Xiao Jiang froze in surprise.

Ye Yunting quickly said, “You said before that we had to wait until you got home to cook.”

For the sake of the three children’s safety, Ye Tian had previously insisted that cooking must wait until he was home. After all, the children were only five years old. If there were a fire or a burn, it would be unacceptable—they had to wait for him to be home.

The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward.

Ye Tian stared at the flickering fire: “If I say no, does that mean it won’t get done? I can clearly see that you’re just being lazy.”

Ye Shuangxue: ???

The three children exchanged glances. What was happening with Ye Tian today?

Was he still the Ye Tian who cared about them?

The Ye Tian who told them stories and made noodles?

“And you—your handwriting, do you think it looks good?” Ye Tian glanced at Ye Shuangxue’s homework, criticizing her. Shuangxue lowered her head in silence. Ye Tian continued, “What are you standing there for? I’m not eating noodles, and I’m not eating buns. Do as you see fit.”

“You…” Ye Shuangxue’s face turned red. Ye Tian was deliberately making things difficult. At home, besides flour, there were eggs and vegetables—if she refused the noodles, what was she supposed to eat?

“And the table at home—why is it arranged like this?”

…

“And you, gray top with gray pants—what were you thinking?” Ye Tian pointed at Xiao Jiang, who shrank his neck and tried to make himself as small as possible.

Ever since he came back, Ye Tian had been nitpicking everything.

For the past few days, trying to be good children, Ye Shuangxue had been full of anger. Seeing Ye Tian like this, she felt all her genuine effort had gone to waste and could no longer suppress her temper.

“Are you angry?”

Ye Tian turned to his daughter and continued: “Not even as tall as bean sprouts, but quite a temper. Whose daughter is like you? Give her a hill, and she’d be queen of the world.”

“Have you said enough?”

Ye Shuangxue’s small face fell, wisps of hair sticking up like a little lion as she glared at Ye Tian: “Who gave you the right to criticize us? We haven’t caused you any trouble. You just don’t like us and have wanted to leave us behind all along, haven’t you?”

“Finally, you’ve had enough—go! If you want to leave, leave now!”

Shuangxue stubbornly lifted her chin, pointing at the door with her small hand.

Ye Yunting remained silent.

Xiao Jiang hid behind his sister, tugging at her clothes softly: “He’s not doing it on purpose. He’s not like that.”

This little family was getting better and better. Ye Tian was also improving. Life had hope and warmth. Xiao Jiang didn’t want Ye Tian to leave.

He liked Ye Tian.

“Trouble?”

Ye Tian lowered his head and looked at the three children: “I have caused you trouble, it’s true.”

Ye Shuangxue froze. Her big, black-glass-like eyes stared blankly at Ye Tian.

She thought Ye Tian would fly into a rage, leave, or even beat them again.

But Ye Tian looked very dejected…

“I can’t make fire, my cooking is bad, I don’t fit in with you, your older sisters and friends at school dislike me, and because of me, you’ve been excluded and looked down upon since childhood. Everyone calls you naughty children. I can’t do anything—I can’t make a good school bag, I can’t even read.”

Ye Tian hadn’t finished speaking.

Xiao Jiang burst into tears, sobbing loudly: “No! No! You’re my dad. No matter what others say about you, I know you’re someone important to me.”

Ye Shuangxue’s angry expression froze. Her eyebrows drooped, and her fair little face looked at Ye Tian, sad and hurt.

She pressed her lips together: “You can’t do anything, but we’ve never said you were bad. We… we just want to be with you.”

Ye Yunting remained silent.

He had already guessed what Ye Tian wanted to say. His little heart was pounding wildly.

Now he could be certain: Ye Tian was a competent father!