Chapter 36: Why Does Everyone Think I'm Weak?

"So your grandfather was a Taoist priest who descended from the mountain!"

After hearing Li Yaoyao's explanation, Ye Fan felt a mix of amusement and frustration. In their world, Taoist priests who descended from the mountains were not unheard of, and it was quite normal for them to possess some supernatural skills. According to Li Yaoyao, this "Sanyang Mysterious Needle" technique was primarily for healing patients, strengthening the body, and prolonging life; it didn't seem to have any truly miraculous properties.

"Shall I explain it to you?"

Li Yaoyao had calmed down and taken the initiative to call him again. Having just confessed their feelings to each other, they were in the honeymoon phase, inseparable and deeply infatuated; she truly didn't want to leave Ye Fan's side for even a moment.

"The Sanyang Mysterious Needle technique of our family cannot be practiced by women, because when performing the acupuncture, one must use one's own Yang energy to stimulate the acupoints..."

Li Yaoyao explained the training method of the Sanyang Mysterious Needle patiently and asked Ye Fan to find a chart of acupoints and meridians to memorize. Ye Fan listened intently, and before he knew it, the whole afternoon had passed.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Just as Li Yaoyao finished her explanation, a knock sounded at Ye Fan's door.

"Mr. Ye, dinner is ready!" came the voice of the housekeeper from outside. Ye Fan responded and then said to Li Yaoyao, "I have to go eat. What are you having for dinner? Do you want me to pack some for you?"

Li Yaoyao was about to refuse when Ye Fan added, "It's all gourmet delicacies!"

"Then... I'll have some~"

"You got it!" Ye Fan chuckled. Seeing Li Yaoyao acting as docile as a little kitten, he couldn't help but want to pinch her cheeks.

"Wait for me to come back!"

Ye Fan waved his hand, hung up the phone, and went out. In the first-floor dining room, Chen Shuting was already sitting at the table, calmly picking at her food. She was wearing a thick, cozy loungewear dress, her hair pinned up in a bun, her legs in black stockings crossed, and the cotton slippers on her feet swaying rhythmically.

"Sister Chen!"

Ye Fan went downstairs and greeted her, "Wow, this outfit looks great on you!"

Chen Shuting rolled her eyes at him. She was in a bad mood today and had decided to stop teasing this little brother of hers. Ye Fan, having been met with a cold shoulder, sat down at the dining table in embarrassment. He could also sense that Chen Shuting seemed to have some designs on him.

Although he liked beautiful women, especially wealthy ones, his reason told him it was better not to get involved. It wasn't because Chen Shuting was a married woman—who would turn down the chance to be a "Cao Cao"? It was mainly because Chen Shuting’s background was too deep; they were from completely different social strata. Things might be sweet now, but if they ever had a falling out, Chen Shuting could crush him like an ant, and he would have no power to resist.

Li Yaoyao was better! She was beautiful and pure, and they shared a secret together. If they struck it rich with the box in the future, it would be a success they had built together. Having realized this, Ye Fan stopped feeling restrained and picked up his bowl to start eating.

Chen Shuting looked at Ye Fan, who was acting as if nothing was wrong, and felt her anger flare up. "Did you have a good nap this afternoon?"

"Huh?" Ye Fan swallowed a mouthful of rice. "I didn't really sleep... I was mostly studying for a while!"

"Studying?" Chen Shuting was surprised. "What are you studying?"

"Learning some skills!" Ye Fan said as he ate, taking it for granted. "Since I'm going to be your assistant, I have to be both scholarly and martial, capable of healing and holding my own!"

"I didn't realize you were so ambitious!" Chen Shuting glanced at him, her mood inexplicably improving. He was taking the initiative to learn for her sake—did that mean he cared about her? "Then, are you going to study tonight too?"

"Yes!" Ye Fan glared at Chen Shuting. "Learning has no limits!"

"Tsk! I was going to take you to a bar to have some fun!"

"What's fun about that!" Ye Fan shook his head repeatedly. He had just fallen in love with Li Yaoyao and had no interest in bars.

"Then how about I don't go out tonight and keep you company while you study?" Chen Shuting looked at Ye Fan with great interest, finding him more likable by the second. Internally, she cursed herself for being a fool; he was being indifferent, yet she was still interested.

"That's not necessary!" Ye Fan waved his hand hurriedly when he heard she wanted to join him. Just kidding—if she came to keep him company, how would he be able to study the acupuncture techniques with Yaoyao?

Ye Fan thought to himself and said with a grin to Chen Shuting, "You go ahead and do your thing; it's not like I can't study on my own!"

"Hmph!" Chen Shuting kicked Ye Fan under the table with her slippered foot. "Why wouldn't you be able to? Don't you like the idea of a beauty accompanying your studies?"

"Sigh!" Ye Fan felt troubled internally. "Women only slow down my speed of learning!"

"I don't care, I'm going to keep you company while you study tonight!" Chen Shuting thought to herself that the more he tried to push her away, the more she would insist on staying, just to see what he could do about it.

"Uh..." Ye Fan rolled his eyes and said, "Sister Chen, if you really want to help me, could you buy me a few pigeons?"

"Pigeons again?" Chen Shuting asked curiously. "Why on earth do you need pigeons?"

"Does 'nourishing my body' count?" Ye Fan gave a random excuse and, after finishing his last bite, prepared to go upstairs. He felt helpless; if she insisted on coming, he would have to return to his room early and tell Li Yaoyao to find an excuse to call later. Then, he would have to pretend to study something...

Chen Shuting, however, didn't move. She thought it over, and a very logical explanation appeared in her mind. Ye Fan was weak!

"No wonder you didn't touch me this afternoon! I was wondering, with my charm, what man could resist? It turns out he's just lacking confidence!"

Thinking of this, her mood brightened instantly, and she quickly stood up. "Alright then! I'll go buy you some supplements!"

Ye Fan was climbing the stairs when he nearly tripped upon hearing this. He turned back and shouted, "I want pigeons! Live ones!"

Chen Shuting was a woman of action and quickly returned to her room to change. Seeing her leave, Ye Fan ran back downstairs and said to the housekeeper, who was cleaning up the table, "Auntie, wait a moment! Please put these dishes on a plate for me, and bring me a bowl of porridge. I'm taking them to my room!"

"Why are you taking food back to your room?" Chen Shuting's voice suddenly came from upstairs. She was holding her coat over her chest, looking down from the third floor.

Ye Fan looked up and saw that Chen Shuting had taken off her dress and was wearing only black stockings. The coat in her hands barely covered the essential parts. His blood pressure spiked instantly, and he nearly had a nosebleed.

"I... for a midnight snack!" He grabbed the plate and fled in a panic, the sound of Chen Shuting’s enchanting laughter echoing behind him.

"Whew!"

Ye Fan closed the door and locked it with a "click." His mind was filled with black, white, and red images, and he couldn't help but roll his eyes. He walked to the box, placed the food inside, and opened his phone to chat.

"I'm back!"

The video call connected. Li Yaoyao had just set the plate down. She looked at Ye Fan and asked curiously, "Huh? Ye Fan, why is your face so red?"

"I'm tired!" Ye Fan said casually. "Sister Chen's villa is too bright—oh, no, I mean, it's too big. Climbing the stairs is exhausting!"

"Ah?" Li Yaoyao was surprised, her small mouth forming an 'O' shape. "Then you really need to exercise your body! It's such a struggle just to go up to the second floor! Perfect, I'll guide you through the acupuncture techniques tonight. We'll start from the basics, and I guarantee your health will improve within a month!"

Ye Fan was speechless. Why were both women misinterpreting his physical state tonight? Li Yaoyao didn't see Ye Fan's expression; she picked up a fried chicken leg and took a bite, her eyes lighting up like stars.

"Mmm! Delicious!"

"It is? If you like it, eat more. I'll get it for you often!"

"Mmm-hmm..."