Ch58.2 - How about I marry you then?

They climbed up to the attic, the numerous flights of stairs enough to make anyone feel dizzy. No one dared to speak for fear of breaking the rules and their footsteps sounded heavy. Each of them carried unease about their future, wondering who the lucky one would be.

Finally, they stopped in the hall and lined up in rows. An old woman came out and pushed a child out from the innermost room—it was the boy in black clothes they had seen in the afternoon.

He really was the young master—Jian Mei secretly thought to himself.

He tried to look at the boy again, but when he did, his gaze was met by those piercing green eyes. The boy was staring back at him too!

Jian Mei’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly averted his gaze.

Wu Ma’s tone when talking to the young master was entirely different— it was softer, with a hint of flattery. She smiled and asked, “Young master, has anyone caught your attention?”

The boy’s gaze swept over everyone, his slightly childish voice ringing out. “Let them introduce themselves. I’ll listen to them.”

Wu Ma nodded and pointed to a child. “You go first. Introduce yourselves to the young master one by one in order.”

The children began their introductions one by one, each trying to highlight their best qualities.

“My name is… I can read and organize books for the young master, and I’m very hardworking.”

“Hello, young master. I’m honest and won’t touch anything I shouldn’t.”

“I can tell jokes to amuse the young master.”

Soon, it was the turn of the girl who had been selected earlier. She stepped forward with confidence, catching Wu Ma’s approving gaze. She said, “I have wind elemental powers. I can help the young master get books from high shelves, clean, and take good care of him.”

To everyone’s surprise, the young boy didn’t react at all.

The atmosphere turned awkward, even Wu Ma didn’t expect this. She could only ask the girl to step back.

The boy then calmly told them, “Continue.”

The others quickly finished with their grand speeches, and before long, it was Jian Mei’s turn. He took a step forward, and all eyes were on him as they silently waited for him to speak.

Jian Mei nervously bit his lip. He wasn’t as fast or efficient as the others and he didn’t have any divine powers. After thinking it over, he realized he didn’t really have anything impressive to introduce, so he didn’t speak right away. Surprisingly, the young boy didn’t rush him. He just stared at him quietly, waiting silently.

Jian Mei locked gaze with him and his mind drifted back to the scene from the attic earlier. Without thinking at all, he said, “I could take you downstairs to look at the flowers.”

“……”

The room sank into complete silence.

FSS EaI JEaIb vaQSHbIw LIbI IGVIb EJ QwEbJHkvI EaIhtISAIt, ikE eQGw PIQ LGt EaI JwSN JwI LaJ trJBI GwH LGt hIGwE YJb EaI iJN.

EIT gfp’A NLeT SYQGsTiTB, LJB XQLJ vTQ BQBJ’d UJBTiAdLJB mILd Qd PTLJd. HTTYQJN LmsmLiB, IT ZUQGsYp YffsTB LmLp LJB LBBTB AfSdYp, “uS GfUiAT, fJYp QS pfU mLJd df.”

oU vL mLA AYQNIdYp AUiqiQATB—LSdTi LYY, dIT pfUJN PLAdTi ILBJ’d YTSd dIT UqqTi SYffi Sfi pTLiA. oILd mLA dIQA YQddYT ATiaLJd dLYsQJN LgfUd!?

iwpMCw Tnw kMdrt TkMrt BfgO lwf, Pnw jMdOx JgTPwC fO Pnw bnwwrkngfC TWMvw dW. yw Tgft, “V tMO’P rfvw prMbwCT.”

If it were anyone else, they’d probably be too embarrassed to say anything after hearing such words.

But even after hearing those words, Jian Mei still had clear and innocent eyes. He looked straight at the boy, then smiled and gently said, “Then we can look at something else.”

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the young master said, “Alright, it’s you then.”

Jian Mei was a little surprised. “Really?”

The young master nodded affirmatively. “Really.”

The rest of the crowd: “……”

This is okay?!

Wu Ma, who was standing nearby, was equally surprised. She pointed at the girl and said, “Young master, didn’t you want you’d pick two? What about her?”

The young master, looking elegant and refined, gently shook his head. “No, I don’t like her. This one is enough.”

The little girl’s expression changed a little, but since she wasn’t as cunning as Wu Ma, she accepted the master’s decision. She said, “Understood, young master, I’ll take them away.”

The young master nodded and then looked at Jian Mei. “He’ll stay.”

Not daring to offend this temperamental person, Wu Ma hastily agreed. “Yes, yes. He’ll stay to take care of you from now on.”

Only then did the young master nod in acknowledgement.

Jian Mei watched Xiao Ban as he prepared to leave and his brow furrowed instantly. He never thought he’d actually be chosen and instantly felt a hint of regret. He wanted to leave too, even if it meant doing hard work. He didn’t want to lose the only person he could talk to in this unfamiliar place.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind, “What are you looking at?”

Jian Mei quickly turned and locked eyes with the young master. He stammered, “I… I was just watching them go downstairs.”

“Stop looking. You’ll stay here from now on.” The young master’s voice was soft and warm, like a scholar. He didn’t act superior and simply reminded Jian Mei, “Now that you’re staying here, don’t hang around with them anymore.”

“……”

But I’m just the same as them, just another laborer.

Jian Mei didn’t argue; there wasn’t any point in doing so. He simply nodded in response.

The elderly woman followed behind the young boy, pushing his wheelchair back to the study room for him to study. With no tasks assigned to him, Jian Mei decided to tidy up the bookshelf nearby.

At night, when it was time to bathe and eat, the elderly woman pushed the young boy back to his room to change clothes.

Jian Mei was still reading in front of the bookshelf when he heard the young master speak. “Mei, why aren’t you following us?”

Jian Mei froze.

Jian Mei hadn’t thought that something as simple as changing clothes would need a personal attendant.

Since his employer had asked, he didn’t think much of it. He put down the book and said, “I’m coming over.”

The house is incredibly spacious, with elegant and refined decor. The whole place exuded a scholarly atmosphere, just like the young master—gentle, warm, and without a hint of hostility.

The elderly woman stopped in the bedroom to help the boy change his clothes. His skin was pale and flawless, but he was alarmingly thin. Jian Mei wasn’t someone who liked to pry into such things and was about to look away when the woman beckoned to him. “Come and help.”

As it turned out, she wanted him to help the young master change his pants.

The elderly woman supported the boy while Jian Mei stepped in to help him change. Due to prolonged poor circulation and old injuries, people with leg disabilities often have thin frail legs and look far from normal. To the boy and woman’s surprise, Jian Mei didn’t hesitate to offer to help—he moved quickly and skillfully.

Jian Mei didn’t show any unusual reaction when he saw the boy’s legs. He was skilled at caring for others, his movements and the strength he used while holding the boy’s legs both precise and gentle. He even told the boy, “Stay still. Let me handle it.”

The boy’s gaze deepened as he watched Jian Mei.

The old woman asked him, “Mei, have you taken care of others before?”

“Mm, I have some experience,” Jian Mei responded while dressing the boy. “I used to take care of people at home.”

When Jian Mei lived in the countryside, it wasn’t just young people coming for treatment—most were elderly. Whether they had difficulty moving or suffered from back pain, they often needed help undressing. Jian Mei had long grown used to doing this kind of work.

They were in the middle of talking when a knock sounded at the door—someone had arrived.

Jian Mei was about to get it, but the young boy turned to the elderly woman and said, “Let her handle it. You should go check, it’s probably someone from over there bringing something.”

The elderly woman replied with a hum and stepped out.

Now, only Jian Mei and the young master remained in the room. As Jian Mei helped him put on his pants, he couldn’t resist examining the boy’s legs closely. Perhaps it was the instinct of someone with medical experience—he was always drawn to patients’ injuries.

It reminded him of a time at his grandfather’s house when they had treated a child with a similar condition. The child’s leg was also paralyzed, but with a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and hospital care, his grandfather had helped him walk again.

Jian Mei felt a strong urge to examine the boy’s condition, wondering if he could be of any help. At first glance, he noticed that there was some circulation in the boy’s legs—there might still be hope for recovery.

A voice suddenly came from above. “What are you looking at?”

Jian Mei came back to his senses and met the young boy’s gaze. He lowered his head and replied, “I was wondering if there’s any chance your leg could still be healed.”

The young boy’s expression changed, turning grim significantly. A far cry from the composed look he had earlier. With a hint of displeasure, he asked, “Do you despise me as well?”

“No.” Jian Mei said honestly. “I just think there might still be a way to treat your legs.”

The boy’s gaze sharpened. “Are you a healing priest?”

Jian Mei shook his head. “I’m not.”

The young boy was momentarily taken aback. Then, a faint smile appeared on the elegant young master’s lips. This was the first time Jian Mei had seen him smile, and he found it quite charming.

The young boy’s smile vanished as quickly as it appeared. He frowned slightly and his tone turned sharp. “Are you making fun of me?”

Jian Mei hesitated, feeling a tinge of regret for speaking rashly. He shook his head and said, “I wasn’t.”

He wanted to show that he wasn’t making fun of the boy.

Jian Mei felt a little flustered and tried to explain, “I—I know someone skilled in medicine, and I know a bit myself. That’s why I said it. I wasn’t trying to make fun of you.”

He didn’t realize that his clumsy little antics made him seem like an adorable animal, amusing and fun to watch.

The young master turned his head to look at him and said, “Did you know that even divine healing priests couldn’t treat my legs? My father has tried countless ways, but nothing worked.”

Jian Mei replied, “I know a little.”

“And you still dare to say that.” The young master was clearly amused and teased his newly hired little attendant, “Alright, let’s say I believe you’re not making fun of me. If you could actually treat my legs…”

Jian Mei looked at him with curiosity, wondering if he might get a generous reward.

But the young master looked at him with amusement and said softly, “How about I marry you then?”