Rebirth of a Star General Chapter 245

Chapter 245: Like

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Chu Zhao pushed the tea cup towards He Yan and smiled, but He Yan just glanced at the cup and didn’t respond.

“When we were in Jiyang and Rundu before, Ah He and I were considered friends. Why does it feel awkward now that we’re both back in Shuojing?” Chu Zhao spoke with a smile.

He Yan looked at him and asked, “I heard that the Fourth Young Master was seriously injured a few days ago. Are you alright?”

“No serious harm,” Chu Zhao laughed, “But I’m glad Ah He cares about me.”

He Yan frowned at him. Chu Zhao’s words sounded like he was flirting. Back in Jiyang and Rundu, He Yan thought it was just a joke and didn’t take it seriously. Now, both she and Chu Zhao were engaged to others, and even though his marriage to Xu Pingting couldn’t proceed as planned, their relationship was still somewhat delicate.

Is he trying to use her to deal with Xiao Jue? He Yan pondered. The remnants of Xu Jingfu had not been completely eliminated, and it was likely that they would fall into Chu Zhao’s hands. In that case, Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue were still rivals. If Chu Zhao wanted to use her to deal with Xiao Jue… was he really resorting to such a tactic? Isn’t that sacrificing too much?

Seeing He Yan’s strange expression, Chu Zhao paused, and after a while, as if he had seen through her thoughts, he shook his head and chuckled, “Ah He, where is your mind wandering off to again?”

“Fourth Young Master,” He Yan said seriously, “Where did you get Miss He’s hairpin?”

“Madam Xu?” Chu Zhao said, “I just noticed that Ah He takes good care of Madam Xu, so I took her hairpin. It’s not a gentlemanly act, but I just wanted to see Ah He.” He asked, “Ah He is very sincere in her care for Madam Xu.”

“He Xu family matters are related to me. Ah He and I happen to have the same name and surname. It’s fate, and it’s only right that I show more concern.” He Yan responded smoothly.

Chu Zhao took a sip of tea and sighed, “In that case, I envy Miss He.”

“Envy what?”

“I envy Ah He for caring for her so sincerely.”

He Yan: “…”

Now she understood. Chu Zhao was clearly flirting with her openly and shamelessly, more so than before. 

He Yan lowered her head and looked at her own hands. Had it been so long since she had displayed her martial arts skills in public that people had forgotten her ability to shatter stones with her fists?

“Fourth Young Master, you called me here. It can’t be just to talk about these things, right?” He Yan asked, “Feel free to speak your mind.”

Chu Zhao smiled and his expression became serious for a moment, “Ah He, the way you treat me now seems like we are enemies, is it because of Commander Xiao?”

He Yan looked at him but remained silent.

“It’s almost the new year,” Chu Zhao looked into her eyes, softening his gaze, and there was a hint of imperceptible sadness. “Soon, Ah He will marry Commander Xiao.”

“Fourth Young Master, are you here to congratulate me?”

Chu Zhao shook his head, “No, I want to ask you… do you really want to marry Commander Xiao?”

He Yan, “…Of course.”

“Can you not marry him?”

He Yan was utterly puzzled, “Why not marry him?”

“Because,” he looked at her with a smile, “I like Ah He.”

He Yan: “…”

In her previous life as Second Miss He, even though she interacted with men frequently, no one had ever confessed to her. Even when she was married to Xu Zhiheng, he never uttered the word “like.” Unexpectedly, in this reincarnation, she found herself surrounded by quite a few suitors. Excluding that rotten peach blossom Fan Cheng, whether it was Muyi from Jiyang City, the current Xiao Jue, or the present Chu Zhao, He Yan couldn’t help but wonder. Although Miss He was relatively beautiful, she didn’t consider herself exceptionally stunning. Why did she attract so much attention? Xiao Jue had a two-lifetime connection with her, but what about Muyi and Chu Zhao? They barely exchanged a few words, and yet they casually claimed to “like” her. Wasn’t that a bit too casual?

“Fourth Young Master, such words shouldn’t be said lightly,” He Yan composed herself and replied politely.

“I’m not joking,” Chu Zhao looked at her gently, his gaze surprisingly earnest. “Ever since I saw Ah He in Liangzhou, I liked her.”

He Yan couldn’t help but develop a layer of goosebumps.

She thought she wasn’t accustomed to hearing such straightforward love confessions.

“Thank you for your affection, Fourth Young Master, but…” she paused, “I already have someone I like.”

“Commander Xiao?”

“Yes,” He Yan answered decisively.

“Ah He is always so direct,” Chu Zhao continued to smile, but there was a hint of melancholy in his gaze. He asked, “Why… do you like Commander Xiao?”

Why?

He Yan was momentarily stunned. She had never considered that liking someone required a reason. Liking was simply liking; there didn’t need to be a specific why. If she had to say something, it was probably because Xiao Jue was just too good. He noticed when she wanted to eat loquats and secretly put them in her bag, he changed the strong wine to sweet rose dew for her, and when he knew she couldn’t lift a knife in the academy, he deliberately chose a teacher who omitted knife techniques. Seeing her seasick, he gave her seasickness medicine, pretending it was poison… and so on. Strangely, he seemed to have never been treated gently by anyone, yet he knew how to take care of others tenderly.

After some thought, she smiled and said, “I didn’t have a good reputation in the past, and there weren’t many people who treated me well. So, I remember every person who treated me well. Later, I found out that all those who treated me well were the same person. How could I not like him?”

“I will treat you well too,” Chu Zhao said in a gentle tone.

He Yan looked at him, “Fourth Fourth Young Master Chu, we are not on the same path.”

Silence filled the tea room.

Chu Zhao’s eyes were light in color, giving him an extra touch of tenderness that others didn’t have. Now, those eyes looked like fractured fluorite, fragile and heart-wrenching.

“Ah He, what you said hurts me deeply.” 

He Yan responded, “I apologize.”

Although she wasn’t adept at handling more intimate relationships between people, she felt no great struggle within herself regarding Chu Zhao. They were not on the same path, and that was an undeniable fact. Due to their past connection, she preferred people who were straightforward rather than those who spoke in riddles.

Trying to ease the awkward atmosphere like an adult, He Yan also smiled, “Moreover, I am about to get married. Fourth Young Master requested His Majesty to spare Miss Xu’s life. It must be a genuine sentiment towards Miss Xu. Fourth Young Master, you may not know,” she spoke lightly, “I am a jealous person. After I get married, there cannot be any other women in my husband’s courtyard except me. If Xiao Jue can marry me, it’s also at a cost.”

“What’s difficult about that?” Chu Zhao looked at her, sincerely saying, “If Ah He is willing to marry me, my courtyard will definitely have only Ah He.”

“Pa—-!”

Before He Yan could speak, with a sudden loud noise, the door behind her was kicked open.

“Brazen talk,” someone sneered coldly.

He Yan turned to look, and Xiao Jue walked in with an iron-blue expression. Compared to Chu Zhao, he carried the chill of the snowstorm on his entire body. Even colder than the snow was his expression. He Yan thought, if it weren’t for the city garrison not far away, he might have killed someone.

“Commander Xiao arrived so quickly,” Chu Zhao sighed and stood up, smiling. “It almost succeeded.”

He Yan’s face changed drastically. Almost succeeded? What almost succeeded? This was not the time to say such misleading words!

“No, no!” He Yan hurriedly explained, “It didn’t succeed from the beginning, really!”

Xiao Jue didn’t spare her a glance, only staring at Chu Zhao with eyes hiding knives, his expression mocking.

“Commander Xiao, it’s best not to be too fierce in front of the lady.” Chu Zhao chuckled lightly and looked at He Yan again. “What I said to Ah He today is sincerely from my heart. If Ah He changes her mind, I will find a way to help her… I also truly want to marry Ah He.”

The last sentence carried a sweetness that seemed to have been brewed for a long time, tempting the hearts and minds of those who heard it.

But before this ripple could reach anyone’s lips, it was severed by a sword.

The long table was shattered by Drinking Autumn’s strike, and the tea set on the table fell to the ground, creating a clear sound in the night.

Xiao Jue’s figure was tall and straight, holding Drinking Autumn’s fingertips, which had turned slightly pale. His tone was calm, but it seemed to be brewing intense anger as he spoke calmly, “Such lowly beings like you, do you even qualify?”

Chu Zhao smiled as he looked at him, and the atmosphere became tense.

Not far away was the city garrison. He Yan estimated that if the disturbance escalated, it might attract attention. When Xiao Jue had used Drinking Autumn as a pawn during their swordplay on the Tianxing Platform, people had already accused him of letting desire cloud his judgment. If this incident happened today, wouldn’t it just confirm the rumors that she was a calamity to men? Unfortunate for her, she had done nothing. Why did everything have to turn into such a situation?

He Yan made a quick decision and grabbed Xiao Jue’s sleeve, pulling him outside. Turning back to Chu Zhao, she said, “It’s too late today. Fourth Young Master Chu, farewell.”

Chu Zhao smiled, “Alright.”

He Yan dragged Xiao Jue out of the tea room. The two young attendants at the door had disappeared at some point. Just a few steps out of the courtyard, Xiao Jue suddenly shook off her hand, leaving He Yan bewildered. Seeing him heading in another direction, it was undoubtedly clear – he was angry again.

However, this time He Yan could fully understand. With the wedding approaching, being caught by someone while someone else tried to interfere, she wouldn’t feel good either. But He Yan also felt wronged. She had come chasing after He Xinying, thinking that Chu Zhao had something important to discuss with her. She had considered whether to play along with his words and use his own words against him. She didn’t expect Chu Zhao to start with an extremely cheesy confession, leaving her dumbfounded!

Sigh… Well, anyway, Second Young Master Xiao was angry again, and she had to go and pacify him first.

“Xiao Jue, slow down, I can’t catch up—” He Yan called out to him from behind.

But this time, Xiao Jue did not slow down as he walked away.

It seemed like he was really angry. He Yan caught up from behind, ran to his side, turned around, and hugged him around the waist. “Stop, don’t go!”

Xiao Jue was held tightly by her, unable to move for a while. He didn’t look at her, gazing elsewhere with a still cold expression.

“Let me explain,” He Yan hurriedly spoke, “Today’s incident was absolutely unexpected. He came to me with Xinying’s hairpin, and I thought something had happened to Xinying, so I went to meet him. I didn’t expect him to deceive me into coming out to talk. I absolutely did not have a secret meeting with him in the middle of the night; there is absolutely no illicit affair!”

She shouldn’t have said the last sentence. As soon as she did, the air around them grew even colder.

“Don’t be angry; it’s not good for your health.” He Yan reached out to rub his chest. “Being angry all the time at such a young age, you might get sick from holding it in.”

Xiao Jue blocked her wandering hands and frowned, “Don’t touch me.”

“No—” He Yan stubbornly clung to him, “unless you’re not angry.”

Xiao Jue took a deep breath, lowered his eyes to look at her, and spoke in a cold tone, “Even if he deceived you, why didn’t you leave immediately once you realized it?”

“I can’t figure out what he wants to do. I thought he had some important matters to discuss with me.” He Yan explained, “It’s late at night, and I came all the way…”

“Came all the way?” Xiao Jue looked at He Yan incredulously.

“I came, so of course, I had to ask what he wanted!” He Yan declared with righteousness, “How was I supposed to know he came to… cough… talk about irrelevant matters?” After saying that, she muttered in a low voice, “It scared me to death.”

Xiao Jue sneered, “I told you to stay away from him.”

“I know, I know.” He Yan swore with her hand on her heart, “I will definitely keep my distance from him in the future!” That was a given. Who would have thought that Chu Zhao would have such ideas about her? Just thinking about it gave her the creeps.

Xiao Jue’s expression eased slightly.

Observing him, He Yan saw that he didn’t seem as angry as before, so she asked, “By the way, how did you know I was here?” She exclaimed, “Did you have someone follow me again?”

Xiao Jue said with annoyance, “Not following you, following Chu Zilan.”

“Oh,” He Yan sighed, “You care more about Chu Zilan than me. Look at how magnanimous I am. Why am I not angry?”

Xiao Jue stared at her without saying a word.

“I was just kidding.” He Yan smiled and suddenly remembered something, “When did you arrive?” She paused, “You were here from the beginning.”

The young man raised an eyebrow slightly.

He Yan, “…”

“What did you hear?” she asked tentatively.

“What should I have heard?”

He Yan remained silent. What should he have heard? If Xiao Jue arrived early enough, wouldn’t he have heard every conversation between her and Chu Zhao, including her steadfast confession? He Yan released her hold on his hand, turned her head, and wished she could slap herself hard.

Although she doesn’t really care about face or not face, thinking about it now, she has expressed herself how many times for nothing. Whether it’s straightforward, indirect, face-to-face, or behind her back, she’s not an emotionless confession machine. Yet, every time, someone catches on. It’s embarrassing, but this person’s heart is too dark, eavesdropping from the outside. If she were to show more closeness to Chu Zhao, would she be accused of being an “adulterous **”?

She really couldn’t explain.

Lost in her thoughts, He Yan heard him say, “Why are you still standing there doing nothing?”

Seeing He Yan looking at him, Xiao Jue paused and said, “Let’s go back.”

He Yan made a sound of agreement, took a few steps, then stopped and looked at him suspiciously. “Xiao Jue.”

Xiao Jue stopped walking, turned to look at her, and asked, “What is it?”

“As I think about it, it seems a bit unfair,” He Yan said.

“What’s unfair?” 

He Yan blinked. “You’ve heard my confession many times, but I haven’t heard you confess.”

“What?”

He Yan spoke confidently, unapologetic for her meticulous calculations. Reflecting on it now, Xiao Jue was always subtle in his expressions, and she, who was accustomed to straightforwardness, often found his words elusive.

“In any case,” she took a step forward and said, “you’ve never said you like me.”

“Like?” He Jue looked at He Yan intently and asked.

He Yan nodded. “Yes!”

“Miss He,” he called her by name, startling He Yan, “what do you want to confirm?”

He Yan was momentarily speechless.

To be honest, she just wanted to take advantage of Xiao Jue verbally and hear some sweet words from him. But Xiao Jue’s serious demeanor left her at a loss for words. Just as she was about to find an excuse to brush it off, he took a step forward.

With the young man’s face inches away, clean and beautiful features, their eyes met, and in his deep black eyes, there seemed to be an inexplicable emotion, making her blush and her heart race.

“You…” He Yan only managed to say one word before he interrupted.

He took another step forward, “The first time I picked a loquat was for you, the first time I taught someone swordsmanship was for you,” another step, “the first time I helped someone with medicine was for you, the first time I gave someone candy was also for you.” He advanced even closer, pressuring her, “The first time I coaxed a girl, the first time I lied for someone, was also for you.”

“I’ve thought about it. The first person I liked should also be you.”

He Yan was forced against the stone wall behind her, with no room to retreat. She raised her head, and all she could see was his slightly smiling eyes. “Miss He, have you confirmed it now?”

He Yan listened to her own heartbeat, momentarily forgetting why she had brought up this topic.

Her gaze shifted from Xiao Jue’s eyes to the corner of his lips, and she suddenly wanted to lean in for a kiss.

And indeed, she did just that. With a light tiptoe, she moved closer to him.

Xiao Jue was momentarily surprised but soon, a growing smile appeared in his eyes. He leaned down slightly, and just as they were about to touch –

“Wow! It’s really a decline of morals in Shuojing City! How can people of the same sex affectionately show love so openly?”

“Close your eyes! Hey, hurry up, what are you looking at?”

“I want to see who these two people are. I might know them.”

Two drunk men pointed and gossiped about them before stumbling away.

He Yan was startled. She had forgotten that she had gone out in male attire for convenience during the night. Now, to others, it naturally looked like two men expressing affection. Nevertheless, it was late at night, and people were still wandering around. Weren’t they afraid of causing trouble?

Feeling annoyed, perhaps due to the frustration of almost missing the opportunity to kiss Xiao Jue or being accused of same-sex affection, He Yan, under the despair, buried her head in Xiao Jue’s arms. She didn’t lift her head, and in an irritated tone, she said, “I’ve confirmed it! Very confirmed. Okay, let’s go back now.”

Xiao Jue lowered his head to glance at her, attempting to pull her away, but she clung tightly. After a while, he could only helplessly let go and chuckled.

––– Side Note –––

Angry Dudu: Don’t push me.

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