Chapter 1970: Chapter 1969: Unknown
It was as if Wang Ye hadn’t heard a word I said. His expression didn’t change, his steps didn’t pause, but in the depths of his eyes a hidden chill gathered.
When he walked up to Wang Bo, Wang Ye bent down slightly and said, "I’m not a good person."
But Wang Bo didn’t even spare Wang Ye a glance. He turned his old face away and said faintly,
"Yes, Grandpa." Wang Bo took Wang Ye’s wine cup without a word and drained it in one go.
A junior toasting his elder, yet making his own "queen" drink in his place—this was no longer mere disregard, it was naked humiliation. Wang Ye set down the cup and sat, his eyes filled with a feigned contempt and mockery.
Wang Ye said nothing, just gave a slight nod and walked to a nearby table as he always did. Two steps away, a cold snort sounded. "Xiongnu, trash is trash. Even if you’ve become one of the Xia Family, you’re still trash. Is that old bastard Wang Yun really planning to let his grandson’s wife change her heart for him? Heh heh."
His voice was filled with deep contempt and ridicule—of course, there was also jealousy. If the one marrying her were his grandson Wang Yang and not Wang Ye, without even counting the Xia Family’s wealth, just thinking of Xia Qin’s astounding ability would be enough to make him laugh out loud in his sleep.
Wang Yang walked off still smiling, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.
By the time Wang Ye had finished toasting and seen the guests off, it was already deep into the night. During all that time, only a handful of people had sincerely offered him congratulations and joy—so few he could count them on his fingers. The contempt in their eyes, some people’s sighs, others’ jealousy and resentment, and the look of disdain and "what a waste" on their faces—none of it could be hidden.
Their noble bloodlines were defective; they would never achieve anything great in this life. So they had no need to befriend him, no need for politeness; even if they offended him, they couldn’t care less. On the contrary, in front of this piece of human garbage, they could flaunt their superiority and look down on this weakling who could never surpass them. They had the ambition of the strong.
This was the reality and the ugly essence of most people.
"Now, get some proper rest." Wang Yi patted Wang Ye’s shoulder with a gentle smile.
And in this moment, Wang Ye of course had no way of knowing what was hidden beneath his grandfather’s smile.
As Wang Yi aged, his temperament had grown gentler and gentler. But when he was young, his temper had practically been notorious; if anyone so much as slightly offended him, he’d fly into such a rage that no one dared touch him. Wang Ye knew all too well that his grandfather hadn’t mellowed because of age, but because his mentality had settled.
For the sake of the useless grandson who needed his full protection, he had to become kinder, humbler, tolerate to the greatest extent—even if insulted or bullied—so long as they didn’t touch the bottom line. Otherwise, those who insulted him would very likely retaliate against his grandson who had no Xuanwu.
As the fifth Elder, once the most powerful Xuanwu in Yun City, Wang Ye had once been beyond provocation—yet now he was often bullied and mocked by the other four Elders, respected and despised by the younger generation all at once.
Faces full of ridicule and scorn flashed through his mind. Wang Ye’s hands slowly clenched, his fists turning pale, his gaze cold as a blade—while his lips slowly curled upward into a cruel smile.
Wang Ye was absolutely the type to hold a grudge. In the last years of his previous life, his heart had been filled with hatred. Those who treated him well, he remembered; those who harmed him were likewise carved into his mind—already verging on an obsession with revenge.
"You... you’re going to regret this."
A low voice, like a vicious curse, slowly seeped out from Wang Ye’s mouth.
Heaven has given me the chance to be reborn as a man. I don’t believe my grandfather and I will be bullied again.
Wang Ye walked to a corner of the courtyard and stretched his left hand forward. At once, a water arrow shot out from his palm.
At today’s banquet, he had inevitably drunk a large amount of wine. It wasn’t that he could hold his liquor; rather, all the wine he drank had been transferred to that space he entered when he first stepped into the castle. It had merged with his body, and he could manipulate it as easily as his own flesh.
Wang Ye raised his wine-soaked left hand, suddenly grinned, and splashed the wine directly over his face. He held his breath, his face flushing red, then staggered and pushed open the door to his new room.
As he pushed the door open, the smell of alcohol rolled in with him. Wang Ye stumbled inside and nearly fell flat. He lifted his head in a daze and saw Xia Qin sitting on the bed, eyes closed, face calm. The red candlelight lit up her beautiful face, lending it an irresistibly dreamlike allure and charm.
Wang Ye rubbed his eyes, gave a lewd little grin, and swung his legs toward Xia Qin. "Hey, hey, wife, I’ve wanted you for so long. I made you wait... now I can, I can, I can, I can, I’m gonna..."
Xia Qin’s eyes fluttered open, and her right hand casually swept forward.
An irresistible chill instantly swept through Wang Ye’s body. His whole body was flung straight out the door, landing on his ass in the courtyard, almost knocking over the only stone table there.
Wang Ye cried out in pain and only managed to stand after a long moment. Rubbing his butt, he shouted angrily, "Fuck, what’s wrong with you? Why’d you do that? I was just joking—why’d you hit me so hard? You don’t even have any compassion, how can you hit me that hard? Are you trying to kill your own husband or what?"
Bang!
The door to the room slammed shut heavily.
When Wang Ye tried to push it, the door was tightly closed.
Wang Ye instantly fell into a depressed mood. This woman didn’t even get jokes, let alone flirting! What’s the point of a place like this if you can’t have a bit of fun?
"I really was just joking. Besides, I’m a low-grade Xuanwu-level piece of trash; even if I wanted to offend her, I couldn’t."
Xia Qin didn’t respond.
In Wang Ye’s small courtyard there was only one room, no side rooms, not even a storage shed or a stable. On ordinary days, he’d definitely sneak off to his stepmother’s place to sleep, but tonight was his first night back home, so he’d rather go nowhere.
The night wind blew, and Wang Ye’s body felt drained. He knocked on the door again and said weakly, "Hey, maybe I really should sleep outside tonight. You should know, there are plenty of people in the clan who have feelings for you. On our wedding night, they’ll be feeling very, very uncomfortable. But they all think a pearl like you would never fall for a stray dog like me, so even though we’re married, they won’t let me lay a finger on you, won’t let me sleep under the same roof. So sooner or later someone’s going to sneak over to look for me, to watch this joke. If they see me locked out of your room, I’ll become a complete laughingstock."
"I’m still your husband right now. Can you really stand to see me become a joke?"
