Chapter 164 Smarter Than Expected (1/2)

Yan Yu led Ruan Tang into the courtyard and immediately bolted the door shut.

Just as Ruan Tang was about to tell him to go to the kitchen to boil some hot water, she saw the man stride over to the well and quickly scoop up a whole bucket of ice-cold well water.

"Splash—"

He expressionlessly took off his blood-soaked, frozen-hard coat and tossed it onto the snow.

Immediately afterwards, with his strong, muscular, and well-proportioned upper body bare, he scooped up a ladle of ice water and poured it over his head.

The icy well water washed away the dried bloodstains and the intense murderous aura emanating from him.

Ruan Tang's heart skipped a beat, and her face turned pale.

She hurriedly ran out of the house with a large piece of clean cotton cloth, her voice full of reproach and heartache.

"Brother! The sky is freezing cold, why are you rinsing it with cold water! You'll get sick!"

She stood on tiptoe, holding a soft cotton cloth, and painstakingly wiped the water droplets off his broad back.

Yan Yu didn't move, letting her wipe him.

The little girl's hands were soft and warm, with a sweet milky scent. They gently brushed against his cold skin, and that warmth went straight into his heart.

He lowered his eyes, looking at her small head that only reached his chest, and at her earnest and meticulous way of wiping him dry. The icy look in his eyes melted away without him even realizing it.

"I'm not cold," he said, his voice a little hoarse than usual.

"Nonsense! Your hands are so cold!"

Ruan Tang didn't believe it. She grabbed his still dripping hand, wrapped it tightly in her own soft little hands, and breathed warm air into it, as if she were warming a frozen little bird.

This gesture was natural and intimate, conveying unreserved tenderness.

Yan Yu's heart completely melted.

He reached out and grasped her large, rough hands, which completely enveloped her two soft, boneless hands. With a gentle pull, he drew her into his arms.

"It's really not cold."

He lowered his head, his high, straight nose almost touching hers, his hot breath tickling her cheek.

"With you keeping me warm, I feel warm."

Ruan Tang's face turned bright red instantly.

Just then, with a creak, the backyard door was pushed open, and a furry tiger's head poked in.

The orange cat smelled blood and instinctively became alert. But when it realized the source of the blood was Yan Yu, and that its older brother, Little White, was squatting under the eaves, glaring at them angrily like a little furball, it was dumbfounded.

It walked steadily to Little White's side, nuzzled it with its big head, and made a puzzled "purring" sound in its throat.

(Brother, what happened? The man smells like dead prey. Is he injured?)

Little White was so angry that its tail fur stood on end with a "whoosh"!

It leaped up with a "whoosh," put its two mithril paws on its waist, and unleashed a barrage of "squeak squeak squeak" sounds at the big orange cat.

(You idiot! That's someone else's blood! He's not injured! He's just dirty! It will smell bad for the little master!)

As Xiao Bai spoke, it grew angrier and angrier. With its short legs, it rushed to Yan Yu's feet, stood upright on its two hind legs, pawed at his trouser legs with its front paws, and tilted its little head up, its dark purple eyes full of accusation and disgust.

Yan Yu was amused by the little thing's dramatic antics, so he bent down and lifted it off his trouser leg.

Little White squirmed wildly in his palm, its four little paws kicking wildly in the air, and it squeaked loudly in protest.

When Daju saw that his older brother had been "held hostage," he immediately became anxious. He rushed forward and let out a low growl at Yan Yu, baring two small tiger teeth that had not yet fully grown in, in an attempt to threaten him.

Seeing this, Ruan Tang burst out laughing, her eyes crinkling and her dimples so sweet they could drown someone.

"Alright, alright, you two little drama queens, I'm fine, I'm taking a shower right now."

She walked over, took Xiaobai from Yan Yu's hands, and held it in her arms, gently stroking its fur to comfort it.

"Don't bully your brother, he worked very hard today."