Chapter 814: She Won't Be Coming Back

Yaen Chi brought his phone over, and at first, Old Master Nan tried to maintain his composure.

But the moment he saw the photo of Nan Jiaojiao, any semblance of restraint disappeared.

Their heads were almost touching, and he held onto Yaen Chi, asking him when each photo was taken.

In the rare group photos, Nan Jiaojiao was almost always in the center.

A few photos earned them a lavish dinner.

Just how lavish?

Just a notch short of a full-scale Manchu-Han Imperial Feast.

Many dishes even Bo Yanching and the others hadn’t tasted before.

This left them somewhat taken aback by the hospitality.

“Elder Nan, you’re treating us far too generously,” they said.

Old Master Nan sat at the head of the table, glancing slowly at Bo Yanching.

“This is just a small sample; Jiaojiao hasn’t returned yet.

You two can help taste the dishes first.

If any doesn’t taste right, we’ll remove it.

Otherwise, she might not be pleased.

Oh, and she doesn’t like anything sour, so please keep that in mind.”

Bo Yanching: “…”

He suddenly felt that his gifts were quite inadequate.

Turns out, they were just taste testers for Nan Jiaojiao’s meals.

They were really spoiling her.

Old Master Nan hardly moved, only picking from the dishes within easy reach.

For anything farther, a mere glance would prompt Uncle Qiu to serve it to him.

Bo Yanching couldn’t help but think of Nan Jiaojiao’s laziness.

There were dishes she clearly wanted to eat but was too lazy to get herself, not even bothering to peel shrimp.

When he peeled them for her and fed her, she would complain if the vein wasn’t removed properly when she was in a bad mood.

So it turns out she was spoiled rotten when she was with the Nan family.

That night, Bo Yanching and Yaen Chi stayed over at the Nan Mansion.

Their adjacent rooms had doors made of crabapple wood.

The furnishings in the rooms were simple yet exuded a low-key luxury.

The wooden beds were antiques preserved from ancient times, well-maintained, and didn’t make a sound when lying down.

In the days that followed, Bo Yanching accompanied Elder Nan during the day for fishing, and played chess with him in the evening.

After eight o’clock, Uncle Qiu would come to invite Elder Nan to retire to his room for rest.

Bo Yanching would then attend to his business affairs.

Once, Uncle Qiu caught him working late, and since then, arranged for two extra supper portions, left on a warming dining table before Bo Yanching and Yaen Chi returned to their rooms.

Half a month passed, and Nan Jiaojiao had yet to return.

However, the number of visitors to the Nan Mansion started to increase, one group after another.

Occasionally, when Bo Yanching didn’t manage to avoid it, he would meet guests with Elder Nan.

Once they recognized him, their attitudes turned immediately respectful and awed, catering almost entirely to Bo Yanching, though less deferential to Elder Nan.

Somewhat like the guest overshadowing the host.

Eventually, whenever guests came, Bo Yanching stopped going to greet them.

In the east wing, there was a warm lounge, heated with a stove, serving tea.

From the third-floor window, you could clearly see the guests coming and going below.

“I asked Uncle Qiu about it.

Every year before the New Year, more people come to visit the Nan Mansion.

Elder Nan is famously eccentric, but during those two months leading up to the New Year, he’s in an unusually good mood.

Those who want to curry favor, gain his help, or genuinely visit, all come at this time.

A week before the New Year, the Nan Mansion shuts its doors and sees no visitors.”

Yaen Chi stood by the window.

He wasn’t fond of tea, but after staying here for half a month, he was slightly influenced and occasionally held a cup, though seldom drank from it.

He looked at the man beside him, “Brother Yan, why do you think that is?”

Bo Yanching slightly raised an eyebrow.

“Jiaojiao is shy with strangers.”

Yaen Chi laughed, “Exactly, when Jiaojiao returns, only Elder Nan’s close friends, ones Jiaojiao knows too, will be allowed to visit.

That way she won’t feel uncomfortable.”

Bo Yanching’s expression darkened, “She won’t be coming back.”