Time is Slow / Meet You in My Prime - Chapter 9 : Disbelief

"You can actually draw?" Chi Can looked at Qiao Zhao, his eyes narrowed and a bit slanted; even though there was a touch of sarcasm there, it couldn't quite mask his glow. "So, what's next? Are you going to sketch something for me so I can take it back and show it off?"

Yang Hou Cheng, standing behind Qiao Zhao, cleared his throat to signal the little girl to stop talking nonsense. If Chi Can got really angry, he wouldn't hesitate to toss everyone off the boat, no matter their age or status. That would leave the little girl in a tough spot.

Zhu Yan chimed in gently, "Anyone who has picked up a brush can draw a duck, but there's a big difference between 'can' and 'know'..."

Qiao Zhao smirked: "I get it, Brother Zhu." Then she turned her gaze back to Chi Can, her tone steady but sincere: "I'll draw a picture of ducks playing for you, Brother Chi, as a thank you for your help."

Chi Can was already feeling irritated, and to him, Qiao Zhao's sincerity came off as arrogance and a lack of perspective. He scrutinized her closely; no anger in his expression, just a smile that felt icy: "Alright, go ahead and draw it."

He paused for a moment before adding, "But if you want me to fail in my mission, make sure to get off the ship when it docks!"

"Shi Xi..." Zhu Yan gently nudged him, "Isn't this a bit..."

Unreasonable?

Zhu Yan didn't finish the words.

The three had grown up as friends, so he knew Chi Can's temperament well.

The situation with Princess Chang Rong and her husband had changed Chi Can significantly.

He wasn't always this extreme; as he matured, he became even more charming but also faced a lot of challenges that affected his character.

Zhu Yan remembered a time when Chi Can helped a girl who was harassed by a bully. The girl insisted on going back to the Princess' mansion with him, but Chi Can politely declined.

The next day, she hanged herself outside the Princess' Mansion, leaving a note saying she was Chi Can's person in life and ghost in death.

Good news moves slowly, but bad news spreads like wildfire. The story quickly circulated through the capital.

Before long, no one remembered that Chi Can had saved the girl first. Instead, they accused him of leading the girl on and then abandoning her, which drove her to suicide.

Chi Can was only thirteen at the time. The gossip felt suffocating, weighing heavily on him.

His mother, Princess Chang Rong, lashed out, leaving marks all over him with a whip.

From that moment, Chi Can's demeanor grew increasingly difficult.

Honestly, Zhu Yan was surprised that Chi Can didn't turn down Third Miss Li when she asked for help that day.

Zhu Yan sighed quietly. If Chi Can was truly going to throw Third Miss Li off the boat, he'd have to step in and help her behind the scenes-he couldn't let her struggle to get home.

"Stay out of it. She made her own choices," Chi Can responded coldly.

Women were complicated; from ages three to eighty, they were often greedy, vain, arrogant, and blind to their flaws. Chi Can quickly thought of a bunch of words to describe that.

Qiao Zhao blinked. This was not the person she had imagined. When they first met, he seemed thick-skinned, not this harsh and stingy.

"Oh, so Brother Chi does nice things without expecting anything back," she remarked.

Chi Can squinted, momentarily confused about her meaning.

Zhu Yan, witnessing the exchange, quickly pieced it together and chuckled.

Yang Hou Cheng nudged Zhu Yan, asking quietly, "What's the riddle here?"

Zhu Yan just shook his head, keeping quiet.

Chi Can shot a look at the two of them, then turned to Qiao Zhao, who was totally chill. Suddenly, it hit him.

The little girl was saying he had made a promise to bring her back to the capital, but she almost got tossed off the boat just to paint something for him out of thanks, which meant he didn't ask for anything back.

So, this is her way of poking fun at him for being stingy, huh?

Chi Can couldn't help but stare daggers at the little girl.

Seriously, is she thirteen? Her mind is so twisted already, and it takes a while to unpack her words. What's it going to be like when she's older?

Qiao Zhao felt a bit wronged and looked at Chi Can with her bright, dark eyes. She was just speaking the truth; why was he giving her the cold shoulder again?

Chi Can looked away, smirking, "Who said I'm nice and don't expect anything back? I'm not your grandfather. It's too late to backtrack now. I'm just waiting for that painting."

Qiao Zhao cringed at the mention of 'grandfather,' so she bottled up her annoyance and replied, "My grandfather passed away a long time ago."

Chi Can was taken aback for a moment, then his anger flared up, and he pointed at Qiao Zhao, "You... ..."

He kept sputtering 'you' for ages, and when he noticed her eyes getting shiny, he just couldn't continue.

Zhu Yan and Yang Hou Cheng could see that Qiao Zhao was intentionally teasing Chi Can, but her sarcasm was so clever that it left them unable to express their frustration and made them laugh instead.

Chi Can just got more irate hearing that.

But Qiao Zhao, being the bold one she is, didn't care at all. With her innocent little girl face, she asked casually, "Are there any pens, ink, paints, or anything on the boat?"

"We've got it all. I'll show you," Zhu Yan said, sensing the tension and wanting to lighten the mood, and he led Qiao Zhao into the cabin guest room.

This passenger ship was big enough for more than a dozen people, and since the three of them were well-off, they had rented it and turned a guest room into a study.

Qiao Zhao entered with Zhu Yan and surveyed the room. Even though it was simply decorated, it had all the essentials like a desk and a low couch.

"Feel free to use these pens, ink, paper, and inkstone," Zhu Yan said as he showed her in. "Just don't mess with those books too much; you don't want to upset Shi Xi again."

"Thanks, Brother Zhu. Got it," Qiao Zhao bowed to him in appreciation.

"I'll step out now."

Typically, artists prefer their own space, and given the differences between men and women, it was better if they weren't alone in the room.

Qiao Zhao nodded slightly, "Brother Zhu, you can go do your thing."

After seeing her settle in at the desk, spreading out the rice paper and starting to grind the ink, Zhu Yan hesitated for a moment and then said gently, "Don't stress; Shi Xi may seem tough, but he's really got a soft side."

Qiao Zhao met his gaze, a tad surprised, and then smiled, "Thanks, Brother Zhu. I'm not worried."

It's a lie that Chi Can was tough yet soft inside, but Zhu Yan really did have a kind heart.

She had nothing to fret about. Once she paid back the favor, she'd be done with these three for good.

The calmness in her voice and her composed expression made Zhu Yan feel a bit awkward. He nodded at her and stepped out.

As he heard footsteps, Chi Can turned with a grin and asked, "Why did you step out?"

Zhu Yan walked over and gave him a light shove, "What are you rambling about?"

Chi Can looked down and smiled, gazing out at the river.

It was one of those lovely spring days. The weeping willows lining the river mirrored their elegant shapes on the water, much like a girl admiring herself in a mirror, showing off her gentleness and charm. The calmness and beauty were only broken by the ripples from a boat passing by.

"Nothing much, just a bit concerned you might get into some unnecessary trouble," said the man, who was even prettier than a spring landscape, speaking slowly.

Zhu Yan paused for a moment, then laughed out loud. "Shi Xi, you're overthinking it."

He had a quick image of the little girl standing tall like a poplar, which made his smile widen.

That girl probably wished they didn't owe each other anything.

The boat cruised along leisurely as the sun dipped in the west.

Yang Hou Cheng kept glancing at the cabin.

"That girl has been in there all day and didn't even come out for lunch. Could it be that she's struggling to finish her painting and is worried Shi Xi will kick her off the boat, so she's just hiding in there?"

Chi Can and Zhu Yan exchanged looks.

That really seems possible!

"I'll check on her," Zhu Yan said softly.

Chi Can stopped him with a smirk. "I'll go. Let's see how long she can stay hidden!"

Just then, they heard footsteps approaching. They turned to see Qiao Zhao walking toward them.

Chi Can noticed she wasn't carrying anything and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Where's the painting? Did you eat it?"