CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
Liu Shou and Han Lan stayed in Yuan's workroom.
Han Lan stood, took three cups and a flask bottle of wine. He handed the cups to Liu Shou and Yuan respectively and sat down. He then filled all three of their cups.
Liu Shou stared at Yuan with a complicated gaze. Han Lan also stared at Yuan with a more direct curiosity.
Yuan did not pay any attention to them.
Liu Shou cleared his throat first. Yuan glanced at him but looked down at the parchment paper again.
"Did you fight with someone last night?" Liu Shou asked appearing unconcerned. But his eyes were full of interest.
He never saw Yuan losing a fight before. When they were in their crotch pants days, they were always looking for a fight somewhere to show off how "invincible" they were.
At first, all three of them will end up in a bloody mess but always the champion.
They would go home dirty and wounded that more often than not, their mothers would chase them out with a bamboo stick around the village.
The villagers would always laugh and watch the fun. They were then called the "three little devils".
But when they turned eight, no one can match Yuan anymore. He was practically untouchable.
Yuan started training various combat moves and techniques since he was three. We would always gather around and look at him with pity.
We are still sleeping, he was already up training.
We play, he was being punched and kicked.
How pitiful he is! But Han Lan and him can only cry with him.
At first Yuan would cry and complain. But after the first Barbarian attack in the village, he never cried ever since.
We were five then.
Yuan became a cold, indifferent person. He was then sent to a Master for training. He was mostly following his Master. Only coming once a year and stay for a month in the village.
When we were eleven, he never came back again.
When he returned, he was on a different level of coldness and indifference.
He became the Great Devil.
Han Lan looked at Liu Shou with contempt.
Why not ask directly why his lips are broken! So much nonsense.
Liu Shou also gave a glare at Han Lan as if he understood.
If you are man enough, why not ask him directly yourself!
Both of them were shooting eye daggers at each other but no one spoke.
They looked at Yuan when they heard him lift his cup and took a sip of the wine.
Yuan raised his brow at them.
Both Liu Shou and Han Lan cleared their throats at the same time.
"We just thought you encountered trouble yesterday." Han Lan said lightly. Still can't bring himself to ask the question he most wanted to ask!
What gangster would break just a man's lips?! Face unharmed, nose intact.
The lips is the only collateral damage? And it's just the bottom lip.
They studied Yuan strangely.
Even if he bet his dignity, he refuse to believe Yuan lost a fight. Han Lan thought.
He refuse to even more believe it was caused by a woman. Han Lan silently added. Yuan doesn't even have the patience to talk to women let alone kiss one!
How unusual.
But they don't have the nerve to ask even if they were dying of curiosity.
And Yuan....well no one can pry open his mouth if he doesn't want to.
They both left in dejection.
"We got nothing from staying long." Han Lan muttered.
Liu Shou laughed. "Oh we got something alright."
Han Lan stopped walking and looked at Liu Shou confused. "Do you know?"
"Yes, I know. We stayed because of curiosity. We got frustration from staying." Liu Shou laughed.
Stupid, Liu Shou!
They never, even in their wildest dreams, ever thought the broken lip was caused by another man.
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The moment the deputies saw Chief Liu Shou and Marshal Han Lan come out from Head Yu's workroom, they gathered like flies around the two.
They all have the same expectant expressions and gossip in their eyes. "Well, Chief? What is it caused by?"
Liu Shou and Han Lan looked at each other with defeat. Then they sighed at the same time and broke from the net of gossipers.