Volume One, Chapter Two: Unable to Resist Delicate and Beautiful Young Men

Although Su Yi’an was eager to fetch the ice and perform surgery on herself immediately, she could not resist her natural fondness for handsome men—especially such a stunning figure in flowing robes with long, silken hair. It would be a terrible waste, she thought, for such beauty to perish here in the ice cellar.

With practiced hands, Su Yi’an loosened the young man’s garments, produced her silver needles, and deftly pricked several vital acupoints. “What a fine figure you have,” she murmured. “With these well-defined muscles, as long as you receive daily acupuncture at these spots, your life can be extended by another year or two, at the very least. If fate allows, perhaps we’ll meet again.”

She wrapped a chunk of ice and prepared to leave, but paused. With her medical skills, surely one piece of ice was not enough payment for her services. Turning back, she slipped the jade pendant from the handsome man’s person, smiling with satisfaction. “A fine piece—this should be enough to cover my fee.”

Su Yi’an found an inn, paid for the best room, and that very night, performed cosmetic surgery on herself.

At dawn, Su Yi’an rose early, enjoyed a hearty breakfast, and made ready to return home to settle accounts with Lady Li and her daughter. On the way, she encountered a child of three or four, dust-streaked and disheveled, wielding a bamboo pole and blocking her path in a piping voice:

“Stop right there! Hand over your money!”

Su Yi’an looked down at the little fellow. He was dirty, but his eyes were large and bright, quite pleasing to behold. Raising an elegant brow, she teased, “Is this a robbery?”

The child shook his head, his thick lashes fluttering, his eyes clear as spring water. His small mouth opened, and he declared with conviction, “No! I’m just a little beggar. I’m here to ask you for money!”

Su Yi’an laughed. “With such boldness, when was the last time you were beaten for begging like this?”

The boy blinked his watery eyes, his gaze full of hope, and replied earnestly, “This is my first day out begging. Of all the people in the streets, you’re the one I like best. You’ll give me money, won’t you?”

Su Yi’an’s eyes softened, and she smiled gently. “But little one, I’m wearing a veil. How can you tell you like me?”

The boy pursed his lips, thinking for a moment. “I don’t use my eyes—I feel it with my heart. From afar, I saw you and felt warmth inside.”

Something stirred in Su Yi’an’s heart. “You’re so small. If I give you money, bad people might steal it. How about this: I’ll buy you something tasty instead.”

The boy’s face blossomed with a radiant smile. “Thank you, pretty sister! You’re as kind as you are beautiful.”

Su Yi’an chuckled. “You’re quite the sweet talker, aren’t you? I may be pretty, but I’m not exactly a kind person. Aren’t you afraid to eat food from someone like me?”

The boy nodded vigorously. “Not afraid! I’m brave—I’ll eat anything!”

Su Yi’an crouched down, gently wiped the dust from his face with her handkerchief, and revealed a cherubic, adorable little boy. “You’re a funny one. What’s your name?”

“I’m Xiao Tiger,” he replied.

She squeezed his chubby cheek. “So you’re Little Tiger. The name suits you well. Not many boys dare approach me so boldly—and it rarely ends well for them.”

At a breakfast stall, a steaming basket of soup dumplings arrived, and Xiao Tiger devoured them with gusto. Su Yi’an felt a pang of pity. “Poor Little Tiger, how long has it been since you’ve eaten?”

Tears welled in his eyes. “I’m hungry every day. Pretty sister, can I come home with you? I’ll be your son and take care of you when I grow up.”

Su Yi’an nearly fell from her stool in fright. She was weak when it came to pitiable, fragile beauties, but children—even cute ones—were a different story. She enjoyed her carefree life, unburdened by family.

Still, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse him outright. “You’d follow me just because I’m pretty and kind? What about your parents?”

The boy’s gaze dropped, his voice trembling. “My mother died giving birth to me. My father is fierce—he ignores me, loses his temper, and now he’s gravely ill and won’t live much longer. Only my second uncle is a little nicer, but he’s always busy and often forgets to feed me. I didn’t want to stay in that house anymore, so I set out to find a new mother.”

As he spoke, tears rolled down his cheeks, pitiful and heart-wrenching.

Su Yi’an noticed his clothes were of good quality, suggesting a well-off family. But now, in the dead of winter, he wore only a single thin layer, with sleeves and pant legs cut short, his elbows and knees scraped raw—a truly neglected child.

“Mother gone, father ill, uncle too busy—you really are a poor little tiger.” Su Yi’an’s heart ached. She feared if she refused, he would be inconsolable, so she compromised. Wiping his tears, she said, “Don’t cry—if you do, you’ll change from a little tiger to a tabby cat. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll buy you a signaling whistle. If you get hungry, blow it and I’ll come find you on this street. I’ll bring you something delicious, I promise. You won’t go hungry—how’s that?”

“Mm… wuwuwu…”

As Su Yi’an paid for the whistle, her jade pendant accidentally slipped to the ground.

Xiao Tiger glanced down. Huh? Her jade pendant looks just like my father’s. We must be fated.

But he said nothing, quietly picked it up, and returned it to her.

Su Yi’an thought nothing of it. “Blow the whistle at night—it’s easier for me to see then.”

Xiao Tiger beamed, his childish voice bright. “Alright! I’ll come find you at night, Mother!”

Su Yi’an raised a brow in mock annoyance. “Don’t call me Mother—call me Pretty Sister, or you’ll get no treats.”

Xiao Tiger nodded eagerly. “Yes, beautiful and kind Pretty Sister!”

Pleased with the title, Su Yi’an bought him several bags of pastries, enough to last days.

Xiao Tiger sniffed the scent of herbs, glanced at the bloodstains seeping through her veil, and asked worriedly, “Pretty Sister, is your face badly hurt?”

Su Yi’an ruffled his hair, her eyes full of laughter. “It’s serious now, but by this time next year, I’ll be as good as new—a true hero once more!”

“Hehehe!” Xiao Tiger’s eyes curved in delight, sincere in his praise. “Pretty Sister, you’re so brave!”

Brave? At the base, they always called her “ruthless,” but Su Yi’an was happy to accept this unusual compliment. “That’s right, I’ve always been brave!”

Having parted from Little Tiger, Su Yi’an hurried back to the Su estate, where Lady Li was kneeling before Master Su, feigning deep remorse.

“My lord, it was my poor management that allowed the thief to enter Yi’an’s chambers. Not only did the scoundrel defile her, he also ruined her face. Unable to bear the shame, Yi’an threw herself into the lake. My daughter Wan’er and I risked our lives to save her, and to this day, Wan’er still has a high fever. I left only to change my clothes, and when I returned, Yi’an had vanished. I’ve searched all night, but she’s nowhere to be found. Please, Master, punish me…”