Chapter 83: The Steward

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Chapter 83: The Steward

Ye Tian and his companion wandered the streets until night fell before heading back, their arms laden with large and small packages.
“Grey, isn’t this a bit much?” The girl glanced at the bags, most of them filled with things bought for her. Even that single dress had cost two gold coins, and the whole pile had left Ye Tian’s purse considerably lighter.
“It’s nothing, just a token of my thanks. You’ve helped me so much—honestly, I feel like it’s too little.” Ye Tian grinned.
“It’s already more than enough!” The girl quickly protested. Had it not been for the onset of darkness, they might have continued shopping, and in the end, they didn’t even have time to visit the herbalist’s shop.
“Thank you,” Layla murmured, lowering her head.
“I should be the one thanking you,” Ye Tian replied with a smile. “Let me walk you back, I should be returning as well.”
“Mm.”

After escorting Layla to her dormitory—without going inside, of course—Ye Tian made his way toward the back hill, where Layton was still waiting.
“Hungry?” Ye Tian called out to Layton, who was crouched atop the plum-blossom posts.
“You finally showed up!” Layton bit out, teeth gritted.
“What’s wrong? Are you alright?” Ye Tian asked, suddenly anxious.
“No, I’m not!” Layton was close to tears. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“Then go, quickly!” Ye Tian eyed Layton’s ashen face, guessing he’d been holding on for quite a while.

No sooner had Ye Tian finished speaking than Layton hopped down and darted off like a streak of lightning, faster than any thief—a clear sign of desperation. Ye Tian chuckled, spread a blanket on the ground, and set out the food he’d bought.

After leisurely finishing a bottle of wine, Layton returned, legs weak and trembling.
“You alright?” Ye Tian asked.
“What do you think?” Layton grumbled, grabbing a piece of bread and tearing into it.
“Sorry, lost track of time,” Ye Tian said, scratching his head.
“Eat slowly. When you’re done, get back up there,” Ye Tian instructed, and Layton groaned.
“How long do I need to stay up there?” Layton demanded.
“At least until you can run on top of the posts,” Ye Tian replied with infuriating nonchalance.
Layton’s head drooped in despair.
“Keep at it, you’ll succeed!” Ye Tian encouraged him.
“Isn’t there another way?” Layton asked.
“Well, there’s always stretching and tendon exercises, like last time,” Ye Tian suggested.
“I’ll stay up here, thanks,” Layton said quickly.

“Actually, Layton, there’s a trick to this. If you combine it with the breathing technique I taught you, you’ll understand.”
“I’ll give it a try,” Layton replied. He finished his food in a few quick bites, downed another bottle of wine, and returned to climb the posts.
“Good luck!” Ye Tian said, raising his drumstick in salute.

The night passed in this manner. By morning, Layton was dazed and exhausted, while Ye Tian watched on in amusement. Standing motionless atop the posts was a tough test of endurance. To do so while sleepy was practically torture for Layton, but he had miraculously managed not to fall off all night, wobbling but never losing his perch.

The mountain morning was cold, and a chilly breeze woke Layton at dawn.
“Morning!” Ye Tian called out cheerfully.
“I didn’t fall?” Layton marveled, looking at his feet in disbelief.
“I told you—if you’re persistent, you’ll succeed!” Ye Tian said. “Don’t get cocky yet—walk a few laps. I’ll go prepare breakfast.” He waved and left Layton still basking in excitement.

For breakfast, Ye Tian kept it simple—just a bowl of hot porridge to replenish Layton’s strength. Rich food wouldn’t help him now. He packed a few warm sandwiches for himself, a kind of stuffed flatbread he was quite fond of, though he found them a bit too sweet.
“Catch!” Ye Tian tossed a bowl of porridge up to Layton.
“Be careful!” Layton fumbled for the bowl, which landed lightly in his hands as if it weighed nothing at all.
“How did you do that?” Layton asked, astonished. In his mind, only magicians could pull off such feats, yet Ye Tian had done it with ease and flair.
“Try it—it’s tasty!” Ye Tian tossed a spoon into Layton’s bowl. “It won’t taste good if it gets cold.”
The fragrant, creamy porridge made Layton’s stomach revolt in anticipation. He scooped up a mouthful and ate without hesitation.

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“This is delicious!” Layton exclaimed, ignoring the heat and finishing the bowl in a few gulps. “Another bowl!” He tossed the empty dish down.
“Hey, slow down, there’s no one fighting you for it!” Ye Tian caught the flying bowl and sighed.
“What do you call this? It’s so good!” Layton asked from above, eyes bright.
“Century egg and lean pork congee,” Ye Tian replied. “Not exactly a fancy dish, but it suits you right now. Want a sandwich?” He held one up.
“No need, just more of the porridge!” Layton replied with a grin. “Hurry up, I’m starving!”
“Yes, yes,” Ye Tian replied, tossing the bowl up again, which landed squarely in Layton’s hands.
“Amazing!”

“I’m off to work. Take your time running up there. Rest if you get tired, but unless it’s urgent like yesterday, don’t come down.” Ye Tian packed up his things and left Layton to his training.
Back at the dormitory, Ye Tian tidied himself up and grabbed his cleaning tools.
“Grey, what have you been up to?” Arcana, a girl with a lollipop in hand, approached as Ye Tian polished the stair rail.
“Something you need?” Ye Tian paused his work.
“I picked a few books for you, but you never came to get them. I stopped by your dorm yesterday and you weren’t there. Also, don’t dump your chores on others, alright?” Arcana pouted.
“Got it, I’ll check them out later,” Ye Tian replied with a smile. “You’re alright being away from the library?”
“No big deal. No one else can take them out anyway.” Books from the library weren’t usually lent out, and Arcana had to approve any exceptions. Most girls avoided incurring her displeasure, so over time, no one bothered trying.
“You have it easy,” Ye Tian remarked.
“Have lunch with me,” Arcana said over her shoulder as she walked away.
“But I have other things to do!” Ye Tian watched her receding figure and shook his head—a sign that poor Layton would have to endure hunger a bit longer.

Ye Tian hurried through his chores and made his way to the library. The girl sat reading, gentle and serene—at least when she wasn’t angry.
“Esteemed Mentor Arcana, is there any place that needs cleaning?” Ye Tian always used cleaning as his pretext for visiting, which saved a lot of trouble.
“That way,” the girl said, pointing with a delicate finger.
“Understood.” Ye Tian took his cleaning tools and moved off—his actual goal elsewhere.

Hidden in a quiet corner, Ye Tian began leafing through the books Arcana had selected for him. The miracle he sought was a vague thing, rarely spelled out in historical texts, requiring careful scrutiny to discern.
He tossed aside one book and picked up another with a sigh.
“Still no luck?” Arcana appeared beside him.
“There are some leads, but all quite vague. I’ll keep looking,” Ye Tian replied, eyes scanning the page.
“Let’s get something to eat. I’m hungry,” Arcana said.
“Alright.” Ye Tian closed the book and rubbed his eyes. “Let’s go.”
“Grey, do you really want to leave so badly? Isn’t it good here?” she asked as they walked to the dining hall.
Ye Tian chuckled, deflecting the question.
“I want to eat your cooking today,” Arcana declared, annoyed by his evasiveness.
“Fine, but I have things to do after. I’ll cook, then go,” Ye Tian replied.
“What exactly are you up to?” Arcana was curious about his mysterious comings and goings.
“Helping someone prepare for a promotion exam. Don’t tell anyone,” Ye Tian said.
“Are you sure you can handle it?” Arcana said with a skeptical tilt of her head.
“Don’t worry, I have my ways.” Ye Tian grinned. “How about something light today?”
“Whatever you want, as long as it makes me happy,” Arcana said, her eyes sparkling.
“I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!” Ye Tian promised with a mysterious smile as they entered the dining hall.
“Esteemed Miss Arcana, please wait a moment.” Ye Tian might not be a qualified steward, but he knew the basics. After seeing her seated, he headed to the kitchen.

To his surprise, the kitchen staff didn’t give him any trouble this time—perhaps startled, or maybe just wary, since when Arcana lost her temper, even Lady Liphiel would steer clear.
“What should I make?” Ye Tian mused over the sink, then broke into a smile.
Selecting and cleaning the fish, he decided to prepare a full fish feast: fish head, tail, and fillets, served either whole or in parts, as soup or as a main dish, all with enticing flavors.

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Ye Tian had seen how fish was usually prepared here—either in chunks or as soup, with a peculiar flavor he didn’t care for. He preferred the traditional braised fish. Since the girl couldn’t handle spicy food, he also made a dry-braised fish with a sweet and mildly spicy sauce, which should be acceptable.
He prepared a fish soup as well, ensuring both Arcana and Layton had a proper lunch. Since he was already at it, Ye Tian tossed together a spicy chicken stir-fry, which would serve as Layton’s main dish later.

He hurriedly set out a tableful of fish dishes for the girl. “Try these. Be careful of the bones. I have something to do, so I’ll be leaving now,” Ye Tian said.
“Can’t you stay with me a while?” the girl protested.
“Please, I really do have things to take care of,” Ye Tian whispered.
“What if I choke on a fish bone?” Arcana asked, her big, innocent eyes shining.
“You win!” Ye Tian relented. “Eat quickly; I’ll wait here.” Thankfully, he’d already packed Layton’s meal in a food box, or it would’ve gone cold.
“Sit and eat with me,” Arcana insisted.
“I’m not hungry. You eat, before it gets cold.”
“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t invite you!” Arcana giggled, picked up her knife and fork, and carefully placed a piece of the dry-braised fish on her plate.
“Mmm, delicious!” She cut off a piece and popped it into her mouth. “Oh, it’s spicy! But so good!”
“Have some soup,” Ye Tian offered, filling her bowl. Clearly, her tolerance was low—he’d barely used any chili, but even that was too much for her.
“It’s wonderful, Grey. Why don’t you become my steward?” Arcana asked.
“No, absolutely not!” Ye Tian retorted with a grimace.
“Come on, be my steward. Then I could eat meals like this every day!” The sly look in her eyes gave her away.
“No, and I mean it!” Ye Tian repeated.
“Well, I’ll ask around and see if anyone else wants you as their steward,” Arcana replied, just as a group of girls appeared.
“Excuse me, did you make this? It smells amazing. Would you be our steward?”
“No!” Arcana immediately put down her fork. “He’s my exclusive steward, not for lending out.”
“But Arcana, you don’t have a steward, and there’s nothing in the school rules that says you can’t share!” one girl objected.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not cut out for steward work. Thank you for asking, though,” Ye Tian said with a polite smile.
“It’s no trouble at all! You wouldn’t have to do much—just cook us delicious food like this every day,” another girl said, her eyes shining. If not for Arcana’s position as a mentor, she would have begged for a taste; the aroma was irresistible.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. Today was just a friendly gesture—I’m not interested in cooking as a regular thing,” Ye Tian declined wisely.
“Why not?” The girls weren’t giving up.
“I’m sorry, I have things to do. Please excuse me,” Ye Tian said with a smile, turning to leave.
“Hey!” The girls looked at each other, surprised at how quickly Ye Tian had left.
“Hmph!” Arcana made a noise of annoyance, and the temperature around her seemed to drop several degrees. The girls jumped in alarm as Arcana rose and left as well.

“This is trouble,” Ye Tian muttered, hurrying along with the food box. He realized he should keep a lower profile; if someone managed to rope him in as their steward, he would lose his freedom. The thought sent a chill down his spine.
“There you are!” Layton exclaimed, looking at Ye Tian with the most pitiful expression possible.
“Don’t worry, I’ve brought something delicious today. Come down and eat!” Ye Tian said, holding up the food box.