Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 271 - 248 The True and False Guan Canghai

Chapter 271: Chapter 248: The True and False Guan Canghai

Chapter 271 -248: The True and False Guan Canghai

Wang Yizhi escorted Chu Yu home, and it was already deep into the night.

As they said goodbye at the gate, Chu Yu glanced at the pitch-black alley and thought to himself that it was so late, Guan Canghai must have already gone to bed, it would be better to apologize tomorrow morning.

Chu Yu entered Chu Garden, and as the gate closed, Wang Yizhi’s relaxed smile slightly solidified. He stood still for a moment before walking towards the nearby residence, arriving at a door without a signboard, where he gently knocked.

Night enveloped the surroundings in deep darkness and silence. Wang Yizhi, however, was in no hurry. He leisurely waited at the door as the breeze gently swayed his flowing robes and hair. After a while, a cautious voice from inside asked, “May I know who is at the door?”

Wang Yizhi chuckled softly and serenely said, “Please inform your master that an old friend from Jiangling, Wang Yizhi, is here to visit.” He had learned from his chat with Chu Yu that Guan Canghai lived next door.

Soon, the person’s footsteps returned, and this time, he opened the door and bowed, “Please follow me; my master is waiting in the front hall.”

Following the servant to the front hall, Wang Yizhi immediately noticed Guan Canghai, slouching lazily in the main seat. Guan Canghai was dressed in a white robe with a loose, blue-gray cloak over his shoulders, and above his eyes, the same medicinal-scented brocade band from earlier in the day.

Upon hearing Wang Yizhi’s approaching footsteps, Guan Canghai instantly smiled, “Yizhi, visiting so late, are you perhaps blaming me for recognizing you earlier today but not greeting you?”

Wang Yizhi paused, closely examining Guan Canghai for a while. Different from the daytime, he now felt sure it was Guan Canghai… Could it be that, due to the long separation, he had become unfamiliar with his memory of Guan Canghai, leading to today’s misunderstanding?

Although there was a misunderstanding, why hadn’t Guan Canghai taken the initiative to acknowledge him?

Hearing Wang Yizhi remain silent, Guan Canghai knew what he was pondering but offered no explanation, just lightly smiling, letting him guess as much as he wanted.

The present Guan Canghai was indeed not an impersonation by Rong Zhi, rather, he was genuinely Guan Canghai. Both he and Rong Zhi, having heard from the servant about Wang Yizhi’s arrival, knew exactly why he had come, hence the genuine article was brought out to receive the visitor.

Chu Yu had not mentioned to Wang Yizhi the connection between Rong Zhi and Guan Canghai. Even with Wang Yizhi’s keen intuition, he could not imagine that these two had any collusion.

After mulling over it silently for a while, Wang Yizhi finally confirmed that the current Guan Canghai was indeed genuine. Shedding his doubts, he grinned and said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. When I first saw you today, I suspected you were an impostor, so I pretended not to know you. I’ve even come to verify now, so I hope Brother Canghai won’t take offense.”

Wang Yizhi was not one to hide his thoughts behind a poker face, nor was he a schemer who never showed his cards. Feeling that his cunning earlier was unfair to his friend, he openly apologized. Firstly, because his nature was such that once doubts dissipated, he had no burdens, and secondly, because he knew Guan Canghai wouldn’t mind his initial disbelief.

Guan Canghai dismissed it with a smile.

The two chatted and laughed for a while, and having achieved his purpose, Wang Yizhi stood to take his leave, with Guan Canghai escorting him all the way to the gate.

After seeing off his guest, Guan Canghai alone retraced his steps. Before Wang Yizhi had arrived, he had been playing chess with Rong Zhi. Now, with Rong Zhi still sitting in front of the chessboard, upon hearing the movement of the chess pieces, Guan Canghai casually joked, “Just now, I almost had to reveal you, Junior Brother Rong Zhi.”

In his heart, Wang Yizhi felt as clear and bright as clear skies, almost ready to openly confess, but being not one to act rashly, he briefly entertained the thought then dismissed it completely.

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Between Wang Yizhi and Rong Zhi, he still chose to protect Rong Zhi.

Rong Zhi paused briefly and said with lowered eyes, “Thank you, Brother Canghai, let’s continue this game of chess.”

This was an old rule among the brothers. Although Guan Canghai had left halfway, he was not worried that Rong Zhi would take the opportunity to tamper with the chessboard. At their level of play, they would not resort to unseemly tactics. Moreover, the game was already in his mind.

The two played chess for a long time, each move following prolonged contemplation, until well past midnight when Rong Zhi finally emerged slightly ahead.

Silently watching the chessboard for a moment, Rong Zhi began to put away the pieces.

Guan Canghai’s chess skills had not improved much, nor had his diminished; his control and mastery remained strong and steady. But compared to the past, it seemed he had acquired something extra that led to some subtle surprises.

Guan Canghai sighed, “This game is void. You weren’t focused on the game. Let’s play another day.”

Rong Zhi, expressionless, reminded him, “Brother Canghai, I still won this game.” Don’t try to deny it.

Guan Canghai laughed, “Is that so? I forgot.”

Once the game was over, the two brothers each returned to their rooms and fell asleep. The next morning, while still in bed, Guan Canghai heard footsteps approaching. His hearing was excellent, and he easily recognized them as Chu Yu’s, knowing she was coming to look for Rong Zhi again. He couldn’t be bothered to care, turned over, and went back to sleep.

Throughout the year, Chu Yu had often come to look for “Guan Canghai,” almost treating the place like a second home. She came and went without any need to announce her presence.

After a while, Chu Yu’s footsteps reached the door, and she knocked and called out simultaneously, “Guan Canghai, are you there?”

The real Guan Canghai, of course, did not reply, but after a moment, Rong Zhi, who was pretending to be him, did not answer either.

Guan Canghai was well aware that, although Rong Zhi’s hearing was not as capable as his, it was still exceptionally sharp. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to impersonate him for so long without giving himself away. Given Rong Zhi’s nature, any small disturbance would awaken him from sleep, so it was unusual for him not to respond to being called.

Feeling puzzled, Guan Canghai could no longer lie in bed. He immediately got up, crossed the main house, and entered the bedroom on the other side, only to find Rong Zhi still lying on the bed, seemingly unable to move.

Guan Canghai knew that Rong Zhi had been left with a bizarre illness by Tian Rujing, which occasionally acted up. At its mildest, it rendered parts of his body uncontrollable; at its worst, it caused him to lose control over his entire body’s strength. Now, the illness had flared up again, and more severely this time, leaving him completely immobile and unable to speak.

Having lived together for a year, Guan Canghai had witnessed Rong Zhi’s fits several times and thus did not panic. Instead, he quickly went to the bedside, placed one hand on Rong Zhi’s shoulder, and with the other hand, his fingers curled into a cup shape, he rapidly and evenly tapped on Rong Zhi’s body joints, the tapping as dense as raindrops.

This was a technique he and Rong Zhi had figured out together. Although it couldn’t cure the condition, it could reduce the duration of an episode, allowing Rong Zhi’s body to return to normal as quickly as possible.

However, he was so focused on this task that he momentarily forgot about Chu Yu knocking at the door.

Chu Yu, having knocked for a while without response and hearing faint noises inside, pushed the door open and walked toward the source of the sounds.