Sesame Cake Face

Early the next morning, in Lord Su's study.

Nathan Ye hadn't arrived yet, but early in the morning, he burst into the study with his shiny bald head and dark circles under his eyes, looking as happy as a child, waving his arms and skipping in.

Nathan Ye ran so fast that he suddenly noticed someone ahead, couldn’t stop in time, and crashed headfirst into them. The person yelped and fell flat on the ground like a dog eating dirt.

Mia Qian, standing nearby, saw her grandfather get knocked over by this reckless fool. Shocked, she cried out and quickly helped Lord Qian up.

Lord Qian had hurt his waist in the collision. Holding his aching back, he groaned and pointed at Nathan Ye, his eyes bulging with anger. "You peasant! Truly, you’re a peasant who can’t make it to the big stage! So reckless—you actually crashed into me, a noble! Are your eyes just for decoration?"

Nathan Ye knew he was in the wrong for bumping into someone, and seeing it was an elder—Lord Qian—he could only smile apologetically and endure the scolding.

Lord Qian rubbed his waist and looked Nathan Ye up and down.

He saw Nathan Ye’s head was a bit bald and shiny, his face pale, with dark circles under his eyes. His clothes were filthy, covered in dust, and looked like they hadn’t been changed in days—almost greasy.

Lord Qian and Mia Qian both looked at Nathan Ye with disgust. "Are you the one Su Xiang invited—the something from the Ministry of Works?"

"Ah, I am Nathan Ye, Minister of Public Works. Greetings, Lord Qian." Nathan Ye quickly replied politely.

Lord Qian snorted and, without bothering to be discreet, said to Mia Qian, "Utterly ridiculous. Who knows where they found such a strange person. Someone like that as Minister of Public Works? Absolutely laughable!"

Mia Qian covered her mouth and giggled, "Grandfather, you may not know, but a few days ago, Su Xiang even put her cousin from her mother's side into the Ministry of Works. Who knows what they're up to. Maybe she wants her cousin to become an official too."

Qiantang glared at Nathan Ye, wearing a look of utter disdain. "Hmph, all sorts of riffraff are being shoved into the offices. Do they think the court is just a village fair? Her cousin is just a farmer—how could he be an official? I bet this reckless fellow is some distant relative from Su Xiang’s village too."

Nathan Ye had worked through the night and was exhausted, which made him irritable. He’d been patient because he was at fault for the collision, but Qiantang’s words pushed him over the edge. He snapped back, "Lord Qian, what kind of talk is that? What do you mean by shoving riffraff into the offices? I was invited to be Minister of Public Works because of my real talent and skills. If you don’t know the facts, don’t speak nonsense!"

"Pah! Real talent and skills? You’re just bragging!" Mia Qian looked at Nathan Ye with utter contempt, poking her finger at him. "Look at you! How many days has it been since you changed your clothes? Tsk tsk, your hair’s so greasy it’s like felt—I bet you haven’t washed it in three days! And your forehead, what’s up with that? It’s so bald it could be a mirror!"

Nathan Ye just couldn’t stand anyone poking fun at his forehead. What did his forehead ever do to anyone? So it was a little bald—so what?!

He was so handsome—what’s wrong with being a little bald?!

Nathan Ye immediately shot back, "You’re a young lady—why are you staring at a man so closely? Aren’t you ashamed! So what if my forehead’s bald? That’s called being exceptionally smart, you know! And let me ask you, young lady, what’s with all those freckles on your face? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were a sesame cake!"

"You—you dare say my face looks like a sesame cake!? Grandpa, he’s bullying me!" Mia Qian cried out, clutching her twisted face in shock.