UCTOOT CH55

In the room, the dark lamplight pressed down on his brow.

Shi Shu sat on the edge of the bed, only a short distance from Xie Wuchi. He had one foot in a basin of hot water, and the other on Xie Wuchi’s knee.

Shi Shu: “I’m warning you, don’t you—”

He was sucked on.

“I said you can’t kiss—”

His vision was blocked again, his lips kissed again.

“…”

“You!” Shi Shu was speechless.

Xie Wuchi was already holding his jaw, changing from pressing his lips to licking and kissing, blocking his words. His lips and tongue ached.

“FUCK!” Shi Shu grabbed Xie Wuchi’s jaw and pushed him back, maintaining some distance. A lingering warmth remained on his lips. Xie Wuchi turned his head slightly, his pupils reflecting the firelight, his eyes filled with the chaotic colors of desire.

“So hot, I can’t take it.” Shi Shu kicked him. “Go away, I’m sleepy.”

“The mission is complete. Want to celebrate with a fuck?”

“…………”

Shi Shu scrambled backwards, his feet also coming out of the hot water, wishing he could be in a separate universe from him. “Brother, please don’t be like this. You’re ruining my Daoist heart.”

Xie Wuchi looked very relaxed and said nonchalantly, “The timing is perfect now. We both have time. If you experience it once, maybe you’ll like it.”

“…………”

Shi Shu thought he had misheard. “Experience what?”

“Doing it with me.”

A rush of heat to his ears made Shi Shu’s head spin. He raised his hand to cover his face. “I really—”

“You’re not kidding, are you?” Shi Shu confirmed.

Xie Wuchi: “No.”

Xie Wuchi wasn’t making a lewd joke; he was inviting him. This was different from the dirty talk during their kisses before. This was an invitation. As long as Shi Shu nodded, the two of them would take off their clothes and hold each other, friction building up heat, just like in one of those little movies. The things from Shi Shu’s dreams would become reality.

Shi Shu: “Brother, I’ve never even been in a relationship, and you want to do this with me? I can’t get over this hurdle.”

Xie Wuchi: “No need. Sometimes, what a person wants might just be the latter.”

“You just want to sleep with me?”

Xie Wuchi: “Mm.”

Shi Shu gripped the corner of the blanket, looked at him for a long while, and fell silent. The sky outside was about to brighten, and there was a faint rumble of thunder. The frontal rain was coming.

Shi Shu thought with his handsome face and realized that Xie Wuchi was very skillful. After talking for so long, he had only just remembered his gender! Male!

Shi Shu placed his hand on his shoulder and pushed him back. “I understand what you mean. I’m not saying that just sleeping together is bad, it’s just that I can’t.”

“Are you rejecting me?”

Xie Wuchi’s dark eyes stared straight at him. Even while begging Shi Shu for love, his posture was not the least bit subservient. Instead, it was an “invitation,” even with a hint of rewarding him.

Shi Shu nodded. “I myself can’t.”

“Because I’m a man?”

“It wouldn’t matter who you are.”

Xie Wuchi raised his eyebrows, lightly licked his back teeth, the shadow under his eyes dark. He said, “Alright,” and stood up. Without saying anything more, he got up and walked out the door, closing Shi Shu’s door behind him.

Shi Shu scratched his head, sat for a while, not knowing what Xie Wuchi had gone back to do. He wiped his feet and body with a handkerchief and lay down on the bed.

Closing his eyes, the image from that day in the dense forest appeared before him. Xie Wuchi had taken off his clothes and let him touch his body, a very healthy and strong male physique. If it were the old Shi Shu, he might have screamed and run away, but at that time, touching him actually felt okay.

Shi Shu closed his eyes.

“Okay.”

Giving this evaluation felt like his life was about to end.

Forget it… whether he was gay or not didn’t matter anymore, but getting involved without being in a relationship was really not okay. If his parents found out, he would get a couple of slaps.

Parents… He had been so busy in Qian’an that he hadn’t thought about his parents for a long time. Shi Shu pulled the blanket over his head and secretly wiped his tears for three minutes.

For the next three days, the autumn rain in Qian’an fell continuously.

Shi Shu lay in bed and slept for two whole days. During this time, Li Fu came to deliver meals. He would get up to eat, wash up briefly, and then lie back down to sleep.

On the afternoon of the second day, he woke up with a groggy head. The first thing Shi Shu did was rub his forehead. “Where’s Xie Wuchi?”

Li Fu said, “The land registers of the wealthy households have all been submitted. My lord has been calculating them these few days, urging the collection of taxes.”

Shi Shu: “Hasn’t he rested?”

Li Fu: “Yesterday, he rested for a morning.”

Shi Shu stretched and washed his face. “Did you have the celebration feast?”

“We had it yesterday afternoon. My lord ordered pigs and sheep to be bought and slaughtered to make a grand meal for the retinue.”

“…………” Shi Shu turned his face away. “Why didn’t anyone call me?”

Li Fu: “We did, Second Young Master. You said you were too sleepy and didn’t want to eat.”

Shi Shu vaguely recalled that something like that had happened. It seemed it was Xie Wuchi who had come to call him. Rubbing his forehead, Shi Shu walked out the door. It was still raining, and the rainwater from the eaves fell into the mossy rolls on the steps.

When Shi Shu reached the study, Xie Wuchi was sitting there looking at a document, with someone talking beside him.

“My lord, all these land accounts have been calculated. Converted into silver, we’ve urged them to collect it all within ten days. At that time, it will be escorted to the Eastern Capital. This is the account book, for your review.”

Xie Wuchi took it and looked at it. “Those tenant farmers will probably have a hard time for the next year. This official will have to request a decree from His Majesty to prevent these landlords from raising the tenants’ rent after paying their own.”

“Yes. May I ask when my lord’s carriage will be leaving Qian’an?”

“We’ll leave after the tax silver is settled.”

“Yes.” This person was originally the deputy. After Tang Maoshi’s official robe was stripped, he was the one in charge.

After this person left, Xie Wuchi finished looking at the account book. The sky was about to dim. He took out another book, read for a while, and then started writing something.

Shi Shu approached and leaned on the back of his chair. “What are you looking at?”

When Xie Wuchi saw him arrive, he continued to write. Shi Shu was reunited with the long-lost diary. It was still filled with fluent and obscure Russian.

“You’re awake? Let’s have dinner together tonight. The wealthy households of Qian’an are hosting a banquet at the restaurant. You missed yesterday’s meal, you can go eat today.”

Shi Shu: “Sure. Not eating at a feast makes you a bastard.”

Zhou Xiang came in and said the sedan chairs were ready. Xie Wuchi packed up his diary and stood up. Shi Shu took a step back, and the grandmaster’s chair was pulled out. Under the dim sky, he met Xie Wuchi’s gaze.

The events before he fell asleep came to mind. Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes, clearly also recalling that incident. His brow raised slightly.

Shi Shu: “It seems neither of us are the type to hold a grudge over this kind of thing.”

“Mm.” Xie Wuchi walked out. Li Fu followed behind, frantically opening a curved-handle umbrella, getting himself wet in the rain.

Shi Shu opened his oil-paper umbrella and walked behind. There were two sedan chairs. Zhou Xiang said, “Second Young Master, please sit in the back.”

Shi Shu looked at the curtain of rain. “Forget it, the road isn’t far. I’ll just walk. You go help Lord Xie.”

Officials traveled in sedan chairs; it was a matter of pomp. Given Xie Wuchi’s family background before transmigration, he wouldn’t be someone who would willingly endure hardship.

Arriving at the restaurant, Shi Shu sat at a table with Yao Shuai, Duan Xiuwen, and other guards and clerks. Xie Wuchi was invited to sit at the inner table, accompanied by the top wealthy merchants and gentry of Qian’an. Xie Wuchi spoke with this group of people, composed and handling the situation with ease.

Shi Shu stuffed a chicken leg into his mouth, his ears filled with discussion. “The chef at this restaurant is better than our own chef.”

“Last night’s mutton was so gamy, the chef was really no good!”

“Let’s buy some local specialties to send home to the Eastern Capital. We should be leaving soon. I have to say, the boiled fish in Qian’an is really delicious.”

“…”

Shi Shu picked up a piece of boiled fish. It was numbingly spicy, savory, and fragrant, just the right flavor. He clinked glasses with these few people a couple of times and saw Xie Wuchi again through the gap in the screen. He was wearing a stone-blue robe, looking clean, calm, and handsomely dignified among this crowd of gluttonous, greasy people, as if they were not in the same picture layer.

Many people praised, “Lord Censor is truly young and promising, a man of outstanding talent!”

“Come, come, come! I have guests, let’s play the zither and pipe! Come on up!”

“Clap, clap, clap!”

Someone clapped. A few beautiful female dancers holding pipa lutes swept past with a fragrant breeze, their graceful tiptoes lingering on the ground, floating into the center of the hall like butterflies. The atmosphere immediately became extremely lively. They began to sing and dance at the same time.

Yao Shuai’s eyes went straight. “This, I heard long ago that Qian’an has many beauties. They’re so attractive?”

“My god, their ancestors, these nouveau riche are too good at playing, aren’t they? Taking half the land tax is really not enough.”

“Even the Eastern Capital can’t compare to this group of people!”

Shi Shu looked up. The rich people’s dancers were dancing in the middle of the hall. The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments were bewildering. He saw the swaying figures under the lights, as if fairies meeting under the moon. The beauties either spun, leaped, or looked back, their silk ribbons fluttering, accompanied by melodious and beautiful music, pushing the atmosphere to its peak.

Shi Shu bit into the meat, and the juices flowed out before he swallowed.

Such a grand occasion was ultimately for the purpose of entertaining Xie Wuchi and making him happy.

Another beauty, with graceful lotus steps, strummed her instrument with a charming posture and walked to Xie Wuchi’s side. Her stunningly beautiful face was full of smiles. She picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and placed it in his dish. The people around immediately clapped in applause.

“Censor Xie, a beauty’s favor is the hardest to refuse! you must have a good taste of our Qian’an’s local specialty!”

“This girl usually has the highest standards. This is the first time she’s served someone food. She fell for Censor Xie at first sight.”

“What a lucky man, what a lucky man.”

“…”

Xie Wuchi sat upright, a picture of desirelessness. He didn’t even lift his eyelids. “Thank you, but I haven’t been feeling well recently and don’t want to eat anything spicy. I’ve failed to appreciate your kindness.”

He ordered someone to change his plate.

The others praised again and again, “Censor Xie is truly worthy of being the ‘Crane Controller of the Orchid Terrace.’ So upright and elegant, unmoved by temptation. It’s admirable.”

Yao Shuai also tutted, “Good heavens, I’ve never seen such a heartless man! A beauty’s delicate hand, he can even refuse this.”

A bold one said, “Can I take his place?”

“You? Are you worthy?”

Shi Shu lazily propped his foot on the leg of his chair and withdrew his gaze from Xie Wuchi. If it were when they had just met, Shi Shu would have definitely believed in Xie Wuchi’s upright and noble facade. But now, Shi Shu couldn’t forget what this person looked like when he was in heat. He was probably much more of a carnivore than anyone present.

However.

In the eyes of some men, being noticed by a top-tier beauty is probably the proudest moment of their lives, right? By the same token, in the eyes of gay men, is it the greatest honor to be noticed by the hottest guy in the gay circle?

“Greasy, so greasy,” Shi Shu said.

Yao Shuai heard him and looked over. “Second Young Master, is the food not to your taste?”

Shi Shu said, “It’s fine, it’s fine. This braised pork is good for one piece, but it gets greasy after too many. You all take your time. I’m full.”

Shi Shu pulled back his chair and left the table first. Qian’an also had a night market, but it closed early on rainy days. He told Li Fu, “I’m going to buy some local specialties. I’ll go back to the residence after I’m done.”

“Does the young master want this servant to go with you?”

“No need, no need. you stay with Xie Wuchi.”

Shi Shu hummed a tune as he held his umbrella and strolled through the streets of Qian’an. He bought the local specialties and went to the post station. The medicinal herbs were for Lin Yangchun, the tonic was for Pei Wenqing, the silk cloth was for Lin Baihe, and there were some other miscellaneous things.

Shi Shu took out some silver and casually asked, “Are there any letters for me from the Eastern Capital, for Xie Shishu?”

The person searched for a bit. “Yes! One!”

Shi Shu took it and waved. “Thanks! I’m off!”

Shi Shu looked at the letter first. It wasn’t from Pei Wenqing. It was written in a very messy and ugly cursive script that looked like a dog’s scratching. Needless to say, it was from Lin Yangchun. He would have to ask Xie Wuchi to help him read such ugly handwriting. Shi Shu could only recognize Pei Wenqing’s neat and elegant small regular script. Besides, Pei Wenqing knew he had trouble reading and would always make his words very simple.

Shi Shu ran all the way. When he returned to the residence, he saw lanterns lit on both sides. The group had already returned from the banquet. Zhou Xiang and Li Fu were boiling hot water. Clearly, Xie Wuchi was already bathing and changing.

Shi Shu waited for a while, took a bath himself, and guessed he was done before going to find him with the letter. Sure enough, Xie Wuchi’s waterfall-like black hair was draped over his shoulders, and he was sitting at the desk, flipping through a book.

Shi Shu went in. “Xie Wuchi, do you have time? Help me out, help me read a letter. Lin Yangchun’s handwriting is too ugly for me to understand.”

Xie Wuchi took the letter. “Where did you go just now?”

“Out to buy local specialties and sent them back. Why, what’s up?”

The envelope had already been opened. Xie Wuchi took out the paper and held it up to the light. He read it once, his eyelids lowering, and then his fingertips placed the paper on the desk.

Shi Shu: “What does the letter say?”

“He’s asking you to help buy medicinal herbs, and also—”

Xie Wuchi closed his lips, not in a hurry to say the second half, but instead looked at Shi Shu. He seemed to have a faint smell of alcohol on him. After a long while, he said softly, “My stomach hurts a little.”

Shi Shu: “Drank too much? The conditioning soup is still there. I’ll have Li Fu brew a bowl for you.”

Shi Shu turned to run out but was grabbed by the wrist. Xie Wuchi’s hand had lost some of its warmth, his fingertips turning cold. He said, “You rub it for me.”

Shi Shu: “Will rubbing it help? I should have him brew it first. I’ll come back and rub it for you.”

Shi Shu went out, found the medicine, and gave it to Li Fu. He knocked on the door and entered the room again. Unexpectedly, a wave of heat rushed to his nose, and the door behind him was closed with a click. Just as he was about to speak, his shoulders were pressed down by Xie Wuchi.

“???”

“What are you doing?”

Xie Wuchi’s breath fell on his nose. Shi Shu was very surprised, thinking Xie Wuchi was in too much pain to stand. “Xie Wuchi? Are you okay!”

Xie Wuchi: “It’s not from drinking. You rejected me a few days ago. I’m very unhappy.”

Shi Shu laughed after recalling it. “What’s there to be unhappy about? Have you never been rejected before?”

After laughing, Shi Shu looked closely at Xie Wuchi’s face and raised his eyebrows. “No way? Is that for real? Then you should work on your psychological tolerance. If you ask me like that again, I will continue to refuse.”

After Shi Shu finished speaking, he pulled his hand out, preparing to walk away and get the letter.

Behind him, his shoulder was suddenly grabbed by a hand. His posture was instantly adjusted back to the original position. Shi Shu’s back slammed against the door. His vision went black, and his lips were kissed by him again.

By the time Shi Shu reacted, he opened his lips. A long strand of saliva was pulled, his breathing already chaotic.

Shi Shu half-closed his eyes and gasped, really a little angry now. His arm was completely suppressed by him. He couldn’t help but bite his jaw. Only after leaving a teeth mark did Shi Shu let go.

“Do you have to be like this?”

Xie Wuchi was laughing lowly. “I don’t know any other way.”

“You won’t change?”

“I just want to show my true self. Understand me, accept me. Do you hate me being like this?”

Shi Shu: “I hate it.”

Xie Wuchi was quiet for a moment, then said, “Didn’t you always say I was very good?”

Shi Shu was stuck. “At that time…”

“Heh,” Xie Wuchi sighed. “Luckily, I never took those words seriously and reminded you again and again not to believe me, that I’m full of lies.”

Shi Shu stood there, not knowing what to say.

Xie Wuchi turned and sat back in his chair, picking up the letter. “The second half of this letter says that Pei Wenqing is critically ill and wants you to go back to the Eastern Capital to see him one last time. Laifu can’t be raised by him anymore.”

Shi Shu’s mind was hit, and he felt dizzy. His eyes suddenly widened. “What?”

“We’ll return to the capital tomorrow morning. I’ll have someone prepare the horses and carriage.”

Shi Shu asked, “How much longer will your inspection tour of the country take?”

“I don’t know, maybe a year or two. After you’re done with Pei Wenqing’s affairs, are you planning to come back and find me?”

Shi Shu thought for a moment, then still said, “If you don’t change, I won’t be with you. I can come to see you often, but we can’t live together.”

Xie Wuchi’s dark eyes were calm as he stared at him. “When did you start hating me so much?”

Shi Shu: “I don’t hate you!”

“No need to add that. I won’t be hurt. Go, before I change my mind.”

Shi Shu looked at him. Xie Wuchi’s expression showed no sign of backing down. It was only then that Shi Shu realized that Xie Wuchi’s temper was actually so big.

At first, Shi Shu thought Xie Wuchi had a very good temper, rational and calm, but now he felt his personality was too paranoid and arrogant, a complete subversion of his impression.

Shi Shu turned around. “Fine, then I’m leaving.”

What kind of person. He can even have a falling out with me?

Just as Shi Shu walked out the door and closed it, he suddenly heard a loud “thud” from inside. It was the sound of an inkstone, a vase, and a brush being smashed, extremely piercing.

“…………”

Shi Shu looked back at the door. “Holy cow?”

Li Fu, Zhou Xiang, and the guards all looked at the door. “Second Young Master, what’s wrong with my lord?”

Shi Shu: “I don’t know. It’s the first time I’ve seen it too.”

“…………”

“Then what should we do?”

Shi Shu stepped back, thought for a moment, and said to Li Fu, “You continue brewing the medicine. After it’s brewed, send it in to him. I’ll go pack my luggage.”

Early in the morning, a misty drizzle fell on the streets of the capital.

Shi Shu sat in the carriage, wearing a bamboo hat on his back. Before leaving, he went to knock on Xie Wuchi’s door. It never opened. He could only say, “Then I’m going home first.”

Then he got on the carriage.

After the carriage wheels had gone quite a distance, a hand with distinct knuckles rested on the door panel. Xie Wuchi was only wearing a simple white undergarment. The stomach pain and insomnia had caused a slight cyan color under his eyes. He stared at the departing carriage.

“My lord?”

“Is my lord’s body alright?”

“…”

After a moment, Xie Wuchi released his hand, his expression returning to indifference. “Change my clothes. Go to the Yamen to check the tax silver.”

The carriage traveled east all the way. After nearly half a month on the road, Shi Shu stood on the footboard of the carriage and looked into the distance. Finally, from the dusty, weed-strewn official road, he saw the banner and gate of the Eastern Capital.

Shi Shu looked exhausted from the journey. “This transportation… we’re finally here.”

Upon returning to the Eastern Capital, he ran to the Prince’s residence, strode into Pei Wenqing’s courtyard, not even having time to greet Laifu. He entered the room and called out, “Pei Wenqing?”

Unexpectedly, a light laugh came from behind. “I’m here.”

Shi Shu turned his head and only then saw Pei Wenqing sitting on a stone stool under a large locust tree, his face pale, playing chess by himself.

Shi Shu ran over. “How are you? Are you okay?!”

Pei Wenqing: “Not particularly well. I just feel very bored. I’ve been writing some poems recently. When a person is lonely, their literary inspiration really flows.”

Shi Shu’s nose tingled. “Don’t be afraid. I’m back to play with you.”

Pei Wenqing changed the subject. “How is your brother’s new policy in Qian’an?”

Shi Shu knew that the new policy was the national salvation strategy that Pei Wenqing’s father and he, along with a large group of people, had worked on for ten years. He said, “Very good. We almost died, and the local wealthy households were uncooperative, but we still managed to harvest all the rice before the autumn drizzles.”

Shi Shu told Pei Wenqing the process in great detail, embellishing it. Pei Wenqing couldn’t help but nod. “Your brother is really capable. He’s not at all like a monk from the mountains, more like an old hand in the officialdom.”

When Shi Shu thought of him, he remembered that Xie Wuchi hadn’t even been willing to see him before he left. It was really hard to explain. “I even had a fight with him.”

Pei Wenqing nodded, not asking for the reason. “You are very good. If you argue with someone, it must not be your fault.”

Shi Shu couldn’t help but want to clap. “That’s right. See, you get me.”

“At first glance, I didn’t appreciate your brother. I felt he was gloomy and secretive, with a deep city-like mind, difficult to get close to. But now I’ve changed my mind. With strong methods and great ambition, perhaps only then can things be done well. Being too gentle is not okay.”

Shi Shu sat and chatted with him, then turned his face. “How did you see his problem at a glance?”

Pei Wenqing smiled. “Your brother is too perfect. No one is perfect. Being able to pretend is too scary.”

“…”

Shi Shu muttered in his heart, “That’s right.”

The sordid scenes from his private moments flashed through his mind like a movie. The forced kisses, the deep kisses, touching his tattoo, being pressed under his legs with nowhere to escape, and that scorching temperature and gaze, the sexy and dazed voice, the deliberately explicit words. And looking at the starry sky above, his hand touching his hot skin.

Such a strange person. He never backed down an inch, but he would also throw a tantrum.

“In every aspect, he is my best friend.”

Pei Wenqing: “Is he really not your biological brother?”

Shi Shu: “We’re from the same village.”

A gust of autumn wind blew, and Pei Wenqing’s shoulders trembled as he began to cough. Shi Shu was about to pour him some tea when he saw the blood he had coughed up on the handkerchief. Pei Wenqing was afraid of scaring him and quickly put the handkerchief away.

“I don’t have many days left to live. I’ve always known. I only have one wish—that the new policy can succeed, that your brother can tour the country and bring back that good news. This might take a year or two. I can’t wait. Shi Shu.”

Shi Shu was in a daze, looking at him without speaking.

“If the new policy is really implemented throughout the country, and I am dead, then write it on paper money and burn it for me.”

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