UCTOOT CH64

As a powerhouse who had survived in ancient times for nearly a year on his own, Du Zihan was very diligent. He got up early every day, but when he opened his door this morning, he saw a figure was already in the courtyard.

It was that workaholic king he feared. Dressed in crisp, neat clothes, he was already practicing in the yard, what looked like some form of boxing.

Du Zihan didn’t dare go out. He sat behind the door until the sky brightened and Shi Shu woke up.

Shi Shu’s hair was a mess from sleeping. Xie Wuchi picked up a comb and began to untangle the knots for him. Du Zihan watched with a complicated expression.

After breakfast, Shi Shu asked, “What’s the plan for today?”

Xie Wuchi: “Walk around.”

Shi Shu raised an eyebrow. He said he was resting, but sure enough, Xie Wuchi couldn’t resist investigating the local conditions.

“Alright, I’ll risk my life to accompany a gentleman. Let’s go.”

Thick, dark clouds piled up in the sky. It was Shi Shu’s first time in a militarized city. Soldiers were stationed in the suburbs and on the watchtowers, and the city was heavily guarded. The military command held more authority than the civil administration. Every so often, a horse would gallop past, its rider holding up a feathered letter and shouting, “Make way! Urgent military intelligence!”

Shi Shu looked from side to side. The north wind blew bleakly against his face, but the soldiers on the watchtowers held their posts, showing no signs of fear.

“Truly amazing. Without the soldiers protecting the country, the people in the Great Jing’s interior wouldn’t be able to live and work in peace,” Shi Shu said.

Xie Wuchi said, “That’s right. These people are from military families for generations, serving as soldiers their whole lives. Even their families are tied to this land. If anyone tries to desert, their family will be implicated.”

Shi Shu felt a surge of emotion in his heart as he walked out of the city gates with Xie Wuchi, Du Zihan following behind.

Shi Shu asked, “The military pay from before, was it for them?”

Xie Wuchi said, “Yes. Nine out of ten military households are empty, so they have to recruit soldiers and reorganize armies of displaced people, all of which requires silver. In reality, the soldiers’ pay has been in arrears for half a year, even several years. If they aren’t paid, the soldiers grow resentful and lose their fighting spirit. This is what leads to an unstable army.”

The wind and snow were heavy. Shi Shu suddenly realized something and turned to stare at Xie Wuchi. “You confiscated all that silver… was it to pay the army?”

Xie Wuchi’s gaze was distant, and he didn’t speak.

Shi Shu seemed to understand something and muttered, “Damn!”

Talk about worrying about the country and its people!

“Military pay is very important.” Xie Wuchi’s gaze was now on the market outside the city. Senzhou was a border city, which meant there was a lot of trade in goods like horses, tea, salt, furs, and tobacco. Mixed in were many people from Great Min, wearing heavy animal hides, their hair thick and unruly. They were clearly common folk, picking through the goods of the Great Jing people. The army generally turned a blind eye to the trade between the common people.

Xie Wuchi’s eyes were calm. He retracted his gaze. “When I first arrived, I gathered a lot of information and guessed that the border army’s combat effectiveness was poor. According to the laws of dynastic cycles, long-standing border armies are usually severely corrupted, and military households flee. The so-called hundreds of thousands of border troops are likely just names on a roster to collect ghost pay. Their military strength is very weak. So the most important thing is to reform the army. Otherwise, before I can even become emperor, the Great Jing might be wiped out by the Great Min. It’s definitely not as easy to organize a fight under the rule of a foreign race as it is under the Great Jing. The priority is to extend the Great Jing’s lifespan first.”

Shi Shu: “…”

Du Zihan: “…”

Shi Shu was looking at a felt hat. He turned back to him. “Xie Wuchi, just how much have you thought about? Enduring humiliation, making compromises. A foreigner is more anxious than the actual people of Great Jing.”

Unconsciously, he remembered him working day and night, burning the midnight oil, the dark circles under his eyes.

The purpose of all this was simply to fulfill his desire to trample the world under his feet.

Shi Shu muttered to himself, “He could clearly be a savior, but he refuses. He insists on being the great villain.”

This person was truly… twisted.

What pleasure was there in stepping on everyone?

Shi Shu put the hat back. Xie Wuchi’s brows were still furrowed in thought, snow falling on his eyelashes. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.

Du Zihan said, “This market is really lively.”

“Senzhou is said to be the largest market on the northern border. Why is that?” Shi Shu was also very curious.

“A market means there are many people,” Xie Wuchi said flatly. “The Cha River outside Senzhou is at its narrowest point here. It freezes over in the winter, making it easier to cross, so more people come to trade.”

Shi Shu: “So that’s how it is. Those refugees we met yesterday…”

They talked as they walked, and before they knew it, they had reached the end of the market. Just as they were about to turn back, Xie Wuchi said, “Shi Shu, come here.”

“What’s wrong?”

Shi Shu returned. Xie Wuchi had stopped at a pen selling livestock. Inside stood magnificent horses. For truly tall horse breeds, one had to look to the regions beyond the Great Wall and near the Yellow River. And indeed, these horses were tall and powerful, with plump muscles. Looking at the owner, it was clear he was a commoner who had secretly come from Great Min to sell horses.

Shi Shu slapped a horse on the rump. “What’s up, you want to buy a horse? Don’t we have Laicai?”

Xie Wuchi: “Laicai is old and not suited for running. You need to learn how to ride.”

Shi Shu scratched his head. “Why?”

“This is the border, Senzhou, a strategic location contested by military powers. If war breaks out, this place will be the first to be hit by the flames of battle. You run very fast, but—”

Xie Wuchi took the reins and turned the horse’s head. “If you encounter danger in the future, I hope you run as far away as possible.”

At this, Shi Shu finally remembered that this place was Senzhou. The so-called “City of Death,” said to be massacred each time it changed hands. Who knew when a river of blood might flow again.

Before Shi Shu could object, Xie Wuchi had bought the horse and said, “Come on.”

Shi Shu walked slowly. “I actually—”

Du Zihan followed behind them.

“What about him?” Shi Shu pointed. “Buy one for him too.”

Du Zihan seemed to snap out of a daze. “No, no, no! You learn first, then I’ll learn. Horses are expensive, there’s no rush!”

“Why are you being so polite?”

You’re being too sensible, brother, you don’t need to be! Just be natural!

Du Zihan: “It’s fine, just order me around as you please.”

Shi Shu exchanged a look with Xie Wuchi. “You.“

This is bullying, brother. Bullying.

“Get on.” Xie Wuchi said nothing more.

There was a saddle on the horse’s back. Shi Shu learned how to mount, but he would get nervous as soon as the horse started running. Xie Wuchi’s hand gripped Shi Shu’s ankle, making him press tightly against the horse’s belly. He could feel the warm, thick fur, like a blanket, and the animal scent in the snowy wind.

This was a young, chestnut-red horse with a seemingly hot-tempered personality, pacing impatiently. Shi Shu let out a “Huh?” and said, “It’s not going to throw me to my death, is it?”

Xie Wuchi nodded. “Shi Shu. Be brave.”

Shi Shu’s heart skipped a beat. He turned his face, took off the hat on his head, and his youthful profile and hair scattered in the wind. Xie Wuchi spoke like his father. When Shi Shu was very young and didn’t want to train in the sweltering heat or freezing winter, his dad would crouch by his bed and say, “Shi Shu, persist, be brave.”

Getting up to train is indeed painful.

So, think about winning a gold medal, or becoming an angel of justice, and get up and work hard.

Shi Shu hissed softly, gripped the rough reins, and gently urged the horse forward.

Xie Wuchi walked beside him, his dark eyes watching him. “I have no other demands of you, but you must learn the things you need to escape.”

The ground shook, bobbing up and down. The cold wind rushed at his head, making his mind feel wobbly. It would be impossible for Shi Shu to say he wasn’t scared. Following Xie Wuchi’s instructions, he lowered his waist, pulled the reins tight, and tensed his body into a sharp bow.

“Go.” Xie Wuchi slapped the horse’s flank.

In an instant, Shi Shu’s frantic screams echoed through the air. “Ahhhhhhhh—”

“Ahhhhhhh—”

“Xie Wuchi, I hate you! I hate you!”

The wind blew tears from Shi Shu’s eyes, and his lungs filled with cold air. If he didn’t know how to regulate his breathing, he would have long since suffocated and become dizzy. Shi Shu struggled to find his balance and center of gravity, desperately holding onto the chestnut horse as it galloped. The wild speed sent his heart rate and blood pressure soaring!

However, Shi Shu gradually began to feel the rhythm of the gallop. The reins chafed his palms raw. When he leaned down to breathe, the wind kicked up sand and snow. The changing view of mountains and earth, the bent white grass, created a different kind of beauty—a strange feeling of mastering nature and life.

The desert sand is like snow; the moon over the Yan Mountains is like a hook.

The scenery beyond the pass has its own unique beauty.

The sound of chaotic hoofbeats came from behind.

Shi Shu looked back. A green-hued horse carrying another figure was approaching. Xie Wuchi had caught up on horseback. On the horse, his posture was more refined and fierce as he gave chase.

“Xie Wuchi?” Shi Shu thought to himself, “Where’s Du Zihan?”

Far in the distance, Du Zihan watched the two horses gallop away. “………………”

“That’s enough. Turn around,” Xie Wuchi said.

Shi Shu understood and pulled the reins to veer left, but perhaps his strength was too little, and the agitated horse didn’t obey. Panic seized Shi Shu’s heart. “Hey? No, no, no, Brother Horse!”

The horse was galloping wildly toward the frozen Cha River, kicking up mud and sand.

Shi Shu’s eyes widened as he noticed the sentries in the watchtower across the river, armed with sharp arrows. If one were to cross the river quietly, it might be fine, but charging across on horseback like this would definitely be discovered.

Shi Shu: “Damn it! Stop going forward!”

Xie Wuchi: “The horse is trying to tame you. Pull hard, hard.”

Shi Shu tightened his grip on the reins, his palms clasped together, and pulled back with all his might. At that moment, Shi Shu discovered that gentleness was not reliable on the frontier; one had to be strong and unyielding.

The reins stretched taut, pulled extremely tight. Shi Shu’s back was covered in cold sweat, his pupils fixed on the ever-nearing frozen Cha River. Just as the horse trampled the haystacks on the bank and jolted violently, it finally reared its head in pain just before the riverbank, neighing as it came to a halt.

Shi Shu panted, the cold sweat drying instantly in the wind. His legs felt like jelly. Xie Wuchi dismounted and walked to his side. “You did it.”

Shi Shu swung himself off the horse, but stumbled unexpectedly, his feet feeling like they had landed on cotton.

But he was immediately pulled into an embrace by a pair of hands. Xie Wuchi said, “Good, Shi Shu, you did very well.”

Shi Shu wiped his face. “Damn…”

Shi Shu didn’t walk anymore, but sat down on the ground. Seeing him sit, Xie Wuchi also sat down. The two horses paced back and forth for a bit before lowering their heads to chew on the snow.

As the horses wandered, Shi Shu simply lay down in the snow. “Ah… so exciting.”

“Practice a few more times, and you’ll get used to it.”

Xie Wuchi sat in the snow beside him, his expression calm, looking at the Cha River front not far away, seeming to be simply sitting with Shi Shu.

The lines of that handsome profile were sharp and well-defined, born very sexy. No matter how many times he saw it, he would occasionally be struck by his handsomeness, thinking something like: Damn, how can he be so good-looking?

Shi Shu slowly averted his gaze. Xie Wuchi’s eyelashes were lowered. That honorable face of his, which looked like it was waiting for others to kneel and lick his boots, still occasionally surprised Shi Shu.

Shi Shu’s attention shifted to the distance.

There was no ferry or guards at the Cha River before them, but at intervals, there were blockhouses and watchtowers, constantly monitoring the enemy’s movements. If the enemy crossed the border, they would light beacon fires or ride to deliver the message.

The border, the border…

To charge into the fray, to die on the battlefield.

To grip a bloody weapon, to go and never return.

Shi Shu propped up his handsome, fair face. Not far away, a cavalryman stopped, laughed, and said, “Well, well, you can’t even ride a horse and you’re trying? If you had crossed the Cha River just now, that pretty face of yours would have been shot into a sieve by the arrows of those Min dogs!”

Shi Shu: Didn’t you say your life has no audience?

Shi Shu’s face turned red, and he grinned. “Well, I still managed to stop. It was nothing, really!”

The cavalryman said, “Anyway, you guys be careful! Don’t cross the border. Those bastards from Min are petty. Don’t give them a chance to start a border dispute.”

Shi Shu stood up and shook the snow off his clothes. “A war? I saw them cross the border yesterday.”

“That’s different. The Great Jing is only talking about defense and is even preparing to negotiate peace with the Min dogs. The other side might not think the same way. They’re eager to fight! Anyway, just be careful! No crossing the border to cause trouble, and certainly don’t give them any pretext!”

Shi Shu: “Understood.”

As they spoke, the men grew angry, spurred their horses, and trotted off on their patrol.

Shi Shu pondered, “So the Great Jing doesn’t want to fight? They still want peace?”

Xie Wuchi: “War is incredibly expensive. One war can completely drain the national treasury and cause economic regression. If you lose, you’re also blamed. So the ruling faction generally doesn’t like to fight. They’d rather indulge in the illusion of ‘peaceful and prosperous times’ and enjoy themselves.”

Shi Shu saw a thoughtful expression on Xie Wuchi’s face.

Shi Shu had a vague sense that something was wrong. “What is it?”

“But war can resolve most domestic conflicts. For example, if there’s severe factional strife in the court, a war can divert the conflict.”

Shi Shu looked at Xie Wuchi. A smile appeared on his face. After enduring the wind and snow, his expression toward Shi Shu was very gentle. “Do you know the fastest way to get promoted?”

Shi Shu: “Pass the imperial examinations? Enter the Hanlin Academy?”

“Wrong.”

Xie Wuchi’s eyebrows were low-set, making his eyes seem extremely sinister at times. His brow tips were dark as he stared thoughtfully across the Cha River. Across the cold, frozen river, the lands of Great Min were also frozen. Besides watchtowers, there were rugged mountains and deserts. Occasionally, one could see low, gray thatched huts, with cavalrymen riding back and forth to question the sentries.

“—Gaining military merit is the fastest path to promotion.”

A chill ran down Shi Shu’s spine as he saw the hawk-like, wolfish gaze in his eyes. Xie Wuchi took the horse’s reins and said calmly, “The fastest way to gain power, even a ticket to contend for the throne, is through military merit. And military merit inevitably relies on war. This is a universally known rule.”

“So any ambitious person would wish for chaos under heaven. Chaos is the best time to rise. Especially war. It will quickly shatter the superficial decency of this country and allow for a reshuffling of power.”

Shi Shu’s scalp tingled as he listened.

Here he goes again, this dark-souled bastard.

Listening to him speak, Shi Shu always felt like an elegant arch-villain was eloquently expounding on his aesthetics of violence, involving a series of things like control, slaughter, and self-esteem.

Xie Wuchi spoke in a voice that couldn’t be calmer, yet it sent a cold sweat down one’s back.

Shi Shu looked back at the rugged landscape of mountains and rivers and said lazily, “I can’t. I can’t forget the refugees I saw being hacked to death yesterday. I hope there won’t be a war.”

At that moment, a lonely soul approached from a distance.

“…Hey.”

Shi Shu’s eyes lit up. “You’re here!”

Du Zihan: “Did I interrupt you guys? I can go back, or stand further away.”

Shi Shu: “No, no, sorry. I thought you’d find a warm place to wait.”

Du Zihan: “…I feel safer with you guys. I’m starting to hate being alone.”

Those words made Shi Shu want to get up in the middle of the night and slap himself. He quickly ran over. “Sorry, sorry, we won’t leave you behind next time.”

Xie Wuchi turned his gaze, glanced one last time at the other side of the Cha River, and his dark light retracted.

Leading the horses, the group walked back.

Shi Shu’s legs were still a bit weak. Xie Wuchi walked over first. “Get on the horse.”

Shi Shu: “No need, I can walk.”

Xie Wuchi didn’t say anything. When they got back near the market and were about to return to the city, Xie Wuchi asked again, “Want to buy something to eat?”

Shi Shu held a large bag of Senzhou’s local specialties and loaded some grain and vegetables onto the horse’s back. Du Zihan quickly helped out.

The cold wind whipped against them, turning the tip of Shi Shu’s nose red. Especially when they were putting away the luggage, he didn’t notice the snow falling on him.

Shi Shu turned his face. “Zihan, is there anything else you want to buy?”

Du Zihan turned his face. A shadow fell over Shi Shu’s eyes. A hand touched the snow on the tip of his nose and also brushed away the flakes on his cheek. Xie Wuchi: “Be careful, it’ll ruin your face.”

Shi Shu pursed his lips. Du Zihan turned just in time to see this scene and immediately rushed to turn his head away, muttering, “Uh, I’m not picky, I’m easy to feed. What I eat every day is enough now. I can do anything.”

Shi Shu: “………………”

Shi Shu recognized it at a glance. This was the same awkward expression his buddies would have when they watched him get confessed to throughout his school years.

Shi Shu’s throat bobbed. “No, Old Du, you—”

When he looked up again, Xie Wuchi had just lowered his hand and turned, leaving only his back.

Huh?

What is going on?

No way? Shi Shu was wide awake now. Have I become gay?

Shi Shu looked left and right. The guards at the city gate urged, “Hurry up.”

Shi Shu walked inside, a thousand words caught in his throat. Du Zihan avoided his gaze and gave a very polite smile.

“………………?”

Shi Shu noticed the situation. Later, back at the courtyard, Xie Wuchi was reading and catching up on his diary, while Du Zihan was sweeping the snow in the yard. After several false starts, Shi Shu finally stopped beside him. “You sweep today, but won’t it just snow again tomorrow? What’s the point of sweeping?”

Du Zihan: “Uh, I need to do something, I’m afraid Brother Xie will get rid of me.”

Shi Shu: “He, actually he—”

Du Zihan secretly glanced back, noticed Xie Wuchi’s gaze, and subtly took a step to the right. “Don’t help me, Brother Shi. You go play. I can handle this little bit of work by myself. I’m very capable. When I was a student, I used to help my advisor pick up packages and run errands every day, and even picked up his kid.”

Shi Shu: “Are you avoiding me?”

Du Zihan had a miserable look on his face. “Brother, I don’t discriminate. I just think I’m pretty handsome myself, and I’m afraid Brother Xie might get the wrong idea.”

“…”

Shi Shu’s vision went dark. He thought to himself: Fine, the title of ‘gay man’ has finally landed on my head.

Sure enough, his relationship with Xie Wuchi was more or less not normal.

Shi Shu could only say, “Don’t overthink it. Be natural. He and I are really not what you think.”

As for the specifics—Xie Wuchi’s sex addiction, his preference for men, his kinky tastes—Shi Shu couldn’t conveniently reveal the details. He could only deny one thing: “He and I are pure, just brothers.”

Du Zihan’s hand stopped. “Is that so.”

“Stop sweeping and come inside to play. If he hits you…”

Shi Shu was silent for two seconds. “…then I’ll let him hit me too.”

Du Zihan: “…So you’re not very useful, huh?”

Shi Shu: “I’m very useful!” As they bickered, Xie Wuchi’s gaze lifted from the page again, observing them from a few steps away.

Du Zihan put down the broom, hastily made an excuse, and fled to his small room, even bolting the door.

To be honest, there was nothing going on between him and Xie Wuchi, but with Du Zihan acting like this, Shi Shu actually started to feel a bit awkward.

He stood at the bottom of the steps, feeling a bit indescribable. Their friendship should have been strengthened after the exile, but something else seemed to have grown in its place, making Shi Shu very uncomfortable.

Shi Shu turned his shoes and walked back. “I’m going to chop some firewood. In a couple of days, when you go to do your service, I’ll see if I can go with you or find something else to do.”

Acting on some kind of instinct, Shi Shu bolted.

When he reached the woodshed, he looked back. Xie Wuchi had put down his paper and pen. Dressed in clean silk clothes and stepping on the fine, jade-like snow, he was walking toward him step by step.

It’s over!

Shi Shu stared at the mud-brick wall in front of him, desperately trying to find a crack in it, anywhere that he could hide. But there was nothing. Shi Shu could only pretend to be busy, taking out an axe and starting to chop firewood that was harder than ice.

Xie Wuchi stood at the entrance of the woodshed, his figure seeming out of place. He said, “It’s rusty. Let’s buy a whetstone tomorrow to sharpen it, then chop the wood. Besides, these pieces are very small, there’s no need to chop them.”

Shi Shu gave a perfunctory “uh-huh.” “You go back and do your thing. I’ll be over in a minute.”

Xie Wuchi said faintly, “I found a book. Do you want to read it with me?”

Shi Shu stopped his movements. “Huh? What book?”

Xie Wuchi: “A horror novel, I guess?”

Shi Shu: “…”

Perhaps Xie Wuchi had really never taken a break. Now that he was resting, neither of them could find any form of entertainment. The sight of an idle Xie Wuchi was also extremely rare. When a person is idle, they want to find something to do.

Xie Wuchi: “Not interested? Want to go horse riding again? I can accompany you.”

Shi Shu: “No need, I don’t want to go out.” As he spoke, Shi Shu’s gaze shifted, and he saw Du Zihan coming out to use the toilet. As he unintentionally passed through the courtyard, he had an expression that said, “Why are you deceiving me?”

“………………”

With Xie Wuchi standing here, Shi Shu was no longer innocent.

Gay? He felt the helplessness of a widow being slandered with lewd rumors.

Shi Shu felt a strange panic. “Uh, well, you go out first, I…”

He was at a loss for words.

He felt that his relationship with Xie Wuchi had become strange.

Xie Wuchi didn’t say anything. He raised his eyes as if he heard something, walked to the innermost part of the woodshed, and pushed aside a messy pile of straw. Inside were several tiny kittens, sound asleep. Hearing the noise, they began to meow wildly, their mouths wide open.

Shi Shu dropped the axe. “There are cats!”

Xie Wuchi: “Born in the winter. It’s still cold here. I don’t know if they’ll survive.”

Shi Shu’s attention was diverted. “I’ll get some clothes and make a nest for them.”

Xie Wuchi: “Good. The mother cat has probably gone out to look for food. It’s good to make a nest for them under the corridor. With the fire next to it, they won’t freeze at night.”

Shi Shu reached out to pick up a kitten. It was as small as a glutinous rice ball and cried out as soon as it was picked up. As Shi Shu was looking closely at the cat, he suddenly wondered, Is Xie Wuchi the type to be very patient with animals?

Shi Shu turned his face. In his peripheral vision, Xie Wuchi was staring intently at his face.

In an instant, Shi Shu’s entire ear burned a deep, translucent red.

He was so startled that he lost his grip on the kitten and it fell back into the nest. Shi Shu finally came to his senses. Du Zihan was walking past from the other end and was called over by Shi Shu. “Quick, come look, there are kittens.”

“Holy crap! Hajime! Hajime!” Du Zihan frantically approached, no longer even afraid of Xie Wuchi.

The two of them made a wooden box and moved the kittens’ nest next to the charcoal stove. For the whole afternoon, all that could be heard were sucking and meowing sounds. They put out some food, and it wasn’t long before the mother cat came. After some hesitation, she lay down by the fire and lazily closed her eyes.

Shi Shu occasionally called out to Xie Wuchi. He gently touched a cat’s head but probably still couldn’t muster much interest. After washing his hands, he sat in a chair to the side and read a book. In between flipping through the scroll, his gaze rested on Shi Shu.

He was reading a book on military strategy that he had bought, obscure and difficult to understand. Shi Shu tried to take a look but went back to playing with the kittens.

Shi Shu looked at him and surprisingly felt that Xie Wuchi was a bit lonely. He rarely seemed to be happy from the bottom of his heart.

The sky gradually darkened, and it was time for dinner.

Ever since starting his graduate studies, Du Zihan had developed a fondness for drinking. After a few small cups with dinner, he would tightly shut his door and go to sleep.

Shi Shu took a bath first, then squatted by the kitten box next to the charcoal fire, repeatedly observing the kittens’ paws, heads, and markings.

A voice came from behind him. “I’m done washing.”

Shi Shu turned around, considering something. “I’ve brought my quilt back. We’ll sleep in our own rooms.”

“…”

Then, Shi Shu’s gaze paused.

In the middle of the night, the light coming through the window lattice was dim, but Xie Wuchi was wearing a plain robe embroidered with flowing patterns. His hair was partially dried, the beautiful black strands falling by his ears, making his handsome features look even sharper and more striking.

The key was that his clothes weren’t worn properly. His collarbones and the lines of his chest were visible, his chest muscles half-hidden. The candlelight cast light and shadow on his strong shoulders and neck, making his frame look tall, young, tempting, and passionate.

Shi Shu: “?”

Wait, brother, what are you doing?

Shi Shu: “You’re dressed like this in the middle of the night to…”

Xie Wuchi said flatly, “Oh, just threw something on.”

Author’s Note:

Some male fox courtship behaviors—

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