UCTOOT CH141.2

Shi Shu saw Xie Wuchi pick up the chicken leg, take a bite, and put it back.

“No,” Shi Shu was extremely puzzled, “Why do you only eat one bite every time you’re offered food? Why don’t you eat a few more bites?!”

Shi Shu could understand eating more, but Xie Wuchi’s behavior of only eating one bite and getting saliva on the chopsticks was truly confusing! What do you gay men want to do?

Xie Wuchi said calmly: “I want to share a bowl of rice with you.”

“…” Unbelievable, pervert. Shi Shu took the chopsticks and bowl, hesitated for two seconds, deliberately ignored the coolness on the chopsticks, and squatted under the eaves to eat. Xie Wuchi watched him for a moment, unable to help curving his lips. He sat beside Shi Shu and fanned him.

Transmigrated for half a month, Shi Shu had begun to possess the legacy of rural literature. Squatting under the eaves to eat, only his face remained clean and handsome; occasionally, he felt like a native-born villager.

Shi Shu ate bite by bite. At eighteen, growing, and doing a lot of physical work, his cheeks bulged slightly like a goldfish.

Xie Wuchi watched him unblinkingly with appreciation.

Shi Shu couldn’t stand it: “Why do you keep looking at me?”

Xie Wuchi: “Because you look like a little baby.”

Shi Shu: “Pfft—I almost sprayed my rice out. Can you watch your limits when you speak?”

Xie Wuchi: “That might be hard.”

“…………”

What Baby, Big Baby, Little Baby. Shi Shu fiercely finished a bowl of rice. Before, he ran around during meals; now he was afraid there wouldn’t be any left in the pot if he ate late. After eating, he went to get another half bowl, washed the bowl by the well, and grazed the cattle in the afternoon.

Grazing cattle was relatively idle. The estate often made him do odd jobs, delivering water and food to everyone, helping deliver farm tools, running errands to find the vet for the oxen, the blacksmith, and the carpenter fixing houses. Wherever Shi Shu went, Xie Wuchi followed beside him.

The blacksmith’s house was several miles away. Shi Shu was bored along the way. Xie Wuchi chatted with him and specially picked up a long stick for him. Shi Shu played while running, his mood finally improving a bit.

Xie Wuchi’s pace was never hurried or slow; he didn’t walk fast, but he was always not far from Shi Shu. He watched Shi Shu’s every move. In these three months since transmigrating to ancient times, Shi Shu had been extremely broken and lonely.

Shi Shu ran back and forth on the stone slabs, jumped over a few dirt pits, and ran back after calling the blacksmith. Unexpectedly, just as he ran to the fields, he was told to do other work.

For the whole afternoon, Shi Shu was out of breath from exhaustion. When it got dark, he still had to drive the cattle and sheep back from the fields.

The cattle and sheep walked slowly, then stopped to chew on flowers and grass. Shi Shu was rushing to eat dinner; having run all afternoon, he was hungry long ago. But the animals wouldn’t listen and ran around everywhere. He jumped up and down, driving them from the fields to the ridges, then running up the hill again.

Xie Wuchi went up the mountain to drive the sheep. Finally, they were all driven back. Shi Shu’s head was full of sweat: “This bunch of mutton skewers can really run.”

Shi Shu drove the sheep into the pen and led the oxen to the shed. When he rushed out holding his nose, the master still wanted to check if the animals were full.

After checking, he said: “Go on, go eat.”

Shi Shu walked to the dining hall. Everyone had been eating for a while, livelily discussing wives and children. Shi Shu carried a bowl of noodles that was almost cold and walked out the door, feeling lost.

Shi Shu held the noodles and looked for Xie Wuchi: “Want to eat?”

Xie Wuchi: “Are you planning to ask me every meal?”

Shi Shu: “What if you’re really hungry?”

Xie Wuchi: “If I were really hungry, I would actively find you to eat, okay? Eat your food, be good.”

This inexplicable ‘older partner’ vibe. Shi Shu: “How about you take a bite anyway? I don’t like eating alone.”

Xie Wuchi stood under the courtyard pillar and said, “Then you take a bite first.”

After Shi Shu picked up the noodles and took a bite, he handed it to him. Xie Wuchi took the bowl, also took a bite, and handed it back: “Alright, now you’re not eating alone. Eat, listen to me.”

Shi Shu took the noodles and squatted under the eaves again. Xie Wuchi sat beside him: “Is your mood bad?”

Shi Shu: “There isn’t a single day my mood is good.”

Xie Wuchi: “If you’re unhappy, you can tell me. I will listen. Speaking it out will make you feel better. If you miss home, you can also tell me.”

Shi Shu: “Forget it.”

“No need to tough it out. We will become familiar soon.” Xie Wuchi looked down at him. “I am the person who loves you most in this world.”

Shi Shu: “…………”

How is that possible?

Shi Shu looked up at him. Seeing Xie Wuchi’s face up close for the first time, he suddenly realized he was startlingly handsome.

Shi Shu: “?” What’s going on?

Shi Shu withdrew his gaze. Work ended too late today; when he returned to the courtyard, it was already dark. Shi Shu was particularly afraid walking that stretch of road, but as he passed under a tree, there was sudden warmth on his wrist.

Shi Shu’s hand was held. Xie Wuchi said: “Let’s go.”

Shi Shu wanted to pull his hand out: “Don’t hold me…” But Xie Wuchi’s hand was very hot, his fingers long and palm wide. Being held by him brought a very strange sense of peace.

Shi Shu felt baffled but let him hold it. Amidst the awkwardness, he couldn’t help asking: “You’re a ghost too. I’m afraid of ghosts. Does letting me hold you alleviate that?”

Xie Wuchi: “My appearance should be a BUG in the system, not a ghost. I am a human that only you can see and touch.”

Shi Shu felt even more awkward. He hurriedly returned to the courtyard, preparing to heat water to wash clothes. He was very afraid of this courtyard—a deserted yard, exactly like the old haunted houses in horror novels. Usually, he bustled about alone in this empty yard, but right now, Xie Wuchi helped draw water by the well, then sat by the stove watching him tend the fire.

Shi Shu finally somewhat accepted his existence. After boiling one pot of water, he boiled a second: “Do you want to bathe? I have two sets of clothes you can wear, but these clothes were given to me by the tofu-selling widow who gave me her late husband’s clothes. I don’t have money to buy new ones.”

Xie Wuchi raised an eyebrow: “Tofu-selling widow? You two already know each other?”

Shi Shu: “? What’s wrong?”

Xie Wuchi took the clothes and said indifferently: “Nothing.”

Shi Shu: “To be honest, that sister treats me really well.”

Xie Wuchi: “Is that so? I’ll go take a look another day.”

Shi Shu glanced at him, then glanced again, seeming to understand: “Huh? What do you mean?”

Xie Wuchi raised a brow, his voice calm: “I just want to remind you, I am your official partner (Zheng Gong).”

Shi Shu: “…………………”

“…” Holding the clothes, Shi Shu’s clean, handsome face showed some confusion. This big brother is a nice person, but he keeps talking about husband this and husband that; it’s troubling.

You are my official partner? Shi Shu didn’t believe it for a second. Even if the sky fell, he’d hold it up, because he was straight. Shi Shu couldn’t be bothered to argue: “Whatever you say.”

After the courtyard turned pitch black, Shi Shu stripped and bathed directly in the yard. This was something he learned after transmigrating: a long row of laborers standing in the yard with basins to wash. No opposite sex, just doing whatever was convenient.

Barely finishing the bath, Shi Shu was exhausted all over, but still had to wash clothes. However, Xie Wuchi took the basin: “Go sleep. I’ll take a bath in a bit too and wash the clothes for you.”

Shi Shu: “No need, no need, I’ll do it myself! Don’t need you to wash my clothes!”

Xie Wuchi: “It doesn’t matter, you’re too tired today. If you really feel bad about it, wash mine once when you’re not busy another day.”

Shi Shu truly felt he was considerate: “Holy crap, why are you so good?”

Xie Wuchi: “Mn, of course I’m very good. Listen to me and go to sleep, be good.”

“?” Just the way he talks is a bit weird.

Shi Shu still felt bad: “I’d better wash them myself—” Pushing and shoving all the way to grab the basin, Xie Wuchi didn’t fight him on it; after all, it was hard to refute things Shi Shu insisted on. However, while Shi Shu washed clothes by the well, Xie Wuchi took a bath not far away. Shi Shu could hear the sound, feeling that the pitch-black night wasn’t so scary anymore.

Moments later, Xie Wuchi came over again, took the clothes Shi Shu had washed, wrung them dry, and hung them up.

The courtyard was empty, but seeing a living person made Shi Shu feel much better. He finally put down the basin, lay on the bed, and closed his eyes in exhaustion: “So tired.”

Xie Wuchi bolted the door and approached in the flickering candlelight.

Shi Shu lay on the inner side of the bed, leaving half for him. After Xie Wuchi lay down, he smelled the faint scent in Shi Shu’s hair.

Shi Shu was simply too tired. Hazily seeing Xie Wuchi close the door and come over, he fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes, his body slowly curling into a ball. This was a self-protective posture.

The bedding was obviously given by someone else too; the cotton batting was thin, and the spring field air seeped through with a chill. Shi Shu would obviously be cold at night. Xie Wuchi reached out and gently brushed aside his hair. Sensing the heat, Shi Shu unconsciously moved closer to him.

Xie Wuchi raised his hand and extinguished the candle.

In the darkness of the room, after only a moment, he pulled Shi Shu into his arms, wrapping the quilt tightly around him to create as much warmth as possible.

Shi Shu was too exhausted. He slept very comfortably tonight, finally free from the pervasive cold of this world. Until the middle of the night, when Shi Shu was woken by a burst of urinary urgency. His whole body was hot like a little furnace. Opening his eyes, a warm breath brushed past his ear.

It was Xie Wuchi’s breath, inches away from him. Shi Shu also sensed the source of the heat; he was gripping Xie Wuchi’s shoulder, his whole person held in his arms.

“…” Shi Shu moved in fright, his breath hitching. Xie Wuchi obviously woke up too.

This is just brothers accidentally hugging while asleep, right? Shi Shu stood up awkwardly: “I’m going to take a leak.”

Unexpectedly, Xie Wuchi got up as well, picking up the outer coat nearby and draping it over Shi Shu’s shoulders: “I’ll go with you.”

Shi Shu thought to himself: Holy crap, really? I happen to be terrified of going to that latrine at midnight. While outwardly refusing: “No need, no need, no need—”

Xie Wuchi slipped on his shoes and socks and lit a candle: “Let’s go. I know you’re scared at night. Don’t be afraid to trouble me. Your husband has decent executive function; I don’t sleep in, I’m not lazy, and my will can control my body.”

“…………” Shi Shu: No, who wanted to hear the second half?

Shi Shu went out with him. The courtyard was silent—broken walls, a desolate yard. The unknown darkness easily bred mysticism and fear of ghosts and gods. Shi Shu was blocked on the inner side by Xie Wuchi, walking together until they reached the latrine at the end of the yard.

Xie Wuchi held the candle: “Don’t be afraid. I’m just a few steps away.”

Shi Shu paused, sensing that he seemed to truly understand him.

Shi Shu entered the partitioned door; a little candlelight shone in. Shi Shu hurriedly finished and came out to wash his hands. Sure enough, Xie Wuchi was standing just a few steps away.

Not only that, on the way back, he let Shi Shu walk on the inner side of the corridor, while he took the side closer to the dark courtyard. Sensing a man’s special care for him… Shi Shu felt an awkward feeling in his heart. His fingers clenched and unclenched. Upon entering the door, Xie Wuchi also said: “You enter first.”

Shi Shu entered. The wooden door gently closed with a “creak,” shutting out ghosts and gods. The room was full of light.

Shi Shu got back into bed, sighing inwardly: “Husband, husband… falling in love with him would indeed be as easy as turning over a hand.”

He lay down. Xie Wuchi blew out the candle. Shi Shu’s eyes widened in the dark. Xie Wuchi asked: “Want to sleep holding me? It’s cold now; you can use me as a heater.”

Shi Shu: “That’s not right, is it? Me holding you?”

Xie Wuchi: “Has anyone ever confessed to you?”

Shi Shu: “Confessed what?”

Xie Wuchi: “I love you.”

“…” Shi Shu shifted back in fright, squeezing the pillow behind him, trying to see Xie Wuchi’s face clearly in the dark. It was probably because he was exhausted from work recently; if it were anyone else, Shi Shu would have dodged and left long ago, but right now, he was simply too tired to get out of bed.

Shi Shu: “What? Don’t understand.”

Xie Wuchi laughed: “You were just like this at eighteen.”

Shi Shu was a bit confused but didn’t sense any moodiness from him. He had some small thoughts in his mind but pulled the corner of the quilt ready to sleep again. Sleeping well, plus only getting up once in the middle of the night, Shi Shu fell asleep quickly, until he was pulled into the embrace again.

Xie Wuchi’s existence made Shi Shu feel slightly better. In the following days, Shi Shu got up every morning to graze cattle and sheep. Xie Wuchi, dressed in white, walked in the mottled greenery of the bamboo forest, helping him drive the lambs to the fields.

Shi Shu’s feeling of being broken lessened a lot. Whenever he cut wild grass in the fields, Xie Wuchi used a stick to help probe for snakes, only letting him go over when it was safe. There were many errands running around; Xie Wuchi always followed him, knowing the way, recognizing people, and helping chase away dogs.

At night, he accompanied him to eat, wash clothes, talk, and go to the remote, terrifying small courtyard.

Xie Wuchi was indeed in a BUG state, unable to interfere with anyone or anything except Shi Shu. He didn’t need to eat or drink, and it didn’t matter if he did. Every day during meals, Shi Shu peeled an egg and watched helplessly as this good brother took a bite, or took food Shi Shu had eaten and continued eating it.

Shi Shu often wondered what the situation was; it was weird. But other than that, this brother was unspeakably nice.

Coming down from the temple on the hill, there was a deserted monastery rumored to be very efficacious. But it was too efficacious. A long time ago, an old man hung himself in the temple with a rope due to unfair land distribution, using his life to appeal for justice. Since then, the temple had been deserted.

Shi Shu came down the mountain, passing the tofu stall by the small bridge and flowing water. The woman busy in the stall was washing bowls. Seeing him, she smiled: “Xiao Shu, you’re back?”

Shi Shu: “Sister Yang.”

Sister Yang said, “Tired, right? Look at the sweat all over your head. There’s hot tofu pudding in the pot; come, let me serve you a bowl!”

Hearing this, Xie Wuchi raised his eyelids to look over.

Sweat dripped from Shi Shu’s handsome chin. In his teens, his physical consumption was high and he got hungry fast. He stopped: “No need, no need, Sister—”

“Don’t be polite. There’s plenty left in the pot from today! If it’s not eaten, it’ll have to be thrown out tomorrow. Come quickly! Da Fu, Er Fu, bring your Little Uncle to eat.” Two children ran out and pulled Shi Shu’s hand. Sister Yang held a bowl, smiling: “Young man, you run around all day. You’re still young; do you go hungry early every day?”

Shi Shu: “I am a bit hungry…”

“Poor thing, come sit!”

While Shi Shu was dazed, Xie Wuchi said: “Eat a few more bowls, and you’ll have to marry into the family to pay it back.”

Shi Shu: “…”

Xie Wuchi was quiet, then said after a moment: “Eat. You’re growing. Get full first, ignore the rest.”

Shi Shu took the bowl handed to him. Sister Yang wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, her face full of sunny, rosy smiles. Shi Shu was very popular with older sisters, aunties, and grandmas. Two aunties sitting in front of the stall couldn’t stop grinning when they saw him.

Shi Shu blushed. Xie Wuchi understood: “They look at you pretty much the same way men look at a sweet girl.”

Shi Shu: “?” Loli among men?

After eating, several sisters and aunties joked with him smilingly. Shi Shu blushed after saying two sentences, and his reactions were a bit slow, but he answered every question. Usually asking how old he was, where he was from, and what siblings he had at home.

Shi Shu stood outside the fence at a distance from them. After a while, a group of villagers walked past.

“Oho?!” Someone beside them suddenly jeered. The faces of the sisters and aunties changed, and they hurriedly lowered their heads to sew shoe soles and embroider.

Strange atmosphere. Among the men, someone glared at Shi Shu. After thanking Sister Yang and leaving the tofu stall, Shi Shu asked: “Did I cause trouble?”

Xie Wuchi: “Hard to say.”

Shi Shu looked suspicious. Returning to the estate, the sickly young master of the estate stared at him for a long time. Standing beside him was the man who had just passed by. He raised his hand: “Are you very idle every day?”

Shi Shu: “Huh?”

The young master looked at his handsome face, then at the fair flesh of his neck, gritting his teeth: “Go to the market now and buy me a jin of sugar cubes. I need to eat them after drinking medicine tonight.”

Shi Shu: “Now? The sun is almost setting?”

The young master put his hands behind his back and said, “Go quickly. I have a craving for sweets.”

Did I provoke you? Sending me to buy things when it’s almost dark—isn’t this pure oppression? Shi Shu held back his urge to complain and turned around. Da Zhu stepped forward, stuffed copper coins into his hand, and said, “The Young Master heard you talking to Sister Yang who sells tofu and got unhappy. Go to the market and buy two jin of sugar to coax him.”

Why should I coax him? Is he psycho?

But Shi Shu didn’t dare speak. He turned and left the courtyard. It started again; it started again. A life like a beast of burden. Shi Shu’s breaking point was triggered. He took a stick and went to the market. He had to walk almost twenty li.

Thinking of this, Shi Shu was unhappy. Fortunately, Xie Wuchi accompanied him, so he barely managed not to break down completely, carrying a torch as he walked. In ancient times, once night fell, nothing could be seen. Every household closed their doors; strangers were not to approach. The world seemed to be pressed on pause.

Shi Shu had been to the market a few times and knew the way, but it was difficult to identify at night. The bridge, the narrow road, wild dogs, the woods, ghost fires, the vast green mist before his eyes… once night fell, there were also wild wolves by the road.

Shi Shu spoke much less on the road. Xie Wuchi walked beside him: “In a bad mood? —Baby, how far can you jump from a standing position?”

Shi Shu was distracted: “Standing long jump? At least two and a half meters.”

Xie Wuchi: “Try this line.”

Moonlight shone on the road; tree branches cast a shadow. Shi Shu stood in place and jumped with almost no preparation, landing very far away. Xie Wuchi smiled and said: “So amazing.”

Shi Shu smiled for a second, then immediately remembered the two jin of sugar he had to buy, and couldn’t smile.

Xie Wuchi: “Lack of focus.”

Shi Shu: “I can’t smile right now.”

Xie Wuchi: “Don’t be afraid. I’ll accompany you wherever you go.”

Interrupted by him, Shi Shu’s mood was still not very good. He said, “It’s nothing.” But actually, his mind was full of thoughts about home, mom and dad, and the strangeness of this place. He didn’t speak much along the way. By the time they reached the small town market, it was very late. Moonlight sprinkled on the stone slabs like fine salt.

Shi Shu knocked on the sugar shop’s door. Hearing a grumble, the family, who had slept, opened the door, lifted the jar, and weighed two jin of sugar for him.

Shi Shu carried the sugar and walked back a few steps before his stomach felt uncomfortable from hunger. They had been walking until past nine at night; they wouldn’t get home until eleven or twelve.

Shi Shu’s eyes grew wet in the dark night. Xie Wuchi took the sugar packet and held his hand: “It’s nothing. Don’t be afraid. We just have to walk back.”

Both the way there and the way back were strange. The mountains and bamboo forests passed were different from the roads he grew up with. Shi Shu’s abdomen was uncomfortable. At first, he pretended nothing was wrong, but slowly he broke down and “ao-wu’d” a few times.

Shi Shu: “This road is so long; it seems like we can’t reach the end.”

Xie Wuchi: “We’ll get there slowly.”

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