UCTOOT CH60.2

“Crack—” A violent clap of thunder. Shi Shu’s eyes snapped open. He twisted his body only to find he couldn’t move. He was lying in a warm body, his head pillowed on a well-trained, strong arm.

It’s over! Shi Shu’s scalp tightened. The dream-like struggle from last night flooded his memory. How long did he and Xie Wuchi kiss last night? He only remembered the two of them embracing as if they had lost their minds. Shi Shu was alright, but Xie Wuchi had been fanatically and repeatedly kissing him.

Guessing Xie Wuchi was still asleep, Shi Shu prepared to get up and get dressed first.

Unexpectedly, a voice sounded from above his head. “Are you awake?”

Shi Shu’s mind felt like it had been struck by lightning. He moved his body, and other connected parts rubbed against each other in an inscrutable way, their legs entangled. Shi Shu tried to back away to separate them, but Xie Wuchi held his waist, forcing him not to ignore it.

Shi Shu had no choice but to look up. Xie Wuchi was indeed awake, and he didn’t know how long he had been awake. From this angle, he met his lowered gaze perfectly.

Shi Shu was extremely embarrassed. “Can you let go first? How’s your cold?”

Xie Wuchi: “Still have a bit of a fever. If you’re sleepy, you can continue to sleep. I don’t know how long you plan to sleep.”

Shi Shu was flustered, but at the same time, he wanted to curse. He said, “Last night.”

Xie Wuchi: “I know.”

“It’s good that you know.”

Shi Shu didn’t know what to say. A thousand words flashed through his mind. He decided to just get dressed and get out of bed.

Xie Wuchi: “How did it feel to sleep with me?”

Shi Shu: “Isn’t it just sleeping together? We’ve been sleeping together every day recently.”

“Sleeping naked like this.”

Shi Shu: “You.”

Xie Wuchi was so seductive. It seemed it was only a matter of time before he was messed with in the same bed. Shi Shu’s mind was a bit chaotic. He walked away and said, “It was you who had a fever and insisted on holding me. I was just helping you.”

After saying that, Shi Shu hurried downstairs, drew a basin of water to wash his face, his mind full of those chaotic images. He had to say, some parts of last night seemed to have an aphrodisiac effect, and that kind of embrace was too passionate.

Passionate.

Every move was saying: Having sex with me will be amazing. I want to have sex with you.

How terrifying. A full-on display of his own charm.

Shi Shu looked at the ripples in the water. The water was chaotic, and his heart was also in a mess. This feeling was so strange. Maybe it was because Xie Wuchi had a casual air about him that made it seem like you didn’t have to be responsible for anything you did with him, especially in terms of sex. He always felt he was too teasing and indulgent, which made Shi Shu…

What on earth does it all mean?

As Shi Shu was struggling with this, the station attendant came in with a pot of ginger soup. “Everyone, those who caught a cold from the rain yesterday, come have a bowl.”

It was indeed still raining today. A curtain of rain hung from the eaves. The moss on the stones, soaked with water, was a rich, vibrant color. Laifu was sleeping on a wooden board under the steps.

Xie Wuchi wasn’t the only one who had caught a cold and had a fever last night. The room was filled with the sound of sneezing. Hearing that the station attendant had quickly boiled some ginger water, everyone came over to drink. Shi Shu took a bowl and brought it upstairs.

His footsteps hesitated for a moment as he entered the door.

Xie Wuchi was standing by the window, watching the rain. His clothes were already neatly dressed. Hearing the sound, he turned and took the ginger soup from Shi Shu’s hand. “Thank you.”

There was an invisible atmosphere between the two of them. Xie Wuchi said, “Just now, it was me—”

But before he could finish, the empty bowl was snatched away. Shi Shu was already running downstairs. Hearing his words, he added nonchalantly, “Oh, it’s fine.”

Xie Wuchi’s palm still seemed to hold some residual warmth. He tucked it back into his sleeve and then walked out the door.

Downstairs, in just these ten-odd days, Shi Shu seemed to have gotten acquainted with this group of people. He was especially close with that Xu Erlang. Xu Erlang was a bit older than him, had achieved a good rank in the military examinations, and had just gotten married. He hadn’t even spent two days with his wife before he had to follow his master on this long journey to escort Xie Wuchi.

Xu Erlang hitched up his pants, put his arm around Shi Shu’s shoulder, and they watched the dog together. “I used to have a Da Huang too. Raised it for over ten years, then it died.”

Shi Shu: “When did you get it?”

“Got it when I was five or six. I cried for three days when it died. Aiya, can’t talk about it. Once I talk about it, I want to cry.”

“…”

Xie Wuchi stood upstairs, his eyes watching the two of them. When he came to his senses, an uncontrollable emotion surged through him. This Xu Erlang, whether in looks, physique, or ability, was no match for him.

Xie Wuchi walked downstairs. Shi Shu turned his face with a smile and saw him, pausing for a moment. “We can rest for a day today, no need to travel. You’ve been tired for so long, it’s a good chance to rest.”

“Alright.”

Xie Wuchi had nothing to say to this group of people downstairs and returned to his room.

Xu Erlang quietly watched his retreating back and asked Shi Shu, “Your brother is so hard to get close to. We’ve been traveling together for so long, and he hasn’t said a few words to anyone but you.”

“Him, ah—”

Shi Shu sat lazily on the stool, thinking, you’d better not ask, you’ll be sad if you ask more.

Xie Wuchi simply looked down on people. In modern times, he would be a young master from a wealthy family. After transmigrating, he quickly became a high-ranking court official. Even when demoted, if he didn’t want to talk to people, his posture was high. That was all.

This was his pride. What could be done?

Shi Shu chatted with them downstairs for a while, but was still worried and prepared to go upstairs to check.

When he entered the room, it was quiet. Xie Wuchi didn’t usually like to lie on the bed. Once he got up, he would never touch the bed. But at this moment, there was no one in the seat. He walked closer and saw Xie Wuchi lying in the quilt with his back to him, facing inwards. Shi Shu gently patted his back. “Hey, Xie Wuchi, are you okay?”

Xie Wuchi wasn’t asleep. He turned his face. His expression was calm, but his brow was slightly furrowed, and his lips were red.

Shi Shu squatted by the bed and asked, “Where are you uncomfortable?”

Xie Wuchi: “I’m a little hot.”

Shi Shu touched his forehead. “You’re still having a fever. It hasn’t gone down since last night. Wait, I’ll go downstairs and brew some medicine for you.”

Shi Shu went downstairs to boil medicine and fetch hot water. Xu Erlang asked, “What’s wrong?”

Shi Shu said, “My brother caught a high fever from the rain. It seems quite serious.”

Xu Erlang clicked his tongue. “Then you’d better watch him closely. We have to travel tomorrow even if the rain doesn’t stop. He’ll have to travel even if he’s sick. The time limit can’t be delayed.”

“Oh.” Damn court! Arrive within the time limit, otherwise these bailiffs will also be in a difficult position. Shi Shu entered the room carrying the water and sat on the edge of the bed, placing a cloth on his forehead. “Xie Wuchi, get rid of the fever soon, otherwise you’ll suffer tomorrow.”

Xie Wuchi was half-lying, his eyes closed.

Shi Shu sat here, with only one thing on his mind, thinking about what happened last night. He couldn’t help but say it out loud. “You, ah you… you… you said what on earth…”

Xie Wuchi opened his eyes again. “Not going downstairs to play cards with your friends?”

Shi Shu: “How are they as important as you? You are the most important. You’re sick, and I go downstairs to play cards, am I even human?”

Xie Wuchi’s lips pursed slightly. Shi Shu looked away.

Xie Wuchi asked, “What’s for lunch? I don’t want to drink congee anymore.”

Shi Shu: “Then you’d better say it quickly. I’ll go out and buy it. Just for these two months, you can order me around as much as you want. You can ask for anything you want in this lifetime, and I’ll try my best to get it for you.”

Xie Wuchi said, “I want to eat fish.”

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, I’ll cook fish congee for you. What else?”

“Bitter melon.”

“There’s no bitter melon this season.”

Xie Wuchi: “Then you figure it out.”

Shi Shu changed the cloth on his forehead again, wiping the sweat. “I’m going out to buy things. If you’re not feeling well, call that Xu Erlang. I’m on good terms with him, he can take care of you.”

Xie Wuchi: “I’m quite comfortable.”

“…”

Shi Shu didn’t want to argue with this gay man anymore. He turned and went downstairs, not taking Laifu, and went out with an umbrella. The station was outside Shukang Prefecture. It wasn’t a long walk to the city gate. You could enter the city with a permit.

This was his second time in Shukang Prefecture. The city was a bit more sparsely populated, but it was still lively, much better than when it was full of dead people and the smoke from burning paper money.

“Sir, buying a chicken? Buying a chicken? This is the last chicken left, the market is about to close.”

“Sir, half a leg of lamb, stew it with radish at home, delicious!”

“Come, come, come, take a look, take a look…”

Shi Shu went to the market and bought a few carp. Considering the others who were traveling with them, he also bought a lot of beef and braised dishes and was about to head back.

When he reached the city gate, a figure was standing in front of the huge stone stele that recorded the “Shukang Prefecture Plague.” Slender and修长. Xie Wuchi had no feelings for this monument, but Shi Shu quite liked it.

The local people, in order to promote enlightenment, had directly carved the experience of managing the plague in Shukang Prefecture onto the stele. Anyone could read it, so that it could be passed down to later generations.

Shi Shu was looking for Lin Yangchun and Xie Wuchi’s names on the stele when he heard someone muttering.

“The spring of X, the people of Huainan rebelled, the dead piled on top of… no, what the hell is this character! There was a divine physician from the Eastern Capital, and the counselor of the Prince’s mansion… Xie… Damn it, who can understand this?”

“Xie Wuchi… taught the method of dispelling the plague…”

“Eastern Capital? Doesn’t that mean I still have to go to the Eastern Capital?”

Shi Shu gave him a few more glances. He was in a hurry to go back and cook for Xie Wuchi, so he left first. He ran all the way back to the station, quickly put the delicious food on the table, and said, “I bought food for everyone.”

Xu Erlang opened the big bag. “You should have said so earlier! Station master, is there wine? Bring the wine!”

Shi Shu separated the portion for Xie Wuchi from the rest, letting them eat as they pleased. He went upstairs first to check on Xie Wuchi. He was sitting up, sound asleep. He then went downstairs to the kitchen.

Xu Erlang came closer to look. “What are you doing?”

Shi Shu: “I’m deboning the fish.”

“…Such a delicate job, what for?”

Shi Shu said, “I’m making congee for my brother. He wants to eat fish.”

“…………”

Xu Erlang: “Is your brother a reincarnation of a prince or princess? He even needs you to debone the fish for his congee.”

Shi Shu: “I’m free anyway. I don’t like to play cards or gamble. It’s good to do some work. Besides, I’ve never cooked fish congee before. Maybe I’ll be good at cooking and become a chef in the future! He’s been walking for over ten days, his body is not well. I’m just helping him recuperate.”

“Brotherly love and respect.” Xu Erlang said no more and left with the wine.

Shi Shu cut the fish meat, confirmed all the bones were removed, and cooked a small pot of congee for him. He also stir-fried a dish. In the middle of it, he heard a knocking sound.

“Masters, can I take shelter from the rain here and have a bite to eat?”

Shi Shu went out to look. It was a familiar figure, the same man who had been reading the characters under the stone stele. He was about Shi Shu’s age, carrying a book box on his back, with a curved-handle umbrella hanging from it. The man was thin and gaunt, clearly malnourished and not well-off. One hand was propped on the door frame.

The station attendant asked him, “Do you have an official station voucher?”

“No, I’m just a traveler wandering around.”

“Then you have no business here. Get out.”

“…” The man looked pained. “So hungry, please have mercy.”

Shi Shu slipped a piece of silver into the station attendant’s hand and said, “Let him have some lunch.”

“Thank you, thank you! May you be healthy, may all your wishes come true, may wealth roll in, may your whole family be happy!”

Only then did the station attendant nod. He ran in and sat under the eaves, wiping the rain from his head and saw Laifu. “Hey, there’s a Wangcai here. Tsk tsk tsk, tsk tsk tsk.”

Shi Shu didn’t pay much attention. He placed the congee and dishes on a tray and went upstairs to find Xie Wuchi.

“Food’s here! I’ve made what you ordered. You have to eat two more bowls to boost your immunity.” Shi Shu placed the bowl on a stool and sat on the edge of the bed.

He first wiped Xie Wuchi’s hands clean with a hot cloth, then Shi Shu said, “Eat.”

Xie Wuchi: “Feed me.”

“…”

Although he had expected it, Shi Shu still let out a light “tsk” and took the bowl of fish congee in his hands. “I just found out, you’re already famous throughout the world. Besides managing the plague in Shukang Prefecture, there’s also the New Policies for equalizing land tax. Everyone knows about you. Many people are looking for you.”

Xie Wuchi: “That’s exactly what I want. Besides status, money, and power, a person can also have fame. When you have nothing, you can first accumulate fame and wait for the right opportunity.”

Shi Shu: “Truly remarkable. Open your mouth.”

Xie Wuchi saw the fish meat in the bowl. Shi Shu added, “I’ve deboned it all. It won’t get stuck in your throat. Try it.”

Xie Wuchi took a bite. Shi Shu saw his lips and the tip of his tongue and awkwardly looked away again.

At a time like this,纠结 whether he was gay or not had become a secondary matter. The primary matter was hoping he would be healthy and safe.

“I also bought you beef and braised pork belly. I don’t really like fish, you eat it yourself. If you want to eat anything in the future, tell me in advance. If the station has it, I’ll buy it at the station. If not, I’ll go to the market to buy it. It’s best if you eat happily.”

Xie Wuchi had one hand on the quilt. Hearing this, he responded with a sound and looked at Shi Shu. “Will you feel tired?”

Shi Shu: “Not tired. If I were tired, I would leave on my own. If I don’t leave, it means I’m not tired. You don’t have to think about these things. I’m willing, okay.”

Xie Wuchi couldn’t help but smile. “Will you leave?”

He smiled?

Although Shi Shu wasn’t a butler, he really wanted to say, Xie Wuchi, you finally smiled!

Shi Shu turned his face away. “It’s nothing, why would I leave? Here, eat more.”

Xie Wuchi opened his lips. Shi Shu placed the spoon at his mouth, and he took the fish fillets and congee into his mouth.

He chewed slowly. Shi Shu brought his own meal over, took a bite, saw that Xie Wuchi had finished, then quickly put down his bowl and picked up the fish congee to feed him.

The two of them sat there eating. Perhaps he wasn’t paying attention, but Shi Shu mixed up the two bowls and put a spoonful of fish congee into his own mouth. The next second, he immediately whimpered, “Fish!”

He hated fish the most. Fish had a fishy smell that he couldn’t stand.

But it was already in his mouth. Shi Shu didn’t want to spit it out. It would be very ugly to eat like that. Just as he was about to swallow it, Xie Wuchi reached out. Before Shi Shu could realize what was happening, he slightly lifted his chin to prevent the congee from spilling out.

Xie Wuchi’s fingers went into his mouth, slid across his tongue, and scooped out the piece of fish, putting it into his own mouth. “I’ll eat it.”

__
Author’s Note:

 It’s still necessary to give a warning: Xie Wuchi is a very cold and selfish person who almost only cares about himself. His confession to Xiao Shubao is very slow, and he will do many bad things later, including but not limited to killing innocent people, instigating wars, etc. If you mind, please don’t read. (I don’t want to spoil too much, but the ending is good.)

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