Month: March 2025 (Page 1 of 2)

Chapter 34

March 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments

       Qian Xiaoke hadn’t slept this soundly and comfortably in a long time.  

       Even though he had been living in his previous place for over a month, he still couldn’t fully relax and rest, constantly feeling anxious and on edge.  

       In fact, Qian Xiaoke really envied those who could afford to buy a house. He knew that owning a home wasn’t everything, but for people like him who worked and lived away from their hometowns, renting always came with a sense of drifting, as if nowhere was truly home.  

       But he also understood that, let alone buying a house, with his current financial situation, even being able to rent a decent place was already fortunate. Thankfully, he was lucky enough to have met a good boss.  

       Qian Xiaoke slept soundly, completely unaware that it wasn’t because of his good boss, but because…  

       Jiang Tongyan was woken up by Qian Xiaoke’s alarm—a cheap, old-fashioned alarm clock he had bought online for 12 yuan, with a sound so loud it could practically take a person’s life.

       The moment the alarm rang, Jiang Tongyan jolted awake in shock, almost sending his skull flying up to the ceiling. He sat up abruptly, nearly knocking Qian Xiaoke, who was in his arms, onto the floor.  

       Qian Xiaoke had long been accustomed to the alarm and didn’t react much. The only reason he got startled was because of Jiang Tongyan.  

       “What are you doing?” Qian Xiaoke frowned, his little face scrunched up in confusion.  

       Jiang Tongyan was also in a daze, his nerves frazzled by the alarm.  

       It was Qian Xiaoke who came to his senses first and turned off the alarm.  

       “Why didn’t you leave last night?” Qian Xiaoke tilted his head at him, then raised a hand to rub his eyes vigorously.  

       After he finished rubbing his eyes, he accidentally caught sight of a certain part of Jiang Tongyan’s body. Instantly, he let out a soft ‘Hya~!’ and shyly turned away.  

       “What are you ‘Hya’-ing about?” Jiang Tongyan got out of bed, calmly straightening his clothes and pants. “You’ve already touched it, what’s with the innocent act?”

       “That’s different,” Qian Xiaoke chuckled. “That was for treatment. We were in a doctor-patient relationship back then. How can it be the same now?”  

       Jiang Tongyan also laughed. “Then what’s our relationship now?”  

       Qian Xiaoke turned slightly and glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Only when he confirmed that Jiang Tongyan had put his pants on did he turn back around.

       “A debtor-creditor relationship,” Qian Xiaoke said. “You still haven’t paid me for crashing at my place before, and now you’ve slept in my new home and on my new bed. I need to calculate exactly how much you owe me!”  

       Jiang Tongyan rolled his eyes where he stood, too speechless to respond.  

       Qian Xiaoke sniffed. “I need to take a shower. I have work later.”  

       He felt like he smelled like stinky tofu. Plus, when he woke up just now, it seemed like his hand had been gripping Jiang Tongyan’s… unspeakable part.  

       Ugh, it was a complicated feeling.  

       “I need a shower too,” Jiang Tongyan shamelessly said. “You got your stinky tofu all over me last night.”  

       “How dare you say that? Who was the one insisting on eating it?!”  

       “I don’t know.” Jiang Tongyan walked out. “I’m showering first!”  

       A new home, a new bathroom, and yet the first person to use it wasn’t the owner, Qian Xiaoke, but the freeloading Jiang Tongyan!  

       Qian Xiaoke was a little unhappy, but in the spirit of being a ‘kind and considerate person’, he lowered his head and let it slide.  

       Jiang Tongyan was secretly pleased and even called out to Qian Xiaoke, “What am I supposed to wear after my shower?”  

       He remembered that Qian Xiaoke should have some of his clothes here. After their first failed attempt at doing it, Qian Xiaoke had left wearing Jiang Tongyan’s clothes.  

       “I’ll look for them,” Qian Xiaoke said. “Hurry up and shower, I need to get to work.”  

       Jiang Tongyan obediently turned and went into the bathroom.  

       Qian Xiaoke really did find the clothes Jiang Tongyan had given him to wear before, but they had been stuffed at the bottom of a box all this time. Though they had been washed, they were a bit wrinkled.  

       He felt a little embarrassed. Not only had he not returned them, but he had let them become like this.  

       Even though he knew full well there was no iron in his house, he still wandered around, hoping to find something to use instead.  

       Before he could find anything, Jiang Tongyan came out.  

       “What are you rummaging around for?” Jiang Tongyan stood there with only a towel wrapped around his waist. “Why don’t you even have a bath towel in your house?”  

       Qian Xiaoke, holding Jiang Tongyan’s clothes in his arms, turned around to look at him. “They’re expensive, and there’s no real use for them. A regular towel is good enough.”

       Jiang Tongyan could not refute it.  

       Their lives were simply too different—they were people from completely different worlds.  

       At that moment, a thought suddenly crossed Jiang Tongyan’s mind: If he and Qian Xiaoke got together one day, would it be Qian Xiaoke accommodating him, or would he be the one accommodating Qian Xiaoke?  

       Could two people from entirely different worlds trying to be together really lead to a good outcome?  

       Jiang Tongyan felt a little lost.  

       But now was clearly not the time to dwell on such thoughts.  

       He said, “Let me put on some clothes first.”  

       Jiang Tongyan covered his important parts with a towel and walked toward Qian Xiaoke. He then asked wickedly, “Why aren’t you feeling shy?”  

       “Why should I be shy?” Qian Xiaoke remained completely unfazed by the so-called ‘macho man stepping out of the shower’ scene. He casually shook out Jiang Tongyan’s shirt and commented, “It’s a bit wrinkled.”  

       His voice dropped toward the end of the sentence—feeling a bit guilty. The shirt was honestly in an embarrassing state, and it was his fault, though not entirely.  

       After parting ways that day, Qian Xiaoke never expected to see this man again. Besides, his own clothes were all cheap market buys. His T-shirts cost twenty or thirty yuan and weren’t anything precious. He could toss them on the sofa without worrying about wrinkles. But Jiang Tongyan’s clothes? Couldn’t touch, couldn’t fold, couldn’t even look at them the wrong way.  

       So this was what brand-name clothes were like? Like this?  

       Having never owned any, Qian Xiaoke was bewildered.  

       Jiang Tongyan glanced at the shirt Qian Xiaoke handed over—wrinkled beyond belief, making his head hurt. But in the end, he reluctantly decided to wear it.  

       He didn’t have much of a choice anyway. It was clear there were no other options.  

       And so, the refined and polished Jiang Tongyan transformed into the scruffy and unkempt Jiang Tongyan.  

       The shirt issue was settled, but another problem arose.  

       “Qian Xiaoke, do you… have large-sized underwear?”

       Now, that was a soul-searching question.  

       Qian Xiaoke pursed his lips and glanced at a certain part of Jiang Tongyan’s body.  

       “You wearing mine… doesn’t seem appropriate.”  

       Jiang Tongyan thought: No way. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t fit into them!  

       With his nearly 1.9-meter height compared to Qian Xiaoke’s 1.75 meters, their sizes weren’t even remotely compatible. If he tried wearing Qian Xiaoke’s underwear, it’d probably cut off his circulation.  

       “Then I don’t have any,” Qian Xiaoke said. “You’ll just have to go without.”  

       Fine, I’ll just accept my fate.  

       Ever since meeting Qian Xiaoke, Jiang Tongyan had been through all kinds of situations. His life experience had definitely been enriched. He figured that one day when he was old and flipping through the memories of his life, the most exciting chapters would all be written by Qian Xiaoke.  

       Qian Xiaoke—what a legend.

       After dealing with Jiang Tongyan, Qian Xiaoke rushed into the bathroom for a quick shower. Since he had no idea where to find a good breakfast stall near his new place and didn’t want to take any chances, he took the initiative to invite Jiang Tongyan to have breakfast at his place.  

       Jiang Tongyan asked, “Do you even have ingredients?”  

       Qian Xiaoke shook the pack of instant noodles in his hand.  

       Jiang Tongyan really wanted to refuse. However, his mouth completely ignored his brain’s protests and blurted out, “Sure.”  

       Excited, Qian Xiaoke rubbed his hands together—finally, a chance to showcase his cooking skills.  

       “Do you have a pot?”  

       Of course, Qian Xiaoke did!

       He had a small cooking pot—worked like a charm, but it was a pity he couldn’t use it at his previous place.  

       Fresh out of the shower, Qian Xiaoke’s hair was still dripping wet as he grabbed the instant noodles and dashed into the kitchen. Jiang Tongyan stood there watching him move around, watching the droplets from his hair slide down onto his shoulders and soak into his shirt. Without realising it, he started to smile.  

       All those thoughts about lifestyle differences.

       All those concerns about coming from different worlds.  

       Suddenly, they didn’t seem so impossible to overcome.  

       Qian Xiaoke’s world was actually kind of interesting. At least right now, Jiang Tongyan didn’t feel like he was accommodating anyone at all.  

       And so, on this fresh and pleasant morning, the two of them shared a bowl of instant noodles—boiled and eaten with spoons because all of Qian Xiaoke’s noodles had been crushed to bits.  

       Qian Xiaoke’s apartment had a small dining area with a modest square table. The two of them sat across from each other.  

       Jiang Tongyan found the whole scene a bit ridiculous—he had never seen anyone eating instant noodles with a spoon before.  

       “What are you laughing at?” Qian Xiaoke looked up at him.  

       “I’m laughing at you,” Jiang Tongyan said. “Laughing at how dumb you are.”  

       “Why are you picking on me first thing in the morning?!” Qian Xiaoke pouted. “Can’t you say something nice for once?”  

       Jiang Tongyan suppressed a smile and looked at him. “What’s there to compliment?”  

       Qian Xiaoke pursed his lips and thought about it. It seemed that there was really nothing.  

       He fell silent, looking dejected as he continued eating his breakfast.  

       Jiang Tongyan hated seeing him like that. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Your cooking skills are actually pretty good.”

       “Huh?”  

       “Huh what?” Jiang Tongyan said. “I just complimented you.”  

       Qian Xiaoke froze for a second, then broke into an arrogant grin. After laughing to his heart’s content, he said, “Jiang Tongyan, you’re such a tsundere!”  

       Jiang Tongyan frowned. “Of course. I’m excellent—why wouldn’t I be proud?”  

       “Not proud1jiāo’ào! It’s Tsundere2àojiāo!” Qian Xiaoke said. “Don’t you know what ‘Tsundere’ means?”

       Even if Jiang Tongyan didn’t, he wasn’t about to admit it. He couldn’t let Qian Xiaoke think he was an idiot.  

       If a fool thought he was a fool, then what did that make him? A double fool?  

       What kind of nonsense was that?  

       Swiftly changing the subject, Jiang Tongyan asked, “What time should I come over tonight?”  

       “Huh?” 

       “What do you mean by ‘huh’? Don’t think you can get out of this,” Jiang Tongyan said. “Last night, you fell asleep halfway through—I’m keeping track of that debt.”  

       “Oh!” Qian Xiaoke suddenly understood. “Last night was an accident. Let’s start earlier tonight so that I won’t fall asleep again out of boredom.”

       Bored?

       Jiang Tongyan instantly caught onto the key point.  

       “You were bored? While you were touching me?”

       Qian Xiaoke knew he had said something wrong and hurried to coax him. “Ahh, no, that’s not what I meant! I misspoke. You can scold me!”

       He blinked his big eyes at Jiang Tongyan. “If scolding me isn’t enough, you can hit me too!”  

       Faced with this version of Qian Xiaoke, Jiang Tongyan was utterly helpless.

       He was done for. Completely and utterly done for. He had been completely wrapped around this careless idiot’s little finger.  

       For what?  

       What was the appeal?  

       His poverty?  

       His sharp tongue and lack of brain cells?  

       Jiang Tongyan was filled with regret. He should have hooked up with that flight attendant at Zhou Mo’s birthday party. If he had, Qian Xiaoke wouldn’t have had the chance to take advantage of him.  

       But it was too late for regrets. Not only had Qian Xiaoke taken advantage of the situation, but Jiang Tongyan had also sunk into this mess so deep he couldn’t get out.  

       Qian Xiaoke watched the man sitting across from him, whose face was twitching weirdly as he ate. He wondered if something was wrong with him. Should he suggest that Jiang Tongyan go to the hospital for a check-up?  

       Did Jiang Tongyan even have domestic health insurance?

       The two of them sat across from each other, eating breakfast, each lost in their own thoughts—completely out of sync.  

       Once they finished eating and Qian Xiaoke cleaned up, they left the apartment together.  

       As they stepped out, Qian Xiaoke casually mused, “I wonder what kind of neighbour I would have. Hopefully, they’re easy to get along with.”  

       “What kind of neighbour do you hope for?” Jiang Tongyan asked deliberately as they entered the elevator.  

       Qian Xiaoke pursed his lips, seriously considering it. The more he thought about it, the redder his ears became.  

       Jiang Tongyan raised a brow. “What are you thinking about?”  

       His ears were red—surely, it wasn’t something decent! Probably something dirty.  

       Qian Xiaoke smiled shyly. “I’m thinking about my neighbour.”  

       Jiang Tongyan chuckled. “Thinking what about your neighbor?”  

       “I was just thinking… it’d be great if my neighbour were a hot guy,” Qian Xiaoke mumbled, fidgeting with the hem of his T-shirt. “I read a novel once where the protagonist ended up with his neighbour.”  

       Jiang Tongyan instinctively straightened his back.  

       “I like younger tops,” Qian Xiaoke continued. “Ideally, someone in their early twenties, a bright and sunny type. Someone who could go out and set up a street stall with me at night to make money!”  

       Jiang Tongyan’s smile instantly vanished.  

       “Why?” he demanded. “What’s wrong with a mature, successful man? Wouldn’t that save you at least fifty years of struggling?”  

       “That’s not for me,” Qian Xiaoke said matter-of-factly before launching into complete nonsense. “Marrying into a rich family sounds great, sure, but I could never handle the life of a wealthy housewife. Too much pressure! What if they expect me to have kids? I definitely can’t deal with that! I’d much rather be with someone I can struggle and grow with—supporting each other, facing hardships together, and weathering every storm side by side! Chairman Jiang, don’t you think I’m absolutely right?”  

       Jiang Tongyan was so furious he nearly saw red. The urge to strangle this little bastard surged through him.  

       He snapped, “Qian Xiaoke, shut the hell up!”

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Chapter 71 – I was assisted in childbirth. 

March 11, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Chapter 71 – I was assisted in childbirth. 

 

He Changzhou’s body temperature was slightly high, and his lips were warm when touched, carrying a faint familiar scent of grass.

 

Zhao Qi was dumbfounded after He Changzhou kissed him. It’s not that he felt nothing at all, but he was more weary and resigned. As for the heart racing, shortness of breath, and sweaty palms that kissing could supposedly bring, sorry, none of that happened.

 

So, his understanding of He Changzhou was not wrong. Although it sounded a bit naive to say so, He Changzhou was a good person; Zhao Qi only saw him as a brother.

 

Coming back to his senses, Zhao Qi tried to push He Changzhou away. However, He Changzhou held onto his waist tightly and whispered, “Don’t move.” And then kissed him again.

 

“Hey—” Suddenly, the dragon egg in Zhao Qi’s belly kicked him. Zhao Qi’s body softened immediately, afraid to struggle. But he tightly pursed his lips, not giving He Changzhou any room to advance.

 

At that moment, Xiao Shiqing’s voice came from outside the door: “Has the Emperor gone to sleep?”

 

“He has.”

 

Zhao Qi widened his eyes abruptly—if Xiao Shiqing saw this scene, he would definitely be in trouble. As for what kind of trouble, he refused to think about it.

 

Hearing Xiao Shiqing’s voice, He Changzhou hesitated for a moment. A vengeful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. His distraction gave Zhao Qi the chance to break free. Ignoring the dragon egg stirring in his belly, Zhao Qi turned his face away and kneed He Changzhou in the abdomen, panting lightly, “He Changzhou, are you insane? I don’t like this!”

 

He Changzhou grabbed Zhao Qi’s leg, looking at him with faint annoyance and disgust, suddenly regretting it. Just a few hours ago, he had told Li Chisu that he wouldn’t force the Emperor, nor would he allow anyone else to. Yet now, he was the one doing the forcing.

 

“Your Majesty,” He Changzhou’s voice was hoarse. He covered Zhao Qi’s eyes with his hand. “Don’t look at me like that, I…”

 

Before he could finish his sentence, the door opened.

 

The moonlight tonight was bright. Although there were no lights on in the room, the moonlight illuminated everything clearly enough for Xiao Shiqing to see inside.

 

In that instant, the air seemed to freeze.

 

Xiao Shiqing stood in the shadow of the moonlight, his ink-black eyebrows and sharp features still as handsome as ever. He appeared composed, but only he knew that his chest was almost bursting with anger.

 

Zhao Qi sat back on the bed, looking at him in bewilderment, silently calling out, “Brother…”

 

He Changzhou stood up, blocking Zhao Qi in front of him. “I came to find His Majesty; it has nothing to do with His Majesty.”

 

Xiao Shiqing looked at them, silent. His silence was like a sharpening knife, torturing Zhao Qi incessantly. Finally, he spoke. His voice was as cold as ice, “Guards.”

 

Fu Zi immediately appeared. “Prime Minister.”

 

“He Changzhou has disturbed the Emperor late at night. Take him away and deal with it tomorrow.”

 

Fu Zi hesitated, “Take away? But…”

 

He Changzhou suppressed his anger. “No need to bother; I’ll leave on my own. But I want to ask the Prime Minister, what will you do to the Emperor after I leave?”

 

“I will do to him what?” Xiao Shiqing smiled, a smile full of hostility. “I will hold him, kiss him, and even enter him, let him bear my child again—does that satisfy you, General He?”

 

Zhao Qi’s body trembled. Was Xiao Shiqing serious? That ‘enter’—did it mean what he thought it did…

 

Nonsense, it couldn’t mean getting pregnant again!

 

He Changzhou’s chest heaved violently. “On what grounds?”

 

“On,” Xiao Shiqing said each word slowly, “he belongs to me.”

 

He Changzhou took a deep breath, sneering, “I’m afraid only the Prime Minister thinks so.”

 

Xiao Shiqing glanced at Zhao Qi. “He will tell you himself, rest assured.” Xiao Shiqing was impatient with Fu Zi and turned slightly, “Still stunned?”

 

Fu Zi had to come forward, whispering, “General He, please leave.”

 

He Changzhou didn’t move. He turned back to look at Zhao Qi. “Your Majesty.”

 

“…Hmm?”

 

“Do you want me to go?” He Changzhou’s eyes were bright, filled with an unmistakable hope he couldn’t hide. “I just need one word from you. Even if the entire Heavenly Machine Battalion comes to take me away, I will fight to stay by your side—to have just one word from you.”

 

“Your Majesty…” Zhao Qi glanced at Xiao Shiqing discreetly, gauging his expression. He was certain that if he said “no,” he would truly face being entered. He cleared his throat and calmly said, “You should leave first.”

 

The light in He Changzhou’s eyes dimmed suddenly. His sword was eager for action, but Zhao Qi didn’t need him to risk his life. Even if he won, what would it mean?

 

His tightly clenched fist suddenly relaxed. He Changzhou lowered his head and walked straight towards the door. Fu Zi sighed with relief and followed behind him.

 

As they passed by Xiao Shiqing, Fu Zi heard him say, “Lock him up next door.”

 

Fu Zi said, “But Zhao Fourth Young Master is also there.”

 

“It doesn’t matter.”

 

Fu Zi was slightly surprised but dared not ask further. “I will obey your orders.”

 

After Fu Zi left and closed the door with a creak, the room fell completely silent. Zhao Qi could even hear his own breathing.

 

He couldn’t stand this silence. In a volume enough for Xiao Shiqing to hear, he called out, “Brother.”

 

Xiao Shiqing approached step by step, silently reaching out and lifting Zhao Qi’s chin, his eyes deep as a pool. “Where did he touch you?”

 

Zhao Qi held his breath. “N-nowhere.”

 

　”No?” Xiao Shiqing chuckled softly. “Don’t lie, Qi’er.”

 

　Xiao Shiqing’s voice was gentle, so gentle that it gave Zhao Qi a sense of illusion—he wasn’t angry at all.

 

　Under Xiao Shiqing’s coaxing, Zhao Qi unconsciously spoke up, “We just hugged.”

 

　Xiao Shiqing’s fingertip traced Zhao Qi’s cheek, his voice deep, “And then?”

 

　Zhao Qi murmured softly, “And then, he kissed me.”

 

　Xiao Shiqing’s eyes sharpened, a burst of killing intent making Zhao Qi hastily explain, “But I kept my mouth tightly closed, so…”

 

　Xiao Shiqing didn’t respond. Instead, his hand moved to Zhao Qi’s collar, roughly tearing open his clothes.

 

　Anxiously, Zhao Qi grabbed his hand. “What are you doing, brother?”

 

　”Don’t be afraid,” Xiao Shiqing’s voice remained low and gentle. “Just checking.”

 

　In the heat of summer, Zhao Qi wore only thin sleepwear, easily removed by Xiao Shiqing. Feeling exposed, Zhao Qi couldn’t bear it any longer, pushing back, “Stop…”

 

　Xiao Shiqing paused, his movements meticulous as he examined his prey.

 

　The young emperor’s upper body was bare, his loose clothing hanging around his waist, hidden under the blanket below his waist. His shoulders, collarbones, and arms were not as robust as an adult man’s nor as delicate as a woman’s, balanced delicately between the two, perfectly harmonious.

 

　With such a seemingly frail body, a slight curve adorned his slightly protruding abdomen. Just the thought of what lay beneath caused Xiao Shiqing’s long-restrained breath to falter.

 

　”Have you decided, Your Majesty,” Xiao Shiqing suddenly spoke, “whether to bear our child?”

 

　Zhao Qi’s throat tightened, uncertainly, “Not yet, can brother give me more time?”

 

　”Of course,” Xiao Shiqing smirked, “you can take your time. Five months to give me an answer.”

 

　”… Five months later, the child would already be born, what’s there to consider.”

 

　Xiao Shiqing’s fingertip touched Zhao Qi’s belly, light as a feather, teasing and entwining, his tone nonchalant, “Today I heard a funny story from Cheng Bo.”

 

　Zhao Qi’s heart trembled from Xiao Shiqing’s teasing tone, “What funny story?”

 

　”He said, if the Emperor’s dragon seed is too large, without some intervention, there might be complications in childbirth.”

 

　Zhao Qi’s ears instantly turned hot, inwardly cursing Cheng Bo for being too talkative. “Brother, don’t worry, I’ll walk more…”

 

　”Not about that,” Xiao Shiqing’s hand slipped quietly under the blanket, “another method. Does the Emperor know what it is?”

 

　Feeling the cold touch on his thigh, Zhao Qi shivered, his mind in chaos. “I-I don’t know.”

 

　”Not knowing is fine,” Xiao Shiqing whispered in Zhao Qi’s ear, “as long as I know.”

 

　Struggling to stay awake, Zhao Qi tried to push Xiao Shiqing’s hand away, but his body was limp, unable to muster any strength, torn between resistance and yielding.

 

　Xiao Shiqing leaned over, pinning Zhao Qi’s hand beneath him. Looking down at him, he smiled, “Speaking of which, General He and Zhao Qiao are sleeping next door.”

 

　Zhao Qi: “!!!”

 

　As if on cue, Zhao Qiao’s voice drifted through the thin wall into Zhao Qi’s ears.

 

　”General He? Where have you been so late?”

 

　Though General He didn’t reply, Zhao Qi knew they were separated only by a wall, their beds against the same wall. Realizing this, Zhao Qi unconsciously held his breath, not daring to speak, merely looking at Xiao Shiqing, who lay on top of him, silently accusing him with his eyes.

 

　Xiao Shiqing carefully avoided pressing on Zhao Qi’s belly, his movements gentle, intoxicating, his words teasing but malicious, “So Your Majesty, don’t cry out too loud later, or they’ll hear.”

 

　Zhao Qi’s breath caught, his eyes filled with resentment.

 

　Xiao Shiqing smirked, “Or should we let them hear?”

 

　”Xiao Shiqing!” Zhao Qi said in a hushed voice, “Don’t go too far!”

 

　”Too far?” Xiao Shiqing chuckled, lowering his voice, “What have I done that would make Your Majesty say I’ve gone too far?”

 

　Unable to argue with him, Zhao Qi simply closed his eyes and bit his lip, ignoring him.

 

　Xiao Shiqing admired the emperor’s restrained appearance, teasing, “Why does Your Majesty look so worn out before we even start playing?”

 

　Frowning, Zhao Qi trembled slightly in Xiao Shiqing’s embrace.

 

　”There’s one thing, I wonder if Your Majesty knows,” Xiao Shiqing’s slender hand reached a place Zhao Qi found hard to describe, “Here, there’s a small stream flowing.”

T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

 

Chapter 2

March 10, 2025 / / 0 Comments

       Lu Cheng never called him by his name directly, yet he had silently recited those two words in his heart countless times. If he were a devout monk, chanting scriptures with such sincerity every day, he might have already attained enlightenment. Unfortunately, he had never been able to achieve true fulfillment.  

       He and Qin Mu had a contractual relationship. Every right and obligation laid out clearly in black and white. But emotions—those could never be written down with such clarity.  

       Lu Cheng had been introduced to a BDSM Club named ‘East Coast’, and upon stepping inside, he was instantly captivated by Qin Mu’s exceptional ropework. Rashly, he rushed over to flirt and strike up a conversation, only to be rejected. It was only then that he learned the man was a well-respected figure in the scene—known as ‘Pharaoh’. From that moment on, Lu Cheng did everything he could to get close to him, exhausting all his connections until he finally secured a favour from Fang Mingyan, which allowed him to become Qin Mu’s sub.  

       Qin Mu was a nearly perfect dom—highly skilled, versatile, professional, and trustworthy, with an impeccable sense of boundaries in their sessions. By the second time Lu Cheng underwent his training, he was already thinking about establishing a long-term intimate relationship. But he knew that Qin Mu had only taken him in as a favour to a friend. For Lu Cheng, their weekly Friday meetings were soul-stirring dates; for Qin Mu, they were probably nothing more than routine obligations.

       Lu Cheng was well aware of the principle that to spark a man’s desire, one must first capture his interest. But no matter how much effort he put in, he failed time and time again. Qin Mu remained unmoved—he adhered strictly to their contract, vanishing after every Friday session, ignoring Lu Cheng’s advances in real life, and never once crossing the line during their scenes. Frustrated, Lu Cheng began to doubt his own attractiveness. Only after asking around did he learn that ‘Pharaoh’ was famously abstinent—he rarely engaged in actual sexual relations with his subs.  

       Faced with such an unyielding man, Lu Cheng had no idea where to even begin. He hung his whip on the wall and let out a heavy sigh.

                     The days in late autumn were growing shorter, and by the time Qin Mu returned to his apartment, the sky had already turned completely dark. As he pushed open the door, the motion-activated lights gradually flickered on. Hearing the noise, two cats peeked out from their climbing frame. The white-haired, blue-eyed ragdoll leaped down gracefully; it walked up to him and let out a soft meow in greeting. The other cat, a chubby ginger tabby, lazily flicked its tail before flopping back down.

       Qin Mu changed into his indoor slippers and hung his suit on the coat rack by the entrance. After washing his hands, he grabbed a handful of cat food and poured it into their bowls. The ragdoll approached, its tail brushing lightly against his leg. Qin Mu reached down to stroke its head, eliciting a low and contented sound from its throat.

       Its name was Beiwei—North Latitude. It had been a gift, and he had raised it for five years. Affectionate and friendly, it loved human company. The ginger cat, Dongjing—East Longitude—had been a stray he had rescued a year ago. Back then, it had been nothing but skin and bones. Its left ear was torn from a fight with other strays, and its body was covered in scabs and patches of ringworm. Now, its skin disease had long since healed, and its orange fur was sleek and shiny, though it had grown absurdly fat. Likely a victim of human abuse in the past, it was wary of people and only got along with Beiwei. It barely acknowledged Qin Mu, not even bothering to look pleased during meals.

       Fortunately, Qin Mu was a laid-back owner. He let the cats roam freely and rarely forced interaction, allowing them to do as they pleased. Because of this, they got along harmoniously.  

       With the cats fed, it was time to take care of his own dinner.  

       Qin Mu tied on an apron and rolled up his sleeves. He took out ingredients from the fridge and began prepping.

       His stomach was sensitive, so even though he lived alone, he never skimped on proper meals. He diced button mushrooms, onions, and bacon, then sautéed them with peas and tomatoes into a thick and rich sauce. He poured it over perfectly cooked spaghetti, topped it with a layer of mozzarella, and slid it into the oven.

       220 degrees Celsius. Fifteen minutes.

       A piping hot and fragrant baked pasta emerged from the oven. The delicious aroma drew Beiwei over. It jumped onto the table and curled its paws in front of the bowl. Then, it watched him eat in silent expectation.

       Qin Mu lived in the heart of K City, in a spacious two-hundred-square-meter apartment on the fifteenth floor. His open balcony faced the river, where the dark waters of the Jialan River divided the city’s glittering skyline into two shores. The scattered lights from boats on the water looked like fallen stars from the heavens.  

       He ate dinner and browsed the news. He then went through case files sent by his legal assistant and secretary and reviewed the legal provisions and cases. After that, he exercised for an hour at the gym, took a shower, and was in bed before ten-thirty. He read before sleep, and when he had time, he played video games.

       On nights without court cases or social engagements, Qin Mu lived with a strict routine—like a train steadily moving along its tracks, neither fast nor slow, everything in its proper place.

       To him, solitude meant complete control over his life. There was no need to deal with unnecessary social interactions and no need to consider others’ thoughts or emotions. He felt relaxed and comfortable.

       Just as Qin Mu was reading with a cat in his arms, his phone rang. A familiar client was calling to consult about acquiring a private equity investment firm. By the time he had analysed the matter from the perspectives of cost, transition period, and regulatory review and had tactfully advised against the acquisition, more than half an hour had passed. The client trusted him and decided to put the proposal on hold.

       During the call, several missed calls had come through—all from Zhou Yi, his business partner. Qin Mu called back, and the call was answered almost instantly. Zhou Yi’s voice was tangled in chaotic background noise and was trembling slightly. It felt that even through the phone, Qin Mu could feel the barely suppressed panic.

       “Teacher Xiao had an accident. He was just sent to the ICU. His skull is fractured. It doesn’t look good.”

       Qin Mu’s mind went blank for several seconds. He shot up from his seat, knocking over his coffee cup. Brown liquid spilled onto his pants, but he had no time to care. Grabbing his coat, he rushed out the door.

              Xiao Chengzong was his and Zhou Yi’s professor—a renowned legal expert at K University. He was sixty-eight years old and had no children. His wife had suffered a stroke two years ago, leaving her with lasting impairments, unable to walk without assistance. The old man was a man of integrity and humility, and he was highly respected in the legal field. In addition to teaching and educating people, he devoted himself to pro bono legal aid, helping those who couldn’t afford lawyers seek justice. Qin Mu had received much guidance from him during his studies and frequently visited to check in on the elderly couple, helping with whatever he could. Just days ago, the old man had been laughing and chatting with him—and now, he had suffered such a terrible accident. Anxiety gnawed at Qin Mu as he rushed to the hospital, barely waiting for the car to stop before leaping out and striding toward the elevator.

       The Second Municipal Hospital was one of the best in K City. Even at night, the place was crowded with patients seeking treatment, their faces etched with exhaustion and pain. Qin Mu couldn’t afford to wait for the slow-moving, packed elevator and instead took the stairs two at a time. As he neared the emergency room, a gut-wrenching cry pierced through the air.

       His scalp tingled, and his steps halted abruptly.  

       “Old Xiao! Old Xiao…!”

       A woman with graying hair was nearly collapsing in her wheelchair. Her face was streaked with tears, and her voice was trembling and raw with grief. Several relatives knelt beside her, murmuring words of comfort. Zhou Yi stood nearby, gripping a sheet of paper, his face ashen as he spoke with a doctor. Two police officers stood beside him.

       Qin Mu felt like all the oxygen had been sucked from the room. His chest tightened painfully, and he couldn’t breathe. It was only when someone tapped him on the shoulder that he finally managed to surface from the suffocating haze.

       “He’s gone,” Zhou Yi said, his eyes red.

       Qin Mu stared at him and asked, “What happened?”

       “Car accident. When they brought him in, he was covered in blood. The main injury was to his head. I asked the best neurosurgeon here to operate…but they couldn’t save him.”

       “What about the perpetrator?”

       “They fled the scene. The police checked the surveillance footage—it was a CRV with a fake license plate. Last known direction was toward the southern suburbs, but pinpointing its location will take time.” Zhou Yi pressed a hand to his temple, suppressing his grief, then patted Qin Mu’s shoulder. “Go… check on Teacher’s wife.”

       Qin Mu nodded. Every step he took toward the wheelchair felt unbearably heavy.

       He knelt down in front of Teacher Xiao’s wife, taking her frail hand in his. His voice was soft. “Madam.”

       The woman who had once been so strong, who could still joke with him even after her stroke, now seemed to have aged all at once. Her words quivered with sorrow. “Xiao Qin… he didn’t even leave me a single word.”

       Resentment. Grief. Sorrow. Heartbreak. Despair.

       All those emotions were tangled within that one sentence, slamming into Qin Mu’s heart with unbearable force.

       It felt as if the mountains had collapsed and the world was caving in.

       The most painful thing about loss wasn’t just losing someone—it was watching the people left behind suffer and being unable to do anything to ease their pain.

       Behind his glasses, his eyes burned red, but he kept his voice steady. He gently squeezed her hand. “Teacher didn’t say anything, but you know… he would want you to take care of yourself. You have to stay strong. You still have us.”

       Tears streamed down her face. “I want to see him. Let me see him.”

       “Alright.”

       Qin Mu accompanied her to see Teacher Xiao one last time.

       The old professor, who had dedicated his entire life to teaching and nurturing students, now lay pale and still in the cold morgue. The bloodstains on his face had been carefully wiped away, leaving him looking as if he were merely asleep—peaceful and at rest.

       Qin Mu stood in silence, saying nothing.

       He temporarily arranged for Madam Xiao to stay with relatives, instructed his assistant to find a caregiver overnight, and handled all the necessary arrangements. Afterward, he headed to the police station to meet Zhou Yi and review the results of the investigation.

       By the time they stepped outside, the night was deep. Clouds drifted across the sky, shrouding the moon, leaving no stars, no light.

       Qin Mu didn’t get into the car. Instead, he asked, “Got a cigarette?” He had quit smoking long ago and didn’t carry any.

       Zhou Yi fished a Marlboro out of his pocket and handed it to him.

       Qin Mu held it between his lips and leaned in, lighting it against the flame of Zhou Yi’s lighter. He took a deep drag, coughed slightly, then exhaled a swirl of smoke.

       The two stood in silence for a while. Zhou Yi hesitated before finally speaking. “I know what you’re thinking, but… this could really just be an accident.”

       “Three days before trial. A car with fake plates. A hit-and-run driver who’s nowhere to be found. And that threatening letter left at his doorstep. There’s no way this is just a coincidence. They wanted him dead.”

       “Qin Mu—”

       “I won’t be around for a while. Keep an eye on my cat for me.”

       “Qin Mu!” Zhou Yi’s brows furrowed tightly. He lowered his voice and said, “That’s J City. The forces behind Kuang Mu run deeper than we can imagine. Don’t get yourself involved.”

       Qin Mu tilted his head back, gazing through the smoke at the vast, pitch-black sky. His eyes were as cold as ice. “Remember what’s carved at the entrance of our department? ‘With the law as our sword, we defend the land of justice.’”

       He stubbed out his cigarette and said calmly, “I will fight the case that Teacher Xiao took.”

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Side Story – Hot Spring (3)

March 9, 2025 / / 0 Comments

       Zhan Weiyang’s gaze kept following Pei Qing. Even though the room was now dark, Pei Qing could still feel Zhan Weiyang looking at him.

       “What’s wrong, Yangyang?” Pei Qing asked

       Zhan Weiyang thought for a moment and asked him, “Who sent you a message so late?”

       Pei Qing smiled silently and answered him in a serious tone, “Weiguang.”

       Zhan Weiyang was silent for a while. He fumbled to find Pei Qing’s hand, held his fingers together, and said, “Don’t pay attention to him; it’s already too late.”

       Pei Qing replied, “Okay.”

       Zhan Weiyang turned his face and rubbed against Pei Qing’s shoulder.

       Pei Qing raised one hand to touch his face and asked him, “Yangyang, do you want Qing ge to kiss you?”

       Zhan Weiyang was very happy, “Can I?”

       Pei Qing stroked his lips with her fingers, “Of course.” After that, he lowered his head and kissed him.

       Zhan Weiyang opened his eyes and kissed Pei Qing happily.

       Zhan Weiyang and Pei Qing were both very busy throughout Zhan Weiyang’s second semester of senior year. He was admitted to a second-tier university, which might not sound like a big deal to others, but to him, he had already exhausted all his energy.

       He knew that his brain was not very good. Chen Youyou could understand the same course after the teacher explained it once, but he had to ask Chen Youyou to explain it to him several times after class. He had to do the same type of questions repeatedly so that he could find the pattern the next time he did it.

       Pei Qing was also busy during this period. He had just started working and had no support from his family. He had to rely on himself for everything and had to work overtime almost every night.

       They had no time to meet each other. They could only have a short video chat for ten minutes at night and then say goodbye in a hurry. This state lasted until Zhan Weiyang finished the college entrance examination. On the day after the exam, Zhan Weiyang wanted to spend the night at Pei Qing’s place but was stopped by Zhan Pengcheng. Zhan Pengcheng stared at him very closely. It had been a while since the holiday, and he had to go home and sleep every day. Pei Qing was busy with work, and they had little time to eat together, let alone such intimate contact.

       Zhan Weiyang was immersed in Pei Qing’s gentle kiss, and then gradually felt that Pei Qing’s kiss was more intense than before.

       Pei Qing had always been very restrained towards him and would let him go after a kiss and a hug. Zhan Weiyang had never tried such a kiss. He felt that Pei Qing was a little fierce, as if he wanted to bite him and eat him. The hand that pinched his arm was also very strong, so he subconsciously stepped back.

       Pei Qing didn’t chase him but asked him in a deep voice, “What’s wrong, Yangyang?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “Are you upset?”

       Pei Qing gently stroked his lips with his thumb, “Why am I upset?”

       Zhan Weiyang said uncertainly, “I don’t know, I think you are not very happy.”

       Pei Qing smiled, his voice low and deep. He hugged Zhan Weiyang tightly in his arms, lowered his head against the soft skin of his shoulder, and said, “I’m not upset; I’m very happy.”

       Zhan Weiyang breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s great.”

       Pei Qing asked him, “If I’m upset, what will you do?”

       Zhan Weiyang answered without thinking, “Make you happy.”

       Pei Qing asked, “How do you want to make me happy?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “Comfort you in any way you want. Anyway, don’t be upset with me, I want you to be happy all the time.”

       Pei Qing held him like a child and shook him left and right, saying, “My silly Yangyang.”

       Zhan Weiyang then smiled and reached out to hug Pei Qing’s neck.

       Pei Qing said, “Since Yangyang is willing to do anything for me, I can agree to anything you want. Is there something you want me to do?”

       Zhan Weiyang was suddenly surprised and asked, “Can we make love?”

       Pei Qing held back her smile and whispered in his ear, “Are you dumb?”

       Zhan Weiyang admitted with his head down embarrassedly, “I think a little bit.”

       Pei Qing said, “If you hadn’t avoided me just now, I would have done it with you.”

       “Hmm?” Zhan Weiyang didn’t quite react to what he meant.

       After Pei Qing finished speaking, he kissed Zhan Weiyang’s lips again. This time, even if Zhan Weiyang avoided again, he would not let him go.

       …………

       Afterwards, Zhan Weiyang was sweating all over, and Pei Qing carried him to the bathroom to take another shower. When he came back to bed, Zhan Weiyang was so tired that he couldn’t open his eyes. He found Pei Qing beside him, hugged his waist tightly, and said, “Can we do it often?”

       Pei Qing turned off the lights, hugged him and asked, “Does Yangyang like it?”

       “Yeah,” Zhan Weiyang said, “I like it very much.”

       Pei Qing said to him, “Then, when you graduate from college, we will live together, okay?”

       Zhan Weiyang tried to open his eyes, “Are we going to get married?”

       Pei Qing said, “Qing ge will work hard to make money, buy you a house and a ring, and then propose to you, okay?”

       Zhan Weiyang was not shy just now but suddenly became shy when he heard the proposal. He lowered his head and buried his face in Pei Qing’s arms, whispering, “Keep your word.”

       Pei Qing smiled slightly and said, “When did I lie to you?”

       Zhan Weiyang thought for a while and said, “Can Dad and Grandma live with us?”

       Pei Qing replied, “Of course.”

       Zhan Weiyang was very happy and asked, “What about Zhan Weiguang?”

       Pei Qing Qing thought momentarily and said, “I think he might not want to live with us.”

       Zhan Weiyang yawned, and he could hardly hold on any longer. He mumbled the last sentence, “But he can’t find a girlfriend. I feel sorry for him…” After saying this, Zhan Weiyang fell into a deep sleep.

       Pei Qing kissed his forehead and whispered, “Good night, baby.”

 

       The next day, when Zhan Pengcheng checked out, he found an extra charge. With tears in his eyes, he drove the kids back home.

Notes:
This is the end!
I think the extra charge is because some hotel might have some stain policy where the *ahem* stain get charged, lolol
I don’t think I will get attached so much to the story because it started so slow, and I keep wondering if things gonna get interesting. But as always JGQ always proved me wrong >X<
Thank you so much for the recommendation!
There are some JGQ titles on my list and I hope it’s not translated yet, lol
There’s someone in CG who is translating other JGQ works too, please head there and give some love to JGQ works! ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)

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Chapter 33 – How the hell did you put this in ah, fvck. Too tight.

March 8, 2025 / / 0 Comments

“Vehicle god?” Gu Lizhou finally had the chance to plant his long legs back on the ground and immediately switched to ruthless mockery. “Your driving skills are worse than mine. You took out all the streetlights on this road.”

“Shut up!” Zhong Weishi was furious, annoyed, and burning up.

The nearby flatbread-guy had just been sent flying by a sudden motorcycle crash. While waiting for it to reset, he glanced over and happened to notice that the one who had been bragging about showcasing his skills earlier now had a tense expression, his face flushed red all the way to his neck, giving it his all to steer toward a building.

He was still cursing under his breath. “fvck, this damn machine is broken! It’s not responsive at all!”

“You can pull back.” Gu Lizhou propped one hand on his thigh while keeping a tight grip around Zhong Weishi’s waist. “You nearly shook the shrimp wontons out of my stomach just now.”

Zhong Weishi couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

Gu Lizhou tilted his head slightly to glance at the screen, his warm breath brushing against Zhong Weishi’s neck.

Zhong Weishi shrank his neck, feeling like his head was placed on a sizzling grill, smoking away.

His movements gradually slowed, but whether it was his imagination or not, the arm wrapped around his waist didn’t loosen. Instead, the grip seemed to tighten even more.

Ah, ah, ah—

Charge ah!—

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shift his focus away from that arm around his waist.

Their two-player motorcycle race ended without suspense.

Dead last.

It was a complete disaster—they fell two full laps behind the first-place finisher, got flung off four times, and crashed into countless buildings.

Because Zhong Weishi had crashed into Duan Yi twice, Duan Yi turned his head with a face like thunder. But rules were rules—players were allowed to attack each other mid-race. He had been in first place from the very start, using nitro boosts freely, leaving everyone else in the dust. Victory was practically in his grasp—until Zhong Weishi sent him flying in the second lap.

This time, Qiangzi took first place, looking absolutely radiant. “Shi-ge, congratulations, congratulations! For a first-time run, this was already pretty damn good.”

Duan Yi snorted.

The burning sensation on Zhong Weishi’s face had finally faded. Refocusing on the race, he stiffly salvaged his reputation as a vehicle god. “That round was just a test. Next one’s the real deal.”

To ensure fairness, the group revised the rules.

The new map was set to Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay. Players could only pick one type of upgrade—choosing nitro boosts meant giving up speed enhancements, opting for stability improvements meant sacrificing all other buffs…

Mid-race collisions were still allowed, and each player could choose a navigator to assist them.

Gu Lizhou let go of Zhong Weishi’s waist and stepped aside. “I’ll help you navigate the map.”

Zhong Weishi finally took a deep breath, feeling the oxygen revive every cell in his body. He nodded firmly.

At first, Qiangzi had thought Duan Yi brought such a large group for a brawl, but since this was Wild Moto, there was no need for so many people. He personally picked Da Fei as his navigator.

Duan Yi’s expression was grim.

“All right. So you don’t say we’re ganging up on you—we’ll split into four teams: me and Da Fei, Xiao Tian and Wei-ge, and two teams from your side. That makes it fair, four bikes in total.”

Qiangzi said, flexing his rose-tattooed arm with an air of dominance. “Whoever wins gets to call the shots. If we win, the moment you step out of this arcade, you stay the hell away from Dafei—no more contact, and don’t harass him on any live broadcast platforms either.”

“Deal.” Duan Yi smirked, licking the corner of his lips before turning to look at Da Fei. “No problem.”

Da Fei averted his eyes in embarrassment.

After listening to the proposal, Zhong Weishi found it fair and nodded in agreement. But then, a serious issue came to mind. “Hey, Qiangzi, what about our team?”

Qiangzi hadn’t expected Shi-ge to make such an unreasonable request at such a crucial moment.

With how disastrous his last run was—was that even worth watching!?

This was a battle concerning Da Fei’s future!

It wasn’t a child’s play!

But he couldn’t just say that outright. Furrowing his brows, he tactfully replied, “Shi-ge, here’s the thing—this round is an official match. Next time, I’ll play with you as much as you want.”

Zhong Weishi: “…”

Just then, Gu Lizhou returned from the cashier and placed a small basket of freshly exchanged game tokens in front of Zhong Weishi. “Go ahead and play. It’s on me.” Then, he handed ten tokens to the flat-bread face. “The extra ones are interest.”

Flatbread: “Thank you.”

“No problem. Just go easy on me later.” Gu Lizhou patted Zhong Weishi’s shoulder with a smile. “It’s a kid’s first time playing and he got so worked up after losing one round that his forehead was practically smoking.”

Zhong Weishi turned his head, opened his mouth, and pretended to bite Gu Lizhou’s arm. Gu Lizhou swiftly retracted his hand, dodging it.

Recalling their earlier performance, Duan Yi curled his lips into a smirk. “Doesn’t matter. You guys can team up.”

Qiangzi, being prideful, initially wanted to refuse, but before he could speak, Zhong Weishi immediately latched onto the opportunity. “You said it yourself ah!”

Duan Yi shrugged indifferently. “Yeah, I said it. Not like you’d win even with a one-lap head start.”

Zhong Weishi nodded. “Great, then go ahead and let us ah.”

Duan Yi: “…” Shameless!

Qiangzi: “…” His big bro was still his big bro—this move of slipping through the cracks was legendary.

The flatbread guy thought to himself—these two so-called “vehicle gods” had no shame when it came to saving face. Their personalities were practically identical.

To ensure everyone could connect to the game, Qiangzi gave the command, and everyone inserted their tokens at the same time.

“Clank, clank.” Two game tokens dropped into the machine.

After everyone finished selecting their car colors, map, and upgrade package, the sound of tokens dropping continued—“Clank, clank, clank.”

Something wasn’t right.

Everyone turned their gaze toward the back.

There, they saw Gu Lizhou hunched over, aggressively feeding tokens into the machine.

Ever since the last race ended, Zhong Weishi had kept his head down, ignoring him completely. Seeing his gloomy expression, Gu Lizhou figured the kid was probably sulking over his loss.

As a loving father, he naturally had to help his child reclaim victory and restore his reputation as the legendary racer of Akina Mountain.

Rules? Who cared about rules? Making sure the child was happy was the priority.

Besides, they weren’t technically part of the official teams anyway, right?

Thus, the game interface lit up—Nitro Boost +15, 100 km/h acceleration in 2.6s, Top Speed: 400 km/h, Stability +8…

And the numbers kept climbing.

“Hey! What the hell are you guys doing?!” Duan Yi jumped off his bike and pointed at Gu Lizhou, yelling, “We agreed on only one upgrade package!”

Gu Lizhou remained unnervingly calm. “We’re cheating. Didn’t you say you’d give us a lap head start? No need for that anymore.”

Duan Yi: “…” Shameless!

Even as he spoke, Gu Lizhou’s hand kept shoving more tokens into the machine.

Zhong Weishi was starting to feel a little embarrassed. He nudged Gu Lizhou’s shoulder. “Okay, okay, that’s enough, that’s enough.”

“Enough?” Gu Lizhou glanced at the screen and let out a casual “Oh yo.” “Yeah, looks like it’s enough.”

In the end, Duan Yi and his team had no choice but to admit defeat and start purchasing a ton of upgrades themselves.

The game paused and was fed with dozens of tokens. This kind of RMB playstyle was simply unheard of. A large group of uniformed staff stopped to watch, pointing, and discussing.

Even passing bystanders got involved, setting up side bets on who would win.

The arcade was instantly heated.

As an RMB player in this game, Zhong Weishi unlocked advanced options, granting him the ability to select an SSS-tier motorcycle.

The bike’s sleek silver-and-black body gleamed under the lights, and even the helmet had a lightning emblem printed on it. The entire aesthetic was ridiculously cool.

Duan Yi sneered. “Flower Peac0ck, just don’t fall two laps behind again.”

Zhong Weishi ignored him. Instead, he lifted his head and locked eyes with Gu Lizhou. For a brief moment, they both felt as if they had read something profound in each other’s heated, sincere gazes. Without words, they communicated their thoughts through their eyes.

Gu Lizhou: The key is to participate. Don’t take it too seriously. If we’re about to lose, just fake a leg cramp—Dad will definitely help you cover it up.

Zhong Weishi: Okay. Thanks for believing in me. We’re winning this round for sure.

The “START” sign suddenly lit up.

Zhong Weishi twisted the throttle and simultaneously pressed the function button on the bike’s console. The fifth-place motorcycle instantly shot forward with a nitro boost, streaking across the track like a silver-white lightning bolt, leaving the other four bikes in the dust.

“Woah—”

As the special effects burst onto the screen, the surrounding spectators let out a wave of astonished exclamations.

Qiangzi seized the opportunity, smirking as he forced Duan Yi into a corner.

Duan Yi’s eyes were locked onto the screen. He let out a frustrated “fvck.”

The arcade’s simulated road conditions were impressively realistic. For the first time, Zhong Weishi experienced what it was like to play a racing game with cheat-level enhancements. His lips curled up, and his heart pounded violently in his chest.

He was both nervous and thrilled.

Gu Lizhou was as focused as he was.

“Slow down, slow down. Sharp left turn ahead.”

“Take the left fork up ahead.”

“Lean to the right, lean to the right. There’s a small road!”

No one was familiar with the new map. The sounds of discussions and collisions echoed nonstop, and everyone’s attention was highly focused.

Among the roaring of the accelerating motorcycles, Zhong Weishi focused intently, trying to pick out and follow Gu Lizhou’s deep, steady voice.

Probably due to his poor eyesight, Gu Lizhou had leaned in closer to the screen, one hand braced against the table, eyes locked onto the mini-map in the top-right corner.

By the third lap, Zhong Weishi accidentally missed a shortcut. Duan Yi and Qiangzi’s motorcycle icons suddenly appeared on the mini-map.

They were catching up.

Gu Lizhou furrowed his brows. “Slow down, don’t rush.”

Zhong Weishi took a deep breath, then executed a high-speed left drift, his knee nearly scraping the ground.

The tires skimmed past an obstacle.

A perfect dodge.

Behind him, Duan Yi crashed into a railing, letting out a string of curses.

The race ended. The first-place finisher, a flamboyant-looking man on screen, took off his helmet and tucked it under his arm, curling his lips into a smirk.

Zhong Weishi ranked first with a time of 2 minutes and 32 seconds. He raised his hand and exchanged a high five with Gu Lizhou.

Duan Yi finished with a time of 2 minutes 33 seconds, ranking second. Qiangzi, lagging behind by 0.12 seconds, placed third—so furious that he was pounding his chest and stomping his feet.

“We won ah,” Zhong Weishi turned his head and said, “so stop harassing Da Fei.”

“Bullshit!” Duan Yi was annoyed. “You guys cheated! Would you have won without all those speed boosters?”

“Didn’t you just say you’d give us a full lap head start?” Qiangzi countered righteously.

“You!” Duan Yi choked on his words. “This round doesn’t count! Rematch!”

Zhong Weishi frowned, straddling his seat again. “Fine, let’s go again.”

This time, it was a brand-new map, and the rule was clear: no purchasing upgrades, no navigators giving directions.

“Hey, you flashy peac0ck,” Duan Yi turned to Zhong Weishi, “why don’t you bet something too? Otherwise, there’s no thrill if you lose.”

“Bet on what?”

“If you lose, you have to stand in the hallway outside and shout ‘I really like men!’ at the top of your lungs.” He then turned to Huangfu Qiang. “You too.”

Qiangzi’s face twisted in disgust. “I fvck, you’re a fvcking pervert.”

Da Fei, anxious, tried to intervene. “Forget it, let’s not do this.”

But Zhong Weishi simply tossed in two tokens. “Deal.”

Ten minutes later.

A row of men—except for Gu Lizhou—stood neatly in the hallway outside the arcade.

Qiangzi’s old face was burning red. He opened his mouth several times but couldn’t bring himself to say something so humiliating.

Unfortunately, today happened to be the day a car accessories company was hosting a promotional event. The ground floor was packed with people, and passersby were starting to cast curious glances their way.

“Shout ah,” Duan Yi smirked, arms crossed over his chest, looking insufferably smug. “A man’s word is his bond—I already agreed to leave Da Fei alone.”

Qiangzi struggled to turn his head, desperately seeking outside help. The first person he looked for was the thickest-skinned among them. “Hey, Shi-ge, look, we grew up together, right? Back when we swore brotherhood, didn’t we promise to share blessings and difficulties…”

“No, no, no! Stop!” Zhong Weishi backed away repeatedly. “When the hell did I ever swear brotherhood with you?”

Why not!” Qiangzi clung to him. “How about this—I won’t force you, let’s just split the sentence in half?”

Zhong Weishi immediately latched onto Gu Lizhou, who was leaning against the wall, enjoying the show, and roared, “I refuse! If you keep this up, I’m cutting ties with you ah!”

Duan Yi: “…”

Gu Lizhou watched the drama as if it were nothing, “Just imagine the entire floor is a vast melon field, and you’re just shouting out your innermost desires to the melons.”

Qiangzi took a few minutes to gather his emotions. Then, in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s, he muttered, “I-I-I really like…”

As he watched the customers around him gather more and more, he suddenly felt like his throat had been blocked, unable to force out another word.

Duan Yi sneered, “Louder. Who can hear you with this commotion?”

And just like that, a mere 0.05-second difference cost a champion eater his dignity in the middle of Wanda shopping mall.

Da Fei originally wanted to take this opportunity to return the several thousand yuan Duan Yi had given him, but Duan Yi flat-out refused to accept it. Da Fei grabbed his phone, trying to check his Alipay account.

Right outside the arcade, the two ended up reenacting a classic New Year’s scene—where an elder tries to give a red envelope and the younger one adamantly refuses to take it.

“Keep it, buy yourself some new clothes. I’ll still continue to follow your singing—you sing really well. I’m your little fan-ge”

Duan Yi reached out, trying to pat Da Fei’s shoulder, but Dafei dodged. “I won’t spend your money. If you ever regret this, you can always take it back. But making friends is impossible. No chance. I don’t like men.”

Duan Yi didn’t say anything. He just left behind a meaningful smile before turning and walking away.

“Don’t harass him again ah!” Qiangzi shouted at Duan Yi’s retreating figure.

Zhong Weishi watched the scene unfold, clicking his tongue several times in mock admiration. “If I had such a devoted fan, life would be so much easier. I’d never have to worry about food or clothes again.”

Gu Lizhou: “If you ever decide to do a cross-dressing live broadcast, make sure to invite me. Dad will help you achieve your dream of getting rich.”

Zhong Weishi smirked, pressing his lips together. “Didn’t you say you hate seeing men in women’s clothes?”

Gu Lizhou: “You’re different ah.”

“Where is it different?” Zhong Wei Shi asked.

“Everywhere is different.”

Zhong Weishi huffed smugly. “Trying to butter me up ah? Not falling for it. Give up already.”

Gu Lizhou chuckled as he caught up to him. “By the way, what was that show you mentioned last time—the one where the palace maid feeds gr4p3s to Emperor Shunzhi?”

“Bleh, bleh, bleh… not telling you.”

With everything settled, and Da Fei even walking away with a small fortune from his crazy fan-ge everyone’s mood was pretty great—Except for Qiangzi.

“Did that bastard Duan record everything just now?” He suddenly had a horrifying realization.

Zhong Weishi said, “He didn’t record it, I did. Do you want to see it?”

Gu Lizhou beckoned with a finger, “Come on, show me.”

“…” Qiangzi’s face darkened instantly. The urge to cut ties forever had never been stronger.

Lunch was on Da Fei at a well-known porridge shop in the mall. The food was good, the portions were big.

Of course, the most important thing was that the price wasn’t expensive.

A huge pot of seafood porridge cost 32 yuan and came with unlimited refills—perfect for a big appetite king like Qiangzi.

It was peak lunch hour, and seats were scarce. After a quick trip to the restroom, Zhong Weishi and Gu Lizhou returned to find that only two corner seats were left.

While waiting for their porridge, Gu Lizhou scrolled through the news. Zhong Weishi, whose phone was dead, idly glanced around, taking in the shop’s decor. His gaze eventually landed on Gu Lizhou’s wrist—and the conspicuous red string tied around it.

“Ai,” Zhong Weishi knocked on the table. “Where’d you get that? I don’t remember seeing you wear it before.”

“Huh?” Gu Lizhou looked up. “What?”

Zhong Weishi gestured at it. “That red string. Looks like cheap street stall stuff—totally doesn’t match your rich guy aesthetic.”

Gu Lizhou glanced at his wrist bone, where the string rested. “I bought some books the other day and ran into this little girl collecting donations for a welfare center. I donated some, and she gave me this.”

“You’re such a caring person.” Zhong Weishi propped his chin on his hand, laughing. “It looks quite good, kinda tacky with a bit of sexiness and cuteness.”

Gu Lizhou’s eyes curved with amusement. “She said wearing it brings good luck. I have another one in my wallet. Want it?”

“Pfft, how old are you ah? Still falling for this kind of…” Zhong Weishi’s tone was dripping with disdain.

Gu Lizhou’s fingers paused mid-motion. Just as he was about to say not to pull it down, he saw the other person whose eyes filled with disdain and was condescending, never believing in this kind of bullshit boy, hooked his finger at him. “Hand it over. Let’s see if it actually works ah. If not, I’ll march into that welfare center and demand a refund.”

Gu Lizhou laughed so hard that his shoulders shook.

“Damn, why’s it so tight ah? How the hell did you even get this on ah, fvck. Too tight”

“Idiot. Give me your hand. I’ll put it on for you.”

Side Story – Hot Spring (2)

March 6, 2025 / / 0 Comments

       Zhan Pengcheng booked two standard rooms. After Zhan Weiyang finished his shower and returned to the bed by the window, he picked up his phone and sent Pei Qing a message: “Have you gone to bed?”

       Pei Qing quickly replied: “Not yet; Weiguang is taking a shower.”

       Zhan Weiyang looked at these words and felt very unhappy.

       After a while, Zhan Pengcheng came out of the shower and wiped the water off his face and neck with a towel while saying to Zhan Weiyang, “Yangyang, stop playing with your phone and go to bed early.”

       Zhan Weiyang silently put his phone aside.

       Zhan Pengcheng turned off the lights in the room and lay down on his bed. After soaking in the hot spring all night, he yawned and felt that his body was very tired, so he asked, “Are you tired, Yangyang?”

       Zhan Weiyang was actually quite tired, but his mind was very active. He had been waiting for Zhan Weiguang to change rooms with him, so he pulled up the quilt and only said ‘En’ softly.

       He lay quietly, listening to Zhan Pengcheng’s breathing gradually getting louder on the bed beside him. He looked up secretly and thought that Zhan Pengcheng might have fallen asleep.

       Just then, Zhan Weiyang’s mobile phone suddenly rang.

       In the quiet environment, the sudden ringing sound was particularly loud. Zhan Weiyang was startled. Zhan Pengcheng also woke up and asked in a daze, “Who called so late?”

       Zhan Weiyang fumbled his mobile phone from under the pillow and saw that it was Zhan Weiguang who had called. He thought it was already hard to wait for his father to fall asleep, but Zhan Weiguang called again to wake him up. He felt angry and answered the phone angrily, “What are you doing?”

       Zhan Weiguang asked him, “Is Dad asleep?”

       Zhan Weiyang was very angry, “Dad was woken up by you!”

       Zhan Weiguang said, “It’s okay, come over, let’s play cards.”

       “Huh?” Zhan Weiyang was stunned for a moment.

       Zhan Weiguang said, “Let’s play Dou Dizhu1Dou dizhu is a card game in the genre of shedding and gambling. It is one of the most popular card games played in China., come on, hurry up!”

       Zhan Weiyang suddenly reacted and said, “I’ll go.”

       Zhan Pengcheng heard him getting out of bed, reached out, turned on the reading light at the head of the bed, and asked him, “What are you doing so late?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “I’m going to find them to play Dou Dizhu.”

       Zhan Pengcheng couldn’t open his eyes. He rubbed his forehead, “Why play Dou Dizhu so late?”

       Zhan Weiyang reached out to turn off the light, grabbed his phone and door card, walked out in the dark, and said, “Dad, you go to bed first.”

       He opened the room door and saw Zhan Weiguang standing at the door with his phone, so he asked, “Are you waiting for me?”

       Zhan Weiguang said, “Hurry up.”

       Zhan Pengcheng heard the sound outside and shouted, “Aren’t you guys tired?”

       Zhan Weiguang replied outside the door, “We are still young, not tired. Dad, you go to bed first.” After that, he raised his hand to help Zhan Weiyang close the door.

       The door of the next room was open. Pei Qing stood at the door in pyjamas and said helplessly, “Stop making trouble. Uncle will be angry if he finds out.”

       When Zhan Weiyang heard Pei Qing’s words, he suddenly became nervous. He asked, “Should I go back?”

       Pei Qing laughed and said, “At least play a few rounds of Dou Dizhu before returning.”

       None of them brought poker cards with them, so playing Dou Dizhu was not easy at this time. Finally, Zhan Weiguang thought of a way to open a room using the game app on his mobile phone. The three of them played Dou Dizhu on their mobile phones.

       There were two beds in the room. Zhan Weiguang occupied one. Zhan Weiyang lay next to Pei Qing. The two were too close, so Zhan Weiyang couldn’t help but look at Pei Qing’s cards.

       Zhan Weiguang played two rounds and threw his phone aside with a ‘tsk’. “Zhan Weiyang, do you still want to play?”

       Zhan Weiyang lowered his head embarrassedly and said, “Sorry.”

       Pei Qing smiled and touched the top of his head.

       Zhan Weiyang immediately raised his face and rubbed it in Pei Qing’s palm.

       Zhan Weiguang suddenly felt that his presence in this room was too unnecessary. He stood up from the bed and said, “I’m going to sleep.”

       Zhan Weiyang was a little nervous, “Dad might not be asleep yet.”

       Zhan Weiguang grabbed his mobile phone and saw Zhan Weiyang throw the room door card on the bedside table. He walked over to pick it up together and said as he walked outside, “He can fall asleep as soon as he touches the bed. It’s probably almost time.”

       Pei Qing asked, “Do you really want to change?”

       Zhan Weiyang didn’t say anything. He looked at Pei Qing and then at Zhan Weiguang.

       Zhan Weiguang said, “He worked hard for the whole year to get into college. Dad is watching him too closely. It’s unnecessary.” He looked at Pei Qing and said it in a low voice. After he finished speaking, he walked out in slippers.

       Zhan Weiyang still seemed a little uneasy. He sat cross-legged on the bed and looked at Pei Qing with wide-open round eyes.

       Pei Qing reached out to touch his head, pressed his palm on the back of his neck to make him bend over, kissed his lips and said, “Let’s go to bed then.”

       Zhan Weiguang walked to the next room, swiped his card to open the door, and heard Zhan Pengcheng’s familiar snoring when he stood at the door. He walked in and gently closed the door, stood in the dark to adapt for a while, and walked towards the empty bed.

       Just as he was about to climb onto the bed, Zhan Pengcheng, on the bed next to him, turned over and suddenly woke up, calling out in a vague voice, “Yangyang?”

       Zhan Weiguang stopped moving, not knowing whether he should make a sound for a moment.

       Zhan Pengcheng felt strange and called out again, “Yangyang?”

       Zhan Weiguang couldn’t help but say, “It’s me.”

       “Weiguang?” Zhan Pengcheng sat up suddenly and fumbled to find the light switch, “Where’s your brother?”

       Zhan Weiguang climbed onto the bed, lifted the quilt and lay down, saying, “He sleeps next door.”

       Zhan Pengcheng had already turned on the light. The sudden light stimulated him to squint his eyes. He couldn’t adapt for a long time and said, “How can you let him sleep with Pei Qing?”

       Zhan Weiguang said, “Dad, he has graduated from high school and will go to college soon.”

       Zhan Pengcheng frowned, “But his mental age is still a child.”

       Zhan Weiguang felt a little helpless and pulled up the quilt to cover half of his face, almost covering his eyes. “He isn’t. He’s going to board at school once the term starts. What’s the point of keeping such a close eye on him while on vacation? Are you planning to follow him to school and stay there with him then?”

       “But—” Zhan Pengcheng subconsciously wanted to refute but didn’t know how to refute for a while.

       Zhan Weiguang said, “He has been living in the same room with Pei Qing for a long time. You don’t know if he will stay overnight at Pei Qing’s place in the future. Since we are out to play, just let him be.”

       Zhan Pengcheng was a little dazed. After a long while, he said, “I know, I just can’t let go.”

       Zhan Weiguang said, “Haven’t you made up your mind to let him go and give him to Pei Qing?”

       Zhan Pengcheng sighed deeply, turned off the light and lay down again. He turned over in the dark and felt that he was not sleepy at all. He turned over again.

       Zhan Weiguang was still awake. He whispered, “Zhan Weiyang had planned to live with Pei Qing in the future, and he will take you and Grandma with him.”

       Zhan Pengcheng asked, “He told you that?”

       Zhan Weiguang said, “Well, he thinks that he and Pei Qing will definitely be able to live a lifetime.”

       Zhan Pengcheng sighed again at this time, “Pei Qing is a good child.”

       Zhan Weiguang picked up his mobile phone and sent a message quickly.

       In the next room, Zhan Weiyang and Pei Qing were squeezed on the same bed. He rested his head on Pei Qing’s arm and gently called him, “Qing ge.”

       Pei Qing said, “Go to sleep, Yangyang.”

       Zhan Weiyang felt a little disappointed. He kept his eyes open and struggled for a while but still said, “Oh.”

       Pei Qing’s mobile phone suddenly lit up on the bedside table. He turned around and saw a message. He clicked it and saw that it was sent by Zhan Weiguang: “Dad knows that Zhan Weiyang went to sleep there, and he didn’t object. Don’t worry.” He stared at the message for a while, locked the phone and put it back on the bedside table.

 

To be continued…

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Chapter 70 – I seem to have come to my senses a little. 

March 6, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Chapter 70 – I seem to have come to my senses a little. 

When these words were spoken, Xiao Shiqing, He Changzhou, Li Chisu, and Zhao Qiao’s eyes all unconsciously gathered on Zhao Qi. Zhao Qi felt like they were four pieces of name-tagged green tiles, waiting for him to pick one for the night.

 

To be frank, if he were to pick, he would definitely choose Xiao Shiqing. They’ve slept together so many times, even have children together, so what’s one or two more times? But this isn’t the palace; there are so many pairs of eyes watching. He couldn’t just openly declare, “I want to sleep with the Prime Minister bro.”

 

Zhao Qi roared inwardly and decided to use an emperor’s commonly used superior method to escape this predicament — the art of procrastination.

 

“It’s not yet dark, we can discuss this later,” Zhao Qi said, “Fu Zi, go to the villagers’ homes and see if there are any spare rooms available, money is not an issue.” Though their group traveled lightly, as the emperor in disguise, they were accompanied by several skilled guards. Fortunately, these guards would rotate night duty, so staying up all night was not a problem.

 

Next, everyone divided tasks and worked together. Inside the house, Xiao Shiqing and Yu Chenshui were having a conversation; strong guards went to the village entrance to clear the way with the villagers; Cheng Boyan bought some ingredients from nearby farmers and busied himself in the dilapidated kitchen; He Changzhou and Zhao Qiao, under Zhao Qi’s command, skewered and roasted three of the fattest chickens on “Frost’s Sorrow,” while Li Chisu stood nearby, smiling as he fanned himself.

 

Halfway through the roasting, Zhao Qi felt the fire was too weak and turned his attention to Li Chisu, “Prince Zhaonan, may I borrow your fan to control the fire?”

 

Li Chisu was momentarily stunned, then chuckled, “Your Majesty, this folding fan was bestowed upon my late father by the former emperor, adorned with paintings by renowned artists of the previous dynasty…”

 

Zhao Qi interrupted him, “Alright, I know you don’t want to lend it.”

 

“Lend it, of course.” Li Chisu put away the fan and handed it to Zhao Qi, “I’ll give you anything you want.”

 

Not wanting to misuse something precious, Zhao Qi said, “No need, since it’s a treasure, you better keep it safe.”

 

Li Chisu said, “Consider it my apology to Your Majesty?”

 

“Apology?”

 

Li Chisu smiled, “Your Majesty is indeed magnanimous, not holding past grievances against me.”

 

Zhao Qi was awakened. Amidst dealing with Xiao Shiqing being the biological father of Long Dan’s egg, he had forgotten to settle scores with Li Chisu, unexpectedly, this fellow had come forward voluntarily.

 

“Grievances? How could I not hold them against you?” Zhao Qi exclaimed angrily, “You’ve committed the crime of deceiving your ruler; it wouldn’t be excessive for Us to take your head!”

 

Li Chisu continued to smile, “Alright, I’ll wait for Your Majesty to take my head.”

 

“You are truly… hopeless.”

 

Since the founding of the Great Jing Dynasty, the southern twelve counties have been under the control of the Li family. Li Chisu commanded tens of thousands of soldiers, and the civil and military officials in the southern provinces were loyal to him. If Li Chisu were truly killed, unrest would rise again before the northern border was pacified, and using Zhao Qi’s feeble political acumen would be more costly than it was worth. Li Chisu understood this, which was why he behaved so recklessly.

 

“I’ve changed my mind, I don’t want your life.”

 

“Then what does Your Majesty want?”

 

“I want…” Zhao Qi deliberately paused, attempting to imitate Xiao Shiqing’s casual and inscrutable tone, “I want your… throne.”

 

Li Chisu’s pupils suddenly contracted, quickly returning to normal. “Your Majesty is serious?”

 

Zhao Qi countered, “Prince Zhaonan just said he would give Us anything We want.” He shook his head, sighing, “Men’s mouths, tricking ghosts.”

 

The curvature of Li Chisu’s lips was subtle, “Regardless, I am Your Majesty’s subject. If Your Majesty wants my throne, I will naturally surrender it with both hands. However, after the feudal reduction, I probably cannot remain in the southern province. Would Your Majesty be willing to grant me a house in the capital city to avoid being homeless?”

 

Zhao Qi scoffed, “Houses in the capital are very expensive.”

 

Li Chisu thought for a moment, “I can just move into the palace directly; isn’t half of Your Majesty’s harem still empty?”

 

“Even if it’s empty, We won’t let you live there.”

 

Li Chisu chuckled without a word, and the topic of reducing the feudal system ended there.

 

The chicken was almost done roasting. He Changzhou cut a small piece with a dagger and offered it to Zhao Qi’s lips, “Your Majesty?”

 

Zhao Qi took a bite directly, thoroughly satisfied, “Delicious! Share it with everyone—has the Prime Minister finished talking with Yu Chenshui? We’ll go see and ask him to join for chicken.”

 

Before He Changzhou could feed him a second bite, Zhao Qi had already left.

 

Li Chisu walked up beside him, watching Zhao Qi’s back with him, whispering softly, “Your Majesty relies heavily on the Prime Minister.”

 

He Changzhou responded with a grunt.

 

“In other words, Your Majesty can’t do without the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister protects Your Majesty everywhere. In the long run, it’s only a matter of time before Your Majesty falls for the Prime Minister. Look, the first thing on his mind when there’s something good to eat is the Prime Minister.”

 

He Changzhou’s gaze hardened, “No.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“He said he only likes women.”

 

Li Chisu shook his head and smiled lightly, “So General He Changzhou gave up for this reason? He carries another man’s child in his belly; do you think he can still like women?”

 

He Changzhou’s cold eyes swept over, “Regardless, I won’t force him—I won’t let anyone force him.”

 

Innocently, Li Chisu said, “Why do you keep targeting me? You’ve seen it too. In His Majesty’s heart, I’m probably less important than the eunuch waiting by his side. If you want to win over His Majesty, the biggest obstacle isn’t me, but—” Li Chisu stopped abruptly and looked towards the house.

 

He Changzhou furrowed his brow, “Is Prince Wang idle?”

 

Li Chisu: “…”

 

“If so, finish roasting the remaining chicken.”

 

Zhao Qi arrived at the door. There was no soundproofing in the thatched roof house, so Xiao Shiqing and Yu Chenshui’s conversation could be clearly heard.

 

“Yu Chenshui, I really want to kill you.”

 

Yu Chenshui sneered, “Just because I don’t want to be an official?”

 

“Your crime lies not in your actions but in your intentions,” Xiao Shiqing said, “You possess the talent to save the people, but you disdain the world, despise imperial power, and prefer to sit idle in the mountains rather than serve the court—why?”

 

Yu Chenshui seemed to be struck by his words, silent as a dead water pond.

 

Zhao Qi patted his belly and whispered, “Kid, remember this well: intelligence is inherited from your old man, not me. Don’t get that mixed up, okay?”

 

Xiao Shiqing continued, “I believe in your talent, and I believe you’ve had a plan for flood control long ago. But for the sake of your so-called pride, you’ve coldly watched millions in Jiangxia become homeless and destitute. Such ‘talent’ as yours might not even be worthy of serving the emperor.”

 

Zhao Qi scratched his nose, feeling that Xiao Shiqing was praising him a bit too highly. It sounded as if he were some eternal emperor or sage, when in reality, he was just a nobody.

 

Yu Chenshui erupted in silence, “Are you saying I won’t serve as a minister to that little emperor?”

 

Xiao Shiqing raised an eyebrow without saying a word.

 

Yu Chenshui took a deep breath, “Give me enough silver and people, and I’ll ensure peace along the Huai River for fifty… no, a hundred years.”

 

Zhao Qi was puzzled. Just like that? Just like that?? Yu Chenshui was convinced by this?

 

“The treasury has limited silver, I can’t let you have an endless supply. I want you to maintain peace along the Huai River for a hundred years with limited manpower and resources.”

 

Wow, isn’t he taking advantage of the situation? Yu Chenshui agreed?

 

Yu Chenshui gritted his teeth, “Alright, I accept.”

 

Zhao Qi: “…” Looks like he lost this round.

 

Xiao Shiqing nodded, “Good.”

 

Yu Chenshui turned away, “Prime Minister, aren’t you going to release me?”

 

Xiao Shiqing smiled, “You’ve offended the heavens, this is what you deserve.”

 

Yu Chenshui chuckled, “Prime Minister Xiao doesn’t kill, but your psychological attacks are indeed formidable. I admire that.”

 

Xiao Shiqing turned and left, seeing Zhao Qi standing by the door, he asked, “What?”

 

Zhao Qi smiled subtly, “Nothing. Brother, are you hungry? Want some chicken?”

 

Xiao Shiqing’s eyes also carried a hint of amusement, “Sure.”

 

On the wooden table, besides He Changhai’s roasted chicken, there were dishes made by Cheng Boyan. Zhao Qi tasted them first and turned into a supportive fan, “Heavens, what earthly delicacy is this? It rivals the imperial kitchen’s chef! Boyan, being the imperial physician is risky. If you ever want to change careers, let me know and I’ll transfer you to the imperial kitchen!”

 

Cheng Boyan was overwhelmed by the praise, and somewhat shyly said, “It’s an honor that Your Majesty enjoys the dishes I make. However, Your Majesty must remember not to overeat, otherwise the fetus might become too large, which could be problematic during childbirth…”

 

Zhao Qi hurriedly interjected, “I know, I’ll only eat one bowl of rice, alright?”

 

Xiao Shiqing continued, “What happens if the fetus becomes too large?”

 

Zhao Qi panicked, “Ahhhh— Can’t we just eat peacefully without discussing such things!”

 

Xiao Shiqing glanced at Cheng Boyan, said no more, and casually picked up a dish with his chopsticks.

 

Zhao Qi breathed a sigh of relief as he found an extra chicken wing in his bowl, given to him by He Changhai.

 

“For the little princess,” He Changhai said.

 

Zhao Qi smiled at him, “Thank you.”

 

Xiao Shiqing said, “General He should eat his own.”

 

“He hasn’t said anything, so isn’t the prime minister too broad?” He Changhai didn’t want to be outdone.

 

Caught between the two, Zhao Qi managed to finish the meal with difficulty.

 

After dinner, it was almost dark. There was nothing much to do in such a place, so they could only wash up and sleep.

 

With the silver in place, many villagers were willing to give up their beds, and Fu Zi also brought new bedding. Yu Chenshui’s thatched hut had two rooms: one for Zhao Qi to sleep in, and the other taken by Zhao Qiao.

 

“My younger brother wants to be closer to His Majesty,” Zhao Qiao said affectionately. “Even if I can’t sleep next to His Majesty, sleeping next door is good enough.”

 

Zhao Qi was speechless. “What’s wrong with you?”

 

“I want to sleep in the same room as His Majesty,” He Changhai said bluntly. “This place is not like a palace or an inn. With so few people, to ensure His Majesty’s safety, I’ll stay up all night guarding.”

 

Xiao Shiqing said calmly, “You can guard at the door.”

 

“His Majesty wouldn’t let me guard outside all night,” He Changhai said to Zhao Qi. “Right?”

 

“I really wouldn’t.” Zhao Qi said, “So, you and Xiao Qiao sleep in the same room. If there’s any movement, you can come and help me at once.”

 

He Changhai: “…”

 

Zhao Qiao was stunned by the sudden “beautiful blessing,” and asked uncertainly, “Your Majesty, are you serious?”

 

Zhao Qi knew that he was easily tempted by beauties, so he warned, “It’s just sleeping, don’t read too much into it.”

 

Li Chisu asked, “Your Majesty, where should I sleep?”

 

Zhao Qi: “You ask me, who should I ask?”

 

Life is not easy, Li Chisu sighed softly, “Different people have different destinies.”

 

Zhao Qi did not say where Xiao Shiqing slept, and everyone tactfully did not ask.

 

After dark, Cheng Boyan prepared the bed for Zhao Qi and said, “Your Majesty, rest early.”

 

“Okay— Where is the Prime Minister?”

 

“The Prime Minister is discussing flood control matters with Yu Chenshui, so Your Majesty doesn’t need to wait for him.”

 

Zhao Qi coughed lightly, “I didn’t say I was waiting for him.”

 

After Zhao Qi fell asleep, Cheng Boyan blew out the candle and left. At the door, Fu Zi stopped him. “Master Cheng, the Prime Minister requests your presence.”

 

After running around all day, Zhao Qi was indeed a bit tired. Half asleep, he suddenly heard someone call him, “Your Majesty—”

 

Zhao Qi opened his eyes abruptly, and He Changhai’s handsome face was close above him, his starry eyes fixed on him without blinking.

 

Zhao Qi was startled, half sitting up, “What are you doing…!”

 

“Shh,” He Changhai’s fingers with calluses pressed against Zhao Qi’s lips, “I’m here to protect Your Majesty.”

 

“The experts from the Heavenly Mechanism Camp are at the door, why would you need to bother?” Zhao Qi said, “Hurry back to sleep.”

 

“If the experts from the Heavenly Mechanism Camp are so capable, how could they let me in?” He Changhai looked at Zhao Qi with a meaningful smile, “Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

 

“I appreciate your kindness, but I really don’t need it.” Zhao Qi yawned, “I’m so tired, I want to sleep, so please go back.”

 

He Changhai’s eyes gleamed brightly in the darkness. “Your Majesty seems so eager to chase me away. Are you worried that Prime Minister Xiao will arrive soon and you don’t want him to see us together?”

 

Zhao Qi was at a loss for words. It seemed like he really was thinking that…

 

He Changhai had trained in martial arts since childhood and had keen hearing. In this quiet night, he could detect footsteps from tens of meters away. He suddenly smiled, changing the subject, “Your Majesty, do you know, when I was still in the palace, Prime Minister Xiao taught me something very interesting. Shall I demonstrate it to you?”

 

Before Zhao Qi could react, He Changhai leaned over, as if to silence Zhao Qi’s lips.

T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

 

Chapter 1

March 5, 2025 / / 0 Comments

       As the sun sank in the west, the afterglow dyed the clouds red and gilded the edges of each yellow ginkgo leaf with a golden red, freezing it into a colorful painting on the second-floor window.

       It was deep autumn already.

       Lu Cheng tilted his head back, staring at a leaf near the window in a daze. The leaf was trembling and seemed about to fall because of the wind, but stubbornly, it refused to part from its branch.

       He watched for a long time, and his body started to stiffen. He subtly shifted his weight unconsciously and slightly relaxed his already numb legs from kneeling. Suddenly, a sharp crack of a whip sounded behind his ear, striking his bare back with a searing pain.

       He suppressed a cry of pain and let out a series of heavy breaths. He straightened his back to maintain his kneeling posture, not daring to move. He lowered his eyelids, saying, “I was wrong, Master.”

       “What did you do wrong?” The deep male voice carried a hint of coldness.

       “I moved without your permission.” Lu Cheng answered politely.

       The man’s leather shoes stepped silently in front of him on the thick carpet. The hard handle of the whip gently lifted his chin, forcing him to look up.

       His gaze moved from the man’s long legs encased in tailored trousers to his well-fitted suit, highlighting an imposing and full physique. The deep colours exuded a sense of solemnity and restraint.

       Lu Cheng couldn’t help but imagine what this man looked like naked—broad shoulders, narrow hips, well-proportioned muscles, and when those strong arms pressed him down… The vivid picture surged into his mind like waves, making his breath hot.

       In just a moment of distraction, the tip of the whip pressed lightly against his Adam’s apple, making him gasp. Lu Cheng gave a bitter smile in his heart, obediently tilting his head back, exposing his vulnerable neck.

       At this moment, he was kneeling, utterly naked, with his hands folded behind his back. He was like a devout believer looking up to a deity.

       This was a gesture of giving up submitting his bodily autonomy, expressing total submission to handing over everything to the other party. It is the attitude that a Sub should have when facing a Dom in the game.

       Yes, they were playing a BDSM game.

       The dominant person set the rules and controlled the punishment, and the submissive person obeyed the rules and offered their body. In this way, both parties satisfy each other’s desires and gain pleasure.

       The decadent light of the setting sun filled the room, outlining the curves of the two people’s bodies.

       Standing and kneeling. Whip and flesh. Intact clothes and naked. Dominance and submission formed a stark, sharp, painful, and cruel beauty.

       Lu Cheng loved this game. He had long lost interest in mundane sex. As a pure Sub, he had tried many Doms, but none had captivated him like this one. Just being close to this man could make him inexplicably excited.

       He looked in fascination at the man who had ensnared him—handsome features, an air of elegance, calm demeanor, and the oppressive aura usually kept in check was unleashed with the whip. It was a strong, sharp, and irresistible presence, like a cool woody scent. It was deep and calm yet distant, driving him to addiction. He willingly knelt at this man’s feet and placed himself in a humble position, offering both his body and soul.

       “You are easily distracted.” The man bent his knuckles and gently pushed the glasses on his nose, looking down at him condescendingly.

       “Please punish me, my Master,” Lu Cheng said. His throat was dry, and he needed something to relieve it.

       The man glanced at him indifferently, the whip handle sliding down from his neck to his chest, teasing one of his nipples as it slowly turned.

       Lu Cheng trembled slightly and took a deep breath.

       He mustn’t move.

       In the game, the Dom set the rules with commands, and the Sub must abide by the rules; or else, he would be punished. While pain could bring Lu Cheng some pleasure, he particularly enjoyed the feeling of being dominated, kneeling at another’s feet, begging for mercy, and becoming someone’s slave, pet, or object. This strange pleasure sprang from his core. It was suppressed for so long it had become an abyss in his heart—what he gazed into, also gazed back at him.

       BDSM games gave him fulfillment and release.

       His nipples were ravaged, causing both pain and itchiness, with a tingling sensation that could not be ignored. His body sensitively experienced the intermittent stimulation from this mixed feeling, and everything that happened next made him even more excited.

       The man lifted his foot and casually teased Lu Cheng’s genitals with the tip of his leather shoe. The alternating friction of the stiff leather made him groan. Lu Cheng didn’t dare dodge at all, allowing the other party to treat his most vulnerable part roughly. He was controlled and toyed with at will, yet still shamelessly desired more. The shame hidden deep inside his heart acted like a catalyst, making his already semi-hard c0ck fully erect. It felt like a fire had been lit within, and the fire spread beneath the skin, burning the flesh inch by inch.

       The man lightly kicked his scrotum. He heard the expected low whimper and mocked, “In heat, are we? Just a couple of kicks and you’re this hard.”

       “Master…” Lu Cheng called out hoarsely. His expression was one of desire and fear. He yearned for an outlet for his desires, the mercy of his Master and greater stimulation, yet he feared the powerful control, unknown methods and harsh punishment.

       The man stroked his Adam’s apple absentmindedly, “Tell me what you are.”

       “I am my Master’s dog.” Lu Cheng replied.

       This answer seemed to satisfy the other party, and he raised the corner of his lip, “Since you’re a dog, act like one.”

       Lu Cheng stretched out his tongue like a pet dog and wanted to lick the man’s fingers, but his head was pressed down. He obediently bent over the ground and licked the man’s spotless shoe tips.

       “Do you smell your own arousal?” the man asked.

       Long before the man’s arrival, Lu Cheng had washed himself clean inside and out. There was clearly nothing on the shoe surface, but the teasing words made him feel an indescribable lewd taste. He lay prone on the ground with his chest pressed against the ground and rubbed his face against the man’s legs as he said, “This worthless dog has soiled Master’s shoes. Please punish me.”

       “Go fetch what’s in the box by the door.”

       Lu Cheng crawled over on his knees, tore open the packaging tape with his mouth, and pushed open the white box lid.

       Inside was a ‘tail’.

       A half-meter long yellow fur tail with a silicone di-do at its front end, and the top of the column was a curved and convex shape. Lu Cheng knew that it could just press against the sensitive gland and make him feel like he was dying, and his body became uncontrollably excited. He crawled back with his ‘tail’ in his mouth. He knelt at the man’s feet and raised his head.

       “A gift for you, do you like it?” the man asked.

       Lu Cheng had something in his mouth and couldn’t speak, so he nodded.

       “Put it on yourself,” The man sat down on the only single sofa in the room and gave the order, “in a way that pleases me.”

       Lu Cheng hesitated for a moment, a flush of embarrassment on his face. He clenched his teeth and slowly lifted one leg backwards, making the same posture as a dog peeing. Then he inserted his wet fingers into the hole hidden between his buttocks and began to expand it.

       The man watched him quietly.

       The feeling of shame quickly fermented under such a gaze, and Lu Cheng’s whole body turned slightly red. That gaze seemed to have heat, igniting him bit by bit, burning him from the inside out. His breathing became disrupted, and his body tensed up uncontrollably, making the process more difficult and lengthy. He had already spent too much time and was afraid that his master would become impatient, so he hastily placed the di-do against the hole’s opening. He heard the order just before it entered.

       “Come over.”

       Lu Cheng stopped moving, looking a little panicked. He didn’t know what he had done wrong and didn’t dare to ask. He could only slowly crawl over with his tail in his mouth. The man stood up and grabbed his hair to force him to look up.

       It didn’t hurt much, but there’s a kind of pleasure in being tortured.

       “You didn’t even expand properly. So eager to fill your little hole?” The man’s voice was cold, “Why don’t you change to a thicker one so you can have a good time?”

       Lu Cheng admitted his mistake tremblingly, “This foolish dog was too stupid. Please punish me, Master.”

       “Show me that hungry little hole of yours.”

       Lu Cheng lay on the ground and turned around, with his pale buttocks raised high. He used his hands to spread his buttocks apart to expose his hole, showing the most humiliating posture to his master. There was a slight sound behind him, but he didn’t dare to look back. He just knelt down nervously and listened with his ears perked up.

       Unexpectedly, a slightly warm and slippery object pressed against his hole and then slowly entered.

       It was the man’s lubricated finger.

       Lu Cheng couldn’t help but groan when his sphincter was stretched. The human body instinctively resisted the invader, and his hole suddenly tightened. Then he was slapped on the buttocks, with a crisp ‘pats’ sound.

       “Relax, my patience is limited.” Although the words were firm, the movements were gentle. He carefully expanded his hole to accommodate three fingers before inserting the di-do. The entire di-do was inserted into Lu Cheng’s hole as he gasped, leaving only the furry tail hanging behind him.

       “Crawl around with your new tail on.” The man sat down again. He removed his medical gloves and threw them aside, and added slowly, “If it falls out, you won’t have a chance to climax tonight.”

       “Yes, Master.” Lu Cheng replied.

       The room had air conditioning and carpet, so his knees weren’t too painful when he crawled. However, executing the command was challenging. The tail had weight and kept swaying with each movement, making the di-do likely to slip out. This forced him to clench his hole tightly and caused the tip of the di-do to press repeatedly against his prostate. It sent electric shocks up his spine, causing full-body tremors. To make matters worse, when the long and dense fur of the tail swung, it would brush against his lower body, making him feel both numb and itchy. Before he could even crawl halfway, he was already sweating, and his erection prominent, with clear fluid leaking from the tip.

       The man watched calmly on the sofa as Lu Cheng struggled with desire, with dark and ambiguous light in his eyes.

       The desire in Lu Cheng’s body was boiling, but he couldn’t reach the climax. He stopped impatiently and tried to catch his breath when the device in his hole suddenly vibrated. The strong stimulation made him cry out, his muscles tensed, and his legs trembled. The electric shock-like feeling kept coming, almost destroying his sanity. “Master, ah ah… Master, please…” He fell to the ground and begged, his voice changing in tone.

       “Remember what punishment you received the last time you ejaculated without permission?” the man asked, fiddling with the remote control in his hand.

       “Twenty… twenty lashes.”

       “If you don’t want that again, don’t provoke me.”

       “…Yes, Master.” Lu Cheng replied breathlessly. He was almost on the verge of crying. The pleasure gathered in his lower body was about to burst out at any moment, but he could only endure it. He crawled on the ground like a dog with its tail between its legs and moved forward bit by bit.

       Amidst the torture was ecstasy. The moment he got permission to ejaculate, a dizzyingly intense pleasure suddenly exploded. His body suddenly relaxed, and he fell down softly.

       When Lu Cheng regained consciousness, he was held in the man’s arms. He nestled into the embrace, quietly enjoying this moment of peace. The pleasant cedar scent on that person and the body temperature that came through his clothes made him extremely greedy. He seemed to have found a sense of security in this embrace, like a baby returning to the mother’s womb.

       “Are you okay?” the man asked.

       Lu Cheng nodded, met those dark eyes, and couldn’t help but whisper, “Master.”

       The man touched his face soothingly, “Lu Cheng, we just played a game. All my insulting words and actions towards you were based on the game’s needs. You understand, right?”

       Lu Cheng’s eyes flickered.

       Yes, the game between them was over.

       The man and he were back on equal terms again.

       Hearing his name from the man’s lips filled Lu Cheng with disappointment and pain. He wished to always be a dog to this man, to be petted, punished, protected, and abused, as if that was the only way they truly belonged to each other.

       Lu Cheng lowered his gaze, hiding the many emotions hidden in them, and smiled, “Yes, I understand.”

       The man helped him up and gently put a bathrobe on him. The cold and strong feeling of oppression just now was subdued, and now he was similar a gentle lover.

       But it was just ‘similar’.

       “Don’t you need me to… do something?” Lu Cheng glanced at the man’s crotch, and there seemed to be no movement there. He was disheartened but used a teasing tone, “You have no interest in me at all? It’s really sad.”

       The man smiled but did not answer.

       “Let’s have dinner together tonight? I heard that there’s a new Cantonese chef in Nande Building, making Buddha Jumps Over the Wall1Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, also known as Buddha’s Temptation or Fotiaoqiang, is a variety of shark fin soup in Fujian cuisine. This dish has been regarded as a Chinese delicacy known for its rich taste, and special manner of cooking.…” Lu Cheng tried again. However, under the man’s calm gaze, he couldn’t continue. He then reluctantly changed his words, “Then I’ll… see you off.”

       “No need.” The other party declined.

       Lu Cheng stood by the door, watching the GLS500 disappear in the shadow of the trees in the villa before returning to the room he had just stayed in with a sense of loss. He picked up the whip that had fallen on the ground and stroked it.

       He had this whip custom-made by a craftsman and gave it to that person as a birthday gift last year—to punish himself. The whip was one meter long and was made of three strands of soft sheepskin and one strand of gold thread. The ebony handle was engraved with the word ‘rule’ in fancy writing, and at the end was engraved with a small golden seal with the seal script of the word ‘Mu’.

       Mu of Qin Mu.

Notes:
So, Qin Mu’s name is written as 秦穆, with the Mu meaning solemn/reverent/calm.
The word ‘rule’ was written as it is (in English).

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Chapter 69 – Whose token should I turn over tonight? 

March 4, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Chapter 69 – Whose token should I turn over tonight? 

Xiao Shiqing said, “You’ve misunderstood. I didn’t intend to buy.”

 

That’s good then.

 

“But after returning to the palace, we can have the Tailor Bureau make one according to it.”

 

Zhao Qi: “……”

 

To prevent the little princess from being “harmed,” Zhao Qi quickly pulled Xiao Shiqing away.

 

Zhao Qi, with a normally pregnant belly of five months, walked and soon started sweating. Just as they passed a stall selling ice noodles, he generously bought a few bowls and treated Xiao Shiqing and Fu Zi who followed them to eat.

 

“Master, please wait. Let me try it first for you.”

 

Zhao Qi glanced at the bowl of ice powder in front of him. “Indeed, this ice powder is refreshing, cooling, and helps relieve heat. With the addition of brown sugar and sesame seeds, it’s sweet but not cloying. Truly essential for home and travel—a perfect treat that could silence any critic. Why don’t you try it for me?”

 

Fu Zi replied hesitantly, “I suddenly feel a bit melancholic, what’s going on?”

 

After confirming the ice powder was fine, Zhao Qi enthusiastically dug in.

 

Xiao Shiqing couldn’t indulge in such simple pleasures amidst the bustling streets like Zhao Qi did. Halfway through his meal, Zhao Qi noticed Xiao Shiqing hadn’t touched his bowl and asked, “Brother, not to your liking? Give me face and taste it, the flavor is quite good.”

 

“No need, I don’t like sweet things.”

 

“Let me feed you—”

 

They both spoke at the same time. Before the words could settle, Zhao Qi’s spoon was already at Xiao Shiqing’s lips.

 

Xiao Shiqing: “…”

 

This was awkward. Zhao Qi hesitated with the spoon in hand. “If you don’t like it, there’s no need to force yourself.”

 

Xiao Shiqing raised an eyebrow, grabbed Zhao Qi’s wrist, and with his hand guided the ice powder into his mouth. “It’s indeed sweet.”

 

“It’s a pity you don’t like it.” Zhao Qi smiled. “I hope Princess doesn’t take after you, life would be so much less enjoyable without a taste for sweets.”

 

“It’s not necessarily true.” Xiao Shiqing continued calmly, discussing state affairs with ministers just as he always did, “I have many other pleasures.”

 

“Such as?”

 

“Such as raising dragons, feeding dragons, or…” Xiao Shiqing’s tone remained unchanged, “sleeping on a dragon bed.”

 

Zhao Qi’s ears burned. “Anything else?”

 

“Not at the moment.” Xiao Shiqing glanced at his stomach. “But who knows what the future holds.”

 

Trembling slightly with the spoon in hand, Zhao Qi said seriously, “It sounds like all your pleasures involve me?”

 

Xiao Shiqing did not deny it.

 

“Then you better protect me,” Zhao Qi said earnestly. “Otherwise, without me, you’d be terribly bored.”

 

“Don’t worry, I won’t let myself get bored,” Xiao Shiqing said. “Nor will I be without you.”

 

Back at the inn, they were informed that the Prime Minister had sought the expertise of a scholar named Yu Chenshui from Jiangxia, who had returned from an outing late last night. Upon hearing this, Prince Zhaonan immediately set off for Wubang Mountain. Shortly after their departure, Zhao Qi and Xiao Shiqing returned.

 

Zhao Qi asked, “Brother, do you think Li Chisu can persuade this expert to come down from the mountain?”

 

Xiao Shiqing replied, “Unlikely.”

 

“Oh? Are you sure?!”

 

“If Yu Chenshui wanted to descend, he would not have waited until now.”

 

“Then why did you let Li Chisu go for nothing?”

 

Xiao Shiqing replied calmly, “It’s better than him wandering around you.”

 

“… So the Prime Minister is settling personal scores.”

 

“And it might not be for nothing,” Xiao Shiqing pondered for a moment. “Tomorrow, I’ll personally visit Wubang Mountain.”

 

Zhao Qi said, “Then I…”

 

Xiao Shiqing didn’t let Zhao Qi finish his sentence. “No.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Firstly, the mountain roads are rugged; secondly, as the sovereign of a country, you should maintain the dignity of the emperor and need not personally show respect to scholars like this.”

 

“But since you’re going yourself, what’s the difference if I go?”

 

Zhao Qi was somewhat helpless. “But I know you won’t listen to me, so I’ll…”

 

“Rest well today,” Xiao Shiqing suddenly changed his tone. “I’ll take you tomorrow.”

 

Xiao Shiqing’s unexpected compliance left Zhao Qi momentarily unsettled before he replied, “Oh…”

 

Deep in thought, Zhao Qi returned to his room. Seeing this, Jiang Dehai asked, “What’s wrong with His Majesty?”

 

Scratching his head, Zhao Qi said, “Is the Prime Minister under some kind of spell from his brother?”

 

The next day, Xiao Shiqing indeed took Zhao Qi in a carriage to Wubang Mountain on the outskirts of Jiangxia City, where it was said that Yu Chenshui lived in a village at the foot of the mountain. For this trip, Xiao Shiqing also brought Cheng Boyan along to ensure Zhao Qi’s comfort. Zhao Qi, in turn, brought He Changzhou and Zhao Qiao.

 

Facing Xiao Shiqing’s subtle gaze, He Changzhou explained, “The Prime Minister said the mountain roads are too rugged. In case Your Majesty gets tired, I can carry you.”

 

Zhao Qiao added, “And if Your Majesty gets bored, I can chat with you to pass the time.”

 

Zhao Qi shrugged. “They’re just idle. But it’s okay to bring them along, right?”

 

Xiao Shiqing said, “… As you wish.”

 

Cheng Boyan chuckled, “Your Majesty seems particularly keen on outings lately.”

 

“You were the one who told me to get out more,” Zhao Qi replied. He’d rather exhaust himself than try Mei Chuan’s suggested method.

 

“In that case, is Your Majesty planning to hatch dragon eggs?”

 

“Well…” Zhao Qi appeared pensive. “I haven’t decided yet.”

 

Cheng Boyan said, “…” Whatever His Majesty says goes.

 

The carriage stopped at a narrow wooden bridge. Unable to pass, everyone got out. Zhao Qi breathed in the fresh air and sighed, “Surrounded by green hills, flowing water, this place is truly suitable for seclusion.”

 

Zhao Qiao grinned, “Your Majesty, why the sudden jest with your humble subjects?”

 

Perplexed, Zhao Qi said, “Did I jest with you?”

 

“Didn’t Your Majesty just mention ‘flowing water’?”

 

Zhao Qi threatened, “Do you want a dunk in the water?” How could he have such a shameless brother?!

 

Everyone laughed at this, and Xiao Shiqing inexplicably glanced at Zhao Qi.

 

After a brief thought, He Changzhou said calmly, “I think I understand. Your Majesty, would you like me to explain it to you?”

 

With a straight face, Zhao Qi replied, “No thanks.”

 

They crossed the bridge on foot and walked through a dense forest until suddenly the scenery opened up.

 

The village had a secluded paradise-like atmosphere. Situated on higher ground, it had been spared from flooding, with spacious land and well-built houses. The villagers were self-sufficient, rarely visited by outsiders. Zhao Qi and his entourage attracted all eyes as soon as they arrived.

 

The white-haired old man asked, “Are you guests here to see Master Yu?”

 

Zhao Qiaoqi replied, “How did you know?”

 

The old man chuckled, “Yesterday, a remarkable young man came looking for him here. Master Yu’s thatched house is east of the village. You’ll find it when you go.”

 

Following the old man’s directions, they faintly smelled tea in the air. After a few more steps, they saw a thatched house that looked like it could collapse at any moment. Two people were sitting in front of the house, playing chess, with a kettle of tea brewing beside them. One was dressed in red, handsome and smiling without speaking, clearly Li Chisu; the other wore coarse linen clothes, looking around forty or fifty years old, with dark skin, not much different from ordinary villagers.

 

Seeing them, Li Chisu exclaimed in surprise, “Master has another distinguished guest.”

 

Yu Chenshui, focused on the chessboard, casually said, “How distinguished? More distinguished than you?”

 

“More than anyone.” Li Chisu placed down his chess piece, stood up and bowed, “I pay my respects…”

 

Xiao Shiqing didn’t want Zhao Qi’s identity exposed, warning Li Chisu with a glance. Li Chisu immediately understood, changing his address, “Prime Minister.”

 

“Hey, what are you doing?” Yu Chenshui seemed not to hear Li Chisu’s words, discontentedly saying, “Finish the game first!”

 

Zhao Qi sighed, “To see the emperor so calmly, he truly lives up to his reputation as a great man!”

 

Xiao Shiqing sneered, saying, “Take him down.”

 

Fu Zi responded, “Yes.”

 

Zhao Qi: “???” Wait, aren’t they supposed to recreate the story of Liu Bei’s three visits to the thatched cottage? The script seems off.

 

Fu Zi moved swiftly; in the blink of an eye, he tied Yu Chenshui securely. Yu Chenshui protested, “Let’s talk it out. Why tie me up? Chisu, what’s going on here?!”

 

Li Chisu said, “Prime Minister, Yu Chenshui often roams the mountains and means no offense. Please forgive him.”

 

Zhao Qi tugged at Xiao Shiqing’s sleeve sympathetically, saying, “Brother, weren’t we here to invite him down from the mountain?”

 

“To deal with such self-righteous people, what use is there?” Xiao Shiqing said, “The lord of Zhaonan was invited, did he agree?”

 

Yu Chenshui arrogantly said, “I am used to being a wanderer. Without a wise master, I won’t come down from the mountain. It’s useless to take my people!”

 

Zhao Qi and Zhao Qiaoqi exchanged a glance, silently communicating.

 

Zhao Qiaoqi: This person has a backbone throughout his life, just like the righteous and noble characters in the story!

 

Zhao Qi: I feel the same way! I must use my sense of righteousness and kindness to move him, to ask him to come down from the mountain and save the people of Jiangxia from fire and water!

 

Xiao Shiqing calmly said, “If you don’t come down, I’ll kill you.”

 

Everyone: …

 

Yu Chenshui was also stunned, “You…”

 

Xiao Shiqing continued, “If you come down and can’t control the water, I’ll still kill you.”

 

“Aren’t you afraid of criticism from the world? In the future, where will wise men dare to join the court?”

T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

 

Side Story – Hot Spring (1)

March 3, 2025 / / 0 Comments

       Zhan Weiyang got into college. Although it wasn’t at C University but rather a second-tier university in the city, Zhan Pengcheng was still very pleased.

       When applying for a major, Zhan Weiyang wanted to apply for botany.

       At that time, Zhan Weiguang asked what he could do after graduating from this program and that he wouldn’t be able to find a job. Zhan Weiyang immediately became unhappy.

       Zhan Pengcheng immediately said, “Study, study, you should study whatever you want.” He and Pei Qing discussed privately that if Zhan Weiyang could not find a job after graduating from university, he would open a small flower shop for him and let him work on his own, as long as he felt happy.

       Pei Qing suspected that if there were a major in the university that was a major in fortune trees, Zhan Weiyang would definitely apply for it.

       Although Zhan Weiyang did not become a fortune tree in the end, he always firmly believed that there was some kind of life connection between him and the money tree.

       Zhan Weiyang’s admission to the university made Zhan Pengcheng excited and proud. He wanted to hang a banner in the neighbourhood and blow the trumpet on the balcony every day to let everyone know that his youngest son was admitted to undergraduate studies.

       So Zhan Pengcheng made a family trip to a hotel on the mountain to soak in the hot springs.

       Grandma didn’t want to go, so she stayed home with Auntie Luo.

       To take care of Pei Qing, who was busy with work, the trip was scheduled for the weekend. It would be a two-day and one-night trip, leaving on Saturday and returning on Sunday.

       Zhan Weiguang didn’t want to go to the hot springs with his father and brother, so he tactfully told Zhan Pengcheng, “Let Qing ge take Zhan Weiyang there, and just book a room.”

       Zhan Pengcheng asked, “What about me?”

       Zhan Weiguang asked him, “Do you really want to soak in the hot springs?”

       Zhan Pengcheng said, “I want to go out with my son.”

       Zhan Weiguang was silent for a while and said, “Okay.” He couldn’t bear to refuse Zhan Pengcheng.

       On the day of the trip, Zhan Weiyang was sitting in the car’s back seat and was obviously in a very good mood. He was chatting with Pei Qing beside him all the way.

       Zhan Weiguang sat carelessly in the passenger seat, playing with his mobile phone.

       When Zhan Pengcheng stopped to wait for the red light, he listened carefully to what Zhan Weiyang said to Pei Qing. He heard him talking about Chen Youyou getting drunk at their class graduation dinner. He suddenly felt a little sour thinking that Zhan Weiyang had never told him about these things.

       Then, he secretly looked at Pei Qing’s expression through the rearview mirror. These topics must had been meaningless to Pei Qing, but Pei Qing’s expression was always very patient and relaxed, as if he were listening to Zhan Weiyang seriously. It seemed that no matter what Zhan Weiyang said, as long as he listened to Zhan Weiyang talking, Pei Qing would be in a good mood.

       Zhan Pengcheng couldn’t tell what he felt in his heart. After the red light passed, he drove the car and continued on the road.

       When they arrived at the hotel and checked in, Zhan Pengcheng insisted that Zhan Weiyang stay in the same room with him.

       Zhan Weiyang was originally standing at the back, dragging his small suitcase and talking to Pei Qing. When he heard what Zhan Pengcheng said, he said without thinking, “I want to stay in a room with Qing ge.”

       Zhan Pengcheng said, “No, you stay in a room with Dad.”

       “Why?” Zhan Weiyang didn’t understand.

       Zhan Pengcheng waved at him, “Quickly bring your ID card.”

       Zhan Weiyang looked up at Pei Qing aggrievedly.

       Pei Qing said to him, “Go, listen to Dad.”

       Zhan Weiyang then reluctantly handed over his ID card.

       Zhan Weiguang was carrying a backpack and standing at the back, waiting for Zhan Pengcheng to open a room. He saw that Zhan Weiyang looked unhappy and hooked his finger at Zhan Weiyang, “Come here.”

       Zhan Weiyang looked at him, then at Pei Qing, and then at him again, “What are you doing?”

       Zhan Weiguang said, “Come here.”

       Zhan Weiyang walked over slowly with his small suitcase.

       Zhan Weiguang whispered in his ear, “Do you want to change rooms with me tonight?”

       Zhan Weiyang immediately showed a slightly excited expression, “Will you exchange rooms with me?”

       Zhan Weiguang said, “I’ll think about it.”

       Zhan Weiyang frowned and glared at him, not wanting to talk to him anymore.

       When Zhan Weiguang saw Zhan Weiyang was about to leave, he stretched out his hand to grab his clothes and pulled him back, saying, “How about this? If you say, ‘Zhan Weiguang is the best gege in the world,’ I will find a way to change rooms with you.”

       Zhan Weiyang opened his mouth but didn’t say anything.

       Zhan Weiguang sneered, “Don’t want to do it? Then forget it.” After saying that, he was about to leave.

       This time, Zhan Weiyang reached out and grabbed his backpack strap, reluctantly saying, “Zhan Weiguang is the best gege in the world.”

       Zhan Weiguang said with a smile, “Please beg me again.”

       Zhan Weiyang saw Pei Qing standing next to Zhan Pengcheng, helping him take the room card from the front desk clerk, and finally said with a hard heart, “Please.”

       Zhan Weiguang felt extremely satisfied, and he said, “Since you’ve asked me, as your older brother, it’s hard for me not to help you. For now, don’t tell Dad. I’ll come back tonight to exchange.”

       Zhan Weiyang nodded quickly.

       A few of them put their luggage away in their rooms and rested for a while. Dinner was a buffet at the hotel’s restaurant, and then they returned to their rooms to change into bathrobes and went to soak in the hot springs.

       Zhan Pengcheng booked a VIP private courtyard with a separate hot spring pool. The environment was quiet and peaceful, and there was no need to squeeze in other hotel guests, and there were no noisy children.

       Zhan Weiyang took off his bathrobe, threw it on the lounge chair next to him, and put on a pair of swimming trunks to enter the pool.

       Pei Qing was already in the pool. He held out a hand to Zhan Weiyang and asked him to get down slowly.

       As soon as Zhan Weiyang entered the water, he jumped into Pei Qing’s arms and splashed a large amount of water.

       Zhan Pengcheng stood on the shore and watched them, humming softly.

       Pei Qing then supported Zhan Weiyang’s waist, helping him stand steadily and ensuring he didn’t slip. After that, he let go of him and sat down near the pool’s edge.

       Zhan Weiyang sat down next to Pei Qing, first exhaled a long breath, and then said, “It’s so hot, but it’s so comfortable.”

       Pei Qing told him, “It would be more comfortable if we came in winter.”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “Then let’s come in winter.”

       Zhan Pengcheng sat not far away and saw Zhan Weiyang only talking to Pei Qing. The unspeakable bitterness in his heart surged up again. He looked up and saw Zhan Weiguang taking off his bathrobe and stepping into the hot spring pool with his phone in one hand. He shouted, “What are you playing with?”

       Zhan Weiguang paused and said, “Then what should I play with?”

       Zhan Pengcheng said, “Aren’t we going to take a hot spring bath? What if your phone falls in?”

       Zhan Weiguang then put his phone aside, sat down in the pool, and reached out to take it.

       Zhan Pengcheng said unhappily, “You just can’t live without your phone at any time!”

       Zhan Weiguang took the phone in front of him, looked at Zhan Pengcheng through the phone’s cover, secretly glanced at Zhan Weiyang, who was almost sitting on Pei Qing, and finally decided to continue playing with his phone.

       After taking a hot spring bath, Zhan Pengcheng returned to the guest room and opened the door, waiting for Zhan Weiyang to go in first before he went in himself.

       Zhan Pengcheng turned on the bathroom light and said to Zhan Weiyang, “Yangyang, take a shower before going to bed.”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “Okay.” When he went into the bathroom, he took his phone with him, closed the door, and messaged Zhan Weiguang: “When will we change rooms?”

       Zhan Weiguang replied, “Wait until Dad falls asleep.”

       Zhan Weiyang was a little surprised, “Won’t it wake him up?”

       Zhan Weiguang’s words seemed to reveal impatience, “Can’t you keep your voice down?”

       Zhan Weiyang thought he was very unpleasant, so he put the phone aside and took a shower.

 

To be continued…

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