The stench was overwhelming.
As soon as Xie Jinning stepped inside, he was nearly driven back out by the smell. The exterior, made of thatch and wooden walls, was already simple enough, but the inside was even worse. There were only two separate wooden planks, one on the left and one on the right, with a gap in the middle that continuously emitted a foul odor.
The night provided the best cover, hiding the interior from view, but the intense, almost tangible stench was impossible to ignore, making his eyes water and his stomach churn.
Barely managing to suppress the urge to flee, Xie Jinning finished his business. As he pulled up his pants, he pressed his lips tightly together, not daring to breathe in the toxic fumes for fear of harming his insides.
Practically escaping, he washed his hands and leaned against the wall, clutching his chest. His face was pale, like a wilted cabbage seedling.
Though his body felt relieved, his assaulted spirit was left in a state of despair. Xie Jinning wanted to vomit but couldn’t bear to bring up the food he’d eaten, so he forced himself to hold it in, his face turning red from the effort.
“So smelly, ugh… You guys are so unhygienic!”
His fingertips seemed to still carry the scent, and he weakly waved them in the air, trying to let the wind carry away the nonexistent dirt. Once the urge to vomit subsided a bit, he said, “How can you not empty it? It’s disgusting in there!”
“Is it really that bad?”
Yan Yi, who had just finished rinsing the bath bucket, put it down and lifted the curtain to take a look. “It’s not too bad. We emptied it for composting seven days ago, and it’s only half full. It can last a few more days.”
Thinking he misheard, Xie Jinning asked, “What? Composting?”
“Yes, we collect it to make fertilizer.”
Xie Jinning was dumbfounded.
Even though he wasn’t familiar with farming, he knew that fertilizer was used to nourish crops. And now Yan Yi was telling him that the raw materials for fertilizer were… these things…
Xie Jinning couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Did that mean the vegetables he ate were watered with this stuff? How was that different from eating it directly?
His stomach churned, and Xie Jinning’s face turned pale. In the end, he couldn’t hold it in and vomited.
“What should I do, Yan Yi?”
After wiping his lips with the handkerchief Yan Yi handed him and rinsing his mouth, he still looked nauseated. “Using this to water crops, won’t I end up eating… eating… ugh…”
“No, you won’t.” Yan Yi could easily guess what the young master was thinking. He sighed quietly and cleaned up the vomit on the ground.
“This is just one part of the raw materials. When composting, we also mix in fruit and vegetable peels, meat scraps, fish bones, and disinfect with plant ash. Additionally, it requires several days of sealed fermentation to become natural fertilizer.”
He explained simply and added, “This method enriches the soil, allowing crops to yield more fruit. Composting and fertilizing are normal farming practices that have been used for centuries. Besides, vegetables and fruits are selected and washed before cooking, so there’s really no need to worry.”
Xie Jinning wasn’t sure if what he said was true, but the man had a reassuring presence that made him believe most of it.
The oppressive nausea in his chest eased a bit, but his stomach still churned. He swallowed a few times to completely suppress it.
Looking up, he saw Yan Yi’s calm expression, which made him feel ignorant and overly dramatic.
Feeling embarrassed, Xie Jinning’s face flushed. He wrinkled his nose and muttered, “You think you’re so smart, huh.”
Thinking he spoke quietly, he didn’t realize the night wind carried his words to Yan Yi’s ears. Yan Yi’s lips curved up. “Knowing more means you won’t get sick from it.”
“You!”
Xie Jinning bent down, enduring the pain, and picked up a stone from the ground, deliberately throwing it at Yan Yi’s shoulder. “Hurry up and finish so you can heat the water!”
Without even looking up, Yan Yi caught it with his hand. “Right away.”
He was used to cold showers, often just pouring water over himself to finish quickly. But Xie Jinning was different. He liked to soak in the bath but couldn’t stay too long, or his body couldn’t handle it.
The well was at the village entrance, and Yan Yi made several trips back and forth, pouring the water into a pot to heat it before bringing it into the room. But the young master complained it was too hot.
As soon as he added cold water, steam rose, and the tips of his pale pink fingers skimmed the water’s surface like startled birds, causing ripples.
Standing by the bath bucket, the young man’s features were like a painting, his eyes shimmering. His lips, softened by the steam, parted slightly, releasing a playful complaint.
“It’s too cold, Yan Yi. Are you trying to freeze me?”
Yan Yi had to heat more water, repeating the process several times until the water temperature finally satisfied the young master.
Xie Jinning didn’t have a change of clothes. There were some of Xie Zhu’s robes left in the cabinet, but Xie Jinning found them old and patched, refusing to wear them.
In the end, Yan Yi went back to his room and brought a set of cotton clothes that were too small for him.
“I’ve put everything you need by your side. I’ll step out…”
The soft sound of a falling belt interrupted him. In the dim candlelight, the young man gathered his black hair to his chest, tugging at his collar. The water-green robe slowly slipped down, revealing half a shoulder.
The curve of his shoulder and neck, wrapped in a white undergarment, was graceful. The exposed neck was even whiter than the fabric, and through the candlelight, the slender waistline was faintly visible.
Like seeing flowers through mist or the moon in water, it was a hazy, genderless beauty that tugged at the heartstrings.
Yan Yi’s breath hitched, his heartbeat once again out of rhythm. He averted his gaze and said in a deep voice, “I’ll be right outside. Call me if you need anything.”
Xie Jinning was busy untying his undergarment, not even looking up, and gave a soft hum in response.
Before leaving, he added, “Don’t undress in front of others in the future.”
The fingers tangled in the belt paused, and Xie Jinning blinked.
He was used to being served while bathing, accustomed to undressing in front of his personal maid without feeling anything was amiss.
Besides, weren’t they all men? What was wrong with him undressing?
He wasn’t even completely undressed.
“Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can control everything.”
…
Inside, the sound of water flowed.
Yan Yi leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. The moonlight cast shadows across his prominent nose, and his eyes hidden in the darkness grew even more obscure.
Today was an ordinary day, chopping wood, hunting, cooking, fetching water.
The only unusual thing was the addition of this delicate young master.
He cried easily, was picky with food, yet didn’t eat much. He had a temper but was easy to coax.
He was like a harmless little animal, trembling in fear in an unfamiliar environment, with courage as small as a kitten’s. Instinctively relying on the strong, once he felt warm and safe enough, he would return to his nature, reaching out to scratch.
But he was so weak, with no real ability to attack, only a soft, endearing appearance and moist eyes that evoked pity.
…Adorable.
He didn’t know how long had passed when the sound of water ceased, followed by silence.
Worried that Xie Jinning had fainted in the bath, he reached for the door, only to hear the rustling sound of clothes being put on inside.
“Yan Yi.”
The clear voice was soft, soaked with water. “I’m done. You can come in.”
Moments later, in the courtyard, Yan Yi was soaking in the water Xie Jinning had bathed in.
Even after days of travel, the young master wasn’t dirty, just a bit sweaty, with dust in his hair.
Yan Yi didn’t mind. After all, the water he fetched had been used by Xie Jinning. Going to the village entrance to fetch more water at this hour would disturb the villagers, which was inappropriate.
For Xie Jinning, the wooden tub was large enough to comfortably soak his whole body. For Yan Yi, it was just right, even overflowing when he got in, barely reaching his waist.
He leaned against the edge of the tub, his muscular body relaxed but still defined, like a dormant beast.
Yan Yi had many scars, deep and shallow. His strong chest bore several old scars, and his back had a long scar from shoulder to waist, like a menacing worm.
Scooping water onto his chest, Yan Yi touched the round scar on his collarbone, lost in thought as he gazed at the moon.
Yan Yi didn’t know where he came from or what he’d been through to have so many frightening scars.
Whenever he tried to remember, his mind was blank, only filled with a persistent sense of agitation and gloom. Occasionally, fleeting images would appear, like fish tails slipping away, impossible to grasp.
Perhaps he should prepare to leave this place, or as Xie Zhu said, he might bring disaster to Hetian Village.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a faint sound at the door.
Yan Yi turned to see the door being pushed open from inside, revealing a pale figure.
Xie Jinning wasn’t wearing pants. Yan Yi’s shirt, a size too small, was still too big on him, hanging loosely and covering half his thighs.
His legs were straight and long, well-proportioned and full, with skin so fair it seemed like fine porcelain under the moonlight.
His hair, still damp, dripped water, soaking the wide collar. The delicate hollow of his collarbone, wet with water, held a bright red mole, like a tiny seed ready to sprout from the snowy ground, blooming into a vibrant flower.
Yan Yi’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he subtly shifted his position.
The water, still warm from the young master’s bath, carried his unique fragrance. It felt like kindling had been added to the tub, making Yan Yi’s body heat up even more.
The delicate scent filled his nose, sinking into his lungs, carrying a secret desire deeper.
“Yan Yi.”
In the moonlight, Xie Jinning’s face seemed veiled in a fine silver gauze. “I’ve been calling you, why aren’t you responding?”
“What is it…”
His voice was hoarse beyond recognition.
The autumn night was cool, and Xie Jinning shivered, stepping back a bit. The increased distance made it hard to read Yan Yi’s expression. He pursed his lips. “Hurry up with your bath. I’m waiting for you to apply the medicine.”
“Lie down on the bed, cover yourself with the blanket so you don’t catch a cold. I’ll be there soon.”
“Got it.”
The door remained open, and from Yan Yi’s angle, he could see how the young master held onto the table, inching his way to the bed.
Then, he bent over, hands on the bed, slowly lifting his legs…
His breath caught again.
The light brown hem rose, revealing a hint of skin. The red mark at the top hadn’t faded, instead spreading, turning the entire snowy hill a shade of spring.
Yan Yi quickly lowered his gaze, not daring to look further. The water seemed to turn to steam, heating him from the inside out, making him parched and his blood surge.
Perhaps it had been too long since he’d relieved himself, or else why would he feel this way about Xie Jinning, another man…
His fingers, gripping the edge of the tub, left deep indentations in the thick wood. Sweat dripped from his forehead, sliding down his moving Adam’s apple, merging with the shadows and disappearing into the water.
“Drip.”
The undeniable strangeness made his heart pound like a drum. Looking back, he could no longer see Xie Jinning, only a pair of crossed, jade-white legs gently swaying by the window.
Yan Yi gritted his teeth, reaching down.
After a long while, he let out a muffled groan, and a few strands floated to the surface.
The water in the tub had turned completely cold, yet he felt as if he were in molten lava, quickly getting up and dumping the water in the corner.
The evidence was gone, and besides the moonlight, no one knew.