Their last meeting was on an autumn night. Shen Molan would always remember the steam rising in the air, the scented soap and bathing herbs, the smooth, pale body of the young man lightly brushing against him, and that strange, ethereal, dreamlike deep kiss. Afterward, Shen Molan often dreamed of that night, though in the dreams, it became more exaggerated. He would push the young man down onto the ground, spread his legs, and forcefully enter him — his movements rough and forceful. In his dreams, he could hear the youth’s soft cries and pleas, which only made him more excited and… satisfied.
When he woke, he had to deal with the mess beneath him. At first, he was shocked and disturbed, but over time, he grew used to it. He would coldly clean the sheets and bedding, as if nothing had ever happened.
Shen Molan opened the door. Even though it had been years since they last saw each other, the young man standing there looked just the same, his amber-like eyes shining brightly as he looked at Shen Molan. A playful smile tugging at his lips, his demeanor full of carefree arrogance.
“Molan,” the young man said with a smile. “It’s been a while. Have you missed me?”
Shen Molan inhaled deeply, wanting to shut the door, but in the end, he suppressed the urge and spoke calmly, “It’s been a long time, Young Master Feng.”
Feng Wuhen’s expression darkened instantly. “You used to call me Wuhen…”
Seeing Feng Wuhen’s disappointed expression, Shen Molan actually felt a sense of relief.
At that moment, Chen Shaoqing, who was staying in the room next door, opened his door. The soundproofing in the inn wasn’t great, so he asked, “Shen-dage, is that a friend of yours?”
Something in Shen Molan’s words seemed to have triggered Feng Wuhen. Although the young man entered the room, his expression had darkened noticeably. Even though he still wore a faint smile, Shen Molan, having known him for years, could tell he wasn’t happy.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Feng Wuhen asked.
Shen Molan gave a brief introduction. “This is the Autumn Leaf Wanderer, Chen Shaoqing. And this is Feng Wuhen, heir to Feng Manor.”
Chen Shaoqing acknowledged him with a slight nod. As soon as he entered the room, he assessed the white-clad young man’s internal strength and found it lacking. His steps were unsteady, and though he had some martial skills, they weren’t worth mentioning. Besides, Feng Manor was just a family of tea merchants, and though he had heard that Feng Manor’s Feng Shiyi was once renowned in the martial world, it was obvious this young man wasn’t him.
“What do you want?” Shen Molan asked indifferently after they were all seated.
Perhaps it was because there was a third person present, but Feng Wuhen’s expression grew even more somber. “I recently returned to find out that your mother had passed… I’m sorry I wasn’t there… I’ve been wanting to find you.”
Shen Molan nodded. “During that time, Shaoqing stayed by my side. I’m fine now.”
Chen Shaoqing blinked, sensing that something was off. He had actually come out of his room because he had something important to discuss with Shen-dage, but now, he couldn’t get the words out.
After a pause, Feng Wuhen continued, “I’m glad to hear that. I’ve also rented a room at this inn, just next door…”
Shen Molan replied coolly, “We won’t be staying long in the capital.”
The strange atmosphere prompted Chen Shaoqing to interrupt. “Shen-dage, I was just about to tell you—I received a commission from the magistrate of Xuzhou, something to do with the recent flower theft cases…” Find the original chapter at novelping . com.
Shen Molan, unsure of what to say to Feng Wuhen, turned his attention to Chen Shaoqing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Feng Wuhen’s lips tighten, his expression growing more dejected, which made Shen Molan feel inexplicably more satisfied.
But Chen Shaoqing had barely spoken a few words before he started coughing. He coughed for a while, then grimaced. “Ugh… Lately, I’ve been feeling really tired, with headaches and coughs, and no strength in my body…”
Hearing this, Shen Molan instinctively placed the back of his hand on the youth’s forehead. “You might have caught a cold. I’ll get a doctor to take a look later.”
Chen Shaoqing nodded and stood up. “I’ll go rest in my room. You two talk.”
Shen Molan nodded, watching as the young man leaned against the door and left. He thought about how Chen Shaoqing had been complaining of fatigue recently, with aches in his bones. If he hadn’t known Chen Shaoqing to be such a restless, energetic young man, he would have assumed he’d grown weak from years of neglecting his training. As he pondered finding a doctor to check on him, the young man sitting across from him suddenly hesitated before asking, “Molan, do you… like him?”
For the first time, Shen Molan turned his full attention to Feng Wuhen’s face. It was the first time he had seen the young man’s face without a smile, filled instead with worry and fear.
What was he afraid of?