“Su Ce, what a coincidence.”
Hearing this, Su Ce relaxed his body, which had stiffened in fright just moments ago. He turned his head with an unnatural expression, looking at Qin Zijin’s familiar face. He tilted his head away and pushed Qin Zijin’s hand from his shoulder, avoiding his gaze as he replied, “What… what a coincidence.”
A subtle expression flashed across Qin Zijin’s eyes. He observed the increasingly pale face for a moment, and perhaps linking it to something, he slowly withdrew his hand. His fingers curled slightly before relaxing as he asked with concern, “Have you eaten? Would you like to go get something to eat together? There happens to be a decent restaurant nearby; we could go together…”
Su Ce shook his head repeatedly, saying, “No need. I came out after eating. I’m still full!”
On one hand, he did not want to have any further contact with Qin Zijin; the memories left behind by the last incident could hardly be called pleasant. Moreover, once bitten, twice shy; he did not want Xiao Huai to lose his temper over this again. He took another step back, creating a gap between the two.
On the other hand, he was not lying. A few days ago, when Xiao Huai had pulled him onto the bed for their routine, he had felt Su Ce’s skin-and-bones body. With a displeased “tsk,” he had abandoned him and walked straight to the bathing tub to submerge himself.
Seeing this, and wanting to repair their relationship, Su Ce had simply risen and silently followed Xiao Huai, standing by the tub and staring at Xiao Huai’s brawny physique for a long time.
He and Xiao Huai had not been together for a long time; the recent intensity had also stirred his own desires.
It wasn’t until Xiao Huai grew impatient from being stared at that he popped his head out of the water and asked in an unfriendly tone, “Are you not going to sleep? Are you standing here playing a statue?”
Su Ce, who had been hanging his head, finally looked up at Xiao Huai. He saw Xiao Huai’s hair half-wet, sparkling droplets hanging from his eyelashes. His peach-blossom eyes looked at him without a hint of a smile, and his long, powerful forearms rested casually on the edge of the tub.
Su Ce was distracted for a moment.
“I’m asking you a question.”
Xiao Huai rose from the water, sending splashes everywhere.
Su Ce watched as the naked Xiao Huai stepped out of the tub and walked toward him step by step.
It was clearly Xiao Huai who had been bathing, yet it was Su Ce who felt surrounded by heat.
“What are you trying to do?”
Xiao Huai was already standing before him, his breath spraying onto the top of Su Ce’s head.
Su Ce watched as the droplets of water on Xiao Huai’s body converged into streams, sliding down from his taut pectoral muscles, passing over his perfectly toned abdominal muscles, and flowing down toward the place that brought him so much suffering, before finally dripping onto the floor and blooming into little splashes.
Su Ce’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His face turned crimson in an instant. He subconsciously put his hands behind his back and stammered, “No… nothing…”
Seeing Su Ce in this state, Xiao Huai instantly knew what Su Ce wanted to say and do. This made his previously sullen mood suddenly improve, and the corners of his lips curved upward.
He wanted to tease Su Ce and deliberately leaned over, blowing his breath against his earlobe, which was already burning red.
He then turned and walked away, picking up a towel from the wooden rack to wipe his body with fluid, effortless motions.
As Xiao Huai expected, halfway through wiping himself, he heard Su Ce whisper behind him, “You can do it. It’s okay today…”
“Do what?” Xiao Huai said, facing away from Su Ce so he could not see his expression, using a voice that sounded quite displeased. “Do you not know what kind of shape your body is in right now? Can you satisfy me?”
Su Ce did not make a sound.
But in the next instant, Xiao Huai heard the sound of Su Ce’s footsteps. Just when he thought Su Ce was about to leave and a sense of disappointment began to rise in his heart, a pair of fair arms wrapped around his body from the sides. Su Ce pressed his head against Xiao Huai’s back and whispered, “I can… I can use my mouth.”
Su Ce did not know how he had managed to say those words that day, but words once spoken are like spilled water; it was too late for him to regret it.
Hearing this, Xiao Huai’s heart skipped a beat, and his breathing stagnated. He did not want to seem too eager. “Are you sure you can handle it? Every time we do it too much, you’re the one crying and whimpering there.”
The words were blunt, but they were true.
The disparity in physical stamina between Su Ce and Xiao Huai was like heaven and earth. Usually, if Xiao Huai didn’t intentionally restrain himself, Su Ce would likely spend the entire next day lying in bed.
Su Ce hung his head, his gaze inevitably sweeping across Xiao Huai’s body. He saw that it was already standing tall and proud, looking ready for action.
He bit his lip, lifted his head, and looked up into those eyes filled with desire and mockery. “I… I should be able to manage.”
Su Ce slowly crouched down and knelt before Xiao Huai. Looking at such a startling sight, he silently cheered himself on in his heart.
In the next instant, Xiao Huai felt the damp heat from the mouth, a sensation that made his entire body tremble, causing him to clench his gluteal muscles.
He looked down at Su Ce’s expression, seeing him frowning, eyes squeezed shut, lips rubbed until they were crimson, and saliva spilling from the corners of his mouth, sliding down his chin and into his inner robe.
Xiao Huai’s eyes deepened. He reached out and lifted Su Ce’s chin, breathing heavily. “Look up. Open your eyes.”
Su Ce did so, struggling to look up at Xiao Huai. His eyes were watery and brimming with emotion.
The reason Xiao Huai had been trying so hard to maintain shattered in that moment.
Su Ce was trying his hardest, but to Xiao Huai, his efforts were not enough, and Xiao Huai was not satisfied with this alone.
He reached out and gripped the back of Su Ce’s head. At the moment the torrential rain began to fall outside the window, he let out a sigh.
As Su Ce turned to bury his head away, Xiao Huai covered his mouth with his hand, his tone languid. “Swallow it.”
Su Ce, his mind a complete blank, did as Xiao Huai told him without question.
Xiao Huai, satisfied, crouched down, picked him up from the floor, and carried him to the bed.
But after that day, whenever Su Ce ate, Funing would stand expressionlessly by his side, watching him finish every bite of food and keeping a record to show Xiao Huai that evening.
Su Ce gradually felt that eating was also a painful affair.
Seeing this, Qin Zijin did not say much, looking quite regretful. “Du Bo was rude to you last time. Afterward, he expressed his apologies and said that if you have time, he would like to invite you for a cup of tea to make amends.”
If Qin Zijin hadn’t mentioned Du Bo, Su Ce would have almost forgotten about him. He waved his hands repeatedly. “It was indeed my fault last time. How could I let him make amends to me? Truth be told, I should be the one apologizing to him.”
“Apologizing for what?”
Su Ce sighed in his heart. Truly, speak of the devil.
Su Ce smiled. “Young Master Du, I apologize for spoiling your mood last time.”
Du Bo’s puzzled gaze shifted back and forth between the smiling Qin Zijin and the very sincere Su Ce. “Oh, that matter, that matter…”
Du Bo slapped his own forehead. “Ay, that matter, it was my fault too. Su Ce, I must offer tea as an apology. Let’s go, let’s go. There’s a newly opened restaurant just ahead, and I happen to be hungry.”
Seeing that Du Bo was about to grab him, Su Ce stepped half a pace to the side. “I can’t today. Let’s do it another day, another day.”
“Why do you have something going on every time I meet you?” Du Bo’s face sank instantly. “Do you particularly hate me, Su Ce?”
That accusation was far too heavy. Su Ce could not find the words to refute it.
“Let’s do this. Since meeting is fate, why not make the best of today? Let’s do it today. If Young Master Su really has matters to attend to, you can just drink a cup of tea and leave. This way, Du Bo’s wish is fulfilled, and it won’t delay Young Master Su’s time.” Qin Zijin’s method was the best of both worlds, so Su Ce had to bite the bullet and follow them.
As the three followed the waiter into a private room, they passed through the main hall. Su Ce smelled the aroma of food drifting through the air and looked around. A long-lost desire to have a good meal suddenly flashed through his mind.
After they entered the room, Su Ce tentatively asked, “How about I treat you today?”
Du Bo and Qin Zijin exchanged a glance.
Du Bo waved his hand grandly. “No need. I’m the one making amends, so I should be the one treating you. If you want to pick up the tab, we can do it next time.”
Su Ce pondered for a moment before replying, “Alright.”
Du Bo and Qin Zijin paused for a moment, but neither said anything more.
Before long, the table was filled with dishes.
Perhaps Qin Zijin saw Su Ce’s embarrassment; he did not mention the fact that he was only supposed to drink one cup of tea. He invited him enthusiastically, “Su Ce, use your chopsticks. It is said that this fish is the restaurant’s signature dish, delivered here via fast horses every day from Suzhou and Hangzhou.”
Hearing this, Su Ce reached out and took a bite. The flavor was indeed very good, and the fish meat was very fresh.
Halfway through the meal, Qin Zijin kicked Du Bo. Du Bo looked at Qin Zijin, and saw him tilt his head in Su Ce’s direction.
Du Bo immediately understood. He picked up his teacup, stood up, and said to Su Ce, “Su Ce, I’m sorry about last time! I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
Su Ce stood up immediately and imitated Du Bo’s actions. “Young Master Du, your words are too heavy.”
Just as the two were preparing to drink the tea in one gulp, the voices of two young men came from outside the room.
“Hey, did you hear?”
“What is it?”
“I heard that the Princess of the Yan Kingdom will be visiting soon.”
“Our dynasty is currently prosperous and flourishing, with strong soldiers and sturdy horses. I imagine she is here to seek peace, right?”
“Tsk. How come you didn’t understand the implication? Seeking peace has always meant marriage alliances. Since the Emperor’s harem has been empty for so many years, he has finally…”
A thunderclap exploded in the sky.
Su Ce’s hand slipped, and he dropped his teacup, which shattered on the floor with a “clang.”
Perhaps this sound alarmed the two people talking outside, followed by a rush of hurried footsteps.
Seeing Su Ce’s face turn deathly pale and his lips bitten until they bled, Qin Zijin hurriedly stood up, walked to Su Ce’s side, picked up the shards from the floor, and asked, “Su Ce, what is wrong?”
Su Ce did not answer. His eyes stared straight at the birds flying low past the window. In that instant, his heart pained so much that he could not breathe.
So, Xiao Huai saying he was too thin was just an excuse—just a reason not to touch him…
So, he was about to be replaced.
So, he did not care about him at all…
Then, what about those vows? Were they all invalid?
Didn’t he say he wanted him to accompany him?
Su Ce did not dare to think any further. He forced himself not to think anymore…
Su Ce did not know how he had returned to the Imperial Palace that day, but the moment he stood before the Qinzheng Hall and was soaked through by the heavy rain.
He suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. Did he want to go inside and interrogate Xiao Huai, asking why he treated him this way?
And if the answer was exactly what he thought it was? What should he do then?
In that moment, Su Ce felt the world spinning around him, making it impossible for him to stand any longer. He collapsed heavily to the ground, and as he looked at those tightly closed palace doors, he closed his eyes.