10
Wanting to Desecrate the Divine
When Liu Shuhuai arrived, he saw Da Hei lying there with sugar-coated haws on a stick, pastries, and meat buns beside him.
These were all his favorite treats, the very things he’d been craving every day.
“Aw~” He Xunzhou had just lain down when Liu Shuhuai appeared. He had been planning to seek him out at the Liu Family if he didn’t show up soon.
Liu Shuhuai looked at the items on the ground: “Da Hei, are you a wishing tree? Do wishes just come true when I make them?”
“Awoo~.” Your wishing tree. He gently placed the pastries in Liu Shuhuai’s palm.
This is your surprise. Do you like it?
Liu Shuhuai sat down on the ground: “Da Hei, I have a surprise for you too! Guess what it is?”
He Xunzhou indicated he was familiar with this routine.
Seeing Da Hei’s delighted appearance – eyes round and bright, constantly sniffing around him until he felt dizzy from the circling – Liu Shuhuai laughed.
“Haha, it’s Osmanthus Cake and meat buns. Such a big fellow like you needs to eat more.” Liu Shuhuai took out all the items and placed them before Da Hei.
Liu Shuhuai was nuzzled by Da Hei’s head, the tickling sensation making him laugh uncontrollably.
So fond of acting spoiled.
Liu Shuhuai ate the treats Da Hei had brought him, finally tasting the sugar-coated haws on a stick he’d been longing for.
“Da Hei, you eat too.”
He Xunzhou shook his head – he didn’t care for these sweets.
“Then have the meat buns I bought for you.” Liu Shuhuai passed all the meat buns to Da Hei.
He Xunzhou ate them elegantly, one after another.
Liu Shuhuai leaned against Da Hei’s belly, spending the post-meal time together with him.
Dense foliage blocked the sunlight, dappled shadows swaying with the breeze, accompanied only by the chirping of insects and birds.
If possible, please let time stop here.
The next morning.
He Xunzhou carried Liu Shuhuai to his cave dwelling.
Liu Shuhuai quietly observed Da Hei’s sleeping area, surprised to discover:
There were pots and pans, firewood, rice, oil, and salt – everything you’d find in a kitchen.
Everything was here. He opened a cloth bag to find it contained rice.
Near the hay stood a table with four small stools.
“So this is where Da Hei used to live.” Liu Shuhuai slid down from Da Hei’s back.
“Aw~.” That’s right.
“Da Hei, could you go hunting? I’ll prepare the meal.” He felt like having proper food.
“Aw.” Okay.
Liu Shuhuai began chopping vegetables with even, precise motions. Flames danced in the stove, as if playing music for the cooking food. Having cooked regularly for the Liu Family, his culinary skills were quite refined.
He scooped oil and poured it accurately into the wok, watching as bubbles formed, carefully timing each step.
Soon, fragrant aromas began rising from the wok.
Finally, he plated the cooked dishes, gently shaking them to ensure even distribution before setting them on the table. He proceeded to prepare other dishes until the table was filled with course after course of excellent food, each appealing in appearance and aroma.
Just as he finished cooking, Da Hei returned with a pheasant – already cleaned and prepared.
Liu Shuhuai looked puzzled.
He Xunzhou took a deep breath and transformed into human form before Liu Shuhuai’s eyes.
“I can maintain human form for two hours each day.” He Xunzhou explained somewhat nervously.
“Oh, oh, is that so?” Liu Shuhuai felt somewhat flustered, especially under the sincere gaze of Da Hei’s eyes.
Liu Shuhuai took the pheasant from He Xunzhou’s hands and immediately headed to the kitchen to make chicken soup, though his steps seemed somewhat unsteady.
He wore a raven-blue brocade satin top with a chestnut-colored tiger-striped belt tied around his waist. His long, jet-black hair framed a pair of starry eyes that sparkled like meteors. With his slender build, he truly embodied a handsome, elegant, and refined demeanor.
Liu Shuhuai patted his face with water, awkwardly lowering his eyelids. His rosy cheeks trembled slightly as if trying to suppress the nervousness within.
A deity—so close yet so far!
Instantly, Liu Shuhuai’s face turned pale.
Just as He Xunzhou approached Liu Shuhuai, he noticed his pallor and quickly embraced him. “What’s wrong? Why are you so pale?”
Liu Shuhuai whispered, “Will you stay with me forever?”
“Liu Shuhuai, I’ll always be here. You said I’m a deity, so of course I’ve come to save you.” He had thought Liu Shuhuai was ill.
He didn’t know why, but seeing Liu Shuhuai unwell made him tense—even though they were both men.
Could he be… into men?
Liu Shuhuai gently wrapped his arms around He Xunzhou’s waist, his face flushed with shyness.
Could he defile a deity?
But the deity himself had said he descended to save him. He had even bought storybooks about gods and spirits, which often said humans and demons were incompatible—but surely that didn’t apply to gods and humans.
The deity had already made him a promise.
He should belong to him. In five years, he would be old enough to marry. (In ancient times, people married at fifteen or sixteen.)
He needed to buy more storybooks to learn how to charm a deity.
He Xunzhou, feeling the hands on his waist, suddenly felt a chill for some reason.
He patted Liu Shuhuai’s back rhythmically, almost as if soothing him.
Looking down, he saw Liu Shuhuai’s face was flushed? What the heck—pale one moment, red the next. He touched Liu Shuhuai’s forehead. “No fever?”
He Xunzhou then noticed the faint red mole.
A Ge’er?
Seeing the shy, blushing face, he smiled knowingly. If this were modern times, he’d probably end up in a police station.
“Hello, Liu Shuhuai. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m He Xunzhou.”
His gentle voice brushed past Liu Shuhuai’s ears like a soft breeze, easing some of his earlier tension.
Liu Shuhuai fiddled with He Xunzhou’s clothes and replied softly, “Hello, Brother He. Meeting you is my honor. I’m Liu Shuhuai.” Unconsciously, he fell into step with He Xunzhou’s rhythm.
He Xunzhou stroked his dry hair, feeling a pang of heartache.
“Xiao Huai, the chicken soup is ready.” He Xunzhou’s voice carried a tenderness that seemed to reveal his true self.
“Ah, okay.” Flustered, Liu Shuhuai lifted the lid—it was perfectly done.
“I’ll carry it over. Just follow me.”
Liu Shuhuai beamed. “Alright, thank you, Brother He.”
“You’re the one who worked hard, making all this delicious food. Brother He is lucky to have you.” He Xunzhou’s last remark was half-teasing.
“Mm.”
Watching Liu Shuhuai’s forced composure—cheeks burning, face crimson, gripping his clothes with a bashful smile—He Xunzhou felt his own heart grow warm, his breath catching slightly.
He Xunzhou really was a scoundrel.
After their ambiguously shared meal (or so He Xunzhou thought), they savored a moment of tranquility. Then, in front of Liu Shuhuai, He Xunzhou reverted to his original form.
He Xunzhou escorted Liu Shuhuai back to the Liu Family. As a black cat again, he slept in Liu Shuhuai’s arms as usual, though he sensed Liu Shuhuai had grown somewhat stiff.
He Xunzhou looked up and was about to ask Liu Shuhuai something, but Liu Shuhuai turned his head away without looking at him. Just as He Xunzhou was about to speak, Liu Shuhuai slapped a hand over his head.
“Sleep,” Liu Shuhuai said in a fierce tone.
He Xunzhou didn’t dare move anymore.
Ahhh!
Liu Shuhuai recalled the day’s events and felt incredibly brave.
Just thinking that Brother He could transform into a human—and was now in his arms—made him so nervous his whole body went stiff.
He gradually relaxed and slowly drifted into sleep.
Seeing that Liu Shuhuai had fallen asleep, He Xunzhou finally found a comfortable position and went to sleep himself.