Deep in the night, a torrential rain fell pattering, and sudden thunder flashed across the sky. Bolts of lightning streaked across the firmament, tearing open gasps in the heavens and ripping out blinding golden light.
“Boom.”
Shu Fuyan lay on the couch, his cheeks slightly dampened with sweat, shaking his head restlessly from side to side. Clutching his brocade quilt, he muttered incantations under his breath: “No.”
Suddenly, the rain grew heavier. The shadows of trees swayed outside the window, and something seemed to have fallen near the window lattice, sticking to the paper and moving around haphazardly, casting a half-palm-sized dark shadow.
The dark shadow made faint rustling sounds as it stepped, clearly audible in the dark night, intensifying the eerie atmosphere of the night.
Shu Fuyan, fast asleep, snapped his eyes open and sat up reflexively. He hunched his body, gasping for breath, soaked in cold sweat.
“Still unable to forget?” Shu Fuyan muttered to himself, gloom lingering deep within his eyes.
In his youth, he could not shake off the shadows; now that he had reached adulthood at twenty, he still could not forget the humiliation of that time.
Shu Fuyan lifted the quilt and lit a candle. Looking at the bright, burning light of the flame, a fierce look flashed in his eyes.
“Everything I want, I will get.”
Power, status, reputation not a single one would escape the palm of his hand.
Including Xiao Yi…
The tranquil night was steeped in loneliness and desolation. The cold rainy night only added to the desolation.
Having stared at the candle flame for a long time, Shu Fuyan suddenly sneered, his low voice carrying a helpless and miserable resentment.
“Why won’t you come see me?”
“Is it because you don’t want to, or because you don’t care?”
At this point, Shu Fuyan secretly spat upon himself. Who did he think he was? Why should Xiao Yi care about him?
How many times had he and Xiao Yi even met? By what right should Xiao Yi care about him?
As if catching a glimpse of the truth, Shu Fuyan found it unacceptable and abruptly knocked the candleholder down. With a “bang,” the candleholder rolled onto the ground, its sparks flickering between bright and dim, the tiny flame not yet extinguished.
The candleholder rolled all the way toward a low corner until it hit the leg stool of a table and chairs, rebounding from the impact.
After waiting for a moment, the candleholder stopped moving.
The crackling lightning continued. The mountaintops were illuminated, destroying the verdant green and lighting up the pitch-black mortal night.
Shu Fuyan sat decadently on the floor, his pale face suffused with sorrow and grievance.
“Xiao Yi, I want to see you.”
Melancholy gathered in his heart; Shu Fuyan could not clearly articulate what he was making a fuss about or what was vexing him. He only knew that at this moment, he wanted to see Xiao Yi.
But if he saw him, what should he say? Was he supposed to let Xiao Yi watch him wallow in self-pity, watching his miserable plight of being trapped by unrequited affection?
Shu Fuyan scoffed at himself; in this lifetime, he would never let Xiao Yi discover his shattered and wretched state.
Outside the courtyard, the sound of the candleholder falling to the ground caught the attention of someone mindful.
He easily opened the courtyard gate and unceremoniously barged into Shu Fuyan’s territory.
However, he merely stood quietly outside the door of the main residence, waiting without going in.
“Whoosh, whoosh.” The wind blew the cold rain, leaving the ground damp and charred. Splashing muddy water dampened the dark gold robe, and rainwater trickled down the edge of the cyan silk umbrella, falling with excessive smoothness like a waterfall plunging into the center of a green river, rippling layer upon layer of emerald waves.
Xiao Yi stood in the rain holding an umbrella, not even knowing why he had come to Shenzhu Residence.
A dark shadow crawled across the window paper, nudging the paper and making a creaking sound.
Shu Fuyan frowned, thinking it must be insects falling from the eaves making mischief.
He steadied himself against the couch and stood up. Using the remaining light of the lightning, Shu Fuyan discovered that someone was standing outside the courtyard.
Was it the Crown Prince’s man? Or someone sent by King Ji to monitor him?
Shu Fuyan did not know.
After pondering for a long time, Shu Fuyan put on his outer robe, picked up the candleholder from the floor, placed his hands behind his back, and hid the candleholder behind him.
Pushing open the door, Shu Fuyan stood before the threshold.
“Boom.” A bolt of lightning struck down rapidly from above. The sky burst open with several purple-gold light cracks of varying lengths, resembling infinitely extended tree roots at the base of trees about to devour the yellow earth.
“Xiao Yi!” Shu Fuyan was startled, a belated joy welling up in his throat. “General Xiao, you’ve come!”
The hand hidden behind his back suddenly loosened, and the candleholder dropped to the ground, where he kicked it away into a corner.
Gazing at each other in the rain, the other’s face could not be seen clearly, dreamlike and illusory. It was as if a hazy, ethereal veil covered the other’s face, tugging at one’s heartstrings.
Xiao Yi’s fingers gripping the umbrella handle involuntarily tightened together, his tone deep: “Young Master Shu.”
Disregarding the ongoing rain, Shu Fuyan raised his umbrella and walked toward Xiao Yi.
“General Xiao, please come inside quickly. The night rain is cold; don’t catch a chill.”
Xiao Yi was blank; the person afraid of freezing should be Shu Fuyan, not him.
Xiao Yi did not refuse, letting Shu Fuyan take his hand and lead him into the room.
Xiao Yi’s gaze was deep, staring closely at their intertwined hands, and suddenly a faint smile curved his lips—something even he didn’t notice.
Once inside the room, Shu Fuyan lit a new candleholder.
Noticing that most of Xiao Yi’s robe was soaked by rainwater, the wet fabric made the color turn even deeper.
Shu Fuyan took off his own outer garment and walked up to Xiao Yi, wanting to drape it over him: “General Xiao, your clothes are wet. Take them off and wear mine.”
How much Shu Fuyan wanted to strip Xiao Yi’s clothes off with his own hands, but he didn’t dare; now was not yet the time.
Xiao Yi was a head taller than him, and as the two stood close together, Xiao Yi only had to lower his head slightly to catch the faint fragrance of pine and bamboo on Shu Fuyan—a mesmerizing scent that stirred the mind.
Xiao Yi did not take the garment, instead looking at him with a gaze that seemed to pierce right through him, as if a single glance could capture through his flesh the heart hidden beneath his veins—filthy, despicable, and unbearable…
“You…” Shu Fuyan mistakenly thought Xiao Yi minded and moved to withdraw his hand.
At that exact moment, Xiao Yi took off his outer garment.
The sound of the outer garment being unfastened was clear; the sash came undone and hit the floor, and the garment in his hand had already been taken away.
“Why are you not asleep?”
Xiao Yi asked Shu Fuyan curiously while changing clothes.
Shu Fuyan forced a smile: “I slept, but then I woke up.”
“Afraid of thunder?”
Shu Fuyan instinctively wanted to shake his head, but suddenly he clamped his mouth shut unnaturally, other thoughts spinning in his mind.
Thus, Shu Fuyan timidly answered yes.
Xiao Yi gained a new understanding of Shu Fuyan.
Shu Fuyan was pretty, played the konghou well, knew how to flatter people, and had a frail constitution.
And also, he was afraid of thunder.
“General Xiao came here late at night; is there an important matter?” Shu Fuyan mustered the courage to raise his head and face Xiao Yi directly, gazing into those deep, calm eyes, wanting to get the answer he desired from them.
“The steward said you were ill.”
Shu Fuyan nodded: “Mhm, this humble one is indeed ill.”
“So General Xiao came to Shenzhu Residence late at night to care for this humble one?”
Shu Fuyan wore a half-smile, sweeping away the resentment from his earlier rude awakening, guiding Xiao Yi like teasing a cat to speak the truth.
Xiao Yi turned his face away and did not answer.
He didn’t know what to say; he hadn’t understood his purpose in coming to Shenzhu Residence, and he couldn’t answer Shu Fuyan’s question. Or rather, he didn’t dare lay it bare.
“Since you are fine, I’m leaving.” Xiao Yi picked up his umbrella and was about to leave before his seat had even grown warm.
A bantering light burst forth in Shu Fuyan’s eyes, and the tip of his clever tongue pressed against his back teeth as he smiled sweetly.
Shu Fuyan curled his fingers, licking his upper lip with full desire. How could he let a duck that had already flown into his hands run away?
Shu Fuyan quickly hugged Xiao Yi from behind, his tone gentle, harboring a subtle, humble implication of showing weakness: “General, don’t leave.”
“This humble one is afraid.”
Fireworks exploded in Xiao Yi’s mind; brilliant fireworks launched into the high sky went “bang” and burst apart, dropping countless starlight, shimmering in a kaleidoscope of colors, all sorts of magnificence erupting simultaneously.
Xiao Yi’s sky brightened up.
Though reluctant, Xiao Yi understood the distance between them. He pulled apart Shu Fuyan’s hands and kindly advised: “Young Master Shu, let go.”
Xiao Yi did not forcefully push him away; Shu Fuyan thought there was a chance and hugged him even tighter.
“General Xiao, can you stay with me? Like an elder brother… accompany me.”
A sudden peal of thunder seemed to hear Shu Fuyan’s hint, striking down with a “crack.” The sky roared with rolling explosions, resembling towering waves plummeting nine thousand feet, disrupting the eerie tranquility of the dark night.
Xiao Yi rolled his throat and said hoarsely: “Alright, let go of me first.”
Shu Fuyan didn’t push his luck further and released his hands hugging Xiao Yi.
The residual warmth lingered on his fingertips, scorching Shu Fuyan’s inner heart. If Xiao Yi weren’t still present, he really wanted to taste the warmth of his fingertips, swallow Xiao Yi’s body temperature into his belly, chewing it slowly and thoroughly, leaving not a single bit behind.
Xiao Yi let out a soft sigh and led Shu Fuyan toward the couch.
Near the edge of the couch, Xiao Yi patted the quilt: “Get in.”
Shu Fuyan obediently uttered an “oh” and slipped into the covers as smoothly as a carp. He pulled the quilt up over his slender neck, revealing a pair of amorous and charming peach-blossom eyes.
“General Xiao, are you coming onto the couch?”
Shu Fuyan wriggled his body inward, lifting a corner of the quilt to reveal most of the space—that was left for Xiao Yi.
In the rainy night, the room was dim, and the candle’s light gradually faded. The white wax piled up, collapsing at the bottom, hard as could be.
Xiao Yi clenched his fists tightly, biting his lips hard to prevent any dissolute sounds from escaping. His clenched five fingers opened and closed into fists again and again, tirelessly repeating the motion.
“No need, go to sleep.”
Shu Fuyan was worried that Xiao Yi would leave immediately once he closed his eyes.
Thus, he rolled over, moved close to the edge of the couch, timidly grabbed Xiao Yi’s palm, and cupped it with both hands as if treating it like a precious treasure.
“General Xiao, can you leave a little later? With thunder and rain raging, wait until the rain stops before leaving, alright?”
Humble words akin to entreaties echoed continuously in Xiao Yi’s ears. Xiao Yi looked down at him with complex emotions, not understanding why Shu Fuyan was always so unconfident in front of him.
“Alright, I promise you.” Xiao Yi sat down on the edge of the couch accordingly.
He patted Shu Fuyan’s face seemingly unintentionally, coaxing him with utmost gentleness: “If you don’t fall asleep soon, it will be the fifth watch.”
Shu Fuyan’s face flushed and his heart raced. With his nose pressed against Xiao Yi’s palm, he exhaled a heavy, feverish breath: “The silk quilt is not hard against the cold of the fifth watch. If this humble one cannot withstand the cold and wakes up, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble General Xiao to take care of me for a while.”
Xiao Yi was chuckled into anger by his thick-skinned demeanor; he pinched Shu Fuyan’s nose and shook it as if punishing him: “In your dreams.”
At this intimate gesture, both of them were stunned.
Xiao Yi withdrew his hand first, stuttering a couple of times: “Apologies.”
Shu Fuyan squinted his eyes happily, pressing his head against Xiao Yi’s thigh and rubbing: “General Xiao doesn’t need to say sorry.”
Shu Fuyan closed his eyes and said with his mouth open: “If it weren’t for meeting General Xiao, who would come to Shenzhu Residence in the rainy night? This humble one has been afraid of thunder and rain since childhood. With General Xiao here, no demons or ghosts dare approach this humble one’s body.”
Shu Fuyan spoke utter nonsense with his eyes open, straightening his waist to prop up his upper body half-way, and said earnestly: “General Xiao, thank you.”
Xiao Yi’s mind was in chaos; clearly, he was the one who had barged in, so how did it end up being Shu Fuyan thanking him?
What an inversion of natural order.
Matters having reached this point, Xiao Yi didn’t want to investigate the origins of the matter any further.
“Forget it. The rain is growing heavier, and Shenzhu Residence is remote; waiting a bit longer won’t hurt.”
Xiao Yi bent down to tuck in the quilt properly for Shu Fuyan, walked over to the candleholder, and blew out the flame.
“General Xiao, are you still here?”
Although he hadn’t heard the sound of the door closing, Shu Fuyan still asked uneasily.
“I am here, I am here.” Xiao Yi responded to him in an exceptionally firm tone.
Shu Fuyan pulled the quilt up over his head, hiding inside and snickering secretly, keeping his mouth tightly closed to prevent any laughter from spilling past his teeth.
There was no help for it; the person he liked was within arm’s reach, and he could not conceal his joy.
In the silence, a voice came from inside the quilt: “General Xiao, you’re so good. Ten thousand times better than my elder brother.”
“Oh, was your elder brother not good to you?”
“Not even half as good as General Xiao.”
Hearing these words, Xiao Yi’s heart felt as if someone had stabbed it, bringing a dense, prickling ache.
Not hearing Xiao Yi’s voice, Shu Fuyan tormented himself with regret for mentioning that bad luck token. He turned onto his side, resting his head on his hand, his gaze unwavering as he stared fixedly at the dark shadow ahead.
He really wanted to tie Xiao Yi up and imprison him right here in Shenzhu Residence.
That way, Xiao Yi would belong to him alone.