It was still the afternoon of Lin Chen’s first day moving into Howard’s mansion. He tidied his room, changed into some easy-to-wear loungewear, and prepared to go to the garden to tend to his dozens of potted plants.
Just as he took out his tools, Butler Amber appeared beside him like a ghost: “Young Master Lin Chen, what are you going to do?”
“To the garden.” Lin Chen held up a small bucket containing various gardening tools.
“Is that so?” Butler Amber hesitated. “But His Excellency the Duke instructed me to watch over you and prevent you from doing anything that could damage your skin, you see…”
Lin Chen blinked. Seriously? Even this?
He tried to recall if there was such a clause in the contract.
And it seemed… there really was.
During the contract period, Party B is obligated to maintain perfect skin to avoid diminishing Party A’s experience…
However, the contract didn’t explicitly state that contact with mud was prohibited. Lin Chen thought for a moment and said, “In that case, could you please prepare a pair of medical gloves for me?”
Medical gloves fit the skin perfectly, allowing for unimpeded work.
But the butler still refused with great difficulty, his eyes brimming with guilt: “I’m very sorry, Young Master Lin Chen, I cannot make that decision.”
Butler Amber was extremely welcoming to this distinguished guest who had unexpectedly moved into Howard’s mansion. He didn’t want to refuse such a small request, but as a butler who had watched the Duke grow up, he deeply understood the Duke’s temperament; outwardly complying while inwardly disagreeing was absolutely unacceptable.
Out of good intentions, he seized the opportunity to remind Lin Chen, “You should know His Majesty the Duke’s temperament. Even as his spouse, the extent to which you can do as you please is quite limited.”
“Young Master Lin Chen, based on my many years of experience accompanying the Duke, I strongly advise against testing His Majesty’s limits even over trivial matters. What do you think?”
Butler Amber didn’t want to see his cheerful and youthful boyfriend, who had just started dating the Duke, quickly abandoned for angering him.
Lin Chen knew the other party meant well and smiled, “Thank you for the reminder, Butler Amber.”
“However, I don’t think His Highness the Duke is that serious. Perhaps I can ask for permission.”
Before Butler Amber could say anything, Lin Chen had already sent a message to Wenzel: “Good afternoon, Your Highness.”
“I want to plant flowers, but Butler Amber said you won’t allow it. Can’t I even do that while wearing gloves? — From a nervous and expectant gardener awaiting your reply”
Wenzel was still socializing at someone else’s manor. Seeing Lin Chen’s message, he took a moment to reply: “You’re already a wealthy man with an annual salary of 26 million, why bother with small, unprofitable businesses? — From a hardworking employer.”
Lin Chen then said, “Dear employer, life offers many experiences beyond making money, and nurturing a blooming flower is one of them. You’re so generous and kind, you wouldn’t just stand by and watch those seedlings die, would you? —From a small client who’s already earned 600,000 today.”
Wenzel shifted his posture, his expression becoming more serious as he replied, “What kind of gloves? Breathable or non-breathable? Breathable gloves will inevitably let in soil, fertilizer, bacteria, etc., which will affect your skin. Non-breathable gloves will completely cover you up, and you’ll be sweating profusely in three to five minutes. By the time I get back, you’ll be thoroughly marinated, dear.”
Lin Chen nearly collapsed. The seemingly taciturn Duke was surprisingly quick-witted; he had underestimated him.
“I’ll put on loose-fitting rubber gloves. They won’t be stuffy and sweaty in winter,” Lin Chen said. “You can come back later to check. If it has any impact, I won’t touch gardening again. Is that alright?”
Wenzel: “Your offer isn’t enough to convince me.”
Lin Chen almost laughed in exasperation. True to his businessman nature, he wasn’t willing to suffer even the slightest loss. What could he do? He could only sensibly reply, “Then, you can kiss my skin freely tonight, and even leave marks, how about that?”
Wenzel narrowed his eyes: “Free or continue charging?”
Lin Chen gritted his teeth: “Look at you. Of course, it’s free.”
“Okay,” Wenzel replied, “One hour.”
And, “Here’s my second piece of advice: instead of wasting time on a bunch of trivial things that won’t bring you much reward, spend it on me; you’ll gain more.”
“Thank you very much for your agreement,” Lin Chen replied as he walked into the garden, “If I spend my time tending the garden, I gain happiness, but if I spend my time on you, the happiness is yours alone, you really…”
(The following is a fill-in-the-blank question; Your Excellency is welcome to fill in the blank.)
Wenzel didn’t reply again. Lin Chen nervously clapped his hand, remembering that he shouldn’t joke about his boss again.
Lin Chen plunged into the garden, patiently tending to his dozens of ugly plants that seemed out of place here, feeling like he was remarrying with a burden in tow.
Unbeknownst to him, the sun gradually began to set.
Lin Chen was engrossed in his work and didn’t notice Joe’s approach. He only felt something suddenly press against his back.
He wasn’t cold from working so he was only wearing a thermal long-sleeved shirt. Joe’s familiar warmth against his back was exceptionally clear.
“Joe?” Lin Chen smiled with surprise and turned around, just as Joe nuzzled his face against him. The two of them completed a standard cheek kiss.
Afterwards, Joe wasn’t satisfied with just that. Having not seen its beloved young man all day, it quickly stole a kiss on the fair cheek, the taste sweet.
“Hey?” Lin Chen covered his mouth with his sleeve. The black panther’s intention to sneak up on him was too obvious; ignoring it felt like it was deliberately teasing him.
Sure enough, Joe’s deep eyes reflected the young man’s startled expression without blinking.
“You wait.” Lin Chen smiled insincerely. He slowly removes his gloves, then quickly cupped Joe’s head and planted several kisses. A sneak attack? Anyone could do that.
The large black cat seemed stunned by the kisses, and stood motionless, even its tail remaining in place.
“Do you know what you did wrong? You naughty big cat.” Lin Chen scolded Joe in his ear. Unable to resist, he planted another kiss on Joe’s ear.
Only then did Joe finally come to its senses. Its tail wagged happily twice before tilting its head back to lick the young man’s fair, smooth forehead.
“No, I’m sweating…” The more Lin Chen tried to stop it, the more enthusiastic the cat became. He almost forgot that the big cat liked his scent just like Parker.
Wenzel, nearby, paused for a moment, then finally moved inside.
A short while later, the butler came to inform him that His Highness the Duke would be dining in half an hour and asked Lin Chen to wash his hands and change his clothes.
“These…” Lin Chen hesitated, looking at the tools scattered on the floor.
“It’s alright, the gardeners at the manor can clean it up,” Butler Amber said with a smile.
“Thank you.” Lin Chen nodded, and quickly took a quick shower half an hour later, changing into soft pajamas.
Upon arriving at the luxurious and formal dining room, he found the Duke impeccably dressed. Feeling it might be disrespectful, he apologized, “I’ll go back and change.”
“No need.” Wenzel didn’t mind, gesturing to a seat beside him, “Come on, diligent little gardener, you must be hungry.”
“Yes, I didn’t eat much at noon.” Lin Chen obediently went over and sat down next to his employer.
Wenzel immediately smelled the distinctive scent of a post-bath emanating from the young man beside him. To be honest, it stimulated his appetite more effectively than the aroma of the dazzling array of food on the table.
“Why did you eat so little at lunch? Does the chef here not suit your taste?” The Duke picked up his water glass, took a small sip, and asked.
His Adam’s apple bobbed sensually on his neck.
Lin Chen was momentarily stunned, and a thought suddenly popping into his head: what would it feel like to suck on it?
Ahem, he was certain the Duke was very happy, meaning he had created value, so this kind of thing required money.
He instantly snapped back to reality, then watched as Wenzel picked up a small silver fork, took a sweet and sour pickled olive, and put it in his mouth as an appetizer.
Watching this pleasing scene, Lin Chen sincerely said, “Eating alone inevitably leads to a rushed meal.”
Wenzel slowly swallowed the seedless olive in his mouth: “Are you suggesting I have lunch with you too?”
“Of course not,” Lin Chen said, “I didn’t mean that.”
The conversation ended there.
The dining table at Howard’s mansion was always quiet, save for the few white candles that stood gracefully on ornate candlesticks, burning silently.
Lin Chen, a young and energetic college student, had seemingly made no difference by settling into this magnificent and mysterious ancient castle.
Still, standing there, he couldn’t help but ponder: With such a vast castle, did the Duke ever feel lonely living there alone?
At that moment, the original owner’s memories surfaced, telling him that the castle had once been bustling, and home to the main branch of the Howard family. Later, when Wenzel inherited the title, he didn’t want to live with so many people, so he used various means—deception, coercion, and bribery—to ultimately get rid of the ‘unnecessary’ family members.
This was the origin of the rumored exile. The exile was true, and the poverty and hardship of some family members were their own fault. Wenzel simply hadn’t offered any help, but he hadn’t taken advantage of their misfortune either. That was enough.
Lin Chen silently ate a bite of the expensive meal, reminding himself for the nth time that employees shouldn’t try to empathize with their boss; they weren’t on the same level.
After dinner, Lin Chen looked through the historic glass window and realized it was already dark. He glanced at the time and it was exactly seven o’clock.
He noticed that the entire castle was as silent as it had been the night before.
“Your Grace, Butler Amber…where did they go?” Lin Chen asked.
Wenzel replied casually, “They? They left the manor.”
He explained, “I don’t like people being around the manor at night.”
Having people loitering around at night made Wenzel even more irritable. Besides, he didn’t want to reveal his true condition. Even Butler Amber, who had watched him grow up, couldn’t be sure if he had these symptoms.
Lin Chen paused, pointing vaguely at him, then at himself: “So, now it’s just the two of us left in the manor?”
Wenzel corrected him: “And Joe.”
Yes, Lin Chen secretly glanced at Joe leaning against his feet, worried for him. Would Joe’s friendly behavior towards others in front of his master displease him?
Therefore, Lin Chen intentionally avoided getting too close to Joe in front of Wenzel.
He was unaware that his secret affair with Joe was already an open secret in Wenzel’s eyes.
Even earlier, when Joe had gone to find him in the middle of the night, Wenzel was aware of it, thus inadvertently discovering Lin Chen’s abilities.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have repeatedly shown Lin Chen such kindness. After all, he was Joe’s master, and if he gave an order seriously, Joe, no matter how much he liked Lin Chen, couldn’t disobey.
At 7:20, Lin Chen sat in a chair, his cheeks slightly flushed. He didn’t want to admit it, but the alcohol from just one aperitif had made his skin feel slightly warm.
Unbeknownst to him, the aperitif not only made his skin warm but also gave his face a delicate blush, beautifully tinged by the lamplight.
Then, he heard Wenzel instruct him, “Go back to your room and wait for me.”
Lin Chen subconsciously asked, “Are you sleeping so early?”
Wenzel leaned closer to him with a gentle smile curving his lips. “We won’t be sleeping this early, we have some other things to do.”
Lin Chen glanced at him. His gaze shifting before turning away with a clear, innocent look. He whispered to Black Panther, “Joe, let’s go.”
Judging that there was plenty of time, Lin Chen led the black panther into the bathroom, washed his paws, and dried his fur.
Joe obediently let him handle it, raising its left paw when told to, and its right paw when told to. It was so well-behaved that Lin Chen couldn’t resist rewarding it with a kiss.
After the kiss, Joe looked at him and curled its tongue to lick the spot where he had kissed it.
“What? Disgusted with me?” Lin Chen mistakenly thought it was disgusted by his scent, unaware that the black panther simply wanted to savor his taste.
After all that fuss, Lin Chen had cleaned Joe but he was soaking wet himself.
He simply took off his clothes and took another shower, the steam making his face even redder.
Since he hadn’t brought a change of clothes, Lin Chen simply wrapped a towel around his neck and went out after showering.
A handsome blond aristocrat, also fresh from his bath, leaned against his bedside in a romantic and elegant wide-sleeved robe.
For a moment, Lin Chen didn’t know whether to look at the Duke’s face, his slightly open collar, or those long legs.
Admittedly, the European-looking men on Earth had a racial advantage in physique. Their proportions and bone structure were simply superb.
In a short glance, Lin Chen had taken in the Duke’s entirety of his good looks. He smiled apologetically, “Sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“It’s alright.” Wenzel looked up, and quickly surveyed the damp-haired Asian youth as well. If they’re talking about racial advantages, the other man’s pearly white skin was certainly a rare sight.
Wenzel patted the spot next to him: “Come here.”
Lin Chen had originally intended to put on some clothes, but then he thought that since he’d just be taking them off anyway, he decided not to burden his boss.
“Take a look.” Wenzel handed Lin Chen a paper contract.
Lin Chen sat next to Wenzel with their thighs pressed together. In a formal setting, this would have been disrespectful to the Duke.
At this moment, Lin Chen knew his boss was pleased; his boss wanted him to stick close. So, he ‘disrespectfully’ opened the contract and began to examine it.
The last clause stated that if Party A breached the contract, it would have to pay Party B a penalty of 50 million. Conversely, if Party B breached the contract, it would provide Party A with two more years of free services.
Lin Chen: “…”
This was practically telling him he had no right to breach the contract.
Fine, even if he did, Lin Chen couldn’t afford a 50 million penalty.
If that day ever came, he’d rather pay it off with his body.
Both parties picked up pens, signed their names, and the contract officially took effect. Wenzel extended his hand to Lin Chen in a gentlemanly manner: “Lin Chen, it’s a pleasure doing business with you.”
Lin Chen shook his hand and smiled: “Your Grace, it’s a pleasure doing business with you.”
“You smell very nice,” Wenzel said calmly, holding Lin Chen’s hand for a while.
Perhaps this was the advantage of being handsome. Lin Chen didn’t find the other man greasy at all: “Should I say thank you?”
Wenzel smiled slightly, lowered his head, and kissed the back of Lin Chen’s hand. Strands of his golden hair gently brushed against the skin of Lin Chen’s hand as he said, “Let me examine your hands.”
He then began to examine them carefully.
The Duke, who claimed to be a mysophobic, now used his lips without any hesitation to trace the protruding ulna on the young man’s wrist, lovingly circling it, and then moving to the inside, sneakily touching the thinnest part of the skin.
Lin Chen, his wrists grasped, felt a little uneasy. Why did the Duke seem even crazier than during the day?
Even though he’d earned 600,000 that day, he couldn’t help but secretly mutter to himself: “Pervert.”
The inside of a person’s wrist is covered with veins of all sizes. Feeling a stinging pain, Lin Chen had to weakly remind him, “Your Grace, perhaps you could visit somewhere safer?”
His survival instincts kicked in: “I didn’t mean anything by it, I just think there’s a risk of blood clots here.”
Wenzel paused, and released Lin Chen’s wrist. Under the light, the entire area was red.
Lin Chen thought, this should count as a work injury, right?
However, he had boasted that Wenzel could kiss him as he pleased, so he could only obediently accept it. After Wenzel left the inside of his wrist, he focused on the area around his carotid artery…
Lin Chen: This is going to kill me.
A double meaning.
Despite Lin Chen repeatedly trying to convince himself that this was just a simple treatment and that he should remain calm, things didn’t go as planned. He sighed inwardly.
Besides being the Duke’s human healing device, he was also a normal, healthy young man.
He couldn’t help but close his eyes. His eyelids trembled slightly, and his long, graceful neck arched in an alluring curve.
The entire scene was undeniably suggestive, and seeing this, the Duke unceremoniously leaned forward to pluck him, fulfilling the wicked thought he had harbored before his meal.
As someone who disliked wearing high collars, Lin Chen quickly pleaded in a hoarse voice, “Your Highness, please, don’t leave any marks here…”
“Hmm,” Wenzel hummed gently, considerately adding, “Of course, I don’t have any perverse pleasures to announce to the world.”
Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief, but quickly realized he had relaxed too soon. The other party had only promised not to leave marks on skin at risk of exposure, not that he would be so gentle on other parts of his body.
Everywhere clothing could cover was mercilessly ravaged by Wenzel, especially the soft areas rarely exposed to sunlight. Lin Chen didn’t need to look to know that mottled marks were already left.
He did try to struggle and protest but the size difference was undeniable. Wenzel was almost a head taller and much stronger. Plus, Wenzel was good at soothing, a classic case of “a slap followed by a treat.”
Whenever Lin Chen was in pain and wanted to kick him, Wenzel would gently soothe him. It was a bittersweet experience that Lin Chen unconsciously endured.
During this process, the two were completely naked, and their breaths ragged from the close contact.
Having a physical reaction to someone of the same sex is usually awkward, but since both were the same, there was no awkwardness.
After all, they weren’t gay. This was simply a therapeutic relationship between therapist and the client. Normal physiological phenomena were thus ignored and no one cared.
Wenzel was lost in the youth’s skin, while Lin Chen frowned and endured it, truly too preoccupied to think about anything else.
By the end, he felt like he was covered in sore skin but Wenzel still wouldn’t let him go. The other man held him close, maximizing the contact area. His long, deep breaths sounding like he was enjoying himself, reminding Lin Chen of Joe’s snoring.
Speaking of Joe, Lin Chen suddenly remembered that when he and Wenzel were being so intimate, he seemed to have forgotten to ask Joe to leave.
Wenzel felt the body in his arms suddenly stiffen. He kissed the other’s earlobe and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Lin Chen let out a soft sigh and said, “Nothing.”
He had already seen Joe. The other was lying not far from the room with his head against the wall behind him, staring intently as they rolled around.
Sensing his exhaustion, Wenzel said, “Sorry, you’ve had a hard time.”
Even as he apologized, his leg remained pressed against Lin Chen.
Lin Chen forced a smile, feeling a burning pain in the places where Wenzel had touched him. He couldn’t help but worry about his future.
“Your Grace, tell me honestly, besides this fetish, are you really not hiding anything else?”
The opening was too explosive, making him suspicious.
Wenzel rested his chin on Lin Chen’s soft hair, his tone somewhat languid, and said confidently, “Not at the moment.”
Currently?
Lin Chen twitched his lips, thinking, “You truly understand the art of conversation.”
After so much time with Wenzel, Lin Chen was exhausted. Just as he was drifting off to sleep, he suddenly heard Wenzel ask, “Lin Chen, do you like men?”
Hearing this, Lin Chen jolted awake, puzzled. Why would Wenzel ask such a question?
Judging from the doubt in his tone, was he questioning whether he was straight?
Lin Chen was, of course, straight. Although he was captivated by Wenzel’s handsome face, he knew very well that he was just an onlooker, and not one of them. He didn’t want to be misunderstood. Even if he weren’t straight, for the sake of twenty-six million a year, he had to be.
“Your Grace, I don’t like men.”
Wenzel’s arm was still around Lin Chen’s waist. He stared intently at Lin Chen’s profile from behind, his face full of suspicion: “Is that so?”
“Of course.” Lin Chen nodded solemnly.
Wenzel seemed unconvinced: “But your behavior didn’t seem to suggest it. From the moment I kissed you, you readily accepted, and your body seemed slightly aroused.”
Lin Chen first looked wronged, then smiled wryly: “I’m sorry for causing you this misunderstanding, but twenty-year-old boys are just so easily distracted. You’ve been young once too so you should understand, right?”
The room fell silent.
Wenzel pinched Lin Chen’s chin, turned him to face his own young, handsome face, and said with a half-smile, “Perhaps you could explain to me what you mean by ‘you were young once too.’ Aren’t I young now?”
Lin Chen quickly replied, “No, you’re twenty-eight and in the prime of your life.”
And he reiterated, “I really don’t like men, otherwise how could I have dared to take your contract, wouldn’t you say?”
“You’re so perfect, if I liked men, I would definitely presumptuously fall in love with you.”
“Wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?”
“So, I really don’t like men.”
“You don’t need to worry about me having ulterior motives.”
“Alright, good that you understand.” Wenzel patted Lin Chen’s hair, seemingly acknowledging his obedience: “Go to sleep.”
Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief: “Your Grace, are you sleeping in my room too?”
With such a luxurious working environment, could it be that he couldn’t even get a private bed?
“Of course not.” Duke Howard released his arm from the young man, stood up, grabbed his robe, and casually tied it around his neck.
Before leaving, he turned back, gentlemanly bent down, and kissed Lin Chen’s cheek, saying in his pleasant voice with an elegant tone, “Have a good night’s sleep, see you tomorrow.”
“You too, goodnight,” Lin Chen smiled.
Once Wenzel left, he reached for a wet wipe to wipe his face. Remembering he was covered in saliva, he decided to take a shower.
His skin was indeed as he had guessed—a terrible sight, with some areas appearing to be broken and bleeding.