…could already have lived through a past lifetime?
As long as he wasn’t someone to loathe.
Xueyi Wright looked at Ji Ziran with amusement, gently stroking his soft, straight black hair. After a moment, she could not help sighing softly.
Ji Ziran familiarly hugged Xueyi Wright’s arm, leaning close to her side. “You’re not allowed to sigh! Sighing makes people old, and then Mother won’t be pretty anymore.”
Xueyi Wright signaled Mia to step outside first, then pulled Ji Ziyu over to sit by the bedside as well. “It is Mother who has failed you both, especially Ranran… ever since your birth, you’ve been constantly embroiled in controversies.”
Hearing the profound dejection in Xueyi Wright’s voice, Ji Ziran felt somewhat at a loss. “How could it possibly be Mother’s fault! It’s clearly my fault…”
“Mn?” Xueyi Wright felt a pang in her heart as she looked at her younger son, who gazed at her with a pair of clear eyes yet could see nothing at all.
Ji Ziran merely assumed Xueyi Wright’s single “Mn” was an inquiry. But upon a moment’s reflection, the matter of his reincarnation was hardly something that could be casually divulged…
Nervously pinching his earlobe, Ji Ziran stammered, “Um… um… well, it’s just that… Ranran is a real man! Of course he should protect Mother; how could he let Mother be sad?”
Hearing this heartfelt declaration listening to that soft, tender voice Xueyi Wright felt her heart practically melting. Lowering her head, she pressed a kiss to Ji Ziran’s forehead. “Good boy”
The frosty, aloof Ji Ziyu looked at Ji Ziran with a trace of care in his eyes, which filled Xueyi Wright with profound gratification. Is there anything in the world more wonderful than children gathered around one’s knees and brothers sharing a deep bond?
“It’s alright, none of us are at fault.” A radiant, incomparably beautiful smile bloomed across Xueyi Wright’s exquisite face. “And we are all going to be just fine.”
Ji Ziyu didn’t quite grasp this emotionally rich display; he only knew to reach out and pick up the bowl of medicine sitting on the bedside cabinet, telling Ji Ziran with earnest solemnity, “Drink your medicine.”
Chapter 035: Let Me Touch You to See What You Look Like
From far away, Ji Ziran could already catch the increasingly bitter and astringent scent of the medicine as it cooled down.
Acting like a spoiled child, he burrowed deeper into Xueyi Wright’s embrace, thinking to himself that anyway, no one knew he was nearly twenty years old rather than just four!
As for this medicine, it was essentially prescribed by Xueyi Wright to prevent Ji Ziran from catching a cold after such an ordeal, and she had instructed Mia to brew it. It served the exact same purpose as ginger soup, only slightly more potent and, of course, far more unbearable to the palate.
Ji Ziran felt that everything in this life was wonderful, save for this single flaw!
In his past life, his life had been worth less than a straw; who would have ever cared whether he fell ill or caught a cold? Not eating spoiled food was already considered a blessing. In this lifetime, he had acquired a gentle mother, a brother who cared deeply for him, and a retinue of maidservants revolving around him. To be completely honest, Qi Fei in his previous life could never have even imagined experiencing such a life.
Yet because his constitution had been poor since birth, Ji Ziran had been forced to swallow countless doses of medicine for a period of time. Back then, lacking any real agency, he had no choice as spoonful after spoonful was forced down his throat. Once he grew a bit older, Xueyi Wright came to terms with it, realizing that administering the medicine or withholding it yielded the exact same reactions from the physicians, so the medication was eventually dropped.
Moreover, Ji Ziran’s health remained stable largely because Ji Ziyu kept a quiet, watchful eye over him by moonlight, serving as a natural heater at night and intentionally steering purified magical elements to envelop Ji Ziran during his cultivation sessions, allowing them to seep into his body. Though applying a thousand units of effort yielded barely a single unit of visible return, Ji Ziyu had maintained this unflagging routine day in and day out across the years without a shred of slackness.
Consequently, the moment Ji Ziran recalled the taste of the herbal brew here, his entire face scrunched up into an tight ball, and he flatly refused to touch it.
Rarely did Ji Ziran throw such a tantrum, leaving Xueyi Wright torn between laughter and tears, yet reluctant to force him. With a helpless smile on her exquisite face, she coaxed, “Alright, alright. If you refuse to drink it this time, don’t come crying if you catch a cold and feel miserable. By then, you’ll have to swallow every last drop of medicine regardless, no matter how much it takes. Understand?”
Ji Ziran nodded hastily, scrambling out of her arms with a beaming smile.
However, his triumph was short-lived as the familiar, icy voice drifted in from behind him: “No.”
A crease formed between Ji Ziyu’s brows. While steadily holding the medicine bowl with one hand, he reached out with the other to haul Ji Ziran back over. “Drink.”
Ji Ziran was no match for him whatsoever. Dragged right back to his side, he didn’t dare kick up too much of a fuss. After all, he wasn’t a genuine child; random thrashing might accidentally hurt Xiaoyu, not to mention that if they spilled the bowl, Hong’er and the others would have to clean up the mess.
That said you expect me to drink just because you tell me to? My mouth is attached to my face; let’s see what you can do if I simply refuse to open it!
Fiercely harboring this thought, Ji Ziran threw his arms around Ji Ziyu instead, burying his face directly into the crook of his neck. Secretly grinding his teeth: If you dare force me again, I’ll bite you!
A flicker crossed Ji Ziyu’s eyes, though he ultimately set the bowl down on the table. Grabbing Ji Ziran by the collar, he stated, “Come out, I’m not forcing you.”
Blinking triumphantly, Ji Ziran thought to himself that this frozen little bun stood zero chance of winning against him
Meanwhile, Ji Ziyu was quietly resolving within himself: Don’t assume I’m just going to let this slide.
Tidying things up, Ji Ziran sat on the edge of the bed, swinging his legs back and forth as he reached out to affectionately stroke the soft, fluffy blanket.
“I’ll have the blanket moved over too,” Ji Ziyu said, reading the reluctance written all over his face, and immediately made a move to pack it up.
“Hey!” Ji Ziran hastily stopped him, feeling somewhat speechless. “King Yue’s place surely isn’t so dirt-poor that they can’t even afford a single blanket.”
Seeing the deadpan seriousness on Ji Ziran’s face clearly not just making excuses Ji Ziyu frowned. “Then what are you reluctant about?”
Ji Ziran suddenly chuckled, finding the cold, emotionless Xiaoyu endearingly adorable!
Reaching out, he accurately pinched Ji Ziyu’s cheek and gave it a little shake. “Dolly! I’m not reluctant to leave the blanket; I’m reluctant to leave Zhexue Palace, I’m reluctant to leave Mother, and I’m reluctant to leave you.”
“I’ll come visit you; Yuexuan Palace is very close to here,” Ji Ziyu promised.
Lowering his hand, Ji Ziran rested his elbows on his knees and propped his chin up. “You’re on the Emperor Father’s wavelength, aren’t you? This isn’t about physical distance~”
“Then what is it?” Across two lifetimes, Ji Ziyu had never cared about such things; yet seeing the poignant reluctance etched across Ji Ziran’s face, a sudden impulse to understand washed over him.
Taking a deep breath, Ji Ziran struck a posture as if preparing for a long lecture, only to deflate in resignation a second later. “It’s hard to explain! Perhaps when Xiaoyu eventually meets the most important person in your life, you’ll understand little by little.”
Just as Ji Ziyu was opening his mouth to ask what exactly constituted the “most important person,” he was suddenly lunged at by Ji Ziran, who threw all his weight forward and tackled him straight down onto the bed.
“Goo-qiu goo-qiu!” Awakened by Ji Ziran’s commotion, the little dragon sleeping inside Ji Ziran’s sleeve wriggled its way out, flapping its tiny wings as it wobbled unsteadily to join the fun~
Lying flat on his back, Ji Ziyu found the little bun Ji Ziran straddling his waist, his little bottom wonderfully soft and plump, and his dark eyes crinkling into crescents of pure amusement. Softening his tone, the normally frigid voice warming slightly, he asked, “What are you doing?”
Waving a small hand, Ji Ziran brushed the stumbling little dragon aside.
The little dragon rolled around in a circle a few times before coming to a halt against a fold of the blanket. Flicking its slender tail, sticking out its little bottom, and opening wide its big, shimmering blue eyes, it watched the two of them.
Perched atop Ji Ziyu, Ji Ziran was so round and chubby that his entire body practically enveloped the boy below him. Extending his hands straight toward Ji Ziyu with a mischievous, wicked grin plastered across his face, he announced, “Let me touch you to see what Xiaoyu looks like~”
Ji Ziyu didn’t budge, using one hand to support Ji Ziran’s waist—fearing that with all that plump baby fat and his round physique, the child might accidentally roll right off the bed. “We’re twins, of course we look the same.”
“Mn!” Ji Ziran acknowledged. “So touching you will let me figure out what I look like by extension.”
“Goo-qiu goo-qiu?” Tilting its head to watch for a moment, the little dragon reached out its chubby little hands to touch its own face. “Goo-qiu?”
Ji Ziyu felt a tickling sensation from the prodding fingers and turned his head sideways, spotting the little dragon nearby, prompting him to flick his free hand to poke it. “What are we going to do with this dragon?”
Ji Ziran poked his cheek right back with equal vigor. “Don’t move~”
He was right in the middle of exploring! He had, of course, felt his own face before. But upon touching Ji Ziyu, lingering doubts resurfaced: Are the two of us really identical at all?!
Regardless of the fact that Ji Ziyu was merely a four-year-old bun, rigorous physical training and experiences carried over from his past life had kept his physique in the absolute prime condition for this age bracket. Naturally, that differed vastly from Ji Ziran’s soft, plump, round state! And those differences manifested clearly across his facial structure as well!
As Ji Ziran’s hands roamed, he couldn’t help thinking that Xiaoyu’s face had far too much structural definition. Once Xiaoyu grew older, touching that face would undoubtedly evoke the sensation of traversing rolling mountain ranges. Tsk tsk, just look at that brow ridge, look at that bridge of the nose, look at that jawline…
Having thoroughly explored the face, Ji Ziran remained seated atop Ji Ziyu’s stomach, patting his own smooth, rounded chin with a flicker of curiosity: I wonder if his body is completely different too? I never got a clear feel for it when we cuddled up together normally!
Operating under the logic that since Xiaoyu was still a child, if he didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to grope him now, then when would he, Ji Ziran executed his movements with a speed, precision, and ruthlessness that was truly commendable!
Having received a poke on its bottom after burrowing its head into a fold of the blanket, the little dragon poked its head out just in time to witness Ji Ziran executing two swift motions to yank open Ji Ziyu’s garments. Looking down at itself completely bare and wearing nothing at all it continued blinking its big eyes as it watched…
Catching Ji Ziran’s hand as it attempted further exploration, Ji Ziyu felt his eyebrow twitching uncontrollably. Drawing in a deep breath, he demanded, “What are you doing?”
“Didn’t I say? Touching you to see what you look like!” Shifting his weight slightly to adjust his posture downward so he could inspect the abdomen next.
Consequently, Ji Ziyu’s face genuinely turned pitch-black. He struggled mightily to keep his inhaled breath from going to waste. “Didn’t you already touch my face?”
“Hehe~” Ji Ziran beamed brightly, leaning down to press a kiss to his cheek. “Well, I touched your face and figured out what your face looks like, so now I need to check your body too!”
Ji Ziran had completely failed to realize that he was currently behaving precisely like a dissolute young rake harassing an innocent gentleman. In his mind, Xiaoyu was merely a four-year-old bun, and children were completely fair game for teasing after all, they were just so darn adorable!
Presumably, the only person who found Ji Ziyu adorable…