CH 87

Back to the Countryside

Chapter 87:相悦

[Pleased with each other /

Mutually in love with each other]

After Shen Juming closed the room door, he turned around and looked at him with a smile, without saying a word. When was Yun Su not like this? He was so insensitive and yet Yun Su was still pleased with him for a long time. This one word ‘love’, by nature, was difficult to control.

“Why are you looking at me?” Yun Su found it embarrassing to see him staring at himself from time to time so he flew into a rage from shame as he glared at him.               

“Nothing.” Shen Juming shook his head as he walked to the bedside and sat down. He lowered his head and said to him, “Just now, your wound is bleeding again. Let me take a look!”

The wound was on his chest, if he was going to look at it then he would have to take his clothes off, how embarrassing would that be! Yun Su tugged on the quilt and shrank back in, “What are you looking at? I’m fine, I am not hurt at all, there’s no need to look!”

“Xiao Su, your wound, I was the one who bandaged it before. You don’t need to feel embarrassed over it!” When Shen Juming saw his eyes darting around, he understood what he was thinking about. It was really strange, such an obvious feeling, why couldn’t he figure it out before? Seriously, this was called as those closely involved could not see clearly, “Besides, I’m a doctor, you don’t have to avoid it as a taboo.”

[Avoid it as a taboo because of the difference of gender between man and ger, a doctor examining a wound is not taboo although the doctor is not the husband.]

This nerd (fool), who is avoiding it because of taboo? It’s all because…Yun Su gritted his teeth, hating that he could not bite him twice to see if he could bite (wake) him up, “Since you want to see, then see it ba!”

Seeing him agree, only then Shen Juming stretched out his hand and lifted up the quilt. At the time he placed his fingers on his sash, the person on the bed tilted his head to another side while the tip of his ears reddened. His heart indescribably began to feel a little nervous too, his hand trembling for several times before he could untie it.

The thin cloth covering the wound was also covered with blood, so the wound definitely had been opened. He wrinkled his eyebrows, got up and brought the medicine kit over. He cut off the soiled cloth, exposing the wound that was seeping with blood.

Lying like this with his lapels wide open and uncovered in front of the man he loved, Yun Su gripped the bed sheet nervously, not even daring to look at him. He could only feel his warm fingers helping him deal with the wound on his chest, occasionally scratching the skin next to it.

The wound was very painful. The area he touched was a little itchy, just like the way he made him feel, painful and itchy yet he was so deep in it that he couldn’t free himself from him. 

Shen Juming spare some time to look at him. He found that Yun Su was lost in thought, his eyes staring blankly at a spot not knowing what he was thinking about,

Because of the side of his head, the line of his neck was clearly visible so he could see his collarbone along the way. Then the…strength of his own hand momentarily increased, the person on the bed grunted, turned his head to glare at him resentfully. In this posture, Yun Su completely didn’t have any sense of threat at all. He hurriedly focused his eyes on the wound again, swallowing slightly and said, “I’m sorry, did that hurt you?”

When the words came out of his mouth, it seemed to have an ambiguous meaning. 

He closed his eyes and let out a shallow breath, made himself not to let his own imagination run wild and stopped thinking about all the nonsense.

Yun Su only felt that he was strange but he couldn’t figure out what was strange. He frowned and only said, “Hurry up, it’s so cold like this!”

The weather in the winter, even with several heating stoves lit up in the room, one could still feel the slightest chill after leaving one’s clothes open for a long time like this. When Shen Juming heard this, he hastily started moving his hands quicker and reapplied the medicine to his wounds.

When wrapping the bandage around his body, it was necessary to make the other side sit up. This time, again and again he reached behind his back and wrapped the cloth around him layer by layer. When he was unconscious before, he had taken him in his arms and done this yet he didn’t feel anything. Now that he was awake, every time he came close enough, he could feel the other person’s breath on his ear, it seemed particularly hard to bear.

Yun Su was also very embarrassed, stiffening his body, letting him move around while his face was blushing hard. What the hell, it was just bandaging the wound, what is he doing to be so nervous? 

Tying the thin cloth in a knot behind him, Shen Juming could see his burning red face when he turned his head sideways, and (he was amused) something funny rose in his heart. It seemed that he was not the only one who had ‘reverie’ (wild and fanciful thoughts) in mind but the person next to him too.            

Shi Xiong said that the other side had been in love with him for many years. His every act of intimacy had made him as shy as he is now. He didn’t notice it before, but in the days to come, he could see it all.

Now that they were considered to be in love with each other, could they stop tormenting each other like this? The other side had been chasing him for so long, so Shouldn’t it be the time for him to do something?

Thinking of this, Shen Juming reached out and wrapped his arms around him, moved closer to him. He then dropped a kiss on that rosy cheek.

Yun Su’s body trembled and his whole body froze, the touch he felt just now was just his illusion, right? How could this person kiss him? His head must be too confused because of his injuries!

“Xiao Su, later, after we save the valley master, are you willing to become my Fu Lang?” Shen Juming embraced him and felt as if his heart was filled, both content and at peace.

“What…did you say?” Yun Su simply couldn’t believe what he had heard. 

Is he really awake now? Or is all of this just a dream?

Shen Juming loosened his arms around him, held both of his shoulders and gazed earnestly into his eyes, “I said, I want to marry you, with the status as your Xiang Gong, to be by your side.”

Yun Su’s eyes widened as he looked at him blankly. How could everything be different when he woke up after being unconscious for one night? The man who had previously been saying that he would treat him as his younger brother, unexpectedly suddenly said he wanted to marry him? Is he serious?

“Shi Xiong has already told me, I’m really such a fool for not understanding your feelings!” Shen Juming caressed his face and said in gentle tone, “You were so foolish to rush up to save me, didn’t you even know to think about your own safety?”

Yun Su, however, felt like a pot of cold water had been poured on him instantly, cooling him completely as he pushed the other party’s hand away, “What? You want to devote your life (pledge to marry somebody) in return because I saved you? Shen Juming, I don’t need your pity!”

He just said that how is it possible that the other party had suddenly become enlightened? So it turned out that he had found out about that despicable adoration of him and used it as a way of repaying the kindness for saving his life. He was not that low to this level as to exchange pity for his compromise!

Seeing him pushing himself away in anger, his eyes clearly filled with tears but he stubbornly did not let it fall. Shen Juming panicked and hurriedly tugged his hand, “No, I didn’t mean it like that!”

“Get out! I don’t want to see you!” Yun Su didn’t want to listen to his explanation. He used his full power to break away from his hand. 

This time, Shen Juming did not let go of him anymore, holding his hand tightly and tugging it towards him. He leaned in and covered his lips with his own, stopping the other party who was still trying to say the words to drive him away.

The warmth on his lips made Yun Su’s eyes widened, his hands clutching the clothes on his chest, unable to do anything in response.

The two lips were pressed together for a long time, Shen Juming was slow and did not make the next move. The courage he had when he kissed him was gone. Suddenly he felt he had overstepped the bound a bit, so he stepped back awkwardly and said with some embarrassment, “I … I didn’t have the intention to disrespect you, I just … want to make you understand.”

Returning to his senses, Yun Su saw his extremely embarrassed appearance, so he hooked his lips and laughed out. He touched his own lips which seemed to still have the residual warmth and scolded him in a low voice, “You suck!”

Hearing him regard himself with disdain like before, Shen Juming raised his hand to scratch the back of his head and laughed along with him. He always seemed to be unenlightened in front of the other party.

After staying and resting in the inn for two days, He Ling felt that his body wasn’t getting better. He drank it up the ginger water that the inn waiter had just brought up while it was still hot, slightly dispelling the coldness in his body.

If he continued like this, it was probably  not a good choice. He had to find a doctor, even if he couldn’t take the medicine but he still could receive some acupuncture treatment from the doctor. If he kept delaying it any longer, he also didn’t know when this would end. 

Thinking like this, he got up and wrapped his cloak tightly around him and went out of the door while enduring the unwell feeling. Mu Yan was placed in the inn’s stable. For the time being, he didn’t need to worry. After asking the innkeeper where there was a clinic nearby, he pulled his hood down further and left the inn alone. 

Today’s weather was very nice, not as gloomy as the previous two days. The sun was shining brightly, it felt so warm on his body. It made He Ling feel happy that he had gone out today.

Because of the good weather, the streets were full of pedestrians. The sound of hawking rose one after another, resounded in his ears. The scene was very lively. He was trying not to bump into people as he walked through the crowd, protecting his stomach.

However some things could just happen and not because you have avoided it then it would not happen. With the brim of his hood pulled down, his line of sight was naturally blocked. It was not uncommon for him to accidentally bump into someone who was walking from the opposite direction.

“I’m sorry.” Actually it wasn’t really clear whose fault it was, but He Ling carried with him the idea that it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble, so he apologized first, as he wouldn’t lose a piece of meat anyway.

[duō yī shì bù rú shǎo yī shì

多一事不如少一事

it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble (idiom) / the less complications the better]

By the time he was about to walk away, he was stopped by someone. The other party was the person who stood beside that young master, dressed in young servant boy’s attire, “You bumped into our family’s young master, with just saying sorry is that even enough to apologize? Kneel down immediately and apologize!’

When he heard the other party’s arrogant accusations, He Ling couldn’t help but wrinkle his eyebrows, how could he ask someone to kowtow after a light bump? But the young master he had bumped into was dressed in a noble manner and had an arrogant demeanor, so he was probably a big shot in the city. He was all alone for now so if he had upset him, he would not have been able to get away with it. In a kind manner, he said, “It was my fault for bumping into you, please forgive me.”

“Don’t you understand human language? I’m asking you to kowtow …”

That young servant still wanted to scold him but he was stopped by his master’s hand, who smiled and looked He Ling up and down for a few moments, “It’s not impossible to forgive, you take off your hood, if you look good, this young master (本公子: Ben Gongzi, the way to call yourself) will forgive you.”

The way the other party was being nitpick and speaking teasingly, surely he could already see that he was a ger. He Ling’s eyebrows knitted tighter as he took a small step back, “I was born ugly, I’m afraid I’ll scare you.”

“I’ve seen a lot of things so I’m not that easily frightened!” That young master obviously did not intend to let him off easily. He remained calm and composed while waiting for him to make a move while he hugged his own arms. 

Those who passed by also only took a glance at him and hurriedly walked away. They did not even want to watch the fun, obviously recognizing and knowing that the other party was not to be messed up with. They were afraid of attracting trouble.

He Ling tightened his cloak and immediately turned around to go back but the young male servant caught up with him and blocked his way. This time, he thoroughly couldn’t leave! He had to take back his earlier words, he shouldn’t have gone out today.p

“Since this little ger is shy, then I’ll give you a hand!” Before the young servant boy could hardly finish his words, the boy reached out his hands towards him.

He Ling’s heart panicked, he took several steps back to avoid it. Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, he felt that someone had pulled his hoodie off behind him so he subconsciously turned his head over to take a look, exposing his gorgeous look to the other party’s eyes.

That young master’s eyes changed in an instant, harbouring a certain amount of infatuation. He licked his lips and said, “No wonder Xiao Ge’er won’t show his true face to others. Such beauty indeed should be hidden from others!”

The way he looked at him made He Ling get gooseflesh (frightened) in his heart. He Ling pretended to be strong and calm as he straightened his back, barely looking straight at him, “Since Gongzi has already seen it, then can you let me go now?”

“Don’t rush! Just now, it was this young master who bumped into you. How about you let me treat you to a cup of wine as an apology?” The young master’s body did not move at all as he blocked his way. There was a certain look of determination (to get what he wanted) in his expression.

He Ling said in his heart, ‘This is not good!’ He covered his stomach and stepped back. Then he said, “I am pregnant and should not drink wine. There is no need for this young master to be polite.”

The other party narrowed his eyes and looked at the area between his belly. His expression slightly irritated, “You are married?”

“That’s right!” He Ling hurriedly said, hoping that the other party would give up, “My Xiang Gong and I are very much in love. He is waiting for me at this moment, so this young master, please let me go!”

“It doesn’t matter! How about you ask your husband to come too?” That young master laughed coldly. His expression in his eyes was dark, not knowing what he was thinking about. He stretched out his hand and tried to grab He Ling’s wrist.

The back way was blocked by the young servant boy so there was no way to escape. He Ling was in a panic, not knowing what to do. Then a hand came out from his side and grabbed that young master’s hand. He Ling turned his head and saw the familiar face, a smile of surprise revealed on his face. 

The author has something to say: 

Guess it, who is the hero that will save the beauty ～

[ 英雄救美: a hero saved a damsel in distress. ]