Chapter 53

Chapter 53

The moonlight was like water, casting a soft glow in the room that wasn't as dim as during winter. The secluded mountain was quiet, and for a moment, both remained silent, their ears picking up the distant cries of birds from the forest outside.

Gu Lan regulated his breath, not daring to make a sound, though he couldn't quite explain why. As summer had arrived, even living at the foot of the mountain didn't bring much respite from the heat. Perhaps it was due to his restless thoughts that he found himself tossing and turning, soon feeling too warm under the covers. He wished he could just cover his feet with the corner of the blanket, but he didn't dare move, settling instead for stealthily slipping his legs out.

It was time to switch to a lighter quilt. They only had three in total; one had come with Gu Lan as part of his dowry, while Pei Yan owned an old and a new one. Though reeds could be used to stuff quilts, alas, they weren't yet in bloom. Tomorrow, he would have to ask his mother for some hemp thread to sew soles for Pei Yan's shoes. There were no ramie plants in this courtyard, so he'd need to find wild hemp in the mountains, a process that involved soaking and cleaning – a laborious task. The small amount of hemp thread Pei Yan had stored away wouldn't suffice; it would be better to purchase more ready-made thread.

He closed his eyes, intending to sleep, reasoning that if he kept going back home for supplies, his parents might not say anything, but the neighbors would surely gossip. It would be better to let Pei Yan do the shopping. Hemp thread was less expensive than silk or cotton, and there was a peddler who wandered around the Ten Villages area. If he didn't show up in the next few days, Gu Lan would send Pei Yan to buy from him.

Despite his efforts, Gu Lan couldn't ignore the distinct warmth and the scent of wild bath beads emanating from the person beside him. Just as he was drifting off to sleep, he sensed Pei Yan moving closer.

Without opening his eyes, he assumed it was simply a shift in position. Fearing the intense heat and masculinity radiating from the man, Gu Lan scooted inward slightly. However, to his surprise, the person on the outside seemed to press against him, inching closer after a while.

Gu Lan Shi could no longer deceive himself – Pei Yan hadn't done it on purpose.

Feeling somewhat at a loss, he realized that since their marriage, they had never shared the same bed, let alone engaged in any intimate acts.

With a hint of fear towards the unknown, he gingerly shifted further into the corner of the kang.

The room wasn't spacious, and neither was the earthen bed; after a few movements, he found himself with nowhere else to retreat.

Wrapped in his blanket, Gu Lan Shi's arm pressed against the wall. He cautiously opened his eyes but lacked the courage to look at Pei Yan, instead focusing on listening for any sounds.

Pei Yan, noticing Gu Lan Shi's evasion, pursed his thin lips, feeling slightly displeased. However, his bodily desires eventually overrode his pride. Without a word, he inched closer once more.

In the darkness, hidden cravings intensified. The night was alluring, and as their hands brushed under the covers, a mere touch sparked ripples within their hearts. These ripples grew larger, resembling an insatiable chasm. All notions of propriety and decorum seemed to fade away as everything unfolded naturally.

Surrounded by the heat, Gu Lan Shi's voice trembled, rendering him speechless.

Among the village's pairs and young women, he was of average height, but beside Pei Yan, he felt inadequate. With slender limbs, Pei Yan appeared thin but possessed broad shoulders and a narrow waist. When he leaned over, Gu Lan Shi was completely obscured, unable to escape.

Impatient hands tried to tear off his inner garment, and the fear buried deep within Gu Lan Shi caused him to struggle slightly, his rapid breaths tinged with a hint of sobs.

Nervous and scared, he managed to hold back his tears only after Pei Yan stopped moving.

It was unclear what was on Pei Yan's mind as they remained in that tense deadlock for a while. Gu Lan's heart leapt with anticipation, only to find that Pei Yan simply wrapped his arm around him without any further action.

"Ku-ku-ku"

An unknown creature called from somewhere within the courtyard, its muffled cries filtering through the window, followed by a few barks from Da Hei.

Gu Lan heard the fluttering of wings, then silence fell upon the yard. Amidst the chaos in his mind, it took him a moment to adjust to the intimate embrace that held him so tightly.

For some reason, the arm around his waist tightened, not to the point of suffocation but still causing discomfort. Especially since Gu Lan could clearly sense Pei Yan's reaction from the beginning.

The clean, pleasant scent of the Wild Bath Pearl filled his nostrils, and Gu Lan seemed to suddenly realize this fact, belatedly coming back to his senses – it was Pei Yan holding him.

Although being hugged was somewhat uncomfortable, his anxiety gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of security from the warm and powerful embrace. After much contemplation, he convinced himself that this day would eventually come; he was already married, and it was Pei Yan holding him, after all.

But the thought of actually telling Pei Yan that it was okay made him feel too ashamed to speak. The bravest thing he had ever done in his life was to persuade Pei Yan to marry him, yet now, the courage he once had seemed to vanish in the face of their physical difference.

Gu Lan wished he could bury himself in a crack on the ground, but the tight grip left him with no choice. The discomfort became unbearable, so he struggled to shift, only to unexpectedly touch upon what felt like an unbreakable chain.

Despite Pei Yan's usual aloof demeanor, he was only three years older than Gu Lan; at twenty years old, he was in the prime of his youth, filled with vigor.

Unable to contain himself any longer, he nuzzled against Gu Lan's face and ear, his voice raspy as he promised, "I'll be gentle."

Gu Lan was so nervous that he wanted to bite his finger, but his hands were bound, leaving his heart pounding. Eventually, he steeled himself, closed his eyes, and gritted his teeth in consent, "Alright."

The clouds obscured the moon, and strange sounds emerged from the window, suggesting they might continue throughout the night.

*

After clearing the weeds in the rice paddies that morning, Pei Yan walked along the riverbank towards the back mountain. Carrying a bamboo basket on his back, he picked a basket of goose intestines herb on the way to feed the pigs.

Spotting a lush patch of aquatic plants by the water, he pressed down the goose intestines herb and added a large handful of the water plants into his basket; chopped up, they were a treat for chickens and ducks.

Mud and water clung to his sandals and trouser legs, but he forgot to rinse them in the river. He was eager to return home yet hesitant to arrive too early – this was why he avoided taking the village path.

Although he knew Gu Lan wouldn't scold him, the thought of Gu Lan giving him a stern look made him unhappy. He didn't want to be scolded; all he desired was to be close to his husband, no matter what they did together, be it washing clothes, cooking, boiling water, or even carrying stones, as long as Gu Lan accompanied him.

Nonetheless, when he woke up that day, he felt light-hearted and joyful. A smile involuntarily graced his face from the moment he got out of bed, making him seem like a different person than usual.

His late departure meant that those working in the fields were too busy to chat, and since they weren't close, they didn't approach him. Returning home early, there were few people on the road, so no one had witnessed his unusually warm and amiable demeanor.

With hesitant steps but an irresistible draw, he drew closer and saw the courtyard gate slightly ajar, just as it had been when he left. Normally, Gu Lan Shi would be out weeding or washing clothes by the river at this time, but today he seemed to be absent.

Pei Yan felt a twinge of guilt. Seeing Big Black squeeze through the crack in the door and wag its tail at him, his mood lifted. As he entered the yard, he even bent down to pet the dog's head twice.

Big Black's tail paused for a moment before going into a frenzy of wagging. Never had it received such kindness. It whined softly, and even its usually fierce eyes softened. Following Pei Yan, it bounded along happily.

After setting down the bamboo basket, washing his hands and legs, Pei Yan couldn't wait to tend to the livestock. However, with Gu Lan Shi still silent despite his long return, he hurriedly entered the house.

The person on the kang was sound asleep, perhaps due to the heat, one leg exposed, bearing the telltale marks of the previous night's "violence."

Pei Yan's Adam's apple bobbed fiercely as he stared fixedly, unable to move for a while.

Big Black usually didn't enter the room, content with wandering around the main hall. Noticing that its master ignored it, it swished its tail and left.

Half-awake, Gu Lan Shi felt his mouth being caught. Still groggy, he sensed Pei Yan's scent and was disoriented but didn't resist. Recognizing Pei Yan, he remained dazedly compliant until the room spun before his eyes.

*

In the evening, the sky blazed with a resplendent array of hues, a spectacle beyond words. Farmers returned home, hoe on shoulder, bamboo baskets in tow, pausing in awe even if they were accustomed to such sunsets, feeling a sense of tranquility and auspiciousness.

Gu Lan Shi sat in the courtyard, catching his breath. He too had witnessed the sunset, but the mud walls and trees in the yard obstructed his full view.

His gaze was distant, lost in thought, and it wasn't until he heard the sounds of chopping in the kitchen that he gradually regained his senses.

He didn't want to recall the blush-inducing events of the previous night, but the marks on his arms and legs served as a constant reminder.

Pei Yan usually appeared cold and fierce. Although he started gently last night, he later seemed unable to control himself, growing increasingly aggressive, even biting Gu Lan's lips.

Seeing Dahei return from the river, his fur slightly dampened from drinking, the unsightly tufts of hair on its body didn't seem as unpleasant.

Just like a dog, Gu Lan thought to himself. It wasn't his fault; Pei Yan's crazed intensity while biting him did resemble that of a mad dog.

Lost in thought, he sat in the courtyard. Before long, Pei Yan emerged from the kitchen, handing him an egg that had cooled down.

The tall and slender man seemed at a loss, crouching in front of Gu Lan with a hopeful expression. His thin lips were pressed together, and with hesitation, he softly spoke, "Eat."

Gu Lan was momentarily unsure if he should be angry at the man's nervous and timid demeanor. Why hadn't he shown such restraint before?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, yet he couldn't bring himself to smash the egg in his hand. There weren't many eggs in their household, and they were usually saved for special occasions.

Taking a deep breath, Gu Lan peeled the eggshell and bit off half of it fiercely. Seeing Pei Yan still crouched before him, eagerly watching, he paused just as he was about to offer him the other half. Swallowing the egg whole, he said, "I'm not giving you any."

Pei Yan's face lit up with delight despite not getting the egg.

He possessed an exceptionally handsome countenance, with elongated eyes that exuded a cold and composed aura when he wasn't smiling, lending him an air of authority. The long scar across his face accentuated his menacing appearance. However, when he smiled, it was like a peach blossom brushing against his cheeks. If not for the scar, he would undoubtedly be a strikingly handsome man.

Gu Lan had never witnessed such a scene. Pei Yan had smiled before, but never with such unbridled joy. His dark eyes now shimmered with a subtle glow.

When someone's eyes also smile, it indicates genuine happiness.

Startled, Gu Lan's gaze fell on the uninjured right side of Pei Yan's face. He hadn't noticed before how handsome it was. Then, he looked to the left, where the wound was indeed long and grotesque. But after getting used to it, it didn't seem as horrifying.

"Have them all," Pei Yan said, grinning warmly.

Upon realizing that his husband's gaze was fixed on his left cheek, his happiness remained undiminished. However, he stood up and shifted slightly, presenting only the right half of his body to Gu Lan. "I'll cook. You rest."

The events of last night were highly irregular, and it was Gu Lan's first experience of such nature, leaving him almost dazed. The whole day, he felt somewhat disoriented and physically uncomfortable. With Pei Yan's actions appearing natural, he didn't notice this small gesture. Adjusting his posture, he sat patiently, awaiting their meal.