Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Upon returning to the manor, the servants attended to them with great care.

Liu Ma wiped away tears discreetly. "Young Master, what kind of porridge would you like tomorrow? Just let me know."

Tian Ruan asked Yu Jingmo, "Am I not just concussed? Do I have some terminal illness?"

Yu Jingmo ate porridge with him and replied calmly, "No."

"Then why are they acting like this?"

"They’re just bored."

Liu Ma fell silent.

Tian Ruan was still grateful for Liu Ma's concern and said, "I'm fine. I just need more rest and less talking."

Liu Ma quickly agreed, "Ah, I won’t make you talk anymore."

Later, when the servants reappeared, they had all learned basic sign language.

The butler was the most proficient, flailing his arms and head while smiling at the two masters.

Yu Jingmo: "Do you think we understand?"

The servants froze in unison. Right, they had learned sign language, but Sir and Young Master hadn’t.

The butler cleared his throat and spoke up, "Sir, Young Master, the guest room has been prepared, and the family doctor has moved downstairs. He can be called up anytime."

Yu Jingmo immediately summoned the family doctor.

Tian Ruan rarely saw this doctor. As a classic NPC in a rich-family trope, his infrequent appearances suggested one thing—that the melodramatic tropes of Jinjiang were indeed different from the trashy tropes elsewhere.

Languidly draped on the sofa, Tian Ruan let the family doctor check his blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. The doctor said, "Young Master’s blood pressure is slightly high, but otherwise, there’s no major issue. Just rest more."

Yu Jingmo picked Tian Ruan up, and the latter nestled in his arms. Carbs made him drowsy, but he didn’t forget the important matter: "I want to take advantage of you..."

"Mhm."

Instead of taking him to the guest room, Yu Jingmo carried him back to the master bedroom and asked, "Can you bathe?"

Tian Ruan nodded. "Yes."

Getting into Yu Jingmo’s bed without bathing was out of the question.

However, the bathroom door was left half-open while he showered, with Yu Jingmo lingering outside—not looking in, but listening carefully to the sounds inside.

Under the hot water, steam clouded the air. Tian Ruan stole a shy glance, his head spinning dizzily. He steadied himself against the cold tiles to regain some clarity. *Don’t pass out! If I pass out, I won’t get to take advantage.*

Fueled by the single-minded focus on getting his way, Tian Ruan showered for over ten minutes.

Yu Jingmo said, "A quick rinse is enough. No need to wash for so long."

Tian Ruan turned off the shower, wrapped himself in a robe, and stepped out. His cheeks were flushed from the heat, his brown eyes dewy, and the skin on his neck glowed pale under the familiar scent of body wash—as if he had been imbued with the master’s scent.

Yu Jingmo watched him, his throat working. "Go to bed. Don’t catch a cold."

The room temperature was a steady 26.5°C—comfortable, but not cozy. Tian Ruan nestled sleepily into the lightweight goose-down silk quilt, the silky chill brushing against his skin. In summer, this bedding would feel like cool relief, but now, in winter, no matter how tightly he wrapped himself, it felt like swaddling in nothingness.

The bathroom door closed as Yu Jingmo went in to shower.

Tian Ruan curled up silently like a little turtle for a while but still felt uncomfortable, so he got up and rummaged through the cabinets.

Finally, he found a thick fleece blanket and draped it over the quilt. The added weight and warmth satisfied him, and he contentedly burrowed beneath it.

By the time Yu Jingmo finished showering and stepped out, he saw the young man already sound asleep, swaddled in the blankets. Lifting a corner, he found Tian Ruan’s face pink from the heat, breathing evenly with relaxed brows, as if lost in a pleasant dream.

Yu Jingmo watched for a moment before slipping in beside him. The young man’s bare skin was silkier than satin, and he couldn’t resist pulling him close, running fascinated hands over him. “…Tian Ruan?”

Tian Ruan was already deep in sleep, motionless like a piece of warmed nephrite.

Holding such a precious treasure in his arms, Yu Jingmo kissed his forehead gently. “Sleep well.”

The next morning, when Tian Ruan woke up, he kicked himself.

It was like gearing up for action, only to realize it had all been a dream.

He scanned the sheets in confusion, unable to find his bathrobe or pajamas, and couldn’t bring himself to climb out. Had Yu Jingmo really just watched him sleep naked beside him last night?

…If he could resist doing anything even under those circumstances, then Yu Jingmo truly was a gentleman.

Thinking this, Tian Ruan peeked an arm out and turned his head, only to find a vivid hickey on his snow-white shoulder.

“…”

He checked the rest of himself and, unsurprisingly, discovered a hickey on each limb—especially right on the tender inner thigh.

Tian Ruan: *What gentleman? It’s all a lie.*

Just then, Yu Jingmo walked in and caught Tian Ruan sitting on the bed like a baby, looking like he was jerking off.

To be precise, he wasn’t actually *jerking off*—just inspecting his thigh—but from another angle, it could easily be misunderstood.

“You couldn’t even hold back for a single day?” Yu Jingmo remarked. “Too much fun’ll wreck you.”

Tian Ruan: “…………I wasn’t jerking off.”

He quickly wrapped himself in the blanket, leaving only his flushed face exposed.

Yu Jingmo brought over breakfast—sweet congee paired with tangy pickles and eight pan-fried buns—placing it on the small coffee table. “Go wash your face and brush your teeth first.”

Tian Ruan glared at him. “Why the modesty?”

Yu Jingmo raised a brow. “What’s there to fear? I’ve already seen all of you.”

Tian Ruan lashed out with a bare foot to kick him. “I want clothes.”

Yu Jingmo easily caught the squirming foot, causing Tian Ruan to tense his arch in an attempt to pull back—but it was held firmly in place. With an amused smile, Yu Jingmo asked, “Attack and retreat? What kind of logic is that?”

Tian Ruan shivered, sitting up indignantly. “You did something bad to me and won’t admit it—what kind of logic is *that*?”

Yu Jingmo’s gaze lowered, dragging deliberately on the young man’s exposed skin, his gaze going heavy. “You mean this? I admit it. I did it.”

Leaning closer, he seemed ready to leave another mark.

Tian Ruan’s knees turned to jelly, his waist tingling, heart hammering loud enough to hear as dizziness made his head spin. He melted back into the mattress. “Don’t…”

Yu Jingmo still held his ankle, not letting go but not pushing further, his gaze burning. “Last night, you said you wanted to get your hands on me. Why so shy today?”

Tian Ruan was completely exposed, covering his eyes with his forearm, his ears and neck flushed a delicate pink. "Don't look."

Yu Jingmo's lips curved slightly. "Darling, this part of you is quite beautiful. I should learn floral arranging too."

"..."

Seeing Tian Ruan grow increasingly flustered, his face even paling, Yu Jingmo released his foot and covered him with the blanket, coaxing gently, "Don’t overthink it. Relax, or the dizziness will get worse. Take deep breaths."

Tian Ruan obediently tried to breathe deeply, and the dizziness gradually subsided. "Better now..."

Yu Jingmo fetched him clothes—all loose, soft comfy home clothes. After dressing, Tian Ruan went to wash up and eat.

This might have been the first time Yu Jingmo allowed someone to stay in his room, sleep in his bed, and even eat in his bedroom. Mr. Yu sat across from Tian Ruan, watching him intently. Tian Ruan ate without dropping a single grain, finishing breakfast under a bit of tension.

Tian Ruan said, "I should go back to the guest room. My mom and Lu Qiuyan are coming to see me today."

Mr. Yu nodded. "Mhm."

So after eating, Tian Ruan returned to the guest room, feeling totally relaxed. He could roll around freely in his own space.

After 30 minutes of peace, Mr. Yu walked in briskly, carrying a laptop. He set up in the connected study, using Tian Ruan’s desk to work from home.

Tian Ruan peeked from the bed. "...Mr. Yu, aren’t you going to work?"

Mr. Yu’s voice was calm. "I’m staying home with you today."

"You really don’t have to. I’ll just sleep and eat all day. Keeping me company would be boring."

"Not boring."

Tian Ruan’s fun was over. He sneakily grabbed his phone to play.

Mr. Yu approached and took the phone away. "Using your phone stimulates the brain."

Tian Ruan picked up a calculus book instead.

Mr. Yu confiscated the book. "Reading and thinking stimulate the brain."

Bored, Tian Ruan rolled around on the bed.

Mr. Yu held him down. "Moving around too much stimulates the brain."

Tian Ruan stopped rolling, glaring at the impossibly handsome man before him, too exasperated to stay angry. "Mr. Yu stimulates my brain the most!"

Mr. Yu replied coolly, "Hormones stimulate the brain."

Tian Ruan: "Alright, alright."

Fine. Tian Ruan lay still.

Just as he was half-asleep, a knock sounded at the door. Mr. Yu said, "Come in."

The butler led in Yu Shang and Lu Qiuyan.

Tian Ruan’s eyes snapped open. He bolted upright, wailed dramatically as if a castaway spotting rescue, "Lu Qiuyan! You’re finally here!"

Lu Qiuyan froze, giving him a suspicious look.

Tian Ruan reached out shakily. "Lu Qiuyan... save me..."

The outstretched hand was grasped by a large one. Tian Ruan looked up at the owner of that hand and gave a little tremble.

Yu Jingmo knew his cold expression could be intimidating, so he softened his tone and said, "It seems Lu Qiuyan also stimulates your brain."

Tian Ruan, he said quickly: "No, no, not at all. Lu Qiuyan is as bland as tap water."

"Then what am I to you? Wine?"

Tian Ruan nodded in a daze, "Like premium vintage wine."

Yu Jingmo showed no reaction to this answer. He released Tian Ruan's hand and said to the lead pair who had just entered, "Tian Ruan's brain needs rest. Just treat him like a fool."

Lu Qiuyan: "Oh."

Yu Shang: ——

Lu Qiuyan brought a bag of bananas. The sight of them reminded Tian Ruan of the dirty talk he had exchanged with Yu Jingmo in the car the night before—"Then you must want to eat my big banana."

Unconsciously, Tian Ruan's gaze drifted toward Yu Jingmo's "big banana." Indeed, it was quite impressive—even hidden beneath his pants, it looked ready for action and well-endowed.

Lu Qiuyan followed Tian Ruan’s line of sight. ——

With genuine sincerity, Lu Qiuyan said to Tian Ruan, "You're very lucky."

Tian Ruan: ——