Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The candles in Qingxue Studio cast a bright glow.

Song Yun stood at the doorway, first peeking inside.

The east chamber of the main house, designated by Ruan Hang as his study, while the west chamber served as his bedroom. The layout was not significantly different from Ruan Hang’s formal study, though this space felt more open and airy. Even the furniture and decor were strikingly similar, making Song Yun momentarily feel as if nothing had changed, as if he were still merely Ruan Hang’s young attendant.

Except that from this day forward, he would no longer be just a simple attendant.

There was some movement in the east chamber, suggesting Ruan Hang was inside.

Song Yun was still observing when the matron who had gone in to announce him emerged. Seeing him standing blankly outside the threshold, she smiled and said, “Go on in.”

For some reason, Song Yun suddenly felt a wave of timidity. He subconsciously tugged at the edge of his robe before quietly stepping into the main hall.

Ruan Hang sat at his desk, reading a book, awaiting Song Yun.

He knew today marked Song Yun’s formal arrival.

When Bai Sheng had first come to plead his son’s case, Ruan Hang had wholeheartedly approved of the Bai couple’s aspirations for their child. No matter how wealthy one might be, a life perpetually subservient would never be truly fulfilling. Few grasped this truth, and he felt fortunate that Song Yun possessed such discerning parents.

Yet, despite everyone’s best efforts, Song Yun ultimately could not have everything he desired. Still, Ruan Hang had promised Nanny Bai that he would, at the very least, do his utmost to protect him.

As the You hour drew to a close, faint sounds of movement could be heard from the courtyard. Soon, a matron came in to announce Song Yun’s arrival, and Ruan Hang set down his book.

But after waiting a moment longer, no one entered. Puzzled, Ruan Hang decided to go out and see what was happening.

Could Song Yun possibly have gotten lost in such a small courtyard?

Just as he rounded the screen, he collided squarely with someone with a soft thud.

Song Yun had just taken a step forward when he unexpectedly stumbled directly into Ruan Hang’s embrace, letting out a small gasp as he nearly lost his footing.

Ruan Hang quickly steadied him, a mixture of amusement and exasperation on his face. “What are you doing out here?”

“I…” Song Yun’s face flushed crimson the moment he recognized Ruan Hang. He confessed honestly, “I was secretly watching you…”

Ruan Hang was bewildered. “Why were you secretly watching me?”

“I didn’t want to disturb your reading. I was waiting for the perfect moment to enter…” Song Yun mumbled.

How peculiar, Ruan Hang thought. In the past, when had Song Yun ever cared if he was reading before bursting in? Not only that, he would often chatter like a little sparrow, noisily rushing in without a second thought. Had his personality truly changed after his differentiation?

“And the best moment you chose was to run into me as I was coming out?” Ruan Hang inquired.

“No… Young Master.” Song Yun’s face burned even hotter. “I was wrong.”

Ruan Hang led him inside and had him sit under the lamplight before getting a proper look.

Song Yun’s clothes were vibrant and striking, appearing splendid and festive in the candlelight—styles he had never worn before. He wore earrings, the golden beads swaying with his every movement. His lips were tinted with rouge, and his brows had been delicately drawn with kohl, making his fair, soft cheeks appear even more luminous and radiant.

Ruan Hang had never seen Song Yun in such a state and couldn’t help but stare for a while. Song Yun gazed back, but after a moment, he grew uneasy, as if embarrassed, and lowered his head.

A sweet aroma gradually permeated the air, like ripe peaches or some other luscious fruit.

It was Song Yun’s pheromones.

Before his differentiation, Song Yun had no distinct scent—sometimes a grassy smell if he’d been rolling in the fields, or a faint feline scent if he’d been playing with cats for too long.

After learning of Song Yun’s differentiation, Ruan Hang had pondered what his pheromones might be like. Now that he knew, he found it utterly different from his imaginings—yet it also felt perfectly fitting, as if Song Yun had always been destined to smell this way.

“Young Master, how much longer are you going to stare?” Song Yun nervously fidgeted with his sleeve, unable to hold back the question.

Ruan Hang seemed to realize he had been somewhat indiscreet and cleared his throat, averting his gaze. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Yes, I ate before coming. My mother made dumplings tonight and made me eat a lot,” Song Yun prattled on.

The fact that he’d eaten so many dumplings clashed oddly with his delicate, exquisitely adorned appearance today, inexplicably reminding Ruan Hang of when he was little and had gorged himself so full of dumplings that he fell ill with indigestion, developed a fever in the middle of the night, and required a doctor.

Ruan Hang couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Song Yun also realized that mentioning the dumplings might have been inappropriate. He anxiously touched his head, then suddenly remembered his hair had been carefully arranged today and couldn’t be mussed, so he quickly withdrew his hand.

To Ruan Hang, he now looked like nothing more than a little beauty conjured by the Monkey King—no matter how exquisitely adorned, the essence of this person was still that of an impish little monkey. He laughed even harder.

Song Yun knew Ruan Hang was teasing him and grew embarrassed. “Stop laughing at me, Young Master. Aren’t you going to read anymore?”

“What’s left to read now?” Ruan Hang chuckled.

“If you’re not reading, then let’s go to bed!” Song Yun declared firmly.

“Alright, let’s go to bed,” Ruan Hang said, still laughing.

By the time both had finished bathing, it was already the first watch of the night.

Song Yun, clad only in red sleeping robes, slid into Ruan Hang’s bed first.

Ruan Hang’s bedding bore his pheromones. Before his differentiation, Song Yun had only found them pleasant. But now, after his own differentiation, the scent felt entirely different—strangely enticing, as if he were becoming addicted. Unable to resist, he buried his face in Ruan Hang’s blankets…

A short while later, Ruan Hang arrived. He curiously eyed the shape beneath the covers, then lifted a corner near what seemed to be the head.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I…” Song Yun’s face flushed as he stammered, “Nothing…”

He instinctively shifted further over to make room for Ruan Hang.

But the bed was quite large, and Song Yun was small, so he’d only taken up about a third of the space.

“Are you trying to merge with the wall?” Ruan Hang asked.

For some reason, Song Yun felt Ruan Hang seemed unusually playful today—almost roguish. He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination.

Still, he had a task to complete. Nanny Jiang had taught him the procedure, and he’d memorized it carefully. He also remembered that Ruan Hang had to wake at Yin hour to attend the academy and couldn’t stay up too late.

So, hiding half his face under the blanket, he gathered his courage and cut to the chase after Ruan Hang settled in: “Young Master, do you know what we’re supposed to do next?”

Ruan Hang looked down at him from the side, an expression of mild curiosity on his face. Song Yun saw him blink, as if considering, before he answered, “No, what should we do?”

“Really?” Song Yun thought Ruan Hang didn’t look clueless at all. But while Ruan Hang occasionally joked, he almost never lied.

Ruan Hang nodded earnestly. His handsome face didn’t seem the type to deceive, so Song Yun decided to believe him this once.

After all, Ruan Hang usually seemed very innocent—he’d never shown interest in the salacious books passed around among the academy students. He must truly be an upright gentleman who knew nothing of such matters.

“Nanny Jiang said that if you knew what to do, I should just follow your lead. But if you didn’t, I should teach you,” Song Yun explained seriously, like a responsible little adult.

Ruan Hang inclined his head slightly to the side. Song Yun thought he saw him smile, but in the candlelight, he couldn’t be sure.

Hmm... maybe I was just seeing things.

But Ruan Hang quickly turned back and said nonchalantly, "I don't know. Show me how."

Song Yun hadn't expected he'd really have to teach the young master. The responsibility suddenly felt heavy, yet he was also quite nervous himself.

But he gathered his courage and bravely began.

Recalling what Nanny Jiang had taught him, Song Yun was already turning beet red. But they could take things slow, starting with something less intense.

"Well, you... you can kiss me first," he said, unconsciously closing his eyes in nervousness.

"Where? And how?" Ruan Hang asked earnestly.

"With your mouth... um, right here." For the first time, Song Yun thought Ruan Hang was being so clueless, but he patiently pointed to his own lips before instinctively closing his eyes again.

Then Song Yun felt something soft lightly brush against his lips.

Just that brief touch made his cheeks burn as if on fire. If possible, he'd rather curl into a ball and hide right now.

But of course he couldn't, because Ruan Hang was asking, "Like this?" like an eager student.

Unable to speak, Song Yun could only nod hard, his face crimson.

"I don't think that's quite right," Ruan Hang remarked.

Song Yun kept his eyes shut but vaguely detected laughter in Ruan Hang's voice.

"Then what do you want?" Song Yun had had enough and asked.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Ruan Hang closing in fast—indeed smiling—as he gently tilted Song Yun's chin up before bending down.

Soon, everything went dizzy, breathless like he might pass out. He was cursing inwardly, and the moment Ruan Hang released him, he gasped out angrily between pants, "You knew how all along! You... you jerk... mmmph—"

***

The next morning, Ruan Hang rose punctually at Yin hour (around 3-5 am) as usual.

Song Yun remained asleep, utterly oblivious.

Seeing him like that, Ruan Hang didn't wake him and quietly got out of bed alone.

Maidservants brought in hot water to assist Ruan Hang with his morning routine.

Song Yun had fallen asleep abruptly the previous night. Ruan Hang had barely let him go when, still panting unevenly, he'd passed out with sweat and tears clinging to him.

Perhaps it had truly been too exhausting. Ruan Hang felt he might've overdone it.

He'd had hot water fetched then and personally tended to Song Yun himself from head to toe. Throughout, Song Yun hadn't woken, only emitting a few sleepy mumbles... But now Song Yun's body was thoroughly scented with his pheromones, which pleased Ruan Hang immensely, putting him in such high spirits that he went to school bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

As Mao hour (around 5-7 am) neared its end, with Ruan Hang gone for over an hour, the sun finally rose. A maidservant quietly drew open the bed curtains.

The figure on the bed still slept soundly, breathing evenly. He lay on his stomach, half a bite mark visible on his exposed neck, with faint red marks elsewhere where his clothes didn't quite cover. The maidservant wasn't sure how to wake him, then decided against patting him, opting instead to call his name softly several times.

Song Yun finally woke up groggily at last, his first question being, "What time is it?"