Chapter 17 Words in the Room

Chapter 17: Intimate Conversations

The next day, Madam Li busied herself preparing gifts for her youngest son and his spouse’s returning-home visit. Jian Ru also pitched in, helping to pack two large trunks with food, drinks, and household items.

Looking at the two trunks, Jian Ru felt a knot of anxiety in his stomach.

The Li family was a prominent, wealthy household with strict conventions. During his previous visit to meet his adoptive parents, Granny Jin had quietly coached him, ensuring everything went smoothly.

He wasn’t afraid of others criticizing him, but Mr. and Mrs. Li had been very kind to him. He didn’t want to make his adoptive parents lose face or give people a reason to gossip about the Li family.

Madam Li said, “Granny Jin went to visit her daughter in the neighboring town a few days ago. I sent her a message yesterday, and she replied that she’ll return tomorrow. She’ll accompany you the day after for the returning-home visit. With her there, you don’t need to worry—nothing will go wrong.”

Jian Ru was surprised. His own parents had passed away early, and no one had ever looked out for him so considerately over the years. He walked over to the elderly lady, looping his arm through hers affectionately and giving it a little shake. “Mother, you’re so kind.”

Madam Li glared at him. “Don’t try to soft-soap me. It was the little one who begged me to help—otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered!”

Jian Ru was taken aback but said, “Even so, you’ve gone to great trouble for me.” He had been feeling out of sorts all morning, and even his *sajiao* wasn't as spirited as usual.

Seeing his state, Madam Li opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately shook her head and waved her hand, telling him to go rest.

On his way back, a light snow was falling, and Jian Ru’s leg, which had been injured when a wall collapsed on him, started to ache faintly.

After brushing the snow off his clothes upon entering the room, he changed and headed to the small kitchen. There, he found the second young master sitting on a low stool, watching over a pot simmering on the stove. The bitter medicinal smell filled the air.

Jian Ru had heard noises in the small kitchen earlier and assumed it was Xiao Ning inside.

Hearing him enter, the second young master turned around. His face was smudged with soot, leaving a large black mark on his cheek.

Jian Ru had never seen the second young master look so disheveled. His stern expression faltered, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

The second young master laughed too, then explained, “I’ve brewed medicine before, but I’m used to the small medicine stoves at the clinic. I’m not familiar with the large stove at home.”

Jian Ru took a cloth and wiped his face. The second young master lifted his chin, his eyelids lowered, revealing long, thick eyelashes that fluttered like butterfly wings.

Seeing this, Jian Ru felt a tenderness stir in his heart again. He thought to himself that the second young master was so handsome—his past was perhaps inevitable. Perhaps he shouldn’t fault him for it.

But when the second young master reached out to hold his hand, Jian Ru’s gaze fell on the clear difference in their skin tones. Even though he had grown fairer, he still couldn’t compare to the second young master.

After all, he was just a coarse country man.

Memories of Sun Yushuang’s pale and refined appearance flashed through his mind, along with the books on the second young master’s desk—books whose characters he could barely recognize. He was suddenly overwhelmed by misery.

He wrenched his hand away and turned to leave the room.

In the small kitchen, Li Jintong stared at his rejected hand, his brow furrowed in vexation.

After returning to his room, Jian Ru washed his hands, changed clothes, and lay down on the bed. He tried to close his eyes and rest, but the dull, throbbing pain in his leg kept him awake.

A short while later, the bedroom door quietly opened and closed again.

Lying in bed, Jian Ru caught the strong scent of medicine he had smelled earlier in the kitchen. Peering through half-closed eyes past the bed curtains, he saw the second young master carrying something as he approached the bed. Jian Ru quickly shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

The bed curtains were drawn aside, and he felt warm breath drawing nearer. Jian Ru recognized the familiar scent of incense on the other person.

“Xiao Ru,” the second young master called softly from very close by. Not wanting to be seen so up close, Jian Ru finally opened his eyes.

The second young master’s eyes sparkled with amusement, as if saying, “I knew you were faking.”

Jian Ru turned his face away, refusing to look at him.

The second young master said, “I mentioned before that there’s a way to treat your leg pain, but one herb was particularly scarce. I finally gathered everything a few days ago.”

Jian Ru blinked and turned to look at him, noticing the mortar bowl in his hand filled with dark, steaming medicinal paste.

Pushing himself up on his elbows, Jian Ru shifted to the edge of the bed.

The second young master sat on the low stool beside the bed—the same one Jian Ru had used while caring for him during his illness. Setting the bowl aside, he gently rolled up the leg of Jian Ru’s pants.

Jian Ru watched, mesmerized, at his actions. When the second young master looked up and smiled, Jian Ru didn’t miss the dimples that appeared in his smile this time.

“Just bear it for a moment—the paste works best when applied hot,” Li Jintong said softly.

Jian Ru kept watching him and nodded instinctively. Only when the searing heat hit his leg, making him yelp, did he snap back to reality.

He tried to pull away, but the young man tightly grasped his calf, preventing any movement. The soft flesh spilled between his fingers.

“Don’t move.”

Jian Ru stayed still, biting his lip and enduring the heat.

Li Jintong glanced at him before continuing to apply the paste until the bowl was empty.

Once the initial intense heat passed, the discomfort eased. The warm paste continued to radiate heat.

“How does it feel now?” Li Jintong asked.

“Much better,” Jian Ru replied.

He looked down at his calf, still held tightly. Li Jintong cleared his throat and released his grip, leaving deep, red finger marks on the pale skin.

Noticing the young man staring at the marks, Jian Ru fidgeted, his slender legs shifting uneasily. Li Jintong jolted from his reverie, cleared his throat again, and carefully bound Jian Ru’s leg with a cloth he had prepared. Then, he gently rolled down the pant leg.

Picking up the mortar bowl, he said, “Lie down for a while. I’ll remove the paste once it cools.”

Jian Ru lay down.

Li Jintong covered him with the quilt, and Jian Ru closed his eyes.

After hearing the other leave the room and softly close the door, Jian Ru opened his eyes again and stared at the door for a long time.

He had intended to rest only briefly but eventually fell asleep without realizing it.

He woke to the sensation of someone moving his leg. When he opened his eyes, the cooled medicinal paste had already been removed.

The bed curtains were half-drawn, and in the dim light, he saw the second young master sitting on the edge of the bed, bending over to carefully wipe the residual paste from his knee with a cloth. After finishing, he gently rolled down the pant leg and drew the quilt up over him.

When Li Jintong returned after taking out the basin, washing his hands, and approaching the bed, he paused slightly and said, “You’re awake?”

Jian Ru looked at him and blinked. “Should I start making dinner?”

“Xiao Ning is handling it,” Li Jintong replied, sitting on the bed and taking off his shoes before lying down. “It's been a long day—rest a bit longer.”

Li Jintong lay down beside Jian Ru, who shifted to share the quilt, covering them both.

Jian Ru closed his eyes again, trying to fall back asleep, but found himself unable to.

He opened his eyes and turned his head to the side, meeting another pair of eyes that were clearly awake.

Li Jintong hadn’t slept either and had been lying on his side watching him for who knows how long.

Jian Ru bit his lip; what was bothering him had reached its limit, and he could no longer hold it in.

In one swift motion, he threw off the quilt and, under Li Jintong’s astonished gaze, scrambled on top of him, plopping down squarely on the younger man’s stomach, making the Second Young Master let out another sharp gasp.

Leaning down, Jian Ru gripped the clothes at Li Jintong’s shoulders with both hands, his expression fierce and teeth gritted as he demanded, "Li Jintong, tell me—what exactly is going on between you and that Sun Yushuang?"

Just as Li Jintong caught his breath and was about to speak, Jian Ru narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer, threatening, "If you dare brush me off, I won’t let this go!"

The Second Young Master looked surprised and was about to reply when, at that moment, the door to the room swung open with a loud bang. Before the woman even stepped inside, her voice rang out.

"Jin Tong, Jian Ru, I just steamed some sweet buns and brought some for you to try—" Li Jinhui entered the room and, at a glance, caught sight of four legs all tangled up behind the half-drawn bed curtains.

Immediately, she cried out, "Oh my god!" Covering her face, she turned away and exclaimed, "I’ll leave the buns in the kitchen for you—I’m going!"

With that, she made to leave.

Jian Ru, knowing she had misunderstood, blushed furiously and quickly scrambled off the Second Young Master, who also hurriedly sat up to help straighten Jian Ru’s disheveled collar. Once done, Jian Ru called out to her, flustered, "Big Sister, it’s not—"

Li Jinhui halted but didn’t turn around, still covering her face as she said, "Let me tell you, you can’t blame me for this—Mom made me come over right now."

"Ah?" Jian Ru didn’t understand what she meant.

Standing with her back to them, Li Jinhui spoke rapidly, "Jian Ru, I need to apologize. That business with Sun Yushuang—I only said it to upset you. He did like Jin Tong back then and wanted to marry into the family, but Jin Tong never agreed to it, not once!"

"Alright, I’ve said what I needed to say. You two... do whatever you please." With that, Li Jinhui slammed the door shut with a bang, and her footsteps hurried out of the courtyard.

Inside the room, on the bed, Jian Ru and the Second Young Master sat on opposite sides, just stared at each other, speechless.

Li Jintong said softly, "So these past couple of days, this is what you were upset about."

His eyes seemed to be shining brightly. For some reason, under such a gaze, Jian Ru felt too embarrassed to meet his eyes and averted his gaze.

A warm sensation spread over the hand resting on his knee—it was being held by warm, firm fingers.

The corners of Li Jintong’s lips lifted in a faint smile. "Whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you honestly. I wouldn’t dare brush you off—I’m afraid you really won’t let me off the hook."

Jian Ru couldn’t take it anymore. With a muffled sound, he covered his face and buried himself entirely under the quilt, the sound of the young man’s cheerful laughter ringing in his ears.