Chapter 40: Pulling the Belt Is a Blatant Invitation

Chapter 40: Pulling the Belt Is a Blatant Invitation

"Xiao Yezi, no matter what, always put yourself first. It's you before anyone else."

Shen Junlan murmured an "oh," but as Huo Yanchi stood up, he grabbed his belt.

With a snap, the tightly fastened belt suddenly loosened. Shen Junlan frantically reached for it but only caught Huo Yanchi's large, vein-protruding hand.

"Guai Yezi, is this your new way to get back at me?"

"No, it's not. I just wanted to grab your clothes."

Shen Junlan hadn't expected the belt buckle to be so loose—he hadn't used much force at all.

The space in the booth was limited. Huo Yanchi closed in on him, pressing Shen Junlan's back against the cold wall.

The heavy curtains by the window were half-drawn, and sunlight streamed through the gaps, illuminating half of Huo Yanchi's shoulder, flickering between light and shadow. When Shen Junlan looked up, all he saw were Huo Yanchi's tightly pressed lips.

They were crimson, even redder than the earlobe he'd bitten.

Shen Junlan swallowed unconsciously, his fingers twitching, only to be firmly held by Huo Yanchi.

Huo Yanchi drew closer, enveloping Shen Junlan in his embrace, his nose filled with Huo Yanchi's overpowering scent.

"Xiao Yezi, this... makes me feel like it's an invitation."

The word "invitation" carried a hidden meaning, and just then, the wind chime at the door rang.

Shen Junlan's heart leaped into his throat. He strained to hear the commotion outside while also keeping an eye on Huo Yanchi's mood. His heart pounded wildly, his mind overloaded with too many thoughts, almost suffocating him.

"What... invitation?" Shen Junlan heard his own voice, mumbled.

Huo Yanchi seemed to smile, but when Shen Junlan stared at the corner of his mouth, it seemed like he didn't.

"Xiao Yezi, remember that night in the bathroom? That was an invitation. And pulling someone else's belt is an even more blatant invitation."

Gulp.

Shen Junlan rubbed his tense temples, as if he had just learned something new, and nodded obediently.

"Master, it's fine at night, but not now. I'm afraid someone might come."

Huo Yanchi's pupils contracted slightly. His fingertips pressed against Shen Junlan's lips, seductive and alluring, pushing the atmosphere in that small space to its peak.

Xiao Yezi had accepted his invitation without hesitation.

In contrast, Huo Yanchi felt somewhat petty.

Huo Yanchi cleared his throat dryly, rubbing the tip of his nose. He fastened his belt and awkwardly changed the subject.

"Xiao Yezi, go see if there are any other customers."

"Okay."

Shen Junlan's temples were beaded with fine sweat. He wiped it away casually and obediently sat on the chair by the door, spacing out as he waited for customers.

"Huo Yanchi, are you going back to the company?"

"Mm, I'll pick you up tonight."

Fleeing in a panic.

Shen Junlan watched Huo Yanchi's hurried departure and suddenly thought of those words.

Shen Junlan traced Huo Yanchi's figure with his fingertips. He heard the sound of the welcome bell but saw no one.

"Is there water to drink?"

It was a hoarse, aged voice.

Shen Junlan hurried to the door. Crawling in from outside was a slow-moving turtle, its shell cracked, as if it had been thirsty for a long time.

"There's water. Come inside."

Seeing how slowly the old turtle moved, Shen Junlan crouched down and used some effort to carry it into the bathroom.

The previously unused fish tank now came in handy. Shen Junlan filled it with water and carefully placed the old turtle inside.

"Are you also a turtle from Mount Buzhou? What's been happening lately? I just picked up a python vine and kept it at home."

Shen Junlan worried that something might have happened on Mount Buzhou. Otherwise, why would so many plants and animals be coming down the mountain?

"Yes, Mount Buzhou is fine. It's just that the spiritual energy is too abundant and somewhat chaotic. I was brought here by tremors. I heard this place was opened by a flower demon, so I came."

Huh? Shen Junlan was puzzled. Who had spread the word? He thought for a long time but could only recall the python vine, which could enter dreams. He couldn't think of anyone else.

"Then, do you have news of Grandpa Tree—the thousand-year-old locust tree deep in Mount Buzhou?"

The old turtle was aged and its mind was slow. After a long while, it slowly said, "He seems powerful, not like the rest of us."

Shen Junlan agreed with that. Grandpa Tree was the wisest being he had ever met. He knew the laws of all things in the world and often said things Shen Junlan couldn't understand.

Grandpa Tree often said that everyone has their own destiny and opportunities. His opportunity lay in the southeast. Later, he was carried to the southeast by a mudslide, endured a thunder tribulation there, and was picked up by Huo Yanchi in the southeast.

Now, he had another dilemma and wanted Grandpa Tree to offer guidance.

He didn't want to be a flower anymore. He wanted to be human, someone who could stay with Huo Yanchi forever.

"Do you have nowhere to go? If you don't mind, you can stay in the shop. I'll just say you're the shop's mascot."

"Thank you. When I recover a bit, I will repay you."

Shen Junlan heard the old turtle's thoughts—it had mastered divination on its own and could predict fortunes.

"Mount Buzhou truly has hidden talents. But how does a turtle practice divination?"

The old turtle lifted its head in surprise, staring at Shen Junlan for a long time. The golden light surrounding Shen Junlan was almost blinding. It silently closed its eyes and motioned for Shen Junlan to place his hand on its shell.

Shen Junlan spread his fingers, pressing his middle finger against the horizontal lines on the turtle's shell.

"Done," the old turtle said calmly.

This time, Shen Junlan didn't hear the old turtle's thoughts. After a long pause, the old turtle only said four words:

"The Red Luan Star stirs."

Shen Junlan had heard this phrase before. Grandpa Tree said it was... a tribulation.

After a long moment, Shen Junlan crouched on the ground, staring at his fingers, and said in a very soft voice, "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

"It cannot be said."

It is karma—not something that can be labeled as good or bad. If one accepts it willingly, it is good; if one is insatiably greedy, it is bad.

"Just let it be; it is fate."

More than a hundred years ago, the old turtle was raised in a Taoist temple. Exposed to the temple's incense and atmosphere, it taught itself the art of divination. It only knew that the temple had taken it in to ward off evil and protect the household. Due to various reasons, it wound up on Mount Buzhou and began to wander.

This time, it came because it faintly sensed a connection.

The moment it saw Shen Junlan, it understood: Shen Junlan was blessed with great fortune. Under his protection, it could live a little longer.

"Do you need to eat anything? I'll buy you something."

"I don't eat anything, only drink water."

For many years, the old turtle had lived like this, consuming only water.

Shen Junlan got the old turtle settled, then picked up his phone to video-call Huo Yanchi.

On the screen, he was leaning obediently against the door, his almond eyes slightly open, looking a bit shy.

"Huo Yanchi, I've picked up another turtle. Don't throw away the big fish tank in the flower shop—it's perfect for keeping it."

"Hmm?"

The confusion in Huo Yanchi's tone was palpable. Shen Junlan thought Huo Yanchi didn't want him to keep it and quickly explained, "It's from Mount Buzhou, too, and it's so pitiful. It only drinks water. Besides, it understands divination and can predict fortunes."

Huo Yanchi couldn't see the bathroom from the monitor, only knowing from Xiao Yezi's description that the turtle was over a meter long. It had somehow made its way unimpeded from the street into the shop, which left Huo Yanchi utterly astonished.

"It's fine, you can keep it. I'll pick you up after work."

When he arrived at the shop, Huo Yanchi immediately took Xiao Yezi by the wrist to go see the turtle.

It was very old, lazily lying on the soft cushion Xiao Yezi had prepared for it. Its shell was covered in cracks—it truly looked pitiful.

As their eyes met, Huo Yanchi suddenly felt a strange thought arise: it seemed to be seeing something they couldn't.

The old turtle's surprise vanished completely. The red threads of fate around Huo Yanchi were almost tangling Shen Junlan up—boldly and unabashedly.

The aura around him wasn't gold but purplish-red—born into great wealth but plagued by a troubled fate. Originally destined to be a lone star of calamity, it was now balanced by Shen Junlan's golden aura.

The blending of flesh and blood was indeed rare.

"Xiao Yezi, can the turtle sleep like this? If we leave, how will it climb back into the fish tank?"

"It's fine, it can manage. It climbed out on its own earlier."

Day after day, they encountered all sorts of bizarre events.

Shen Junlan tugged Huo Yanchi's arm to leave, afraid the old turtle might bring up the "red phoenix star moving" again. According to Grandpa Tree, it didn't seem like a good thing, and he didn't want Huo Yanchi to worry about him.

"Xiao Yezi, don't you think it's strange? Why are so many animals and plants coming out of Mount Buzhou, and all of them seem somewhat spiritual?"

Shen Junlan stopped swinging his arm and, in a manner Huo Yanchi had never seen before, said, "Survival of the fittest—it's the law of nature. Those without spirituality probably died out long ago; we wouldn't have been able to meet them anyway."

The stars in the sky flickered for no reason.

Huo Yanchi stood under the streetlight, staring straight into Shen Junlan's eyes. "Xiao Yezi, do you miss home? Your home on Mount Buzhou?"

Huo Yanchi didn't even know where Mount Buzhou was—it wasn't marked on any map. Even if he wanted to take Xiao Yezi back for a visit, there was no way.

"I don't miss it. I have our home. On Mount Buzhou, I endured wind and rain, suffering hardships. How could it compare to being with you? Huo Yanchi, don't doubt yourself—you are the best. I'll stay with you and go nowhere else."

"Our home"—that answer warmed Huo Yanchi's heart. Yes, they had their own home.

***

At the bathroom door, Shen Junlan held his pajamas, silently confronting Huo Yanchi.

They had agreed that once they returned home, Huo Yanchi would help him, but now he wasn't allowed in? What was going on?

"Master, do you dislike me?"

Technically, he did; emotionally, he was satisfied.

Huo Yanchi rubbed his temples and patiently said, "Be good, Xiao Yezi. I was just joking. My pants are fastened tightly right now."

"Mine aren't tight."

Taking advantage of Huo Yanchi's distraction, Shen Junlan forcefully squeezed in. His movements as he undressed were fluid and effortless, stunning Huo Yanchi.

"Master, come quickly. No escaping."

Huo Yanchi hissed and abruptly shut the door. He stood resolutely under the shower, as if facing death, but thankfully Xiao Yezi knew his limits and didn't make any moves.

As they washed, the room grew warmer. Shen Junlan faced him, nervously clenching his fingers.

"Xiao Yezi…"

With just one glance, Huo Yanchi froze. It was a change he had never seen in Xiao Yezi before, now glaringly obvious before him.

"Huo Yanchi, am I not normal either?"

Shen Junlan couldn't describe the feeling. He had only glanced at Huo Yanchi a few more times, wishing Huo Yanchi would kiss him, but he never expected this.

"No, Xiao Yezi. This is very, very, very normal."

The shower's water flow suddenly stopped. Huo Yanchi braced one hand against the wall, his gaze burning like fire. He spoke hoarsely, "Xiao Yezi, I want to kiss you."

"Oh."

The next second, Huo Yanchi's kiss landed on his collarbone—urgent, storm-like, mixed with a venting passion.

All the unspoken emotions that Xiao Yezi couldn't perceive were conveyed in that kiss.

From his collarbone to his Adam's apple, Huo Yanchi's other hand held Xiao Yezi firmly.

"Xiao Yezi, don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."

Shen Junlan took a deep breath, suppressing his racing heartbeat, gasping as if suffocating.

Huo Yanchi was special—the feeling was indescribable but deeply cherished.

"Huo Yanchi, I like it."

The response to Shen Junlan was an even deeper, more intense kiss.

Small red marks dotted Shen Junlan's fair neck. His eyes were moist, his legs slightly weak, so he could only cling to Huo Yanchi's neck.

"Guai Yezi, call out my name."

"Huo Yanchi."

"Huo Yanchi."

At that moment, Shen Junlan suddenly recalled a fleeting memory.

That sweltering night, when Huo Yanchi said he was going to take a shower, he had also murmured his name like this in the bathroom.

Back then, he didn’t understand, he just thought it was odd.

Now, experiencing the same feelings as Huo Yanchi, he suddenly realized that pent-up emotions had all turned into the name of one person.

For Huo Yanchi, for him, it was a shared, unspoken secret.