Chapter 64: Xiao Yezi Blooms

Chapter 64: Xiao Yezi Blooms

The suffocating, airless dream lasted only a few seconds. In the blink of an eye, Shen Junlan opened his tear-filled eyes, his back pressed tightly against the bed as he gasped for air.

The moonlight remained as beautiful as before he fell asleep, its slender beams casting a glow over Huo Yanchi. Shen Junlan pouted, a hint of resentment on his lips.

He had imagined countless possibilities but never once considered that Huo Yanchi would be so afraid of being abandoned by him once he grew old.

Before he could even speak, his slightly parted lips were sealed by Huo Yanchi’s kiss.

The kiss was urgent, carrying the frantic relief of something lost and regained, tinged with an unexplainable moisture.

With a soft *tap*, Huo Yanchi’s burning tear fell into the hollow of Shen Junlan’s eye. Shen Junlan’s breath hitched as his trembling fingers slowly reached up to touch the corner of Huo Yanchi’s eye.

The tear disappeared so quickly that Shen Junlan almost doubted the dampness he felt was an illusion.

“Brother, why… are you crying?”

Huo Yanchi brushed his fingertips over Shen Junlan’s lips and said hoarsely, “Everything I said before we slept was just my own fears talking. Xiao Yezi, now that you’re with me, we’ll be together for life—and in death, we’ll go together.”

He never truly believed Shen Junlan would disdain his aged appearance; it was the deep-seated insecurity gnawing at him from within.

Shen Junlan was like a bright, clear moon, while he was muddied water tainted with grime—somehow mismatched.

But the patient expression in Shen Junlan’s eyes in the dream suddenly made Huo Yanchi understand: his life was only a few decades long, and the time he could spend day and night with Xiao Yezi was limited. Making Xiao Yezi anxious and uncertain in that limited time was unfair to both of them.

“Huo Yanchi, kiss me.”

The fierce kiss trailed from the corner of his lips to his throat. Huo Yanchi nipped and teased Shen Junlan’s Adam’s apple while his other hand casually undid the buttons of his pajamas.

His slightly sweaty skin was gently caressed by Huo Yanchi, who held his chin, their gazes locking in shared madness.

“Brother, I told you a long, long time ago—you can do whatever you want to me.”

“Huo Yanchi, you belong to me, and I belong to you.”

He was no longer the clueless gentleman orchid. Doing such things together was perfectly normal. It was only out of respect, and fear that he might dislike it, that Huo Yanchi had held back.

“Brother, I already bought the stuff—can’t let it go to waste, right?”

His arousal fully ignited, Huo Yanchi turned and went downstairs. When he returned, two different boxes were tossed onto the bedside.

Not the ones Shen Junlan had bought.

“Brother, it seems… these are different.”

“Mm, I exchanged them. I told you last time—the size was too small. I swapped them.”

Huo Yanchi’s eyes seemed to burn with restlessness. He smiled, pinched Shen Junlan’s earlobe, and guided his hand to feel.

“Naughty Leaf, pick one.”

Shen Junlan didn’t understand the difference either, so he randomly grabbed one. Under the dim light, Huo Yanchi grinned like a sly fox.

“My Xiao Yezi has good taste—this one’s the most skin-friendly.”

Seeing Shen Junlan’s confusion, Huo Yanchi leaned close to his ear and whispered an explanation. After hearing it, Shen Junlan blushed fiercely and lightly hit Huo Yanchi’s chest in embarrassment.

“Boyfriend, are you all talk? You say so much, but maybe you don’t actually know how.”

Provocation worked better than any other tactic. Huo Yanchi raised an eyebrow, tore open the box with force, pressed one hand against Shen Junlan’s neck, and used his teeth to rip open the packaging.

With a soft *hiss*, Shen Junlan’s heartbeat quickened at the sight, his earlier bravado completely gone as he gripped Huo Yanchi’s wrist.

“Brother, be gentle… I’m scared it’ll hurt.”

“Mm.”

The muffled reply was lost in a flurry of kisses.

Shen Junlan thought to himself that he would never, in this lifetime, meet anyone like Huo Yanchi.

Soft moans were faintly audible in the darkness. Shen Junlan brushed the fine sweat from his chin, his dazed eyes fixed intently on Huo Yanchi.

“Brother, I love you… I love you so much.”

Mm~

Shen Junlan clenched his teeth, swallowing any inappropriate sounds.

It suddenly occurred to him that every time he spoke to Huo Yanchi, he only said “like”—he had never once said “love.”

Love—how could he not love him?

Every impression Shen Junlan had of this world came from Huo Yanchi. It was Huo Yanchi who taught him how to live like a human.

“Xiao Yezi, I love you too—so, so much.”

Sticky, lingering kisses fell on Shen Junlan’s neck as Huo Yanchi’s eyes never once left him.

His Xiao Yezi was so beautiful that just looking at him made Huo Yanchi lose himself for a moment.

He couldn’t recall when the wind had started blowing in the room. Staring at the petals that had inexplicably appeared on Shen Junlan’s body, Huo Yanchi was momentarily stunned.

It seemed… they had started emanating from Xiao Yezi’s head.

“Brother, why… did you stop?”

Huo Yanchi picked up a petal in disbelief and placed it over Shen Junlan’s eye.

“Xiao Yezi, you’re blooming. You didn’t lie to me—getting close really does make you flower.”

Hiss.

Huo Yanchi pressed even closer.

Zero distance.

“N-no, brother, I really don’t bloom!”

In his 323 years of life, there had never been any sign of blooming. Besides, he was male—males don’t bloom.

Shen Junlan closed his eyes. It must be an illusion, he told himself. He had said he doesn’t bloom—Huo Yanchi must have found some prop to trick him.

“Is that so?” Huo Yanchi’s fingertips touched the top of Shen Junlan’s head. It was really a flower.

“Since my Naughty Leaf thinks this isn’t enough proof, let’s change our position… our approach.”

Huo Yanchi picked Shen Junlan up and slowly carried him to the bathroom.

In front of the bright mirror, Huo Yanchi gently touched Shen Junlan's slightly closed eyelids, signaling for him to look up.

Petals rustled down, their color deepening.

A brilliant red spread across Huo Yanchi’s entire body. Shen Junlan, mouth open, watched as a tiny sprout peeked from his palm. This time, he saw clearly—it wasn’t a leaf but a flower bud.

The little sprout wrapped around Huo Yanchi as though rebelling, and tiny petals drifted down alongside it.

He was even more excited than Shen Junlan—or rather, the little sprout was expressing all the emotions Shen Junlan had been suppressing.

Huo Yanchi gently touched the small flower, his tone unusually gentle.

"Guai Yezi, I've imagined countless ways to make you bloom, but I never thought it would require watering."

Shen Junlan blushed furiously, too embarrassed to face anyone. He swallowed hard, having no choice but to endure.

The little sprout, too, ignored his pleas, clinging tightly to Huo Yanchi and mortifying him completely.

"Sweetheart, do you like it when I do this?"

"I like it."

In truth, it was so much more than liking—it was special, incredibly special.

After their bath, Shen Junlan lay on the bed.

Petals covered the bed, nearly swallowing them both. Dazed, he covered his eyes, as if he’d absorbed something.

The last time he swallowed it, he sensed something different. Now, even more so—his spiritual energy brimmed overwhelmingly.

*Cough, cough.* Could it be that he was some kind of gentleman orchid capable of absorbing essence?

As petals continued to fall, Huo Yanchi stood on the balcony, gazing tenderly at the orchid in full bloom.

His Xiao Yezi had finally bloomed, after eight long years.

Huo Yanchi took out his phone and took countless photos from every possible angle—so many that Shen Junlan cleared his throat pointedly.

"Huo Yanchi, could you be a little more reserved? Don’t you know flowers are a plant’s reproductive organs? Stop taking so many pictures."

Shen Junlan was so embarrassed he wished he could sink through the floor. He felt utterly mortified.

In an instant, Huo Yanchi pulled Shen Junlan into his arms and lay down with him.

He held Shen Junlan’s wrist, planting kiss after kiss on his palm.

"My Xiao Yezi is so exquisite. Don’t worry, I’d never dream of hurting you. It’s your first time blooming—I want to document it. Look, I’ve locked the photos. No one else can see them."

Shen Junlan murmured in agreement, grabbing a handful of petals and throwing them at Huo Yanchi. He fretted, "Aren’t you going to clean up these petals before sleeping? You usually hate messes. They might stain the sheets."

Huo Yanchi gently kissed the corner of Shen Junlan’s eye—red and slightly swollen from earlier tears.

"My Xiao Yezi is so clean. We’ll leave them for now and deal with them tomorrow."

Huo Yanchi held Shen Junlan firmly in his arms, cupping a hand over his eyes and urging him to sleep.

Unable to sleep himself, Huo Yanchi looked down at the peacefully sleeping Xiao Yezi in his arms, his lips quirking into an unconscious smile.

Xiao Yezi was completely and entirely his now.

He had marked Shen Junlan as his own, and no one could take him away.

***

Sunlight flooded the room.

Huo Yanchi quietly got up and collected every fallen petal from the bed, even gathering strays from the bathroom.

He ordered a machine online that could preserve the petals in their vivid red forever. After processing, they emerged perfectly preserved.

He carefully placed the petals in an exquisite gift box and hid them in a safe, along with his once-anxious heart.

With his heart settled, all uncertainty vanished the moment he closed the safe door.

"Mmm."

Huo Yanchi kept vigil by the bed, and the moment Shen Junlan rustled awake, he handed him a glass of honeyed water.

"Xiao Yezi, extend your little sprout and drink some water."

The flowerpot was already thoroughly watered, but Shen Junlan took a few sips anyway, afraid Huo Yanchi might worry needlessly.

"Huo Yanchi, I’ve had enough."

"Okay."

Huo Yanchi had researched care guides. He carefully helped Shen Junlan sit up, propping a pillow behind his lower back for support.

"Sweetheart, is your back sore? Let me massage it for you."

"No." Shen Junlan’s reply was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Huo Yanchi grunted in reply, brazenly resting his hand on Shen Junlan’s lower back and massaging gently.

*No soreness or pain? That can’t be right.*

*Was the internet lying?*

*Or was it that a few hours meant nothing to Shen Junlan—was he inadequate?*

Huo Yanchi’s expression shifted dramatically, filled with anguish. Was he really so inadequate for Shen Junlan?

*Thump.*

Shen Junlan threw a pillow at Huo Yanchi, fuming. "Huo Yanchi, are you overthinking again? I’m telling you, stop it. My spiritual energy protects me. I’m a flower, not you."

After a long pause, Shen Junlan glanced away and muttered, "Brother, you’re plenty capable."

It wasn’t that Shen Junlan could read minds—Huo Yanchi’s disappointment was just too obvious. Anyone could tell what was bothering him.

Humans and flowers were different. If he were human, back pain, soreness, and a hoarse voice would have been unavoidable.

Huo Yanchi nodded, his fingers brushing against the red marks on Shen Junlan’s neck.

Hidden under the blankets, his skin was dotted with countless marks.

"These... if you want them to stay, I won’t heal them."

Huo Yanchi loved claiming Shen Junlan with marks, as if only then could he be certain. Shen Junlan hated to see him distressed, so he let them be.

"Cough, cough, that won’t be needed."

"Well, then I..." Shen Junlan watched Huo Yanchi's every move, his eyes unconsciously crinkling into a smile.

"Don't." Huo Yanchi pinched Shen Junlan's earlobe. "You, you always like to scare me. Alright, alright, keep the petals. I like it, I really do."

"Hmph, it's your fault for not being sincere. I'm just here to cure your bad habits."

Shen Junlan climbed out of bed. The petals had already disappeared. He thought Huo Yanchi had thrown them away but didn’t pay it much mind, heading to the bathroom to wash up. After just two steps, his legs went weak, and he fell right against Huo Yanchi.

Huh?

Wait, didn’t I use my spiritual power? Why is this still happening?

Huo Yanchi’s eyes curved into a smile as he scooped Shen Junlan up.

"Sweetheart, it’s safer if I carry you to the bathroom. I’m worried my Xiao Yezi might fall in there."

Shen Junlan leaned his head back, resigned. What kind of situation is this? I really thought I was fine.

After a busy morning, Shen Junlan finally had time to take a good look at himself. The central stem had grown overnight. He’d noticed it earlier but thought it was just another leaf. Who would’ve thought it’d be... [reproductive part].

"Sweetheart, isn’t it absolutely beautiful?"

Shen Junlan nodded without hesitation. "Of course! I’m the most unique Clivia—naturally stunning."

The little sprout, not to be outdone, also emerged.

Huo Yanchi was speechless. He’d hinted at it so many times, yet Shen Junlan still thought it was a leaf. How odd.

"Alright, alright, my mistake. I’ll definitely recognize it next time. Don’t be upset."

Huo Yanchi had to coax Shen Junlan, and now he had to coax the little sprout too.

"Okay, it’s my fault too for not noticing right away. I apologize."

Only after hearing Huo Yanchi’s apology did the little sprout pull back happily.

Shen Junlan and Huo Yanchi exchanged a glance, both finding the situation amusing.

"Brother, aren’t you going to work today?"

"No, staying with you is more important."

Xiao Yezi didn’t need to eat or drink. Aside from keeping him company, there didn’t seem to be anything else Huo Yanchi could do.

And most importantly, none of the things he’d imagined needing to do were actually necessary.

Sigh, no chance to show off at all.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

Xiao Que suddenly appeared at the window. Shen Junlan, surprised, opened it.

"Xiao Que, what brings you here?"

"I thought I saw you blooming from the tree, so I came to take a look."

Xiao Que flew around the flowerpot curiously. So you really can bloom! He’d thought Shen Junlan was a variety that never flowers.

"Congratulations, Jun Lan. You’re so beautiful."

The congratulations carried a double meaning. Xiao Que could sense a subtle change between Shen Junlan and Huo Yanchi—a change he called "bonding."

Two becoming one, that’s roughly what it meant.

"Thank you. You’re incredibly beautiful too."

Come to think of it, it was Xiao Que who taught him all that knowledge. Xiao Que was his teacher, a wonderful one at that.

"By the way, Jun Lan, is something wrong with that little ghost? He seems so listless. I called out to him, but he didn’t respond. He’s just curled up in the cabinet, clutching a piece of jade, completely unresponsive."

Shen Junlan let out a low, somber hum. He gently petted Xiao Que’s fluffy feathers and whispered, "He remembered some things from the past and isn’t feeling too well. He just needs some time to recover."

Xiao Que tactfully didn’t press further. From the look of it, that little ghost must have had it rough before.

"Jun Lan, if you need anything, just call me. I’ll help however I can."

"Okay, thank you, Xiao Que."

Xiao Que, being perceptive, didn’t stay long. After exchanging a few more words with Shen Junlan, he flew away.

Shen Junlan sighed. It was fine if Xiao Que didn’t bring it up, but now that he had, it gave him a headache.

"Huo Yanchi, maybe I should video call my brother again and ask him."

After all, he’s lived much longer than I have. He should have some experience.

"Alright, it wouldn’t hurt to ask."

Shen Junlan picked up his phone and sat on the sofa. As soon as he video-called Liu Qishan, he noticed the other’s strange expression.

"Brother, is something wrong?"

Shen Junlan felt a chill run down his spine. He sat up straight, nervously avoiding Liu Qishan’s gaze.

Liu Qishan clicked his tongue. Even through the screen, Shen Junlan’s appearance couldn’t be faked.

Radiant and glowing.

"You two... did it."

Damn. Shen Junlan was caught off guard by such a direct question and stammered, unable to form a response.

Well, that was... really straightforward.