Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Chapter 30

In the middle of the night, Lu Wuyou woke up.

Fang Zhihe was staring at him, their limbs intertwined as if he hadn't noticed.

Lu Wuyou lazily stroked his waist and belly, then said, "I promised Aning yesterday that I'd help find her family. It'll take about three to five days before I can go to Fuzhou Prefecture. Why don't you go ahead?"

Fang Zhihe reached out and took his hand, gazing at him intently in the darkness. "Do you still remember why you came here?"

His tone was casual, carrying neither reproach nor mockery. Lu Wuyou, upon hearing this, felt a rare pang of hesitation.

"The people are the common folk, and this one is too," he said coldly, pulling his hand out of Fang Zhihe's grip. "But this one person is no different."

Though he knew Fang Zhihe was right, he stubbornly refused to comply.

Fang Zhihe nearly laughed at his twisted logic. He saw through it clearly—this man was deliberately putting on a show of power, being so unreasonable. He let Lu Wuyou withdraw his hand without trying to hold on, then turned his back to him and closed his eyes to sleep.

Lu Wuyou waited a long time but heard nothing from him. Feeling snubbed, he slipped his hand back into Fang Zhihe's embrace and continued sleeping while holding him.

The next morning, Lu Wuyou got up early as usual to buy groceries at the market, bringing back a bag of roasted chestnuts for Fang Zhihe.

Fang Zhihe rose later, wearing an outer robe, and was brewing tea in the courtyard when he saw the girl staying in Lu Wuyou's room walk out serenely. She smiled and greeted him good morning. Fang Zhihe swept his gaze over her expressionlessly. "Seeking family by nearly killing yourself—quite a method, miss."

The girl paused at his words, tilting her hand as she fixed her hair, and said with a grin, "Brother Fang really is as hard to get along with as Brother Lu said."

Fang Zhihe lowered his eyes to watch the petals swirling in the boiling water, saying nothing. He couldn't be bothered to argue with such a rude woman. If it weren't for Lu Wuyou being blind, he wouldn't have even allowed her to set foot in the courtyard!

When Lu Wuyou returned, he saw Fang Zhihe sitting upright on a stone stool drinking tea, his expression like he was bracing for battle. Beside him, Aning was playing merrily among the flowers.

First, he handed the warm roasted chestnuts to Fang Zhihe. Then Lu Wuyou called out to Aning, and the girl followed him to the kitchen, leaving Fang Zhihe alone in the courtyard. He picked at the chestnuts, popped one into his mouth, and crunched loudly.

After the meal, Fang Zhihe returned to his room. Lu Wuyou wondered why he hadn't said a word to him, and then saw Fang Zhihe come out with a kite.

"Fang Zhihe," he called.

The man ignored him and walked straight out the door.

Lu Wuyou frowned, followed him, and grabbed his sleeve. "What madness has gotten into you now?" he said coldly. "Are you going to make a scene every day Aning is here?"

A kite came flying right at his face, hitting his forehead and leaving it red. Fang Zhihe sneered, "What scene am I making? Give me a break, Lord Lu. Do you think I have that kind of time? Don't spew your twisted logic at me. If you've taken a fancy to that stray cat or dog, then marry her—just stop bossing me around."

Lu Wuyou, bewildered by the blow, reached up and snatched the kite from his hand, saying angrily, "Are you out of your mind from fever?"

Fang Zhihe stared at him mockingly and retorted, "I'm perfectly fine."

Lu Wuyou, impatient with his outburst, darkened his face and said coldly, "If you're not sick, quit acting crazy."

Fang Zhihe stood still, taking a deep breath, his body trembling. After a long moment, he slowly exhaled and said expressionlessly, "You don't have to fight me on everything. I don't need you to anger and humiliate me every day and shorten my life. I don't have long to live. This is the last time. If it happens again, you won't see Xiaoyuan anymore. He can't handle a good father like you."

Lu Wuyou was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "What, you throw a tantrum because I don't like you? Where was that pride when you were groveling?"

Fang Zhihe felt a pang of bitterness, his body swayed slightly. He clenched his sleeves and said flatly, "Mm."

Lu Wuyou glared at him angrily, stood for a while, then flicked his sleeves and left.

Only then did Fang Zhihe heave a sigh of relief, standing weakly against the wall. It wasn't that he didn't want to show weakness, but there was a knot in his chest. He showed weakness day in and day out—had that man ever shown him the least bit of tenderness? If that man truly married that woman, Fang Zhihe bit his lower lip hard, only letting go when he tasted blood. He wiped the blood off his chin with his hand.

He would definitely go insane; he would kill Lu Wuyou.

That man provoked and angered him so badly. Fang Zhihe frowned, the corners of his mouth drooping slightly.

He wouldn't go back tonight, he thought to himself. Supporting himself against the wall, he walked toward the inn across the street. Let him go have fun with that stray cat or dog. He walked on unsteady feet.

Behind him, a smashed kite lay on the ground. When the wind blew, the broken bamboo ribs poked through the paper.

All a mess.