Chapter 34

Chapter 34

"Quick, catch up! We must not let Lan Geer do something rash!"

Seeing Shen Qinglan dashing straight toward Xiangnan Academy, Madam Shen's voice turned shrill with panic.

She thought she had mentally prepared herself, but she still underestimated how fierce and bold her own lad was.

Which young lady or lad, upon receiving a farewell letter from their beloved, wouldn't cover their face and go home to sob in their room?

But her Lan Geer? He was sad, yes, yet he was even more fired up—he actually went to confront him, so improper, so forward!

Shen Huaizhi was different. He had an even thicker filter of favoritism for his brother than Madam Shen did.

In his eyes, his brother was perfect in every way; he only blamed Han Zhang, that sly fox.

"Today, I'll see just what kind of three-headed monster that Han is, to have bewitched my brother like this..."

Shen Huaizhi gritted his teeth as he chased after them.

The mother and son were worried sick.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Inside Xiangnan Academy.

Han Zhang, who had failed to show up, was also counting down the time, waiting for Shen Qinglan to come find him.

That's right—he'd done it on purpose.

When he first chose Shen Qinglan, he had carefully studied the other's nature.

Unlike the gentle, reserved young ladies and lads of today, Shen Qinglan, this young lad, was completely the Little Tyrant, raised in indulgence.

The past dozen or so years of his life had been smooth sailing.

Even if he had suffered grievances recently due to marriage troubles, it couldn't change the domineering character he had already developed.

This kind of person—the more you tell him not to do something, the more he'll do it. Once he sets his heart on something, he never gives up until he gets it.

Such a fiery-tempered lad might be unbearable to other men.

But Han Zhang could handle it.

He liked this kind of wholehearted, passionate young husband.

Because he was starved for love; only such blazing, scorching affection could soothe the scars left from his past life.

Shen Qinglan was someone who made it easy to feel loved.

Now, he genuinely liked this young lad, and not just for career prospects...

Han Zhang didn't have to wait long.

Soon, Shen Qinglan found his way to the academy.

The gatekeeper came to announce: "Master Han, there's a gentleman outside who claims to be your close friend. He says he has urgent business with you and asks that you meet him without fail."

"Understood. I'll ask the master for leave and go right away."

Finally, the one he was waiting for showed up. A smile flickered across Han Zhang's face. After excusing himself with the master, he quickly headed out.

The young man didn't know how long he had waited, or how anxious he was inside.

Spotting him in the distance, he threw etiquette to the wind and ran over, his voice trembling with barely contained excitement: "Brother Han!"

His eyes were filled completely with the image of him.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to the teahouse."

Seeing the excited young man, Han Zhang was delighted inside, but kept a troubled, sorrowful look on his face, continuing his act.

A little shamelessness is fine—if it brings his husband home, a bit of acting is worth it.

The two moved to a private room in the teahouse.

With no one else around.

Shen Qinglan could no longer hold back his grievances and demanded urgently:

"Brother Han, I told you so clearly last time! Why didn't you come today? Couldn't we have discussed any difficulties together? Do you know... do you know how heartbroken I was when I got that letter!"

Before he finished speaking, tears streamed down his face.

It was clear he was truly devastated.

Seeing him cry, Han Zhang instinctively raised his hand to wipe the tears away, but just as his fingers were about to touch his cheek, he froze.

Then he dared not look into those eyes; his own gaze dimmed, and his voice was low and hoarse, as if he were avoiding something: "I'm sorry, I... forgot."

"Forgot?" Shen Qinglan let out an angry laugh. "You could forget, and yet still send me a farewell letter?"

"I... sorry..."

Han Zhang opened his mouth, his Adam's apple moved, but in the end, he could only force out those two pale words.

Shen Qinglan, being naturally impatient, couldn't stand his hesitant manner. He raised his voice, tears welling up:

"Sorry, sorry—Brother Han, can't you say anything other than that?"

"I know... deep down, you have feelings for me, don't you? Since you like me too, why don't you dare to admit it? Why don't you even dare to come see me?"

"Even if you want to reject me, you should come and tell me to my face! What does it mean to just send a farewell letter and a few severed locks of hair?"

"Brother Han, you used to be so straightforward and cheerful—why are you being such a coward now? Tell me, why?"

"Why..."

As if he couldn't accept reality, Han Zhang abruptly stood up, his sleeve knocking the teacup off the table, his voice shaking and frantic.

"It's because you're a man, and I'm a man! What good can come from us getting entangled like this?"

"Yes, I'm a coward... I understood what you said the other day, but I... truly cannot return your feelings. We're not meant to be together. Rather than suffer even more later, it's better... to part ways now, and each go our own way in peace."

His fists clenched.

It was clear that he was hurting too, that he wasn't without feelings for the person standing in front of him.

Seeing this, Shen Qinglan felt both joy and anxiety, and quickly explained: "I don't want to say goodbye! Brother Han, you like me, and I like you—we can be together! Brother Han, you don't need to worry about me being a man. Actually, I... I'm a lad."

Unfortunately, before he could finish.

He was interrupted by that scheming Han Zhang.

Han Zhang shook his head, his voice hoarse: "There's no 'actually'! Brother, relationships between men are ultimately not the righteous path. Even if we have feelings for each other, it won't last."

"Brother, you have a bright future ahead. As the eldest son of my family, I also bear familial responsibilities. How can I act recklessly?"

"I don't want you to suffer, brother, criticism and gossip because of me in the future, nor do I want to let down my future wife and children because of this affection."

"Brother should understand that the word 'love' does not mean that mutual affection alone makes a good match..."

Although same-sex relationships aren't uncommon nowadays, it's still not something that can be brought out into the open.

He was a 'righteous gentleman'; how could he do something like having a wife and children at home while being entangled with someone outside?

Unsurprisingly.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan's eyes grew even more tender as he looked at him.

This was the husband he had chosen. Brother Han was indeed a gentleman of upright character, as pure as a clear breeze and bright moon.

Fortunately, he was not really a man; he was a young lad. There was no obstacle between him and Brother Han at all!

Thinking of this, Shen Qinglan quickly wiped off the powder that concealed the pregnancy mark between his brows, and said happily:

"But I'm a young lad! Brother Han, see? Everything you're worried about is wrong..."

"What?" Han Zhang abruptly raised his head, unable to hide his shock: "You are a young lad?"

"Mm. Brother Han, when I invited you to meet at the study today, I originally intended to confess this to you. But you not only didn't come, but also sent me a farewell letter, which really upset me."

Shen Qinglan's cheeks flushed red, half shy, half hurt, his fingers lightly twisting the corner of his clothes.

"You... you are actually a young lad..."

Han Zhang stared at the pregnancy mark between his brows that represented a young lad, his expression one of disbelief, joy, and excitement, as if overwhelmed by a huge tide of surprise and joy.

This made Shen Qinglan happy, and he eagerly asked: "Brother Han, are you willing to marry me?"

Han Zhang: ...

There's no need to be so impatient.

Han Zhang felt he should pretend a bit more.

He immediately blushed, stepped back, and stammered, pretending to be innocent: "But, but..."

This really made the hot-tempered one on the opposite side anxious.

"But what but? Brother Han, the Scholar Zhang you wrote in your storybook was so brave, but when it comes to you, you're so hesitant and timid? Brother Han... don't you like me?"

Shen Qinglan felt extremely wronged, tears streaming down.

Han Zhang cared for him, so naturally he couldn't stand to see him cry. He finally reached out and wiped the tears from his cheek and said softly:

"No, I... I have feelings for you too, but stories and reality are different in the end."

"Your family background must be extraordinary, while I... am just a poor student from a humble family, who has to scrape together school fees. How can I be worthy of you?"

"Even if I am lucky enough to pass the imperial examinations and gain fame in the future, I would only become a minor official. My family is poor with no savings. If you follow me, you will inevitably suffer half a lifetime of grievances."

"I can learn to be as brave as that Scholar Zhang, but I cannot let you, like Le Ge'er in the storybook, turn against your family for me, or even hang yourself with a white silk ribbon..."

Upon hearing this,

Shen Qinglan was still crying sadly, but his mouth immediately retorted: "I would never hang myself for you. I'm way too scared of pain, and besides, that way of dying is so ugly."

Han Zhang: "..."

Perhaps after saying this he realized his words seemed inappropriate, Shen Qinglan paused and quickly added, his eyes still teary:

"But I'm not afraid of hardship! As long as I can be with Brother Han, even if we live on scraps, I would gladly do so!"

"Besides, that's impossible. My mother has prepared a lot of dowry for me, and I'm especially good at managing shops. My mother says I'm a money-maker. I have money; we definitely won't have a hard time!"

The young lad gave himself away in just a few words.

Han Zhang found it both amusing and pitiful: "Why are you so naive? Did you waste all those stories about heartless scholars? Aren't you afraid I'm just sweet-talking you?"

"Not afraid. If you deceive me, I'll beat you to death with my whip. I've been learning martial arts from a master since childhood. I'm not one of those delicate young lads. I've got plenty of ways and strength to do it!"

Shen Qinglan was proudly confident.

After saying that, he looked at him again with eager eyes, his tone softening: "So... Brother Han, are you willing to marry me or not? I don't care about any of those things you said. I just want your heart to be like mine, so we can love each other till we're old and gray."

"But feelings can change in an instant. No matter how deep the affection, it's hard to survive the wear and tear of life." Han Zhang sighed.

"Can class prejudice be so easily overcome with just a few 'I don't cares'? You are not afraid, but I am... I am afraid that one day I might lose my way and betray you. I couldn't stand to be that person."

"You are to me like the bright moon in the sky, shining so purely. How could I, out of selfishness, drag the moon down into the dust?"

"I am the coward... I wish you a bright future, brother. Zhang... I'll take my leave now."

After saying this with lowered eyes, Han Zhang was about to turn around and leave.

This made Shen Qinglan so anxious that tears poured down his face.

"Han Zhang, you are not allowed to leave! Come back!"

"I don't care what happens in the future! I am set on you! Since you also have feelings for me, don't even think about running away! I want you to be my husband..."

Angry shouts came from behind him.

Then the next moment, Han Zhang felt his collar yanked back by a force.

The young lad stood on tiptoe, wrapped his arms around his neck, and kissed him recklessly, with desperate rashness and trembling inexperience.

Time... seemed to freeze at this moment.

The warm and soft feeling on his lips made Han Zhang freeze on the spot, his breath caught in his chest.

He could clearly feel the young lad's rapid and unsteady breath, and the hands tightly clasped behind his neck, cool and slightly damp, yet stubbornly refusing to let go.

The strength made his shoulders feel heavy, and also made his heart throb, burning hot.

Just as he wanted to deepen this kiss that was only a touch of lips—

Shen Qinglan suddenly pushed him away again.

The young man's cheeks were flushed a vivid red, his breath ragged, his voice both domineering and trembling as he blustered feebly:

"Brother Han, you... you've been intimate with me—we're no longer proper—you must marry me. If not, if not, I'll have my parents break your legs!"

"My father... my father is Shen Houde, a Director of the Ministry of Rites—a fifth-rank official of the imperial court—he can deal with you easily, you hear me?"

His words were fierce, but his tone was soft.

His beautiful almond-shaped eyes were fixed on Han Zhang, filled with hope and fear—fear that even after all this, he still wouldn't accept him.

He looked utterly pitiful.

And yet, so endearing.

Han Zhang gazed at him for a long time—so long that the young man was on the verge of tears again—before the deep, unfathomable vortexes in his dark eyes softened into a tender smile. He nodded solemnly.

"Very well. I'll take responsibility."

The moment the words fell.

A radiant, dazzling smile burst onto Shen Qinglan's face: "Truly?"

Han Zhang gave a low chuckle, saying nothing, answering only with action.

He extended an arm, wrapped it around the young man's waist, and pulled him firmly back into his embrace.

With the other hand, he gripped the back of his neck, lowered his head, leaving no room for refusal, and kissed him fiercely.

This time, it was not the same shy, inexperienced touch as Shen Qinglan's earlier kiss.

It was a conquest—a kiss laced with punishment and passion, a kiss that conquered and claimed.

Lips and teeth were pried apart, breath was stolen. After just a brief, muffled struggle, Shen Qinglan, cheeks flushed, shyly closed his eyes, his hands wrapping limply around Han Zhang's neck, yielding completely to his every move... obedient beyond words.

Until the door of the tea house private room was suddenly slammed open.

"You... what are you doing!?"

Madam Shen and Second Brother Shen, who had followed them, stared at the two locked in a deep embrace and passionate kiss—and nearly fainted.