Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Gu Zhangyuan had a frail constitution; even soaking his feet made him find the creek water cold. If he accidentally got his clothes wet, he might catch a chill or come down with a cold.

Gu Zhangyuan was in a good mood, so he turned and gave Xie Licheng a light peck on the lips.

He said, "Husband, I want to get in the water and catch fish."

Xie Licheng asked, "Aren't you scared the water's cold?"

"I'm not scared anymore. Can you hold me? I want to go in and catch fish, but I'm afraid I'll fall in."

Xie Licheng nodded and led him into the water.

The water in that area was very shallow—the deepest part only came up to Xie Licheng's waist, and the shallowest only to his calves.

Xie Licheng held Gu Zhangyuan's waist from the side to keep him from accidentally falling in. But Gu Zhangyuan's waist was really sensitive, and he got ticklish whenever Xie Licheng held him there.

Gu Zhangyuan turned and said, "Can you not hold my waist?"

"Then how am I supposed to keep you steady?"

"You... you can just grab my clothes instead."

Xie Licheng did as he was told, lifting Gu Zhangyuan up like a little chick.

Gu Zhangyuan rolled up his sleeves and fumbled around in the water for ages. Not only did he fail to catch a single fish, he also got his clothes soaked.

When Xie Licheng carried him back out, Gu Zhangyuan couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

Gu Zhangyuan said, "I think I'm really clumsy."

Xie Licheng wanted to say, "You only figured that out now?" But then he remembered this was his husband, so he'd better not say that.

Xie Licheng thought for a moment, then said, "You're not clumsy. You just don't know the trick yet. I can teach you slowly later."

"Really? Then will you bring me here to play again sometime?"

He thought this place was actually pretty fun—there were lots of flowers and plants he'd never seen before. Running into small animals now and then was fun too, though the snakes and bugs were a bit scary.

"Sure, you can come anytime you want."

Gu Zhangyuan was about to say something when he suddenly let out a sneeze.

He was handsome, with a soft, delicate voice, and even his sneezes were more elegant than most people's.

When Xie Licheng saw him sneeze, he couldn't help but frown slightly.

"Take off your clothes and put mine on."

Gu Zhangyuan's body really was weak—how long had he even been in the water before catching a chill?

Gu Zhangyuan didn't want to take them off. It was broad daylight, and they were still out in the open.

Seeing his reluctance, Xie Licheng didn't waste any words. He just stripped Gu Zhangyuan's clothes off.

Gu Zhangyuan struggled a little, but seeing he was no match for Xie Licheng, he stopped resisting with a pitiful look.

Xie Licheng wrapped him in his own outer robe. It was made of coarse hemp cloth. For Gu Zhangyuan's delicate skin, wearing that was pure torture.

He tugged at the clothes, feeling the fabric prickling him constantly. His skin was really uncomfortable.

Gu Zhangyuan said, "I want to go down the mountain. Your clothes are scratching me."

Xie Licheng looked confused. How could clothes prick someone? They weren't needles.

He'd been a rough man in both his lives and had worn far worse clothes than this. Since his own skin was thick and tough, he'd never experienced clothes prickling him, so he couldn't understand Gu Zhangyuan's discomfort.

But soon he noticed that the areas where Gu Zhangyuan's skin had touched his clothes the most were red. Clearly, Gu Zhangyuan wasn't lying, and he wasn't being fussy either—he genuinely felt uncomfortable.

Seeing this, Xie Licheng said, "I'll take you back now."

On the way back, Xie Licheng walked fast. He knew the mountain well, and his physical condition was better than most, so even carrying someone, he could move quickly.

Soon they got back to the farmhouse. Xie Licheng brought him to the bedroom and found him some new clothes.

The new clothes were Gu Zhangyuan's own, so of course they were much more comfortable than Xie Licheng's.

Gu Zhangyuan clumsily put on his underclothes and was about to put on his outer robe when Xie Licheng came in with a bowl of ginger soup.

Seeing this, Gu Zhangyuan asked in surprise, "How did you make the soup that fast?"

Xie Licheng said, "I made it earlier and stored two bowls in the preservation warehouse."

Since Xie Licheng had a strong body, he rarely needed ginger soup himself. It just so happened that Gu Zhangyuan had caught a slight chill today, so the ginger soup was just right for him.

Xie Licheng looked at Gu Zhangyuan and asked, "Do you want a hot bath?"

Gu Zhangyuan took two sips of the hot ginger soup first, then nodded at Xie Licheng.

Seeing this, Xie Licheng got up and headed out. Gu Zhangyuan quickly said, "I'm a little hungry."

Xie Licheng said, "Go find something in the preservation warehouse yourself. I'll heat up the water for you first."

Gu Zhangyuan quickly finished the ginger soup, then slipped on his slippers and headed to the kitchen.

Xie Licheng was heating water in the kitchen. When he saw him come out, he said, "Don't be scared. Those are all meat—just ingredients. No need to be afraid of them."

Gu Zhangyuan nodded, then slowly made his way to the preservation warehouse.

It was still light out, so the warehouse didn't look as scary as before.

He found the pastries from earlier and also spotted quite a few fancy fruits.

Gu Zhangyuan thought for a moment, then went out and got two plates.

He took two pieces of pastry, an apple, a peach, and half a watermelon.

When Xie Licheng saw him bring out a pile of sweets, he said disapprovingly, "Eating too much sugar will upset your stomach. You should have something salty too."

Gu Zhangyuan set the things down and replied quietly, "I know. I just can't carry everything at once."

With that, he went back inside. This time he came out with two meat buns and a serving of crispy fried chicken.

Xie Licheng glanced at the selection and decided to make him a bowl of hot congee anyway.

Now that Xuan Cui and Yuan Qiao weren't around, and the nursemaid who could keep him in line wasn't there either, Gu Zhangyuan wasn't eating properly. Even though his warehouse was stocked with so much prepared food, he'd gone in and picked out only two buns and some fried chicken.

Xie Licheng put the congee on to cook, then walked over to Gu Zhangyuan and took most of his fried chicken away.

Gu Zhangyuan felt a bit put out by the sight, but remembering that all this food belonged to Xie Licheng, he didn't voice his displeasure.

He nibbled at his food, and after a while suddenly spoke up, "I'm staying here tonight. You're not going out tonight, are you?"

"Not tonight."

"What about tomorrow?"

"I have to go out tomorrow. I'll take you back to town before I leave."

He'd been in this pocket world for quite a while this time, and he had no idea what was going on outside now.

"Then don't send me back. Have Xuan Cui come look after me instead. I want to get used to this place."

Xie Licheng thought for a moment, then nodded.

After Gu Zhangyuan had eaten his fill, downing half a bowl of hot congee along the way, he headed to the room he'd used last time to take a bath.

Xie Licheng had tidied up that room and even built a platform for the bathtub.

Besides the bathtub, the room had a clothes rack, a finely made wooden bathing barrel, and a table for odds and ends.

Xie Licheng went with him. He poured the hot water, brought over a change of clothes, then grabbed a small stool and sat by the door to keep watch.

Gu Zhangyuan didn't chase him off. He left the door ajar and started bathing.

It was his first time using a bathtub like this—it felt like porcelain.

Xie Licheng always had a bunch of strange stuff here—like that flashlight, that solar lamp, and now this bathtub.

As he soaked slowly, he mulled over their future together.

Life was actually pretty good right now. They couldn't go many places, but life here was very peaceful.

With so few people around, and everyone being familiar, interactions didn't take much effort.

But with so few people—no doctors, no craftsmen, no embroiderers, no restaurants—life got pretty monotonous and dull.

Before he could keep wandering down that train of thought, Xie Licheng's voice came from outside.

Xie Licheng asked, "Fallen asleep?"

Gu Zhangyuan quickly responded, "No."

"That's good."

Xie Licheng had noticed the sounds inside getting quieter and worried he might have dozed off. He'd suggested the hot bath to help Gu Zhangyuan shake off the chill. If he fell asleep and the water went cold, it could make his chill worse.

Gu Zhangyuan didn't dare drag it out any longer. He finished up quickly and got out of the tub.

But with his hair so long and his body still dripping wet, he was in a fluster.

Back in the day, he'd always had at least two attendants to help him bathe. Now, with no one to help, he was scrambling.

He dried off quickly and threw on his underclothes.

Then he called out, "Husband, can you help me dry my hair?"

His hair was too long and thick to manage on his own.

He was also a bit tired today, his whole body feeling limp.

Soon the door pushed open, and Xie Licheng came in with a big bath towel, draping it over Gu Zhangyuan's head.

Xie Licheng was a bit rough drying his hair, and Gu Zhangyuan could barely keep his balance, so he quickly grabbed hold of Xie Licheng's clothes.

Xie Licheng glanced down at the hand gripping him, then simply picked Gu Zhangyuan up and set him on the table nearby.

Once he'd finished drying Gu Zhangyuan's hair, Gu Zhangyuan sat on the table with his arms around Xie Licheng's waist, looking like he was about to doze off.

Xie Licheng tossed the towel onto the rack, looked down at the man in his arms, and asked softly, "Sleepy?"

Gu Zhangyuan gave a small nod, and Xie Licheng moved to carry him back to bed.

But just then, Gu Zhangyuan suddenly looked up and kissed him.

Xie Licheng froze, and suddenly he didn't feel like carrying him back to bed.

He lowered his head, chasing Gu Zhangyuan's lips for another kiss, then asked in a low voice, "Want me to hold you?"

Gu Zhangyuan didn't catch his meaning right away, tilting his head to look at their embracing figures.

Aren't they already holding each other?

Seeing he didn't get it, Xie Licheng slowly laid him down on the table.

He leaned over him and asked, "Get it now?"

Gu Zhangyuan had a vague idea, but was too shy to admit it. He didn't dare look at Xie Licheng then, feeling like the man's gaze was intense and fierce.

Thinking he still didn't get it, Xie Licheng reached out and undid two buttons of his collar.

Seeing Gu Zhangyuan only widen his eyes, with no sign of rejection or disgust in them, he bent down to kiss his thin lips while pulling the open collar down over his shoulder.

The tall, strong man pressed the beautiful young man down on the table—a scene that was utterly alluring...

Since Gu Zhangyuan didn't want to consummate their marriage yet, they didn't go all the way, only letting both of them get a taste of sweetness.

When they lay down for the night, Xie Licheng brought out a condom to show him and whispered the instructions in his ear.

Gu Zhangyuan, who'd only just gotten a taste of such things that evening, shyly burrowed under the blanket, not wanting to talk to Xie Licheng.

He thought Xie Licheng was a real scoundrel—even when he'd gotten a bit upset in the bathing room, the man still insisted on pulling his clothes open...

He instinctively touched the spot that had been teased and winced with a small intake of breath.

He peeked out with shy, delicate eyes and said softly to the man beside him, "I think I'm hurt."

Xie Licheng turned on the light at that, brought it over, and reached to pull open Gu Zhangyuan's blanket.

It's the middle of summer—wrapping himself in a blanket like that, wasn't he afraid of getting heatstroke?

Gu Zhangyuan was too embarrassed to let him look.

Gu Zhangyuan said, "Do you have any ointment? I'll just put some on myself."

Hearing that, Xie Licheng had a vague idea where he was hurt.

After all, it was his own doing, so he naturally got up to find the medicine and properly take care of him.

Xie Licheng brought in a medicine box and lit another dim oil lamp.

He found two medicated band-aids and pulled the person out from under the covers.

Gu Zhangyuan was only wearing a pair of underdrawers, and being suddenly pulled out made him curl up shyly into a ball.

Xie Licheng leaned in and planted a firm kiss on his forehead, then started coaxing him softly.

"Alright, I promise you, I won't tease you anymore. Come on, let me put these on for you, so it won't hurt as much when you sleep."

Gu Zhangyuan looked up at him upon hearing this, and only then grudgingly let Xie Licheng stick the two band-aids on him.

With them on, it really didn't get bumped as easily, and covering them up also made him feel less embarrassed.

Gu Zhangyuan asked, "Do you have a mirror here?"

Xie Licheng stood up upon hearing this. He'd collected quite a few mirrors, but since he rarely looked in mirrors, he hadn't kept one in the room. Now that Gu Zhangyuan mentioned wanting a mirror, Xie Licheng got up and went out to look for one.

Seeing him leave, Gu Zhangyuan quickly grabbed his undershirt, planning to put it on in a bit.

Ever since he'd been with Xie Licheng, he'd gotten a lot rougher around the edges. In the past, he would never have been okay just being naked like this.

Earlier, he'd been so dazed from Xie Licheng kissing him that when Xie Licheng didn't dress him, he was too dumb to think of doing it himself.

Fortunately, his wet nurse hadn't moved in with him, or she'd definitely be angry seeing him like this.

Xie Licheng thought that since Gu Zhangyuan was a gē'er (a male who can bear children), and gē'er were usually into mirrors, he grabbed three mirrors in one go.

One was a full-length mirror, which he just leaned against the bedroom wall.

One was a small folding mirror, small and finely made, small enough to fit in a pouch.

The last was a hand mirror, not too big, not too small, just right for everyday use.

Xie Licheng handed the two smaller mirrors to Gu Zhangyuan, who turned his back to him and checked himself out in the mirror. Seeing his messy hair in the reflection, he quickly grabbed a comb and fixed it.

After that, he put the two small mirrors down and got up to check out the big one.

Xie Licheng had already noticed the big mirror when he brought them back.

Gu Zhangyuan had never seen a mirror that big, so of course he wanted to go check it out.

Seeing him get out of bed, Xie Licheng immediately followed right behind him.

Then... in the huge full-length mirror appeared a slim, gorgeous figure, followed by a tall, sturdy man.

Gu Zhangyuan glanced at Xie Licheng, feeling a bit annoyed and trying to shove him away.

His eyes were red, and his neck and chest were covered in hickeys, and he looked totally wrecked—all Xie Licheng's fault.

He shoved Xie Licheng, and when he realized he couldn't move him an inch, he went to bite him. Then, remembering he was still half-naked, he quickly ran back to put on his undershirt.

Xie Licheng watched and said, "We're about to sleep. Aren't you gonna be hot sleeping in clothes?"

Gu Zhangyuan put on his undershirt and then slowly pulled on his inner robe.

Hearing that, he muttered under his breath.

"Not everyone's a savage like you."

Xie Licheng heard it, stepped up and pinched his waist.

Gu Zhangyuan was ticklish, and let out a yelp like he'd been poked at a pressure point, scrambling to the far end of the bed.

Xie Licheng chuckled softly at that, then lay down to sleep.

Seeing that he wasn't coming over to mess with him, Gu Zhangyuan secretly sighed in relief and peeked his head out from under the covers.

It was really hot under the blanket, and he was starting to feel suffocated.

After that, probably genuinely exhausted, Gu Zhangyuan fell asleep before long and slept all the way until the next morning.

Gu Zhangyuan slept like a log, barely moving or tossing. But when he woke up the next morning, he found himself in Xie Licheng's arms.

He was sure he hadn't moved—Xie Licheng must have pulled him over while he was asleep.

The second Gu Zhangyuan moved a little, Xie Licheng woke up.

Xie Licheng looked at the person in his arms and said, "I gotta head out for a bit. Make sure you eat something."

Gu Zhangyuan nodded, and when he saw Xie Licheng sit up, he sat up too.

He looked at Xie Licheng and thought his man was pretty handsome—in a rugged way.

He looped his arms around Xie Licheng's neck and leaned in for a kiss.

Xie Licheng gave him a quick peck, then hugged him tight and gave him a good squeeze before leaving.

Gu Zhangyuan, his hair all messed up from the roughhousing, lay in bed for a long time before he could muster the strength to get up.

He put back on the clothes Xie Licheng had pulled open, only to find that his undershirt had been ripped to shreds.

He was a bit pissed, and a bit helpless.

He took off the inner garment and set it aside, planning to have Xuan Cui sew it up when she came.

Meanwhile, Xie Licheng told Xuan Cui to go to Peach Blossom Village to look after Gu Zhangyuan, and he showed up alone in Lingzhou City with his weapons.

He hadn't been out in days, and the moment he stepped out, he ran into a downpour.

Xie Licheng grabbed a bamboo hat, put it on, and walked out into the rain-soaked streets.