Chapter 43: I Cherish You

Chapter 43: I'm Into You

Chen Shuoan's hand was caught by him, and he lifted his foot to precisely step on Yuan Rang's black boot trimmed with silver thread, angrily saying, "Why didn't you say something sooner? Don't you see me as your bro?"

Yuan Rang arched a brow—he wasn't exactly dying to be his brother—so he changed the subject: "Why are you stepping on my boot?"

Seeing that he wasn't directly answering his question, Chen Shuoan's doe eyes rarely looked this sharp as he gave him a slow, disappointed once-over from head to toe.

Then he planted his other foot on Yuan Rang's boot too.

"What, you got a problem? I'll do both feet."

Yuan Rang let out a low chuckle, straightening him up, not bothering to shake off the extra weight on his boots, and countered, "What would you've done if I'd told you earlier?"

Chen Shuoan let out a sly "heh heh" grin: "Nothing much, I'd just say something nice to you, that's all."

Yuan Rang squinted, looking a little annoyed at being played, and reached over and poked Chen Shuoan's waist.

Standing on his boot, Chen Shuoan laughed so hard he wobbled all over the place, his laugh so loud it sent a few chubby little finches scattering from the plum grove.

His bobbing head made Yuan Rang wobble too.

Guys always love messing with the person they like, and Yuan Rang was no exception.

He couldn't take his eyes off Chen Shuoan's grinning face, and couldn't help teasing him more: "Keep squirming and I'm really gonna fall over."

Chen Shuoan immediately jumped off and scoffed: "You're way too pathetic, bro."

Yuan "Weakling" Rang: "..."

"Just watch this."

Yuan Rang arched a brow, curious to see just how "strong" his so-called big bro could be.

Chen Shuoan rubbed his hands together, suddenly dropped into a horse stance, charged in, awkwardly hooked one arm around Yuan Rang's waist, scooped the other under his knees, gritted his teeth, and hoisted Yuan Rang into a princess carry.

Yuan Rang was laughing so hard he thought he might die.

He could feel the guy under him trembling, shaking like an earthquake.

But he had endless patience for Chen Shuoan, so he obligingly wrapped his arms around Chen Shuoan's neck, doing his best to play the helpless damsel.

Chen Shuoan's small face was flushed red from exertion, speaking one word at a time, veins bulging at his temples—the only thing tough on him was his mouth.

"See that? This is... your... Bro Chen's power!"

Yuan Rang's eyes sparkled with amusement, and he praised him sincerely, no joke: "Bro Chen's legit impressive."

"Bro Chen has something even more impressive—I can definitely do thirty squats holding you! You trust me or what?" Chen Shuoan felt a surge of power at the compliment, totally ignoring that he'd just talked himself up to the moon and back.

"..."

Yuan Rang went quiet, not having the heart to burst his bubble, and just said, "WeChat."

"HAHAHAHA..." Chen Shuoan burst into loud laughter, doubling over and couldn't straighten back up.

He never thought he'd hear the name of that green bubble app here of all places.

The result was that he went limp and dropped Yuan Rang right on the ground.

The Sixth Prince pushed himself up from the ground, his legs pinned under Chen Shuoan, the guy on top of him shaking with laughter, like he might laugh himself unconscious any second.

Yuan Rang sighed softly, one hand on his waist, and hoisted the giggling, boneless mess to his feet.

Chen Shuoan's face was flushed from laughing, and he leaned his whole weight on Yuan Rang like a total brat.

"I don't want to walk anymore. Either drag me back or just leave me here to rot."

Yuan Rang reached over, brushed the dust off his clothes, and smiled: "Why not shoot for the stars? I'd even carry you on my back, no complaints."

Chen Shuoan reached out, plucked a plum blossom bud that had landed on Yuan Rang, and flicked it away.

The blossom was so light that the wind caught it, spun it around, and dropped it right back into Yuan Rang's pouch.

Chen Shuoan thought it was funny but didn't say anything, just beaming with a grin: "Oh yeah?"

Yuan Rang just looked at him, the corners of his mouth twitching, a smile he couldn't suppress.

Chen Shuoan was seriously spoiled rotten by him, sprawled on Yuan Rang's still-lean back, his face flushed and burning.

He figured it was just the heat from all their messing around.

Yuan Rang hooked one arm under his knees and cupped his butt with the other, walking steady.

He listened to the person on his back rocking and singing: "Here's to Boss Yuan's rise to glory, conquering the land, making a name across the realm, riding iron horses into battle, fearless through every trial, scaling the highest cliffs..."

Yuan Rang let out a resigned laugh, slowed his steps even more, and strolled off toward Guangyang Palace.

————

It's the winter solstice today.

Chen Shuoan hovered around the elderly maids, watching them wrap dumplings at lightning speed, and couldn't help wanting to give it a shot.

But he figured barging in would just slow them down, so he decided to wait until they were done before he took a crack at it.

Chen Shuoan had something on his mind—he was really hung up on Yuan Rang's birthday.

He couldn't stand it anymore and finally asked, "How does the Sixth Prince usually celebrate his birthday? I don't see anyone in the palace doing anything for it?"

The maids looked at each other.

Seeing Chen Shuoan's confused face, they let out a soft sigh and explained, "His Highness has never once celebrated his birthday."

"Why?"

The maids' voices were so quiet he could barely hear them, and Chen Shuoan had to listen extra carefully to make sure he heard right.

"The Noble Consort won't allow it, and she won't let anyone bring it up either."

Not allowed.

Not even mentioned.

So he just never celebrated.

It was his own mother who wouldn't let him have this.

He'd always thought Noble Consort Liu was just strict about the prince's studies, but he never imagined she could be this cruel.

Hitting a child or ignoring them is wrong, and stifling their nature is just as wrong!

Chen Shuoan's throat ached with sorrow, his heart aching from a jumble of tangled emotions. He fought to catch his breath and asked with difficulty, "Why?"

And what right did they have?

The elderly maid's movements slowed. "I'm afraid I don't know."

"In Guangyang Palace, only Her Ladyship knows why."

"When the master gives an order, we servants just follow it, even if we don't get it."

The hiss of steam in the kitchen mixed with the sharp crackle of dry firewood, piercing his eardrums and somehow making the ache in Chen Shuoan's chest worse.

"Young Master Chen, please don't cry anymore."

The maid washed her hands, drew a handkerchief from her lapel, and gently placed it into Chen Shuoan's open palm.

"I know you've got a kind heart and you feel for the Prince. But there are plenty of kids in this world who don't get love from their folks, and they all live miserable lives. If you tried to feel sorry for every one of them, you'd never stop crying."

"His Highness the Sixth Prince hasn't celebrated his birthday in fourteen years, so he doesn't exactly look forward to this day. The Prince probably isn't even as upset about it as you are. So come on, dry those tears."

Chen Shuoan didn't take the handkerchief she offered. Instead, he lifted his own sleeve and scrubbed his face hard.

His heart was heavy with grief, and he only wiped haphazardly, leaving pitiful tear streaks still clinging to his cheeks.

If the Prince didn't care about his birthday, why would he have told him it fell on the winter solstice?

If he didn't care, why would he have said he wished to eat a bowl of longevity noodles today?

If, as she said, the Prince himself held no expectation and felt no pain, then could he not hold that expectation and feel that pain on his behalf?

If no one cared for him, would he truly cease to care for himself?

Chen Shuoan's heart ached with a dull, throbbing pain.

Don't be like this, Yuan Rang.

I care about you. I cherish you more than anything.