Chapter 30 — The General’s EQ is Touching
Edited By DancingDolphinsYo
After coming to a consensus, Guan Shanjin packed both their luggage. He did not plan on staying in Qingcheng County for too long, as he had to immediately return to Bastion City after the New Year to help Mr. Lu prepare for his wedding. As such, he only packed a few sets of clothes as well as taels, and sending a letter to Su Yang in Goose City to ask him to prepare the New Year goods.
Wu Xingzi was woken up by the smell of food. Rubbing his tummy, he lazily opened his eyes. With his nose twitching, he accurately followed the scent to the table. He did not even notice that he was dressed only in thin, inner clothes, and by the time he realised, he did not even have time to pull on a robe.
While he was deeply asleep, Guan Shanjin had brought him back to his own wing. The furnishings were similar to that of Shuangye yard, and the structure was also about the same. Wu Xingzi was still bleary, and he had yet to notice anything amiss.
He only vaguely registered that he seemed to be taking a longer time than usual to reach the side hall. Only when he arrived did he snap out of it, and realised that there were two people sitting by the round table full of delicacies. One was Guan Shanjin, and the other was Mr. Lu whom he had just seen not too long ago.
Between the two of them, one was dressed in black, and the other white, so harmonious that it felt as natural as breathing. Wu Xingzi was dazed with the sight. If not for the hunger in his stomach, he was more than willing to continue looking at the both of them.
“Mr. Lu.” If Guan Shanjin was the only one around, Wu Xingzi would have just took his seat. They were used to each other, and so, they were not too particular with each other. However, with the presence of Mr. Lu, Wu Xingzi was a little more awkward. He kept feeling that in front of these two people, he was the extraneous outsider, and he was at a loss of how to behave.
“Mr. Wu.” Mr. Lu smiled faintly, calling out to him gently. “Quick, take a seat. Haiwang guessed that you’d wake up around this time due to hunger, and has specially asked the kitchen staff to prepare your favourite dishes. Come, eat! Don’t let them turn cold.”
Guan Shanjin sure made a really accurate guess. Wu Xingzi glanced at Guan Shanjin, feeling pleased. Most of the dishes on the table were truly what he liked. They were simple and plain, and not too elaborate, but they still looked extremely appetising.
Wu Xingzi sat down very naturally at the lowliest seat1. He did not notice the crease of Guan Shanjin’s brows, and despite it not being obvious, Guan Shanjin’s eyes were very cold. He stared straight at Adviser Wu who was only concerned with the food, watching that extremely greedy person unconsciously revealing the tip of his tongue to lick his lips.
“Why is Mr. Wu still so distant?” Mr. Lu did not fail to notice Guan Shanjin’s expression. With a refined smile, he spoke to Wu Xingzi. “I’m very aware of the relationship between you and Haiwang, there’s no need to deliberately stay apart.”
Hmm? Wu Xingzi basically did not even pay close attention to what Mr. Lu was saying. He was very hungry, and all he could think about was, that braised trotters look very delicious! So fatty and tender, when I bite into it, the oil will definitely seep out. Later on, should I daringly take one and chew on it? Or should I just reservedly pick some meat off the bone and nibble on it?
Having some understanding of Wu Xingzi, Guan Shanjin was gloomy, but he was unable to throw a tantrum in front of Mr. Lu. Also, Wu Xingzi was purposely avoiding anything that would arouse suspicions, right?! When there was only the two of them around, they would always eat together side by side. With Mr. Lu present, the old fellow was truly quite shy.
Thinking like this, Guan Shanjin’s mood improved. He noticed that Wu Xingzi was staring at the braised trotters with shining eyes, and so, he picked up one piece and placed it in his bowl. “Have some, you must be hungry.”
“Yes, yes.” Wu Xingzi was at first still troubled about how he would start eating, but the braised trotter in his bowl had completely wiped out his reservations. Delightedly, he picked up the trotter with his chopsticks and bit into it.
As expected, the meat had been braised till soft and tender, but it did not lose its shape. Biting into it, the flavourful juices of the meat burst in his mouth, and some of it spilled out from the corners of his lips. The meat basically melted in his mouth, but there was no loss of the texture that pork should have. The taste was also very well developed, combining into a wonder of flavour.
It paired very well with rice, but just chewing on it was also a type of pleasure. The way Wu Xingzi looked as he enjoyed it made Guan Shanjin’s stomach grumble in hunger. He held up his rice bowl, picking up some stir-fried lily bulb, vegetables, and other lighter-tasting dishes for Mr. Lu before starting to eat some of it himself.
Mr. Lu glanced at Wu Xingzi. Seeing how his mouth and hand were stained with oil, he felt that it looked boorish and ugly. However, when he glanced at Guan Shanjin, he discovered that this student, who had always been elegant and placed a heavy importance on etiquette, did not find anything strange with Wu Xingzi. Not only was he quietly eating, he was also continuously placing food in Wu Xingzi’s bowl.
Inexplicably flustered, Mr. Lu picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the vegetables. While swallowing, he felt a pressure in his chest. He could not help but put his chopsticks down as he frowned, before rubbing at his chest.
“Teacher, are you still feeling a pain in your chest?” Guan Shanjin had naturally noticed it. His face was full of concern and worry, and he no longer paid attention to the happily eating Wu Xingzi, instead turning to help Mr. Lu rub his chest.
Guan Shanjin had a pair of large hands. They were elegant and good looking, broad and warm. When held against his chest, it felt like a small flame, and it soothed the pent-up pain by a fair bit. Mr. Lu looked relieved from pain, and he gave his thanks with a low voice. He then pushed Guan Shanjin’s hand away, instead of letting him soothe him for a while longer like usual.
Registering his rejection, Guan Shanjin’s expression stiffened slightly. He looked a little helpless and quietly persuaded Mr. Lu. “Teacher, your chest still hurts. Please let your student help you with your blood circulation. Wu Xingzi is not the type to gossip, nor would he think too much of it, please do not worry.”
“Nonsense.” Mr. Lu still rejected him, as he picked up his bowl and chopsticks while deflecting Guan Shanjin’s hand. “After all, your relationship with Mr. Wu is not ordinary, and anyone would mind, unlike you, you careless little fellow. Although you’re doing the right thing, a person’s heart would still be biased.”
These enigmatic words made Guan Shanjin hesitate. Towards Mr. Lu, he had a love that was like his life, and he did not want him to suffer even a little. Even though Mr. Lu was about to get married in spring, he was also willing to suppress his reluctance and sadness, only hoping that Mr. Lu would live happily and unrestrained.
Although Wu Xingzi was only a shadow of Mr. Lu, it was not possible for him to not appease this shadow. Furthermore, this old fellow had yet to cultivate enough feelings for him even now. Fortunately, Wu Xingzi had yet to realise his original intentions, if not, he would have ran even faster.
Also, a person’s heart was truly biased, and this old fellow’s heart was biased towards The Pengornisseur!
Guan Shanjin could not help glancing at Wu Xingzi over and over again. He made that person who was munching away feel wholly uncomfortable, and Wu Xingzi bit his chopsticks as he gazed foolishly back at Guan Shanjin.
“What happened?” When it came to meal times, Wu Xingzi would only focus on eating single-mindedly. It probably was because he was used to living alone for too long, and he completely had not heard the quiet conversation between the two people. Thus, he was completely unaware of the intimate actions between the two.
If not for Guan Shanjin’s scorching gaze, he might not even have noticed anything at all.
“It’s nothing.” Guan Shanjin gave a superficial smile. Now, he himself was also not very clear of exactly what he wanted. If Wu Xingzi were to ask about Mr. Lu, he would definitely loath it. However, Wu Xingzi’s complete disinterest also did not make him feel good. Instead, he was left restless and fretful, and he could not help but probe. “Mr. Lu has yet to recover from his injury. With the pain in his chest, he can’t eat nor sleep well. I’m only helping him improve his blood circulation, don’t think too much about it.”
“You’re the student, after all! Mr. Lu has also said before, that you respect him like an adopted father. This is part of your obligations.” Wu Xingzi did not understand what Guan Shanjin was rambling about, but seeing that this was human nature, it was not difficult to respond to him.
Compared to his indifference, Mr. Lu’s pale face flushed. He objected, “There’s not need. Haiwang is just too cautious. It’s only a small injury. I only have to take some medication, and it’ll gradually recover.”
“But I heard the girls say that you fell off a horse, and you suffered some internal injuries.”
“It’s nothing major. I can only blame myself for my poor riding skills. Thank you, Mr. Wu, for thinking about me.” Mr. Lu lowered his eyes, concealing his shame and resentment. He firmly believed that Wu Xingzi had an underlying meaning in his words. In his heart, he thought that this old thing looked so honest, but who would have thought that he would have such a sharp tongue?
He did not want to make himself look as though he was fighting for favour. Mr. Lu was well aware with whom Guan Shanjin’s heart lay. After several years of interactions, Mr. Lu was more cognizant than anyone about Guan Shanjin’s feelings for him. He knew what Guan Shanjin wanted from him, but relying on Guan Shanjin’s esteem for him, he was very miserly in giving him what he wanted.
They were both men. How could they not understand how a wife would lose to a concubine, how a concubine would lose to an affair, and how an affair would lose to someone whom they would never be able to get? Guan Shanjin was never a sentimental person. Even towards his own parents, he was very respectful, but he was never concerned about them. What more could others around him expect? Mr. Lu had seen all these clearly since long ago.
“Oh…” Having been rebuffed, Wu Xingzi was no longer in his own world. With embarrassment and befuddlement, he glanced at Guan Shanjin.
“Just eat, why are you talking so much?” Guan Shanjin shoved a quail egg into Wu Xingzi’s mouth, preventing the old fellow from saying something else that would upset him even more.
Feeling falsely accused, Wu Xingzi munched on the quail egg as he thought, wasn’t I originally quietly eating?! Ah, the yoke of this quail egg is so smooth and tender, and not dry at all. It’s delicious!
He took another two eggs and placed them in his bowl.
Since Mr. Lu and Guan Shanjin disliked him speaking, he was more than happy to bury his head in his food. He sampled every dish, not leaving a single one out.
As for the other two people, their moods were not as good as his.
Mr. Lu was already feeling a pain in his chest, and was unable to eat. Now, he felt as though his chest was congested, with stale air stuck in his throat. He was neither able to swallow it down, nor release it, and as if being suffocated, his entire body felt uncomfortable, while his internal injuries seemed to have worsened. All his comments seemed to have made no impact. There was no need to mention any ripples, they did not even cause a tiny splash.
Guan Shanjin had long been used to Wu Xingzi’s character, but he did not feel any better. He had long lost his appetite, and so, he just let the servant clear his bowl and chopsticks.
Why did he deliberately gather Mr. Lu and Wu Xingzi to have a meal together? In the end, only the old fellow benefited as he ate the entire table of delicacies by himself.
“Teacher, you should still have a bit more. Taking medication on an empty stomach is bad for your body.” Looking at how Mr. Lu also did not have an appetite, sitting there with an ashen face, Guan Shanjin’s heart ached, and he persuaded him gently.
“Mn.” Mr. Lu gloomily had a few more bites of vegetables before putting his chopsticks down and refusing to eat anymore.
Guan Shanjin had no choice. He summoned a servant over, asking him to instruct the kitchen to prepare some porridge, and to send the medication a little later. He then helped Mr. Lu up, wanting to send him back.
“Ah, both of you are done eating?” Wu Xingzi hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth, standing up in a panic.
“There’s no need to be concerned, Mr. Wu. My body is weak, and I have to be rude and leave first.” Mr. Lu pushed at Guan Shanjin, a faint smile on his pale face. “You too should stop concerning yourself with me. Don’t you have to accompany him tomorrow to return to his village and make offerings to his ancestors? You must treasure him more, I have Hua Shu to serve me.”
“Sending Teacher back wouldn’t cost me any delays.” Guan Shanjin thought about how after he would return to Qingcheng County with Wu Xingzi, the third young miss of the Yue family would come and bring Mr. Lu back with her. For a very long period of time after that, he would not be able to be as intimate with Mr. Lu as he was now. Guan Shanjin could not help but feel a bitterness in his heart.
“I’ve made Mr. Wu laugh.” Mr. Lu stopped declining. He had yet to recover from the injury on his leg, which affected his ability to walk. Now, he leaned heavily in Guan Shanjin’s arms, allowing him to half-carry himself. “Mr. Wu, please continue with your meal. There’s no need to send me off.”
Guan Shanjin too turned his head, speaking with a cold expression. “Wait here obediently and don’t run around. You didn’t even wear a robe, are you planning on making me worship your ancestors on your behalf when you catch a cold?”
Wu Xingzi blushed. He obediently sat back down, continuing his mission of defeating the dishes on the table.
Upon stepping out of the hall, Guan Shanjin lifted Mr. Lu up in his arms, so as to prevent him from aggravating his injuries.
In this position, Mr. Lu’s head happened to be pillowed right onto the crook of Guan Shanjin’s neck. In his line of sight, there was a fair and beautiful neck. Above the collar, there were many red marks, extending into his clothes, as though Guan Shanjin had been bitten by insects. There were some marks all by themselves, as well as some clustered together, and there was even a faint bite mark.
Now, Mr. Lu was truly anxious. It was impossible for him not to realise what sort of marks these were. What made him even more upset was that Guan Shanjin had never allowed anyone to leave such marks in such an eye-catching area. He reached out to touch them, and Guan Shanjin paused slightly. His emotional, captivating eyes lowered, meeting his gaze.
“Teacher?”
“Mr. Wu has taken a bite right over here.” A composed look on his face, he scratched at the patch of skin with his finger. “Since you like him, then you have to be good to him. I’ve always wished for your happiness.”
“Teacher, you do know who’s in my heart.” Guan Shanjin avoided his finger lightly, averting his eyes. “I’ve got them to prepare some porridge for you. Take your medication after having some porridge. I’ll be back after the New Year’s. Teacher, when you’re at the Yue manor, do recuperate well.”
Guan Shanjin gently placed Mr. Lu down on the wheelchair that a servant was pushing outside. He covered him with a feathered cloak tightly, preventing him from getting chilled by the wind.
“Don’t think about me. Tossing you away to get married to the third young mistress of the Yue family, I’m the one who has done you wrong. Don’t be so good to me anymore. Mr. Wu is a very honest person, don’t let him down.” Mr. Lu held Guan Shanjin’s hand, patting it softly. Despite having finished speaking, he still did not let go.
Who would have thought that Guan Shanjin would be the first to pull his hand away? Guan Shanjin spoke gently, “Teacher, you should head back quickly. Spending too long out in the evening wind is not good for your body.”
“Mn.” Mr. Lu looked at his empty hand, and a wry smile appeared on his face. “I’m the one who has done you wrong. You’re a good child, so stop thinking about me anymore.”
He did not wait for Guan Shanjin’s response and got the servant to push him away.
Only when the slender figure in the wheelchair vanished from sight, did Guan Shanjin return back indoors.
In the side hall, Wu Xingzi had eaten to his heart’s delight. Joyfully, he rubbed at his bulging stomach.
The plates on the table were nearly empty. Guan Shanjin was satisfied looking at them, but was also vaguely unreconciled. He walked up and rubbed at the belly of the stuffed person, causing him to cry out in fright, as he nearly fell off his chair. Guan Shanjin then accordingly pulled Wu Xingzi into his arms.
“You only know how to eat, but why aren’t you putting on any weight?” Wu Xingzi’s body frame was not big, and his muscles were soft and tender. It felt extremely good to caress and touch him, but sometimes, Wu Xingzi’s bones would dig into him and it would feel a little uncomfortable.
“Why didn’t you accompany Mr. Lu?” Wu Xingzi had thought that Guan Shanjin would need at least two hours, and he could take the opportunity to digest his food. As such, he was sprawled ungainly across his chair, rubbing his belly. Who would have thought that he would be caught doing so? Wu Xingzi did not know where to hide his embarrassment.
“Mr. Lu wants me to treasure you more.” Guan Shanjin lowered his head to bite at Wu Xingzi’s fleshy nose. His teeth itched. Feeling unsatisfied, he went down further, biting at those lips which still had remnants of the taste from the braised trotters. Oily and plump, they were even more delicious than the actual trotters.
“Ah…” Wu Xingzi felt stifled. Even Mr. Lu had such a big misunderstanding of their relationship.
“We’ll head out tomorrow early morning. Since you’re not good at riding, you’ll just share a horse with me.” Guan Shanjin did not continue mentioning Mr. Lu anymore, but earnestly instructed Wu Xingzi.
“You’re really going to return with me to worship my ancestors?” Wu Xingzi kept feeling that it was a little improper, and something did not feel quite right. However, he also did not plan on seriously objecting to this decision. The confused feeling in his heart was also not too great, but he was unable to explain what was not great about it.
“Haven’t we already agreed on it?” Guan Shanjin pulled Wu Xingzi’s lip between his teeth. The intensity of the flame in his heart grew, and he wanted to just push him down and enjoy him to his satisfaction.
“So are you going to eat? Let me tell you, this braised trotter is really delicious. I’ve left two for you, don’t waste them.” Wu Xingzi was a little bashful about Guan Shanjin’s reply. He evaded his question, and picked up one. “I’ll help you tear the meat off, so that it’s more convenient to eat. You’re already so big, you can’t go hungry.”
“You’re going to feed me?” Wrapping an arm around his slender waist, Guan Shanjin rested his chin on the narrow shoulder. His eyes were full of amusement, watching Wu Xingzi, as he carefully tore the meat from the bone. That pile of streaky, shiny meat in his bowl looked truly appetising.
Turning his head to look at him, Wu Xingzi was a little helpless. He did not know what was going on with Guan Shanjin, only vaguely feeling that his attitude towards him was a little different from before.
“Here, open your mouth.” Fine, I’ll just feed him! Guan Shanjin had even washed his private areas for him before. Feeding him was nothing.
As they said, when one was fed and warmed, their sexual desires would be aroused. Once he was fully fed, the lower part of Guan Shanjin’s body too had pitched a tent. After all, the person in his arms was only dressed in his inner clothes, and he was all soft and fragrant.
As such, when a servant from Mr. Lu’s courtyard came rushing over with a message that Mr. Lu was vomiting bile after taking his medication, he was heartlessly left to stand outside in the wind. He had no luck in viewing the advent of spring within.