Chapter 35#

“No normal person would get aroused from watching someone pet a cat.” Chapter ID: 726452y#

Rong Yu saw that cat again—pure black all over, crouching on the wall licking its little white paws, licking while watching Rong Yu with those golden eyes.

Mo Shu saw him staring blankly and said softly, “Young master, if you like it, I’ll have someone catch this cat for you to play with. The Fourth Miss surely wouldn’t mind.”

In truth, whether the Fourth Miss minded or not was utterly outside Mo Shu’s consideration. Rong Yu had been spacing out all day; if there was anything that could draw his attention, Mo Shu would go to any lengths to get it and win Rong Yu’s favor.

But Rong Yu didn’t have much interest in this cat that already had a master.

Rong Yu remembered that little girl—small in stature, round head and round face, very cute-looking, yet her eyes were dull and fixed, without the slightest trace of a child’s liveliness.

In his memory, Rong Qinghan’s concubine mother had died just a few years after giving birth to her. Lady Yang, taking pity on her, had planned to raise her under her own name, but by then Rong Qinghan was already old enough to remember things and refused no matter what, so Lady Yang dropped the matter.

After that, only an old nursemaid attended her as she grew up.

This child had such a low presence that she had almost never appeared even in the plot.

“Young master?” Mo Shu called softly. He was already prepared to catch the cat himself.

Rong Yu pulled his thoughts back and shook his head.

A gust of wind swept by, and the crabapple tree by the wall rustled as its branches swayed. The tiny buds on the branches seemed to have quietly opened a little more.

The cat jumped off the wall with light steps and ran off. The tip of its white tail flashed once before vanishing from sight.

“It’s going to rain.” Mo Shu bent down and drew Rong Yu’s cloak closer around him. “Let’s head back.”

The sky was very overcast, and heavy black clouds in the distance were drifting over rapidly. Though the wind was blowing, the air was still stuffy, as if brewing something momentous.

Rong Yu withdrew his gaze from the wall and nodded.

Back inside, Mo Shu looked around and said with dissatisfaction, “Sent him out to buy honeyed fruits, and he’s been gone this long. He’s awfully slow at getting things done.”

Rong Yu had no appetite. His stomach was too empty—he had thrown up twice while taking his medicine that afternoon.

Mo Shu was frantic with worry. As it happened, Chu Tan had mentioned that a new fruit shop had opened on West Street and was doing very good business, so he was sent out to buy some. But one trip took two full shichen, and it was almost dark.

Mo Shu seized the opportunity, ready to badmouth him some more—but who would have thought Chu Tan would come in through the door, covered in travel dust.

He set the food container on the table with his left hand and said to Rong Yu, “I was delayed by something.”

Rong Yu ignored him, his gaze sweeping past Chu Tan’s bulging chest. It looked like something was tucked inside his clothes. Chu Tan curved his lips slightly but only said, “Young master, drink your medicine first.”

Mo Shu opened the food container. Two of the tiers held honeyed fruits, still slightly warm, while the other tier held a short, plump little jar.

Mo Shu set out the two plates of fruits, then took out the jar and asked, “What is this?”

“It’s lamb wine.” Chu Tan lifted the lid. The jar was full to the brim with wine, lustrous white, very unusual. As it gently swayed, ripples rose, clear and beautiful as ice, and a mellow, intoxicating fragrance seeped out, mouth-watering and tempting.

Rong Yu’s eyes lit up. He loved this era’s wine best—low in alcohol, purely grain-brewed, mellow and rich in flavor, and drinking it lifted one’s spirits.

He had never even heard of lamb wine, so he reached out to take it.

But Chu Tan pressed a hand down. “Young master should first eat some fruit to line his stomach, then drink the medicine.”

Hearing this, Rong Yu’s brows sank, displeasure written all over his face. “Let go.”

Chu Tan shook his head and glanced sideways at Mo Shu. Mo Shu understood at once and immediately ran to the kitchen to fetch the medicine.

“You bought it back but won’t let me drink it—are you toying with me?” Rong Yu frowned.

Chu Tan smiled. “The young master has finally spoken to me.”

Since dawn, Rong Yu had been treating him like air—neither looking at him nor speaking to him. Chu Tan himself had no idea where he had offended this young master. Yesterday had been perfectly fine.

He could only think of ways to cater to Rong Yu’s tastes, acquiring things that interested him to win back a bit of favor.

Clearly, the tactic worked. Though he’d been scolded, at least Rong Yu had opened his mouth—better than brooding in sullen silence.

Rong Yu gave him a cold sidelong glance and ignored him again.

Chu Tan then held the plate of fruits out to Rong Yu. “Young master, try this. This is their best-selling citron preserve. Everyone says it’s delicious—I bought the very last batch.”

The so-called citron preserve was candied citron, pickled in honey and sugar, reddish-brown in color. Rong Yu caught a faint citrus scent, very fresh, inexplicably soothing.

Hearing Chu Tan’s eager sales pitch, Rong Yu reached out, pinched one, and slowly put it into his mouth.

It was slightly tart on entry, very chewy, and gradually the sugar seeped through—sour and sweet, stronger in flavor than an orange. It did whet the appetite somewhat.

“Young master, try these bean cakes and butter snail pastries too.”

And so, coaxed by Chu Tan, Rong Yu ate half a plate of the fruits. Just then Mo Shu came in carrying the warmed bowl of medicine. The bitter dregs went down, followed by two more citron preserves to chase away the bitterness.

Now his stomach was no longer empty but warm and full, his mouth full of the clean sweetness of citrus.

Sweets truly could lift one’s spirits. The gloomy, irritable mood Rong Yu had carried all day was inexplicably soothed.

Seeing Rong Yu drink his medicine, Mo Shu also breathed a sigh of relief and found Chu Tan somewhat more tolerable. At least the man could coax the young master into eating and drinking his medicine—not entirely useless, after all.

Rong Yu was still thinking about that lamb wine, his eyes stealing constant glances at the wine jar. But Chu Tan pretended not to understand, setting the jar far away and refusing to let Rong Yu touch it. The faint, elusive aroma of wine lingered around his nose—able to smell it but not drink it was too agonizing.

Rong Yu couldn’t bear it and reached out. “Give it to me.”

Chu Tan shook his head again.

Rong Yu flared up. “I ate the fruit and drank the medicine—why won’t you give it to me?”

“You tricked me!” Rong Yu’s anger blazed immediately, his beautiful eyes wide, his tone sounding a little aggrieved.

Chu Tan laughed despite himself. “I’m not tricking you. I’ll give it to you at dinner.”

“…” Rong Yu’s lips drooped. “Mo Shu, push me back to the bedroom. I’m going to sleep.”

Meaning dinner was off the table too.

Chu Tan raised an eyebrow and stepped forward. “I’ll do it. I’ll keep watch over the young master tonight.”

Mo Shu shot him a dark glare. Keeping watch over the young master at night had always been his exclusive duty. Now with Chu Tan around, they fought over it every single day. So annoying.

“No need for you. Mo Shu will do it.” Rong Yu said coldly.

Mo Shu immediately beamed, puffing up with pride.

But Chu Tan stepped forward, took Rong Yu’s hand, and pressed it against his chest, saying meaningfully, “Does the young master truly not need me?”

Mo Shu stared in shock at Chu Tan’s action. What was this, seduction? He was still right here!

Yet Rong Yu seemed to actually fall for it. He patted Chu Tan’s chest, gave the man another look, and said, “Mo Shu, go rest.”

“Huh?” Mo Shu was taken aback. “Yes, young master.”

Dejected, Mo Shu handed the wheelchair to Chu Tan. Watching his retreating back, he looked down at his own flat chest and gnashed his teeth in hatred. Boldly seducing the young master—shameless!

Inside the bedroom, the moment Rong Yu was carried onto the bed, he shook off Chu Tan’s hand and looked at him with leisurely composure. “Hand it over.”

Chu Tan curved his lips, raised his hand to his chest, and pulled a kitten out from his clothes.

The kitten was curled into a tiny ball on Chu Tan’s palm, pure white all over, without a single trace of mixed color.

It seemed to have just woken from a nap in Chu Tan’s arms, groggily opening its eyes—one blue and one yellow, a pair of heterochromatic eyes.

Rong Yu was a little dazed. When he had touched it earlier, he had indeed felt a soft, squishy lump, but through the clothes he hadn’t been able to tell what it was. He never would have guessed it was a cat.

Chu Tan’s eyes curved slightly. “Would the young master like to hold it?”

Rong Yu snapped back to attention, but caught the self-assured look in Chu Tan’s eyes, as if Chu Tan had confidently guessed he would like the cat. So he said coldly, “No.”

Chu Tan raised an eyebrow and set the kitten on the bed. The kitten was barely over a month old, its fur fluffy and its body soft all over. It wobbled unsteadily on the blanket, trembling as it edged toward Rong Yu, tumbling twice over the short distance.

When it finally reached Rong Yu, it twitched its little pink nose and sniffed, tilted its head and mewed twice, then flopped down beside his hand and stayed still.

Its round head rested right on Rong Yu’s hand. The snow-white, soft fur brushed against his skin, stirring a faint itch deep in his chest. He couldn’t help curling his finger to touch the kitten’s ear.

The kitten’s ear twitched; it shivered and mewed again.

The sound was thin and weak, milky and soft.

Rong Yu pressed his lips tight, making every effort not to look at its round eyes, his expression very cold.

Chu Tan made as if to take it, muttering, “Abandoned by its mother before it was even weaned. It’s about to rain outside—who knows whether it could survive if thrown out there.”

Suddenly, Rong Yu pressed down on his hand. “Leave it.”

A smile flickered in Chu Tan’s eyes. “Then the young master will be keeping it.”

Rong Yu didn’t answer, picking up the kitten and setting it on his lap, gently stroking the back of its head.

The kitten had a big head and a short body, as if it couldn’t support the weight of its own skull, its head bobbing with each stroke. But it didn’t dodge; instead it nuzzled Rong Yu affectionately, sticking out its little tongue to lick him.

His fingertips were tickled by the licking, and the corner of Rong Yu’s mouth curved into a tiny smile he himself didn’t notice.

Those long, fair fingers wove through the kitten’s fur, gently kneading its soft body, the distinct knuckles faintly visible.

The kitten purred contentedly, and Chu Tan’s mouth went dry as well.

He remembered how that beautiful hand had traced across his chest, and how it had gripped his cock. His Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly again and again, yet he still couldn’t suppress the itch rising in his throat.

“Lewd.” Rong Yu looked at the kitten and spat out two words, clearly aimed at Chu Tan.

Chu Tan cast his eyes down, catching sight of his lower body, which had grown hard at some point without his notice, tenting the hem of his robes into a large bulge. But he felt not the slightest shame about it. Instead, he said calmly, “I’m a normal man.”

A flicker of disgust passed through Rong Yu’s eyes. “No normal person would get aroused from watching someone else pet a cat.”

Chu Tan explained with utter seriousness, “It’s because the young master is too attractive to me.”

Rong Yu was left speechless by Chu Tan’s thick skin, so he lowered his head and focused on petting the kitten.

Chu Tan pressed on. “Does the young master like my gift? Are you happy?”

Rong Yu looked up at him, meeting those dark eyes that concealed anticipation, and suddenly felt that Chu Tan was like a big dog that had done something to please its master and was now crouching on the ground waiting for praise.

As if, the moment he nodded, the big dog would immediately wag its tail and joyfully pounce toward him.

So Rong Yu nodded teasingly.

A bright gleam rose in the depths of Chu Tan’s eyes. “Then will the young master give me a reward?”

Rong Yu curved his lips and crooked a finger at Chu Tan, who immediately leaned over. Rong Yu pinched Chu Tan’s chin, making as if to kiss him.

But just then, a violent crack of thunder burst outside. The heavy rain that had been brewing all day finally poured down in torrents, the splashing sound unceasing.

Rong Yu’s heart jolted, and an inexplicable irritation surged up—but Chu Tan cupped the back of his neck and kissed him hungrily, and so that restless feeling was drowned before it could spread, swallowed by heavy, hot sucking.

But before he could fully immerse himself in the kiss, Mo Shu’s voice, neither near nor far, came through the door panel.

“Young master, the one at Zhaohui Hall has woken up.”

[Author’s note:]

I’ve been slacking off these past two days hehehe, no saved drafts hehehe (running away with a pot lid over my head)