Chapter 64#

The Cross-dressing Wife#

Lin Xiaodong stared at the basket of steaming meat buns pushed over by Gu Xingzhai, drifting slowly toward him. His eyes went a bit blank.

What was he supposed to do with meat buns?

If he stuffed these into his chest, not only would the oil seep through, but the fragrance would drift for miles. He’d be the center of attention wherever he went. Lin Xiaodong could already imagine the confused looks on everyone’s faces—Why do you smell like meat buns?

He looked up at Gu Xingzhai, then down at the meat buns, and finally took one expressionlessly, biting into it viciously as if he were biting into the man’s flesh.

“Thank you, Young Master,” the young man smiled stiffly, his voice sounding as if it were squeezed through his teeth. “…They’re delicious.”

“Then eat more,” Gu Xingzhai said gently. “If it’s not enough, I’ll have the kitchen steam another basket for you?”

Lin Xiaodong rolled his eyes.

Since things had come to this, he didn’t bother acting anymore. He put down the bun and asked bluntly, “When did you find out?”

Gu Xingzhai feigned ignorance: “Find out what?”

Lin Xiaodong gnashed his teeth: “Are you asking for a beating?”

The man gave a low laugh, waded through the water toward him, and gripped his chin firmly, forcing Lin Xiaodong to look up and meet his gaze.

Seeing Lin Xiaodong struggle, his expression turned slightly cold. As if by magic, he held a dagger emanating a chilly aura, engraved with four ancient characters: “Eliminate Demons Utterly.”

“I advise you not to act rashly,” the man said coldly. “This blade is the nemesis of enchantresses like you.”

The veins on Lin Xiaodong’s forehead pulsed. Damn, he dares to point a knife at me. He’s gotten bold.

Gu Xingzhai’s gaze swept carelessly over the inconspicuous Adam’s apple on Lin Xiaodong’s neck. He curled his lips imperceptibly and began, like a cat playing with a mouse, to flick open the buttons of Lin Xiaodong’s cheongsam one by one with the tip of the dagger.

His movements were very slow.

During the process, the young man’s pale collarbones were exposed to the cold air, shivering slightly.

He looked like a kitten thrown into a water basin by its owner, a pitiful sight that couldn’t help but evoke sympathy.

“So,” Gu Xingzhai took a deep breath and bit the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to harden his heart, and asked condescendingly, “Why the cross-dressing?”

Lin Xiaodong kept his mouth tightly shut, his beautiful phoenix eyes filled with humiliated anger.

“Don’t want to answer that? Fine, I’ll ask another question.” Gu Xingzhai stared unblinkingly at the young man’s angry, furrowed face. Instead of being angry, he smiled. The desire in his heart was like a prairie fire, almost incinerating his reason in an instant.

He asked in a raspy voice: “What exactly is your relationship with my father?”

“Human words are fearsome,” this time, Lin Xiaodong did answer. The young man ignored the cold blade before him and smiled fearlessly at Gu Xingzhai. “Haven’t you felt it for yourself during this time? No matter how I explain, the townspeople won’t believe me. They only choose to believe the ’truths’ they’ve fabricated themselves.”

Pausing, he lowered his eyes and said: “As for what you’ve always wanted to know, it’s actually very simple: I was injured while being pursued and was taken in by Old Master Gu in my desperation. Do you think I would want to lead my benefactor to his death?”

“If that’s the case,” Gu Xingzhai suppressed the wild joy in his heart, his tone remaining deep and indifferent, “then you should also know that I am no different from the demon hunters who pursued you in the first place.”

“—What exactly is your purpose for painstakingly getting close to me?”

Lin Xiaodong looked at him fixedly for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out both arms and hugged his waist tightly.

“You…!!!”

If Gu Xingzhai hadn’t reacted quickly and lowered his hand beforehand, that incomparably sharp dagger would have slashed through Lin Xiaodong’s chest.

The man’s pupils shrank, and his heart even skipped a beat.

Lin Xiaodong leaned his head on Gu Xingzhai’s shoulder and said muzzily: “Shh, don’t talk. Let me hold you for a bit, just a bit.”

Feeling the weight on his shoulder, the words at the tip of Gu Xingzhai’s tongue were silently swallowed back.

The two embraced quietly like this for over ten seconds. Years of martial arts training had given Gu Xingzhai a body of smooth, firm muscles and a straight, broad back. In contrast, Lin Xiaodong, whose build was normal to slender, always seemed petite. No wonder others hadn’t discovered he was a man.

After counting to twenty in his heart, Lin Xiaodong proactively let go.

“Let it be,” he said in a trembling voice, purposely turning his head away as if not wanting Gu Xingzhai to see his reddened eyes. “I’m grateful to Old Master Gu for taking me in these past few years, so I didn’t have to live in fear. I understand everything you’ve said, Young Master… Don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for you.”

After speaking, before Gu Xingzhai could react, he suddenly grabbed the man’s wrist and proactively pressed his neck against the cold, glinting dagger. He tilted his head up and said tremulously: “Since you think I approached you out of malice, then kill me! I’m just an enchantress anyway. Go ahead and cut out my heart and liver, see for yourself if they’re red…”

Before he could finish, the young man in front of him began to sob.

His long eyelashes trembled slightly, and hot teardrops fell onto Gu Xingzhai’s hand as he blinked, almost making the man shudder from the heat.

Gu Xingzhai regretted his words the moment he spoke.

Seeing this scene now, the man gnashed his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, as if all the blood in his body had rushed to his head.

He exerted force, tossing the dagger in his hand to the opposite shore, then pressed the back of Lin Xiaodong’s head and slammed his lips down.

The tear stains on Lin Xiaodong’s face weren’t dry yet, but he still proactively reached out to encircle the man’s neck. His eyes, still shimmering with teardrops, narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of a successful scheme in his smile.

Little sample, dared to play rough with him?

Before going offline, the system couldn’t help but sigh: “The two of you are on completely different levels…”

This wave was a Grandmaster-level player crushing a Bronze.

It was practically comparable to being sold and then willingly helping the human trafficker count the money.

The next day, Lin Xiaodong opened his eyes blearily and found himself lying on the large bed in the bedroom.

He stretched his arms, rubbed his overworked lower back from last night, and said lazily to the system that had just come online: “System, I have two Good Person Cards now. Help me exchange the remaining points.”

The system asked in confusion: “Exchange them for what?”

“The truth,” Lin Xiaodong said word by word. “I want to know why Gu Xi follows me across different worlds, why he loses his memory every time, and even changes his name.”

“……” The system fell silent for a moment.

“The headquarters doesn’t like hosts asking such deep questions; they won’t answer,” it finally told Lin Xiaodong honestly. “But I can secretly investigate for you. There might not be a result. Are you sure you want to spend all your points on this?”

“Sure.” Besides [One-Click Dress-Up], Lin Xiaodong couldn’t think of anything else that needed points. And he didn’t have points in the previous two worlds, yet he completed the missions just fine, didn’t he?

“Miss, are you up?”

The housekeeper’s voice came from the door. Lin Xiaodong instinctively replied, “The door isn’t locked, come in.”

“This is the porridge the Young Master ordered me to bring you. Miss, drink it while it’s hot.” The housekeeper placed the tray on the bedside table, but his gaze seemingly inadvertently swept over the neck of Lin Xiaodong, who was leaning against the headboard. When he saw those red marks, his sagging face couldn’t help but twitch violently. “Miss, did you… get bitten by insects?”

“Hmm?” Lin Xiaodong looked down, inwardly cursing Gu Xingzhai for his lack of restraint last night, then gathered his collar as if nothing were wrong. “Yeah, there are quite a few mosquitoes after autumn. They’re annoying.”

“I see…” The housekeeper was suspicious, but seeing Lin Xiaodong’s open expression, he thought he was overthinking.

“By the way, why are you delivering food today, Housekeeper?” Lin Xiaodong changed the subject casually. “Where’s Xiao Hong?”

“Xiao Hong took leave, said she had an upset stomach.” The housekeeper rubbed his hands and gave a fawning smile. “Miss, last time you said my son would get par—something disease from eating raw crabs?”

“Parasitic disease,” Lin Xiaodong picked up the porridge bowl. Thinking of the fat boy wailing, he couldn’t help but curl his lip. “Why, is he unwell? Didn’t I tell you to take him to town for medicine?”

The housekeeper gave a forced smile: “Haven’t we been busy with the mansion’s affairs? I just couldn’t find the time.”

Bullshit.

Lin Xiaodong thought, Don’t think I don’t know. When Old Master Gu was still alive, everything in the Gu mansion was managed by the housekeeper. More than half of the monthly income went into his pocket. He was already so fat he was practically dripping oil, yet he was still unsatisfied.

“You’ve been dedicated to the mansion, Housekeeper. In critical moments, don’t overwork yourself,” he feigned comfort. “Don’t worry, I’ll go take a look.”

Upon hearing his promise, the housekeeper was instantly overjoyed: “Thank you, Miss! Miss has the heart of a Bodhisattva!”

“Ding, Good Person Card +1.”

“Save it, no flattery needed,” Lin Xiaodong waved his hand. “How about this afternoon?”

“This…” For some reason, the housekeeper began to hesitate, as if the sick person weren’t his son. “How about tomorrow afternoon instead? I see you were exhausted yesterday as well, Miss. It’s better to rest for a day to regain your strength. My son isn’t in a hurry, not in a hurry.”

Under Lin Xiaodong’s thoughtful gaze, the housekeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead, made a random excuse, and left the room.

“‘My son isn’t in a hurry’?” Lin Xiaodong sneered. “First time seeing a father like that. System, what kind of scheme do you think he’s plotting?”

System: “You think he has other intentions?”

“Of course.” Lin Xiaodong gave a cold laugh. “Since coming to this world, I’ve spent more time with this Housekeeper Zhao than with Gu Xingzhai. You know how much effort I put into getting this Good Person Card. But do you see him reacting? Now that his son is sick, he’s not anxious to get a doctor, yet he puts on such a grateful act… If he isn’t plotting something, I’ll write my name backward.”

Something that would concern the housekeeper must be related to the inheritance left by Old Master Gu. It seemed he needed to discuss this with Gu Xingzhai.

But here was the problem: currently, everyone in the Gu mansion was the housekeeper’s person. How could he avoid his eyes and ears?

Lin Xiaodong’s eyes darted, revealing a mischievous smile.

He first went out in the guise of “Miss Lin,” looking sickly, and told the servants that he was unwell today and would stay in bed all day, and there was no need to deliver any food. After returning to the room, he immediately changed into the attire of a fair-faced scholar, climbed out the window, and walked into Gu Xingzhai’s study with his head held high under the confused gazes of the servants. When the man entered the door, Lin Xiaodong threw himself into his arms with tearful eyes—

“Husband, I’ve finally found you!”

Gu Xingzhai: “……”