Chapter 66#
The Cross-dressing Wife#
“Xiaodong, why are you here?” Gu Xingzhai had barely asked when he realized, “Did Housekeeper Zhao bring you here?”
“That’s right, didn’t I tell you all about it in the study earlier?” Lin Xiaodong casually twirled the string of beads in his hand. “Sit down, there’s nothing else to do anyway.”
Gu Xingzhai instinctively sat down beside the young man as he spoke. But when he focused his gaze on what Lin Xiaodong was holding, the man’s eyes instantly widened, and his voice trembled: “What… what is that in your hand?”
“Hmm?” Lin Xiaodong glanced sideways, a mischievous smile on his face. “Don’t tell me you’ve never seen it, innocent Young Master Gu?”
“You—”
“Me what?” The young man leaned closer, his upturned phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, and asked in a deliberately lowered voice, “Don’t you want to try it, hmm?”
Gu Xingzhai pressed his lips tightly together, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
“Shameless!” After that night, he had thought he would never again be forced into such a flushed state by Lin Xiaodong, but he never expected the young man to pull such a stunt. “Throw it away quickly, it’s disgusting!”
The man’s face was as cold as ice. He snatched the string of beads from Lin Xiaodong’s hand and threw it into a corner, then coldly took out a handkerchief from his embrace and meticulously wiped each of Lin Xiaodong’s fingers.
As he wiped, he felt something was off. He reached under the blanket behind him—
“Hahahahahahaha!”
Watching Gu Xingzhai’s blank expression, Lin Xiaodong collapsed onto the soft couch, unable to stop laughing, clutching his stomach.
He only regretted not having a camera with him; otherwise, just the man’s current expression would make him laugh for a year!
“…Stop laughing.” Gu Xingzhai couldn’t maintain his composure either. He sighed, rolled up the pile of messy things in the blanket, and tried to throw it out the window, but found the window locked from the outside. Helplessly, he could only roll it into a ball and place it in the corner.
When he returned, Lin Xiaodong was still laughing, even more brazenly.
But the system silenced Lin Xiaodong with just one sentence: “When Gu Xingzhai threw them, he memorized the shapes of all the toys.”
Lin Xiaodong: “……”
This is bad.
He immediately coughed, sat up straight with his back erect under Gu Xingzhai’s half-smiling gaze, pretending as if nothing had happened, and deliberately changed the subject: “How did you get in?”
“Zhao said you were injured and told me to come quickly to see you,” Gu Xingzhai finished, then suddenly frowned keenly. “What’s that smell?”
System: “It’s aphrodisiac incense.”
“Aphrodisiac incense?”
Its voice and Gu Xingzhai’s sounded almost simultaneously.
Lin Xiaodong even asked curiously, “What is aphrodisiac incense?” But then he saw Gu Xingzhai staring at him with a very strange look, and asked back, “You don’t know aphrodisiac incense?”
“Shut up quickly,” the system said, exasperated. “Aphrodisiac incense is a means used by succubi to seduce prey. It’s one thing for you, a fake succubus, not to know about it, but you actually dare to ask this question in front of a demon hunter? Really.”
“I see,” Lin Xiaodong suddenly understood. “So I have this stuff too?”
The system reluctantly replied: “Uh-huh.”
“Where?”
“All over the body, especially in saliva and X fluid,” the system said in a flat voice. “Aphrodisiac incense is worth a fortune because it’s harvested from living succubi and is very precious. But if you want some, just spit a little saliva.”
Lin Xiaodong: …No wonder every time he kissed Gu Xingzhai, the man looked so high.
He had thought it was because the man had been abstinent for many years.
But then again, why would there be aphrodisiac incense here?
It was impossible for there to be a second succubus in Qingxie Town. Gu Xingzhai clearly seemed to have thought of something; his expression became slightly serious, and after a moment of hesitation, he was about to leave, but Lin Xiaodong grabbed him: “Wait! We had a plan!”
“But what if something goes wrong…”
“It won’t, don’t worry.” Lin Xiaodong smiled and pushed him into the outer compartment. “Just wait for me for a bit. Did you bring the things?”
“…I did.”
Gu Xingzhai had no choice but to comply.
Meanwhile, the housekeeper was also in the front courtyard welcoming guests. The cloth shop owner “coincidentally” brought a group of cronies, clamoring to play pai gow with the housekeeper. There was also a group of women who wanted to see the high-end Beijing fabric the housekeeper’s wife had just bought from the town market. A group of people chattered around the housekeeper, making quite a lively scene.
At this moment, the housekeeper’s face showed a troubled expression.
He sighed and bowed to the cloth shop owner: “My dear friend, it’s really not convenient at the mansion today. Everyone, please go back. I’ll find another time to host and gather with everyone, alright?”
Hearing this, everyone else quieted down. Only the cloth shop owner, who had long conspired with the housekeeper, remained persistent: “This is where you’re wrong, Brother Zhao. We agreed that each family would take turns hosting, didn’t we? Why is it that when it’s your turn, you always make excuses? You said your son was sick before, fine, but how many days has it been? Don’t think I don’t know; you even invited Miss Lin to treat your son today. Miss Lin is at your mansion today!”
As soon as they heard the name of Qingxie Town’s most beautiful woman, all the men present immediately became excited, clamoring to go in and catch a glimpse of Miss Lin’s beauty. The expressions of the women nearby were much more complex; some were curious, some disdainful, and some whispered with their girlfriends. In short, looking at the situation, they had to go in.
The housekeeper, seeing that he “couldn’t stop” them, could only trot behind, verbally feigning persuasion: “Miss Lin is unwell today and resting in the backyard. Please don’t disturb her too much.”
“We’re just going to say hello, Brother Zhao, you worry too much!”
The cloth shop owner burst into laughter, patted his shoulder vigorously, and strode ahead to the backyard. Amidst the housekeeper’s shouts of “Oh, don’t go into that room,” he pushed open the door of the room they had agreed upon earlier—
“Miss Lin, we’ve come to see you!”
A rich aphrodisiac scent wafted out. Behind the translucent screen, two overlapping figures were vaguely visible. One wore a long gown, tall and strong; the other had long hair draped over her shoulders, a bare shoulder, and a slender waist… This alluring scene instantly left everyone present dumbfounded and silent.
Seeing this, the cloth shop owner was the first to shout loudly: “What… what are they doing!?”
His voice was like a switch being flipped; in an instant, an uproar erupted.
Everyone’s eyes revealed a mix of disdain, excitement, and gossip. They all rubbed their hands together, as if they were about to rush behind the screen to enforce justice on behalf of heaven; yet they were also green with envy, wishing they could take their place and experience the ultimate pleasure of having that warm, soft jade in their arms.
“Oh my god, I thought they were just spreading rumors, but it turns out they really are a pair of adulterers!”
“Old Master Gu hasn’t even been dead for a year, and this shameless woman can’t wait to climb into Young Master Gu’s bed?”
“Oh, I knew it! This woman looks like a fox spirit!”
“Truly a disgrace to scholars…”
Among them were also patients Lin Xiaodong had treated during his free clinics.
The housekeeper even pushed through the crowd, knelt on the ground with a “thud,” and wailed heartbrokenly: “This… Miss, Young Master, what are you doing!? Old Master Gu, I’m sorry! I’m incompetent; I couldn’t protect the foundation you left behind…”
His self-reproach immediately received a wave of comfort from those around him: “Housekeeper Zhao, this is not your fault. Who could have expected such depravity?”
“Exactly. Usually, they look decent, even pretending to be good people going to town to treat the sick and save lives. Now it seems they’re all hypocrites and fox spirits!”
The cloth shop owner further fanned the flames, loudly guiding the crowd: “Brother Zhao, get up quickly. You’re old; there’s no need to grieve over such matters. If Old Master Gu knew in the afterlife, he would surely be furious with this pair of adulterers. An unfilial son cannot bear heavy responsibilities, but you must uphold justice for him!”
“Exactly!” Others echoed.
“What’s all the shouting about?” Just as the housekeeper was secretly delighted, thinking everything was going smoothly according to plan, a lazy voice suddenly came from behind the screen. It didn’t sound like a woman’s coquettishness; instead, it carried the clear and bright tone of a young man. “It was so quiet just now, like a dead person. Why is it suddenly noisy again?”
The housekeeper froze.
Under his incredulous gaze, a young man, half-undressed and looking strikingly similar to Lin Xiaodong, walked out of the room with a yawn. Behind him followed a neatly dressed and calm-faced Gu Xingzhai—but he had clearly told his wife to guard outside, and no one had entered or exited the room after Gu Xingzhai went in!!??
“Are you thinking, ‘Impossible, how could there be two men in the room’?”
Lin Xiaodong smiled and squatted in front of the housekeeper, asking. Seeing the other party nod foolishly, the smile on his face deepened. “If you’re looking for my elder sister, she went out to buy me some ointment. It’s not easy for me, her younger brother, to visit her. The journey was tiring, and I’m feeling a bit weak. Young Master Gu kindly helped me with a massage, but unexpectedly, halfway through, a pile of messy things came out. And then the housekeeper brought a large group of people over… I wonder what your intentions are?”
Gu Xingzhai expressionlessly threw a blanket full of beads and knots in front of everyone. The men were fine, but the few women present took one look, their faces turned red, and they spat at the housekeeper: “Scum!” They stomped their feet and ran out of the courtyard.
“This… this has nothing to do with me!” The housekeeper quickly cried out in injustice. “These… these are… are…”
“What are they?” Lin Xiaodong asked back. He glanced at the cloth shop owner, whose eyes were darting around in the crowd, and deliberately drew out his words, “Oh, it seems I was presumptuous. Could this be where you and your esteemed wife usually get intimate? Looking at these things, there are quite a few tricks. Housekeeper Zhao, you truly are old in age but not in heart.”
“Pfft.” Someone couldn’t hold back and let out a laugh on the spot.
The housekeeper’s eyes widened. He was both angry and frustrated, but utterly speechless. His face turned a deep purplish-red.
“Impossible!” He scrambled up from the ground, stumbled, pushed past Lin Xiaodong’s shoulder, and rushed behind the screen, only to be utterly distraught and heartbroken upon seeing the empty room—Could it be that Lin Xiaodong really vanished into thin air in this room?
He showed a desperate expression, but Lin Xiaodong had no intention of letting him off the hook so easily.
This Zhao fellow’s intentions were vicious. He was betting that women of this era wouldn’t dare to defend themselves in such private matters, and even if they did, no one would likely believe them. People only cared about who she was sharing a room with and what unknown things they were doing inside. They didn’t care about the ins and outs of the matter, nor did they want to know the truth.
If not for the help of [One-Click Dress-Up] today, Lin Xiaodong and Gu Xingzhai would truly be unable to defend themselves, and everyone would be calling for their heads.
“Zhao Lu!” Gu Xingzhai certainly wouldn’t let Lin Xiaodong handle this alone. He stepped forward, shielding the young man behind him, and slapped the account book in his hand onto the housekeeper’s face. “Not only did you scheme to frame the master, but you also deceived those above and below for years, embezzled public funds, and acted lawlessly! This is my father’s account book. Open your dog eyes and take a good look at how much you’ve embezzled!”
Finally, he bowed coldly to the people standing at the door watching the farce: “All of you, bear witness for me. All the past wrongs, today I will settle them with this Zhao fellow, even if it means going to court! My father taught me from a young age to be upright. Now that he has passed away, his family’s property has been encroached upon by a villain, and the women of the household have been falsely accused. Even if I, Gu Xingzhai, die, I will investigate this matter to the very end!”
Everyone looked at each other.
The plot twist was too fast; their minds hadn’t caught up yet. But the cloth shop owner was the first to step forward, patting his chest and saying righteously: “Young Master Gu, I support you! You must investigate thoroughly. Just ask for any evidence you need. I, Old Guo, will never allow such a villain to run rampant in our Qingxie Town!”
The housekeeper gnashed his teeth in hatred, lunging forward to hit him: “Guo! You shameless scoundrel, you were the one who came up with the idea first, yet in the end, it’s all my fault… I’ll kill you!”
“Murder! Murder!!!”
The cloth shop owner screamed like a pig being slaughtered. A group of people rushed to break up the fight, some watching, some cursing, some pointing fingers… What a spectacular show!
“Satisfied?”
After the farce, Lin Xiaodong walked to Gu Xingzhai’s side, looking at the mess on the floor, and asked softly.
“Wh—” Gu Xingzhai’s eyes widened slightly, and he finally reacted. “You arranged all this specifically for me?”
Lin Xiaodong tucked his hands into his sleeves, looked at the desolate pond in the distance, and slowly exhaled a puff of white air: “Yes and no. How Old Master Gu died is now unknown to anyone, but I understand that you’ve always had that grievance in your heart, so I wanted to help you teach these scoundrels a lesson. Of course, I’ve also been annoyed by them for a long time.”
“You are a decent person, you act honorably, and you wouldn’t resort to such crooked schemes,” he smiled and turned to look at Gu Xingzhai. “But I am not. I am a succubus. Love makes me want them to live, hate makes me want them to die. It’s that simple.”
Gu Xingzhai gazed deeply at the young man standing beside him, with a faint smile lingering at the corners of his eyes and brows. He suddenly felt that Lin Xiaodong, showing his true self, was a thousand times more beautiful than his former enchanting and stunning appearance.
Only the young man now was closest to his true self.
—And that was the appearance that first captivated him.