“Your Majesty, today your Majesty was the most valiant during the hunt. Hunting this huge beast is truly extraordinary and mighty!” The officials on the side flattered.

Zhao Xuan’s ears were ringing. He disliked hearing these flattering words. These people were used to praising the powerful and oppressing the weak, and when he was powerless in the past, he never heard such things.

There was only Zhao Yelan who grew up at his side, urging him on and encouraging him, never deliberately flattering him. Even though he was now honored as the Emperor and had hunted a fierce tiger, the other party only gave him a smile to show affirmation, which was instead more comfortable than such vain flattery.

Thinking of this, he looked at his prey again and planned to reward Zhao Yelan with both the tiger skin and the stag to make him happy. Of course, there was also some pride in it. 

Perfectly satisfied, he moved forward and looked toward Zhao Yelan, then saw a white rabbit jump out of his hands and Zhao Yelan taking two steps after it.

Zhao Xuan was wondering where the live rabbit came from when he saw Zhao Yelan turn around and say to the other person: “What are you doing still in a daze, are you just going to let it run away?”

“Ask me, ah,” Yan Mingting said with a smile.

“In your dreams.” Zhao Yelan stood in place and said, “Forget it, I don’t care if it runs away.”

“I care.” Yan Mingting quickly caught the rabbit and stuffed it into his arms. “You have literary talent, give it a name.”
Zhao Yelan thought for a while: “I’ll call it Hongshao,^[1] ba, I haven’t eaten rabbit head in a long time.”

Yan Mingting: “……”

The rabbit flinched, and the others laughed out loud.

Zhao Xuan looked at the group of people, staring straight at Zhao Yelan and not letting the expression on his face slip. He clearly saw the cunning that flashed in his eyes, like he was deliberately teasing Yan Mingting to play, and the joy that came after success.

When did Zhao Yelan ever tease others?

Zhao Xuan’s eyes gradually darkened, his heart feeling bitter and sour. When he looked over again, Zhao Yelan had returned to his original appearance, as if it had just been an illusion.

He walked over with heavy steps and asked with a forced smile: “Where did this rabbit come from?”

“Answering Your Majesty, the General caught it,” Zhong Yuehong said.

“It is likely that the person in charge accidentally mixed in this rabbit,” Yan Mingting explained.

It stood to reason that there would only be wild rabbits in the hunting grounds, not domestic ones, but not long after Yan Mingting entered, he saw this white and tender domestic rabbit and supposed that the palace servants had accidentally let it in. It had no experience living in the wild. In these hunting grounds, it would either die to an arrow or at the mouth of another beast, so he simply took it away. It also looked inexplicably like Zhao Yelan, who was also soft and white, and insisted on looking at others fiercely despite the lack of red eyes.

“So that is the case.” Zhao Xuan reached out to touch the rabbit’s head with a gentle smile, and said to Zhao Yelan, who was holding it, “This is really a good thing, don’t you love rabbit meat? This is a blessing, right, Mengting?”^[2]

The people around were stunned. Yan Mingting looked at Zhao Xuan in surprise, and then at Zhao Yelan with a complicated expression. 

Zhao Yelan nodded, calm and composed: “En.”

After saying a few words, Zhao Xuan went on to inspect other prey.

This group of talents regained their noisy atmosphere, and Zhong Yuehong couldn’t bear it, saying: “My lord, do you really want to braise it? In that case, give it to me, I’ll buy it from you.”

Zhao Yelan was distracted, staring at Zhao Xuan’s back. He couldn’t quite understand why the other party had suddenly called him “Mengting.” Could it be that he was threatening him because he saw him lingering with Yan Mingting and his group?

Yan Mingting followed his line of sight to Zhao Xuan’s tall, straight back. His eyes darkened a bit, and he raised his hand to stroke the rabbit’s head.

The atmosphere was a bit strange, and the two of them were completely silent, standing in place with their own thoughts. They didn’t come back to their senses until everyone began to return home.

At sunset, there was only a little bit of warm afterglow in the forest as everyone left in an orderly manner. Zhao Yelan turned to go, but Yan Mingting grasped his arm.

“Wait.”

Yan Mingting was responsible for the security of the hunting grounds, and had arranged many people around him, so he had to deal with the aftermath. Zhao Yelan thought for a moment, then stayed and waited for them to go back together.

The crowd gradually dispersed. When Li Yucheng passed by him, he gave him a fierce look and whispered: “Zhao Yelan, you wait for me, I will remember the grudge from last time.”

Ignorant fool.

Zhao Yelan didn’t even bother to respond to him, and put the rabbit on the ground. As soon as it  ran away, Zhong Yuehong caught it again for a thorough petting. 

He could see that she liked it very much, and said: “Take it back and keep it for yourself.”

Zhong Yuehong shook her head: “Forget it, the General caught it for you, my lord. If I take it away, he will punish me with fifty blows with a cane.”

Zhao Yelan wondered: “You will be caned?”

“Of course, I’ve been through it many times and couldn’t get out of bed for days,” Zhong Yuehong complained.

He Cuizhang leaned down to touch the rabbit and joined the conversation: “Who told you to disobey orders and act without authorization? Besides, the General said that military merit would be awarded based on meritorious deeds, but according to military discipline, there is no difference between men and women. If you make a mistake, you will be punished.”

Zhong Yuehong glared at him, and the two started shoving and fighting.

Zhao Yelan nodded: “It should be so.”

As a female lieutenant general, Zhong Yuehong was very uncommon. If it wasn’t for the old general and Yan Mingting’s efforts to protect her, perhaps she would be a married woman by now, with a husband and child, and then how could she have thousands of soldiers under her command?

Therefore, if she made a mistake, she could not be shown favoritism, lest anyone think that General Yan would be partial to her for being a woman. If it were not this way, the soldiers under her would inevitably be dissatisfied, and she would be more likely to lose credit. If the hearts of the people were not in harmony, it would be difficult to resist the enemy.

“See, my lord also said there is nothing wrong with it. They really deserve to be a family.” He Cuizhang smiled and said, “Yuehong, you just be honest, how is it possible that you still want to use Zhao-daren to petition the General?”

Zhao Yelan’s expression froze slightly. He glanced away, ignoring the two people.

After a while, Yan Mingting returned. Zhao Yelan had been sitting for a long time and was slightly dizzy when he stood up, but he was supported firmly.

“You all go back first, we have something to do.” Yan Mingting grabbed the rabbit and handed it to Zhong Yuehong. “Send it back to the General’s Mansion.”

After everyone had left, Zhao Yelan turned and asked: “What else do we need to do?”

“I’m going to take you somewhere.” Yan Mingting whistled, and his horse trotted over. He mounted it easily, and stretched out a hand with a smile: “Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“Hunting.”

“Hunting?” Zhao Yelan gave him a surprised look.

“That’s right.” Yan Mingting bent down a little and looked at him with a smile on his face. “Do you want to go?”

Zhao Yelan frowned slightly and stood there for a time while the other waited for him patiently.

He unconsciously bit his lower lip, and then held that hand. Immediately afterwards, his body lightened and he easily sat on the horse’s back.

“Ya!”

The strong horse spun and galloped into the hunting grounds, then slowed down to walk steadily down the path.

Zhao Yelan’s tense body gradually relaxed, and he looked at the surrounding environment. The trees covered the sky and blocked out the sun, making it a bit dark. The grass around them made a little noise from time to time, and there was no telling what could be hiding within. 

“Come, take the bow.” Yan Mingting took an arrow from the quiver and handed him both.

Zhao Yelan took it and fumbled for a moment before getting the arrow stuck on the string.

“Pull,” Yan Mingting said softly.

Zhao Yelan raised the bow, but it took some effort to draw it. After trying a few times with difficulty, his arms began to shake. Then the back of his hand was covered by a warm palm, wrapping around his hand and pulling back hard.

“Hold it steady, look straight ahead, and hold your breath,” Yan Mingting whispered in his ear.

Zhao Yelan looked forward intently. It was silent for a moment, and then he heard a sudden movement.

“Release.”

As Yan Mingting spoke, he let go of his hand. The arrow shot out with a swish, and then the sound of something falling to the ground could be heard.

Zhao Yelan’s eyes lit up slightly, and he asked in a low voice: “What is it?”

“Let’s go and have a look.” Yan Mingting slowly rode his horse forward, then leaned down and picked up an arrow embedded in a hare.

Zhao Yelan immediately became more energetic and asked: “Are there more hares?”

“There are.” Yan Mingting instructed him again on how to exert strength.

“Next time I will do it by myself,” Zhao Yelan said.

“All right.”

Zhao Yelan sat on the horse and drew the bow again according to his instructions. When he heard the sound of movement, he let loose in a fluster. In the end, the hare escaped unscathed and the arrow shot out crookedly and landed nearby.

“……”

Yan Mingting laughed. Zhao Yelan turned his head to look back at him, and he waved his hand: “It’s okay, your first time was never going to be smooth.”

“Don’t play around.” Zhao Yelan pulled a long face.

“There is a sheep. The target is bigger and easier to hit.”

“Where?” Zhao Yelan looked around but saw nothing. Realizing that he was being teased, he was about to get angry when Yan Mingting took his hand again, readied the bow, and they released together. There was a plaintive cry in the distance.

Zhao Yelan gave him a surprised look, and in the blink of an eye, the two approached on horseback. It was indeed a sheep.

“How did you know it was a sheep?”

“I listened to the sound it made to distinguish its shape.” Yan Mingting asked with a smile, “How about it, do you still want to play?”

Zhao Yelan didn’t speak, but Yan Mingting suddenly urged the horse into a gallop through the forest

He quickly grabbed the saddle and focused on the path ahead. After a while, he relaxed again and felt the thrill of galloping, the corners of his mouth curving up unknowingly.

The sky was darkening swiftly. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a running deer and shouted hastily: “Quick, over there!”

“You steer the horse.”

“Me?” Zhao Yelan was about to refuse, but the other party had already handed the reins over to him and drawn the bow.

Zhao Yelan’s heart beat fast as the horse galloped along. He didn’t dare stop recklessly, so he could only hold the reins apprehensively and shout: “Hurry up, we’re going to fall!”

There was the sharp sound of an arrow piercing the air. He glanced over to see that the deer had been hit by the arrow, and turned his head without realizing it to give Yan Mingting a delighted look.

Who knew that the horse would panic at this time and suddenly jolt, its two front hooves rearing up. Zhao Yelan cried out and fell backwards. Despite Yan Mingting hugging him tightly, the two fell from the horse together.

They rolled a few times through the grass before coming to a stop.

Zhao Yelan, having survived the catastrophe, slowly opened his eyes and saw that he was being embraced in Yan Mingting’s arms. After moving a little, he found no injuries on his body and pushed Yan Mingting away.

Yan Mingting chuckled and turned over to lay next to him, staring motionless at the sky.

Zhao Yelan panted heavily for a while, and regained his composure after lying down for a period of time. He asked: “Are you hurt?”

“No,” Yan Mingting said.

“Did you shoot the deer?”

“Of course.”

Zhao Yelan turned around and found that the other’s hand was still under his head. He had just moved to push his hand away when his back was pressed down. He lay down obediently.

Unable to move anymore, he asked: “Why did you give me the reins?”

“I don’t know, I just thought you would like it.” Yan Mingting raised one leg lazily, where he was slightly injured.

“Like what?” Zhao Yelan was puzzled.

“Riding horses and hunting.”

Zhao Yelan didn’t answer for a moment and remained silent.

“So you liked it?” Yan Mingting asked again, turning his head to look at him.

Zhao Yelan nodded faintly. However, it was dark now and Yan Mingting couldn’t see his movements, so he reached out to touch his cheek and asked: “Did you just nod or shake your head?”

Zhao Yelan slapped his hand away. “I liked it, okay?”

What man in the world didn’t like luxurious clothes and strong horses, drawing a bow to shoot wild geese, or becoming a great scholar, a talent in the prime of his life?

But as it happened, he couldn’t do it.

“It’s easy, ah.” Yan Mingting patted his back. “Follow me in the future to exercise well. I will teach you horseback riding and archery, and you will be able to come and show off your hunting skills in the coming year.”

Their surroundings were quiet. Zhao Yelan listened to his words in silence. It seemed that he could hear the lively beating of the other’s heart, which contained the incomparable vitality that he envied.

The two lay on the grass for a long time, until Zhao Yelan sneezed. Only then did Yan Mingting help him up, then turn and retrieve the arrow from the deer.

The deer was not dead yet. After a moment of struggle, it fled unsteadily.

“Let’s go back.” Yan Mingting led him to the horse, and they exited the hunting grounds together.

“By the way……” Yan Mingting hesitated to speak, and after deliberating for a long time, he couldn’t hold back the question. “Why did the Emperor call you Mengting?”

He still hadn’t escaped this problem. Zhao Yelan lowered his eyes and said slowly: “Mengting is my courtesy name.”

“Really?”

“En.”

Yan Mingting was slightly dissatisfied: “The Emperor knew your courtesy name, but I didn’t.”

“Then why don’t you reflect on yourself?” Zhao Yelan retorted.

“Clearly you didn’t tell me.”

“Well, you didn’t tell me yours, so why should I……”

“Fangli. I am called Yan Fangli,” Yan Mingting interrupted.

“Oh……”

“That is how you react?”

“How should I react?”

“Call it out for me to hear.”

“Hehe.”

After returning to the General’s Mansion, Housekeeper Qin saw that the two of them were a little out of sorts and said worriedly: “Did something happen during the hunt today?”

“Something happened,” Yan Mingting said solemnly. “Mengting was very stingy.”

“Who is Mengting?” Housekeeper Qin was at a loss.

Zhao Yelan felt a lot of regret. Ever since telling him that name, Yan Mingting kept saying ‘Mengting’ all the way –

“Mengting, after we go back, do you want to pick a good horse from my stables?”

“Mengting, sit back a little, don’t ride on the horse’s neck.”

“Mengting, hey. It’s fine, I just wanted to call you.”

“Mengting, you look so good today.”

“Mengting, Mengting, Mengting……”

The recitation made his brain buzz, until he almost couldn’t recognize these two characters.

“Mengting is certainly……”

“Yan Mingting!” Zhao Yelan hissed.

“Who is Yan Mingting? I only know Yan Fanli,” Yan Mingting said with a pleasant smile.

When Housekeeper Qin heard these familiar words, he suddenly realized: “I understand, the General is flirting with his wife, right?”

Yan Mingting: “ . ”

“……” Zhao Yelan gave Housekeeper Qin a sharp look.

Housekeeper Qin hurriedly covered his mouth, and then slapped himself lightly across the face – look at his big mouth, how could he accidentally say such a thing?

---

[1] Hongshao (红烧) means “braised.” ⮐

[2] Different from General Yan’s name, Mingting (明庭), which means “bright courtyard,” Zhao Yelan’s real name is Mengting(梦亭), or “dream pavilion.” They sound similar but consist of completely different characters. I can already tell this is going to be a joy to keep straight while translating…… ⮐

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Chapter Thirty-One <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Thirty-Three

Many people had already arrived at the camp and were greeting each other. When those people saw them, they immediately came forward to say hello.

“General Yan will have a big harvest today, ah.”

“Lieutenant General He and Lieutenant General Zhong are also energetic. It looks like they’re going to hunt a lot of good things today.”

They praised these military officials one by one, automatically ignoring Zhao Yelan, who was powerless.

Zhao Yelan also didn’t want to make sham gestures of politeness with them. Taking a seat, he saw those martial arts masters approaching Yan Mingting and the others, their voices full of longing and admiration.

The father and son of the Yan family could be said to be role models in the hearts of all warriors.

The others also slowly arrived. At this time, Eunuch Gao shouted: “The Emperor is here!”

Everyone got up and saluted one after another. Zhao Xuan walked out well-dressed, and said in a loud voice: “You don’t need to be so polite, today is the day of the hunt. Everyone goes into battle according to their skills, and what they hunt can be brought back directly. Anyone who can hunt down the tiger will receive a generous reward.”

The group of people were eager to compete, and when he finished speaking, they could hardly wait to ride into the forest.

Most of the officials were old, but their children were in the prime of their youth and bustled with noise and excitement in search of prey. Even Li Yucheng was among them.

Bows and arrows were distributed uniformly. Zhao Xuan picked up a quiver and was about to set off, when he subconsciously looked at Zhao Yelan.

They looked at each other, and Zhao Yelan smiled and nodded as if in encouragement.

Zhao Xuan smiled tacitly and raised his voice: “General Yan, let us go together.”

“Yes.”

Yan Mingting raised his bow, jumped onto his horse, and tightened the reins. He glanced at Zhao Yelan in high spirits, but Zhao Yelan looked back at him indifferently: “Do not be complacent.”

The corners of Yan Mingting’s mouth rose: “Let’s go.”

He Cuizhang and the others followed in sequence. The sound of horseshoes gradually faded away, and the people who remained waved away the dirt and dust that rose into the air.

After entering the hunting grounds, Zhao Xuan separated from Yan Mingting and the others. He was good at riding and shooting, and didn’t want to use Yan Mingting’s martial arts to obtain his prey. With a small entourage, he went in the other direction.

“General, what should we do now?” He Cuizhang asked.

“There is no need to stay together. Everyone enjoy within your own abilities, ba.” After Yan Mingting gave his orders, Zhong Yuehong turned her horse’s head and rushed into the forest excitedly.

Even at a distance from the hunting grounds, the civil officials sitting in the camp could hear the neighing of the horses and the growling of the game inside. It sounded a bit terrifying. Particularly worrying was that some people’s children were still inside.

The Prime Minister seemed to fear that Li Yucheng would have an accident, so he wanted to call up a few followers and go in search of him.

Someone laughed at him: “Minister Li, don’t you write poetry now?”

Li Jinyu wiped the sweat from his forehead: “I can’t right now, I’ll do it later.”

The others laughed out loud, and someone added fuel to the fire: “By the way, I heard a few days ago that Zhao Yelan and General Yan hung Li-gongzi from a tree. Is this true? You are the Prime Minister, ah, how can he live as such a good-for-nothing? If it was me, I would be sure to……”

“What would you be sure to do?” Zhao Yelan asked with a smile.

The man’s voice paused. He didn’t expect him to say this, and stammered without saying a complete sentence for a long time.

Zhao Yelan: “I recall that your young master is thirteen years old and won’t die after being hung up for a night. One of these days, I will……”

“Zhao-daren, excuse me, I made a slip of the tongue. Don’t mind me, have mercy on my son, ba.” The man hurriedly begged for leniency, knowing that he had forgotten himself for a moment. Even though Zhao Yelan was currently only a seventh-rank scholar, he could regain the Emperor’s favor at any moment. What’s more, Yan Mingting had already accompanied him to do wicked things, so there was no guarantee that he would not be spurred on by him.

Zhao Yelan smiled faintly: “I’m out of tea.”

“I’ll pour some for you.” The man trotted over with haste, respectfully poured him tea, and handed the teacup to him with a smile on his face.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yelan poured the tea out as soon as he accepted it.

“Too hot.”

The man bore with it under everyone’s complicated gazes and poured him another cup. Zhao Yelan took it and said indifferently: “All right, you have no business here. Go back.”

The people around Kan Chuan couldn’t help muttering, and the Imperial Censor said: “Why is this Zhao Yelan still so powerful? It is too outrageous! Tomorrow morning, I will certainly censure him!”

“It’s useless,” Kan Chuan said. “He will say that the other party offered the first insult, and that he splashed the tea because it was too hot and his hand was unsteady. The Emperor will not deal with such a small matter, and will only think that you focus on trivial matters every day.”

“It is as Kan-daren says. But since this Imperial Censor can’t speak out, why doesn’t Kan-daren go to speak to the Emperor? The Emperor has always summoned you alone these days, so he should take your opinions seriously, right?”

“The Imperial Censor should speak carefully. The Emperor summons me to speak about important matters concerning the common people, not to listen to me suing officials. If I truly did such a thing, what would be the difference between me and Zhao Yelan and his ilk?” When Kan Chuan finished his righteous speech, all the respectable people around him agreed and admired him greatly.

“However, should he continue to be so arrogant?” Asked another.

Kan Chuan looked at Zhao Yelan, who happened to be looking over too. Their eyes met, and he said calmly: “Although nowadays he is a tiger who has come down from the mountain, it is not good to provoke him easily. A rabbit may bite when it is desperate. Whoever crosses him now will suffer disaster in the future if he is allowed to return to power.”

When the others heard this, they also had the same reasoning. Wasn’t that the case with Liu-daren just now? This Zhao-daren had yet to return to power, yet he dared to ask Liu-daren to pour tea for him in front of so many people. They dared not think about how things would develop in the future.

Sitting nearby, Wang Guisheng listened to their conversation and looked at Zhao Yelan with a complicated expression. There was arrogance in his heart, and he wanted to completely remove this treacherous person, but he always thought of the night when Zhao Yelan talked about poetic essays with him. Warm dishes and warm wine, earnest words, and gaining genuine appreciation that he had never received before.

When Zhao Yelan looked over casually, he subconsciously straightened his back and didn’t know how to face the other. While he was struggling, Zhao Yelan had already glanced away. Although he was relieved, there was also a subtle sense of loss.

“Zhao-daren, I’ve found you.” Ruan Xian walked over with a smile. The camp was spacious and there were many officials who had come to participate. Ruan Xian had searched around while carrying a flagon of wine, only to see the slightly lonely-looking Zhao Yelan and sit beside him familiarly. “How is your health?”

“Thank you for your concern, there is no……” Zhao Yelan withdrew his inquisitive gaze, covered his mouth and nose, and coughed a few times before continuing, “……big problem.”

“This is what you call not a big problem?” Ruan Xian said with concern. “It so happens that my brother-in-law is out to see a patient and hasn’t returned yet, but I have already sent him a letter, and he will return to Beijing in two days. He will definitely give you a good diagnosis.”

“There is no need to bother him in this way.”

“Hey, isn’t that being too polite? Our first meeting was like that of old friends, and although I call you Zhao-daren, I treat you as an elder brother in my heart,” Ruan Xian laughed.

Zhao Yelan smiled: “Thank you, Ruan-daren, for your kindness.”

Ruan Xian smiled in surprise. “If you don’t mind, could I address you less formally, and instead call you Zhao-xiong?”^[1]

“All right.” Zhao Yelan nodded in agreement.

Ruan Xian was a little happy and wanted to drink with him, but it could be seen that he was frequently coughing, so he had to sip the wine alone.

The two sat and conversed for a while. Something occurred to Ruan Xian, and he asked in a low voice: “Zhao-xiong, I see that you have a very good relationship with General Yan. Can you tell him not to look at me so fiercely every time he sees me? It makes my heart uneasy, and I don’t know how I offended him.”

“What is this?” Zhao Yelan asked in surprise.

“Yes, ah, the few times I’ve seen him, he would glare at me a few times without giving a reason. I’ve never had much contact with him, and I don’t know what could have made him unhappy. Although he is big and handsome, he can be intimidating when he looks fierce. I’m really afraid of him,” Ruan Xian complained without end.

“No, what I’m asking is, when did you see that our relationship is good?”

“……” Ruan Xian frowned. “Is it not okay?”

“Okay?”

“Uh……” Ruan Xian saw that he was confident that his relationship was not good, and was not sure of himself anymore, beginning to suspect that it was his own illusion. “It may be that I read it wrong, ba.”

“You must have read it wrong,” Zhao Yelan affirmed.

The time limit for the hunt was one day, so lunch was also eaten at the camp. Everyone gathered together to eat, and heard the sudden sound of hoofbeats as someone returned.

“Ya!” Li Yucheng was the first to come back, his head soaked in sweat as he shouted excitedly, “Dad, I caught something!”

Everyone looked over curiously and saw a group of attendants following him carrying a dozen rabbits.

In an instant, everyone burst into laughter. It went without saying that there were no words for his riding and shooting skills. They laughed so hard that Li Yucheng was too ashamed to show his face, and he lowered his head listlessly.

Only Li Jinyu patted him on the head with a smile on his face: “Very good, Dad is very happy as long as you are safe and sound. Tell Dad how you hunted them?”

Li Yucheng’s face was full of joy again and he pulled him to sit down, animatedly talking about the scene inside: “There are so many things in there! Leopards and big tigers as well, so scary……”

Smiling, the other people turned back around. Zhao Yelan couldn’t help but take another look, and saw that no matter what Li Yucheng said, Li Jinyu would listen very carefully and repeat a few words, offering him praise.

“You said that our Prime Minister has great literary talent, but why is his son so useless?” Ruan Xian said in a hushed voice, shaking his head with a sigh.

Zhao Yelan lowered his eyes sadly: “This is Li Yucheng’s good fortune.”

“That is true, Li Yucheng has such a doting father, and has been comfortable all his life, unlike me……” There was a hint of sourness in Ruan Xian’s tone, and he immediately laughed. “Forget it, since there is no such father, I can only rely on myself.”

The corners of Zhao Yelan’s mouth twitched, and he said, “Yes, ah.”

The temperature rose a bit in the afternoon. Fortunately, the camp was shaded by trees, so it wasn’t overly hot. Zhao Yelan sat in his chair and dozed off for a while. He heard the sound of hoofbeats but didn’t bother to open his eyes. In any case, there were countless voices reporting the results.

Which official had hunted a deer, which gongzi had shot a wolf……there were congratulatory voices all around, which was very noisy.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes and examined the people who had hunted trophies. They were encircled by crowds as they told about their experiences inside, arousing everyone’s curiosity.

“I heard that the tiger is difficult to subdue, did any of you try?”

“The Emperor, did he……look, isn’t the Emperor coming back now?”

Everyone looked over one after another, and Zhao Yelan followed suit. He saw Zhao Xuan ride out in a mighty manner, his clothes stained with blood. The entourage behind him was pulling a wooden cart, upon which was the corpse of a tiger. It was so big that just looking at it was terrifying.

The officials approached in succession to observe, and didn’t forget to say a few words of flattery.

Zhao Xuan was in a good mood, and ordered the tiger to be cut up and divided among everyone. When he caught a glimpse of Zhao Yelan’s figure, he couldn’t help but step forward and ask with a smile: “How is it?”

“Your Majesty’s prestige remains unparalleled,” Zhao Yelan complimented.

Zhao Xuan laughed loudly and patted him on the shoulder, saying in a low voice: “In due course, the tiger skin will be given to you to protect you from the cold.”

“Many thanks, Your Majesty.”

Zhao Xuan turned around to inspect other people’s achievements, praising them without hesitation. The scene was very lively.

Not long after, He Cuizhang and Zhong Yuehong also returned. He Cuizhang had hunted the wolf king, and Zhong Yuehong had captured a leopard.

“Not bad, the two lieutenants are really young and promising.” Zhao Xuan walked up to them, laughing loudly. When he looked at Zhong Yuehong, he was full of praise. “Lieutenant general Zhong’s skill is extraordinary, she is truly a heroine.”

“Your Majesty flatters me.”  Zhong Yuehong clasped her hands in a soldier’s salute.

Zhao Xuan glanced at her appreciatively and then looked away: “Your people have all returned. Why do I not see Yan Mingting?”

“Yes, why hasn’t the General come back yet?” Someone asked.

“The General wasn’t with us, we don’t know,” He Cuizhang said.

Zhao Xuan counted the people and found that there were still a few gongzis from aristocratic families who had not returned , so he ordered the people to continue to wait.

“How about we guess what General Yan will bring back?” One person suggested.

“But the tiger has been captured by His Majesty, and the wolf king and leopard have also been caught. What else can be hunted?”

“There is also a bear. It seems that no one has brought it back yet.”

“True, General Yan must have caught the bear.”

Just then, the person in charge shouted: “Report! Wu Zhuangyuan hunted down one black bear, twelve wild geese, and one deer.”

“Whoo, it turns out that Wu Zhuangyuan gets the credit!”

“What else can General Yan catch?”

“There is nothing great left in the forest, maybe General Yan is going to fight a phoenix, ha ha ha ha.”

Everyone laughed, and at this time some people had already revealed mocking expressions. They suspected that this famous general had a reputation with no substance. Was it really all right if he couldn’t even hunt the heads of prey?

The other lieutenants also came back one after another, and their harvest was not small. Seeing that Yan Mingting had not come back, they automatically came to Zhao Yelan’s side.

Zhao Yelan turned his head and asked: “What is he doing?”

The lieutenants were clearly aware of the taunts from others, and He Cuizhang replied: “I haven’t seen him either……could something have happened, ah?”

Zhao Yelan frowned and covertly glanced around, inexplicably feeling that everyone present might have set a trap for Yan Mingting.

On the one hand, it might be because the Yan family had too much power, and on the other, it might be because of himself. They had made enemies of too many people, so he would start with the people closest to them first.

They would not normally be able to murder Yan Mingting without difficulty, but today, taking advantage of the Spring Hunt, they could set up some traps in the hunting grounds and declare that he had died at the mouth of a beast……

He looked at Zhao Xuan abruptly.

Zhao Xuan noticed his pointed gaze and looked sideways at him. When he met those deep, dark eyes, he couldn’t help but freeze.

Over the years, he had seen Zhao Yelan reveal such a dangerous look countless times, but never toward himself. Every time Zhao Yelan looked at him, his eyes were always fragile and filled with unspeakable emotions.

When he looked again, the other party had already returned to normal, as if it had been an illusion. He even gave him a gentle smile, making him really suspect that he was overly tired and having hallucinations.

Not Zhao Xuan, Zhao Yelan thought.

He soon came to his senses. Although Zhao Xuan feared Yan Mingting, his army was still needed, and he would not use such lowly tricks to murder Yan Mingting.

If he wanted to harm Zhao Yelan, it would be an easy task, and he would not have to go through such trouble to dispense of Yan Mingting first.

At this moment, the slow plodding of horseshoes sounded in the forest. Everyone heard the sound and looked over to where Yan Mingting finally appeared at the entrance.

Yan Mingting emerged slowly on horseback, his long hair half held back and blowing in the wind, his eyes like bright stars, and looked around with an unreadable expression. There was clearly nobody behind him, but people inexplicably felt that there were thousands of troops at his back, poised for action, an invisible deterrent.

“Son!” An official in the back of the crowd suddenly shouted, pushing forward. “Son, what happened to you?!”

Only then did everyone come to their senses and notice the person lying in front of Yan Mingting. The person heard that voice and raised his head, stretching out a hand helplessly. “Father, cough cough cough.”

Yan Mingting lifted him from the back with one hand, and others instantly went to retrieve him. He said to the people: “Ling-gonzi was bitten by a wild dog. Take him to a doctor and have him checked carefully.”

“Many thanks, General Yan!”

There was an Imperial physician accompanying them, and Zhao Yelan immediately ordered him to check on the injury.

Others also clearly saw that Yan Mingting had not brought back any prey, but saving someone’s life made for a good story, and nobody sneered anymore.

Yan Mingting didn’t know that he had been secretly mocked. He dismounted, threw his quiver to He Cuizhang, and walked right up to Zhao Yelan.

He Cuizhang enumerated his shortcomings: “Hey, General, this is no good, did you not hunt at all?”

“How could this be?” Yan Mingting spoke without care and noticed that Zhao Yelan’s face was gloomy, asking in concern, “Why are you unhappy?”

Zhao Yelan looked at him silently, not saying a word, and couldn’t explain why he was so depressed.

In the silence, he suddenly saw Yan Mingting’s chest move and pointed to it: “What is that?”

Yan Mingting’s eyes curved: “It’s for you.”

Several other lieutenants also looked over curiously. Zhao Yelan looked down again, and in the next instant, a fluffy white rabbit poked its head out from the hem of his clothes. The little mouth moved and moved, and it opened a pair of innocent red eyes, meeting Zhao Yelan face-to-face.

“Ah, rabbit!” Zhong Yuehong fell in love with it, and just as she reached out to touch, her hand was smacked away by Yan Mingting.

Yan Mingting grabbed the rabbit by the ears and stuffed it unhesitatingly into Zhao Yelan’s hands, saying with a smile: “Hold it firmly.”

---

[1] The suffix -xiong is the equivalent of “elder brother.” So, Elder Brother Zhao. ⮐

---

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Chapter Thirty <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Thirty-Two

After the Emperor commissioned the new scholars and rewarded them again, the banquet officially began.

Musicians and dancers filled the room, playing music and dancing in the courtyard. The elegant beauties fluttered the long sleeves of their dresses, dazzling people.

While enjoying the entertainment, everyone drank freely, and after some time, people started to walk around.

The high-ranking officials who were closest to the Emperor went to toast one after another and make some compliments. Yan Mingting couldn’t be bothered to climb up and smile, so he drank by himself and glanced at Zhao Yelan from time to time.

“General, I see that Kan Chuan looks pretty good, and I heard that he has a good character and a bright future,” He Cuizhang came around from behind and whispered. “How about making him Yuehong’s husband-in-law?”

When Zhong Yuehong heard this, she immediately became serious: “Don’t talk nonsense, he is already married, and I won’t be a concubine.”

Yan Mingting looked slantwise at Kan Chuan, and knew that the other party was secretly sizing up Zhao Yelan. He frowned subconsciously, but the other party only paused for a moment, then looked away.

“So, ah……the main thing is that all these officials have families, so it’s really not good to be too choosy……hey, I heard that the number one scholar has not yet married a wife, what do you think about him?” He Cuizhang said.

Zhong Yuehong glanced at him, and only then did she see the appearance of the new number one scholar, saying in surprise: “Isn’t that the little white face we saw by the river last time?”

He Cuizhang took a closer look: “Aiyo, damn, isn’t this the good friend of Zhao-daren?”

Yan Mingting gave him a sidelong glance.

“Pei, pei, definitely not a good friend.” He Cuizhang pretended to slap his mouth twice. His eyes had been fixed on Wang Guishang, and they widened in the next moment. “General, he went to find Zhao-daren!”

The three of them looked over together. The high-spirited first place scorer was surrounded by countless people, but he walked outside of the circle.

Wang Guisheng was also quite puzzled. The first-place scorer could be seen as proud and elated, and many people came to converse with him, but Zhao Yelan remained indifferent.

He had guessed beforehand that Zhao Yelan had visited him in advance to win him over, but right now he took no action, as if he didn’t exist. This piqued his curiosity. 

But he didn’t go directly to Zhao Yelan. Instead, he went to exchange pleasantries with a few bachelors from the Imperial Academy.

He had been observing Zhao Yelan from the corner of his eye, and the man had been fiddling with pastries and drinking tea leisurely. A bachelor took him to briefly introduce his colleagues, and when Zhao Yelan was introduced, the other lifted his head and smiled at him: “Congratulations to Wang-gonzi for achieving first place. Please give me advice in the future.”

It was very perfunctory. Wang Guisheng was stunned for a moment. There was an inexplicable emotion lingering in his heart, and he was debating whether to be polite. 

When the other members of the Imperial Academy saw this, they all observed with the mentality of watching a good show. After all, Wang Guisheng’s previous article insulted Zhao Yelan’s party. In the future, the Imperial Academy would be very lively.

Ruan Xian feared that the atmosphere between the two would be awkward, so he stood forward and talked with Wang Guisheng and introduced the affairs of the Imperial Academy in a lighthearted manner. Wang Guisheng smiled lightly, feeling good about him.

The senior officials near the center also noticed Zhao Yelan. This previously powerful person was now sitting on the outermost edge, and also had to smile ingratiatingly for the new generation of scholars. They watched this with great joy, muttering and whispering as they ridiculed him inwardly and out loud.

As it happened, Yan Mingting had good eyes and hearing, and his expression gradually dimmed as he stared at these people without saying a word. He didn’t even hear the Emperor calling him.

It wasn’t until He Cuizhang nudged him that he came back to his senses and heard the Emperor ask: “General Yan, I am sorry to trouble you with the Spring Hunt.”

“It’s all right, it is only a small matter,” Yan Mingting replied.

Zhao Xuan saw him sitting in his seat drinking alone with no one around him, and then looked at Zhao Yelan who was sitting on the periphery. He had the impression that there was discord between the two, so he smiled lightly and rewarded Yan Mingting with a pot of Jade Dew fine wine as a token of the Emperor’s favor.

After drinking three rounds, the Emperor and the Empress left first.

The courtiers were also a little drunk, drinking wine in small groups. Yan Mingting picked up two jugs of wine and walked to the opposite table, and those people looked at him foggily.

He gave them a simple and honest smile: “My lords, I wonder if you can do me a favor and have a few drinks with me?”

Those people were already dizzy from drinking, but it wasn’t easy to deny him to his face, so they had to continue drinking with him. Who knew that Yan Mingting would continue pouring wine for them, saying with a smile: “It hasn’t been long since I returned to Beijing, and I will need you all to take care of me in the future. This is good wine rewarded by the Emperor, I’ll offer it first in respect.”

These few people couldn’t evade in time, and after they were force-fed by him two or three times, they ran out of the banquet hall to vomit.

Yan Mingting looked at their backs, snorted coldly, and then immediately met Zhao Yelan’s eyes. Zhao Yelan gave him a questioning look, but he didn’t reply, sitting back down in his seat and gazing at him all the while.

Zhao Yelan wasn’t clear on why, so he planned to question him after he returned. He looked around, his eyes paused in a certain direction, and then he got up and walked out.

“Zhao-daren, where are you going?” Ruan Xian asked.

“Out.”

Zhao Yelan walked unhurriedly, and someone bumped into him from behind. It was Kan Chuan, who was in a rush.

“Kan-daren is in such a hurry, what is he planning to do?” Zhao Yelan asked.

Kan Chuan looked directly at him and replied: “I’ve had too much to drink, and I just want to alleviate it.”

Zhao Yelan nodded, appearing to mockingly say: “Kan-daren is now favored by the Emperor. There must be a lot of people who want to drink with you, just be careful not to drink too much, ah.”

Kan Chuan gave him a profound look: “What is the problem?”

The two looked at each other for a moment. Zhao Yelan was about to speak when he caught a glimpse of Yan Mingting approaching from the side. He ignored the other man and went straight to Yan Mingting instead: “Why did you come?”

“I feared you were being bullied by a drunkard,” Yan Mingting said, reeking of alcohol as he looked straight at Kan Chuan.

Kan Chuan sneered, turning around to stride away.

“I think you’re the biggest alcoholic.” Zhao Yelan frowned and dragged him toward the banquet hall.

“Aren’t you going to the toilet?”

“No.”

Yan Mingting hiccuped and followed behind him. It took him a long time to say: “Holding it in is bad for your health.”

“……”

Zhao Yelan ignored him. After thinking about it, he asked him a question in a low voice: “Why did you drink with those old-timers just now? Do you want to get closer to them?”

Yan Mingting said: “No, I just think they are a bit annoying and talk a lot.”

Zhao Yelan stopped abruptly, and it seemed he had guessed the reason. That group of people used to love to impeach him in court, and said mocking words behind his back. He looked back at Yan Mingting, lowered his voice, and said: “Don’t mind those old-timers.”

“Are you not angry?”

“Why be angry? They cannot make political achievements, so they can only wag their tongues.”

“It’s not pleasant to listen to idle gossip.” Yan Mingting hmphed coldly.

Zhao Yelan said dispassionately: “It is nothing to be uncomfortable with. If they truly annoy me, they won’t even have a chance to speak. They’re just a bunch of old things waiting to die.”

“Hush.” Yan Mingting suddenly covered his mouth, leading him to jump into the bushes next to them, hiding in the dark. “Someone is there.”

Zhao Yelan vigilantly pressed down the leaves in front of him, he looked around and caught a glimpse of two figures approaching each other in the distance, a man and a woman. It looked like a palace maid and a sixth-rank official.

The official whispered some orders to the maid and they began to flirt, chirping and chattering shamelessly and looking like they were about to kiss.

“……” Zhao Yelan was completely speechless. Turning his head to look at Yan Mingting, he found the other looking at him teasingly and raising a hand to remove a leaf from his head.

Zhao Yelan froze for a moment, then cast a meaningful look over there.

Yan Mingting nodded. He picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the official’s head.

“Who is it?” The official yelled in fear, then led the other person away in a panic.

Zhao Yelan stood up and patted down his clothes: “Fancy that, you are also capable of sneaking around and listening to other people’s business.”

“When I heard stealthy footsteps, I thought it was something big, but who knew they were here to flirt.” Yan Mingting smiled helplessly.

“It wasn’t for nothing, don’t let him steal the scene.”

The official had arranged for the maid to lead the Emperor to a set position on the day of the Spring Hunt, so that he could lead people to pretend to be heroes. Such a clumsy drama.

“Don’t worry, I’m in charge of the hunting grounds. Would I let him take advantage of a loophole?”

Neither of them went back to the banquet hall, walking out the door together. Zhao Yelan asked: “Are you going back as well?”

“It’s so late, why not go back? I don’t know many people who like to drink, unlike you, with so many little white faces drinking together.” Yan Mingting suddenly got kicked for his sarcastic remark. 

“Stop talking. Li Jinyu is over there, you go feel him out,” Zhao Yelan said in a low voice, and raised his chin toward the southeast.

“How do I feel him out?”

“You hit Li Yucheng. Apologize to him and see how he reacts.”

Yan Mingting nodded. After the other got into a sedan chair, he turned around, walked up to Li Jinyu with a smile on his face, cupped his hands, and said: “Li-daren, this Yan Mingting wanted to have a drink with you just now, but couldn’t get away. I hope you will forgive me.”

“It is no matter, General Yan is young and promising. It is normal for him to have a lot of entertainment.” Li Jinyu smiled kindly.

“Speaking of which, I also wanted to apologize to Li-daren. I drank too much wine in the restaurant last time, acted recklessly, and beat Li-gongzi. I regretted it afterwards……”

Li Jinyu smiled: “I would like to thank the General. If you had not hung him up, I’m afraid I would never be able to find that villain. Now he is behaving himself and staying in the mansion, he just doesn’t know how to be obedient.”

He and Yan Mingting smiled at each other and conversed for a while, then Yan Mingting returned on horseback to the General’s Mansion.

“How did he react?” Zhao Yelan asked when he came through the door. He was in the middle of washing his hands.

Yan Mingting recounted it in detail. Zhao Yelan pondered for a moment and wiped his hands: “This old fox is putting on a good face. It seems that just a beating can’t get him to act.”

“Then what? Kill Li Yucheng?” Yan Mingting asked.

“Do you dare?” Zhao Yelan looked askance at him.

“I don’t think so. Although Li Yucheng is a bit of a dandy, his nature isn’t that bad. Not to mention that I almost became his brother-in-law, how could I……” Yan Mingting stopped talking abruptly and gave Zhao Yelan a meaningful look. Seeing him wiping his hands as usual without a trace of jealousy, he felt a little disappointed for no reason.

“It’s useless to kill him. It would just be a waste of effort. As I said, all human beings have weaknesses. Li Jinyu’s weakness is Li Yucheng, and Li Yucheng’s weaknesses are……” Zhao Yelan put down the handkerchief slowly. The corners of his mouth curled up, but there was no smile in his eyes. “Many.”

Yan Mingting stared at him for a moment, and then wondered: “Everyone has a weakness……then what is yours?”

Zhao Yelan raised his eyebrows: “I have no weaknesses.”

“Impossible.” Yan Mingting at once drew his sword and placed it at his own throat. “You won’t say, so how about I kill myself before your eyes?”

Zhao Yelan raised his hand: “Please proceed quickly.”

“……” Yan Mingting felt disheartened. Sometimes he felt that Zhao Yelan liked him, while other times he felt that the other party didn’t care at all.

Zhao Yelan sat down to rest for a while, and was about to go wash, but Yan Mingting pulled him up.

“What are you doing?”

“Running.”

“It’s so late and you still need to go for a run?!”

“Persistence is the most important thing.” Yan Mingting took him to the courtyard without any explanation.

“Wait, wasn’t it decided before that you had to promise me something?” Zhao Yelan said.

“En, what have you thought up?”

“I want you to promise me that you will not pull me to exercise in the future.”

“……Impossible.”

Zhao Yelan didn’t expect him to refuse, and said scathingly: “A real man of character who doesn’t keep his word.”

“Yes, I am truly a villain, what can you do to me?” Yan Mingting stood upright and self-confident, with his hands on his hips. “Tonight, you must keep exercising.”

“……”

It seemed that this guy was determined to cheat.

Zhao Yelan had no choice but to be dragged along for a run. After half a circle, he was leaning weakly against a beam of the house, gasping for breath.

Yan Mingting came back and stood in front of him. To prevent him from escaping, he placed one hand against the beam and looked at him silently.

Zhao Yelan raised his head weakly. He no longer had the strength to scold him, and could only condemn his scoundrelly behavior with his eyes.

Yan Mingting looked into his eyes, averted his gaze, and reached out to smooth back the hair that had been blown to his cheeks by the wind. Then he turned around and walked into the house, sighing: “Okay, that’s it for tonight.”

Zhao Yelan turned his head and watched him slowly disappear into the corridor. He leaned on the railing and sat down on the chair next to him, taking in the evening breeze for a while before returning to his room.

Three days later, it was the Spring Hunt.

For the past three days, Yan Mingting left early and returned late every day. The two rarely met face to face, and Zhao Yelan had a few rare tranquil days.

This morning, he changed into light clothes and departed with Yan Mingting.

Several lieutenants were standing outside the door and followed them, riding on horseback around the sedan chair.

Zhong Yuehong had armed herself again, and exuberantly let it be known that she would hunt a leopard.

Everyone talked about the prey they were after. Zhao Yelan casually asked Yan Mingting: “What prey do you want to hunt?”

“I haven’t thought about it, I’ll see what’s there.” Yan Mingting lowered his head, wiping his sword.

Zhao Yelan originally wanted to remind him that the Spring Hunt was centered on the royal family, and tell him not to show off. But looking at his heroic profile and the group of lieutenants eager to try, he didn’t say anything in the end.

At worst, he would just let the Emperor save some face.

“What is wrong with you these past few days?” Zhao Yelan asked.

Yan Mingting eyed him uncertainly: “What’s wrong with me?”

“There is something wrong with you.” Zhao Yelan had naturally sensed his strangeness these past few days. He showed no small amount of reticence, and seemed more mature and steady than before, but it was just inexplicable……he wasn’t used to it.

“What’s wrong with me?” Yan Mingting asked again.

Seeing that he refused to speak, Zhao Yelan did not ask again, and remained silent the rest of the way.

After arriving at the hunting grounds, the group of people walked inside. This place was a closed royal hunting ground, usually reserved for only the children of the royal family. Only during the spring and autumn hunts could civil and military officials enter.

The camp was not far from the entrance, and as soon as they entered, they saw a lush forest which was stocked with countless prey.

After walking for a while, there was a sudden noise in the forest nearby, rushing toward them with a whoosh.

Zhao Yelan exclaimed in fright and grabbed Yan Mingting, squeezing in front of him in panic: “There’s something over there!”

Yan Mingting looked down and saw that his eyes were tightly closed, and he was so frightened that he practically clung to his body. The corners of his mouth rose wildly, and then he coughed, wrapping his arms around the other’s back to comfort him: “It’s all right, see for yourself what it is.”

Zhao Yelan slowly opened his eyes and raised his head to look at the branch. It was a squirrel.

The surrounding lieutenants all pursed their lips and held back their laughter.

“……” Zhao Yelan took a deep breath. Donning a straight face again, he was about to go forward alone, but Yan Mingting grabbed his arm.

“The road ahead is dangerous, don’t go too fast.” Yan Mingting took a step in front of him. “Follow me.”

Zhao Yelan lowered his head, always paying attention to the movement around him, and yielded after making a show of resistance. Suddenly, the hand holding his forearm slid down and grabbed his wrist.

He looked over at the other party. Yan Mingting smiled at him and said: “Keep up, don’t be frightened out of your body by kittens and puppies.”

Zhao Yelan struggled a bit, but the other held his wrist even tighter and said shamelessly: “I’m disinclined to protect normal people, but since you took the initiative to ask for help, I will take extra care of you.”

Zhao Yelan: “……”

Good, the familiar Yan Mingting was back again.

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Chapter Twenty-Nine <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Thirty-One

After the permanent marking, Ye Ci’s fever periods became stable and regular.

There would be a milk case on a fixed date every month, which would basically not affect daily life.

Once night, Huo Tinglan got stuck in an impromptu meeting and couldn’t go home for a while.

“……I understand, Huo-shushu.” Ye Ci was talking on the phone, his voice extraordinarily soft due to the fever. “I’m okay, not, not particularly uncomfortable……one hour is no problem……don’t, don’t worry.”

After cutting off the call, he curled up under the blanket that contained Huo Tinglan’s lingering pheromones.

Beneath the blanket, a number of Huo Tinglan’s personal belongings had been piled up.

Needless to say, there were clothes picked up from the dirty clothes basket, a few watches that Huo Tinglan wore frequently, a commonly used fountain pen, and a few shiny and expensive cufflinks……he was like a little male bird building a nest, finding many shiny things for himself.

In addition, there was a necktie. Huo Tinglan had fastened it yesterday.

Made of navy blue silk, the delicate fabric had a lion pattern embroidered with silver thread. It was wrapped around Ye Ci’s left hand, and a line of smooth luster rolled along the pattern’s angles.

A short section in the middle of the tie had clung to the glands at the nape throughout the day, soaking in the scent of tequila.

Ye Ci flattened the tie and pressed the tip of his nose against it, his eyes half closed, and a shallow layer of water gathered in his eyes.

He didn’t intentionally restrain his desire, and there was no one around, so he was engrossed with each inhale, unconsciously letting out soft nasal sounds, humming and sighing.

In this way, he didn’t know how much time had passed.

During the fever period, the mind was somewhat chaotic.

Thus, when Huo Tinglan ended the meeting early and rushed back to the Huo residence, what he saw was this scene –

The light from the wall lamp was dim, and the bedding was wrinkled and messy. The bulging quilt was covered in mounds and arches, and a few soft and muffled calls came out from time to time.

“Huo-shushu, Huo-shushu……”

Ye Ci in a normal state would never speak in such a tone.

So this seemed extraordinarily……seductive.

Perhaps the quilt blocked the sound, or he was too focused and had relaxed his vigilance, but this time Ye Ci failed to hear Huo Tinglan’s footsteps.

A luxurious, overripe aroma hit his face warmly.

Huo Tinglan closed the door behind him, locking the potent Omegas pheromones in the room. His Adam’s apple rolled slowly.

This scene was very familiar.

Before the two of them got together, Ye Ci had snuck into Huo Tinglan’s bedroom once during the fever period, sniffed the bedding he slept on, and “built a nest” with the blanket. In the end, he caught him in that state of excitement and the other was so frightened that he cried, while Huo Tinglan tried his best to coax him.

It almost left a psychological shadow on poor Huo-shushu……

Huo Tinglan smiled and behaved in a well-behaved manner when he received this bargain, standing at the door and watching quietly. After a full minute, he had seen enough and coughed heavily.

The little blanket shook, and a disheveled head popped  out.

“Huo-shushu –”

Naturally, Ye Ci didn’t turn pale with fright like last time. Instead, he blushed and opened his arms towards Huo Tinglan, begging for a hug. Those staggeringly expensive diamond jewelry and watches and high-end clothes were in disarray, lying under the hot and humid blanket. Like a kitten that had eventually been spoiled, it grinded its tender claws into the furniture when no one was around.

Huo Tinglan glanced down at the pile of wrinkled clothes and smiled softly: “Missed me so much?”

Ye Ci nodded lightly and plunged happily into his arms, undoing the tie against his chest as if looking for something to eat. He pressed the tip of his nose against his shimmering shirt and inhaled, eagerly sucking in the fresh Alpha pheromones.

Huo Tinglan keenly grasped his left hand wrapped in the tie.

He had worn this one yesterday.

Because Ye Ci had wrapped it around his hand and pressed his nose against it, the fine fabric stip had absorbed the sweat from his palms and the heat from his mouth and nose, making it damp.

Huo Tinglan touched the moisture on the tie and said: “Did you lick it?”

“No, I didn’t.” Ye Ci still retained some sanity, and hurriedly denied, “I just sniffed it for a while.”

Huo Tinglan knew that Ye Ci would not, but he mischievously pinched the delicate cartilage at the tip of his nose, pretending not to believe it, and said in a low voice: “Can sniffing it make it wet?”

“I really just……smelled it. This isn’t saliva but, but the sweat on my hands.”

“Little liar.”

“……”

The two entangled for a while, and Ye Ci saw that Huo Tinglan was teasing him, so he didn’t insist on explaining and just sniffed and rubbed.

“Give me five minutes, baby.” Huo Tinglan kissed those two red lips, fed some pheromones to Ye Ci, and walked towards the bathroom.

“Huo-shushu, where are you going?” Ye Ci wasn’t having it, and hugged his sharp waist under the suit. He raised his head and pressed his soft cheek on Huo Tinglan’s shoulder. His temperament was turned upside down by the fever period, and he became clingy, but his voice was still youthful and clear. “I’m uncomfortable……”

“I’m going to take a shower.” Huo Tinglan tilted his head to brush against that dear cheek, coaxing softly, “Baby, be obedient.”

“Don’t, don’t wash.” Ye Ci’s eyes were bright.

“Together then?” Huo Tinglan thought this was what he meant.

Ye Ci shook his head. His voice gradually became as quiet as a mosquito, and his eyes wandered: “Just don’t, don’t wash……”

He had smelled it just now.

The Alpha’s rich pheromones mixed with a slight amount of light, not unpleasant masculine sweat……it seemed wild and strong.

The burning hormonal reaction made Ye Ci’s throat go dry.

If it changed to the aroma of shower gel, he would suddenly feel that something was missing.

Huo Tinglan raised his eyebrows slightly in astonishment, and smiled implicitly: “I’ve been out all day……”

Ye Ci lowered his eyes in embarrassment, but refused to release his grip. He said nothing, but his meaning was very clear.

“Baby,” Huo Tinglan grasped his chin and took one bite at a time, pressing hard against him. “Why didn’t I realize you were so……”

The words that could make Ye Ci explode in shame were swallowed up in a thin murmur.

… …

“Like my tie?” Huo Tinglan asked.

Ye Ci kept clutching the navy blue and silver embroidered tie with his left hand, and Huo Tinglan wondered if he had discovered some little hobbies that he didn’t have in his previous life.

“En.”

An affirmative answer.

“Huo-shushu will teach you how to tie a tie……be good.”

Huo Tinglan picked up another slate gray tie that was tossed aside half an hour ago, slowly tied Ye Ci’s wrists with it, and said: “This one is for the hands.”

He immediately pulled out the navy blue one embroidered with silver. “Do you know what this one is for?”

… …

When the fever period ended, Huo Tinglan and Ye Ci simply changed rooms to rest.

The mattress might have to be replaced, and it would take too much time to sort it out. Huo Tinglan didn’t like outsiders touching things that were soaked in a lot of Omega pheromones, and he had a full work schedule the next day, so he had to rest first.

Everything in the guest room was prepared, and the bedding was replaced regularly to avoid dust even if no guests had used it, so they could go directly to sleep.

The two of them took a shower, put on clean clothes, and left the original room, but Huo Tinglan had something extra in his hand.

“What, what is that in your hand?” Ye Ci intuited that something was off.

The corners of Huo Tinglan’s lips curled up. He shook out the navy blue cloth and said: “A tie.”

It was so wrinkled that it couldn’t even be ironed and looked like it had been pulled out of the water, heavy and wet.

The male lion embroidered with silver thread had become mottled.

It seemed like a waste.

“You still took it? For what?!” Ye Ci could hardly look at it, and grabbed it with his hands. “It’s dirty.”

That tie was no good!

Huo Tinglan raised his hand and held it high. The height difference of nearly ten centimeters was no exaggeration, and Ye Ci couldn’t reach it no matter what. He was lying up against Huo Tinglan’s chest, and it looked as if he was throwing himself into his arms.

“If something is dirty, it must be washed quickly.” Huo Tinglan had a gentle appearance as he taught him diligently, “Otherwise it won’t wash out, and this is a good tie. Have you forgotten the Huo family motto? ‘Tranquility cultivates morality, and frugality fosters character.’ I taught you last time……”

He had the nerve to mention last time.

“Don’t deceive me, I asked mother later and, and there is no such thing as the Huo family motto!” Ye Ci absolutely didn’t buy it, and jumped up and down to snatch the tie.

The mother in question was naturally Lin Yao.

Huo Tinglan’s heart burned, and he was even more unwilling to give it over. This scoundrel even imprisoned Ye Ci, kissing him again and again: “It’s the newly created family motto, how about it?”

Ye Ci’s fever period had just passed, and his body was weak. In addition, it was the middle of the night and he was exhausted, unable to move anymore. After being suppressed by Huo Tinglan a few times, he wilted and had to give up on regaining the tie, then fell into a deep sleep.

Seeing that he was sleeping, Huo Tinglan pressed the tie against the tip of his nose and sniffed it for a while, then stuck it to his lips.

At this moment, the concentration of Omega pheromones on it was the highest.

……He was a bit reluctant to wash it.

Truly perverted.

Huo Tinglan laughed at himself.

The next day was Sunday.

Ye Ci didn’t have to go to school, so after tossing and turning until the early morning last night, he naturally had to stay in bed. However, Huo Tinglan, who had a full schedule, had already gotten ready. With a touch of the fragrance of citrus aftershave, he leaned over and kissed Ye Ci’s forehead.

“Wu……”

Ye Ci’s eyes were half-opened. Sleepy but obedient, he just barely lifted his head and touched Huo Tinglan’s cheek. Before losing consciousness, something flashed in front of Ye Ci’s eyes for a moment, but he was too sleepy. He had no time to think, and fell asleep again like slipping into a coma.

It was already ten o’clock in the morning when he woke up again. In order to make up for lost time, Ye Ci didn’t leave the study all day except for meals and trips to the toilet. Now and then, he thought of something important that he had overlooked that morning, but couldn’t remember what it was.

However, when he saw Huo Tinglan again at the dining table that evening, the “important matter” that Ye Ci had been pondering this morning in a half-asleep state suddenly broke through.

– Huo Tinglan, who had just come home after a busy day at the company, was wearing that navy blue and silver embroidered tie around his neck!

That one! ! !

Ye Ci was stunned at first, as if his soul was being sucked out by that tie through the top of his head. After a few seconds, everything from his ears to his collarbones boiled with heat. Seeing that there was no one else around, he opened his mouth: “Why did you put, put it on……”

“This?” Huo Tinglan glanced down at the tie with raised eyebrows. He looked at Ye Ci innocently and asked softly, “I didn’t sleep most of the night, so I washed and dried it and rubbed it clean……why can’t I wear it out, baby?”

“……”

Ye Ci’s fists tightened when he heard this, and he almost broke his chopsticks.

Washing ties without sleeping in the middle of the night was very problematic in and of itself, ah!

Was he afraid that washing it too late would destroy evidence of his crime?

“Today,” Ye Ci swallowed, muttering, “What, what did you do while wearing this tie?”

Huo Tinglan smiled slightly, sat up straight, and reported the itinerary to the little gentleman: “At nine o’clock this morning, I attended a board meeting, and at ten o’clock in the morning……”

To put it simply, there was no time that he was idle.

If that was all……

He also took the time to accept an exclusive interview with a famous financial magazine, and cooperated with the other party to shoot the cover of the next issue of the magazine.

The revolving lantern of life flashed before Ye Ci’s eyes.

Yes, outsiders didn’t know the significance of that tie.

But Ye Ci did, ah!

He was dead! ! !

After a while, Ye Ci hooked back his soul in a fugue state and looked at Huo Tinglan with red, accusing eyes.

“You are too, too bad.”

Huo Tinglan nodded, wiped the corners of his lips with a napkin, and sighed. “Who says otherwise?”

Ye Ci: “……”

What a shameless answer.

Ye Ci put down his chopsticks, stopped eating, and sat on Huo Tinglan’s lap with a red face, forcibly untying the tie.

“You, you give me this tie……I’m, I’m confiscating it.”

“Are you going to throw it away, baby?”

“It’s none of your business if, if I throw it away or not.”

“How can this be? The Huo family motto, frugality……”

“Why, why doesn’t the Huo family add the motto, ‘One should have self-esteem and live life with dignity? Are, are you afraid that you will take the lead in, in violating the family motto every day?

That little stutter was getting worse and worse.

Huo Tinglan laughed and walked toward the second floor with Ye Ci kicking his arms and legs: “Not eating? Since you won’t eat, we’ll go upstairs.”

The tie was going to be confiscated anyway.

And then used one more time.

【End of The Necktie】

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Extra 5: Sports Competition << Table of Contents >> Extra Seven: Happy Chinese New Year

Housekeeper Qin was cleaning the ancestral hall when he heard the commotion outside, and was so alarmed that he hurried out to inquire about the situation. He saw Yan Mingting running wildly through the courtyard, and finally fleeing to the old tree.

Zhao Yelan stood under the tree and shouted: “Yan Mingting, get out of there!”

“Climb up if you have the ability!”

“Yan Mingting!”

“That’s me!”

“……”

“Put down the broom first. If you have something to say, say it. What other wife hits like you?” Yan Mingting persuaded with good advice.

“How dare you mention the word ‘wife’?!” Zhao Yelan sneered. “Fine, you won’t come down. Xiao Gao, cut down this tree!”

“Yes!”

This was a hundred-year-old tree, which was not easy to grow. It would be a pity to cut it down so easily!

Housekeeper Qin was about to run and stop him, when he saw Yan Mingting leap through the air, stepping on branches and leaves to stand in place. 

Zhao Yelan smacked him with the broom several times and kicked his feet twice before the two went to the study one after the other.

Housekeeper Qin wiped off his sweat and dispersed all the servants who were watching the fun before returning to the ancestral hall to continue cleaning, muttering: “Master, old lady, don’t take offense, the General and Zhao-daren are in love. En, yes, hitting is kissing and scolding is love. You can rest assured, ba.”

On the other side, Yan Mingting walked into the study, muttering: “I lost all face.”

“Do you still know how to save face?” Zhao Yelan was furious and threw the broom back to Xiao Gao. “Does the shopkeeper know who you are?”

“Probably not, otherwise would he have dared to ask me to help?” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan was panting where he sat. After running around for a while, sweat was dripping from his forehead.

“Have some tea first.” Yan Mingting poured him a cup of tea as an apology, and then explained, “If I didn’t make up such a reason at the time, how could I have let you eat hot stuffed steamed buns?”

“So it’s my fault?”

“That’s not true.” Yan Mingting had just sat down when he was kicked again. “No, I mean that I didn’t go in vain last night. While I was doing it, I secretly learned the craft. In the future, if you want to eat buns in the middle of the night, you don’t have to bother others. I can make them for you.”

Zhao Yelan didn’t believe his words at all. He drank his tea angrily, calmed himself down, and then asked about business: “You found the doctor?”

“I found him. Thanks to your portrait, a doctor soon said he had treated this person.” Yan Mingting looked serious as he said in a low voice, “The doctor said that Bao Lun was suffering from a colorless, odorless poison, and that he didn’t notice any abnormalities at first, just felt dizzy and weak. The doctor and Bao Lun just thought that he had contracted a cold, and they didn’t realize something was wrong until long-term treatment was ineffective. The doctor couldn’t cure him, and was afraid of his reputation being ruined, so he didn’t continue to treat him.”

“He was poisoned…..”

“It was the same poison that was used on my father.” Yan Mingting’s face was somber. “I didn’t expect that he would end up harming himself after harming others, and that he would die of this type of poison in the end.”

Zhao Yelan was silent for a moment, then said: “Now we must discover the origin and effect of this poison. People at the hospital might understand it, but they may make it known.”

“Let’s see if there are any good doctors among the people.”

“I have someone to try.”

“Who?”

“Ruan Xian’s brother-in-law.”

“Ruan Xian?” Yan Mingting felt somewhat disgusted when he thought of that little white face’s appearance.

“He just said today that his brother-in-law once traveled with the former envoy of the Imperial hospital, returned from his studies, and is now preparing to be admitted to the Imperial hospital.”

“That’s okay, then. Do we just call him over?”

“No rush.” If Zhao Yelan went to find the person now, he would be asking for something from Ruan Xian, and there was no guarantee that the other party wouldn’t beat around the bush and make some demands. He didn’t want to fall into a passive position. “When Ruan Xian takes the initiative to send him to the door in a show of favor, the meaning will be different and we can better seal their mouths.”

Yan Mingting didn’t expect that a simple move would involve so many interests and benefits, so he gave him a sincere thumbs up: “It’s all up to you.”

After dinner, Yan Mingting said that he had something urgent to discuss with him and brought him to the courtyard. However, he still refused to say what was going on, and just walked quickly ahead with his head down.

At first, Zhao Yelan thought he was looking for a meeting place, so he followed along. It wasn’t until they had walked all the way around the General’s Mansion that he realized the other party’s intentions and stopped suddenly, saying in a heavy voice: “You did this on purpose.”

Yan Mingting turned around and smiled a little: “Yes, it’s good for your health to digest fully after meals.”

After this brisk walk, Zhao Yelan’s body was already a little hot. He turned to go back to the room, but Yan Mingting stopped in front of him and said temptingly: “If you go around again, you will have a long life.”

“Go on, keep talking nonsense.”

“Would I harm you?” Yan Mingting grasped his thin arm. “I’ve figured it out, it’s more difficult for you to walk than to reach the sky, so how about you change it up and run around first?”

Zhao Yelan remained motionless.

“Run slow, I’ll run with you.” Yan Mingting thought for a moment, and added another bargaining chip. “If you run a lap, I will promise you one thing.”

“What thing?”

“It’s up to you. As long as it’s not arson, killing, or looting, anything that doesn’t violate morality is fine.”

Zhao Yelan was silent for a time, pondering the pros and cons, and finally nodded. “All right, it’s a deal.”

Although it was only a lap, the area of the General’s Mansion was not small. Yan Mingting skillfully ran around each corner, and when he finally saw that Zhao Yelan was truly exhausted, he stopped at the gate.

Zhao Yelan leaned back against the post, gasping for breath, his forehead covered with sweat.

Gao Tan had seen them running one after another and also ran all the way with them with ease. He couldn’t help being curious: “My lord, what are you doing?”

“None of your business, go play on your own,” Zhao Yelan said.

Aggrieved, Xiao Gao complained to Housekeeper Qin: “I feel more and more that my lord doesn’t like me anymore. He used to take me with him everywhere, but now that he has the General, he thinks I am in the way.”

Housekeeper Qin comforted him: “Don’t be sad, he is not to blame for this, you really are in the way.”

Gao Tan: “ ? ”

After taking a bath that night, Zhao Yelan smelled himself carefully, only to feel that the stench on his body had disappeared. 

Yan Mingting brought him another bowl of medicine: “The Imperial exam banquet and the Spring Hunt are soon. You must recover as soon as possible to avoid any trouble.”

Zhao Yelan closed his eyes, drank the medicine in one go, and then lay down early to rest. He did not immediately divulge his condition for the run regarding what exactly he wanted Yan Mingting to do, but Yan Mingting knew that he would not let it go, so he must keep it in mind and wait for the day when he would be ordered to do something.

After Qingming, it was rare to see a few days of clear weather. Zhao Yelan gradually recovered from the cold. 

The Imperial exam banquet was set up at night. Zhao Yelan changed into his official uniform and wore a sachet at his waist.

Yan Mingting sniffed it: “Is it jasmine?”

“A dog’s nose is quite effective.”

“You haven’t worn that sweetgrass sachet for a long time.” Yang Mingting was a little moved after thinking about it. “Are you worried about me sneezing?”

“I dislike you losing face.” Zhao Yelan rolled his eyes at him and got up to walk out the gate, seeing that the group of lieutenants had come. Everyone was joking around with Zhong Yuehong in the crowd.

Zhong Yuehong, who was usually in uniform, now wore an emerald green dress. As soon as she heard the jeering from her brothers, she couldn’t help but want to draw her sword, but when she touched her waist, she could only touch her purse.

“Say, Yuehong is really beautiful today.” When Yan Mingting came out, he was also taken aback for a moment, and then laughed.

“General, even you are making fun of me!”

Zhong Yuehong seldom showed a trace of shyness. She knew very well that she had an ordinary appearance. Even though she was skilled in martial arts, from the bottom of her heart, she was still a little envious of the dresses of those ladies, which were curious and novel.

Today, because the Emperor was hosting a banquet, her mother earnestly told her to change into this fairy dress. No matter how good the clothes were, they would only look good when they were worn.

“How is that making fun? Yuehong, you are really good-looking. It just so happens that all the officials are going to the banquet today, so you just look around and see if there is anyone you like……”

“General!” Zhong Yuehong blushed. “Stop talking nonsense! I don’t want to marry!”

“All right, I won’t say anything.” Yan Mingting got on his horse with a smile and said, “When the time comes, everyone will help to see if there is a man who is suitable for Yuehong. If he refuses, how about carrying him back to the camp and making him the camp husband?”

After speaking, he rode his horse and slipped away first.

Everyone laughed, and Zhong Yuehong got on her horse to chase after him in a fit of embarrassment, the others following suit one after another.

Zhao Yelan sat in the sedan chair and watched the group of people riding horses across the street, young and vigorous, and said: “Let’s go.”

After a while, he heard the unhurried sound of horseshoes next to him, opened a corner of the curtain, and looked at the person and horse outside: “Why are you back again?”

“I was afraid you would be bored by yourself.” Yan Mingting sat on horseback and gazed at him leisurely. “Do you want to ride together?”

This was a busy city. Not to mention how eye-catching the two men riding on a horse would be, their identities were enough to make the common people gossip over dinner, and even more so those officials and ministers.

“Get a move on. Don’t talk to me at the banquet today, I have something to do.” Zhao Yelan lowered the curtain mercilessly.

“Okay, ba.” Although he didn’t know the other’s plans, Yan Mingting was obedient and left quickly.

When the sedan chair arrived at Qionglin Garden, Zhao Yelan got out and immediately saw Yan Mingting and his group standing outside the door arguing and fighting, but they didn’t enter right away, as if they were waiting for someone.

“Zhao-daren is here.” Zhong Yuehong noticed him first, and waved to him.

Zhao Yelan stepped forward unhurriedly: “Why don’t you go in?”

“We’re all waiting for you,” Zhong Yuehong said.

“Okay, since everyone is here, let’s go in first.” After Yan Mingting gave his orders, he walked to the back and said in a whisper: “Sit with me later.”

Zhao Yelan: “I am rank seven.”

The banquet was set up according to rank, and the seventh rank could only be at the outermost periphery. They might not even be able to see the Emperor’s face.

“But you are my family. Those Imperial wives also came, and they sit at the same table as their husbands,” Yan Mingting said with conviction.

Zhao Yelan thought for a moment, but still refused: “It’s easier to deal with things separately. I have to go and meet Ruan Xian for a while.”

It turned out that he would be busy with Yan Mingting’s own affairs. Yan Mingting’s heart skipped a beat and he was almost overwhelmed with emotion, his eyes practically glued to him.

Zhao Yelan walked to his seat, which was next to Ruan Xian’s. They exchanged simple greetings, and after he sat down, he picked up a handkerchief and coughed continuously.

Ruan Xian asked: “Zhao-daren is still not in good health?”

“It’s an old problem, and it won’t get better. The Imperial doctor can’t help me.” After speaking, he coughed twice.

“Why don’t you ask my brother-in-law to come look at it for you, he traveled abroad and saw all kinds of difficult and miscellaneous diseases. My wife’s long-term incurable disease was cured by him,” Ruan Xian said.

“I fear it will delay your business.”

“It is no matter. Anyway, he is idle and has his hands free.” After several rounds of persuasion, Ruan Xian finally brought Zhao Yelan around. He secretly rejoiced, and only hoped that his brother-in-law could cure his illness, which would be considered a bridge between them.

After the matter was settled, the banquet also began. The Emperor and the Empress walked slowly into the scene and took the main seats. They looked down at the officials and conversed politely with everyone for a while, then brought forth the main topic of discussion and ordered the new scholars to come forward and receive their rewards and appointments.

Ruan Xian stretched his neck out curiously, then moved to Zhao Yelan’s side and muttered: “This year’s candidates are getting too much attention. The Emperor personally got official uniforms for them, unlike us last year.”

“Naturally.” Zhao Yelan smiled slightly.

The former Emperor was still alive in the spring of last year, and he didn’t care about the Imperial examination at all. But Zhao Xuan was in urgent need of talents, and couldn’t take it more seriously.

“That Wang Guisheng looks delicate and pretty,” Ruan Xian said. “Zhao-daren, take a quick look, he looks a bit better in an official uniform.”

Urged by him, Zhao Yelan had to raise his head to look, but caught Yan Mingting’s gaze unexpectedly. 

Candlelight illuminated the entire banquet hall, and everyone was scrambling to look at the new scholars who were bathed in grace. Only Yan Mingting looked away. He sat there with a rebellious posture, his facial features enveloped in light. They were obviously hazy and blurred, but it made people feel that his eyes were so clear and vivid.

Zhao Yelan was dazed for a moment and forgot what he was doing. He heard Ruan Xian’s voice faintly ringing in his ears: “How about it, isn’t he quite good-looking?”

“En,” he responded with a grunt, and hurriedly lowered his head to take a sip of tea, thinking that he was sometimes too childish.

After a while, he raised his head again. Before Yan Mingting looked away, he took another sip of tea and simply smiled back.

Yan Mingting’s eyes flickered for a moment, then he turned back abruptly to awkwardly pick up the wine in front of him. His hands trembled and he drank it in one gulp.

“My lord, what are you smiling at?” Ruan Xuan asked in a low voice.

“Nothing.” Zhao Yelan held the teacup in front of him and deliberately suppressed the curve of his mouth, but no matter what, he couldn’t keep it down.

Truly childish.

---

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Chapter Twenty-Eight <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Thirty

“Mother!”

“Ting’er……” The beautiful, gentle woman stood in the fenced yard, wearing a washed white sarong and a wooden hairpin that tied all her hair behind her head. Hearing the sound, she turned to wave with a smile. “You’re back, come and help Mother.”

“Mother, what are you going to do?”

“Mother wants to plant some flowers and melons and fruits in the courtyard, and when spring comes, the garden will be full of spring colors. It will surely look good, and your father will love it too.”

“Okay, I’ll help you.”

The two figures, one big and one small, were busy from morning to evening. His mother wiped the dust from his face and suddenly turned to look at the person at the courtyard gate with a smile.

“Father! You’re back, I want to eat steamed buns!”

“I bought some for you, but have you finished your homework today?”

“Finished!”

The scene of the three at the gate talking and laughing gradually blurred, and in an instant, the dream of the past began to collapse like tiles suddenly being pulled out one at a time, smashing everyone’s heads to pieces……

“Father……Mother!”

Zhao Yelan woke up from the dream, covered in cold sweat. He gasped for a moment with his mouth open, and his eyes gradually regained clarity.

“You’re awake?”

Only then did he realize that there was a person next to him, hugging him and patting his back repeatedly.

He slowly raised his eyes to meet Yan Mingting’s gaze, and his voice was still a little dry: “Why are you here?”

“When I came back from sweeping the tombs, I found that you weren’t in the mansion. So I came here to find you,” Yan Mingting said.

“Let go.”

“Then don’t kick the blanket off. You have a serious fever, you have to sweat.” Yan Mingting released his grip and took a defensive posture, thinking that he was going to be beaten or kicked. Against expectations, the other party sat up from his arms indifferently, put on his clothes without expression, and got out of bed without any intention of fighting him.

“Where are you going?”

Zhao Yelan pushed open a window and stood in front of it, silently looking at the blooming flowers in the courtyard.

Yan Mingting put on his outer robes. When looking at him, he got a sense of inexplicable loneliness from his moonlit back. The moonlight shone on the side of his face, which was pale and brittle, like porcelain that would shatter if he wasn’t careful.

“You miss your Mother?” Yan Mingting walked to his side.

Zhao Yelan looked at him stiffly.

“You just called for your Mother several times,” Yan Mingting explained. Seeing that he was silent, he said, “I also miss my mother. She passed away early and I’ve almost forgotten what she looked like, but the feeling of her accompanying me is still clearly stored in my memory.”

Zhao Yelan’s expression eased. He turned his head and continued to look out the window.

After a long time, Yan Mingting asked at once: “Are you hungry? You’ve been sleeping and haven’t had dinner yet.”

Zhao Yelan seemed to be in a daze for a while, before he murmured: “I want to eat steamed buns.”

“Okay, then you go back and lie down first. I’ll go out and buy them now.” Yan Mingting went to Mingji’s steamed bun shop without pause, only to find that it was closed.

He knocked loudly on the door, and the shopkeeper opened it to drive him away.

“Shopkeeper, just do me a favor and sell me another basket,” Yan Mingting said as he took out the bag of silver.

But the shopkeeper continuously waved his hands and refused: “No good, no good, I’ve packed up all my things and it’s too troublesome to start a fire again. You should come early tomorrow.”

“No, my wife is about to give birth and just wants to take a bite of your stuffed steamed buns, otherwise she won’t survive, and she won’t be able to give birth to a child no matter what, ah. She’s just waiting for your stuffed steamed buns in order to live, do us a favor and help us.”

“……But my pals have all gone back, and I can’t do it alone.”

“I’ll do it for you! Will that work?! I’ll pay the money!”

Half an hour later, Yan Mingting returned to the Zhao residence with the buns, but there was no one in the room.

“Zhao Yelan……Zhao Yelan!” He shouted anxiously.

“Are you calling for my soul?”

Zhao Yelan’s voice was not loud. Thanks to Yan Mingting’s good hearing, he immediately turned around and followed the voice to the person.

The other party was planting flowers in the back courtyard of the bedroom. He dug a hole with the small trowel in his hand and placed a peach sapling in it.

“It’s late, why aren’t you lying down properly?” Yan Minging asked, stepping forward.

“Hurry up and help,” Zhao Yelan said.

Yan Mingting held the peach sapling steady while Zhao Yelan and Gao Tan worked together to fill in the soil and finish the job.

“Where did the peach tree come from?” Yan Mingting couldn’t help asking.

“My lord ordered me to dig it out from the mountains outside the city just now.” Gao Tan patted his chest triumphantly. “Qinggong is good, I can run very fast. Isn’t it great?”

Zhao Yelan: “All right, enough prattle, hurry up and fetch water to wash our hands.”

After the three of them washed their hands, they sat down in the bedroom. Zhao Yelan had sweated a lot after going through all the trouble just now. He took out a handkerchief to wipe his brow, and immediately saw two dark marks on Yan Mingting’s face that didn’t look like smudged soil from planting the tree. He pinched his chin suspiciously, looking left and right: “Where did you get this?”

“I just lit a stove fire,” Yan Mingting explained.

Zhao Yelan promptly guessed the reason. Mingji steamed bun shop’s business was very good. Once the shopkeeper closed the door, no amount of money could make him open it again. He originally thought that Yan Mingting would be smart enough to find stuffed steamed buns from another shop. Regardless, he just wanted to eat stuffed steamed bun at this time. Any shop would do, but he didn’t expect this fellow to be so stubborn that he would actually work as a cook for others in order to buy Mingji’s buns.

“Why not just take out your General’s badge, the bun shop would still give them to you,” Zhao Yelan said.

“Isn’t that bullying?” After Yan Mingting spoke, his face was rubbed twice. He couldn’t help but laugh, his eyes narrowed comfortably.

Zhao Yelan wiped off the stains on his face in a bad temper, and scoffed coldly: “General Yan is upright, so he naturally looks down on bullying fellows like us.”

“What are you talking about.” Yan Mingting pushed the stuffed steamed buns in front of him. “Eat quickly, they’re hot, just out of the oven. They won’t taste good when they’re cold.”

Zhao Yelan picked up a hot bun, eating it carefully as he asked: “You helped someone light a fire, and he agreed to do this for you?”

“Ah……yes.” Yan Mingting nodded guiltily. “I said my family needed buns urgently, so he had me help.”

Zhao Yelan cast a half-disbelieving glance at him and continued to eat the buns quietly.

“Will you return to the General’s Mansion later?” Yan Mingting asked.

Zhao Yelan refused: “Go back by yourself, I will go directly to the Imperial Academy tomorrow.”

“How can I do that? No, I’ll stay here with you one more night.”

Zhao Yelan glanced at him and said nothing.

Not long after eating the buns, Zhao Yelan was about to fall asleep but was stopped by Yan Mingting, who brought a bowl of medicine to him with a smile: “Come, drink the medicine first.”

“……”

“Drink.”

Zhao Yelan took the bowl and drank it down.

Yan Mingting laughed and said: “You will spit out the medicine every time you’re unconscious, but you can obediently drink it when you’re awake.”

Zhao Yelan ignored him and lay down with a frown. Suddenly his mouth tasted sweet as Yan Mingting stuffed a candied fruit into his mouth.

He froze for a moment, and after feeling the sweet and sour taste, he ate it slowly and raised his eyes to look at the other person.

Yan Mingting said with a laugh: “My younger brother didn’t like to drink medicine, so he insisted on pestering me to feed him some candied fruit. How do you like it?”

“Don’t like it.” Zhao Yelan turned over and prepared to sleep.

“Yet you still ate it so fast.” Yan Mingting smiled and made another floor bed.

When he woke up the next day, Zhao Yelan still overestimated his own body. He had gotten up last night to plant trees and was struggling with fatigue. His head was still a little bit fuzzy, but he didn’t ask for leave and insisted on going to the Imperial Academy.

Gao Tan sent him to the door. When he was about to go back, he was stopped by Zhao Yelan, who ordered him in a low voice: “Go to the Mingji shopkeeper and ask him.”

“Yes.”

Seeing that he was unwell, Ruan Xian came over to help him with his work. The two sat together, chatting casually about the Imperial examinations and guessing who would take first place.

Zhao Yelan nodded perfunctorily, and only praised Wang Guisheng slightly when the other party asked who he favored.

“I also think that this person has good literary talent, but his writing is too harsh. I don’t know if he can catch the eye of the Emperor.”

“He can,” Zhao Yelan said firmly.

Ruan Xian looked at him meaningfully: “Zhao-daren, you mean the Emperor likes this type?”

Zhao Yelan curled the corners of his mouth and said no more, leaving him to ponder it himself. If he was clever enough, he would know what to do next.

In the afternoon, the Imperial Academy received an order and immediately drafted an Imperial edict. The results of the Imperial examinations had been released, and there were already successful candidates named, as well as the first ranks.

The whole courtyard became lively. Ruan Xian stood by and read the list. The first place scorer was indeed Wang Guisheng. He looked at Zhao Yelan with surprise. The other party was sitting alone in a corner and flipping through the history books. He either didn’t care about this matter as much as the rest of them did, or he already knew.

Ruan Xian shifted his eyes, thinking about something internally.

After being released from the government office, Zhao Yelan and the others rubbed their temples and walked out the gate wearily. 

Ruan Xian approached him furtively and asked in a low voice: “Zhao-daren, I don’t understand something. Please enlighten me.”

“What is it?”

“I have read that Wang Guisheng’s article. He scolded you and made insinuations against you, but you have no grudge against him and often praise him. Why?”

“Because he is a useful person.”

“Understood, thank you for letting me know. Zhao-daren is not feeling well, why doesn’t he come to my house for a while? My brother-in-law happens to be a doctor, perhaps he could have a try?” Ruan Xian said.

Zhao Yelan was about to speak, when he heard a spirited voice outside the gate: “Zhao Yelan.”

He looked up and saw Yan Mingting standing outside with his arms folded, a sedan chair parked beside him.

“Why are you here?” He walked forward slowly.

“I was passing by and thought I would take you home with me on the way.” Yan Mingting stretched out a hand to touch his forehead. “It’s still a little hot. Hurry up and get in the sedan chair.”

Zhao Yelan did not refuse, needing this sedan chair in order to continue to live. He opened the curtain and sat down firmly, but found that he was not immediately followed. He opened a corner of the curtain suspiciously and saw Yan Mingting asking Ruan Xian in a serious tone: “Who are you?”

“Answering the General, I am Ruan Xian, editor of the Seventh Rank Imperial Academy,” Ruan Xian said respectfully.

“Do you have a wife?”

“Of course. I have been married to my wife for more than a year.”

“En, okay, it’s getting late. Hurry back to accompany your wife.” Yan Mingting’s expression relaxed slightly, and he turned around and got into the sedan chair.

After they traveled a certain distance, Yan Mingting asked: “Who was that little white face?^[1] Are you two on good terms?”

Zhao Yelan shook his head.

“But you two were still talking and smiling?”

“What were you talking and smiling about?”

“You were smiling at him like this.” Yan Mingting took two fingers and pushed the corners of his mouth up, complaining, “You always smile like this towards others but show a cold face to me.”

Seeing this, Zhao Yelan pursed his lips to suppress a smile and said, “They are just for show.”

The corners of Yan Mingting’s mouth twitched: “That is to say, you are perfunctory to others, but you are truthful to me?”

Zhao Yelan smiled, shot him a look, and then closed his eyes to rest.

Yan Mingting intentionally didn’t disturb him, and only after arriving at the General’s Mansion did he give him a light pat: “We’re here.”

Zhao Yelan gradually opened his eyes and got off the sedan chair after him slowly. Seeing him quickly step through the gate, something occurred to him and he turned to ask the bearers: “How long were you waiting at the Imperial Academy?”

“A little less than half an hour,” said the bearer.

“Aren’t you coming in?” Yan Mingting came back to the door again. “What’s the matter? You haven’t recovered yet and have trouble walking?”

Zhao Yelan walked to the door with profound meaning, and when he passed him, the corners of his mouth curled up.

“Wait.” Yan Mingting grabbed his arm in surprise. “Did you just smile at me?”

“Didn’t.”

“Still saying no, what are you smiling at, tell me.” Yan Mingting held his shoulders and walked inside in a good mood. “Oh, by the way, let’s go to the study first. There’s a bit of a clue in the matter of the doctors.”

Zhao Yelan continuously tried to break free from his grip, but was unsuccessful. He caught a glimpse of Gao Tan sweeping the courtyard from the corner of his eye, and called: “Xiao Gao, come here.”

“My lord, you’re back!” Gao Tan dashed over with a broom in hand.

“What happened with the matter I asked you to check?”

Gao Tan took a cautious look at Yan Mingting, then covered his mouth and whispered a few words into his ear.

Yan Mingting saw that Zhao Yelan’s eyes were becoming increasingly gloomy, and picked out the key word ‘Mingji’ from Gao Tan’s whisper. He seemed to have guessed something, and immediately raised his hands in surrender.

“May I ask General Yan, which of your wives is having a difficult labor and needs buns to survive?” Zhao Yelan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Yan Mingting sensed danger, taking two stiff steps back as he smiled innocently: “……I don’t seem to understand what you’re talking about?”

After speaking, he dashingly lifted the hem of his clothes and then fled in a desperate manner.

Zhao Yelan snatched the broom from Gao Tan’s hand: “Yan Mingting, you stop for me!”

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[1] A ‘little white face’ (小白脸) is basically an insult toward an educated person who doesn’t do labor under the sun, or it can refer to a boy toy who relies on a rich woman. ⮐

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Chapter Twenty-Seven <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty-Nine

The inner side of the patch was soft and sticky bio-silica gel, which absorbed into the skin and felt cool.

Like a secret reminder.

Fortunately, it was quickly warmed by body heat.

Huo Tinglan helped Ye Ci stick them on and then exited first. There was no one else outside. He folded his cuffs back, straightened his shoulders, and pretended to wash his hands in front of the sink.

Whether it was intentional or not, he was wearing a black shirt today, and after rubbing against Ye Ci’s wet sportswear for a long time, the front of the shirt was stained with water that could not be seen on the dark fabric. It looked no different from a clean shirt.

In the stall, Ye Ci tugged at the hem of his clothes and pushed the door open slowly, walking out.

Perhaps because his thigh ligaments had been over-stretched, his steps were unsteady.

The permanent marking had happened over a month ago during the summer break, and school had started just a few days after. Ye Ci’s study schedule was very tight and Huo Tinglan was afraid that his energy would be affected, so over the past month or so, he had been showing restraint. Most of their intimate contact had been simple touches.

Thus……he had firmly held back.

He also hadn’t done anything too serious just now.

After all, it was impossible for him to really do anything to Ye Ci in the school bathroom.

When they went home tonight, would Huo-shushu……

Ye Ci recalled the day of the permanent mark during summer break and curled his fingers up nervously, clenching them together.

Even recalling a few scenes was not good. The back of his neck was faintly hot, the skin that had finally cooled down flushing a passionate pink, and he had no choice but to wash his face with cold water.

The events were not over yet, and the students were all gathered on the sports field. There were not many people in other areas of the campus, but fortunately, the milk tea shop was open like normal.

“Try it.” Ye Ci handed Huo Tinglan a glass of grape smoothie. “It’s really delicious.”

Water droplets condensed on the outside of the purple-red cup, and the thick snow-white cream was dotted with a few round, green grapes. It was a childish drink, and Huo Tinglan took it and sipped it with a smile: “En, it’s delicious.”

Ye Ci’s cheeks puffed out slightly as he chewed the grapes without saying a word, his bright eyes slightly curved with happiness.

The noise of shouting and announcements came from the sports field. The distance was too great, and the sound quality was a bit muffled. The two of them sat in the shade of a secluded tree and drank while enjoying the breeze.

Aside from the age difference, they were like a school couple on a secret date.

Ye Ci bit his straw, and his mind finally drifted off for a bit as he silently replayed the 1500 meter run. Did his running posture look cool enough? Did he look silly when he was sweating and panting? He also regretted that he didn’t look on both sides of the track and wave at Huo Tinglan or something……

His thoughts were all rather uncomplicated.

Nothing more than the small thoughts of a teenager, always thinking about looking cool in front of his lover.

“……What are you thinking about?” Huo Tinglan had been observing him for a long time.

“I’m, I’m thinking about the competition,” Ye Ci said truthfully.

“Why is your face getting redder?” Huo Tinglan bent his index finger and pressed the back of it against his spreading blush.

It was soft and hot.

Ye Ci turned his face to look at him. His eyes were very obedient: “I don’t know.”

“Are your glands hot?” Huo Tinglan lightly touched the back of his neck.

They were hot.

The exuberant heat could be felt through the layers of barrier patches.

“Do you have enough strength?” He smiled with faint ill intentions.

Ye Ci stretched his legs. “……Maybe I’m a little, little tired.”

“Baby,” Huo Tinglan said in a low voice, his eyes dark, “Your fever period is here.”

Even if it was a few days early.

After the permanent marking, an Omega’s fever periods would become regular.

And the hormonal fluctuations caused by close contact may cause the fever to advance within a certain range……

Ye Ci was startled, and touched the back of his neck.

He hadn’t been an Omega for long enough, and often ignored those signs.

“Want to go back and watch the events?” Huo Tinglan softly asked Ye Ci’s opinion. “Or go home with me first to……deal with it.”

Because of the permanent mark, Ye Ci’s fever symptoms would not be very serious. Other Alphas would not be sensitive to the soaring pheromone concentration, but it had a huge impact on Huo Tinglan.

So there was no rush to deal with it.

Ye Ci hesitated for a moment. Today’s sports competition had come to an end. He wouldn’t be able to stay long once he went back, and his classmates would see him blushing like this.

It was noticeably his fever period, and in case it got worse……

Ye Ci squeezed the cup that he had unconsciously crushed, sucked up the grape pieces at the bottom, and pretended to be calm as he said: “It’s not, not convenient to go back……let’s go home first and, and deal with it.”

As the saying went: First time unfamiliar, second time well-accustomed.

Having experienced such an intense, days-long permanent mark, Ye Ci felt that there was nothing left to be shy about, so he put on a steady and experienced look. After returning home, he first went to find his pajamas, and when he looked up, he saw that Huo Tinglan had also walked into the cloakroom to look for something. Ye Ci raised his chin toward the bathroom, his face bright red, and said coolly: “I’m going to take a shower.”

After saying as much, he was about to turn around and leave when Huo Tinglan embraced him. His thin back pressed against the firm muscles of his chest, and he felt the vibration as Huo Tinglan laughed.

He had clearly laughed, but his tone regained its composure the next second.

“Wait a moment, baby, I have something to ask you.” 

“What?” Ye Ci felt that it wouldn’t be anything serious.

– Huo-shushu at once acted demure in order to play dirty tricks.

“At the opening ceremony of the sports competition this morning, your class performed a group dance……” Huo Tinglan smiled, and while continuing to embrace him from behind, he pulled Ye Ci to sit on the cloakroom’s changing stool. He wrapped his arms around the other’s arms and clasped his wrists with his hands, fully encircling the boy who was a full size slenderer than himself, but his tone was gentle and upright, as if they were having a heart-to-heart conversation. “Wasn’t it all Omegas who did it?”

Ye Ci’s intuition wasn’t good, so he pursed his lips and remained silent.

It was a pity that his thoughts were still too pure, so he went over Huo Tinglan’s words again and again but couldn’t find anything wrong with them, giving a low “En.”

“What about you, why didn’t you do it?” Huo Tinglan asked softly.

“I……” Ye Ci instinctively ignored the important and dwelled on the trivial, avoiding the real reason of, ‘seeking to dress a male Omega in a skirt like a girl,’ and said, “No, since I can’t, can’t dance, I couldn’t do it.”

He felt that he couldn’t mention the skirt business.

“It was because you can’t dance?” Huo Tinglan smiled softly.

“Yes,” Ye Ci insisted.

Huo Tinglan nodded, and said clearly, “Then that means……you have no objection to wearing skirts.”

“ ? ! ”

Ye Ci licked his lips, dumbfounded.

What an unexpected interpretation.

“No, that’s not it,” Ye Ci shook his head vigorously, stuttering out a quick, “I object, I object.”

Huo Tinglan sighed: “So antisocial.”

Although his popularity was so high that he would be welcomed by the students as soon as he walked into the stands of Class 7, not wearing a little skirt along with the other Omegas was antisocial.

– What a good trick to confuse black and white.

Ye Ci stared in amazement, and his lips that had been licked moist and tender opened in shock.

Could it be that Huo-shushu would block him no matter what he said, taking advantage of his anxious, clumsy mouth……

Huo Tinglan’s eyes were fixed as he said solemnly: “Huo-shushu is very worried about you.”

“Could it be that, that you want me to wear……” Ye Ci gulped, unable to believe it. “But, but today didn’t you see what they, they were wearing?”

There were no short skirts at home!

And, and it was too late to prepare one!

“Indeed.” Huo Tinglan paused for two seconds, then said naturally, “That’s why the style is not the same.”

A laugh escaped after the slight pause.

He had made an error in his performance.

With this laugh, Ye Ci was instantly enlightened.

……Although it wasn’t flawless Buddhist enlightenment.

Huo Tinglan’s plan was premeditated. It just happened that the Omegas had danced at the sports competition and Huo Tinglan was there to see it.

The skirt in question was probably not a standard skirt.

It wouldn’t be as good as their dancing skirts! At least those were decent!

This penetrated into Ye Ci’s mind, and his voice trembled with embarrassment: “Then, then you……”

That voice gradually became fainter, like the buzzing of a mosquito.

“……are being perverted?”

Facing this question, Huo Tinglan fell silent.

Ye Ci thought he was going to play at being decent again and tease him with ridiculous words such as “Huo-shushu is helping you integrate into the group” or “other Omegas wear them, Xiao Ci.” 

Unexpectedly, Huo Tinglan smiled and said: “Indeed.”

He didn’t even try to conceal it!

It wasn’t that he had special hobbies, it was just that when the little gentleman’s legs looked so good, a few untoward thoughts surfaced when he was distracted.

It wouldn’t hurt to try once in a while.

He let go of Ye Ci and leisurely rummaged through the closet.

Ye Ci was in his fever period and couldn’t leave him.

In the changing mirror, his ten fingers were as thin and white as scallions as they held onto his trousers. His knuckles protruded sharply, and he was so embarrassed that he wanted to beat someone up. However, he still waited motionlessly for Huo Tinglan to find a skirt for him to wear, blushing. The corners of his eyes and the tip of his nose were also stained a slight red, aggrieved and bullied.

After Huo Tinglan found the clothes, he smiled apologetically: “I didn’t have you try it on, so I don’t know if it will fit……is it too short?”

Ye Ci glanced at Huo Tinglan’s hand and was too ashamed to speak. He lowered his head and leaned his forehead on his hand without saying a word.

“But the stockings are elastic, so they should fit,” Huo Tinglan consoled him, but gradually couldn’t speak human words. “Baby, will you wear the skirt? I can help you.”

The swivel mirror in the cloakroom was turned to face the changing stool.

Ye Ci resisted passively, not struggling but not cooperating.

And let Huo Tinglan dress him like a doll.

… …

Due to the rise in body temperature, even his white back, chest, and abdomen were light pink.

The silk and lace rippled with different shades of broken light along with the movements of his body, complementing that pink skin.

“I, I have an event tomorrow……I’ll need to, to wear a tracksuit,” Ye Ci said tremblingly. “Don’t touch my, my arms and legs, okay, Huo-shushu?”

Touching, of course, referred to “leaving traces.”

“Okay,” Huo Tinglan responded first, and then asked politely, “Then where can I touch?”

“……”

“Make me a list?”

After a long silence:

“Face, belly, and……”

So cute.

Huo Tinglan followed his words and kissed his face.

– Then followed the list one by one.

On the second day of the sports competition, Ye Ci had a few events to participate in, but they weren’t high-intensity.

Events such as the javelin throw only required a short run-up, and was very friendly to his sore waist and legs. Moreover, the students were not very good at such professional things, so everyone had fun messing around together.

After all his events were over, Ye Ci returned to the Class 7 stands to concentrate on watching the competition.

Today’s sun was unbelievably hot. He and Jiang Yan each contributed a hand to prop up a school uniform jacket as a sunshade, freeing up the other hand to eat the potato chips sitting between them.

“I used to think you didn’t like these things.” Jiang Yan frowned. “You’re so cool, you don’t look at first glance like someone who loves snacks.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t like to eat them, but mainly because he hadn’t eaten them much before.

“Before, I didn’t know that I could love snacks so much.” Ye Ci’s lips curled up.

Jiang Yan opened a huge extra-value pack that barely fit when he stuffed it in-between them: “These cheesy onion ones are also super tasty, try some……”

Under the simple school uniform awning……

Crunch, crunch.

Crunch, crunch.

Like two happy little hamsters.

Tsk –

A Coke can was cracked open.

“Our class should be number one in total points. I went to ask just now.”

“That is, is a must.”

“Later, you must represent our class to accept the award. The class monitor and the sports committee have agreed. You have contributed the most and your appearance is good.”

“……I’m going?”

“There’s no need to make a speech. There are so many representatives, just bow when it’s your turn.”

“Then……okay, I’ll go.”

“……”

In the distance, another burst of cheers and encouragement sounded.

“Look, look! The head of the sports committee is about to cross the finish line!”

The students in the front row stood abruptly.

Ye Ci also stood up with potato chips in his mouth, looking up with interest. He was not accustomed to shouting, but he silently cheered for his teammate in his heart.

On the synthetic track of the bright green and brick-red stadium, vigorous figures were striding forward in the autumn wind, cheering and laughing like a tidal wave.

It was a beautiful autumn day.

【End of Sports Competition】

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Extra Four: Sports Competition << Table of Contents >> Extra Six: The Necktie

After changing his clothes, Ye Ci returned to the sports field. Like a young seedling that was so green and tender that water could be squeezed out, he stood tall and straight in the pale sunlight, drawing countless eyes.

Among them, a dark and solid gaze came from the platform.

Wherever Ye Ci went, that line of sight followed.

A high-level Alpha’s eagle-eyed vision was put to unscrupulous work once more, and at such a long distance, those eyes could still clearly pick out details that should or shouldn’t be seen.

It made his heart itch unbearably, and there was a scorching fire rolling in his stomach, but he put on a reserved and steady air, keeping his face tranquil.

This morning, Ye Ci would be going back and forth between track and field competitions. Roll-call was held for an event, and then it soon began. When he easily took first place, the broadcast was full of limericks from Class 7: “The spring breeze is blowing, the war drums are beating, who is Class 7’s Brother Ci afraid of……Class 7, Class 7, competing for Tiansheng, Brother Ci, Brother Ci, salute the outstanding hero……”

Ye Ci had thin skin, and when he first heard the shameful title of “Class 7’s Brother Ci,” he directly got a stitch in his side while on the track. He sprinted the remaining 100 meters in pain, and stood beside the finish line rubbing his stomach. He hung his head fearfully, afraid that people around would see that he was the domineering “Brother Ci” of legend.

He clearly still lacked a clear understanding of how well-known he was in other classes.

There were not many people around who didn’t know……

It was only that they were more covert.

After rushing through a few rounds, Ye Ci temporarily returned to the class stands to rest. Later on, he had the 1,500 meter run, which was a major event. The sports committee was quite conscientious, studying the race schedule and digging around to set aside a period of rest for him.

As soon as he appeared, there was a burst of deafening cheers and applause from Class 7’s area in the stands, with no less enthusiasm than if they were meeting a celebrity.

Ye Ci smiled shyly and triumphantly, and two small dimples appeared on his face. He feared that people would notice and tease him, but he couldn’t hold back his smile, and lowered his head as he walked towards the empty seat that his classmates had reserved for him.

After several events, he was sweating so much that his back was drenched. An Omega name Jiang Yan who had accompanied him throughout the run was afraid that he would catch a chill from the wind, so he put a sports jacket over his shoulders.

Ye Ci had a well-proportioned figure, with a shorter upper body and long legs. The jacket hung so loosely that it almost covered the track shorts, making it look like he wasn’t wearing any at first glance.

Beads of sweat rolled along the muscles, dripping down in liquid streams to set off those jade-white legs. The traces of Omega pheromones in the sweat accumulated more and more, and the powerful barrier patch on the back of his neck couldn’t block them. The sweet scent of vanilla diffused in the autumn wind.

Damn.

Cheng Xiao stared straight at Ye Ci and turned his head to chase after the sight of him with a sour feeling in his heart.

An old cow eats young grass.^[1] Surnamed Huo was really able to enjoy it.

“Brother Ci, wipe off your sweat!” A sports committee member who was also an Alpha sensed that something was wrong and threw a freshly opened towel through the air at Ye Ci.

“Thank you.” Ye Ci raised his hand to catch it.

“Cheng Xiao, stop staring at others!” Jiang Yan was the Omega who told Huo Tinglan previously that he would “watch” Ye Ci. He had a hot temper, and seeing that Cheng Xiao still had some hope in his heart, he stood in front of him and vigorously exposed him. “You don’t have a chance, ah, go take a look at yourself.”

Cheng Xiao was greedy and jealous, and it was clear that he couldn’t beat Huo Tinglan. He knew that in the eyes of the other, he was just a brat who couldn’t even grow facial hair, and estimated that even using a finger to deal with him would be overkill. He could only vent his anger on others, and choked out angrily at Jiang Yan: “You’re watching me? The control is pretty widespread.”

“That’s right, ah, I have a wide range. The school was built by my family, so why shouldn’t I take care of what goes on at school?” He stared, hands on his hips, and spoke plausibly.

The project to build the school was indeed taken over by the Jiang family. Cheng Xiao was dumbfounded. But when an Omega who couldn’t speak so eloquently uttered a “fuck,” and he lost his temper.

“……”

Ye Ci could hear what they were arguing about, but he didn’t feel offended. His emotions didn’t even fluctuate for this childish Alpha, and he just gave Cheng Xiao a light glance and raised his head to drink water.

Cheng Xiao was embarrassed and turned back with a blushing face.

Ye Ci took a chocolate energy bar from his classmate and gnawed on it, then grabbed his mobile phone from his schoolbag. There was a new message from Huo Tinglan.

[Huo Tinglan]: Baby, you’re really amazing. How many times have you won first place?

He had actually counted all the times he’d won, and just wanted to give Ye Ci a chance to show off to him.

Ye Ci scratched his head and quickly reported his results.

Huo Tinglan didn’t hesitate to praise him, and complimented him effusively.

Ye Ci reaped considerable benefits. Scrolling on his phone, the corners of his mouth were raised all the way up. Worried that he was smiling too widely, he pressed his fist against his lips and squeezed them tightly shut.

– He had been coaxed to show his belly again.

Ye Ci was proud of himself for long enough, and worrying that Huo Tinglan would get bored, he lowered his eyes and typed.

[Ye Ci]: I won’t have any events today after I finish the 1,500 meter run. How about walking around the campus with you?

Huo Tinglan had also studied here, so he probably wanted to see the changes made to his alma mater.

Huo Tinglan smiled and sent an “okay.”

Ye Ci racked his brains to figure out how to entertain him, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

[Ye Ci]: Our school milk tea shop has a grape smoothie that is very delicious. I usually drink one glass per day.

After posting, he was a little embarrassed. Huo Tinglan was not a student in his teens or twenties. It was too tasteless to treat someone to a smoothie at a milk tea shop for less than 20 yuan……

He hesitated, and withdrew the message.

The other party came back quickly.

[Huo Tinglan]: I saw it, I want to eat.

[Huo Tinglan]: Treat me.

It was like a date.

Ye Ci’s heart beat hard a few times.

[Ye Ci]: En, my treat.

That chat history was filled with the atmosphere of campus romance, as refreshing as lemon and sea salt.

But at this time, Huo Tinglan sent another message.

[Huo Tinglan]: I have something to say, but I don’t know if it is convenient for me to tell you now……is there a classmate next to you?”

Ye Ci glanced around. Of course there were classmates, but they were all watching the events with their chins raised, and no one was paying attention to him.

He was paralyzed by the sweet, fresh atmosphere of love, and replied unguardedly: Yes, but they’re all watching the races. What do you want to say?

A few seconds later.

[Huo Tinglan]: Baby’s legs are really white.

“……”

Ye Ci fell silent.

[Huo Tinglan]: I want to taste your sweat.

What followed was even more unsightly.

This person who looked so dignified and elegant was sending this stuff to a male high school student from the stage.

What was the strength of this wolf in sheep’s clothing!

Ye Ci abruptly looked away. As if he was holding a white-hot poker, he locked the screen in a rush and tossed the phone into his schoolbag.

Presently, he blushed and raised his butt, pulling down his sports shorts a little.

An extra centimeter was still a centimeter.

Some people were real scoundrels.

Ye Ci rested, and then the 1,500 meter run commenced.

After three and a half laps around the track, Ye Ci was still running effortlessly, but the sun that had been hiding his face before slowly emerged from behind the clouds. There was sweat on his skin, and when it was exposed to the harsh sun, it became slightly itchy and uncomfortable.

When he crossed the finish line first amidst the joyful cheers of his classmates, he rushed several meters with the streamer trailing from him, then stopped to take the mineral water Jiang Yan handed over. He twisted the top off and took two drinks, then poured it over the top of his head, simply and roughly driving away the heat and itching all over his body.

The water soaked through his clothes, and the light fabric of the sportswear firmly stuck to the wet skin.

Ye Ci was not like some fastidious little Omegas who wore tight-fitting vests under the sportswear to prevent exposure.

So some details and contours……were instantly revealed.

“You, do you want to put on a jacket……”

Jiang Yan averted his eyes, but Ye Ci still thought it was normal to pour water over his head after strenuous exercise. Wiping the water droplets from his face, he shook his hands toward the grass and said frankly: “No need, I’m almost about to, to suffer heat stroke.”

“……Want to go to the locker room and change?” 

However, Huo Tinglan’s deep, gentle voice came from behind, and he couldn’t hear the slightest hint of displeasure. “There is air conditioning inside the building.”

After the start of the 1,500 meter race, he had left the stage to wait for Ye Ci at the finish line.

He was a young man as vigorous and nimble as a leopard. The wind blew his hair back, revealing the entirety of his small face, and his eyes were as bright as stars……

He had come to the sports field. However, Ye Ci was not distracted during the race and basically didn’t look to the sides of the track, so he hadn’t seen him.

“Ah, okay.” Ye Ci turned his head. “When, when did you come?”

“I’ve been standing here for a while to see you cross the finish line.” Huo Tinglan smiled and raised the paper bag in his hand containing fresh clothes. Then he stood in front of him unobtrusively and led him towards the gymnasium.

There was a public changing room in the gymnasium. Ye Ci thought that Huo Tinglan’s purpose was to let him change clothes, but just as he entered the door, Huo Tinglan grasped the back of his neck gently. He immediately softened into a ball and was conscientiously moved to the bathroom.

The standard of hygiene was comparable to that of a five-star hotel. There was no smell, and no one else in sight. Huo Tinglan carried Ye Ci into a stall, locked the door, and then leaned in toward his ear and said in a hoarse voice: “I saw it all, baby.”

Hot breath warmed his ears, and the temperature jumped a bit in the cramped compartment.

“Saw what?” Ye Ci was slightly taken aback.

“What do you think?” Huo Tinglan twisted the drenched fabric on his chest.

Ye Ci’s face abruptly turned red, and he stuttered badly: “I, I wasn’t paying attention……I was, was running, and, and it was so hot……”

Huo Tinglan wore a half-smile: “En.”

“I’ll just, just change it.” Ye Ci snatched the paper bag containing the change of clothes from Huo Tinglan’s hand and put it on the shelf behind the toilet.

“Wait, put this on first.” Huo Tinglan loosened his own neckline.

Then he undid his tie with one hand and tugged.

The silk tie rubbed against his collar quickly, making a thin, sharp whoosh.

“I thought of this when I saw you put on the tracksuit……” Huo Tinglan clamped Ye Ci’s wrists with one hand and twisted the hem of the half-sleeved shirt with the other.

Fingertips poked between Ye Ci’s slightly parted lips along with silky fabric.

“Bite down,” he whispered.

“……” Ye Ci’s cheeks flushed red and he grabbed the piece of cloth with his small white teeth, turning his head away shyly.

Huo Tinglan carried out all the ungentlemanly things he had messaged him on WeChat previously.

He didn’t know if the grape smoothie in the milk tea shop was good, and had no interest in sweets.

But the fruit in early autumn was indeed sweet.

“Huo-shushu, the, the swelling is pretty obvious……” Ye Ci changed into the replacement clothes Huo Tinglan had brought, feeling extremely embarrassed and indignant.

Those red and purple marks and fingerprints were not a problem, and with trousers covering them, nothing could be seen.

But elsewhere, they were a bit harder to hide.

“Use these.” Huo Tinglan took out a pair of patches from the paper bag.

The bandages were flesh colored and round.

Little things that could prevent similar embarrassing situations.

“Will they work?” Huo Tinglan asked softly.

Ye Ci shook his head in confusion.

In the end, Huo Tinglan took advantage of what could be explained in three minutes and educated him for ten minutes on the spot.

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[1] An old cow eats young grass (老牛吃嫩草) refers to a romance where one person is significantly older than the other. ⮐

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Extra Three: Sports Competition << Table of Contents >> Extra Five: Sports Competition

The story from the gymnasium that evening spread fast. Fortunately, most of Tiancheng’s students were familiar with the ways of the world and didn’t look at Ye Ci from the perspective of viewing a rare animal or spread outrageous rumors. After the initial shock, most of the students returned to normal, but the group of Alphas who had been waiting to make a move were drenched in cold water and felt a little dispirited. Among them, Cheng Xiao’s setback was particularly serious. One second, he was ecstatically dazzled by Ye Ci’s basketball skills, and the next second, he discovered that not only did Ye Ci have an Alpha, but he was even married. The little flame of his wishful thinking had been extinguished by an Alpha who was stronger and better than himself, slowly crushed and trampled upon. The Alpha’s dignity was greatly injured, and he had been wilting like a weather-beaten eggplant for the past few days.

On the other hand, those Omegas who had a particularly good relationship with Ye Ci couldn’t calm down at all. Whenever they got the chance, they would excitedly grab Ye Ci and torture him for “details.”

Everyone gossiped in a proper manner, and there was nothing private that was inconvenient to talk about, so Ye Ci answered honestly.

Every time, there was an exclamation of, “Wuwuwu, so sweet!”

The weather changed, and the suffocating summer heat seemed to dissipate overnight. The air conditioning in the classroom was shut off, and that date of the autumn sports competition was finally set.

A notice was issued that this sports competition would be held together with the 30th anniversary celebration. The opening performance was more grand than in previous years, and it was said that several outstanding graduates who were well-known in their respective fields would be invited to give speeches.

The date had been set, and the declaration of various events was also on the agenda. The nerves of Class 7’s Omegas were so bad that it was almost contagious. After four semesters, the Omega events had not been fully registered. The sprint was fine, they could run 400 meters. For hard-core events such as long-distance running, the sports committee went about begging for help. The triple jump was a technical event that always brought up the rear, and was regarded as “the 30-meter sprint followed by the standing long jump.” Therefore, the total class points were hovering in the middle and lower reaches all year round, and the principle of “friendship first, competition second” was resolutely implemented.

In the last semester of the third year of high school, they finally found a good seedling. The sports committee spent most of the day chasing Ye Ci around whenever they had free time, droning and buzzing: “One more, Brother Ci, sign up for one more and you will be my own brother. Let’s add the javelin throw, there is only one person signed up for it, and we’re missing the other, I’ll ask again in the last class……”

Ye Ci hesitated to answer not because he thought he would be too tired, but because he was too embarrassed to participate in so many competitions. He just wanted to help the sports committee solve two or three difficult events. As a result, as soon as he yielded, he was entangled by the sports committee. The other Omegas also encouraged him wildly, and he was such a pushover that he had to sign up for two more. But after this happened, the sports committee still didn’t let him go, but clutched the fat little sheep all the way from the entrance of the teaching building to the gate after school: “Brother Ci, we in Class 7 can make a turnaround this time thanks to you, Brother Ci! ! !”

The little Omegas watching the excitement fanned the flames and also called sweetly: “Goodbye – Brother –”

Ye Ci shivered, and they almost caused him to stumble.

The little Omegas giggled.

“Don’t, don’t shout……” Ye Ci’s ears turned red, and he looked helplessly at the sports committee. “Really, that’s the last one. I’ve applied for too many, no, no other class can compare.”

What he said was the truth, but it sounded very arrogant, and he appeared extra arrogant because of his sincerity, which caused another wave of excitement among the students.

During rush hour after school, the traffic in front of the school gate was crowded, and the students raised their faces and stretched their necks to look for a familiar vehicle or the person in charge of picking them up.

Amongst the crowd, Huo Tinglan’s figure was exceptionally tall and straight. The black shirt set off his fair face and dark eyes as he looked over silently.

With a spouse that every sort of person was attracted to, it was not enough to only defend against Alphas, but even Omegas could not be underestimated.

The possessiveness of a top Alpha was also top-notch, and the influence of the permanent mark had not dissipated. He had to remind himself to maintain rationality every second of the day.

……

Forget it.

There was no need to drink vinegar over a few children.

At worst……he would get compensation elsewhere.

Someone saw him and hurriedly poked Ye Ci: “Cough, Xiao Ci, that……”

Several students raised their heads, taken aback for a moment, and then they all came forward to greet Huo Tinglan politely, looking a bit nervous.

Some of their families were friendly with the Huo family, and others had not been able to develop such a relationship for the time being. Among them were two faces that looked familiar to Huo Tinglan. They had met during the New Year’s visit and were juniors from another family.

He smiled, returned the greetings modestly, and explained casually: “I’m here to take my little gentleman home.”

Little gentleman!

Ye Ci was almost used to hearing this address, but those Omegas were all so excited that they stared at him crazily as if they wanted to eat him.

Ye Ci: “……”

He blushed and whispered: “I signed up for the sports competition.”

In the past few days, Huo Tinglan had robbed the driver of his job and went to great lengths to pick him up from school. He refused to wait in the car, and found it necessary to stand at the school gate and watch from a distance like other hard-working parents. Moreover, he was a powerful person who could not be offended, and no one thought to covet what was his anymore.

“Don’t worry, take your time.” Huo Tinglan calmly took Ye Ci’s schoolbag that was slung across his right shoulder and helped him carry it. Then he took the school uniform jacket that was draped over his forearm.

The dignified patriarch, like a personal assistant, carried Ye Ci’s bag and coat in a skillful way that was obviously not for show.

The meaning in this doting action was self-evident.

Naturally, there was also a bit of “declaration of sovereignty.”

Ye Ci was a little slow in this aspect and didn’t get the meaning, but the Omegas had already seen through it in a second, each of them pursing their lips and snickering.

Huo Tinglan also smiled at them tacitly.

“Mr. Huo, don’t worry,” a bold Omega said cheerfully. “We’ll watch for you!”

“Ah?” Ye Ci was at a loss. “Watch what, me?”

Huo Tinglan smiled, said “All right” in a joking tone, and then returned to the car with Ye Ci.

This time there was a driver in the car.

It had also been several days.

However, as soon as he got into the backseat, Ye Ci had the illusion that the soles of his feet were burning.

As if he was stepping on something hot, like volcanic rock, or like five fingers gripping and rubbing his ankles.

“Are you remembering something?” Huo Tinglan asked leisurely, glancing at him.

“No!” Ye Ci shook his head so hard that it almost went flying off.

“By the way, I heard you discussing the sports competition.” Huo Tinglan asked with a smile, “Is it going to be held together with the school’s anniversary?”

Ye Ci raised his eyes and said curiously: “How do you know?”

He was aware that Huo Tinglan was one of the members of the school board of directors, but with so many properties owned by the Huo family, Tiancheng Private School was a relatively insignificant one. He didn’t care about such things, and usually even if there were important matters, they were handed over to the special assistant. It was estimated that matters on the level of a school celebration or sports competition wouldn’t even reach tenth place on the list of things he paid attention to.

“I received an invitation to the school celebration.” Huo Tinglan took a beautifully printed letter from the pocket of his suit, opened it, and said, “Outstanding Tiancheng graduates are invited to deliver speeches at the opening ceremony.”

He had also studied at Tiancheng when he was in high school, and went abroad to study after graduation.

“After all, I’m still your senior.” Huo Tinglan was in a dilemma, and had a faint look of distress between his brows. “I’ve been busy with work these days, so I haven’t decided whether or not to go. Baby, if you want me to……”

Ye Ci’s bright eyes darted, and he poked his head over to check the invitation dubiously.

If he listened to half of what Huo-shushu said and discarded the other half, he would never go wrong.

“What, are you afraid I created a fake?” Huo Tinglan smiled, extremely innocent, and brushed off the corner of that hard-earned paper, saying confidently, “You see, the signature of one of the school directors, the seal of the school……”

It was indeed signed by a school director.

Ye Ci was dumbfounded.

Outstanding Graduate Invited: Huo Tinglan

Inviter’s signature: Huo Tinglan

Above the two horizontal lines, the sharp and elegant handwriting of “Huo Tinglan” was exactly the same.

Relying on being a school director, this person asked the school for an invitation letter and invited himself.

What thick skin!

Ye Ci couldn’t help but be amazed.

“I just want to see what it’s like to watch you compete in sports.” Huo Tinglan didn’t really want to hide it from him at first, so when he was exposed, he just smiled gracefully. “Can I go?”

“……Yes.” Ye Ci scratched his cheek.

What boy wouldn’t want to look cool in front of his crush?

He had originally wanted Huo Tinglan to watch him compete.

It was just that in the original plan, he was going to ask his classmates to take some videos he could send to Huo Tinglan……but it would be great if Huo Tinglan could come in person.

At most, he would be teased by his classmates……and he was already a little used to it.

On the day of the sports competition, the heavens favored them and it was cloudy without rain or sun.

The opening ceremony of the school celebration was truly extraordinary. The student formation was large, and the square groups made up of each class displayed attention-grabbing ingenuity. In a certain first year class, there was even a showy young master Alpha who carried the class flag and rode a horse around the field……Fortunately, Ye Ci did not need to share the burden of performing at the opening ceremony for Class Seven. The girls and the male Omegas dressed as girls danced in short skirts. Ye Ci stood aside and felt proud of his height of 1.8 meters. 

The skirts fell short of ten centimeters……

It was hard not to be scared.

After the whole school team entered the arena, various leaders and student representatives gave speeches, followed by outstanding graduates’ speeches and wishes for the 30th anniversary celebration. Apart from Huo Tinglan, several graduates who were quite famous in their respective fields were indeed invited.

Perhaps out of consideration for the little gentleman who was still standing at attention on the sports field, Huo Tinglan’s speech was the shortest and most concise. As soon as he opened his mouth, there was a constant commotion coming from the student formation, and from time to time there were a few uncontrollable screams. However, Huo Tinglan was completely unaffected by the restless atmosphere at the scene. His tone was serious and calm, and those not in the know would think that he was a proper person.

After the opening ceremony, the sports competition finally started. Ye Ci hurriedly went to the bathroom to change into a set of half sleeves and shorts that were convenient for his events. The sports shorts were not much longer than mid-thigh, and a pair of well-proportioned legs were displayed, thin, with just the right amount of muscle to not be obtrusive. It may have been because the skin was so smooth that there was a thin sheen of light along the slightly protruding muscles of his thighs.

Very vivacious.

Very beautiful.

Very……seductive.

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Extra Two: Sports Competition << Table of Contents >> Extra Four: Sports Competition

There was no telling how long Huo Tinglan had been standing at the entrance of the venue. After all, everyone’s attention was focused on Ye Ci just now, and no one was looking towards the door.

But at this time, following Ye Ci’s line of sight, all eyes turned in that direction.

The families of the students who came to Tiancheng were probably all wealthy and respectable people. Some of them had business contact with the Huo family and visited during New Years and the holidays. Someone recognized who this was and let out a soft, suppressed exclamation.

“I’m dead! So handsome –”

“Ah, ah, ah, he seems to be looking over here.”

An excited Omega whispered to his companion, the two of them so thrilled that they were about to twist into pretzels.

“Why is he here?”

“He seems to be one of the school’s directors. I remember that the Huo family has shares in Tiancheng……”

“Even if he is a school director, why is he here?”

“……”

As a group of students whispered, Ye Ci had already started running towards Huo Tinglan, and the corners of his blue and white school uniform suddenly rose.

From the back, his figure was inexplicably joyful.

“Huo-shushu, why, why are you here?” Ye Ci ran so fast and braked so hard that the soles of his shoes made a sharp noise on the gymnasium floor.

He hadn’t fastened the button on his collar. When Huo Tinglan lowered his eyes, he saw two collarbones that were white and straight like polished birch wood, covered in a thin sheen of sweat.

Like flower dew, tempting people to touch.

……No wonder that brat from the Cheng family kept looking at his neckline.

“The driver had asked for leave the day before yesterday, as there was an urgent matter in his hometown.” Huo Tinglan looked down and frowned slightly. “He didn’t tell you?”

“He did!” Ye Ci blurted out first, fearing that he would deduct the driver’s wages, and then remembered what the driver had said when he sent him to school the morning before yesterday. At that time, he used the drive to school to ponder an ingenious competition-level physics problem in the back seat, his soul trapped in the electromagnetic field, and had forgotten after casually agreeing.

“He did say that,” Ye Ci stated firmly. “I forgot.”

“……So I’m here to pick you up today.” Huo Tinglan smiled and said gently: “I waited for you at the school gate for more than half an hour, but no students came out. Then I sent you a message and didn’t get a reply. I was worried about what might have happened to you, so I came in to take a look.”

“Sorry, Huo-shushu.” An eighty-year-old man wouldn’t be as forgetful as he was. Ye Ci apologized with drooping brows. “As soon as I started playing, I forgot and didn’t look at my phone.”

“There’s no need to apologize for such a small matter.” Huo Tinglan smiled. His black eyes were slightly sullen, but the corners of his mouth were raised and his tone was gentle. After confirming Ye Ci’s safety, those previous words were unimportant. He was concerned about other things, so the conversation turned a little abruptly. “Hot, baby?”

“Ah,” Ye Ci was taken aback, “kind of……”

It wasn’t hot before, but his nerves were somewhat tense when confronting Cheng Xiao.

“Take off your jacket since it’s hot, and I’ll hold it for you,” Huo Tinglan said softly. “Go play with your classmates for a while, I’ll wait for you.”

“It’s not for fun, it’s just for the, the sports competition in a few days. There is a basketball game and our, our classmates want to learn how to play……” Ye Ci explained, taking off his jacket and handing it over.

With this natural handover, the Omegas not far away were so excited that they let out suppressed screams like the steam from a boiling kettle.

“Ah, ah, ah, ah, he also took clothes from XiaoCi!”

“I’m dead……”

“Did he call you ‘Baby’ just now? Was it ‘Baby’, or am I deaf? !”

“It was ‘Baby!’ Let me tell you that they are not relatives! That look couldn’t come from a relative! I ship them, you guys are wasting your energy.”

“Shipping teacher!”

“Good shipping teacher!”

“……”

Ye Ci’s face turned red, and he turned his head to gesture at the group of Omegas whose eyes had turned into gossip searchlights, explaining: “They’re all Omegas, don’t think too much about it.”

“En.” Huo Tinglan’s smile was warm like a spring breeze. “That one looks pretty strong.”

His eyes locked onto the suspicious Chen Xiao.

Ye Ci: “……”

It shouldn’t be too hot after taking off the coat, so Huo Tinglan fastened the button on Ye Ci’s shirt for him.

“He’s an Alpha.” Ye Ci’s Omega self-preservation skills were still slow, and only then did he realize something, dropping his head. “We’re just, just competing, and he really annoys me.”

“All right.” Huo Tinglan didn’t want to lose face in public, and he accepted everything that Ye Ci said with a smile.

He looked very good-natured.

But Ye Ci sensed that something was wrong.

“I played ball just, just now. Did you see it all?” Ye Ci asked in a low voice: “Did I……look cool?”

“Cool, baby.” Huo Tinglan smiled and leaned over slightly. He whispered in his ear in a voice that only these two people could hear: “Go first, don’t keep your classmates waiting……we’ll talk about this matter when we get home.”

We’ll talk at home.

This was like what parents might say after a parent-teacher meeting, “See how I’ll deal with you when we get home.”

But this “dealing with” was obviously not of that kind. Ye Ci, an impure male high school student whose mind had been polluted, instantly conjured up several unsightly scenes. On the way back to his classmates, his face turned increasingly red at a pace visible to the naked eye.

Chen Xiao was quite displeased with those jeering Omegas, and even more displeased that Ye Ci acted cool and confident in front of him, but the moment he was next to Huo Tinglan, he became soft like a ball of rice cake. He pretended not to notice this little episode and asked while dribbling: “Finished talking? Still want to play?”

“No.” Ye Ci shook his head faintly. “He won’t let me.”

Damn.

Why were these words so ambiguous?”

Half curious and half reluctant, Cheng Xiao said: “No way, Huo Tinglan won’t let you play ball?”

Huo-shushu was listening!

Ye Ci defended with a strong desire to survive: “He’ll let me play, but, but not with you.”

“What’s wrong with me?” Relying on Huo Tinglan not lowering himself to bother with him, Cheng Xiao scoffed and glanced at the door with bravado. “Your surname isn’t Huo, ah, and he still called you ‘baby, did I hear that right……” He thought for a moment about what elder would have a different surname. “What kind of uncle is he?”

As far as Cheng Xiao knew, Huo Tinglan had several cousins.

As soon as he spoke these words, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine.

Cheng Xiao cringed in fright.

The arrogance from a moment ago deflated like a punctured balloon.

Ye Ci glanced at him silently, clenched his fists, and said in a voice that was not loud, but could be heard by all the students present: “He is my husband.”

“……Ah?” Cheng Xiao slowly opened his mouth wide. His jaw almost unhinged in shock.

“Aaaaaaah!”

The little Omegas stomped their feet and made a racket.

In fact, some time ago, a few well-informed students had passed on some of Ye Ci’s family affairs, saying that he was actually the third eldest grandson of the Chu family, with his mother’s surname. As for further gossip, since Ye Ci had long stopped dealing with the Chu family and the Huo family had always kept a low profile, even the marriage of the family head had been kept secret and no one was able to find out.

It was inconvenient to ask about other people’s family affairs directly. Besides, these little Omegas who were close to Ye Ci hadn’t befriended him because of his family background. Gossip was not always accurate, so nobody took heed of what others had to say, and didn’t pay attention to it.

This time, it was almost like being struck with a hammer. It was unlikely that the head of the Huo family would marry an ordinary person with no background.

Of course, that wasn’t important. The important thing was –

“Xiao Ci is married?!”

“Wuwuwu, I was bent because of him. Wow, I feel like the boss is staring at me, I’m joking, I’m a straight Omega……”

“How come you never told us!”

“When did this happen? Last Spring Festival, my parents took me to the Huo family’s house to give New Year’s greetings, and I didn’t see you at that time. No, you were underage at that time……”

“……..”

Everyone chattered continuously.

With Ye Ci’s communication skills, he would have to grow ten more mouths to deal with these little Omegas. Thankfully, Huo Tinglan had already stepped into the gymnasium gracefully and looked over at him with a smile on his lips. 

It would be too embarrassing to gossip in front of others, so the little Omegas kept silent and pulled Ye Ci to shoot ball. However, all of them had an excited gleam in their eyes. There was no more he could teach them, but Ye Ci taught perfunctory for ten minutes and announced their dismissal on the spot, letting them practice freely. Then he left the venue with Huo Tinglan under the teasing eyes of his classmates.

The car was parked across from the school gate, and Ye Ci obediently followed behind Huo Tinglan, tightly holding his breath.

Walking to the car, Huo Tinglan sat in the back seat as usual.

The driver didn’t get out of the car, and he opened the door by himself. Ye Ci was ill at ease, but he didn’t sense any abnormalities. He assumed that since Uncle Zhang had gone back to his hometown to run some errands, Huo Tinglan had temporarily changed to another driver who was not as proficient in the business. He also sat in the back seat.

As soon as he sat inside, he found that the driver’s seat was empty.

Ye Ci licked his lower lip: “……Where’s the driver?”

Huo Tinglan smiled: “Without a driver, I took the rare opportunity to pick you up. I drove today.”

“……” There was a moment of silence.

“Then why, why did you sit in the back seat?”

The fragrance of tequila was getting stronger, and Ye Ci had a bad feeling. He went numb all the way to his tailbone and almost followed his instinct to escape by opening the door and jumping out of the car.

“I’m getting old,” Huo Tinglan said calmly. “I can’t turn the steering wheel anymore.”

Ye Ci: “…….”

Was this not him playing the scoundrel?

It was a pity that the dignified formula one racer in the previous life was now broken down on the side of the road because of his lack of a driver’s license, unable to move an inch.

“You, how old are you, you’re only thirty, your life is just beginning……” Ye Ci clumsily coaxed that vat of vinegar. “Even Cheng Xiao can’t compare to you.”

Huo Tinglan flexed and clenched his fingers, and said with a smile: “It seems that I have a little strength.”

Huo Tinglan: “Continue.”

Ye Ci: “……”

That was all there was to say.

Ye Ci blushed. The window shades of the car were drawn, it was dark outside, and there was no one on the road……

It was absolutely safe!

Ye Ci felt relieved, and leaned forward to honestly kiss Huo Tinglan’s cheek and thin lips. While kissing, he softly asked: “Huo-shushu, do, do you have the strength now?”

“It’s a little better,” Huo Tinglan said in a low voice. “Kiss me a little more?”

“……”

After an hour:

Huo Tinglan returned to the driver’s seat and started the car.

The window was open a small crack for ventilation, and the summer wind outside was clean, with the smell of fresh, moist vegetation.

But it couldn’t hide the sweet and fishy scent inside the car……

It was inconvenient for Ye Ci to get out of the car, so he simply remained in the back seat. There was no one in the passenger seat, just a pile of laundry waiting to be washed.

A blue and white shirt, trousers, white cotton socks, a school uniform tie.

They were all dirty and sticky with sweat, unable to be worn anymore.

The only thing still clean was a pair of sneakers.

“Don’t get out of the car when we get home,” Huo Tinglan said leisurely. “I’ll go get something for you to wear first.”

“……”

Ye Ci was so embarrassed and indignant that he didn’t want to reply.

Did it need to be said?

Who was the one who couldn’t get out?!

“Did you hear me?” While waiting at a red light, Huo Tinglan turned to look at him.

“Don’t, don’t look back, just focus on the light……” Ye Ci curled up into a ball, hugging his schoolbag. Above the pair of clean white sneakers were distinct ankle bones, tight calves, knees……

“I heard you, turn back around!” 

He was so embarrassed that he wanted to slam his head on the back of the car seat and die.

He could never, ever let Huo-shushu get jealous again! ! !

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Extra One: Sports Competition << Table of Contents >> Extra Three: Sports Competition