The Emperor Reads Storybooks Hidden in His Official Reports 32

Chapter 32: The Wild Man and the Main Wife

Two bowls of sour plum soup arrived. Zhao Linxu took one with a blank expression and began to slurp it down with his head lowered.

Wan Yunliu’s appearance had stirred up some unpleasant memories for Li Jianyu. There had originally been a faint sense of disappointment in his heart, but looking at Zhao Linxu, he inexplicably felt… guilty? And because of this, those negative emotions strangely disappeared.

“Jianyu… were you angry that I left without saying goodbye back then?” Wan Yunliu took Li Jianyu’s hand. “I had my reasons for doing that.”

Clang—!

Li Jianyu and Wan Yunliu were startled by the loud noise. They turned their heads and saw Zhao Linxu putting down his empty bowl very, very forcefully, the bottom of the bowl colliding with the tabletop.

Zhao Linxu then refilled his own teacup, blinked, and looked at the two of them in confusion, as if asking why they were looking at him.

Li Jianyu subconsciously pulled his hand back quickly, paused, and frowned. “Why would I be angry?”

Wan Yunliu was choked by this sentence and was at a loss for words.

“You’ve come back. As a friend, I’m naturally happy. How could I be angry? I heard from City Lord Hua that you went to the Arrogant Dragon Gang and made a name for yourself, becoming their top disciple and the next leader of the Wulin Alliance. I imagine Uncle Wan will be very happy too.”

Wan Yunliu stared blankly at Li Jianyu, as if trying to discern if he was lying. His heart was filled with uncertainty and apprehension. He was a little glad that Li Jianyu wasn’t angry, but also disappointed that he wasn’t angry. A mix of emotions.

Clang—!

Zhao Linxu put down his teacup very, very forcefully.

Li Jianyu blinked. What was wrong now? Didn’t he say they were friends?

Uncle Wan? Uncle Wan? Zhao Linxu thought. From the sound of it, are Wan Yunliu and Li Jianyu childhood sweethearts? The kind who grew up together?

“And who is this brother?” Wan Yunliu’s gaze had been glued to Li Jianyu before, so he hadn’t noticed. Now he finally paid attention to Zhao Linxu and frowned with concern. “Are your hands and feet not very flexible?”

After all, Wan Yunliu had been chosen by the various sects of the jianghu as the successor to the Wulin Alliance leader. He was naturally magnanimous and of good character, so this was not sarcasm, but a genuine thought.

Zhao Linxu: “…”

“He’s my friend.” Seeing Zhao Linxu’s stifled expression, Li Jianyu tried hard to hold back his laughter.

Zhao Linxu took a deep breath, smiled, and placed the sour plum soup in front of Li Jianyu. “Hurry up and drink. After you’re done, I’ll take you for a stroll by the river.”

Wan Yunliu keenly sensed something. His eyes narrowed slightly, darting between Zhao Linxu and Li Jianyu.

Something was wrong, something was wrong.

Wan Yunliu looked at Li Jianyu, and his heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice cave. He had never seen Li Jianyu look at someone like this, treat someone like this.

It wasn’t that Li Jianyu was particularly enthusiastic towards Zhao Linxu, but…

Wan Yunliu felt a tightness in his chest. He smiled, cupped his fists, and said, “I’ll go back to the Wan manor first. I’ll formally visit the City Lord’s manor tomorrow.”

After Wan Yunliu left, Zhao Linxu looked at Li Jianyu, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Li Jianyu imitated Zhao Linxu’s earlier behavior, lowering his head to drink his soup, turning a deaf ear to his surroundings.

“Little Carp…”

“Hmm?” Li Jianyu looked up.

“Who was that person?” Zhao Linxu smiled, pretending to ask casually. “So you even know the Wulin Alliance leader.”

“An old acquaintance.”

“You’re very close?”

“So-so.”

Zhao Linxu couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Nonsense. You’re obviously very close. You called his name when you were drunk before.”

“…”

Li Jianyu almost choked, not sure if it was from the sour plum soup or the sourness coming off the person opposite him.

“You heard me call his name?”

Zhao Linxu said, “You mentioned someone, and the resentment was very strong.”

“It wasn’t him,” Li Jianyu reassured.

“…There’s another one?!” Zhao Linxu was about to collapse. How many were there!

Li Jianyu: “…”

Li Jianyu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Honestly, he would never call Wan Yunliu’s name when he was drunk. The person Zhao Linxu was talking about was probably the one from his past life…

Li Jianyu drank the last sip of his sour plum soup.

It had been so long. If you really thought about it, it was a matter of a past life. There was nothing worth holding onto. It was just that that person had taught him many things.

And Wan Yunliu… Li Jianyu had always resisted his uncle’s arranged marriages since he was a child, but Wan Yunliu had been pestering him relentlessly, taking advantage of their families’ long-standing friendship to constantly hover around him. A person’s heart is not made of stone. It was impossible for Li Jianyu not to be moved, and he had even considered giving it a try.

But as the two of them grew up, Wan Yunliu had suddenly left without saying goodbye and gone to the Arrogant Dragon Gang.

Li Jianyu didn’t blame him. It was just that between a future career and himself, Wan Yunliu had considered the former to be more important. That was human nature. Li Jianyu didn’t want Wan Yunliu to do anything for him, because Li Jianyu couldn’t repay it, and wasn’t willing to.

“Answer me. How many lovers do you have?” Zhao Linxu was still pestering him.

“How many lovers I have is none of your business,” Li Jianyu said, putting down his bowl. “Let’s go.”

“No. If you don’t tell me, we’ll sit here all night.”

The street was bustling with people, and the sour plum soup at this stall was particularly delicious. It was refreshing after a full meal, whetted the appetite before one, and was especially invigorating after a long walk. So, many people were queuing up to buy it, and there weren’t many seats.

Li Jianyu smiled. “You should give up your seat for others. You’re still sitting here after you’ve finished. Have you no shame?”

“I am the Emperor. The Emperor does not give up his seat for the commoners. He sits wherever he wants.” Zhao Linxu puffed out his chest proudly.

…You idiot.

Li Jianyu ignored him and stood up to leave.

Zhao Linxu followed him without any backbone.

The two of them were originally walking along the river, but when they saw a few small boats tied to the bank, Zhao Linxu pulled Li Jianyu onto one.

The night grew deeper, and there were few people by the river to begin with. As the two of them sat in the small boat floating alone on the river, it naturally felt even quieter.

A cool breeze gently blew. Li Jianyu turned his head and saw the twinkling river of stars in the sky and the dim lights on the shore.

Zhao Linxu rowed the small boat to the middle of the river, lay down, and pillowed his head on his arm. He smiled. “It’s cool and beautiful here.”

Li Jianyu also liked it very much. It was quiet, with no one else around.

“Why is Your Majesty in such a good mood today?”

“Because today is a special day,” Zhao Linxu said with a wink.

Li Jianyu was stunned.

A special day? Li Jianyu thought for a moment and suddenly realized something.

Bang—

Bang, bang—

Before Li Jianyu could ask, a huge firework suddenly exploded in the sky, dazzling and brilliant.

Then, the monotonous night sky was like a pot that had exploded, one after another, making it impossible to take it all in. The fireworks dyed the night sky with color, and the people by the river all stopped to watch.

First, small fireworks bloomed one after another, then there was a moment of silence, followed by a huge firework that almost lit up half the sky.

Li Jianyu blinked. After the golden sparks spread out, they formed a phoenix with its wings spread, crying out. The phoenix slowly flapped its wings with the movement of the fireworks, lifelike.

Li Jianyu was watching the fireworks, but Zhao Linxu was watching his side profile, which was illuminated by the flickering lights. He smiled. “I asked Meng Qingshu. He said today is your birthday.”

Li Jianyu’s body stiffened.

“Did you set off these fireworks?”

“Because I didn’t know what to give you,” Zhao Linxu said, scratching the back of his head. “So I just gave you a surprise. I asked Ah Xue, and she said it was good.”

Li Jianyu stared blankly at Zhao Linxu.

Zhao Linxu actually…

Li Jianyu felt a sourness in his heart. The sourness rose up and filled his eyes.

“Do you like it?” Zhao Linxu sat up, like a child asking for praise.

Li Jianyu covered his eyes and smiled, not answering Zhao Linxu’s question.

He didn’t know if Zhao Linxu had just done it on a whim, or if he had really thought about it carefully before choosing this. But for him, it was not just fireworks.

In his past life, that person had promised that Li Jianyu’s birthday happened to coincide with Disney’s fireworks show, so he would take him to Disney to see the fireworks. But because of work, he had never had a chance to fulfill it. Later, Li Jianyu found out that it wasn’t because of work. If he had really wanted to, how could he not have found the time? And after coming here, he had never celebrated his birthday again.

He had never expected that his first birthday here would fulfill that promise he had almost forgotten.

“Thank you, Linxu.”

Zhao Linxu’s eyes widened.

That name, how did it sound so… special coming from Beauty’s lips.

Zhao Linxu felt as if his heart were being scratched by a cat’s paw.

“Hey…!”

Li Jianyu was caught off guard and pushed down by Zhao Linxu. He stared with wide eyes at the big wolf-dog hovering over him.

The small boat swayed, creating ripples on the surface of the river.

“Little Carp, you still haven’t answered me. Do you like tonight’s gift?” Zhao Linxu’s voice was very soft.

Li Jianyu lay in the small boat, his body enveloped in the shadow cast by Zhao Linxu, completely enclosed in the big wolf-dog’s territory.

Li Jianyu turned his head away.

The big wolf-dog leaned down slightly, and the overwhelming sense of pressure made it a little difficult for Li Jianyu to bear. He pouted. “I like it.”

The big wolf-dog with ulterior motives then pushed his luck, leaning close to Li Jianyu’s ear and smiling. “Then I want Little Carp to repay me.”

Li Jianyu was stunned. He reached out to push Zhao Linxu away, but his wrist was caught. Then, Zhao Linxu turned his head and kissed Li Jianyu’s cheek.

!?

The night sky was still filled with white smoke that had not been blown away by the wind, making it look a little hazy.

Zhao Linxu’s kiss was like a dragonfly skimming the water, light and fast. By the time Li Jianyu reacted, Zhao Linxu had already sat up.

Li Jianyu was like a wooden sculpture, his two eyes staring at Zhao Linxu, feeling like he was about to explode on the spot.

That bastard, Zhao Linxu!

Zhao Linxu, as if nothing had happened, straightened his collar.

Li Jianyu took a few deep breaths, told himself several times to be rational, that it was not good to throw someone off the boat in the cold, and finally managed to squeeze out two words.

“Go back.”

“Alright,” Zhao Linxu said with a grin.

Li Jianyu’s heart was a mess.

What was this?

Was Zhao Linxu flirting with him?

Or was he just being sentimental? Was Zhao Linxu originally such a frivolous and playful person?

Zhao Linxu was an emperor, but even if he wasn’t, an ordinary person wouldn’t be so fixated on a one-night stand whose face they didn’t even know, let alone a one-night stand who had clearly rejected him.

Li Jianyu pouted.

He understood all the reasoning, but Zhao Linxu didn’t know that he was the person from that night, yet he was flirting with him like this, which made Li Jianyu feel strangely depressed.

This fickle man.

Li Jianyu’s face was cold, but his heart was grumbling. He didn’t know that at this moment, he was jealous of himself.

And Zhao Linxu, who was rowing the small boat towards the shore, had no idea of the twists and turns in Li Jianyu’s heart. He just happily rowed back.

But Zhao Linxu’s good mood did not last long.

The next day, when Zhao Linxu saw the matchmaker from the Wan manor, with various colorful betrothal gifts, sitting in the main hall waiting, his whole person was not well.