Chapter 22 Part 2

Ge Dongchen simply smiled. “Alright, I’m teasing you. Let’s go. We’ll go to Yunji’s place to take a look at your back. I heard the sound of them hitting you on the road, and it was like muffled thunder. I’m afraid you might be injured without even realizing it.”

He was so “righteous and kind” that Gu Xiaodeng felt even more indebted.

Treading on the moonlight, they soon arrived outside Guan Yunji’s cottage. The page was puzzled to see the two of them and was about to go inside to announce their arrival. Ge Dongchen directly stepped forward, pushed the door open, and entered. “Eldest Young Master Guan, I’m back again.”

Inside, Guan Yunji was drinking water and reading a book. Without looking up, he scoffed, “Old Master Ge, didn’t you just leave a quarter of an hour ago?”

Gu Xiaodeng poked his head out from behind Ge Dongchen. “Young Brother Guan, good evening.”

Guan Yunji abruptly looked up. He nearly spat out the water in his mouth and choked on that mouthful of warm, boiled water.

“You? You!” Guan Yunji pointed left and right while coughing, his tongue tied in knots.

Ge Dongchen, acting more like the host than the guest, beckoned the page over to take Gu Xiaodeng to the inner room to examine his back injury. Gu Xiaodeng hesitated, pointing at Guan Yunji. “Is he alright?”

Ge Dongchen pushed him into the inner room. “Don’t mind him. He’s admired Su Mingya for a long time. He’s imitating Su Mingya’s cough.”

Both Gu Xiaodeng and Guan Yunji were dumbfounded.

Guan Yunji chased after them, coughing angrily. Ge Dongchen shoved Gu Xiaodeng into the room, shut the door behind him, and locked the Eldest Young Master Guan out.

Eldest Young Master Guan’s nose was bent out of shape with fury. This was clearly his territory, yet he had to stifle his anger and press his ear against the door just to hear a few snippets of the conversation inside.

“Just loosen your belt. I’ll only look at your back. Half-undressed is enough.”

“There’s a round mark on your lower back. Someone probably kneed you there. Does it hurt? Apply some medicine even if it doesn’t.”

The rustling sounds of conversation passed like the wind. Guan Yunji hadn’t even finished coughing when the door opened again. Ge Dongchen came out with a faint, ambiguous smile. “Is Young Master Guan’s impersonation act not over yet?”

“Keep spouting nonsense, and I’ll cut out your tongue to go with my wine!” Guan Yunji cursed at him, then noticed the injury on Ge Dongchen’s left cheek. “How did you get that scratch on your face?”

Gu Xiaodeng poked his head out again. “Ah… I accidentally hit him. I’m sorry for troubling you both.”

Seeing him, Guan Yunji immediately put on a fierce face. “Did I say I would speak to a low-class person like you?”

Ge Dongchen laughed and pulled Gu Xiaodeng out. “Alright, it’s all fine. It’s late. Let’s all go back to our own rooms.”

He reminded Gu Xiaodeng to carefully check his legs again when he got back. Gu Xiaodeng felt warmth in his heart listening to this. When pushed to the doorway, he suddenly clung to the threshold and refused to leave.

“What’s wrong?”

“Can I stay and visit for a bit?” Gu Xiaodeng turned his head and looked at Guan Yunji longingly. “I want to find someone to chat with. I don’t want to be alone.”

Guan Yunji’s heart skipped a beat. His face felt hot, his hands cold. He was about to sternly refuse him entry when Ge Dongchen smiled, draped an arm over his shoulder, and walked back in. “Sure, what do you want to talk about? Young Master Guan, we’re borrowing a spot to sit. If you don’t like it, you can go to the inner room.”

Guan Yunji: “…”

He turned his head and plopped loudly back into his chair. Somewhat flustered and exasperated, he slapped the book on the table, indicating that he was the master of this house.

Ge Dongchen pressed Gu Xiaodeng into the seat opposite Guan Yunji. At first, Gu Xiaodeng was a bit embarrassed, but soon he relaxed.

He looked at the two people sharing the table with him, his two index fingers circling each other. He simply smiled happily.

No matter what, on his birthday night, he had companions. Although one of these two was usually unapproachable, and the other couldn’t be approached, having someone to sit and chat idly with was better than being alone in a daze.

“Didn’t you want to chat?” Ge Dongchen rested his face on his hand and looked at him with a smile. “Were you traumatized by that group’s beating tonight? Come on, say whatever you want. Do you want revenge, or what?”

Guan Yunji, from the side, asked about the whole story. When he heard the details, his expression became very strange.

He didn’t know how to evaluate it. Gu Xiaodeng had this encounter, and wasn’t the root cause Ge Dongchen’s deliberate mischief? It was he who said he disliked Gu Xiaodeng and wanted him to run into walls everywhere at Vast Marsh Academy. But now, observing his words and expression, he was clearly taking the initiative to give Gu Xiaodeng backing. What kind of act was this?

“I’m not traumatized. I’ll just find whoever hit me in class tomorrow.” Gu Xiaodeng didn’t really care about that incident. He poked his two index fingers together and tilted his head. “You two, today is the Fourth Young Master Jinyu’s birthday. Why aren’t you over at his place?”

“We went to congratulate him in advance yesterday. He just got back, so he’s bound to be busiest today. We didn’t want to take up his time.” Ge Dongchen smiled and answered every question. “Why do you bring this up? Do you want to go to Jinyu’s birthday banquet? The banquet at this hour is certainly dull, filled with a bunch of high-ranking old fellows. It’s better not to go.”

Gu Xiaodeng nodded. He hesitated for a moment, then chuckled. “Wish him a happy birthday.”

Although Ge Dongchen didn’t understand why, he smiled and nodded. “Alright, I wish him a happy birthday.”

Gu Xiaodeng visibly brightened. His identity couldn’t be revealed, so naturally, his birthday couldn’t be celebrated. But it didn’t matter. Gu Jinyu and he were one, in light and shadow. Hearing others wish Jinyu well now was like congratulating himself.

He transferred his happiness like this and managed to cheer himself up.

Guan Yunji couldn’t get a word in edgewise. He forced his way in stiffly. “Wait, Gu Shanqing, what are you grinning foolishly about? What status does Jinyu have? Does he need a lowlife like you to be happy for him? You look like a drunk fool.”

Gu Xiaodeng clasped his hands together, sitting upright and proper, propping himself on the desk. He smiled happily. “I’ve never had alcohol. I’m still young. I don’t touch it.”

Ge Dongchen leaned in. “Want to try some? I started drinking when I was even younger than you.”

Gu Xiaodeng began to consider it seriously but couldn’t weigh the pros and cons. The person beside him smiled and tempted him further. “Even though you’re a distant relative, you’re still a young master of the Gu family. Sooner or later, you’ll have to raise a glass with others. The Gu family doesn’t teach you, so how about I teach you?”

Perhaps it was the night air muddling his head, perhaps the novelty of tasting the unknown, or perhaps the emptiness in his heart wanting to be filled by something external. Gu Xiaodeng stared blankly for a moment, then nodded and agreed.

No one knew how things progressed to this state. Guan Yunji’s desk, usually used for reading and writing, was turned into a wine table. Three small cups, one small red clay stove, a pour of green plum wine. Three hands gathered, three sounds of cups clinking.

Guan Yunji’s face was full of disdain. He swirled his wine cup and grumbled incessantly. “This young master is truly lowering himself, making friends for no reason with a bumpkin like you. If word gets out, people will laugh their heads off. Gu Shanqing, remember this: you are not to breathe a word of tonight’s events. Let it rot in your belly, take root, and sprout.”

“Alright, alright.” Gu Xiaodeng nodded with a soft smile, growing increasingly tipsy. “But Young Brother Guan, one thing you said isn’t quite right. Letting it rot in your belly is enough. Why does it need to take root and sprout?”

“Mind your own business!”

“Fine, fine, I won’t.”

“Eldest Young Master Guan has his sights set high. Xiaodeng, don’t drink with him. Drink with me.” Ge Dongchen raised his cup to clink against Gu Xiaodeng’s. “So, how is it? The taste of wine isn’t bad, is it?”

Gu Xiaodeng clinked his cup back loudly. “You two worthy brothers brew it well. To me, it just tastes sweet!”

“I’ll take you to try more fun things in the future. What do you say?”

Gu Xiaodeng, drunk, became sly. “Who knows what the future holds? We’ll talk about it if fate allows, and say goodbye if it doesn’t!”

Ge Dongchen laughed twice. He wanted to coax more heartfelt words out of him, but Gu Xiaodeng’s mouth was tight. He didn’t reveal half a word about family matters. When his mind was unclear, he held up his empty cup, swayed his head, and began to sing a melodious little tune. It was light and airy. Though clearly a sad, plaintive song, he sang it in a cheerful manner.

The song swayed to an end. Gu Xiaodeng leaned back. Guan Yunji caught the cup that slipped from his hand. Ge Dongchen, sitting close, caught him with one arm.

Guan Yunji glanced at the exposed curve of Gu Xiaodeng’s neck, then quickly looked away with disdain. “Low-class people have terrible alcohol tolerance. Be careful he doesn’t throw up all over you.”

“Surely not?” Ge Dongchen pinched his chin and shook it gently. “He’s still smiling. Even drunk, he still has this spirit.”

Guan Yunji gathered the cups. “Alright, I’ll have a page fetch his servant and take him back later. Tonight has been absolute madness, so muddle-headed…”

Ge Dongchen still didn’t let go. He studied him, gently stroking. “He has double earholes. I recall your cousin, that Second Prince, seems to have this same hobby.”

“Hey, no presumptuous discussion or speculation about the imperial family’s preferences, even if he is my cousin.” Having said that, Guan Yunji couldn’t help but bring up something he’d recently inquired about. “I used to think the same, but last month during the Qingming Festival, I shared a meal with the Second Prince. We chatted idly, and I brought this up. In high spirits from the wine, he said that this hobby was first the Crown Princess’s. He only picked up the taste after copying her…”

As he spoke, Guan Yunji slapped his own mouth. “Damn it, I’m drunk. I’m talking nonsense.”

“I heard nothing.” Ge Dongchen cooperated. “So I know nothing at all. Rest assured.”

Guan Yunji grunted in response and rubbed his brows. After rubbing, he looked up, about to call for the page. But he suddenly saw a scene before him that struck like a bolt from the blue.

Ge Dongchen leaned down and kissed Gu Xiaodeng.

Guan Yunji was completely petrified. He had never been so shocked in his life. His heartbeat seemed to stop.

Silence reigned all around. Guan Yunji felt as if he were in a dream, staring blankly as Ge Dongchen cupped the back of Gu Xiaodeng’s head with one hand and pinned his wrist to the edge of the table with the other. He leaned in calmly, as if mesmerized, and devoted himself to the act.

Gu Xiaodeng, the little runt who was usually so animated and flamboyantly unrestrained, was sleeping soundly, gentle and obedient. No thorns, only a faint fragrance.

Ge Dongchen savored the fine wine like this for a long, long time.

No one knew if a mere snap of the fingers had passed, or an eternity. A crackling sound suddenly came from the remaining embers of charcoal in the small red clay stove. Guan Yunji woke as if from a dream. Blood rushed to his face. He leaped onto the tabletop, furiously pulling the two drunken figures apart.

He didn’t dare look at Gu Xiaodeng’s sleeping face, much less his lips. He could only grab Ge Dongchen’s collar and curse. “Have you gone mad?! Do you think I’m dead?! There are servant concubines all over Changluo! Can’t you find one yourself?!”

Ge Dongchen stared blankly, expressionless, for a moment. He blinked slowly, and his pupils instantly changed to an emerald color.

On the other side, Gu Xiaodeng had toppled onto the desk. His head hit the wood with a thud. He held his head, smacked his lips, and mumbled.

Ge Dongchen came back to his senses. He raised a hand to cover his eyes, inhaling sharply.

Guan Yunji pushed him away and jumped off the desk, also drawing in a cold breath and covering his face. He wished he could dig a hole right there on the spot and jump in.