Chapter 30 Part 2

Seventeen-year-old Gu Jinyu sat quietly in the chair. When Gu Xiaodeng had seen him during New Year, his hair had still reached the middle of his back. Now it was short again. Who knew what mission had nearly hurt him this time? Over the past few years, half companion-in-study and half Royal Guard, he had taken on more and more duties—busier, more challenging, and more dangerous by the day.

That said, Gu Xiaodeng did quite like the way Gu Jinyu looked with his hair tied up in a high, short ponytail. It gave him a heavier air of youthful spirit, a uniquely distinctive aura that was hard to look away from.

“Mm.”

Gu Jinyu raised his face, his hands hanging down. The left side of his face was smudged with dust from who-knew-where, and his brows and eyes were flecked with rain. Disheveled and silent, the state he was in only made his features appear exceptionally handsome.

As the years passed, Gu Jinyu had shot up like a bamboo stalk. Standing together now, Gu Xiaodeng still looked youthfully spirited, while Gu Jinyu already seemed deep and poised, as steady as a mountain.

Gu Jinyu’s temperament was also odd—a bit like the Third Brother, the Heir—Gu Pinghan—from Gu Xiaodeng’s memories, but only a bit. Gu Jinyu was unlike anyone else. His emotions were always very steady—steady in his drive, or steady in his dejection.

Right now, he was cold, indifferent, dejected, and wasted. Melancholy and gloomy. And yet this half-dead-looking guy shouldered the most court duties among their generation, getting swept up in responsibilities ahead of everyone else. It was said that outside, he was the most spirited, sharp-edged representative of the younger crowd. No one knew that as soon as he returned to the Gu family—returned to Gu Xiaodeng’s side—he turned into this boneless mess.

There were many fractured aspects to Gu Jinyu. Sometimes Gu Xiaodeng felt he was drowning, dark and damp like water; other times, he felt he was basking under sunlight, bright and scorching.

All in all, he was Gu Xiaodeng’s remarkable good brother who could do anything and would do anything.

After his adoptive brother left, his need for brotherly affection had unconsciously shifted to Gu Jinyu over the years. He thought that Gu Jinyu might not feel the same way, but for him, over these years, he had indeed developed a bond of mutual dependence with this brother born in the same year, on the same month, and on the same day.

“Whoa! Bro, you’re filthy.” Gu Xiaodeng, seeing his messy face, was both speechless and a little pained. “If you suddenly come home, then come home. Why not clean yourself up properly? You’re really wasting this face!”

“Mm.”

Gu Xiaodeng laughed, speechless. Feng’en brought hot water and a towel. Seeing Gu Jinyu’s listless state, Gu Xiaodeng felt sorry for him after all, so he took the towel to wipe his face clean.

“Here, I’ll wipe your face for you.”

“…Alright.”

Gu Jinyu looked up at him seriously, with the dying expression of someone who might collapse into Gu Xiaodeng’s arms any second.

You could beat Gu Xiaodeng to death and he still wouldn’t guess that this foolish look of his was an act of playing coy.

The two of them were, unmistakably, one pale, slender Snow Maiden and one rough, tall Dirty Bun.

“Why did you come running over to see me so late at night?” Having finished his task, Gu Xiaodeng pulled up a chair and sat down beside him. He was used to Gu Jinyu’s unpredictable, stealthy visits, and was always both delighted and annoyed whenever he showed up.

He reached out and scooped Blossom Ashes the Gyrfalcon onto his lap to pet and pat. Gu Jinyu looked down at the big bird, a trace of envy in his eyes.

“I…”

When Gu Xiaodeng got chatty, he had a million questions. He crackled off a rapid-fire volley of them before the other could answer, laughing as he asked about this and that. “Are you and Second Sister going to the Su family’s place tomorrow? Can you secretly tell me what birthday gift the Gu family prepared for Young Master Su? And another thing, I noticed it the moment you came in! What are you hiding in your lapels, all bulging and lumpy? Don’t tell me it’s your massive pectoral muscles, boy.”

He finished asking in one breathless burst, hugging Blossom Ashes and laughing to himself. Then he heard Gu Jinyu’s slow, deliberate, explosive reply.

“I brought my child to see you.” Gu Jinyu was completely serious, his words shocking beyond belief. “Let you see your little nephew.”

Gu Xiaodeng froze for a second, then burst into uncontrollable laughter, hugging Blossom Ashes close. “No way! Are you bringing out this joke again to watch me laugh myself into a cramp? Fine, fine, fine! Hurry up and take out your child. And who’s the child’s mother?”

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinyu raised his eyes to look at him. He reached out, pried away the Blossom Ashes that Gu Xiaodeng was hugging, and flipped his hand to clasp Gu Xiaodeng’s, pulling it into his embrace.

Gu Xiaodeng laughed heartily. Naturally, he followed the movement and felt around—first touching the well-exercised pectoral muscles that Gu Jinyu had honed from martial arts, and then touching a furry, soft little thing.

It seemed to really be a genuine puppy!

“What’s this!” Gu Xiaodeng was first shocked, then delighted. Thrilled, he continued to feel around, inadvertently groping all over the other’s chest in the process.

Gu Jinyu looked down. He had originally intended to present the gift openly, but then quietly hid the little creature in his arms again, faintly thrusting his chest forward to offer it up.

Not long after touching, Gu Xiaodeng heard a tender “awoo” sound, and his eyes instantly lit up. “Ah—”

Gu Jinyu then opened his lapels to show him. It was indeed a soft, fuzzy little dog.

The tiny creature was black and white—its eyes, ears, and nose all black, its small body and tail half black and half white. What was amusing was that all four paws were black up to a certain point, looking as if it were wearing two pairs of black gloves.

The puppy was only as big as Gu Jinyu’s palm, full of life as it yipped at Gu Xiaodeng, its black eyes glossy and bright, looking at him with a shiny gaze.

Gu Jinyu was also looking at him in the same way at that moment.

Gu Xiaodeng’s attention was completely absorbed by the puppy. He had already forgotten about the Gyrfalcon on the windowsill, which was flapping its wings in indignation.

He was so overcome with fondness he didn’t know where to start. His hands gestured in the air, not daring to touch carelessly or too heavily. “Senqing! Senqing! Where did you get this little dog? I thought you were lying to me—I can’t believe you actually have a dog-son!”

“You hold it. It’s not fragile. No need to be so careful.” Gu Jinyu handed the puppy to him. Gu Xiaodeng carefully cupped it in both hands, and only then did Gu Jinyu smile, the dark gloom between his brows sweeping away completely.

“Sent from the Northern Border this year. I just earned some merit and was allowed a reward. I looked around and chose this one. They say it’s a herding dog from the Northern Border—very smart and obedient.”

Gu Jinyu stroked the pup. “When I brought this dog-son back, I was so happy I didn’t think much of it. Later, I realized I might not always be able to look after it, so I brought it here to you. Xiaodeng, can you help me raise it?”

Gu Xiaodeng carefully cradled the puppy that was licking the palm of his right hand, hesitating for a moment as he listened. Just then, the puppy eagerly snuggled hard against his finger pads. So tiny, so weak, helpless, and pitiful—as if it, too, was asking for help. Gu Xiaodeng’s heart melted and grew warm, and with an exclamation of agreement, he accepted.

He looked at the little dog, then gave it a full stroke from head to tail, and said happily: “My nephew!”

Gu Jinyu lowered his eyes to watch his hand, feeling as if he himself were the one being stroked from head to tail.

Gu Xiaodeng was overjoyed. “Senqing! Senqing! Have you picked a name for your son yet?”

He gently moved the puppy toward Gu Jinyu’s hand, so their hands were both cupping it together. Gu Jinyu’s hand was large; his five fingers could cover the entire puppy, his fingertips sweeping down to touch Gu Xiaodeng’s, resting there as lightly as dragonflies skimming the water’s surface.

Gu Jinyu shook his head. Tonight, he was delivering a living little bond, gradually and slowly deepening the connection between the two of them.

One day, the bond between him and him would surpass the shallow sentiments he shared with others.

“No. I haven’t thought of one yet. You pick, Xiaodeng?” Gu Jinyu smiled softly. “After all, you’re a genius at naming things.”

“Alright, alright, let me think of a name for my nephew. It’s black and white.” Gu Xiaodeng was utterly charmed by the puppy’s watery eyes. He thought for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Black and white—how about we call it Xiao Pei?”

A smile once again surfaced on Gu Jinyu’s jade-carved face. He laughed so his shoulders shook, his palm gently rubbing the little dog as he straightforwardly and happily accepted it. “Xiao Pei.”

A good name.

Absolutely delighted.

Gu Xiaodeng was immensely fond of it and cheerfully called the name out too, calling it so fast it almost sounded like spitting.

T/N: (“Pei” (呸) is an onomatopoeia for spitting or expressing lighthearted disdain/pooh-poohing (similar to “Bah!” or “Pah!”).)

The two of them repeated the name who-knows-how-many times. The black-and-white puppy cleverly responded: “Woof!”

Standing before him, Gu Jinyu’s lips and tongue suddenly moved, and he naturally responded in turn: “Woof.”

Gu Xiaodeng was first stunned, then doubled over in laughter.

He held up the black-and-white puppy, waving its little paw at Gu Jinyu, laughing so hard he couldn’t find north. “Why are you following its lead? The son is a doggy, so the father’s turned into a dog too?”

Gu Jinyu said calmly, “I’m worse than a dog.”

Gu Xiaodeng instantly erupted in another fit of laughter. After laughing for a good long while, he suddenly felt a pang of sorrow. Freeing one hand, he patted Gu Jinyu’s head—holding a little dog in his left hand and a big dog under his right hand. “Xiao Pei’s daddy, be happy, okay.”

Gu Jinyu truly was like a big dog. He lifted his head and rubbed it against Gu Xiaodeng’s palm, calmly speaking some bright words: “When I’m with Xiao Pei’s uncle, there’s never a moment of unhappiness.”

A jar of candies melted in Gu Xiaodeng’s heart. He decided to vigorously ruffle the other’s hair, mussing his already messy locks into an even more exaggerated state. The big dog under his palm didn’t take offense; instead, it seemed to become more human with every increase in Gu Xiaodeng’s force.

Gu Xiaodeng held the puppy and talked with him for a long while. When he had laughed until the spring rain was about to stop, he pursed his lips and leaned closer. “Hey, brother, there’s something I want to ask you. Although I say I don’t believe it, I still find it absurd and hilarious…”

Gu Jinyu and Xiao Pei both tilted their heads to look at him in unison. “Mm?”

Gu Xiaodeng stroked the puppy and cleared his throat twice. “That… do you know the name Su Xiaoyuan?”

“I do.”

Gu Jinyu looked at him calmly—so calm it was as if there wasn’t a single trace of glee in his tone. “He is the servant concubine the Su family has arranged for Su Mingya.”

“I didn’t lie to you.”