Chapter 11
Lu Lin lowered his eyes.
Lu Mian looked up at him.
“Come back with me.” Lu Lin grabbed him and pulled him up.
Lu Mian was dragged along obediently, a silent, captive Five Turtle.
Wu Xingwen, recovering from the shock of hearing Lu Mian call himself Five Turtle, saw Lu Lin’s action and his eyes widened. “Stop! Stop it!”
“What are you doing?” Wu Xingwen angrily stepped forward, glaring at Lu Lin. How dare he grab Lu Mian like this? Even he hadn’t done that. “Let him go! I’ll do it!”
Lu Mian tilted his head. What was this person saying? It sounded familiar.
Lu Lin glanced at Wu Xingwen and was about to leave, pulling Lu Mian along.
“Stop!” Wu Xingwen was furious. “Where are you taking him?”
The servant from the Lu residence who had followed them replied, “Young Master Wu, our Madam instructed Eldest Young Master to bring Young Master back.”
Wu Xingwen was surprised. It was Madam Lu’s order. He looked at Lu Mian, who was being held by Lu Lin. “Lu-xiong? You’re going with him?” He could escort Lu-xiong back himself.
Lu Mian just moved his fingers slightly, but before he could answer, Lu Lin’s grip tightened. He looked at Lu Lin: OoO!
“What are you looking at?” Lu Lin whispered.
Lu Mian wiggled his fingers, and Lu Lin’s hand, holding his, swayed slightly with the movement.
Lu Lin lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on his face.
Lu Mian’s eyes were wide with shock.
He… he’s holding my hand!
Lu Mian’s pupils quaked.
Pervert!
He’s definitely a pervert!
Lu Mian quickly withdrew his hand.
The cool fingertips left his palm, the lingering warmth quickly dissipating. Lu Lin curled his fingers, his expression unreadable.
Seeing Lu Mian break free from his grasp, Wu Xingwen immediately stepped between them. “I’ll escort Lu-xiong back later. You can go.”
Lu Lin raised his eyelids, his gaze passing over him and landing on Lu Mian.
Lu Mian’s heart skipped a beat. But Lu Lin didn’t say anything, just turned and left the courtyard.
“At least he has some self-awareness,” Wu Xingwen snorted, then looked at Lu Mian, clearing his throat, trying to bridge the distance. “Um… Five Turtle, I’ll take you back to the residence.”
Lu Mian lowered his head, still thinking about why Lu Lin had suddenly left. Perhaps he had gone back to wash his hands. So he had wrongly accused him; Lu Lin didn’t really want to touch him.
Thinking this, Lu Mian waved at Wu Xingwen. “Going back! Bye bye!”
“Bye… bye?” Before Wu Xingwen could react, Lu Mian had already run off. “Uh… what? Lu-xiong! I’ll take you!”
Lu Mian had already run out of the courtyard and disappeared.
The carriage stopped in front of the Wu residence. Lu Lin came out alone. The servants sent by Tao Rouxuan exchanged glances. “Eldest Young Master… you’re alone?”
Madam’s attitude towards Eldest Young Master had improved recently, and even they, as servants, had become more respectful. Their question was tentative.
Lu Lin’s hand twitched at his side; his palm was empty, as if something had slipped through his fingers. He was about to speak when he heard a familiar sound of footsteps approaching from behind.
“Young Master, Young Master! Slow down!”
Lu Lin turned and saw Lu Mian dashing out of the residence towards him, like a warm sun breaking through the cold night, his figure filling Lu Lin’s eyes. Their gazes met, and in that silent exchange, Lu Mian smiled, his dimples appearing.
Lu Lin’s heart skipped a beat as the boy cheerfully said, “Let’s go home!”
After a moment, he nodded. “Mm.” He then turned and walked away, this time not reaching out to grab him.
Lu Mian wiggled his fingers. He had overreacted.
The two got into the carriage and returned to the Lu residence. Lu Mian habitually sprawled by the window, glancing at Lu Lin, who was resting with his eyes closed. He was silent; could it be that he was angry because he had pulled his hand away?
But he, Lu Mian, hadn’t gotten angry when he was treated with disdain.
Petty…
Lu Mian muttered inwardly. Just as he finished complaining, Lu Lin suddenly opened his eyes and looked at him. Lu Mian quickly turned his head away, then realized he had no reason to feel guilty, so he turned back and bared his teeth at him.
Lu Lin looked at him intently, his gaze making Lu Mian feel uneasy, as if he were back to the first day he arrived, when the other had looked at him with the same gaze, as if… wanting to devour him.
The tingling sensation on his scalp and back returned.
“Wh-what are you looking at!”
The boy’s eyes widened slightly as he spoke, looking apprehensive yet trying to appear calm. Lu Lin’s lips twitched, then he raised an eyebrow. “I can’t look?”
Lu Mian firmly replied, “No!”
Lu Lin said, “But I have eyes, and I want to look.”
Lu Mian’s eyes widened even further. He hadn’t expected the seemingly righteous villain to tease a fool. “No wanting! No thinking! Thinking is a crime!”
Lu Lin carefully scanned his face, a probing look in his eyes. Lu Mian sensed something was wrong and abruptly leaned back, turning to look out the half-open window, exclaiming, “Wow, that tree is really… tree-like!”
The carriage was passing by a small courtyard, and a towering tree came into view, illuminated by the lights. As Lu Mian looked at the tree, he felt the gaze on him linger for a few moments before shifting away.
He breathed a sigh of relief. He had almost thought Lu Lin had discovered something.
Lu Lin rubbed his knuckles, continuing the motion even after they returned to the residence, his fingertips red and raw.
As if about to bleed.
Lu Mian fell asleep in the carriage and was woken up by Tao Rouxuan. Lu Lin was already gone.
“Tired after playing all day?” Tao Rouxuan smiled and patted his head. “Let’s go and eat.”
Lu Mian rubbed his stomach; he was indeed tired and hungry. “Food!”
Tao Rouxuan smiled, seeing her son acting more and more normal. Then, as if remembering something, her smile faded.
“Tomorrow, your aunt said she’ll send someone to take you to the General’s residence.” Old Madam’s birthday was approaching, and she wanted to take her grandson back to stay for a few days. This was perfectly normal, but given her son’s current state, Tao Rouxuan couldn’t help but worry.
Lu Mian blinked. He was going to his mount’s place.
He hadn’t said goodbye properly last time. This time, he could try asking him for a ride again. Flying!
Lu Mian thought to himself, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face. Seeing his happy expression, Tao Rouxuan’s face relaxed. “Since Mian Mian wants to go, then go. Just remember not to hurt yourself while playing.”
Lu Mian grinned. “Got it!”
He was so afraid of pain; how could he possibly hurt himself?
Tao Rouxuan paused, her hand moving from his head to lightly tap his shoulder. “Alright, let’s go.”
She accompanied Lu Mian for a while before instructing Liu Xu to escort him back to Yulin Pavilion.
The meal was already prepared in Yulin Pavilion. Seeing a table full of his favorite dishes, Lu Mian’s mouth watered as he slid over to the table, meeting Lu Lin’s gaze.
The words “I want to look” suddenly popped into Lu Mian’s mind. The suspicion he had felt earlier didn’t resurface, so he glared at him defiantly.
Lu Lin’s lips twitched.
Why is he suddenly smiling like a puppy? Lu Mian’s eyes flickered, and he took a deep breath, sitting down.
The servants were waiting outside as they ate. Lu Lin suddenly asked, “Going to the General’s residence tomorrow?”
Lu Mian, mid-bite, mumbled in agreement. Judging by Tao Rouxuan’s worried expression, she would probably have Lu Lin go with him. He was probably confirming it.
Lu Lin only asked this one question and then fell silent. Lu Mian became even more certain of his guess.
Even when they left the residence the next day, Lu Mian didn’t see Lu Lin. He looked around and said to A-Qing and A-Ping, who were getting into the carriage, “Lu Lin.”
A-Qing replied, “Young Master, have you forgotten? Eldest Young Master passed the metropolitan examination last month and is preparing for the palace examination these days.” He couldn’t help but sigh. Once he passed the palace examination and caught the Emperor’s eye, Eldest Young Master would soar to great heights.
Lu Mian hummed in response.
He remembered this wasn’t in the book.
Because of the original owner, Lu Lin had missed the palace examination. Not only had the original owner not been punished, but he had even gloated in front of Lu Lin, humiliating him further.
Since Lu Lin was going to take the palace examination, he hoped everything would go smoothly for him this time.
Thinking this, Lu Mian sat obediently in the carriage and was taken to the General’s residence. Old Madam fussed over him, and Madam Chu was all smiles.
Lu Mian looked around but didn’t see his mount. It wasn’t until evening that Chu Bai Xu rushed in.
And along with him, Lu Lin, whom he hadn’t expected to see for a few days, also appeared.
Lu Mian: 0.0.
“Why didn’t Mother tell me in advance—” Chu Bai Xu frowned at Madam Chu as he entered, stopping mid-sentence.
Madam Chu smiled at him. “Tell you what in advance?”
Chu Bai Xu didn’t answer, his gaze shifting to Lu Mian, only to see Lu Lin, whom he had just met at the gate, walking over.
After running around the General’s residence all day, Lu Mian’s hair was slightly disheveled. Lu Lin raised his hand and smoothed a strand of hair by his ear. The two stood together, looking like a pair of loving brothers, making Chu Bai Xu’s teeth ache.
But the next moment, Chu Bai Xu was stunned.
Lu Mian had been obediently letting Lu Lin fix his hair. Just as Lu Lin was about to withdraw his hand, Lu Mian grabbed it, and then there was a chomping sound.
Lu Mian: O!
He had bitten Lu Lin’s hand.
He didn’t know why, but since yesterday, Lu Mian had felt that something was off about him, so he decided to seize the opportunity, bite him, and gross him out.
Lu Mian didn’t use much force. He pulled back his head and looked at the back of Lu Lin’s hand, a teeth mark imprinted on it.
Disgusted, right?
Lu Mian: >.o.
He pursed his lips and peeked at Lu Lin.
Lu Lin’s expression remained unchanged. He looked down at the mark on the back of his hand, a dark glint flashing in his eyes before disappearing.
“Happy now?” he asked softly, looking down at the person in front of him.
Lu Mian’s eyelashes fluttered. He wasn’t exactly happy, but his expectations seemed to have been dashed.
Not just dashed.
Lu Mian watched as the corner of Lu Lin’s lips curled upwards slightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. The words that followed struck him like lightning. “Want to… take another bite?”
Oh no!
He liked it!
