After the Little Fool Was Targeted by the Paranoid Villain 16

Chapter 16

Lu Mian’s mind was foggy from the alcohol, and he unconsciously followed Lu Lin’s suggestive words. “Is that so…”

He murmured, his voice soft with sleepiness. “Then you can touch me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a slightly cool fingertip pressed against his cheek, applying a bit of pressure. A moment later, Lu Lin’s touch became lighter, like a gentle web, enveloping the person before him.

He watched Lu Mian, unaware, held captive in his hand, an unknown emotion stirring within him.

“Does your head hurt?” Lu Lin asked.

Lu Mian reacted slowly, shaking his head, then suddenly asked, “Head, do you hurt?”

Lu Lin looked at him, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips, accustomed to his nonsensical words. He moved his hand slightly, brushing away a strand of hair by Lu Mian’s ear. “I’ll make you some honey water. Drink it before you sleep?”

Lu Mian didn’t answer, as if thinking.

Lu Lin wasn’t in a hurry. He sat down on the edge of the bed, waiting for his reply.

After a while, Lu Mian nodded. “Drink!”

Lu Lin stood up. Just as he straightened, Lu Mian swayed on the bed, as if about to fall.

“Careful.” Lu Lin reached out to steady him, but Lu Mian grabbed his hand first, muttering, “I’m a roly-poly, I’m a roly-poly.”

Lu Lin lowered his eyes, clasped Lu Mian’s hand in his, and helped him lie back down. “Wait for me.”

Lu Mian, back on the bed, blinked, as if he hadn’t heard. “Roly-polies can fall too.”

Lu Lin paused. “Do you want to get up?”

Lu Mian rolled over and burrowed under the covers. “Ahhh, the blanket kidnapped me!”

He rolled towards the wall, a soft chuckle seeming to reach his ears.

Lu Mian had gradually sobered up since he almost fell and grabbed Lu Lin’s hand, and he was now putting on an act. After hiding under the covers for a while, he heard receding footsteps and breathed a sigh of relief.

What had he just done?

He seemed to have agreed to something with Lu Lin, but he couldn’t quite remember.

If he couldn’t remember, it probably wasn’t important. Thinking this, Lu Mian relaxed, lying down and waiting for Lu Lin to return with the honey water.

As Lu Lin walked out of the room, he saw Madam Chu approaching with a group of people, Chu Bai Xu trailing behind, wincing.

“How is Mian Mian?” Madam Chu glanced at the room.

Lu Lin replied, “Quite drunk. He just woke up. I’ll have him drink some honey water before he sleeps again.”

Madam Chu nodded. “In that case, I won’t go in.”

“Then I’ll go in and—” Chu Bai Xu, covering his face, started to say, but stopped abruptly under Madam Chu’s sharp glare.

Madam Chu, satisfied, turned to Lu Lin. “Old Madam’s birthday is in two days, and there are many things to prepare at the residence. I’ll have to trouble you to take care of Mian Mian.”

Lu Lin agreed and watched Madam Chu and her entourage leave.

Before leaving, Chu Bai Xu lagged behind. “Please take good care of Mian Mian for me.” After all, it was his negligence that led to Lu Mian drinking the wine, and he didn’t want his foolish younger brother to blame him for a headache tomorrow.

Lu Lin’s eyes darkened slightly, his fingers rubbing together beneath his sleeve. “You don’t need to tell me, I’ll take good care of him.”

Chu Bai Xu, still slightly tipsy, didn’t notice the possessiveness hidden in his words. Seeing him agree, he swayed slightly and left with Madam Chu.

A moment later, Lu Lin returned to the room with honey water. Lu Mian was lying under the covers, drowsy, his head nodding.

“Drink this before you sleep,” he said, approaching the bed.

Lu Mian opened one eye. A slender hand holding a bowl was brought to his lips. He craned his neck and drank the honey water, sip by sip.

After finishing, Lu Mian looked up with bright eyes, savoring the sweetness. “More?”

“Delicious?” Lu Lin’s gaze fell on his moistened lips. “Not too much. I’ll make you more tomorrow.”

With his promise, Lu Mian nodded, patted his stomach, lay down, and quickly fell asleep, without waking up in the middle of the night like he had the past two days.

He slept soundly, unaware of how long the person by his bed watched over him, leaving only near dawn.

The next day, Lu Mian woke up refreshed, even fifteen minutes earlier than the previous two days. He had A-Qing and A-Ping style his hair, then quickly ran to the front gate, intending to wait for Chu Bai Xu’s return.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before he saw Chu Bai Xu returning from the military camp, riding a tall horse, trotting towards him.

Chu Bai Xu flicked his hand, and catching sight of the figure at the gate from the corner of his eye, he sped up. He jumped off his horse before it had fully stopped, a smile on his face. He approached, asking knowingly, “Mian Mian? Are you waiting for me?”

Lu Mian: “No, I’m waiting for an idiot.”

Chu Bai Xu choked, but the smile on his handsome face didn’t diminish.

Since he had grown up, his mother no longer waited for him at the gate like she used to. Now that he was capable, Chu Bai Xu was confident that he could expand Dongning’s territory, defend its borders, and become a great general like his father.

But today, he could once again experience the feeling of someone waiting for him at the gate, a strange and fulfilling sensation.

So, he didn’t mind being a mount a few more times. He bent down slightly and coaxed, “Good Mian Mian, how about it? Want to fly today?”

Lu Mian refused, mimicking his tone. “I have someone else for flying.” This had already been booked by Lu Lin, and he was a man of his word. Since he had promised Lu Lin, he wouldn’t let anyone else be his mount.

Chu Bai Xu didn’t expect this answer. He paused, wondering why he was waiting here then.

Then he saw Lu Mian smile brightly, his eyes shining with excitement. “Let’s go play!”

Lu Mian’s gaze shifted towards the gate, a spark of excitement in his eyes.

He hadn’t had a chance to play yesterday, passing out after just a sip of wine. He wanted to go again today. But Lu Mian also knew that Madam Chu wouldn’t let him go out alone, so he had to drag Chu Bai Xu along.

Unexpectedly, Chu Bai Xu refused outright. “No, no, absolutely not!”

Seeing his repeated refusals, Lu Mian asked, puzzled, “Why?”

Chu Bai Xu pointed at his back. “You drank wine yesterday, and I got whipped. Well, it’s not a big deal, why am I telling you this…

“Let’s go back. I’ll take you to see my treasured weapon collection.”

Although Lu Mian was also curious about the weapon collection, he was a little disappointed that he couldn’t go out, and also a bit guilty for getting him whipped.

Chu Bai Xu’s weapon collection included items bestowed by the Emperor. Chu Rui’en had defended Dongning for over a decade, earning numerous military achievements, and the Emperor had rewarded him with many valuable items, some of which were kept by Chu Bai Xu.

He rarely showed them to anyone; Lu Mian was the first.

“Be careful, don’t hurt yourself,” Chu Bai Xu warned, seeing Lu Mian curiously walking towards a shelf where a ceremonial saber was displayed, worried he would draw it and play with it.

Lu Mian didn’t touch the hilt but poked the light blue gem embedded in the scabbard.

Is this real or fake? I want to pry it off and take a bite to test it, Lu Mian thought.

Chu Bai Xu shook his head; he had been overthinking it. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

There was a secret chamber in the weapon collection where he kept the items bestowed by the Emperor.

Lu Mian was dazzled by the golden light inside as soon as he entered. Under the wall lamps, the polished swords and sabers gleamed coldly.

He dutifully exclaimed, “Wow—”

Chu Bai Xu was pleased. “How about it, want to see Older Brother perform some swordsmanship?”

Lu Mian clapped his hands. “Yes!”

Chu Bai Xu excitedly took a sword and led Lu Mian to the training grounds.

Lu Mian sat on a stone bench outside the training grounds, initially mesmerized by Chu Bai Xu’s dazzling swordsmanship, clapping his hands continuously. Later, perhaps tired of clapping, he rested his chin on his hands and continued to watch, his eyelids gradually drooping.

Chu Bai Xu, completely oblivious, excitedly demonstrated his newly learned moves.

Then he heard a thud, the sound of something falling.

He looked over and saw Lu Mian had fallen backwards off the stone bench, his legs still dangling in the air.

The posture was comical, and Chu Bai Xu almost burst out laughing, then he heard A-Qing and A-Ping’s panicked voices.

“Oh no, Young Master fainted!”

“Blood, he’s bleeding!”

Less than a month after transmigrating, Lu Mian once again sported a bandage on his head, another head injury, the pain making him dizzy and teary-eyed.

Old Madam was heartbroken, almost crying along with her grandson. She was finally coaxed back to her room by Madam Chu.

Chu Bai Xu looked like a condemned criminal, almost bowing to Lu Mian. “Little ancestor, why are you crying again? Does it still hurt? Want another pill?”

Lu Mian quickly shook his head, the movement making him even dizzier. “No pills.” Those were even more bitter than the last time. If he took one, he would be crying from the bitterness, not the pain.

Chu Bai Xu wrung his hands, not knowing what to do. “You’re in so much pain, it’s all my fault. Why did I take you to the training grounds?”

Lu Mian pursed his lips. “It’s my fault.”

Like a fool, he had fallen asleep while sitting, resulting in a comical fall. He really was a turtle now.

“It’s my fault!” Chu Bai Xu insisted.

Lu Mian was about to argue when he heard hurried footsteps approaching from outside. He looked up and met Lu Lin’s dark, intense gaze, which seemed to draw him in.

Lu Lin’s steps were heavy as he looked at the pale figure on the bed. The person he had considered his enemy last time, seeing him like this now, caused a sharp pain in his heart, like needles pricking him.

“What happened?” Lu Lin walked to Lu Mian, his shadow almost engulfing him, his voice hoarse.

Chu Bai Xu explained what had happened. Just as he finished, he heard Liu Xu, Madam Chu’s chief maid, calling him. Madam Chu must have learned of Lu Lin’s return and sent her to call him.

The door closed softly, the scent of medicine filling the room. Lu Mian met Lu Lin’s intense gaze and uncomfortably turned his face away.

The next moment, his chin was grabbed and turned back.

That oppressive, predatory gaze again. Lu Mian felt like Lu Lin was scrutinizing his entire being, the feeling suffocating, like prey caught by a predator’s tongue.

Lu Mian, already in pain, felt threatened by Lu Lin’s gaze, and tears welled up in his eyes.

A self-deprecating voice reached his ears.

“What am I supposed to do with you?”

Lu Mian was confused, then a warm breath brushed against his face, and his eyes widened. The other’s face was magnified before him, and he could clearly feel…

Lu Lin’s tongue licking away the tears on his cheek.

Again and again, tenderly and reverently. But his deep-set eyes held an unwavering, twisted possessiveness, as if he had made some kind of decision.