Chapter 7
The hand around his waist tightened slightly, and Lu Mian let out a soft whimper.
Lu Mian: Q3Q.
His eyes were teary, his mouth pinched shut, then he was placed back on the bed, the movement surprisingly gentle. Lu Mian rolled over and continued to lie on his side, thinking, Since he put me back, I won’t hold the mouth-pinching against him.
Lu Lin returned to his own bed and heard a hissing sound.
This little fool, not sleeping again.
Lu Mian, his backside hurting, tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep for a long time. The next day, his backside still ached faintly. His head injury had just healed, and now he had a new one.
“Mian Mian, what’s wrong?” Tao Rouxuan, seeing Lu Mian walking slowly, stepped forward and supported his arm. She then turned to look at Lu Lin, not expecting Lu Mian to answer.
Lu Lin replied, “He fell out of bed while sleeping. I carried him back.”
Lu Mian, who had been hesitating whether to speak: —。—
You didn’t mention a word about pinching me.
Tao Rouxuan immediately looked at Lu Mian anxiously, checking him over. “How could you be so careless? Are you hurt anywhere else?”
After a flurry of concerned inquiries, she looked at Lu Lin, her gaze softening. “Thanks to you.”
Lu Lin lowered his eyes slightly, looking humble. “It was my duty.”
Lu Mian watched the whole scene, his expression gradually becoming unreadable.
Deliberate, definitely deliberate.
Lu Lin was deliberately showing his care for Lu Mian in front of Tao Rouxuan to gain her trust and make his own life easier.
It was understandable.
Lu Lin glanced at the boy, who had been staring at him a moment ago and was now in a daze.
He would consider this act of manipulation as repayment for what Lu Mian had done to him before.
After all, what Lu Mian had done before his memory loss was enough to make Lu Lin want to eat him alive. As for after this…
“Achoo—”
A sneeze interrupted Lu Lin’s thoughts. He saw Lu Mian by the carriage, frowning, rubbing his nose repeatedly.
A bit foolish, Lu Lin thought, then heard a slightly angry voice muttering, “Which bastard is talking about me behind my back! I’ll beat you to death!”
Lu Lin: “…” Although I don’t quite understand, it doesn’t sound like anything good.
“Mian Mian, what are you saying?” Tao Rouxuan approached. “Quickly help Young Master into the carriage.”
A-Qing and A-Ping were about to respond when Lu Lin stepped forward. “I’ll do it.”
“Good, you two brothers can sit together and look after each other.” Tao Rouxuan smiled and walked towards the carriage in front.
Lu Mian was lifted into the carriage by Lu Lin. The movement inevitably involved some physical contact. He looked at Lu Lin strangely, wondering why he wasn’t disgusted by him today.
But as soon as they were in the carriage, Lu Lin started wiping his fingertips. His palm was wrapped in white gauze to prevent his nails from digging in and drawing blood when his emotions were out of control.
Soon, the group split into two carriages and headed towards Han Guang Temple.
Lu Mian and Lu Lin sat in one carriage. As soon as he got in, he curled up in a corner.
If I act more disgusted, he won’t be disgusted by me!
Lu Lin glanced at him, and Lu Mian immediately turned his head away, presenting the back of his head.
Lu Lin’s eyebrows rose slightly. The carriage fell silent, and he closed his eyes to rest, pretending there was no one else beside him.
Just a little fool.
The carriage traveled for nearly two hours before reaching the foot of the mountain where Han Guang Temple was located. Many pilgrims had come to offer incense today, including noble ladies from the capital and many others who had come for a spring outing.
It was the season of peach blossoms, and the path was filled with a delicate fragrance carried by the gentle breeze. Pink petals bloomed in abundance, their pale yellow stamens fully open, contrasting beautifully with the green foliage behind them. Visitors slowed their pace or stopped to admire the scenery.
Lu Mian, who had poked his head out of the window as soon as the carriage stopped, was also captivated by the sight. He quickly spotted a colorful butterfly resting on a peach blossom branch and immediately jumped out of the carriage, running towards it.
Lu Lin had just opened his eyes when a figure darted out from in front of him, seemingly unable to sit still after the long, quiet journey, seizing the opportunity to frolic.
He followed.
Tao Rouxuan also got out of the carriage and watched as her son dashed off. She called out, “Mian Mian!”
Just as she was about to go after him, Liu Xu said, “Madam, it’s Madam Chu.”
Tao Rouxuan paused, glanced at Lu Lin walking towards Lu Mian, and then turned to look in the direction Liu Xu indicated.
A richly dressed noblewoman, with a sharp and imposing air, was walking towards them, followed by a group of servants who also exuded a faint aura of battle-hardened experience.
The woman had also seen them. Seeing Tao Rouxuan looking at her, she nodded.
“Sister-in-law, haha, long time no see!” Madam Chu said with a bright smile.
Tao Rouxuan stiffened. Liu Xu quickly said, “Madam Chu, my mistress is now the official wife of the Minister of Rites.”
Madam Chu seemed to have just realized her mistake. “Oh, yes, yes, look at my memory. So, Madam Lu, are you here to offer incense today? We can go together.”
Tao Rouxuan smiled faintly. “I’m afraid not. I brought Mian Mian with me today, and he’s run off somewhere. I need to wait for him.”
Her words were a polite refusal, but Madam Chu waved her hand dismissively. “Coincidentally, Bai Xu is also here. He ran off as soon as he got out of the carriage. Later, the two brothers can chat.”
The Chu family had a century-old legacy. The two Chu brothers of this generation, one a scholar, one a warrior, were Chu Ruixing, the current Grand Tutor, and Chu Rui’en, the General Who Pacifies the Distant Lands.
Tao Rouxuan had been Grand Tutor Chu Ruixing’s wife, but he had died young, leaving a letter of divorce before his death. A year later, Tao Rouxuan remarried and became the second wife of Lu Hongzhi, the Minister of Rites.
“In that case… then we shall do as Madam Chu says,” Tao Rouxuan said.
Madam Chu’s smile broadened. “Excellent! It’s been a while since I’ve seen Mian Mian. That child is sweet-tongued and articulate.”
Meanwhile, the sweet-tongued and articulate Lu Mian was chasing butterflies. He couldn’t catch them because they were perched on branches, and he had no tools.
However, Lu Mian came up with a brilliant idea. He shook the branch, and the startled butterfly fluttered away.
Seeing this, Lu Mian immediately chased after it. He was so focused on the butterfly that he didn’t pay attention to where he was stepping. He stepped on a sharp stone, and his foot twisted.
Lu Mian: OoO!!!
Not far behind him, Lu Lin frowned and quickly stepped forward to catch him. He couldn’t let him get injured right under his nose.
Even so, there was still a considerable distance between them.
Lu Mian was about to have an intimate encounter with Mother Earth.
“Careful,” a clear voice said, and a pair of large hands caught him around the waist, steadying him.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Lu Mian quickly grabbed the other’s sleeve and thanked him, looking up to see his fortunate savior.
He had just looked up when he heard a voice, “Chu Mian!”
The next second, the hands supporting him were abruptly withdrawn. Before Lu Mian could regain his balance, his eyes widened again.
The feeling of weightlessness returned, and Lu Mian squeezed his eyes shut. Then, the back of his collar was pulled, and he landed in a familiar embrace, filled with a cold aura and the faint, bitter scent of medicine.
A familiar voice reached his ears. “What are you running around for?”
Lu Mian: >vo!
He opened one eye and looked up.
Lu Lin was frowning at him. He straightened him up with a slight exertion of force and then looked forward, his voice as calm as ever, but with a hint of anger upon closer listening. “Young General Chu.”
Lu Mian also looked forward.
The young man before him was handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and a round-collared indigo robe. One side of his collar was flipped up, revealing intricate embroidery in gold and silver thread. Jade pendants hung from his belt, clinking melodiously as he moved.
‘Young General Chu,’ Lu Mian had only seen one person addressed like this in the book – Chu Bai Xu, the son of the General Who Pacifies the Distant Lands, and also a friend of the male protagonist.
Lu Mian suddenly remembered something else. He seemed to be a cousin of this body’s original owner.
Chu Bai Xu regretted releasing his hold after seeing Lu Mian about to fall again, but it was too late to pull him back. Seeing him caught by someone else, his regret instantly vanished.
As for why he had let go in the first place, it was simply because he recognized Lu Mian and disliked him.
Chu Bai Xu had been trained in martial arts by his warrior father since childhood, but his heart wasn’t in it. However, his mother’s health had been severely compromised during a campaign with his father, and he was their only child, so he had no choice but to diligently practice martial arts.
No one knew that Chu Bai Xu was more interested in poetry and painting.
However, it was Chu Mian who had once torn up his carefully crafted calligraphy and paintings. Chu Bai Xu had been furious and had immediately grabbed him to teach him a lesson, but everyone had protected Chu Mian.
Chu Bai Xu was five years older than Chu Mian. At the time, all he heard was “he’s still a child,” “the older brother should yield to the younger brother,” and so on. But Chu Mian showed no remorse and repeatedly brought up his poetry to make fun of him.
Chu Bai Xu hated it but could do nothing but endure. Since then, he had disliked Chu Mian and vowed never to have anything to do with him.
The book glossed over this, and Lu Mian only knew that Chu Bai Xu disliked his cousin, so he quietly moved behind Lu Lin and secretly sized him up.
Chu Bai Xu recognized Lu Lin. He had heard that this person had gained the favor of Old Master Ji, a renowned scholar in the capital. Sensing the hostility in his gaze, he simply nodded in greeting.
Just then, he noticed Chu Mian, or rather, Lu Mian now, seemed to be secretly watching him.
Chu Bai Xu looked straight ahead, pretending not to see.
Lu Mian continued to stare: →v→.
Lu Lin, having no connection with Chu Bai Xu, turned to take Lu Mian back, then saw him staring intently at the other.
He realized something.
Chu Bai Xu was this person’s real brother.
Not him.
Lu Lin frowned slightly. Whether that was true or not, what did it have to do with him?
Ignoring the strange thought, Lu Lin took a step. “Let’s go.”
Lu Mian: “Aow aow.”
Having almost fallen twice, he no longer wanted to catch butterflies – they had all flown away – so he followed Lu Lin back to the carriage.
Chu Bai Xu remained where he was, watching the two walk away, his gaze lingering on Lu Mian.
Since when was he so obedient?
It must be an illusion.
Chu Bai Xu shook his head, smiled casually, and followed. However, he ended up walking behind them, constantly seeing Lu Mian trailing after Lu Lin.
Like a little tail.
He even saw Lu Mian reach out and tug on Lu Lin’s robe as they walked.
Lu Lin would turn around, and he would quickly withdraw his hand. When Lu Lin turned back, Lu Mian would reach out again.
“There was a loose thread just now, what about now?” Lu Lin’s voice was cold.
Lu Mian looked down and fiddled with his fingers, pretending not to hear.
Perhaps because the other had saved him once, he wasn’t as afraid of the villain anymore.
Lu Lin turned around a third time and walked a few steps. As expected, he felt a gentle tug from behind. He paused, but didn’t react, letting Lu Mian hold onto his robe.
The two of them continued towards the carriage, tugging and pulling.
Chu Bai Xu thought Lu Mian was doing it on purpose.
Pulling on his clothes, as vicious as ever, just wanting to see others make a fool of themselves.
However, the subsequent events made him pause, and he couldn’t help but wonder.
Could it be a trick, a feint, with a hidden motive?
This person was full of mischief; Chu Bai Xu didn’t believe he would be so well-behaved.
After walking a distance, Lu Lin suddenly said, “You almost fell just now.” It was unclear whether he was referring to Lu Mian tripping over the stone or Chu Bai Xu letting go of him.
Lu Mian nodded vigorously. “Stones can trip people with their legs, it’s terrifying!”
Lu Lin pursed his lips and didn’t say anything more.
“This stone cannot be spared!” Lu Mian suddenly declared angrily, letting go of Lu Lin’s robe.
Lu Lin turned around and saw Lu Mian turning back. He grabbed him. “Where are you going?”
Lu Mian suddenly became energized, his blood boiling. He declared loudly, “Revenge!” He would reclaim everything that belonged to him!
He would go back and kick that stone away, to show it who was boss!
