Chapter 41

He fed the medicine to him.

One was the noble and precious eldest young master, while the other was some auntie who had crawled out from the dregs of society. No matter how one looked at it, Luo Li had no right to make Huo Cheng feed him the medicine.

Look at his appearance—cheeks slightly puffed, red lips pressed into a thin line, the tip of his fair, upturned nose raised in haughty pride, as if he were imitating others to put on a show of authority.

Unfortunately, he was too young, his build too slight, and he probably hadn’t read much either. Forget about being imposing without even trying to be angry; even if he did get angry, it wouldn’t intimidate anyone in the slightest.

He just looked like he was putting on an act.

A little drama queen.

Huo Cheng picked up the medicine bowl, his distinctively knuckled fingers grasping the spoon as he gently stirred the dark liquid.

The butler broke out in a cold sweat down his back.

Others might not know, but he did. The eldest young master appeared mild-mannered and steady, but in truth, he was the most unapproachable person in the entire Huo Mansion.

The second young master was a fool, the third young master overbearing. Only the eldest young master could shoulder the Huo Family’s heavy responsibilities. Huo Jieqi’s inheritance should have gone mostly to him by rights.

~~~

If not for Luo Li showing up out of nowhere.

To be honest, they were all puzzled too. Given the eldest young master’s usual methods, Luo Li shouldn’t still be safe and sound in the mansion…

Could it be that the eldest young master had some deeper scheme in mind?

From Huo Cheng’s current expression, nothing could be gleaned. He lifted the spoon to his lips, blew on it gently for a moment, then brought the spoonful of medicine to Luo Li.

His deep, dark eyes were utterly calm, showing no trace of displeasure at being ordered about.

Luo Li hadn’t expected him to comply so readily. For a moment, he grew uneasy.

But there was no other choice. After struggling briefly, he parted his lips and took the small spoon into his mouth.

The bitter taste spread across his tongue, instantly scrunching up the boy’s delicate features.

His little tongue stuck out from the bitterness, his almond-shaped eyes misting over with tears as he mumbled in complaint, “Why is it so nasty…”

He spat out several times, ejecting every bit of the medicine he’d just swallowed. A few drops even splattered onto Huo Cheng’s expensive, impeccably tailored coat.

The servants hurried forward to help the eldest young master change, but Huo Cheng simply raised a hand to stop them. He pulled a square handkerchief from his breast pocket and meticulously wiped at Luo Li’s soft, wet, rosy lips.

Luo Li snatched the handkerchief away awkwardly and wiped his own mouth. He’d thought Huo Cheng would continue tormenting him, but instead, the man handed the Calming Decoction back to the servants.

“Never mind. The little madam seems perfectly clear-headed. There’s no need for this medicine.”

The butler persisted, “But your clothes…”

“It’s just one coat.” Huo Cheng rose to his feet. “The little madam is with child, so naturally, we must prioritize him.”

Before turning to leave, he didn’t forget to remind Luo Li, “Regarding the banquet, since the little madam has already promised me, be sure not to forget your word. Take good care of yourself before we set out—don’t let anything happen.”

The bitterness still lingered on Luo Li’s tongue, but upon hearing this, an idea struck him.

Right.

If he just said he wasn’t feeling well, he wouldn’t have to go to Jinzhou City, would he?

But what excuse could he use…

He placed his palm over his lower abdomen, nervously twisting the hem of his clothes.

How about… claiming he’d stirred up the fetal qi?

Yes, that was it.

~~~

As long as he found the right moment to pretend he’d stirred up the fetal qi, he could skip the banquet altogether.

Luo Li thought himself terribly clever.

007 suddenly spoke up, dousing him with cold water. “Do you even know what stirring up fetal qi looks like?”

Luo Li froze.

Oops. He really didn’t.

The system let out a helpless sigh.

“You’d be better off pretending to be startled and ill. Anything tied to your fake pregnancy is too easy to see through.”

Luo Li stubbornly retorted, “Pretending any other illness would be just as fake! No matter what I do, it’ll look phony at a glance!”

007: …

What was he so proud of?

“…Fine,” it could only say. “Do whatever you want.”

~~~

That night, a newly assigned servant pushed open the door to Huo Lan’s room.

He carried a fresh set of bedding in his arms. The sheets from that morning had been sent for washing, and the laundry maid had been baffled, even coming to ask him about it. But he wasn’t Xi Wang—his lips were sealed. He just told her not to pry.

Though he said nothing, the servant himself was puzzled.

How could the second young master, foolish as he was… still have wet dreams?

Nor was it just once or twice. Huo Lan was a strapping young man in his twenties, full of youthful vigor. When it surged, it was a real hassle.

And since he was addled, he couldn’t handle it himself, and his needs went unmet, making the matter even trickier.

The servant asked him, “Second Young Master, how about I go talk to the eldest young master and get you a little wife?”

“Little… wife?”

“That’s right. She can wash your clothes and cook your meals during the day, and serve you in bed at night.”

The servant chuckled. “With your status, Second Young Master, you could surely get a real beauty.”

Huo Lan sat there, seemingly pondering. Soon, he looked up. “Okay! I want a wife. A fragrant one… just like… like…”

His blind eyes turned toward the room outside.

The servant followed his gaze and hurriedly cut him off. “Oh no, that one won’t do. He’s precious right now, Second Young Master. Don’t even think about it.”

The foolish grin on Huo Lan’s face froze solid. “But Dad’s dead already. Isn’t he… mine now?”

The servant waved him off. “You’re talking nonsense again, Second Young Master. That little concubine seems to be ill and recuperating. Don’t go causing trouble.”

“Ill?”

Huo Lan’s expression grew tense at once. “How come I didn’t know?”

“I heard it was stirred-up fetal qi? I’m not sure. But the doctor will see to it. No need to worry.”

This fool was always so slow on the uptake; the servant figured he was just babbling and didn’t take it to heart.

Yet after he finished changing the bedding and turned around, Huo Lan had vanished.

A maidservant mentioned, “I just saw the second young master come out. I wondered where he was headed.”

They called around, but got no response from Huo Lan.

They’d searched everywhere except Luo Li’s room. Cold sweat beaded on the servant’s brow as a bad premonition swelled in his chest: Could that foolish young master have gone to the little concubine?

Deep into the night—if they were found together, doing who-knows-what… it would be an utter scandal, impossible to explain.

Still uneasy, he glanced toward Luo Li’s room.

He stayed in the outer guest quarters, close to the Ancestral Hall. The previous servant, Xi Wang, had just died there. Truth be told, no one dared go near that side anymore.

After hesitating, the servant decided not to check.

He’d seen nothing, knew nothing. Whatever happened, it wouldn’t be on him.

Inside the guest room, Luo Li leaned against the headboard, brewing his emotions to feign illness.

He’d already bribed one of the mansion’s doctors. As long as they fooled Huo Cheng, it’d be fine.

His small hand rested on his abdomen, brows furrowed as he let out a faint whimper.

He wasn’t acting convincingly at all, but with his naturally slender, fragile frame and that pitifully delicate face, even a bit of feeble pretense was enough to stir a man’s protective instincts.

Just then, a few knocks sounded at the door: knock knock knock.

The voice outside probed, “Lili, are you asleep?”

That voice…

It was Huo Lan!

Luo Li panicked briefly, but quickly realized there was no need—a blind fool like Huo Lan posed no threat.

After a moment’s hesitation, he replied softly, “What… what are you doing here now?”

“I heard you were sick. I’m… worried about you.”

Luo Li flipped over irritably. “I’m fine. Go back.”

Of the three young masters, Huo Lan was the least likely to inherit anything. Luo Li held no fear of the man, but he didn’t want to waste time on him either.

Even so, Huo Lan persisted, scratching at the door.

He mumbled disjointed words—wanting to see him more, to help care for him, promising not to cause trouble.

A man so much bigger and stronger than him, begging so humbly, his speech clumsy, and blind to boot.

He was like a stray dog whining outside the door.

Luo Li softened a little. “Fine, come in.”

Huo Lan perked up immediately. He carefully pushed the door open and shut it, sniffing the room’s fragrance as he groped his way to the bedside.

With clumsy big hands, he touched Luo Li’s cheek and murmured reassurances. “Lili, are you okay? Have you seen the doctor? Did you take the medicine?”

Unable to see Luo Li, he only felt the soft, smooth warmth against his palm. He caressed the boy’s slightly puffed cheeks, feeling the flutter of his fan-like lashes against his fingertips.

“They say you stirred up the fetal qi.”

“Fetal qi… what does that mean?”

Luo Li mumbled vaguely, “It comes with having a baby.”

“Oh… So how do babies come about?”

Made-up nonsense, Luo Li thought, but he replied offhandedly, “Your dad put it there.”

Huo Lan nodded in understanding. “I heard before that kissing makes babies.”

A flush crept up his ears. “We’ve kissed too. Could the baby… be mine?”

Luo Li froze for a moment before immediately denying it. “No way. Kissing doesn’t make babies.”

“Oh…”

Huo Lan lowered his gaze, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. But the feeling didn’t linger for long. Suddenly, something occurred to him. “If you’re sick, does it hurt a lot too?”

The pillow had pressed an indent into Luo Li’s cheek, and drowsiness was already settling over him. “Yeah, it hurts so much.”

He let out a yawn. Suddenly, Huo Lan grasped his hand, excitement barely contained in his voice.

“Then let me help cure you too, okay?”

“Just like you did for me that day.”

Luo Li still remembered everything he’d done for him that day.

Right after, he’d felt so damn good it was like being in heaven—everywhere comfortable, no aches or pains anywhere.

Now it was his turn to repay Lili.

Luo Li caught on at once. Shame and anger flooded his face as he roughly shoved Huo Lan’s hand away.

“I’m not like you, okay? I don’t need that…”

Not like him?

What was so different?

Wasn’t Lili a boy too?

Huo Lan puzzled it over for a moment before suddenly getting it. “I—I remember now. Big Bro said before that Lili’s different.”

“Lili’s… like a girl…”

Only then did Luo Li truly grasp the saying that one lie leads to a thousand more to cover it up. He wanted to cry but had no tears.

Meanwhile, Huo Lan’s palm had already settled on his flat, soft belly.

Did he really have a baby in there?

If it was true… damn, he was jealous.

He could hug Lili whenever he wanted, devour him on a whim, even let Lili feed him.

Huo Lan swallowed hard, his throat bobbing.

“Lili, I’ll use the way you’d treat a girl to help cure your sickness.”