145: 4.10 Lan'er

4.10 Lan'er

…future…1

…ture…

…ture…

The trees rustled and bounced the echo back. Luo Gengxin was breathing heavily as if he had just run a marathon. By his side, Zhan Yi was groaning with his face buried into his palms whilst Luo Gengren was doubling over with laughter. 

Lu Yizhou… Lu Yizhou was pinching his brows out of exasperation. Where the hell did this question come from? Young Lady Ling… wasn't that the female protagonist, Ling Chuwei? Don't tell him that his identity in this world was her betrothed. His head suddenly pounded with an oncoming headache.

[666: Don't worry, Host, you aren't engaged to her or anything! But you know, Host, actually Sect Leader Ling has always gone around saying that you're the ideal son-in-law for him. Maybe that's why…]

"I am not." Lu Yizhou exhaled with blatant frustration. "And I will not marry her in the future. Is that clear?"

Zhan Yi hastily pressed Luo Gengxin's head down along with him. "Many apologies. Please forgive his insolence, Jingxue-Jun! He doesn't mean to ask such an intrusive question! He—He only has a great respect toward Young Lady Ling so…"

"Do you mean to say that he's head over heels for her?" Luo Gengren piped in. 

Zhan Yi gnashed his teeth. "Can both of you shut up for a moment?" 

Lu Yizhou had no idea how Zhan Yi had such a great patience to hang out with the twins when he already felt a few veins popping on his forehead less than fifteen minutes after their first encounter. 

Swatting Zhan Yi's hand aside, Luo Gengxin confirmed once again, his eyes so bright and hopeful as if there were stars in it. "Is that really the truth, Jingxue-Jun? You're really not marrying Young Lady Ling?"

Zhan Yi slapped the back of his head yet again, this time softer albeit his tone was chiding all the same. "How dare you—oh my God, Jingxue-Jun doesn't lie, ever! If he says no, then it won't really happen! Are you happy now?!"

That's enough, he decided. Giving them one last glance to make sure that they wouldn't run their mouths, he turned to go back to the cave. The fire was still crackling, illuminating the insides brightly and Heimo was currently frowning with a paler face than when Lu Yizhou left him a moment ago. In an instant, he arrived by Heimo's side and held his shoulders. "Do you feel unwell again?"

Heimo shot him an indecipherable look and blatantly shied away from his touch, awkwardness laced in between his moving limbs. He shuffled back until there was at least two meters of distance between them. Lu Yizhou froze as the warm skin left his palm, replacing it with cold air of the night. His jaws clenched tight. What had gone wrong…? Heimo wasn't supposed to look at him with such a gaze. He shouldn't have withdrawn into his shell and carefully calculated his words and expressions again. Lu Yizhou thought that he had managed to close the distance a moment ago but…was that not the case?

The corner of his lips turned down and he was aware that his face had morphed into a scowl. He pulled his hands back and slipped it beneath his sleeves so that he could prevent himself from touching Heimo again. Or worse, shook him hard until he confessed to Lu Yizhou what was going on in that pretty head of his. "I apologize." He was grateful for once that his tone remained calm and steady, even though the previous concern on his eyes had gone down the drain and replaced with a hollow blankness. "I have acted presumptuously." He took a deep breath. "I will go outside to get fresh air for a while. Don't worry, you can keep staying here. It's safe." Even before the last word fell, he had already turned around and marched out.

"N—No…!" Heimo grabbed onto the corner of his sleeves, his amber eyes that reflected the flame was wild with panic. His pale cheeks drained further of all colors to the point where he almost looked blue. "I—I apologize. It's not Jingxue-Jun—ah, I mean, it's not your fault. I… I was only a little disgruntled…" He chewed on the inside of his cheeks and whispered, "...and ashamed for myself. Is—Is it okay for you to stay for the night with this humble one? Surely, there ought to be another who's waiting for you back at Lingyan…" Then he chuckled in self-depreciation. "Well, this humble one is not implying that Jingxue-Jun is a cutsleeve. But your reputation will be in shambles if—"

Oh, he had heard Luo Gengxin's loud question, Lu Yizhou drew the conclusion. 

He took a sharp breath as he looked at Heimo's dense eyelashes that casted dark shadows over his cheek. Why was he asking this kind of question? Was this all part of the act? Or was he genuinely upset? No matter what the truth was, Lu Yizhou found that he couldn't bring himself to care. Even if Heimo was leading him on, even if Heimo was deliberately making him lower his guard down so that he could kill him, Lu Yizhou didn't care. He could even drink the most potent poison as long as Heimo was feeding him with a smile. 

He looked down at the long and slender fingers that were holding onto his sleeves and slowly tugged it away. As soon as he did, Heimo's shoulders slumped down further as if he was going to slinked back into himself again. He cut his mumbles off and pressed his lips tight. At that moment, all Lu Yizhou wanted to do was to crush him into a suffocating embrace, so that he knew how his every act and word could easily impact Lu Yizhou's well-being.

But he couldn't do that. Instead, he only held Heimo's hand with both palms, stroking his thin and calloused fingers and mapping the faint scars on it. Heimo snapped his eyes up, shell-shocked. His eyes glimmered with profound hope and… something else. Apprehension? Fear?

"I will not," Lu Yizhou declared solemnly. "Will not marry the young lady or anyone else. Afterall, I already have—" He trailed off. I already have you, his heart whispered what his lips couldn't.

"You already have…?" Heimo's tone turned breathless and his eyes were dazed.

Lu Yizhou doubted whether the other really understood what he meant. He feared that he would scare Heimo away if he was too forward with his intention. For Heimo, he was none other than a stranger he had met less than half a day. Worse, he was a cultivator from Linyan and someone who possibly wanted to hunt him down. Thus Lu Yizhou hummed vaguely and didn't bother to elaborate. It was fine. He still had time. He could fix this. Lu Yizhou tore his gaze away from Heimo's flushing cheeks with difficulty and mechanically wrapped the phoenix meat so that Heimo could eat it again tomorrow. 

Heimo cleared his throat. "Jingxue-Jun…?"

Lu Yizhou ignored him.

Now came a slight, helpless chuckle. "Lu Yizhou…? Ah, I really can't get used to this. Lu Gong-zi? Yizhou-gege? Yi-gege? Can I call you that?"

Lu Yizhou almost dropped the meat straight into the fire. He shot an incredulous look to Heimo that could be roughly translated into, "What the fuck?"

Heimo chuckled nervously and rubbed his burning cheeks. "Ah, this humble one apologizes. I don't…" He chuckled again and shook his head. "It must be the fever working. Please don't mind my mindless rambling. This humble one will make sure that he goes back to normal tomorrow morning."

Lu Yizhou had been addressed as an uncle, a servant and a Prince. Yet he had no idea that a simple 'gege' could be so…devastating. He cleared his throat. "...You can call me whatever you want."

"Huh?" Heimo was stunned again for the nth time tonight.

Lu Yizhou reiterated whilst taking in short breaths. He felt like he had just run a lap around the forest and back. "You're free to call me whatever you want. I don't mind. As long as you're comfortable with it."

"You…!" Heimo made an exaggerated show of falling backward to the pile of robes that was used as a makeshift cushion. He pulled another robe up to his head and curled up into a ball. His voice came out muffled. "You can't say such a thing all of a sudden, please! This humble one can't bear it. I am but a sick patient, Jingxue-Jun, please have mercy!"

He wouldn't say such a thing just to anyone, Lu Yizhou bit the words back and decided to cut Heimo some slack. He only went to pull the robes down Heimo's head so he didn't suffocate himself and patted his head briefly before sitting down on the opposite wall. The night was deepening and the air was getting chilly. He kept vigil and added the firewood every half an hour to keep the fire alive. 

"Jingxue-Jun." Heimo called out quietly when Lu Yizhou thought he was already asleep. From his position, Lu Yizhou could only see the back of his head and the luscious lock of jet black hair that was akin to a bowl of silk.

"Hmm?"

"Lan'er." 

Lu Yizhou paused. What?

Heimo gave a tiny chuckle that was tinged with bitterness. "You see, this humble one's parents had died early. My foster parents offered to give me a courtesy name but I rejected it. I thought it didn't matter either way if I didn't have it." For he was already infamous enough with his fearsome title, Lu Yizhou filled in the blanks. "The only memory I have of my parents is that they used to call me Lan'er all the time because when I was born, all the orchids were in full bloom. Ridiculous, isn't it?"

"It's not ridiculous." Lu Yizhou replied as a pang of tenderness wove through his chest at the mention of baby Heimo. "It's a very good name… Lan'er."

Heimo seemed to shrink smaller into himself and let out a muted whine. A few moments later, a small mumble came from him. "Good night, Jingxue-Jun."

Lu Yizhou was already helpless to correct him. He merely returned the wish. "Good night, Lan'er." 

Gradually, Heimo's breathing smoothened, slow and deep. Tension gradually loosened from his body. Lu Yizhou put one arm on his bent knee as he observed the man. When Lu Yizhou looked at him like this, he looked so small and fragile as if he could cup him within the cusp of his palms and pocketed him into his inner robes. Silly thought, he mused as he closed his eyes to rest. Without the aid of the sleeping pill, his mind wouldn't really rest so his eyes snapped open abruptly, late into the night, when the smallest whimper escaped Heimo's lips. 

He straightened up. "Lan'er…?"

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