Chapter 40
Shi Xiaowang held back his laughter, glancing at Jian Mo, then at Shi Yue with his pouting face, and comforted him.
“If you really want to come, I’ll always welcome you. But as for whether you can come, or how you would come… I can only cheer for you and pray for you.”
Shi Yue shot Jian Mo a look, then sincerely said again,
“My younger brother is the best. He knows how to hope for me properly.”
Shi Xiaowang laughed again, half joking, half coaxing.
“My older brother is great too. He even said he’d give me all his money.”
Shi Yue lifted his head, looking quite proud.
“Of course!”
Jian Mo glanced at him but said nothing. No point in arguing with a fool.
Midway through the banquet, the attendants brought new drinks.
Shi Yue looked curiously at the milky-colored beverage in his cup.
“What’s this?”
Shi Xiaowang smiled.
“Try it first, it’s really delicious.”
Shi Yue didn’t hesitate. Since it was said to be tasty, it would be rude not to try it.
“Mmm! Sweet! It’s really good! What’s it made of?”
He took a sip, his eyes lighting up, and before Shi Xiaowang could answer, he gulped down the entire cup in quick succession.
Shi Xiaowang was shocked and quickly tried to stop him.
“Stop, stop! Brother! Drinking too fast will make you drunk!”
“Oh? What do you mean drunk?”
Shi Yue looked at him, his face full of innocent curiosity, as if to say, “How could something this tasty be harmful?”
Shi Xiaowang: …
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Someone else asked a question at the table, and Meng Zhan stood up to explain.
“This is rice wine we brewed at the research institute. The raw material is glutinous rice grown in-house. But please drink in moderation—though sweet and smooth, the aftereffects are strong. Everyone, do not overindulge.”
“Oh, alcohol, I see.”
Shi Yue nodded.
Shi Xiaowang thought he understood, but before he could react, this guy downed another cup, leaving Shi Xiaowang dumbfounded.
“The classics say alcohol is a nectar of the gods. Such a fine thing deserves multiple tastings!”
He poured himself another cup and clinked it with Shi Xiaowang.
“Little brother! Drink!”
Shi Xiaowang hadn’t even spoken before Shi Yue almost shoved the cup into his face.
“…Okay, okay, drink, drink.”
In fact, Shi Xiaowang also liked rice wine. His first experience was brewed by the old man, who rivaled Shi Yue in indulgence. Sweet! Delicious! Ignoring advice! Then he’d sleep all day, and wake to be teased by the old man.
Back then, grain was precious, so the old man only brewed once—on the fifth anniversary of taking him in. That day was always remembered by the old man as a birthday, though he didn’t care himself. He made tasty food and drink, which Shi Xiaowang enjoyed.
Now, he didn’t know how the old man was.
Shi Xiaowang was prone to avoidance; when faced with unsolvable problems, he always chose to escape. Thinking about them only brought anxiety, without solutions.
This was how he had handled the mental contamination with Jian Mo, and how he now felt about the old man. He really had no way to influence the old man’s situation, not even knowing where that world with him existed.
Suddenly, someone took the cup from his hand.
Shi Xiaowang paused for two seconds, then looked at the person who had taken it.
“Telling Shi Yue to drink less, but you yourself just had three cups.”
Jian Mo smiled at him and waved his hand in front of his eyes.
“Still awake? Do you know who I am?”
He felt awake, yet also like he was floating in a cloud.
Shi Xiaowang looked at him for a moment, then laughed. His eyes bright, he said,
“Of course! You’re my husband!”
When Shi Xiaowang said this, his voice carried, and the lively banquet went quiet for a brief moment.
Only Shi Yue’s shenanigans could be heard.
Jian Mo instinctively touched his forehead, ears slightly red.
Shi Xiaowang ignored how he might be feeling, growing slightly annoyed when Jian Mo didn’t respond.
He got up, pulled Jian Mo’s hand, sat on his lap, cupped his face, forcing eye contact, and demanded, “Why aren’t you responding? Are you refusing to admit it?!”
“No, no…”
Jian Mo quickly steadied him, glanced at the smiling emperor, and awkwardly said,
“I’ll take Xiaowang back first. He might be a bit…”
“Go ahead, rest well.”
The emperor nodded.
“Father, I’ll also take Shi Yue back.”
Next to him, Shi Zhang lifted the squirming Shi Yue with one hand, dark-faced.
“I’m not going back! I want my little brother Shi Xiaowang! I want to sell roast duck with him! I’m never coming back!”
Shi Yue kept shouting, carried on Shi Zhang’s shoulder as he strode out.
“Stop shaking me… I’m gonna puke…”
Jian Mo originally intended to leave, but Shi Xiaowang insisted on watching Shi Yue’s antics until finishing with a satisfied remark.
“Ha! He’s definitely drunk now!”
“You’re no better…”
Jian Mo helplessly picked him up horizontally, recalling Shi Yue’s antics, and said, “Tell me if you’re uncomfortable, understand?”
“I feel dizzy…”
Shi Xiaowang frowned.
“I feel like I’m spinning… or are you spinning?”
He pondered, then concluded seriously, “Jian Mo! Don’t spin me around while holding me!”
“I’m holding you…”
People really do laugh when speechless. Jian Mo laughed at him.
“Let’s go, my ancestor, home we go.”
On the way, Shi Xiaowang quickly fell asleep.
Jian Mo thought a nap would sober him, but when they arrived home, after putting him on the bed, Shi Xiaowang suddenly clung to his neck, nearly pulling him down. Jian Mo had to brace himself with one knee on the bed edge.
“Jian Mo! Are you leaving again?!”
Shi Xiaowang pouted, eyes red, about to cry.
Jian Mo quickly comforted him.
“I’m not leaving, I’m at home. Where would I go? Sleep now, my ancestor. You’ll feel better after a rest.”
“After sleeping, you’ll leave?”
Shi Xiaowang cried out.
“You just want to leave! You don’t want to stay with me!”
Tears streamed down Shi Xiaowang’s face.
“You didn’t want to marry me before, but I insisted. So you hate me, right?!”
“I…”
Jian Mo was at a loss for words but had to soothe him, the kid nearly hyperventilating.
“How could I hate you? I didn’t agree to the marriage at first only to avoid holding you back. Hate you, and I’d still build a greenhouse for you? Hate you, and I’d still help catch criminals? Huh?”
Jian Mo spoke gently, wiping away his tears.
“But you still want me to return to the dukedom…”
Shi Xiaowang stopped crying but continued sniffling, feeling extremely wronged.
Jian Mo smiled.
“Why are we digging up old grievances now?”
Shi Xiaowang’s tear-streaked eyes shone in the starlight outside, staring at him unblinking, like a little dog that had been bullied.
Jian Mo couldn’t resist; he kissed his forehead.
“I don’t want you to leave. I’ve always wanted you to stay. I want you with me forever.”
“Why?”
Shi Xiaowang’s tone still nasal from crying.
“Mm?”
Jian Mo smiled.
“What do you mean, why?”
“Why do you want me to stay?”
Shi Xiaowang asked.
“Why does it need a reason?”
Jian Mo said naturally.
“You said it yourself… because we are family.”
Shi Xiaowang stared at him, frowning.
“Don’t use my words. You’re brushing me off again.”
Jian Mo chuckled, smoothing his furrowed brow.
“Alright, let me think… why do I want you to stay…”
He paused, looked at him seriously.
Shi Xiaowang also looked at him, eyes half-open, trying to stay awake.
But Jian Mo was too close, like a warm, safe cradle.
So sleepy…
All because of Jian Mo…
His brain could no longer function.
Sleepy Shi Xiaowang looked confused and easy to bully.
Jian Mo’s gaze softened. He leaned down, kissed Shi Xiaowang’s eyes, and whispered in his ear.
“Sleep, baby. We’ll talk about this properly tomorrow.”
This time, Shi Xiaowang closed his eyes and didn’t open them again.
His breath carried a faint scent of wine, hands draped over Jian Mo’s neck, then shifted to hug his arm at the bed edge, sleeping peacefully.
Why…
Jian Mo smiled.
Because he had fallen for him…
Jian Mo reached out, brushed Shi Xiaowang’s hair from his forehead.
He had probably liked him for a long time.
Not just wanting him as family, but wanting him as a lover.
So he couldn’t let go, couldn’t let anyone approach him, couldn’t let him leave.
Jian Mo sighed softly.
He had probably realized his feelings long ago, but Shi Xiaowang trusted and depended on him too much, making him hesitant.
All his desires had been sublimated into the family Shi Xiaowang longed for. Fear of hurting him, fear of disappointment, fear of rejection, fear of him leaving. So Jian Mo hid his every advance, always playing the gentleman, suppressing every desire.
Jian Mo studied his face: smooth fair forehead, eyes tinged with pink, high nose, rosy full lips.
But why couldn’t he be his?
Why couldn’t he be his lover, belong only to him, let desire touch him?
They were already together, weren’t they?
Shi Xiaowang hadn’t renounced the marriage; he had called him husband more than once.
Could he just watch him one day be claimed by someone else?
He couldn’t. If he couldn’t, then he might as well try.
Try to make him his lover, try to let desire find its most longed-for home.
Jian Mo’s expression darkened; the desire he had suppressed surged uncontrollably.
He looked at Shi Xiaowang’s red, plump lips and leaned in slowly.
But just as he was about to touch them, he suddenly changed.
Shi Xiaowang woke slightly, looked at him, touched the nearby head.
“Going to sleep, Jian Da Meow. I’m so sleepy…”
And he rolled over and fell asleep again.
Jian Mo…
Jian Da Meow looked at his own paws, unable to resist the urge to curse for the first time.
Damn…
