Chapter 187: Extra (17)
After fleeing from Bai Jiu, Xie Jing spent several days avoiding him and didn’t go to meet him again.
It was Bai Jiu who came looking, finding him on the rooftop.
The Xie family’s loft was exquisitely built, with flying eaves and slightly damp under the clouds.
Bai Jiu stood below, squinting upward. If it weren’t for the clear moonlight that night, he might have missed seeing Xie Jing hiding above.
He called out once, but the figure on the roof remained silent.
Bai Jiu had a ladder brought over, carrying a small jar of wine. He climbed up and drank with Xie Jing.
Xie Jing glanced at him but didn’t refuse. They sipped the light wine, and Bai Jiu asked, “Why haven’t you come to see me these past few days?”
Xie Jing toyed with his cup, muttering, “I can’t find that letter.”
“Huh?”
“The letter you wrote me before… I can’t find it. Maybe I lost it.” Xie Jing picked at his clothes nervously but curiosity got the better of him: “What did the letter say?”
Bai Jiu chuckled softly and reached out to hold Xie Jing’s hand. Xie Jing’s fingers twitched slightly. Bai Jiu loosened his grip a little, but before pulling away, he felt the smaller hand clasp his in return.
Xie Jing’s ears flushed, but he didn’t deny it.
Bai Jiu looked at him and slowly said, “It wrote about some worries I had in my heart.”
Xie Jing, puzzled, asked, “Worries?”
Bai Jiu explained, “We hadn’t seen each other for years. We only corresponded by letters, yet I had come to like someone. I didn’t dare be sure if the other person felt the same, so I always pretended to be just an elder brother, never revealing even a word of my feelings. I didn’t want to delay him, nor coerce him. Even when I came to Sichuan, I had prepared myself—if he were already married, or had someone he liked, I even thought of sending him a bridal gift to help him wed.”
“But when I saw him in person, it was impossible. He’s even better than in the photos; just one glance and I couldn’t let go.”
“Jing’er, my heart delights in you.”
Xie Jing said nothing, red-faced, and tugged at Bai Jiu’s collar, closing his eyes to kiss him.
When he tried to leave, Bai Jiu didn’t let him. With a soft laugh, he taught him a real kiss—different from Xie Jing’s inexperienced, fleeting ones. Bai Jiu’s teaching was deliberate, careful, holding back so as not to frighten the young boy in his arms.
Xie Jing was breathless from the kiss, squirming slightly, annoyed: “How… do you know so much!”
Bai Jiu pressed his forehead against his, smiling softly: “I read a lot of books. I wanted to learn before you so I could teach you.”
“Not proper!”
Bai Jiu leaned to his ear, kissed the silver ear clasp he had longed for, his breath warm, whispering softly.
Xie Jing grabbed his clothes, ears burning. It took a while to hear him clearly: this person was only improper with him alone.
The two of them sat on the rooftop, watching the moon.
Hands held together, never letting go.
Their relationship now clarified, they were far more intimate than before.
Xie Jing continued sneaking out every day to visit Bai Jiu. On Bai Jiu’s side, a small table always had food Xie Jing liked and a small bottle of medicinal oil.
The last time Xie Jing had fallen from a horse, it was only a superficial injury, but Bai Jiu still worried, applying medicine to his arm and back daily.
Xie Jing’s pale skin took a long time to recover from the bruises. When Bai Jiu rubbed the medicine on gently, Xie Jing would laugh and squirm: “Too ticklish! I’ll do it myself.”
Bai Jiu refused, coaxing him: “Be good. It’ll be over soon.”
After the medicine, Bai Jiu held him silently for a while.
Xie Jing felt protected, close enough to hear Bai Jiu’s racing heartbeat. Sensitive to Bai Jiu’s emotions since childhood, he instinctively said, “Brother, don’t be afraid. I’m fine now.”
Bai Jiu placed Xie Jing’s hand on his chest. After a moment, he said, “When I saw you fall off the horse that day, my heart was full of fear. I kept thinking you shouldn’t go to the races—so many people… what if something else happened…”
Xie Jing’s face flushed as he pulled his hand back: “I usually behave like this. Next time I’ll be more careful. Don’t worry.”
Bai Jiu held him close, resting his chin on Xie Jing’s head, sighing: “I want to, but my heart doesn’t listen. It only sees you.”
Xie Jing whispered, “Do all you people from the North speak so sweetly?”
Bai Jiu kissed him: “I don’t know. I only ever said this to you.”
Xie Jing scolded: “Only speak to me in the future.”
Bai Jiu nodded.
For some reason, Xie Jing’s heart raced too, his face and ears burning. He looked at Bai Jiu, then looked away: “I lost the last hunting game. You caught more prey and even gave me the ibex. I owe you one. We agreed whoever won gets the horse…”
Bai Jiu said, “No matter. It was meant for you anyway.”
Xie Jing’s eyes shone brightly.
Bai Jiu loved this look, so puppy-like and endearing. He leaned in for a kiss, laughing softly: “I prepared it for you in advance. Those horses too—I’ve been keeping them for you. Choose whichever you like.”
Xie Jing, ticklish, turned to dodge, but Bai Jiu laughed and kissed him for a long while, making him curl his toes on the couch, pleading for mercy.
Today Bai Jiu wasn’t so easygoing; his grip was stronger than usual. Xie Jing called him “Brother.”
Bai Jiu paused, breathing heavily, eyes dark and intense.
“I won’t touch you. Don’t be afraid.”
Xie Jing wasn’t afraid. He curled into Bai Jiu’s arms, hugging his neck and murmuring: “I called you several times, and you squeezed my wrist.”
Bai Jiu held his hand, kissing it softly: “I apologize. I won’t do it again.”
Xie Jing rolled over, lying on his chest. Bai Jiu gently held him, whispering, “Don’t move. Let me hold you a while.”
Xie Jing obeyed.
He enjoyed being with Bai Jiu. He’d only been nervous before because it was all new, but now he realized it felt pretty good. He leaned closer, kissed Bai Jiu’s chin, eyes sparkling with anticipation: “Can you be gentler? I want to try again.”
Bai Jiu scratched his chin, lowering his gaze to study him for a moment, voice low and husky: “No rush. We have time.”
Xie Jing buried his head against Bai Jiu’s chest, nuzzling.
He had finally won Bai Jiu these past days and was overjoyed, feeling completely content.
Listening to Bai Jiu’s heartbeat, he played with the buttons on his clothes, whispering: “Brother, when my parents return, I’ll take you to meet them.”
