After finishing the noodles, Wu Jiong noticed Jian Mo’s lingering melancholy. He gently suggested, “Stay here and rest. I’ll take care of the dishes.”
Jian Mo’s gaze followed Wu Jiong the entire time.
After washing the dishes, Wu Jiong came over and placed a hand on Jian Mo’s forehead, ensuring he wasn’t unwell before he finally relaxed.
“There’s hot water in the pot,” Wu Jiong said. “Take a bath—it’ll help.”
Jian Mo nodded. “I’ll grab the soap.”
A hot bath did help soothe his nerves, but the homesickness still tugged at Jian Mo’s heart. With the day’s emotions running high, sleep eluded him even after he burrowed into his warm bed.
When Wu Jiong joined him after his bath, Jian Mo instinctively nestled closer, wrapping his arms around him and inhaling his familiar scent with a soft sigh.
Wu Jiong lowered his head and kissed him lightly. “Sleep.”
Jian Mo lay silently in bed, waiting for drowsiness to come.
Time dragged on. The moon rose outside the window, and yet he remained wide awake, left counting the stars in frustration.
Though Wu Jiong said nothing, it was clear from his uneven breathing that he was still awake too. Jian Mo pretended not to notice, but he knew.
After tossing and turning for what felt like forever, Jian Mo spoke up. “How about I grab some Snow Pearl Wine? Maybe that’ll help.”
Wu Jiong replied, “It’s cold outside. I’ll get it.”
He returned shortly with the wine and, to keep Jian Mo from drinking it cold, poured it into a pot and placed it over the brazier to warm.
Jian Mo leaned against the headboard, watching Wu Jiong’s careful movements. A strange warmth swelled in his chest, leaving him with an inexplicable ache.
Wu Jiong glanced back, catching his expression. Concerned, he walked over and touched Jian Mo’s forehead again.
Before long, the wine was warmed.
Snow Pearl Wine, one of the finest fruit wines in the area, was sweet, smooth, and full of fruity aromas. Despite its mild taste, it had a surprisingly strong alcoholic kick.
After two sips, Jian Mo felt lightheaded, his thoughts drifting and his gaze becoming unfocused.
Wu Jiong sat beside him, wrapping an arm around his waist and pressing their cheeks together to check his state.
Jian Mo grasped Wu Jiong’s hand, nuzzling it with his cheek before going still.
Wu Jiong let him be, using his free hand to adjust the blanket with a gentle shake, intending to tuck him in.
But Jian Mo reached out, wrapping his arms around Wu Jiong’s waist and murmuring in a slightly hoarse voice, “What should I do? I’m still not sleepy.”
As he spoke, he snuggled closer, pressing his face against Wu Jiong’s firm abdomen.
Wu Jiong, dressed only in a thin short-sleeved shirt, felt Jian Mo’s warm breath against his skin, causing his breathing to falter and his muscles to tense.
After a moment, Wu Jiong whispered, “Just lie here for a while. You’ll feel sleepy soon.”
Jian Mo refused to let go. “What if I still can’t sleep?”
His raspy voice brushed against Wu Jiong’s ear, making Wu Jiong stiffen further.
Jian Mo chuckled softly and slid his hand over Wu Jiong’s abs, moving downward.
Wu Jiong caught his wrist, stopping him, but he didn’t let go entirely. Instead, his thumb gently rubbed the thin skin over Jian Mo’s wrist, where the pulse beat vividly beneath.
Jian Mo allowed the touch, staying quiet for a long time before speaking again. “Should we do something? If we’re tired afterward, we’ll probably fall asleep.”
The suggestion was blatant, and Wu Jiong’s eyes darkened instantly. After a pause, he muttered with restraint, “We don’t have anything prepared.”
Jian Mo countered, “I am.”
With that, he slipped out of bed, barefoot, and retrieved a jar he had hidden under some fabric in the cabinet. Returning to Wu Jiong, he waved it in front of him.
“See? All set,” Jian Mo declared.
Wu Jiong’s gaze deepened further. He studied Jian Mo’s expression, searching for any trace of hesitation or jest.
When Wu Jiong didn’t respond, Jian Mo, slightly embarrassed, chuckled lowly and leaned in close. “Are you not ready?”
His voice softened further as he added, “Is it because of the wine?”
His breath was warm against Wu Jiong’s skin, and his lips looked especially red under the flickering light.
Wu Jiong wrapped an arm around Jian Mo’s waist and kissed him. “Nothing like that.”
Jian Mo didn’t know if it was because wolves were naturally fierce or if the wine made them fiercer, but he soon regretted his provocation.
That night, Jian Mo not only slept deeply but slept unusually soundly.
When he finally woke in the afternoon, Jian Mo tried to get out of bed, but the moment he moved, a wave of soreness washed over him, making him wince. His whole body ached, especially his hips, which felt as though they had been torn apart.
“Hiss—” He inhaled sharply and gave up on moving. Not even his most intense workouts had ever left him in such a state.
The memories of the previous night surged back, and he sighed weakly, lying back down.
He rarely drank, so he hadn’t known how reckless he could get after a few drinks.
Served him right.
As Jian Mo shifted slightly, Wu Jiong, hearing the rustling from downstairs, quickly came up to check on him. Leaning over, Wu Jiong pressed a hand to Jian Mo’s forehead. “Still feeling bad? Should I give you a massage?”
Jian Mo, his voice hoarse, replied, “A massage won’t help. It’s all muscle strain.”
Wu Jiong frowned, guilt evident on his face.
Seeing this, Jian Mo sighed. He had brought this on himself—it wasn’t fair to blame Wu Jiong. “Maybe I just… enjoyed myself too much last night.”
Wu Jiong’s ears turned red, but his expression remained calm. “I’ll bring you some water. Are you hungry?”
“Yes. But you’ll have to carry me down—I’m not moving.”
Wu Jiong let out a low “mm” and carefully lifted Jian Mo, carrying him downstairs. Instead of taking the stairs, he leaped straight down from the second floor, landing so lightly that Jian Mo barely felt the impact.
He set Jian Mo down outside on a bench, handing him a toothbrush stick and a cup.
After Jian Mo finished cleaning up, Wu Jiong carried him back inside, placing him on a cushion by the table. “I made noodles. Have some.”
Jian Mo looked at the bowl Wu Jiong brought over, pleasantly surprised. “This looks great!”
Wu Jiong smiled. “I followed your recipe.”
After tasting a bite, Jian Mo nodded. “Delicious.”
Wu Jiong touched his forehead lightly again. “Eat slowly. Afterward, we’ll rest a bit more.”
The sun streamed in through the windows. At some point, Wu Jiong had washed the bedsheets and covers, hanging them in the courtyard to dry. They swayed gently in the breeze, carrying the clean scent of soap.
After finishing the noodles, Jian Mo said, “I feel like sitting outside in the sun for a while.”
Wu Jiong moved to carry him to the courtyard, but Jian Mo waved him off, standing up and shuffling his way there slowly. Once outside, he took the cushion Wu Jiong brought, placed it on a chair, and carefully sat down. Leaning back, he sighed with a smile, “Our life is actually pretty good right now.”
Wu Jiong stayed beside him, responding with a quiet “Mm.”
The two basked in the sun together. After a while, Jian Mo began fiddling with Wu Jiong’s hands and, feeling playful, urged him to shift into his beast form.
Obliging, Wu Jiong transformed into the giant wolf and lay down in the courtyard.
Jian Mo climbed onto his back, sprawled over the warm, soft belly, and let out a long sigh of contentment.
This was the life.
The warmth of the giant wolf beneath him and the sun’s rays above made him feel utterly at ease. Before long, Jian Mo dozed off.
When Qing Kuo arrived, this was the scene he encountered. He was about to call out to wake Jian Mo, but the giant wolf shot him a sharp look, silently asking him not to disturb the sleeping figure.
Catching the hint, Qing Kuo abandoned the idea and softly asked the wolf, “Is he sick?”
He had noticed that Jian Mo’s complexion seemed a little off—dark circles under his eyes, lips unusually red, possibly from a fever.
The wolf shook its head gently, indicating no.
Qing Kuo ventured another guess, “Just taking an afternoon nap, then?”
The wolf opened its mouth slightly but remained silent, asking with his gaze what Qing Kuo wanted.
“I came to check if you wanted to gather alkali tomorrow,” Qing Kuo explained in a low voice.
Alkali wasn’t just used to make glass; it was also valuable for purifying metals and producing soap. The tribe relied on it heavily and often sent people to harvest it.
With the changing winds today signaling colder weather tomorrow, the salt lake would likely crystallize more alkali, making it an excellent time to stock up for use in other seasons.
The giant wolf nodded, agreeing to the plan.
“I’ll organize the team, and we’ll leave early in the morning,” Qing Kuo whispered.
The wolf nodded again. Qing Kuo realized that the wolf refrained from speaking because the rise and fall of its belly would disturb Jian Mo, who was nestled on it.
Who would have thought this guy, once so gruff and stoic, could be this thoughtful after falling in love?
Qing Kuo glanced at the scene again, feeling a mix of exhaustion and amusement, then waved and left.
Jian Mo, oblivious to Qing Kuo’s visit, didn’t think much of the tribe’s regular alkali-gathering activities.
The next day, Wu Jiong led a group of young tribesmen to harvest alkali using woven vine skimmers.
Jian Mo, still feeling sore, had breakfast prepared by Wu Jiong before heading out for a slow walk around the tribe. His condition had improved, and walking was no longer much of an issue.
The sunny weather made his stroll pleasant.
A group of the tribe’s cubs swarmed him, eager to play, but upon learning he wasn’t feeling well, they tactfully left him alone.
Jian Mo wandered to the open space in the tribe where Zhou Fu and others were weaving fabric and gossiping about happenings in various tribes.
Finding a spot to sit, he basked in the sun while casually listening to the chatter.
Zhou Fu glanced at him several times.
Jian Mo noticed but didn’t respond, instead closing his eyes and dozing in the sunlight.
He fell asleep outside, and when he woke, the others had dispersed, leaving only Zhou Fu, who was staring at him with sparkling eyes full of gossip.
Seeing Jian Mo awake, Zhou Fu rubbed his lips with a knowing look. “Your lips are really red today—seem a bit swollen too.”
Jian Mo, naturally clear-cut in his features, had lips that were neither too thin nor too full. Now, with the added redness and slight swelling, they appeared especially plump, giving his demeanor an uncharacteristic charm.
Realizing Zhou Fu had noticed, Jian Mo didn’t mind. He casually touched his lips and asked, “Really?”
Zhou Fu nodded vigorously. “Definitely!”
Then, leaning closer, Zhou Fu lowered his voice. “So… you and the chief… did it?”
Jian Mo admitted straightforwardly, “Yeah, why?”
Zhou Fu’s face lit up, his curiosity morphing into admiration. He gave Jian Mo a thumbs-up.
Feeling playful, Jian Mo leaned a little closer. “I have a question for you.”
Thinking it was something serious, Zhou Fu straightened his posture, his expression turning solemn. “Ask away.”
Jian Mo chuckled lightly. “Where did you get that balm you gave me? It’s pretty useful.”
