TAMW CH32

That rosy spot brushed tantalizingly past the tip of his nose, and strands of hair seemed to wind around Zhou Xiao’s ears like a feverish dream. Several times, his mouth parted, desperate to bite.

Yuqing pinned him down with deceptive ease.

Yuqing’s words were akin to imperial decrees; though Zhou Xiao burned with impatience, he had no choice but to obey. Yuqing was remarkably light, his weight barely felt as he sat astride Zhou Xiao’s hips, the swell of his belly pressing down with soft, rounded warmth.

Zhou Xiao could feel that yielding softness flush against him. The veins at his temples throbbed violently, his voice dropping into a thick rasp: “Yuqing…”

“Hmm?” The inner robe draped over Yuqing’s shoulders slipped past his back, pooling at the hollow of his waist.

Though they had shared a bed for some time, not long ago Zhou Xiao hadn’t even dared watch Yuqing bathe. They were both men, yet in Zhou Xiao’s eyes, Yuqing’s body shone like a blinding star, almost impossible to gaze upon directly.

Yuqing possessed a slender waist that even a man could not resist—narrow, delicate shoulders with a gentle slope, and graceful, sculpted arms. His chest, though flat, was porcelain-white and carried a subtle, almost imperceptible curve.

Zhou Xiao knew all too well the taste hidden beneath that subtle curve. What he had lacked since childhood was always replenished here, cradled in Yuqing’s embrace.

Further down was the swollen belly Yuqing had bared of his own accord.

His wife was carrying a child.

Previously, Zhou Xiao had possessed no real sense of it. Through the heavy fabric of the robes, he had only noticed Yuqing’s abdomen growing slightly larger, his mind still unable to fathom that this man was truly with child. A man bearing young was unheard of. Yuqing had always shielded himself during his baths, and even when they shared a pillow, Zhou Xiao had never looked closely. Yuqing had deliberately shielded his belly, letting him touch it occasionally, but had never allowed him to look upon it in broad daylight like this…

The belly was genuinely rounded from within, swelling prominently beneath the navel—resembling half a small watermelon nestled under the skin.

Smooth, delicate flesh, and beneath that flat chest lay a man’s swollen, pregnant womb…

The word mother had always carried a sacred weight.

Staring fixedly at that rounded belly, Zhou Xiao felt as though a fire were consuming him from the inside out. He grew as frantic and unsteady as an unexploded mine on the verge of detonating, loose gravel sliding down the precipice in reckless anticipation.

Yuqing’s skin was so fair that even a light pinch to his waist left distinct, rosy marks.

Watching him reduced to this pathetic, breathless state, Yuqing found it rather amusing. Brushing his chest teasingly close to the man’s nose, he murmured, “Do you want to taste it?”

“Mhm…” Zhou Xiao’s eyes narrowed into slits. He cursed the fact that he had no tail to wag, otherwise it would have been beating against the heavens by now. “Good Yuqing, let me serve you.” His voice was raw as he parted his lips to bite, only for Yuqing’s slender fingers to slip into his mouth instead.

“Ah.” Yuqing pressed his fingertips firmly against the back of Zhou Xiao’s tongue. “I haven’t given you permission; why are you biting so eagerly? Weren’t you promising to be obedient just a moment ago?”

Zhou Xiao simply couldn’t endure being teased like this. He felt on the verge of madness. He almost wanted to disregard Yuqing’s fragile condition, to flip him over and ravish him thoroughly, rather than being handled like a dog—forced to coax him, forbidden from talking back.

The man’s broad hands gripped Yuqing’s waist with desperate urgency. Even with the rounded belly in front, the deep indentations at his lower back were distinct; beneath that soft, warm skin, his fingers slotted perfectly into the curves.

“Please…” Zhou Xiao’s plea came out muffled, his tongue pinned firmly beneath Yuqing’s fingers as punishment for his impatience.

“Will you be disobedient next time?” Yuqing asked.

Zhou Xiao shook his head frantically. “No.”

“The people by my side answer only to my command.” Yuqing tilted his head, smiling sweetly as he slid his wet fingers from Zhou Xiao’s mouth, pressing his chest against the man’s lips instead. “When you issue orders, that is meddling—it is crossing the line. Understood?”

If Zhou Xiao wanted a taste, he could not argue. If he refused, a sharp slap was sure to follow. Whether yielding or advancing, it was an intoxicating indulgence. Sinking his face into Yuqing’s embrace, Zhou Xiao let out a long, contented sigh. “Mhm… understood.”

From the first moment they met, Zhou Xiao had felt an indescribable magnetism pulling him in. Yuqing possessed the stature and countenance of a man, yet held a rare, enveloping gentleness—yielding and smooth as fine silk. Stepping close to him felt like slipping into a waking dream…

Indeed, Zhou Xiao nipped at him like a suckling child. When teeth grazed him too sharply and it stung, Yuqing merely cradled the back of his head, running his fingers through the man’s cropped hair, murmuring soft admonishments against his ear: “Can’t you be a little gentler?”

“If you carry on like this, Yuqing won’t give it to you next time.”

“I’ll be gentle, I promise.” Zhou Xiao made the promises readily enough, but his restraint fell short. He was a man who mastered every subject with terrifying speed, yet proved deliberately clumsy only when it came to this.

Yuqing scolded him, yet indulged him all the same.

Zhou Xiao truly couldn’t bear the sensation of being held beneath him; he pleaded softly to turn over.

By now, the tightness in Yuqing’s chest had eased, yet he refused to yield control. When tossing a bone to a dog, one must never let it gorge itself in a single sitting. Zhou Xiao had badgered him relentlessly about Jiang Sui and Zhao Fu; his petty jealousy was narrower than the eye of a needle, and he was likely plotting to go over Yuqing’s head to deal with them both. If he wasn’t taught a lesson today, it would be too late once he started acting with impunity around Yuqing’s people.

He could permit Zhou Xiao to reside in the Zhou mansion. He could even allow him to walk tall as the master of the house. But should Zhou Xiao attempt to usurp authority, Yuqing would never permit it.

The position of family head belonged to him alone.

Those who refused to obey naturally had to taste some bitterness.

Straddling his hips, Yuqing reached behind himself to stroke downward, his lips parting in a faint, knowing smile. “You brag about it all day long; let us see if it proves useful this time.”

Zhou Xiao gasped, his entire frame pulling taut. He dared not resist, nor did he dare move recklessly. He knew all too well that Yuqing had always taken pleasure in forcing him…

At the thought, a wave of exhilarating sweetness washed over him. He had been too young and foolish in the past—Yuqing was truly magnificent.

By afternoon, Yuqing had drifted off to sleep.

Zhou Xiao fetched warm water to wipe him down before quietly rising. He was in exceptionally high spirits.

Doctor Liu had mentioned that as the birth passage developed during the later stages of a male pregnancy, physical desire would naturally intensify. Yuqing had taken the initiative precisely out of fear that Zhou Xiao might act recklessly, using it to relieve the discomfort in his own body. Though mindful not to startle the child—allowing only the shallowest entry—the sight of Yuqing’s trembling shoulders had utterly enraptured him.

Like the ceremonial phoenix candles of their wedding night: when joined together, the glistening, rosy opening burned scalding hot, the wax dripping without end…

As Zhou Xiao sorted through the wardrobe for a fresh inner robe, he couldn’t help letting out a soft chuckle. “From now on, let me wash your clothes, all right?”

“Zhao Fu has served you for years; you can’t have him washing your garments indefinitely.”

Yuqing humored him drowsily. “Understood.”

“Then it’s settled: you must keep me in your heart.” Having helped him into fresh clothes, Zhou Xiao lingered by the edge of the mattress, exceedingly clingy.

Though it had been brief, Yuqing had indeed used him. The sensation was profoundly addictive. Before Zhou Xiao could grip his waist to attend to him further, Yuqing had already pulled away, telling him: “Only by being obedient will you be permitted to serve like this in the future.”

Zhou Xiao had been led around by the nose by those very words. If he failed to obey, he would only ever be given half a taste before having it snatched away.

Properly dressed, Zhou Xiao stepped out of the bedchamber and asked Deng Yongquan, “Where is Zhao Fu?”

“You… you aren’t going to do it yourself, are you?” The corner of Deng Yongquan’s mouth twitched.

Zhou Xiao was in a pleasant temper. Having been disciplined by Yuqing, his whole body felt steeped in honey; he had no time to waste being petty with a servant. “Tell him it won’t be necessary. From now on, he is to handle odd chores around the Madam. He is barred from personal attendance. Remind him to mind his place.”

“Come, let us fetch Second Uncle.”

Deng Yongquan mused inwardly: Since when has the Young Master become so merciful? Spending time around a gentle soul truly rubbed off on a man. The Madam’s methods of rearing a child were truly formidable! Bah—rearing a husband.

When Deng Yongquan arrived to deliver the message, Zhao Fu had already put his room back in order, having sterilized the shears with alcohol, ready to carry out the deed. He genuinely wanted to remain by the Madam’s side. Toward Yuqing, he held an attitude of reverent devotion; there was affection, but far more loyalty. Back then, the Madam had shielded him, pulling his life back from the brink; from that day forth, his life belonged solely to Ruan Yuqing.

In his heart, Zhao Fu naturally envied Zhou Xiao. Several times, dark thoughts had crossed his mind: if the Young Master were to perish out in the world, even without Zhou blood, remaining quietly by the Madam’s side would have been enough.

Having delivered the orders, Deng Yongquan hurried after Zhou Xiao to bail out the Second Master.

While Zhao Fu stood in a daze, another servant arrived, summoning him to the Madam’s room. He scrambled to his feet at once. Ever since Zhou Xiao’s return, the Madam had not called upon him for tasks in a very long time.

Yuqing had only taken a short nap; his sleep was light and fragmented these days.

Zhao Fu knelt quietly before him, head bowed. “Madam.”

“What happened this morning?” Yuqing asked languidly.

Zhao Fu found it impossible to confess that he had secretly hoarded the Madam’s date pits. He merely kowtowed, admitting he had overstepped the rules, terrified that the Madam would come to despise him. Yuqing had always held propriety in high regard.

Seeing Zhao Fu remain silent, Yuqing deduced a fair portion of the truth.

“Come here.”

Zhao Fu crawled forward on his knees until Yuqing reached out, tilting his chin upward. “Zhou Xiao hasn’t been by my side as long as you have. If he makes things difficult for you, you may tell me.”

“Madam…”

“Zhao Fu, I value loyal servants, but only within the bounds of your station. Should you ever seek to overstep the rules, let alone the Master, even I will not permit it. Do you understand?”

Yuqing had devoted his own life to the Zhou family; he was merely ensuring Zhao Fu understood his place. One had to know what was permitted and what was forbidden.

Yuqing’s slender fingers rested against his crown. “Only sensible people may serve at my side for a lifetime.”

Zhao Fu murmured, “As long as I may serve the Madam, this servant dares harbor no other thoughts.”

In his heart, the Madam mattered more than anything else.

Yuqing tapped his forehead lightly. “You are still young, with a long road ahead. Do not act foolishly, and do not put me in a difficult position.”

He had been attended to by Zhao Fu for years, after all. Over the years, Zhao Fu had never made a misstep, handling affairs briskly. Yet when it came to romance, Yuqing possessed not a shred of feeling for him. From the moment he entered the Zhou family, under Zhou Yuzhang’s meticulous grooming, he had known that his presence in this house existed solely for Zhou Xiao. Though he had never seen Zhou Xiao’s face back then, harboring envy and resentment toward him, over all these years, no one else had ever caught Yuqing’s eye.

Now, whether it was the loyalty of the past or the affection of the present, the two sentiments had become so deeply entangled that even Yuqing could scarcely tell them apart.

“Madam, I will never put you in a difficult position.”

“If any misfortune befalls me during childbirth, you must assist him with Qingming Bank. Do you hear me?”

Zhao Fu nodded firmly. “I was raised and trained by the Madam. Whatever you command, I shall do.”

Yuqing rewarded him with a pastry and sent him back to his quarters.

Once the servant departed, Yuqing slowly rose from the bed. Rounding the screen, he leaned over the basin and dry-heaved several times. His pregnancy symptoms had always been severe. With Zhou Xiao watching over him constantly, he had been forced to suppress it, loath to let the unsightly retching show.

Cough…

The child within was restless. Perhaps startled earlier, it was kicking and shifting relentlessly.

He was approaching six months. A male pregnancy could not be carried to full term; Doctor Liu had explained that his constitution was frail from birth, meaning labor-inducing medicine could be administered around seven and a half months to deliver the child.

Zhou Xiao was due to depart for Shencheng soon; it was best to keep him in the dark. With his boyish temperament, he would only worry himself sick.

Recalling how clingy Zhou Xiao had been in his arms before leaving, looking nothing like a grown man, only to don a cold, stony mask the second he crossed the threshold—it was utterly amusing.

Yuqing rinsed his mouth, supporting his belly as he settled back onto the bed. His palm traced the swollen curve of his abdomen.

At first, he had merely rejoiced at carrying a child of the Zhou lineage—borrowing seed to bear young, finally allowing Zhou blood to flow within him. Yet now, the thought kept surfacing: this child… It was not merely the Zhou bloodline; it was a creation forged between him and Zhou Xiao.

A life conceived during a time when they were neither familiar nor in love, yet binding the two of them together.

In a month and a half, a living soul carrying both their bloodlines would arrive in this world.

The thought left his heart surprisingly warm.

Whom would the child resemble more?

Himself, perhaps… His own temperament was too detached, lacking warmth, though his meticulous calculations had their merits.

Or Zhou Xiao… Zhou Xiao belonged to the new era, always speaking of truths Yuqing had never considered. At times, he sounded like his adoptive father, lecturing on matters Yuqing did not understand; at other times, he was like a child—stubborn, childish, and entirely unpredictable.

For a moment, Yuqing found it difficult to choose.

When he snapped back to his senses, he froze.

“What am I anticipating…” Yuqing murmured softly. “Am I anticipating a child with him?”

He wasn’t merely anticipating the heir to the Zhou family; he was anticipating a child between himself and Zhou Xiao… was he?

Yuqing smiled helplessly, thinking that the word love was truly impossible to unravel. If he survived the delivery of Qingming, he wouldn’t mind truly being Mrs. Zhou for once. If he failed to survive, and Zhou Xiao turned to someone else in the future to marry again—without holding the young master back—that would be fine as well.

Zhou Xiao had originally intended to leave his Second Uncle locked away for a few more days. But being in high spirits today, stepping out to buy pastries for Yuqing provided the perfect opportunity to bail the man out and demand payment; the contract had been signed, and he couldn’t let the money slip away.

Deng Yongquan drove the car through the streets of Baizhou.

They bought another bag of candied dates from Xianxiang Restaurant. Zhou Xiao remarked, “His palate no longer favors sweets.”

Deng Yongquan asked, “Did the Madam tell you?”

“I deduced it,” Zhou Xiao said with a grin. “Otherwise, he would have sent someone to buy them long ago. Lately, the private kitchen has been preparing sour and spicy dishes; the pregnancy has clearly shifted his tastes.”

“Then why buy them?” Deng Yongquan was bewildered.

What bewildered him even more was glancing into the rearview mirror and catching Zhou Xiao slipping something from his pocket into his mouth to suck on. The bag of dates remained tied shut—what on earth was his young master keeping in his pocket?

“How many days will our journey to Shencheng take?” Zhou Xiao asked.

Deng Yongquan replied, “The blueprints were sent ahead. Second Young Master Li said that once the funds arrive, we can blast the mountain at any time. The initial supervision will require your presence; it’ll take about two months.”

“Can you handle it on your own?”

Deng Yongquan: “…”

Back in France, Zhou Xiao had disliked studying railway engineering, lacking the patience for drafting schematics; Deng Yongquan had handled much of the labor in his stead.

Zhou Xiao said, “You saw it yourself—how could the Madam manage without someone by his side?”

Deng Yongquan: “…”

Zhou Xiao leaned over the front seat from behind. “Yongquan, you wouldn’t bungle such a small matter, would you?”

Deng Yongquan: “…”

He distinctly remembered that upon returning to the country, his young master had harbored grand ambitions—vowing to elevate domestic progress to match France and Great Britain, connecting every road across the land for the nation and the people. Now, he had actually stooped to using the excuse that the Madam couldn’t manage without him.

“Also, have Young Master Li make inquiries regarding Jiang Sui to see if there’s any news.”

Deng Yongquan muttered, “Wouldn’t you be happier without news? Why bother checking…”

Zhou Xiao clicked his tongue. “I told you to inquire, so do it properly. Why all the chatter?”

“I asked Uncle Deng,” he said. “That Jiang Sui is already thirty-five this year; in a few more years, he’ll be a bald old fossil. But with him guarding the harbor, Yuqing’s operations run smoothly—at least it’s convenient. If another army takes over, with Yuqing pregnant and frail, wouldn’t he have to waste energy currying favor with a new commander?”

“With his health so delicate, I must naturally consider his needs. Pull over. Go on, buy two more fresh cream cakes.”

Having endured a long lecture on how the Madam’s health was delicate, Deng Yongquan bolted from the car to give his ears some peace.

Since returning to Baizhou, Zhou Xiao had never properly toured the city. Buying pastries for Yuqing today had him browsing from one end of town to the other, visiting every famous shop from east to west.

Passing Qingming Bank, Zhou Xiao ordered the car to halt and watched from across the street.

Previously, he hadn’t understood Yuqing, assuming those raised within inner courtyards were inherently short-sighted. Yet this supposedly short-sighted Yuqing had sold off the Zhou pawnshops to establish a private bank. Though he lacked extensive schooling, his mind was brilliant and adaptable.

Zhou Xiao mused that had it not been for the Zhou family and this unexpected pregnancy binding Yuqing, he ought to have ventured out into the world just like himself. Perhaps once the child was born, he would take Yuqing far away to see the wider world!

The mere thought of traveling far with Yuqing—just the two of them, deeply devoted—filled Zhou Xiao’s chest with sweetness. How often did true love grace a man’s life?

With just a little obedience, Yuqing had taken him with such eager abandon. Though he had only slipped inside a fraction, the sensation had been soul-stealing in its bliss. If Yuqing came to love him with his entire heart, wouldn’t they share their pillows every single day? He could scarcely imagine the ecstasy of such days.

Propping his arm on the car window, Zhou Xiao smiled faintly at the sign of Qingming Bank across the street. Yuqing had even named the bank after their child.

Such care… Caring so deeply for the child, how could he not care for the child’s father?

Zhou Xiao felt increasingly pleased with his own performance. When Yuqing wanted a child, he could provide one. When Yuqing grew restless during pregnancy and needed relief, he was entirely at his disposal. No wonder Yuqing had praised him back then, saying he ‘looked quite capable.’ It turned out to be true; Yuqing genuinely loved it!

Hahahahaha.

Deng Yongquan: “…”

After a moment, Deng Yongquan cautiously interrupted his master’s reverie: “Young Master, are we still fetching the Second Master?”

“Right, right—there’s still Second Uncle.” Surrounded by a car full of pastries, Zhou Xiao had nearly forgotten the man entirely, urging Deng Yongquan to step on the gas.

Zhou Yulin’s treatment at the police station hadn’t been terrible; he had at least been granted a private cell. Once bailed out, Zhou Xiao briefed him on the situation with the Ruan family.

Ruan Hongtian had survived, though he remained unconscious in the hospital. The Ruan family was currently overseen by the second sister—the very woman who had clashed with Yuqing at the docks, and Zhou Yulin’s wife. His wife, Ruan Hongmei, had long resented him for bringing his mistress’s boy home, deliberately leaving him to stew in a cell for a couple of days to teach him a lesson. She hadn’t expected Zhou Xiao to bail him out first.

Ruan Hongmei had also been scrambling for news regarding Jiang Sui’s fate; transporting opium via overland armed escorts was no longer sufficient. When Baizhou Port was in the Ruan family’s hands, surrounding cities had sourced their opium directly from them. With a chance to reclaim the harbor, the Ruans would never let the opportunity slip by.

The Ruan ancestors had been salt commissioners, holding few industrial assets; if the opium route was severed, their economic lifeline would be truly cut. The Ruans had set their sights on the railway, requiring Zhou Yulin to cultivate good ties with Zhou Xiao to invest in the project and use the trains for opium transit.

Securing the port remained their highest priority; the moment Jiang Sui’s death was confirmed, the Ruans would be the first to move against Yuqing. Since the fire at the Ruan mansion had likely destroyed the photographic negatives, two days had passed without a single whisper in the papers.

Zhou Xiao arranged for Zhou Yulin to stay in a modest hotel.

“Second Uncle, as you know, Ruan Yuqing calls the shots at home now. It is awkward for me to bring you back, so you must endure staying in an inn for a few days.”

“Here is the contract from the other day. I plan to take the funds and head straight for Shencheng so I can support the Ruan family in the future, right?”

Zhou Yulin beamed with joy upon hearing this. “You only need to take the contract to your Second Aunt for review. Though a rift exists between us, this venture benefits the Ruans; she won’t refuse. Besides, my elder brother had already agreed to it.”

Zhou Xiao handed the contract to Deng Yongquan: “Go to the hospital to have Second Aunt cash the check, and tell her to come settle Second Uncle quickly.”

The Ruan household was currently in complete disarray, scurrying about like headless flies.

Zhou Yulin remarked, “A pity about those photographs. Otherwise, we could have thoroughly ruined Ruan Yuqing. To think an unwanted bastard could enjoy such glory for so long.”

“And that Zhao Fu by his side—plainly a slave reared by our family, yet Yuqing had the nerve to demand him from my courtyard, and now the wretch bites the hand that feeds him.”

“You ought to settle down soon and take several capable concubines into the household. A man serving as a wife—it’s shameful. You might not have a say in other matters, but on this, I doubt he would dare object.”

“My elder brother saved his life back then; taking a few concubines for you should be expected. Hurry and produce a child, then cast him aside with a letter of divorce. Marrying a man is humiliating enough.”

“Once the railway is built, his glory days will be over!” Zhou Yulin spoke with vindictive satisfaction, even lighting a cigarette, convinced that his nephew was devoted to him and that his own day of triumph was at hand.

Zhou Xiao asked, “Concubines? Did you bring this up with him?”

Zhou Yulin scoffed. “He may meddle in other affairs, but on this point, he wouldn’t dare disgrace our Zhou ancestors. You are my elder brother’s only son; since he cannot bear children, taking concubines is only natural.”

“Oh—”

So it was you.

Zhou Xiao looked at his Second Uncle with a pleasant smile.

He had wondered where that idea came from. Why on earth would a perfectly fine man insist on finding him concubines? It turned out someone had been whispering in his ear; he had been corrupted by these rotten old rules!

Yuqing held the ancestors in the highest regard, and Zhou Yulin had dared use them to frighten him?

Concubines? Second wives? What Zhou Xiao demanded was a single partner for a lifetime; Ruan Yuqing was permitted to use only him, and they would be devoted till the end. What did these wretched fools raised in archaic mansions know of love between husband and wife? What he had learned in France was progress! Not merely academic progress, but progress of the mind!

Zhou Xiao rose, rummaging through the room. A cheap inn like this offered little in the way of handy tools.

“What are you looking for?”

“Nothing, Second Uncle. Please, have a seat.” Zhou Xiao circled the room with an easy grin, finally locating a rough towel.

He twisted it tight and pulled it taut—resembling nothing less than a sturdy hemp rope.

Had Zhou Yulin not mistreated Zhao Fu back then, how would a loyal dog of a servant have ended up by Yuqing’s side? Had Zhou Yulin not used the ancestors to scare Yuqing, why would Yuqing have brought up divorce papers and concubines out of the blue?

Scum of the old society.

A perfectly good wife had been corrupted by these miserable bastards!