Standing there, Zhou Xiao appeared exceptionally tall and imposing.

Even with Yuqing stepping on top of his shoes, he still had to stand on tiptoe to barely meet the man’s gaze on level ground.

With only a three-year age difference between them, Yuqing’s physique seemed far too frail and sickly by comparison. Nourished like a chronic medicine jar for years on end, his flesh clung thinly to bone, possessing the enchanting, alluring beauty of a living spirit.

Zhou Xiao’s robust, youthful physique and powerful muscles, on the other hand, radiated an overwhelming aura of pure aggression.

In truth, Yuqing had met many such men—the generals, lieutenant colonels, and corporals he dealt with in Baizhou. Yet not a single one had ever looked at him with such eyes: bare, raw, looking as though he wanted to swallow him whole.

Yuqing stood unhurriedly before him, stirring his fingertips inside Zhou Xiao’s mouth before hooking his arms around the man’s neck, leaning in to plant a kiss upon his lips.

Zhou Xiao tilted his head instinctively, but the angle was so slight that the kiss still brushed against the corner of his mouth.

The candied date flavor mingled with the lingering jasmine smoke he had inhaled.

As expected, it’s this scent, Zhou Xiao thought.

“Even if you deny it, this remains a fact.” Yuqing released him with a beaming smile, withdrawing his fingertips from Zhou Xiao’s mouth, drawing out a strand of thick, glistening saliva. He rubbed his thumb against his fingers, finding it remarkably slick. “You may discard the centuries-old foundation of the Zhou clan if you wish, but as your wife, it is only natural that I manage it on your behalf. Father trusts me as well.”

Seeing Zhou Xiao’s stiff, unyielding expression—as if guarding his pristine chastity—Yuqing suppressed the urge to laugh and turned around, teasing him no further.

“You are out here striving for your career. As a wife, I have no right to meddle in a husband’s affairs. Tend to your business; whenever you wish to fuck me, just come back.”

“As long as you return, Yuqing’s legs will always open for his husband…” His fingertip traced a final circle against Zhou Xiao’s chest. “Do you not like that?”

“You gain your freedom, and I gain the Zhou family. Only then can it be called blissful harmony, a match of mutual devotion.”

Every word Ruan Yuqing spoke dripped with calculated precision, hammering like nails into Zhou Xiao’s heart.

What did a man strive for all his life?

Power, money, beauties—or rather, so long as one was human, no one in this world could ever escape these three pursuits.

What man wouldn’t want a compliant, pleasing wife at home who never questioned the flings and affairs outside?

Had this been the previous dynasty, marrying such a sensible Madame would have made any husband laugh in his sleep.

Yet such a marriage was just like the decaying Zhou estate: rotten, decadent, and ignorant. That was precisely why Zhou Xiao despised it.

He despised not only this kind of marriage, but also Yuqing’s utter clarity of mind.

Ruan Yuqing knew all too well what he wanted. By marrying him, he could legitimately lay claim to the Zhou family’s wealth while simultaneously enjoying Zhou Xiao’s youthful body. The Old Master, pleased by his sacrificial devotion, would gladly leave the entire estate to him upon his deathbed.

What if he hadn’t been the Old Master’s son?

Merely after tasting his youth once on their wedding night, Yuqing had traveled thousands of miles to seek intimacy. Had the Zhou family’s heir been anyone else, wouldn’t Ruan Yuqing have simply substituted him with another man?

Zhou Xiao was merely riding on the Old Master’s coattails! Riding on the privilege of his youth!

What a Ruan Yuqing: coveting his body while scheming for the Old Master’s fortune, playing both father and son like fiddles in the palm of his hand.

What a Ruan Yuqing.

What an Eldest Young Mistress of the Zhou family.

Treating him like a mere plaything.

Zhou Xiao let out a cold sneer, narrowing his eyes as he wrapped a hand around Ruan Yuqing’s throat, forcing him to step back retreatingly. “Mmh…”

Rather than being forced back by the grip on his neck, it was more like Ruan Yuqing was pulling on the man’s shirt to retreat step by step. His voice drifted languidly, “Has the Young Master’s fever broken?”

Yuqing pressed close. “Then, do you still want to fuck?”

“Absurd!” Zhou Xiao shoved Yuqing onto the bed, turning around with a flushed face and stiff neck. “Put your clothes on properly.”

Yuqing wore nothing beneath his long robe. Sinking into the soft bed, his slender, fair thighs were exposed almost to the hip, still marked with the red bruises Zhou Xiao had pinched into his skin…

Seeing the man’s aloof, unrecognizing demeanor the moment he got out of bed, Yuqing couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“Put them on quickly.” Keeping his back turned to him, Zhou Xiao felt an unbearable itch in his throat. His loose pajamas couldn’t conceal the prominent shadow at his groin, tormenting him with restless heat. He refused to let Ruan Yuqing see it, lest the man demand more.

Now that the effects of the tonic had mostly waned and both of them were lucid, indulging any further would be entirely his own failing.

“Yes,” Yuqing murmured, slowly rising. “The Eldest Young Master truly doesn’t know how to cherish me. My waist aches so terribly; would you forgive me if I move a little slowly?”

“Mm,” Zhou Xiao responded in a low murmur.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, where the date pit had long since been stripped of all flesh.

It was the pit he had brought out from the Zhou manor that day, forgotten in his pocket. Whenever his hand slipped inside, the sharp ends of the pit would prick against his thumb. That slight sting always reminded him of the sensation of Yuqing biting his shoulder on their wedding night—startlingly similar, like the prick of a needle, or the soft nip of a kitten.

Ruan Yuqing had no intention of leaving immediately. Shencheng was home to a prestigious medical university, and it was currently spring break. Once the semester resumed, a renowned professor named Smith from Shanghai would be arriving to lecture. Yuqing had only learned of this upon his arrival and planned to invite him back to the Zhou estate to treat the Old Master.

In his youth, Old Master Zhou had traveled relentlessly across the land. Back when the previous dynasty was crumbling and opium ran rampant, he often conducted business in such dens, ruining his lungs. Nowadays, he relied entirely on medication just to catch his breath.

Traveling to Shanghai to hire someone would take half a month back and forth. With less than a week left of spring break, Yuqing decided to wait here.

By the time he finished dressing, the sky outside was already brightly lit.

Li Yuanjing arrived, clutching a newspaper and banging loudly on the door.

“Old Wang from the Land Department is dead! Word has it an old rival came for revenge. The landlords in Liu County were tight with him; he was the one refusing to issue permits before, which stalled construction in Liu County entirely. Now that he’s dead, all we have to do is grease the palms of the next section chief, pull funds from the bank, and start laying the tracks right away. Once we transport that coal, we’ll make a killing! When the money’s in our pockets, who cares about the Zhou family or the Li family—”

Li Yuanjing babbled excitedly the moment the door opened. Before he could finish, Zhou Xiao shot him a warning glance and stepped aside. Seeing another figure inside whose build clearly didn’t belong to Deng Yongquan, Li Yuanjing paused. “And this is…?”

Yuqing was already fully dressed in a water-blue robe, his hair half-bound with a hairpin. Sitting before the European-style desk, he was slowly putting on his jade beaded bracelet. “Good day, sir.”

No wonder Zhou Xiao considered him a menace.

When those three words rolled past Yuqing’s lips, they sounded like the iced treats popular on the streets: soft, sweet, melting the moment they touched the tongue. Though the tone carried a cool composure, it tasted overwhelmingly sweet to the ear.

Back in Baizhou, Li Yuanjing had a reputation as a seasoned playboy.

Yet even a libertine like him was momentarily stunned upon seeing Yuqing. He quickly looked back and forth between him and Zhou Xiao. “Hey, you don’t look alike at all. Aside from Zhou Min, I never heard that your family had someone so striking?”

“You flatter me, sir.” Fastening his bracelet, Yuqing stood and picked up Zhou Xiao’s overcoat, draping it over the man’s shoulders with practiced deference. Lowering his eyes submissively, he murmured, “I am merely a servant… by the Young Master’s side, Yuqing. Greetings, Second Young Master Li.”

“You recognize me?!” Li Yuanjing’s eyes widened.

Noticing the dark scowl on Zhou Xiao’s face, Yuqing merely offered a gentle smile and shrank halfway behind the man’s back, concealing himself with an air of complete harmlessness.

“One day you’re in the papers dining with movie stars, and the next you’re throwing money around nightclubs—it would be hard not to recognize you!” Instead of inviting him inside, Zhou Xiao shoved Li Yuanjing toward the hallway. Glancing around the corridor, he didn’t see Zhao Fu anywhere.

He thought to himself: That damn servant, slacking off when he ought to be here! Ruan Yuqing manages his staff far too loosely, spoiling them endlessly! Disappearing in broad daylight like this—a bunch of useless freeloaders!

Feeling a bit bashful after being called out, Li Yuanjing offered, “Since he’s from the Zhou household, why don’t you do me the honor of joining me for a meal?”

Yuqing remained silent. Feeling his wife steal a couple of glances at him, Zhou Xiao felt considerably more at ease.

Seeing the subtle lift in Zhou Xiao’s brow, Yuqing said politely, “I would be troubling Second Young Master, then.”

Li Yuanjing drove them on the way to the restaurant.

Yuqing felt genuinely exhausted. After being tormented for several hours on top of his chronic frailty, he leaned limply against Zhou Xiao’s shoulder.

Zhou Xiao frowned, intending to push him away, but upon catching sight of the red marks peeking from the undone collar of his robe, the annoyance died down.

Zhao Fu had served Yuqing for years; guessing they would stay for a few days, he had likely gone to arrange a courtyard residence.

Yuqing was not accustomed to western-style spring mattresses.

Though many foreign goods entered the mainland through coastal ports during the Republic, Yuqing still couldn’t get used to them.

Moreover, this was technically his first time fully experiencing it.

On their wedding night, he had inhaled some muscle-relaxing incense, so the physical sensations hadn’t been nearly as intense.

Zhou Xiao possessed tremendous physical strength; though he lacked variety in technique, his stamina was torturous.

In the past, to preserve his delicate health, Yuqing had rarely touched himself. Growing up in a large traditional manor, he held an innate aversion toward such matters.

He hadn’t found it particularly pleasurable. For a man to feel pleasure, it required finding the right spot through skill—much like smoking a pipe, where one had to find the mouthpiece to draw a satisfying puff.

Zhou Xiao was rougher than a bandit, eager only to fill him completely, thrusting about with wild abandon.

If he can’t even get me pregnant like this, he’s truly all brawn and no substance, Yuqing thought.

A hint of irritation flared in Yuqing’s mind. Knowing the Young Master despised him, he simply closed his eyes, resting his head against the man’s shoulder to conserve his energy.

Hate me? Go ahead and hate me.

Zhou Xiao’s body stiffened visibly, followed by a faint, nearly imperceptible sigh.

Who would have thought Yuqing could be this clingy?

Sensing his awkwardness, Yuqing’s lips curved into a faint smile as he continued to rest with his eyes closed.

The restaurant wasn’t far, but having noticed Yuqing’s presence, Li Yuanjing put on airs as a generous host and chose an upscale Western restaurant.

Yuqing had never been to such an establishment; staying confined to the manor, this was his first time.

“My apologies for the oversight. I only thought of picking a nice atmosphere and forgot to ask what our guest preferred to eat.” Li Yuanjing adjusted his suit, sounding every bit the refined gentleman.

Zhou Xiao flipped open the menu. “He doesn’t count as a guest.”

“Hey!” Li Yuanjing frowned. “You studied abroad; how can a servant not count as a person? Yuqing traveled thousands of miles on behalf of your Old Master to check on you; you should appreciate the gesture.”

Zhou Xiao ordered a couple of dishes at random. Just as he was about to return the menu to the waiter, he recalled something and instructed, “For dessert, make it sweet.”

Yuqing pressed his lips together in a quiet smile, thinking to himself that while the Eldest Young Master was reckless, he was remarkably attentive in small details.

He did, in fact, favor sweet treats.

“Is Yuqing planning to stay for a few days?” Li Yuanjing inquired.

“Yes,” Yuqing answered meekly. “Six days. I will return once I have retained Doctor Smith. Does Second Young Master have any items you wish for me to bring back to the Li family?”

“None at all. I am merely the second son, not particularly favored at home. Since you’re staying for a few days, why not attend the Jiang family banquet with us tomorrow? Word has it they’re appointing someone from the Jiang clan to the post; we can use the birthday banquet to test the waters.”

Yuqing lowered his eyes. “I cannot make decisions for myself.”

“You preach about human rights all day, yet you manage your servants so strictly that they don’t even dare attend a banquet. It’s just a meal and some drinks—let’s go together to take a look, don’t be so stubborn,” Li Yuanjing said with a laugh, taking a sip of his coffee.

Zhou Xiao scoffed, “When have I ever—”

Before he could finish, his entire body froze. He looked across at Yuqing in sheer disbelief.

Yuqing’s elbow rested lazily against the table, the picture of quiet obedience. Yet beneath the long tablecloth, a foot lightly brushed against Zhou Xiao’s trouser leg.

To maintain distance, Zhou Xiao had deliberately sat across from him, while Li Yuanjing sat closer to his side.

Yuqing wore leather shoes, but not the pointed Western imports; rather, they were traditional round-toed lambskin shoes with a modest design—the kind students wore, pairing seamlessly with a long robe.

The blunt leather shoe lightly hooked along Zhou Xiao’s trousers.

Zhou Xiao held his breath in stunned silence, his chest tightening. Across the table, Yuqing tilted his head with complete innocence. “Young Master?”

“I never said you couldn’t go,” Zhou Xiao managed stiffly.

In truth, the pressure of the shoe was very light. Yet knowing what Yuqing’s bare foot looked like, Zhou Xiao’s mind instantly conjured the image of that porcelain-white foot resting against his calf; no matter how gentle the movement, it was impossible to ignore.

“That is wonderful. Yuqing has never seen what such banquets look like; the Young Master can broaden my horizons.”

“Oh? Yuqing has never seen one? Looking at your face, you seem very young. How old are you? Why do you obey his every word? Do you view him as an older brother?”

Yuqing shook his head. “I am three years older than the Young Master.”

A flicker of shock crossed Zhou Xiao’s eyes; he hadn’t known Yuqing’s true age.

Li Yuanjing was equally surprised. “I couldn’t tell at all; I took you for a student.”

“Second Young Master, please don’t tease me.” Yuqing lowered his gaze, a stray lock of long hair slipping past his cheek. “Would you mind if I step out to smoke a pipe?”

Li Yuanjing’s eyes made no attempt to conceal his fascination with Yuqing.

Yuqing calmly withdrew his foot under the table. Picking up his long pipe as he rose, he said with slight dissatisfaction, “There seems to be water on this chair. Would the Young Master be so kind as to have the waiter change it for me?”

With that, Yuqing turned and walked away to smoke his jasmine leaves.

Only as he turned did Zhou Xiao notice that particular spot on the back of his long robe… there was indeed a damp, soiled patch.

Li Yuanjing noticed it as well and hastily called a waiter over to replace the chair, reprimanding staff for dirtying a guest’s clothing.

Yet Zhou Xiao knew full well that there was no water on the chair; it was the moisture leaking from inside Yuqing’s body.

Yuqing had claimed he liked retaining those things inside.

What a degenerate!

Now that his clothes were soiled, he finally remembered to complain?

Sitting upright in his crisp suit, Zhou Xiao watched Yuqing lean lightly against the hallway wall like a boneless serpent, drifting into the restroom. Faint wisps of fragrant jasmine smoke soon drifted out from the doorway.

A living temptress…

“Young Master Zhou? Zhou Xiao?” Li Yuanjing called out several times, waving a hand in front of his face. “What are you daydreaming about?”

“What is it?” Zhou Xiao set down his cutlery, intending to head to the restroom. Who on earth smoked a pipe inside a restaurant restroom?! Even if it wasn’t opium, it was entirely improper!

Wouldn’t his unique scent be smelled by complete strangers? Unruly!

“I was asking: is your Yuqing bound by a lifetime indenture contract?”

Zhou Xiao froze, staring at him in confusion. “What did you say?”

“If he is, why not sell him to me? Seeing how you have no patience for him, and my bed happens to be empty since coming here…”

“Section Chief Wang just died. Is it appropriate for you to say such things right now?” Zhou Xiao’s face tightened with tension.

“Wang is dead; what does that have to do with me? Do I need to read a dead man’s mood just to ask you for a servant? If you won’t give him up, just say so—look at how stingy you are.”

“It’s not that I won’t give him up. He belongs to the Old Master. Whoever the Old Master orders him to serve, he must serve. It has nothing to do with me.”

__

Author’s Note:

Eldest Young Master Zhou: Isn’t it a coincidence? The Old Master insisted he serve me [milk tea]. He loves me [milk tea] and belongs only to me [milk tea]. So clingy it’s terrible [milk tea]

Yuqing: If I still can’t conceive, should I take him to see a doctor first?

Quite the contrary: the moment he gets morning sickness, he’ll run away immediately [thumbs up]

Who would have guessed that, instead, this gave a certain Master Zhou immense confidence [rose]

In reality, Master Zhou: Pardon me, gentlemen, this is my wife; I’ll feast first.