Chapter 76

So good, Lu Liu thought. Big Brother’s amazing—his husband’s already so devoted.

I wonder how Dafeng will take it when he finds out the truth. Will he accept it?

Sigh.

This town’s too small.

I just hope Dafeng doesn’t run into Big Brother.

Xie Yan couldn’t go back to the bookshop. He hadn’t even managed to read a single book—he’d hurried straight back to the shop.

Once there, he didn’t say a word. He just stood there catching his breath for a long while, his eyes glued to Lu Yang. Wherever Lu Yang went, that’s where he looked.

Lu Yang was worried, but seeing he wasn’t hurt, he focused on serving customers first, giving Xie Yan a chance to calm down. After the last customer left and Xie Yan’s breathing had evened out, Lu Yang brought him a cup of hot tea and asked, “What happened? Did a dog chase you or something?”

Seeing him so flustered, sweat on his forehead despite the freezing cold, Lu Yang couldn’t help but tease.

Xie Yan shook his head. “No.”

He was sweating, and Lu Yang didn’t want him catching a chill, so he led him to the kitchen to sit down.

They’d steamed three trays of meat buns earlier that day, so the stove was still warm. Sitting by the hearth was a good way to warm up.

Once Xie Yan was seated, Lu Yang sent Shazhu out front to mind the shop, then asked again, “So what is it? Someone bullied you? The bookshop owner didn’t let you read and threw you out?”

Xie Yan shook his head again. “No.”

Lu Yang was baffled. No dog, no bully… surely he hadn’t been struck by lightning?

Then Xie Yan said, “I missed you.”

Lu Yang tried to suppress the smile tugging at his lips. “That’s worth running all the way back for? And you’d barely left—what, maybe half an hour? Already missing me? You’re so clingy.”

Xie Yan didn’t want to mention running into Lu Liu—the real Lu Liu.

His gaze stayed fixed on Lu Yang. “I’ll work hard at learning how to make soup.”

Lu Yang chuckled. “Even so, that’s not exactly urgent business, is it?”

That made Xie Yan anxious. He stood up and stepped in front of Lu Yang.

Lu Yang was leaning against the stove, sitting a bit lower than usual. Xie Yan bent slightly so they were eye to eye, and said with absolute seriousness, “Then what do you like? I’ll learn it all.”

His eyes were locked on Lu Yang’s, pupils filled only with him. His face was calm, but Lu Yang could feel the unease radiating from him.

Once, as a child, he’d looked at his parents with that same desperate hope, longing not to be abandoned.

Now he was grown, strong enough to shelter someone else. But facing that look again, he realized just how heavy those feelings really were.

That weight pressed firmly on his heart—but it felt steady, secure. He wasn’t afraid of responsibility. What scared him was not being needed.

Lu Yang took Xie Yan’s hand, pretending to be casual. “So whatever I like, you’ll learn? You’ll listen to whatever I say?”

Xie Yan nodded.

Lu Yang grinned. “Then why’d you come back from the bookshop so soon?”

He figured Xie Yan would dodge the question or finally explain. But instead, Xie Yan said, plain as day, “I missed you.”

Lu Yang was caught off guard by the answer, then burst out laughing. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came. All he could do was laugh again.

Xie Yan reached out and gently covered Lu Yang’s stomach—right where it often gave him trouble.

That fool actually thought he was laughing so hard it hurt, and with total seriousness, he tried to ease the pain, wanting Lu Yang to laugh without worry.

That look on his face—it really did make Lu Yang laugh for real.

Funny how sometimes, when you’re laughing, your eyes go hot and wet and feel like they might tear up.

Lu Yang straightened, leaned in, and gave Xie Yan’s lips a playful bite.

“You little scholar,” he said, “broad daylight, don’t go seducing me. Save it for when we’re home.”

And because those words felt a little too soft, he added with a smirk, “I’ll make sure you won’t be able to get out of bed.”

Xie Yan didn’t care about winning or losing—he only caught onto the key word in what Lu Yang said: “go home.” He was just thrilled that Lu Yang still planned to go home with him, his eyes shining bright as he answered.

That day, he didn’t return to the bookshop. He stayed at the shop, lending a hand selling buns, steamed rolls, and flower rolls. When there were no customers, it wasn’t just his eyes that followed Lu Yang around—his very soul seemed to trail after him.

When Lu Yang stepped out onto the street to call out for business, Xie Yan would follow, sticking close like glue. And Lu Yang didn’t mind one bit; he grinned wide, eyes crinkling with joy. He couldn’t be happier!

He didn’t know what had gotten into Xie Yan today, but a man who loves you—that’s a good man.

And a good man just makes your heart feel light. Hehehe.

They still had to head back to the village, so they closed up shop by dusk.

While they were packing up, Lu Yang finally noticed the bowl of wine he’d bought earlier. No point saving it—they might as well drink it before heading home. They split it between them, half a bowl each.

The wine warmed them right up. As soon as it hit their stomachs, the fiery burn turned into a cozy heat that spread through their bodies.

Lu Yang tapped his forehead. “I should’ve given you some when you came back this morning. I totally forgot.”

Xie Yan wasn’t much of a drinker. He felt woozy and leaned against Lu Yang.

Seeing him like that made Lu Yang laugh. “Good thing you didn’t drink earlier—you’d have passed out right there in the shop.”

On the way home, Lu Yang talked things over with him. “Even with the extra steamers, we still didn’t sell all the buns and rolls. We can’t have that—day-old buns don’t taste good. Tomorrow I’ll have Brother Lin come help at the shop. He’s quick with his words. He might need a few days to get the hang of it, but once he does, I’ll take some buns out and sell them in other spots.”

Xie Yan wanted to help. “I can go instead. I’ve got nothing else to do, and hiring him means paying wages.”

Lu Yang patted his big hand. “You forgot? You’ve got couplets and wedding scrolls to write. Once you’re done, I’ll take you with me—we can go around together.”

Xie Yan blinked, a little dazed, then rested his head on Lu Yang’s shoulder again.

What kind of wine was that? he wondered. Why is it so strong? I can’t even sit up straight.

They didn’t talk much on the rest of the walk home. First thing when they got back: dinner.

After two days of doing business, Lu Yang had come up with a better system. When folks delivered their vegetables to the buyer, they’d weigh them right then and there and note down the weight and price. When the goods arrived at the shop, Lu Yang would weigh them again to confirm, then settle the payment on the spot.

Since the weights always came out a bit uneven, the small leftover bits added up. Lu Yang paid for those too—that little extra money was the vegetable buyer’s bonus.

That meant they didn’t have to spend time sorting accounts at home—they could eat first.

At home, everyone had their role. Zhao Peilan, as the mother-in-law, didn’t lord it over Lu Yang. Instead, she made sure when the two of them came back, there was hot water ready and a warm meal on the table, taking good care of them.

After dinner, they finally counted the day’s earnings.

Xie Yan didn’t help with the counting. He just kept staring at Lu Yang.

His gaze was so fiery it felt like he was about to set Lu Yang ablaze.

Lu Yang almost made sparks fly from stringing coins together. He handed off the task. “Go grab the ledger and write down today’s income and expenses.”

Once everything was tallied and the coins were packed into the bamboo basket, the day’s work was done. Time to wash up and go to bed.

By day, Lu Yang had all the drive and energy. By night, Xie Yan had all the enthusiasm.

After a round of “chicken soup,” Lu Yang lay there lazy and satisfied. But Xie Yan didn’t curl up with him like usual. Instead, he turned over, straddled Lu Yang’s waist, and stared straight at him.

There was something a little wicked in that look—it took Lu Yang by surprise.

Before he knew it, Xie Yan had leaned down and licked at the mess they hadn’t cleaned up yet.

Lu Yang’s heart skipped a beat.

Though they joked about “drinking soup,” Xie Yan had never actually gone that far.

He tried to relax, but he was tense from head to toe. He kept trying, but couldn’t get the hang of it—he stayed stiff as a board.

Lu Yang, amused, decided to toss the ball back to him. “And you said you don’t know how to make soup?”

Xie Yan was painfully straightforward. “I don’t, but I know how to drink it.”

Lu Yang couldn’t help but stare at him, his heart fluttering harder the longer he looked.

He wrapped his arms around Xie Yan’s waist. “Got any strength left?”

Xie Yan answered with actions. “I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”

And Lu Yang spent half the night laughing at him.

Lu Liu, meanwhile, pushed the run-in with Xie Yan to the back of his mind. After finishing their flatbreads with Yao Fulang, they went shopping.

Yao Fulang had a long list of things to buy. They picked up some things at the market, then stopped by the shops along the street.

They needed meat. Since there weren’t any chickens at home and they still had some fish, Lu Liu sent Da Qiang to buy pork and chicken.