Thunder and rain raged together. Drops fell in strings into the water pool, clusters of water overflowing the courtyard, rushing headlong toward the small hole in the corner of the wall, churning out.
Water was everywhere, muddy and damp.
Amidst the chaos, faint meows echoed faintly. The sounds were soft and muffled, trembling with a hint of helplessness, as if overwhelmed by the torrential downpour.
The wet whispers seeped into one’s ears, stirring pity in the heart.
After a continuous stream of “meows,” the cries gradually faded.
The kitten curled up weakly in the corner of the courtyard wall, its white fur completely soaked by the downpour. Its body shivered uncontrollably, its mouth open, yet unable to make a sound.
……
Inside the house, Luo Tingshi tenderly kissed the person in his arms.
Yu Zhi had already fallen into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted.
Luo Tingshi was intensely aroused. His lips and teeth slid down along Yu Zhi’s ear, passing the hollow at the base of his neck. He paused slightly—this area seemed to have gained a bit more flesh than before.
Yu Zhi had always been naturally petite and slender; it was only after becoming pregnant that his frame had gradually filled out.
Luo Tingshi’s gaze drifted involuntarily toward Yu Zhi’s chest.
It remained completely flat.
Luo Ting’s eyes darkened. What if…
He pondered, tightening his grip around Yu Zhi’s waist. The person in his arms shifted slightly, seemingly uncomfortable. Luo Ting quickly loosened his hold.
He brushed his lips against Yu Zhi’s ear, his voice soft and gentle: “It’s okay now. Be good. Sleep.”
Yu Zhi quieted.
Luo Tingshi lowered his head, gently kissing Yu Zhi’s forehead. In the darkness, his lips traced the contours of his face.
Yu Zhi was a beauty—that was undeniable.
He loved that face.
Yet there was something inexplicably alluring about Yu Zhi. Even disguised as the plain-looking Lu Jing, he found himself irresistibly drawn to him.
Luo Tingshi pressed his fingertips against the soft lips nestled in his embrace, gently grinding them.
His dark eyes narrowed slightly.
Yu Zhi seemed to misunderstand, mistaking every word from his mouth for insincere flattery—a mere act of feigned affection meant to deceive him into lowering his guard.
In truth, only the words in that initial letter requesting marriage to “Lu Jing” were false. His declarations of love at first sight to Yu Zhi were merely tactics to gain trust and secure consent for their marriage.
Since discovering the beauty was Yu Zhi, every word he spoke had been sincere—not a single false note.
But it wasn’t love.
He did not love Yu Zhi.
He only wanted to possess Yu Zhi.
It began in childhood, when the beautiful little crown prince threw himself into his arms, sobbing. That was when the thought first took root—
He wanted to bring the little prince back to the palace and lock him away, forcing him to cry for him day and night.
He loved the sight of Yu Zhi weeping.
Lightning split the pitch-black sky, flooding the room with sudden daylight.
It revealed a pair of dark pupils, twisted with obsession.
His thumb pressed gently, repeatedly rubbing Yu Zhi’s eyelid until a vivid red mark appeared, as if the boy had truly wept.
“So beautiful.”
Luo Tingchi chuckled softly, his tongue prying open the sleeping beauty’s lips as he kissed him greedily. The sticky wet sounds between their lips were instantly swallowed by the rumbling thunderstorm.
–
When Yu Zhi awoke, he felt refreshed and alert.
Luo Tingshi was nowhere to be seen, off doing who knows what.
Yu Zhi slowly dressed, slipping on his clothes and shoes before stepping down from the bed. He scooped water from the jar to splash his face. Stepping outside, the sky had cleared. A wave of damp earth mixed with the scent of fresh grass met him. Yu Zhi strolled leisurely around the courtyard, reaching the well where he spotted Luo Tingshi.
Luo Tingshi was…
Washing clothes?
Yu Zhi rubbed his eyes. The scene was too bizarre.
Walking closer to take a look, Yu Zhi chuckled. Luo Tingshi was merely wringing out the garments and soaking them in water.
He nudged Luo Tingshi gently with his toe.
“If you don’t know how to wash, don’t bother. Brother Li doesn’t have many clothes to begin with. These are brand new, never worn. Be careful not to ruin them.”
Luo Tingshi: “I’ll give him silver. I’m buying this garment.”
Yu Zhi asked in surprise: “Why buy it? Did you fall in love with this coarse cloth after wearing it for half a day?”
Luo Tingshi lifted his eyes, staring straight at Yu Zhi with a dark, brooding gaze.
Yu Zhi felt a sudden wave of unease wash over him.
“You… might not remember clearly, but I laid it on the bed.” Luo Tingshi lowered his voice. “The entire garment was soaked through, drenched in the Emperor’s royal wine. How could I possibly return it to Li Daniu?”
Yu Zhi’s pale face flushed crimson in an instant. Fearful the man might utter more vulgarities, he shot him a glare and stormed off, flinging his sleeves behind him.
“Oh my! There’s a little kitten here—is it dying?”
A startled cry came from the corner of the courtyard. Yu Zhi halted and turned toward the sound, spotting Li Daniu’s youngest daughter, Li Huanhuan, crouched by the wall, staring at a kitten lying by the water trough.
Yu Zhi hurried over and scooped up the kitten.
The creature in his arms was skin and bones, its eyes tightly shut, breathing barely perceptible.
Yu Zhi knew immediately that this was bad.
Operation Save the Kitten, commence!
Step one: Send the little girl to find Doctor Zhang in the village.
Step two: Find a warm spot and use a cloth soaked in lukewarm water to remove the chill from the kitten’s body.
Step three: Dry the kitten’s soaking wet fur.
Yu Zhi moved swiftly. When Luo Ting found him, Yu Zhi was sitting before the stove, cradling the kitten and wiping its damp fur.
The kitten’s body was stiff, exhaling more than it inhaled.
It was near death.
Luo Tingshi said, “I’m afraid it can’t be saved.”
The words had barely left his mouth when a chill shot straight into Luo Tingshi’s eyes. Yu Zhi shot him a fierce glare and snapped, “Shut your mouth, you jinx! If you can’t speak properly, keep quiet.”
Luo Tingshi immediately fell silent, standing at attention with hands at his sides, saying nothing more.
“Brother, I brought the doctor! Quick, let him examine the kitten!” Her voice preceded her arrival, the little girl’s clear call echoing across the courtyard and into the kitchen. Moments later, she scampered in, chattering excitedly as she grabbed Yu Zhi’s hand. “Brother, hurry up! Let the doctor examine the kitten!”
Luo Tingshi swiftly separated them, shielding Yu Zhi in his arms. He frowned. “Don’t tug at him. You might knock him over.”
The tall man radiated a chill. The little girl shrank her neck, fidgeting with her hands in confusion. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I forgot Brother has a baby in his tummy.”
Yu Zhi nudged the man with his elbow. “Why scare the child?”
After speaking, he bent down slightly, ruffled the girl’s hair, and said gently, “Don’t be afraid. Let’s go find a doctor together.”
Luo Tingshi watched this scene, feeling thoroughly displeased.
Yu Zhi was gentle with everyone, yet he always had a sour expression for him.
But… did that also mean he held a special place in Yu Zhi’s heart, different from everyone else?
At this thought, Luo Tingshi’s lips curved slightly.
Yu Zhi caught every shift in his expression. Watching him alternate between anger and amusement, he thought to himself:
Luo Tingshi truly was unpredictable.
Luo Tingshi’s brow twitched slightly.
They gathered around the table, watching Physician Zhang treat the kitten. Luo Tingshi leaned against a pillar behind them, arms crossed, silently pondering Physician Zhang’s earlier remark.
A faint “Mew…” reached Luo Tingshi’s ears.
Luo Tingshi looked up. The kitten had opened its eyes, nestling obediently in Yu Zhi’s arms and gently licking the back of his hand.
Yu Zhi stroked the kitten, then looked up with a smile.
His round eyes, mirroring the kitten’s, brimmed with amusement. The laughter spilled from the corners of his eyes, drifting toward Luo Tingshi.
For some reason, Luo Tingshi’s heart suddenly began to pound wildly, the thudding causing a dull ache in his chest. It felt as if a kitten had been tucked inside his ribcage, kicking and punching him.
Luo Tingshi gripped his sleeve, exhaling softly as his eyes followed those curved, smiling ones.
Suddenly, he realized.
It turned out Yu Zhi looked even more beautiful when he smiled than when he cried.
Leave a Reply