LC chapter 24

 

There were two Chinese toon trees in the backyard. In the spring breeze, the leaves began to poke out. Ah Yue and Lin Ruan used a ladder to pick the young leaves and brought home a large basket of them to cook with.

Lin Ruan moved a small stool by the back door and sat down to bask in the western sun while picking toon leaves. A basin of pale purple toon leaves floated on the water, resembling brewed tea leaves—a truly beautiful sight.

Lin Ruan hummed a little tune when he heard a noise from the doorway. Zhan Xi had returned, followed by Gu Ji.

Lin Ruan got up, went to the kitchen, and made tea. He brought it to the living room. Zhan Xi was wearing his usual blue cloth jacket with his sleeves rolled up from washing vegetables. His white silk undergarment hung loosely around his wrists.

Zhan Xi glanced at him, his expression indifferent. Ever since meeting Suan Zi that day, Zhan Xi had been in a bad mood, with a sullen expression all day long.

Gu Ji raised his teacup and chatted with Zhan Xi. “The eldest son of Director Wu’s family kept a girl from the alley and kept her at the Huaiyun Hotel. His wife made a scene and beat her with a whip at Director Wu’s birthday banquet.”

After taking a sip of his tea, Gu Ji continued, “Who can blame her family for being so powerful? They’re seeking vengeance for their daughter, and even Director Wu’s position is about to be shaken.”

Zhan Xi asked, “Why are you telling me all this?”

“With Director Wu removed from office, his position is vacant.” Gu Ji said. “Look, why don’t you give it a try?”

“I won’t get involved in your affairs,” Zhan Xi replied, taking a sip of his tea.

“That’s not what I meant,” Gu Ji replied. “The government will soon issue banknotes. Without your support as the richest man, it’s going to be difficult.”

Zhan Xi still didn’t seem willing to continue. “Let’s talk about it later.”

“By the way,” he asked, “did you find the person I asked you to find?”

Gu Ji stretched out his legs and said, “Not yet. Suanzi is the foremost expert in the feng shui business. In the inner city and the entire north, there’s no one more formidable than him. Those who aren’t as good as him have all fled south to avoid him…” “…I’m telling you, don’t disbelieve me.”

Lost in thought, Zhan Xi didn’t answer Gu Ji’s question. Instead, he asked, “Where is his master, Master Wuwei?”

“Master Wuwei has been dead for quite some time,” Gu Ji replied. “It’s been a while since he died. The fortune teller buried him near Qinling. Without a thorough search, it’s impossible to find him.”

Glancing at Zhan Xi’s expression, Gu Ji asked, “Are you still looking?”

Zhan Xi put down his teacup and shook his head. “No thanks.”

Gu Ji agreed without further questioning.

Soon, Zhan Xi changed his clothes and left with Gu Ji.

For dinner, Lin Ruan prepared two delicious seasonal dishes: stir-fried tofu and scrambled eggs with Chinese toon. It was a shame Zhan Xi hadn’t returned.

After dinner, Lin Ruan returned to his room. On the coffee table was a tray filled with newly made clothes: two suits and several gowns. With the arrival of spring, thinner and lighter fabrics were brought out.

Lin Ruan’s gowns were made of Qiyun Silk, a sky-blue fabric. The top half of the gown was a deep blue that faded to pale blue toward the bottom. The hem was embroidered with large, pale patterns resembling an ink painting.

Lin Ruan put the clothes in the closet, where a vibrant red dress was interspersed among the black and light-colored garments.

Lin Ruan pulled it out and saw that it was a long-sleeved red qipao. It had a standing collar, a slanted lapel, and plum blossom–shaped buttons. It was exquisitely crafted and trimmed with silver satin.

After a moment’s thought, Lin Ruan realized it was the red satin Ah Yue had mentioned. Lin Ruan examined it carefully and realized that it was no wonder Ah Yue liked it. It was a vintage silk brocade, perhaps even made in-house. The layers of peony flowers on the satin were as vibrant as the morning glow — exquisite to the extreme. Even Lin Ruan would have admired it, not to mention Ah Yue.

He picked up the dress and examined it from front to back. Indeed, it resembled a long gown with a stand-up collar, buttons, and side slits. The only difference was that trousers had to be worn underneath and the top was looser.

Perhaps every boy has an inexplicable obsession with and curiosity about skirts. Lin Ruan looked at himself in the mirror and decided the waist was too tight.

It was late at night, and almost no one was around. Tong Bo didn’t live in this building. He lived in the wing at the back with a staff of servants. Before going to bed, Tong Bo told Lin Ruan to wait for Zhan Xi’s return. Lin Ruan was the only one still awake in the building at this hour.

It was a dark and windy night—perfect for doing bad things.

Lin Ruan quietly put on the cheongsam. The waist was so tight that it almost clung to his skin and felt slightly constricting. But once he put it on, he found it quite comfortable. While not as loose as a long gown, the cheongsam allowed for plenty of movement. The gorgeous red dress accentuated Lin Ruan’s fair complexion and delicate features, adding a touch of breathtaking beauty.

Lin Ruan glanced in the mirror. He was thin with narrow shoulders and looked like a teenager, unlike Zhan Xi, who had broad shoulders and a narrow waist and looked like an attractive adult.

As he moved, the sides of the cheongsam opened wide, revealing a pair of long, straight legs. If this had been a girl, the glimpses of her legs while walking would have been undeniably alluring. But Lin Ruan felt uncomfortable. The chill against his skin made him feel awkward and self-conscious.

In the quiet night, Zhan Xi opened the door and walked in. He was dressed in a suit and tie. His suit cuffs were intricately embroidered with rice beads, and he looked like he had just returned from a cocktail party.

Shi Ning followed him. Seeing that the living room was empty, he said, “The young master might be in his room. How about I go get him?”

“No need,” Zhan Xi replied, glancing back at Shi Ning as he ascended the stairs. “It’s getting late. You should get some rest, too. I don’t need anyone to wait on me.”

Shi Ning nodded and, after watching Zhan Xi go upstairs, returned to his room.

Zhan Xi slowly went up to the second floor. He had had quite a bit of wine—a mixture of white and red—and was feeling a bit tipsy.

Before he could open the door to his room, he heard a sudden “bang” from next door, as if something had hit something else.

Zhan Xi paused, turned, and walked over to Lin Ruan’s room. He knocked on the door.

Inside, Lin Ruan was bent over, rubbing his bruised knee. His cheongsam was tighter than his long gown. Before he could take a step outside, he stumbled and bumped into the corner of the bed.

He heard the knock and knew it was Zhan Xi, but he was still wearing cheongsam. Zhan Xi was standing at the door, and Lin Ruan had to open it for him, sweating with anxiety.

Fortunately, Zhan Xi didn’t make him wait long, he simply pushed the door open and walked in.

The outer room was dark. Lin Ruan had left the inner room light on, its warm yellow glow falling upon his bed and upon Lin Ruan himself, hidden behind the beaded curtain.

In the patch of light, Lin Ruan stood gracefully before the mirror, dressed in a red satin cheongsam. The peony blossoms on his dress were in full bloom, making him look like a bride in finest attire.

For a moment, Zhan Xi thought he must have had too much to drink.

Lin Ruan stood inside, feeling extremely awkward. He softly called out, “Sir.”

Zhan Xi’s eyes flickered slightly, and he stepped into the room and closed the door with a flick of his wrist.

The sound of the door closing seemed to flip a switch; Lin Ruan’s face flushed instantly, and even the tips of his ears turned red.

Zhan Xi walked in, drew aside the beaded curtain, and stepped into the inner room. Lin Ruan didn’t know what to do with himself. He stood there stiffly, wishing he could bury his head in the floorboards.

Zhan Xi sat down on Lin Ruan’s bed and casually crossed his legs. “This dress…”

“I didn’t mean to wear it,” Lin Ruan whispered. “I’m just… curious.”

Zhan Xi hummed softly, he was unable to put his feelings into words. Lin Ruan quietly raised his head to look at Zhan Xi and saw him staring straight at him, his eyes deep and holding something he couldn’t understand. He flinched instinctively for a moment.

Zhan Xi waved at Lin Ruan, who walked over to him and knelt obediently. They were so close that Lin Ruan could smell the alcohol on Zhan Xi.

As he knelt, his red silk cheongsam revealed some of his skin, revealing a gleam of white that dazzled the eyes against the sea of ​​red.

Zhan Xi reached out and placed his hand on Lin Ruan’s face, slowly moving it to his neck. Under his palm, the veins in his neck pulsed like the uneasy beating of Lin Ruan’s heart.

“It looks good,” Zhan Xi whispered.

Lin Ruan paused, then slowly relaxed his stiff body. As long as Zhan Xi said it looked good, it didn’t matter whether he wore a cheongsam or a long gown.

Lin Ruan leaned closer to Zhan Xi. His palm glided over his cheongsam, tracing the curve of his spine downward until he lost the fabric’s barrier and touched his skin directly.

Lin Ruan looked up at Zhan Xi. His expression remained calm, but his hand had already slid down the side of the cheongsam and into its depths.

Although Lin Ruan was young, he knew some things, but Zhan Xi was different. Through his actions, he demonstrated that what he knew was barely scratching the surface.

As Zhan Xi moved, a hint of helplessness crept onto Lin Ruan’s face. He raised his head and looked at Zhan Xi, trying to find a way to save himself from this culprit.

Zhan Xi looked into Lin Ruan’s eyes. They showed dependence and helplessness, but not what he wanted to see. Zhan Xi closed his eyes, slightly irritated. He simply pulled off his tie and covered his eyes.

“Lin Ruan,” Zhan Xi said in a low voice. “Who am I?”

Lin Ruan’s hands moved around helplessly before finally clutching Zhan Xi’s shirt. “Sir.”

Zhan Xi touched Lin Ruan’s head and asked, “Will you be obedient?”

Lin Ruan tried to nod, but Zhan Xi gripped his neck, forcing him to say, “I will be obedient.”

Zhan Xi seemed to smile—a low, slightly hoarse smile that made Lin Ruan weak in the knees.

“Good boy.”

Zhan Xi’s hand gripped Lin Ruan’s neck and caressed his Adam’s apple. He slowly pressed his neck downward.