You've Got Mail: A Cautionary Tale

Chapter 60 — The Will-o-Wisp Turning Into Dust Only Needed The Blink of An Eye

Edited by DancingDolphinsYo

They remained where they were for a while more. It was soon about to be 11pm, and Lu Zezhi finally put on a tired expression. He exchanged vows of love and loyalty with Guan Shanjin, finally feeling at ease, then sent the man out of Wangshu Residence.

Guan Shanjin naturally put on a show, exuding gentleness and consideration, with deep affections. Dragging out their farewell for as long as possible, he was unwilling to part. Only until Lu Zezhi could finally no longer keep a tight hold on his expression, did Guan Shanjin then reluctantly turn to leave.

Once he was out of Lu Zezhi’s sight, Guan Shanjin immediately put away his affectionate expression and snorted coldly. With no regards for whether his action was polite or not, he removed his outer robe.

It was suffused with Mr. Lu’s scent, refreshing and gentle. This was the fragrance of the incense that he had sought specially for Mr. Lu. The clean, cold scent had a gentle yet aloof characteristic to it, just like the silver moon in the sky, poles apart from where he was.

By now, all these matters, these things, were nothing but jokes. The person whom he had cherished for so many years, whom he dared not dally about with, and whom he had loved so deeply, was actually so selfish and unscrupulous.

In the past, Mr. Lu was not this stupid. Was it due to the many years of doting that Guan Shanjin had lavished on him that made him forget himself?

If Lu Zezhi’s methods were a little more skilful, Guan Shanjin could still admire him, and could even consider giving him a helping hand as compensation for having accompanied him for the past eight or nine years. However, he had not expected that the years of ease and comfort had made the current capability of this seemingly bright person lesser than half of his previous abilities, and he had even become somewhat stupid.

As the Great Southern Garrison General, during the years that he lived in the capital, numerous daughters of noble families had sought to gain a marriage with him. Without giving them any modicum of dignity, he had rejected them all. Did Lu Zezhi forget about this? Could it be that he could not see the reason why the emperor on his dragon throne turned a blind eye to Guan Shanjin being a local tyrant out here in South Xinjiang, even indulging him and allowing him to do whatever he wanted, was because the only child of the Protector General was a homosexual? That his position and power were gained with his declaration of never marrying a wife and having any children, and that his family line would end with him?

Guan Shanjin pressed a palm to his forehead, laughing quietly. What a mockery this was.

Look at the sort of idiot that ensued from the result of his doting.

“Burn this.” Guan Shanjin casually tossed the outer robe to the ground. A shadow flashed out from the dark. They acknowledged Guan Shanjin respectfully, and just as they picked up the robe and were about to leave, they were stopped by Guan Shanjin. “Tell Man Yue that there’s no need to respect anyone’s dignity tomorrow. Such a little bit of dignity, I can still afford to have it be stomped upon.”

“Yes.” There was no sign of falter from the dark figure. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared, leaving no trace.

Guan Shanjin stood in the dark for a long while. It was a moonless sky, and the stars were rather dim as well. It was already late into the night, and the spring wind brought with it a chill. His clothes swirled in the wind, yet he stood there motionless like a statue. No one knew what he was looking at, nor what he was thinking about.

Finally, he exhaled a slow breath. Seemingly possessed, he walked towards Shuanghe Yard.

Originally, after the matter was concluded, he did not want to seek out Wu Xingzi so simply. Furthermore, at this time, Wu Xingzi was definitely already asleep. Guan Shanjin could not bear to wake the person up from his sleep, but there was a peculiar restlessness within him, and he could not stop himself from wanting to see that old quail.

It took him no time to reach Shuanghe Yard. Unlike the tranquility of Wangshu Residence, the chirping of insects could be heard in Shuanghe Yard, and the fresh scent of the earth wafted around. Combined with the air smelling of the plants and trees, it was more soothing than any expensive incense or fragrance.

Guan Shanjin slowed his footsteps, heading to the vegetable plot first.

The vegetable plot, just like usual, was very neat and tidy. Vines of the plants twirled around the trestles accordingly, all luxuriant and green. Every leaf was tender and fresh, the stems all thick and strong. Some had blossomed, others had just bore fruit, and there were also some that were covered by lush leaves of various plants. They all looked very adorable and pleasant to the eye.

Unknowingly, a small smile appeared on Guan Shanjin’s face. It was as though he could see how joyfully and meticulously Wu Xingzi had taken care of these plants. That old fellow, even when tending to the plot, would still be dressed in his Confucian-scholar robe, only tucking the bottom of his robe into his belt. When preparing the soil for planting, he would remove his shoes and socks, rolling his pants up and revealing his slim and fair calves. A pair of pale feet would step upon the soil, the ten toes round and adorable, occasionally curling up, trying to get rid of the soil between the toes.

Guan Shanjin had happened to see this scene before. At that time, inside his chest, it felt as though a butterfly was flapping its wings rapidly, and he could not decipher exactly what sort of feeling this was. He remembered that he was entranced, watching Wu Xingzi farm busily. When Wu Xingzi bent over, his round, smooth buttocks would raise up, making his waist seem even more slender. Guan Shanjin knew how flexible this body was, how he could bend him in half with no pain or injuries.

A bead of sweat on Wu Xingzi’s forehead had slid down to the tip of his nose, before it fell. Mint and Osmanthus wanted to help him wipe his sweat away, but how could the old fellow allow them to do so! Smiling brightly, he refused their help, instead wiping his forehead himself with his sleeve. In the process, he left a few traces of dirt on his face, looking just like a dirty cat. Even though this was an old cat, it still made one extremely fond of it.

After that, when Wu Xingzi was done with the work, Guan Shanjin had helped him wash his feet. He cleaned every toe carefully, causing a blush to suffuse Wu Xingzi’s entire body.

Walking one round around the plot, Guan Shanjin had almost forgotten about all his troubles and dismay, including the fury and the stifling pressure on his chest previously. It was not because Lu Zezhi was stupid, rather it was himself who had not been able to see it all these years.

Unconsciously, Guan Shanjin made another round around the plot, before heading towards Wu Xingzi’s bedroom.

Upon pushing the door open, Wu Xingzi’s steady breathing could be heard. Guan Shanjin perked his ears, listening to it for some time. Deliberating over it again, in the end, he still could not resist the inexplicable longing welling up inside him. Guan Shanjin walked into the room with light steps, afraid that he would accidentally disturb Wu Xingzi’s sleep.

On the bed, Wu Xingzi was covered with a thin blanket. Lying on a soft pillow, his cheek was pushed a little out of shape. His lips were slightly apart, the corner of his mouth slightly wet. Occasionally, his mouth would move, as though he was chewing on something, then he would reveal a foolish smile. Wu Xingzi looked entirely like a fool, but this image only made Guan Shanjin’s heart soften so much that it was as though it could melt away.

This old fellow evidently was greedy, and loved his food. However, he would never gain any weight. Now, even in his dreams, he was thinking about eating? Guan Shanjin had been too busy these days. When they would return to the capital, he would take Wu Xingzi to try all sorts of famous snacks and restaurants. The old fellow would definitely be extremely delighted.

Guan Shanjin sat by the bed. Enchanted by Wu Xingzi’s sleeping face, he reached out and played with Wu Xingzi’s soft, silky hair. Wu Xingzi was thin and fair; when he had his hair down, he did not look like an old fellow already past his prime. Instead, he looked even younger, and in his black and white clothes, he seemed even more delicate, always having a rather pitiable air surrounding him.

The way Wu Xingzi looked only made Guan Shanjin like him more and more. Guan Shanjin could not help himself from bending over and kissing him on his eyes, his nose and the corner of his mouth, before catching those slightly parted lips with his own.

This kiss was not domineering, instead it was extremely gentle. Even so, it still woke Wu Xingzi up from his dreams. Blearily, he opened his eyes, only to feel that he could not catch his breath, and all he could smell was an intoxicating scent. It was a clinging, elegant scent of sandalwood mingled with the fragrance of orange blossoms… Suddenly feeling a suction on the tip of his tongue, Wu Xingzi could not help but respond as well.

After all, there was no way he could resist such a familiar scent.

“You woke up?” Although reluctant, Guan Shanjin forced himself to stop the kiss. Removing his shoes, he climbed onto the bed, pulling the person tightly into his arms.

He was afraid that if he were to continue the kiss, he would not be able to stop himself from doing Wu Xingzi. However, tomorrow was a big day, and he needed to be extremely alert. The only thing he could do now was to wait for the matter to be dealt with, and he would return to settle this desire with interest.

“Haiwang?” Wu Xingzi was still groggy. However, a flame had been lit within him due to the kiss. Unconsciously, he ground himself against Guan Shanjin’s thigh.

“Not tonight…” Guan Shanjin hugged him tightly, capturing Wu Xingzi’s slowly moving limbs, and pressed a comforting kiss on his forehead. “Go back to sleep, I shouldn’t have woken you up.”

“Oh…” Wu Xingzi struggled a little, but could not free himself. Instead, he became a little more alert, and huddled into Guan Shanjin’s chest shyly, not moving again.

The two of them remained in each other’s embrace for some time, and Guan Shanjin looked at Wu Xingzi. “You’re not going back to sleep yet?”

“I’m now awake, it’s hard to go back to sleep…” Wu Xingzi sighed. It wasn’t his choice either! He would be leaving Bastion City for the far away capital tomorrow, and he even slept earlier to make sure that he would be well rested! Who would have known that while sleeping, he would be kissed awake by Guan Shanjin, and now, there was no way he would be able to fall asleep immediately.

“It’s my fault.” Guan Shanjin gave a proper apology, swaying the person in his arms. “Why don’t I recite a book to coax you to sleep?”

“Recite a book?” Wu Xingzi blinked, then laughed out loud. He had never heard anyone use such a method to coax another person to sleep before.

“Why? You don’t believe that I’ll be able to coax you to sleep?” Guan Shanjin raised a brow, staring at Wu Xingzi’s smiling face.

At the very start, he had thought that when Wu Xingzi smiled, he looked like Mr. Lu. However, Wu Xingzi had to be a very reserved person, and rarely smiled. Instead, he would always fall into a daze as he looked at Guan Shanjin. Guan Shanjin did not know what he was always thinking about, but such an image looked rather foolish, yet pure and innocent. It made Guan Shanjin unhappy, as it felt that this was desecrating Mr. Lu.

The one who was the most foolish was him, Guan Shanjin.

Looking at him now, how could there have been a trace of Mr. Lu on Wu Xingzi’s face at all? Guan Shanjin had never wanted to kiss Mr. Lu when he was smiling.

“Which book are you going to recite?” Wu Xingzi could not help but feel curious. He knew that Guan Shanjin excelled in both the martial and literary areas, and the books that he had read were definitely a hundred times more than he, himself, had ever read. However, Wu Xingzi was a scholar! How could he listen to a book and fall asleep?

“Qingcheng County’s Records.”

Wu Xingzi trembled, his eyes widening in shock.

“Y-y-you, when did you read the records?” The Qingcheng County’s Records, exactly like its name, were the records kept about Qingcheng County. It was just like the records of most counties, the only difference being the people who compiled it. Coincidentally, Wu Xingzi happened to be one of the compilers, and he was also the main person doing so. After all, in such a small place like Qingcheng County, there were only so many people who could read and write. The highest educated person was usually the magistrate, and next, would be the adviser.

The magistrate was busy with his official duties. How would he have the time to prepare the records? As such, the responsibility naturally fell to the adviser.

Wu Xingzi knew that his literary skills were ordinary, and he was not concerned if others read it. However, knowing that Guan Shanjin had read it, he inexplicably felt very anxious. For his ability to be seen so simply, it was even more embarrassing than not wearing any clothes!

“Didn’t you have a set in your place? I was feeling bored at that time, so I read all of them.” Guan Shanjin smiled.

“Oh, I forgot that I had a set…” Wu Xingzi’s shoulders sagged, and he shrunk into Guan Shanjin’s embrace. “Eh? You can actually remember everything? My writing was bad, it’s very embarrassing.”

“Your words were truly not elaborate, but they were simple and direct. You did introduce Qingcheng County very well.” Guan Shanjin smiled as he kissed Wu Xingzi’s forehead. “How about it? If I recite the records, would you be able to fall asleep?”

“It probably wouldn’t work. Hey, just forget about it, alright?” How could he be able to sleep? He would be embarrassed to death instead!

“Qingcheng County is a good place.” Guan Shanjin did not respond to his request. In any case, chatting casually with Wu Xingzi was pretty nice as well.

“That it is.” Wu Xingzi nodded. Although Qingcheng County was barren and prone to floods, it was still the place that nurtured him. One would always have a love for their hometown, and would never be able to give it up. Also, a single factor could not be the only thing that contributed to its conclusion, and there were good places everywhere.

“When Mr. Lu is married, shall we go back and stay for a few days?”

“A few days?” Wu Xingzi shuddered violently, and Guan Shanjin looked at him, puzzled.

“Don’t you have to return to the capital for work?” Wu Xingzi hurriedly came up with an explanation, but all he could think of was his journey tomorrow, and he inexplicably felt guilty.

“A delay of a few days is nothing.” Guan Shanjin thought that Wu Xingzi was worried for him, and so wanted to refuse him. Calmly, he smiled, trying to comfort Wu Xingzi. “The emperor is not hurrying me to return. We have ample time, and it doesn’t matter if we delay our return for a few days. Heading to Qingcheng County first is on the way as well.”

“Oh…” Wu Xingzi forced out a smile, nodding his head. He then immediately hid his face away, afraid that he would reveal something from his expression.

“This time, Mr. Lu would definitely return to the capital with us as well.” Guan Shanjin spoke suddenly, and slight nervousness and tentativeness could be heard in his tone. However, Wu Xingzi did not register it, and nodded again, unbothered.

“It’s good that the two of you have made things clear.” In Wu Xingzi’s heart, Mr. Lu had most definitely confessed his feelings to Guan Shanjin already. After all, tomorrow was the wedding, and things could not drag out anymore.

“You don’t mind?” Wu Xingzi’s calm tone instead made Guan Shanjin unhappy. Did Wu Xingzi have no intentions of even asking why?

“Huh?” Why would he mind? Right from the start, he was the outsider. Now, Guan Shanjin and Mr. Lu would have a happily ever after, and he no longer had anything to do with it.

Could it be that Guan Shanjin was afraid that he would blame Mr. Lu? This thought flashed past Wu Xingzi’s head, and he quickly reassured Guan Shanjin. “Don’t overthink it, I understand why Mr. Lu did so.” As they said, a casual remark may sound significant to a suspicious listener. Those words probably described this situation.

The expression on Guan Shanjin’s face changed abruptly. He gritted his teeth, “Oh? So you also wish to marry and have a child?”