Thank you to Crystal for the ko-fi~
They said it would be at most five days, but Zong Yuan and Hua Chengyun understood in their hearts that they wouldn’t meet the people from the capital in less than five days.
Hua Chengyun had been riding hard for three days before encountering Zong Yuan’s group. The guards and people from the Xiangguo Monastery accompanying them were unavoidably slower. They carried many people and carriages with them. The original plan was to handle everything on the road after picking up the turtle shell, then proceed directly to the palace for an audience.
Moreover, among the group was a pampered prince, meticulous in every aspect of life. With so many factors and the wilful personality of the Third Prince, every aspect constrained their speed.
But the prince going ahead alone would only expedite their pace.
It had been a day since they met Hua Chengyun. Ming Jue had tried to persuade him with reason and emotion last night, sighed, and said, “If you really like him, wait until you have completely left the monastic life. Making inappropriate moves in public will only make Young Master Chenghua look bad in front of everyone.”
Zong Yuan asked, “Did you give him a bad look?”
Ming Jue immediately widened his eyes, and angrily said a few words in Amitabha, “Zong Yuan!”
Zong Yuan knew Hua Chengyun didn’t care about such things, but with Ming Jue’s words, he naturally went along with it. The reason was simple – he watched his wife engrossed in acting, and he couldn’t help but play along with the acting bug.
Of course, Zong Yuan’s interpretation of Hua Chengyun’s acting was simply him concealing his true identity, done with particularly clumsy subtlety.
So, the next day, Hua Chengyun found that something was amiss.
Zong Yuan rode his horse beside the carriage. When Hua Chengyun tried to ride with him again, Zong Yuan politely refused with a smile, “The horse has been traveling for a long time; riding together might strain it. If Young Master Chenghua is tired, why don’t you ride the horse, and I’ll rest in the carriage?”
Hua Chengyun’s face darkened.
He tried to conceal it but couldn’t help saying, “You—”
Zong Yuan nodded, suddenly realizing, and said, “The day before yesterday, it was my oversight, Young Master Chenghua, don’t take it to heart. No need to feel troubled. Just call me ‘Master’ if you need anything.”
The hand resting on his thigh had already formed an imprint. Hua Chengyun suddenly smiled faintly, “No need.”
He closed the small window and leaned against the swaying and unstable carriage wall, his face darkening.
Men, especially he himself being a representative of fickleness, how could he not understand a man’s thoughts?
Was it because he found him unchallenging, or did he no longer wish to conquer him?
In the following days, Zong Yuan’s attitude towards Hua Chengyun became polite but distant. His behavior didn’t step beyond the boundaries, yet what left Hua Chengyun in a dilemma was that Zong Yuan didn’t use harsh words. He still cared about him.
Because of this, Hua Chengyun pondered tirelessly about what went wrong.
One morning, still feeling a bit drowsy, Hua Chengyun had only exchanged a few words with Zong Yuan the night before. The current Third Prince, who had never experienced the feeling of uncertainty, didn’t sleep until midnight.
Before he could fully wake up, Ming Xin boldly asked, “Junior Master, your attitude towards Young Master Chenghua these past few days has been inconsistent. Is something wrong?”
Zong Yuan glanced toward the carriage, “Is it?”
Zong Yuan’s voice was faint, instantly pulling Hua Chengyun out of his sleepiness. He calmed his breathing, perked up his ears, and eavesdropped on their conversation.
“Yes,” Ming Xin wondered, “Did you two quarrel? I haven’t seen you talk much these past two days.”
Ming Jue coughed a few times and said authoritatively, “Enough, I don’t see any changes. Ming Xin, you’re overthinking it. Young Master Chenghua hasn’t said anything yet!”
Hua Chengyun thought to himself, ‘Can this old bald head give Zong Yuan a chance to speak?! What do you mean by no changes? Even someone as clueless as Ming Xin can see it. Can’t you, old bald head?’
Zong Yuan didn’t say anything, just sighed faintly. Ming Xin and Ming Jue fell silent. Ming Jue felt somewhat guilty and pretended to be calm, asking, “Junior Master, what’s wrong?”
Hua Chengyun’s heart also instantly lifted.
“Don’t talk about it anymore,” Zong Yuan’s clear voice echoed into the carriage. “There’s nothing between me and Young Master Chenghua. It’s just as Senior Ming Jue said, we need to be mindful of our behavior in public.”
Hua Chengyun’s heart relaxed, but then he gritted his teeth. That old bald head!
Zong Yuan continued, “However…”
However, what?
As if sensing what Hua Chengyun was thinking, Zong Yuan paused and added, “However, I don’t like others deceiving me.”
Judging by his expression, it seemed like he casually mentioned it. Ming Xin and Ming Jue also agreed, thinking it was probably the case. However, Hua Chengyun felt a chill in his heart. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to that statement.
He knows?
To what extent does he know?
The morning passed like this. They had just passed through a small village, and now, as the sun approached the horizon, with no village or inn in sight, they would have to spend another night in the wilderness.
When Hua Chengyun traveled to Yunling, he had rested there for a night. There happened to be a clear spring nearby. In the blink of an eye, he recalled the route from memory.
Since it’s not a matter of fickleness, he was confident he could make progress with A’Yuan tonight. Once the rice was cooked, he knew A’Yuan wouldn’t shirk responsibility. By then, he could be open and honest with him, with some assurance.
Hua Chengyun’s mind was racing, determined to make a breakthrough tonight. The days of enduring without speaking were too hard to bear!
As the group traveled more, they became adept and efficient. They had previously relied on dry rations and plain water-soaked flatbreads. In the last town they passed, they had bought camping equipment, fearing a situation like this. And now, they were putting it to use.
Several people started a fire, set up the camping gear, and after putting some millet and wild vegetables on, they sat by the fire to rest.
Hua Chengyun glanced at them, then lowered his head and rushed into the woods. Seeing Hua Chengyun’s back, who was watching the fire, Zong Yuan suddenly stood up and said to the surprised group, “You guys eat first. I’ll go check.”
Hua Chengyun’s speed wasn’t slow. Zong Yuan could still see his figure. 0046 clicked his tongue twice, “Something happened. Look at him running with the posture of a distraught helpless girl. See how he’s swinging his hair, he’s definitely crying!”
Zong Yuan inexplicably felt guilty. After playing around, he truly couldn’t stop acting, “I indeed went too far,” he said apologetically.
If Hua Chengyun cried, beside him, there would be no one else who caused his tears.
Pretending to be experienced, 0046 said, “In this situation, you should slowly catch up, give him some time to vent, and then, when he’s in despair, grab him and kiss him passionately.”
“You?” Zong Yuan chuckled, “After you gave me so many blind suggestions before, do you think I would still believe you?”
0046 choked, “Then what do you plan to do?!”
After so many worlds, Zong Yuan’s habit of teasing his wife never changed. In every world, he made his wife shed tears a few times. He cleared his throat a few times and continued walking without slowing down, “First, find him.”
Hua Chengyun was no innocent rabbit; he was quite savvy. As soon as he sensed that Zong Yuan was indeed following him, he accelerated towards the clear spring.
Either getting wet or falling into the water, anyway, tonight the rice must be cooked.
Zong Yuan watched Hua Chengyun run. His body was in its prime, feeling hungry enough to devour a whole cow. But everyone knew that it wasn’t wise to recklessly rush forward, especially Zong Yuan.
So he watched helplessly as Hua Chengyun ran forward, and suddenly the whole person disappeared, “!!!”
Where did he go?
Zong Yuan ran over with a stern face, only to find a pool ahead. In this not-so-large pool, a pair of hands were desperately splashing. Hua Chengyun’s pale half-face appeared and disappeared in the water, “Uh, help… help me…”
Zong Yuan jumped into the water and swam to his side, holding him with both hands and pulling him toward the edge of the pool. Hua Chengyun looked at him, and in a moment, the pretended vulnerability covered the real sense of grievance and bitterness. He said, “You go, I’m not worth saving.”
He struggled underwater, creating full resistance. When he made a fuss like this, Zong Yuan almost couldn’t hold onto him. With a dark face, he said, “Shut up.”
Hua Chengyun’s face was covered in water, and he sniffled, “I’m sorry.”
Zong Yuan dared not let him go. Who the hell knew how deep this pool was? Half of his chest was exposed above the water, but fortunately, the pool wasn’t too large. Zong Yuan easily brought Hua Chengyun to the water’s edge.
As Zong Yuan tried to drag Hua Chengyun out of the water, his expression suddenly changed, and his movements became stiff. Hua Chengyun coughed, “What’s wrong?”
Zong Yuan’s body lowered, and the water level rose about five or six centimeters on him. Zong Yuan touched the bottom.
Zong Yuan, “…”
Hua Chengyun, “…”
Well, this is awkward.
Hua Chengyun also tried stepping down in the water. He was a bit shorter than Zong Yuan, and now the water level was just at his shoulder. They exchanged a glance, walked towards the center of the water, and oh, the water only rose up a couple of finger widths.
Awkward…
Hua Chengyun coughed, “I didn’t know it was so shallow.”
Seeing his embarrassed appearance, Zong Yuan found it amusing. However, he maintained a serious demeanor and lectured him, “Always watch where you’re walking.”
Hua Chengyun languidly replied, “Okay.” Could he say that it was intentional?
After both of them got out of the water, their clothes were soaked. Fortunately, the weather wasn’t cold, and the pool water had been warmed by the sun throughout the day. Zong Yuan took off his clothes one by one, wringing them dry. He looked at Hua Chengyun, who was standing there staring at him, and said, “Aren’t you going to take yours off?”
Even though it was originally his plan to use the beauty trap, now he unexpectedly felt enticed by A’Yuan. Hua Chengyun blushed slightly, unable to look at Zong Yuan anymore. He turned away and started taking off his clothes to wring them dry.
Regardless of his shy and hesitant demeanor, Zong Yuan, oblivious to the situation, put on his clothes and waited for Hua Chengyun to get ready to go back and sit by the fire together.
Hua Chengyun gritted his teeth, took off his pants, and after wringing them, he looked at Zong Yuan hesitantly, “A’Yuan, I can’t move.”
He wasn’t wearing anything underneath, and his smooth, bare legs were exposed to the wind.
Zong Yuan took the pants, and with a forceful twist, water flowed out. Hua Chengyun looked at him with starry eyes and couldn’t help but praise, “Ah Yuan, you’re amazing.”
…Fine, praise away, but why are you putting your legs around me?
Zong Yuan patted the back of his thigh, “Hungry, aren’t you?”
Could it be that kind of hungry?
Shivering from the pat, Hua Chengyun blushed and nodded.
Zong Yuan began to say, “I’m hungry too, we—”
Hua Chengyun interrupted him, his hands entwined with the cuffs of his clothes, “I know! You don’t need to say it. I am willing, and there are some things I want to confess to you afterward.”
Stomach growling, Zong Yuan said, “You—”
“I haven’t experienced it,” Hua Chengyun said seriously, every feature on his face exuding the shyness of a master, “You’ll know later. Even though there are many rumors, I am indeed a first-timer.”
Zong Yuan understood. Coming back from the hunger-induced trance, he said, “I—”
Hua Chengyun sighed and raised his right hand gently to cover Zong Yuan’s lips, looking affectionate but with a storm gathering in his eyes, “I don’t care. Even if you’re not a first-timer, I don’t care.”
After saying this, he casually asked, “Those you’ve been with before, who were they?”
Zong Yuan, unable to utter a word: “…” Damn.
Author’s note:
Hua Chengyun (smiling): Tell me, I won’t get angry~ I just want to get to know the brothers and sisters!
Zong Yuan: Fu Xin, Jiang Shengyan, mermaids…
Hua Chengyun (smile freezing): Wow…
The heartwarming urban world is the last one. Since the other one is also urban but involves a little monster, these two worlds need to be separated. Therefore, the order of the upcoming worlds is:
Urban Little Monster — Zerg — Heartwarming Urban — Finale World (ribbit ribbit)
