Despite only knowing him for a short time, all of Xu Shen’s friends thought Shu Ran was very good at talking. They were afraid this conversation might lead to a misunderstanding for the young couple but, to their surprise, Shu Ran resolved the dispute with just one sentence, and he also said it quite humorously.
Everyone laughed, and Jiang Fan commented: “That’s right. Look at all the stories about those talented people. Which one of them liked talented ladies? They were only interested in beauty. It’s so superficial.”
When they laughed, Xu Shen also smiled and touched his face: “Then, should I feel lucky to have a face that’s appreciated by a man of talent?”
He turned his head and looked at Shu Ran. The boy had indeed said over and over that he was good-looking.
“A nice, strong body is also important…” Shu Ran told the truth.
Everyone: “Hahaha.” They felt that the more Shu Ran talked, the more inappropriate it got. Why did he take the lead to dig his own pit?
Xu Shen also could not help laughing, feeling speechless by Shu Ran’s teasing. After all, the boy kissed him for five whole minutes, right in front of everyone. Shu Ran was obviously not easy to mess with. “I give up! I can’t win against you,” Xu Shen chuckled.
Chen Sen looked Shu Ran up and down and sighed: “Ah, I thought you were shy.”
Shu Ran raised his glass of water: “I am quite shy.”
Chen Kai also interrupted: “If that’s being shy, then there are no thin-skinned people in the world…”
They had fun bantering with each other, and Xu Shen quietly listened to them. Occasionally, he picked up some food for Shu Ran and handed him fruits until he waved his hand, too full to eat anything else.
After cleaning up the table, Chen Kai found a pile of fishing rods in Xu Shen’s backyard and said: “I’ll go out and catch something good. I’ll give you an extra meal tomorrow.”
Shu Ran knew what he was up to at a glance. He came over with interest and said: “Brother Kai, what are you going to catch? Loach or yellow eel?”
He was a city child. To be honest, this was his first time in the countryside. It was not like he found it interesting, and all the suffering people were definitely not something good, but he still liked it here.
Chen Kai: “What do you like to eat? Brother Kai will catch it for you!”
Eating was secondary. Shu Ran mainly wanted to experience it. He quickly looked back at Xu Shen who was still in the room and then whispered: “Can I come with you?”
“No!” Chen Kai shook his head. “You got married today, and still want to go catch fish with me in the middle of the night? Are you crazy?!” He knew that if he dared to take Shu Ran with him, he might be dead under Xu Shen’s hands before sunrise.
That was true. Shu Ran continued: “Then, will you also go tomorrow night? Can I come then?”
“Definitely not.” Chen Kai smiled and said: “Are you looking down on Brother Shen? Do you think you’ll be able to run around tomorrow night?”
Shu Ran stared at Chen Kai whose head was full of yellow waste. He really wanted to catch fish tonight: “I’ll go ask Brother Shen!”
It was still early, less than nine o’clock. He couldn’t sleep at this hour anyway. Shu Ran walked back inside and found Xu Shen: “Brother Shen, it is still early, I want to go and watch Brother Kai catch fish. Can you come with me?”
Xu Shen stretched out his long arms, put them around Shu Ran’s waist, and looked out the door: “Do you want to see it? Then I’ll take you out for a walk, just in time to digest the food.”
Jiang Fan was gloating: “Newlyweds are different ah, just like oil mixed with honey.”
“Are you envious?” Xu Shen smiled and kissed the corner of Shu Ran’s mouth, his eyebrows full of joy. Shu Ran put his hand on the man’s chest, and the feel of firm muscles under his palm made him shy.
Xu Shen grabbed a flashlight and walked out of the house with Shu Ran, hand in hand. Hearing they were also coming, Chen Kai bared his teeth and muttered to himself: “Look, some of us have to work and others only care about falling in love…”
Xu Shen heard him: “Stop talking nonsense!” Laughing, he gave him a light kick.
…………
In Shu Ran’s opinion, this county town was the perfect mix between urban and rural setting. Even though it was in the middle of the town, Xu Shen’s house had a vast area of rice fields surrounding it, and the night was noisy with the calls of insects and frogs. In those days, the environment was still pleasant, and the quality of the water was good, with various species of small fish and shrimps living in the ditches beside the rice fields.
While walking through the tall strands of vegetation, frogs jumped out from time to time, brushing people’s feet and even sitting on them.
“Ah!” Shu Ran was not afraid of ordinary frogs but knew that those with bumps on the back were disgusting. He was afraid the skin on his feet and hands might rot if he touched them.
“What’s the matter?” Xu Shen’s voice came from behind.
Shu Ran: “A toad is lying on my feet!”
Xu Shen smiled: “Are you so afraid of them?”
Shu Ran muttered: “Of course I’m afraid. Aren’t you afraid of your skin rotting?”
“It’s okay.” Xu Shen asked hesitantly: “Should I carry you?”
“That’s not necessary.” The road was uneven and bumpy, with occasional single plank bridges and small ditches. Shu Ran said: “If I’m too heavy and you can’t walk steadily, we might fall together in the rice fields.”
“Your husband is not so weak…” Xu Shen said.
Shu Ran pursed his lips and complained: “Whose husband? I’m not a woman.”
Xu Shen: “If you married me, am I not your husband?”
Shu Ran fell silent.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Xu Shen could always feel when the boy was uncomfortable or unhappy. Even when the other party deliberately covered it, it still inadvertently showed out.
After a moment of silence, Xu Shen compromised: “It’s okay, I won’t talk about it if you don’t like it.”
But the atmosphere was not as natural as before.
Shu Ran convinced himself that it was just a title, with things far more excessive waiting to happen in the future. He said: “It’s nothing. I’m just shy and not used to it.”
He felt grateful for this excuse. Shyness was just like a brick. He could move it and fit it wherever he needed.
“Really?” Xu Shen knew he was not shy at all, but he didn’t expose him. They continued to walk in silence.
Walking in front, Chen Kai knew nothing about the disagreement between them. When he arrived at the right place, he stopped and said: “Here we are. I’ll put a cage here to catch fish and collect it tomorrow.”
Shu Ran wanted to ease the mood and asked: “Brother Shen, won’t it be taken away by others?”
Xu Shen: “No, nobody is that immoral.”
Shu Ran thought about it. Basically, the people from the countryside in this era were all simple and honest peasants, so nobody would be that petty.
“I’m going to hold the flashlight for Brother Kai.”
“I’ll do it. Be careful not to fall into the water.” Xu Shen held Shu Ran’s hand, and then simply put his arms around his waist, giving the flashlight to Chen Kai to figure it out by himself.
Shu Ran thought to himself that this man was willing to take a step down for him. He didn’t know if that would be the case if he got really angry. Would he still be so easy to coax?
After a while, Chen Kai finished setting up the cage and took the net to catch some eels. Shu Ran was flashing the flashlight everywhere, calling Chen Kai as soon as he saw a target. As a result, when Chen Kai moved, the eels moved away as well.
Xu Shen blamed him: “Why are you jumping like that all over the place? Can’t you be lighter?”
“How light can I be? My feet are stuck in the mud. Why don’t you try it?” Chen Kai was dissatisfied with his preaching. He was already very good, okay?
“Shhh, be quiet. I saw the eel again. Brother Kai, come here quickly.” Shu Ran whispered.
“Where?” Chen Kai came over and the eel ran away again.
Xu Shen scolded: “Hey, can you not do it like that?”
“…”
After several times, Chen Kai was extremely annoyed: “That’s it! I’ll do it myself, I don’t need your help. Go fall in love away from me!”
“…”
Xu Shen pulled Shu Ran to the hillside. He took off his shirt and gave it to Shu Ran to sit on: “Just let him be, he likes to toss by himself.”
Shu Ran sat down and didn’t dare to look at the young man who was only wearing an undershirt next to him. In the past, people thought that this kind of undershirt was quite rustic, but fashion has come full circle since then. Later, it became a fashion item for cool guys.
To be honest, Shu Ran has never seen a guy wear an undershirt better than Xu Shen. It was natural and charming, full of masculine flavor, and not at all lacking in taste.
“Shu Ran, are the mosquitoes biting you?” Xu Shen slapped his own shoulder and killed one.
“No, mosquitoes don’t like me.” Shu Ran said while pulling the shirt under his buttocks and giving it back to Xu Shen. “You put it on. If my trousers get dirty, I’ll just wash them tomorrow.” There was no need to be so considerate.
Xu Shen was stunned: “Hmm.” He obediently put his shirt back on, and looked at Shu Ran from time to time, as if wanting to understand something from his expression.
“The stars are so beautiful tonight. It seems that tomorrow will be a sunny day.” Shu Ran held his knees and looked up at the sky. He hasn’t seen such beautiful night scenery in a long time.
Hearing this, Xu Shen also looked at the sky and thought that educated people were indeed different. Their eyes could appreciate the wonders of the world.
“Well, it’s beautiful, but not as good-looking as you.” Xu Shen approached him and sat slightly behind him, his arms enveloping his waist. His breathing was a little distorted.
But he just hugged Shu Ran and did nothing else.
Shu Ran froze. As a man, he naturally understood what Xu Shen must be thinking about. His mouth opened and closed a couple of times, but in the end, he chose to remain silent. He remembered that Xu Shen seemed to be 22 years old at this time, four years older than him. At that age, a man was always eager to go.
“I want to kiss you.” Xu Shen whispered in Shu Ran’s ear, seeking consent. He already had both his feet in Xu Shen’s boat, so how could Shu Ran disagree at this point? He nodded, and then his lips were quickly occupied by the other man. He drove straight in, with a very domineering feeling.
At night, Xu Shen was obviously more agitated than he’d been during the day. He soon made Shu Ran unable to stand it, with little muffled noises escaping his lips. He intended to beg for mercy, but it only made Xu Shen spiral more out of control.
“Brother Shen…”
The atmosphere was also very comfortable, and Shu Ran gradually relaxed. His hands fell on Xu Shen’s shoulders, not at all dodging, letting the man take advantage of him.
Xu Shen planted a few strawberries on his neck, red and bright. Feeling that it wasn’t enough, he also put one behind his ear. Just this made Xu Shen feel like he was floating on clouds. If they went back home and Shu Ran was willing to spend the night with him, wouldn’t he ascend straight to heaven?
“Shu Ran, wife.” Xu Shen held the thin teenager in his arms and said gently: “Would you like to hold me tonight?”
Shu Ran bit his lips, and the pain made him gain a little bit of sanity: “Aren’t we embracing each other right now?”
Xu Shen pinched the softness of his waist: “It’s not that kind of hug, do you understand?” Then he put the tip of his tongue in and out Shu Ran’s ear, simulating what he was talking about1Oh, wow (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄). “It’s this kind of hug.”
“Dirty!” Shu Ran felt shivers all over his body. He raised his hand and pounded Xu Shen on the shoulder.
“Do you understand?” Xu Shen lifted the boy’s chin and looked at him. Looking into each other’s eyes, Xu Shen admitted it was an obscene gesture. But what kind of man wasn’t obscene toward his wife? Unless they were a coward.
It was only a matter of time before that happened between them. Shu Ran knew it was unavoidable, but he felt it was happening too soon. He still held reservations in his heart, and his anxious eyes didn’t dare to look at Xu Shen.
“You don’t want to?” Xu Shen looked at Shu Ran quietly. He wasn’t so calm in his heart. What if Shu Ran thought he was some hooligan, a dirty guy who couldn’t control himself? It wasn’t like that, he was desperate only because he liked Shu Ran. If someone else was in front of him right now, he wouldn’t glance at them twice.
Shu Ran calmed down, buried his face in Xu Shen’s arms, and whispered: “I’m afraid of pain.”
As soon as his attitude softened, Xu Shen found himself unable to continue. He immediately became gentle and soothed Shu Ran’s back: “Don’t worry, I’m not a rude man.”
“Uh-huh.” Shu Ran answered in a low voice.
Xu Shen smiled, lowered his head, and kissed the boy’s forehead. He knew very well that love and coercion were two different things. He didn’t want to force him, hoping that Shu Ran would be willing to be good to him.
