Chapter 155
When they returned home in the evening, the family was gathered around the table for dinner. On the table were the usual dishes: a plate of potatoes, a plate of cabbage, a plate of stir-fried pork, and a plate of scrambled eggs.
At this moment, Wu Shuang used a cloth to handle it carefully, bringing out a steaming hot pot of soup. Xiao Zhuang’s mother cautiously reached out to protect it, afraid it might spill.
Seeing this, Xiao Zhuang quickly got up and made space on the table to place the pot.
His younger brother, Xiao Hong, became happy and said, “Smells so good!”
Xiao Ling, with a flicker of interest, said, “Good smells aren’t meant for you!”
Xiao Hong complained to his mother, “Mom, is this soup for my brother and sister-in-law again? You’re too biased!”
Xiao Zhuang’s mother glared at him and said, “I didn’t stop you from eating the stir-fried pork. This is to nourish your brother. It’s not your turn to eat yet, go cool off somewhere else!”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhuang’s eyelids twitched. He vaguely felt the blisters on his lips, which had long since healed, might be stirring again.
Wu Shuang stood by the table, serving the soup.
Xiao Zhuang’s mother instructed, “They say drinking soup is good, but eating meat is better. Serve him a generous portion of the dry meat.”
Wu Shuang obediently responded, “Okay.”
He deftly filled a big bowl with soup and placed it in front of Xiao Zhuang.
Xiao Zhuang lowered his head to look and saw a large piece of pig kidney sitting at the bottom of the bowl. Just looking at it made the dryness surge through his body.
Wu Shuang sat down and started eating from his bowl. His mother served him some meat and said, “Little Shuang, eat more.”
Wu Shuang nodded and focused on eating.
Xiao Zhuang’s mother watched as his complexion improved and his face became more fleshy. She looked satisfied.
Then she turned to her son, tapped the chopsticks on the table to get his attention, and said, “I specially bought this meat from the butcher for you. Xiao Shuang stewed it on low heat for a whole hour. You should appreciate it.”
Xiao Zhuang had no choice. He couldn’t refuse. He gritted his teeth and, with determination, finished all the soup and meat in the bowl.
Honestly, it tasted good. Wu Shuang must have put in a lot of effort; there was no hint of a gamey taste.
Xiao Zhuang’s mother saw him finish one bowl and promptly served him another large bowl.
Since it had already come to this, Xiao Zhuang completely gave up resisting and finished it all with gusto.
For this meal, he only ate rice and this pig kidney soup, and he ate until he was very full.
After dinner and tidying up, Xiao Zhuang’s mother urged them to go back. The two of them returned to their room, one after the other.
As soon as they entered the room, Xiao Zhuang smelled the familiar medicinal scent. He closed his eyes, almost forgetting about this.
Wu Shuang entered the room and quickly closed the door tightly.
The fire was low, simmering the medicine pot. Wu Shuang carefully poured the medicinal broth from the pot into a bowl and brought it to Xiao Zhuang.
“Here, drink it.”
Taking the bowl of medicine, Xiao Zhuang felt that if he drank this bowl, he might die of bursting tonight.
Wu Shuang stared at him with big eyes.
“What’s wrong? Is it too bitter? We still have preserved sweets left over from our wedding. Let me fetch a few for you.”
As she said this, Wu Shuang was about to turn around, but his thin arm was caught by the sturdy hand of the young man.
Confused, Wu Shuang turned back to see Xiao Zhuang’s face flushed red, full of struggle and hesitation.
However, he didn’t hesitate for too long. Xiao Zhuang made a decision, released Wu Shuang’s arm, and took the bowl of medicinal soup straight to the stove. Tilting the bowl, he poured the entire contents, which had been simmering for nearly half an hour, into the fire pit.
Wu Shuang’s face turned pale instantly. He looked up at Xiao Zhuang.
Only then did Xiao Zhuang realize his mistake.
He quickly waved his hand and said, “It’s not what you think…”
But it was too late. Tears were already streaming down Wu Shuang’s pale cheeks, leaving Xiao Zhuang dumbfounded.
Even on that night when Wu Shuang was at his wit’s end, standing alone by the riverbank in the cold wind, Xiao Zhuang didn’t see him shed a single tear.
Later, he fell ill with a high fever, still had to deal with his inhumane foster parents, and then moved to a completely unfamiliar environment. Even with those closest to him, Xiao Zhuang himself was essentially just a stranger whom they had barely met a couple of times.
Xiao Zhuang could imagine how difficult it was for Wu Shuang, but from illness to recovery, he had never cried in front of anyone, not even once.
But now, because Xiao Zhuang accidentally spilled the specially prepared medicine, Wu Shuang cried.
Xiao Zhuang rushed over in a fluster, wanting to grasp his shoulder, but realized he still hadn’t set down the bowl in his hand. He quickly turned back and slammed the bowl onto the table. When he looked back, Wu Shuang had already run into the inner room.
Xiao Zhuang hurried after him.
When he entered the room, he found Wu Shuang facing away, wiping his face with a cloth.
Xiao Zhuang reached out to touch his shoulder, and Wu Shuang turned around.
His movements were too rough; his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were red, but not a tear could be seen.
Wu Shuang’s demeanor was surprisingly calm.
He said, “Take off your robe, I’ll wash it for you.”
Xiao Zhuang instinctively complied, taking off his robe. But before Wu Shuang could take it from him, Xiao Zhuang threw it aside and hung it on the back of a chair.
Standing in front of Wu Shuang, Xiao Zhuang cleared his throat nervously, finally confessing his little secret.
“I’m sorry. I lied to you because I was embarrassed in front of you. I wasn’t actually sick. The medicine was harmful if taken too much, so I dumped it.”
Wu Shuang paused for a moment, then nodded towards the blanket on the bed.
“But then…”
But he quickly understood what had happened that night.
Looking down at Xiao Zhuang, now only in his undershirt and pants after removing his outer robe, Xiao Zhuang’s embarrassment was impossible to conceal.
Wu Shuang looked up at Xiao Zhuang in astonishment.
Xiao Zhuang wasn’t surprised. Just now, there had already been a similar instance in the outer room. He had barely managed to suppress it, but now, looking at Wu Shuang and smelling his scent in the room, he couldn’t calm down anymore, couldn’t suppress it.
Xiao Zhuang felt utterly defeated, extremely embarrassed, but also relieved. He lowered his head and saw Wu Shuang pacing back and forth on the ground, seemingly hesitating.
After a while, Wu Shuang stopped in front of Xiao Zhuang and said, “What are you going to do?”
Xiao Zhuang replied, “After my parents go to sleep in a while, I’ll calm down in the yard tonight and come back in the morning.”
Wu Shuang’s expression darkened.
“Do you want me to become a widower so soon after we got married?”
Xiao Zhuang reassured him, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Wu Shuang already raised his hand to undo his belt, looking at Xiao Zhuang.
“Tonight doesn’t count. Once we’re done and the fire is out, you can resist again tomorrow.”
Xiao Zhuang muttered, “This isn’t right…” but his eyes were fixed on Wu Shuang’s movements, his throat knotting uncontrollably.
As Wu Shuang efficiently stripped off his clothes, then bent over and reached out, nearly smacking Wu Shuang’s face with his pants, Xiao Zhuang’s resistance became even weaker and more pale.
He stared at the young man in front of him, so fair-skinned and frail-looking, his eyes blazing.
He can’t bear it anymore.
Since it’s already like this, might as well break the pot.
Xiao Zhuang, with a tall and imposing figure, stepped forward to explain, lifted up the newlywed husband who had not been touched for many days, and strode towards their bed.
