Qin Yuanxi said it was just a casual outing, but in reality, he had already sent someone to inquire about it. There was a town outside the valley, and every first and fifteenth day of the month, there would be a bustling market. He thought it would be a great opportunity to take Zhao Tuo out, stroll around, shop a bit, and relax—consider it their first date as a couple, even though they already had a child together.
Yeah, that’s right. Despite having a child, they had never officially been on a date.
As a modern youngster, Qin Yuanxi knew that dates usually revolved around simple activities like shopping, watching movies, and buying stuff. When things get heated, there might be a hotel involved, but let’s skip that part for now. He could take Zhao Tuo to the market, shop, watch street performances, and call it a day.
The market was lively, and Qin Yuanxi remembered going to similar markets in the countryside with his grandparents when he was a child. Vendors shouting, selling various small items—the memories were distant. Growing up, it was all about malls and supermarkets, missing out on the lively and noisy atmosphere of those traditional markets.
Now, the experience felt different. Roaming the ancient, traditional streets, the vendors’ calls, and the strange and curious items were things Qin Yuanxi had never seen before.
He was curious about everything, pulling Zhao Tuo to look around. Whenever they found something delicious, they bought a bit and enjoyed it together. If the taste didn’t suit him, he stuffed it all into Zhao Tuo’s hands. When he spotted interesting trinkets, he had to touch and examine them. If he liked them, he bought them on the spot. After just half a day of wandering, Zhao Tuo was covered in Qin Yuanxi’s spoils.
“This one looks nice.”
Qin Yuanxi stood in front of a handicraft stall, holding a vivid windmill in his hands. “Perfect for our Xiao Bao to play with. He will definitely like it. Look, it spins.”
He blew on the small windmill, and it cheerfully started spinning—clearly a small toy meant for entertaining children.
“Pay up.”
Qin Yuanxi lifted the windmill, ready to leave, but Zhao Tuo wasn’t cooperating.
“I don’t want this.”
“What?” Qin Yuanxi didn’t hear clearly, thinking Zhao Tuo was upset. “You want one too? Let’s get two, make it a pair.”
“I said no. Don’t buy it. Don’t buy it for him.”
Zhao Tuo’s mood was off, and Qin Yuanxi, sensing it keenly, immediately put the windmill back. He grabbed Zhao Tuo’s hand, softly saying, “Okay, okay, no buying. Over there, they have date cakes. I want to eat date cakes. Let’s just check those out, okay?”
Zhao Tuo’s expression improved slightly, and he followed Qin Yuanxi to buy date cakes.
However, Qin Yuanxi’s enthusiasm was dampened afterward.
He felt something was different, didn’t want to take it lightly, so he spent the rest of the time coaxing Zhao Tuo to play. Eventually, he ended the day’s plans ahead of schedule. While Zhao Tuo was taking a bath, Qin Yuanxi sneaked out to find Meng Xuan to discuss.
“It’s like this. I suggested getting a small toy for our son, and his face immediately changed. He resisted strongly, as if…” Qin Yuanxi hesitated a bit, “as if he didn’t even recognize Xiao Bao. Could he have forgotten our son?”
Talking about it made Qin Yuanxi uncomfortable. “Xiao Bao is our child. How could he forget? He dotes on Xiao Bao. When I was pregnant, he made many toys for him. When Xiao Bao was born, I was unwell, and he stayed up all night, taking care of him. He never let others help with feeding, changing diapers, and such. How could he resist Xiao Bao?”
This revelation left Qin Yuanxi unable to accept it, making him feel anxious and a bit lost.
“I thought… I thought there was progress. Isn’t that so?”
Meng Xuan’s hypnosis had indeed shown some effect. Previously, Zhao Tuo had been immersed in his own world, treating Qin Yuanxi as an outsider. But now, Qin Yuanxi could enter his world, communicate with him, and they could laugh together. He believed everything was moving in a positive direction. However, today, he realized that even Xiao Bao was being resisted by Zhao Tuo. How could this be?
“Don’t panic for now,” Meng Xuan tried to calm Qin Yuanxi. “His issues are quite significant, and you must recognize your importance in his heart. Especially at times like this, you need to stay calm and not panic.”
“What should we do now?”
“Wait until tomorrow,” Meng Xuan provided a reassuring thought for Qin Yuanxi. “Having an emotional response is a good sign. The worst is when there’s no emotional response at all. The more absence of reaction, the more reason to be alarmed.”
“Alright.”
When Qin Yuanxi returned from Meng Xuan’s place, Zhao Tuo had finished bathing. His hair was still wet, and he was about to leave with a sword in hand. He only stopped when he saw Qin Yuanxi returning.
“Where did you go?”
“What are you up to?”
Zhao Tuo pursed his lips, a bit unhappy. “I was looking for you.”
“What for? I was just taking a stroll outside.” Seeing the light in Zhao Tuo’s eyes, Qin Yuanxi didn’t dare to mention that he had just visited Meng Xuan. Zhao Tuo still harbored some hostility towards Meng Xuan, and revealing that he had spent time alone with her might only add to the annoyance.
“I’ll go for a walk with you.”
Saying that, he held Qin Yuanxi’s hand, earnestly intending to go for another walk with him.
“Wait, wait. Not today. Your hair isn’t dry yet. Going out now might make you sick.” Qin Yuanxi quickly pulled him back, looking at Zhao Tuo’s childlike expression, feeling a bit amused and helpless. “Let me dry your hair first. If you still want to take a walk, we can do it together tomorrow, okay?”
He was now adept at soothing Zhao Tuo, effortlessly handling the situation.
“Sit here.” Holding a dry towel, he found a good spot for them. Both sat on a soft cushion near the window, letting in a breeze. It was perfect for using the natural cool wind to dry their hair.
Qin Yuanxi was wiping with great concentration, fully engrossed in his task. However, as he continued, he noticed that Zhao Tuo’s earlobes were slightly pink. Deliberately slowing down his movements, not only did the earlobes turn red, but the entire ears now had a faint blush. Qin Yuanxi found it amusing and couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch Zhao Tuo’s earlobe.
He swore there were no ulterior motives behind this; he just found the rosy earlobes amusing. It was purely a spontaneous touch. Little did he know that this casual touch would provoke an unusually intense reaction from Zhao Tuo. Like an electric shock, the world seemed to spin, and the two found themselves in a different position.
The towel fell to the ground, warm breaths entangled, and Qin Yuanxi’s hand was now held by Zhao Tuo against the soft cushion. Soft, long hair cascaded down, brushing against Qin Yuanxi’s cheek, tickling him. Zhao Tuo’s kiss carried a sense of urgency, and the two drew closer, wishing to meld into one.
They couldn’t continue this intimacy; going further would lead to trouble!
Then, Qin Yuanxi noticed the watery gleam in Zhao Tuo’s eyes and the rosy hue of his lips. It held a unique allure, and Qin Yuanxi’s heart skipped a beat.
Honestly, if he was capable, he definitely wouldn’t be able to control himself at this moment. He would undoubtedly flip Zhao Tuo over and devour him completely, whatever felt comfortable. However, the key issue was that he truly wasn’t capable yet. Despite the intense intimacy just now and Zhao Tuo’s numerous reactions, Qin Yuanxi remained quite composed.
“Ah Tuo, um, should I help you?”
Qin Yuanxi did want to get closer to Zhao Tuo. He had been wanting to for a long time.
But, the current situation wasn’t something he could simply achieve by desire alone. He understood what was going on – psychogenic sexual dysfunction. Qin Yuanxi knew that Zhao Tuo was his mental hurdle. As for when this hurdle would be overcome, he didn’t know. Perhaps in a couple of days, he would need to visit Meng Xuan for another hypnotic session.
“Why?” Zhao Tuo clearly couldn’t understand. Placing his hand where Qin Yuanxi’s was, he gently touched, then leaned in for another kiss. “Let me help you.”
Qin Yuanxi was a bit flustered. This wasn’t a matter of helping or not helping; he couldn’t get it up, so what use was there in helping?
But then, Qin Yuanxi was left speechless.
“You, don’t…” Qin Yuanxi grabbed Zhao Tuo’s hair, attempting to make him stop, but Zhao Tuo was persistent. Helpless, with his weak spot in Zhao Tuo’s grip, Qin Yuanxi could only let Zhao Tuo take the lead. After a while, Qin Yuanxi still showed no response, but Zhao Tuo didn’t give up. He directly lifted Qin Yuanxi.
“Let’s go to bed.”
Clearly, he wasn’t giving up until he achieved his goal.
“Ah Tuo, do you love me?”
Watching Zhao Tuo’s slightly reddened eyes, Qin Yuanxi sniffed, feeling a bit aggrieved. In reality, he knew where his issue lay. He just lacked a sense of security.
“Tell me, do you love me, very, very much? Okay?”
“I love you, very, very much.”
“I love you.”
Qin Yuanxi extended his arm to shield his eyes, a tear slid down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away, then pressed Zhao Tuo beneath him, a hint of a smile on his lips. Leaning in, he kissed Zhao Tuo. “I’ll take care of it myself.”
A cloud quietly drifted in, obscuring the moonlight. The sounds of heavy breathing filled the room. What Qin Yuanxi wanted was just an answer.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
