Grad was sitting in front of Zong Yuan, but after the horse trotted for a few dozen meters, he lost interest. Sino kept glancing at them from the corner of his eye and asked Grad directly, “Mr. Grad, would you like to change and ride the horse alone?”
Grad replied regretfully, “Unfortunately, I don’t know how to ride a horse.”
Sino’s face immediately turned gloomy.
There was at least a three-finger distance between Zong Yuan and Grad, and Grad had nowhere to hold onto. After hesitating for a while, he asked, “Zong, can I hold onto you?”
In reality, the horse was moving very slowly, and the swaying was gentle, but it’s natural for someone riding a horse for the first time to feel scared.
Zong Yuan patted his forearm and said, “You can hold onto here.”
Grad smiled at him and grabbed onto his arms with both hands.
The muscles under his hand were tense, and he could tell how uncomfortable this person was with his closeness.
It’s really not easy to reel him in.
Sino’s cautious eyes were constantly circling around Grad. The three of them had already reached deep into the forest when a beautiful doe suddenly dashed from the front. Sino exclaimed excitedly, “Cousin!”
Zong Yuan was just about to ride the horse to chase after it when Grad calmly said, “Zong, if we start running, I might get scared.”
Zong Yuan hesitated for a moment, and at that moment, the deer had already disappeared.
Sino heard it clearly and got angry with Grad, “Mr. Grad! If you’re scared, why did you even get on the horse?”
Grad was somewhat at a loss, but Zong Yuan spoke up directly, “I invited him.”
Sino looked at Zong Yuan in disbelief, “Cousin, are you protecting him?”
“…” Zong Yuan rubbed his forehead, “I’m just telling the truth.”
Westley didn’t care about the truth. All he knew was that his cousin was defending this stranger. He glanced sadly at Zong Yuan and then glared fiercely at Grad. “I’m going back!”
He turned and went back toward the estate.
Zong Yuan turned his horse’s head and watched silently as Sino rode further away. His expression was complex.
After a few steps, he suppressed the urge to chase after him.
Grad slightly curved his lips, his voice filled with concern, “Zong, aren’t you going after him?”
Zong Yuan shifted his attention from the distance. “No need. There are no large animals here.”
If they can’t even go out of their own forest, then all these years have been in vain.
He rode his horse leisurely and, in the meantime, chatted with Grad, “Mr. Grad, were you passing by here?”
Grad’s throat itched, and the scent of being alone became more intense. “Yes.”
Zong Yuan noticed the movement in his throat and furrowed his brow, “I forgot to bring water.”
Grad wasn’t hungry or thirsty; he was just a bit excited.
He turned his head, and his playful curls brushed against Zong Yuan’s cheek. “Zong, is there a lake nearby?”
“Yes, there is.”
Zong Yuan had no interest in hunting and didn’t want to return to where Sino was too early. He led Grad towards the center, where there was a clear and transparent lake.
Zong Yuan tied the horse and turned to see that Grad was washing his hands at the lakeside. Zong Yuan walked over, intending to remind him that the water couldn’t be consumed. “Mr. Grad…”
Unexpectedly, Zong Yuan spoke up suddenly, causing Grad to lose his balance, step on the muddy edge, and fall directly into the lake.
The lake wasn’t deep, only up to an adult man’s chest. Grad stood in the lake, completely soaked. Zong Yuan touched his nose with guilt and asked, “Mr. Grad, are you okay?”
He helped Grad out of the water, and Grad blinked at him, saying, “Zong, thank you for letting me experience a refreshing sensation all over my body.”
Grad took off his suit jacket, and today he happened not to be wearing a waistcoat. His white shirt clung tightly to his slender, toned body, which was somewhat see-through, revealing different colors faintly.
Grad naturally hung his jacket on a tree and walked around in front of Zong Yuan. His black trousers clung to his legs and accentuated his pert buttocks, which were more eye-catching than if he were naked.
Zong Yuan’s expression remained unchanged, and he shifted his gaze to the horse that was currently grazing.
He walked a few more steps forward, genuinely concentrating on observing.
Grad, seeing that there was no one around, hesitantly asked Zong Yuan, “Zong, can I take off my pants and dry them? And my shirt too.”
He was embarrassed, “It’s a bit uncomfortable being all sticky like this.”
Zong Yuan looked at him again, but only at his neck and above. “In that case, Mr. Grad, you’d be completely naked.”
Unfortunately, Zong Yuan didn’t even have a coat with his outfit today.
Grad sighed and said in a resigned tone while unbuttoning his shirt, “Well, I’ll unbutton it, it’s better than staying this way.”
Even the shape of his fingernails exuded elegance, and the way he slowly unbuttoned his semi-transparent shirt was truly enticing.
Zong Yuan still didn’t make any move even after the third button was unfastened.
Grad didn’t expect Zong Yuan to have no reaction at all and asked in disbelief, “Zong?”
Zong Yuan adjusted his collar and looked somewhat impatient. “Speak.”
He was asking 0046 in his mind, “I feel something is off.”
He just gave a quick glance at Grad and then deliberately turned his head away without looking at him.
This wasn’t right, to begin with.
0046 observed Grad for a long time and couldn’t figure out what was wrong. “Why did he strip so easily at the drop of a hat?”
Zong Yuan’s body tensed up, “Did he finish undressing?”
0046 took another look and commented, “And there’s a shirt that’s basically nonexistent, just like you said, a boyfriend shirt.”
Zong Yuan, Fu Xin, and Jiang Shengyan had played with this before; 0046 was quite familiar with it.
Zong Yuan muttered, “We’re deep in the forest; I can’t just leave him here on his first visit.”
0046 grumbled, “I feel like you’re the one who’s not right.”
Grad tugged at Zong Yuan’s arm, “Zong, what’s the matter with you?”
Zong Yuan stuck his head out, baring it all in his open shirt.
“…” Zong Yuan, who accidentally glanced at him, had a headache. “No need to stare, Mr. Grad. Why don’t you put on your clothes and endure it? I can take you back to change into a new outfit.”
Grad said, “But being completely soaked is just too impolite.”
He had never seen such a stubborn man. Aren’t normal people usually more accommodating and natural?
But the blood that turned his head and made him dizzy wasn’t just ordinary. How could it be anything but extraordinary?
Fortunately, the weather wasn’t too hot. While Grad and Zong Yuan conversed, it was mostly Grad doing the talking. Zong Yuan kept track of the time, and when the horses had finished grazing, he spoke, “It’s about time, Mr. Glad. You can put your clothes on now.”
Grad smiled and said, “I’ve already put them on.”
Zong Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, took a few quick steps, and mounted his horse. “Let’s go; it’s time for afternoon tea.”
Grad, as always, sat in front of Zong Yuan. “I really apologize for the impoliteness, Zong. I hope you won’t take it to heart.”
“It’s my fault,” Zong Yuan apologized to him again, “I’m sorry, Mr. Grad.”
On the way back, the two of them were relaxed. Zong Yuan even spotted a cute white rabbit. He had his bow with him and immediately pinned the rabbit in place. He handed it to Grad, originally thinking of adding it to tonight’s meal. However, to his surprise, Grad was extremely delighted, and he kissed the seemingly obedient rabbit in his hands one by one. “It’s so adorable! Zong, did you give this to me?”
Zong Yuan replied, “…As long as you’re happy.”
The rabbit: Mom, Mom, this vampire is so scary!
—
Sino returned to his room and felt some regret. He asked the butler to fetch Danny. “Danny, I need to borrow the key to my cousin’s room tonight.”
Danny found it strange, “Young Master, you can just ask the Young Master to open the door for you.”
Sino pouted and said with a hint of grievance, “I had a fight with my cousin today, and I want to talk to him when he’s about to fall asleep at night. You know, he’s usually more approachable at that time.”
Although Danny found it strange, he couldn’t refuse, so he replied, “Alright, I’ll bring it to you after dinner.”
Better remind the Young Master just in case he falls asleep at that time.
Zong Yuan and Grad were chatting as they entered the living room. Sino, upon seeing them, ignored Grad and leaped into Zong Yuan’s arms. He looked up at him with a pitiful expression, “Cousin, do you not like me anymore?”
‘I knew it,’ Zong Yuan couldn’t help but soften his expression. He gently lifted Sino off him and said, “Be a good boy, Sino. You’re already a grown-up.”
Sino hadn’t expressed his opinion yet, and the Countess had already come down from upstairs. “Children, it’s tea time. Butler, you can begin.”
The Count and his two daughters had returned earlier than Zong Yuan.
They all saw the rabbit in Grad’s arms and curiously asked, “Mr. Grad, is this your catch?”
Grad’s smile was perfect. “This was a gift from Zong.”
He also glanced at Zong Yuan, who just nodded. He couldn’t bring himself to say that it was meant for eating.
Sino’s mood was quite down, and he looked at the rabbit, saying, “Such a well-behaved and cute rabbit. I want one too.”
He forgot about table manners and reached out to touch the rabbit’s fur. With a crash, he accidentally knocked over Zong Yuan’s tea and cutlery, spilling it all over his pants.
Zong Yuan’s eyelid twitched several times. He felt like he couldn’t have a peaceful meal recently. Sino was startled and flustered, not sure what to do. He said, “Cousin, are you okay?”
The Countess glared at Sino with some anger. “Zong, go back to your room and change your clothes.”
Coincidentally, he had urged Grad to change clothes in the morning, and now it was his turn in the afternoon.
Grad looked at him with a smile and went upstairs with Danny.
He caressed the rabbit’s fur in his hand, and the rabbit was as obedient as a doll. Watching Grad’s actions, Sino suddenly snapped out of his fluster and asked, “Mr. Grad, can you give me the rabbit?”
Grad looked at him, and his deep blue eyes seemed to possess a magical charm. Sino stood there in a daze. A red light flashed in Grad’s eyes, and he softly comforted Sino, “There are many rabbits in the forest. Sino can go hunt one on your own.”
“Yes, that’s right,” Sino nodded along, “There are many in the forest, I can go hunt one myself.”
Grad nodded in satisfaction and praised softly, “Good child.”
Author’s note:
Grad (acting cute): Rabbits are so adorable! How can you eat rabbits!
Inner thoughts: Rabbit blood is not tasty at all, a bad review.
