Danny told him about Sino taking the key when he was ready to rest.
“This child wants to do what again,” Zong Yuan suppressed his annoyance, “I know, you can rest.”
He planned to wait for Sino to come over.
But instead of Sino, it was Grad who came. He still held the quail-like rabbit in his hands, and he seemed to have just taken a shower, with a hint of dampness on his body. He smiled and bent over, “Good evening, Zong.”
“Good evening, Mr. Grad,” Zong Yuan asked, “Do you need something from me?”
Grad took out a bunch of keys, “Young Master Sino asked me to give you this.”
It was the key to Zong Yuan’s room.
Zong Yuan couldn’t figure out what Sino was up to now. He took the keys and hurriedly said, “Thank you, Mr. Grad, goodnight.”
Grad also said, “Goodnight.”
As Zong Yuan was about to close the door, a small, fluffy white thing suddenly rushed into the room through the crack in the door. Grad exclaimed, “Ah! My rabbit!”
The rabbit chose the least accessible spot, right under the cabinet against the wall.
Zong Yuan even tried to get it out with food; it didn’t react at all.
Grad knelt on the floor in distress, not in the most graceful position, with his bottom sticking up. He said with a troubled face, “Rabbit, you should come out, we should go back to our room and sleep.”
He shouted for a long time but still couldn’t get the rabbit to come out. When he tried to stand up, he didn’t feel quite right. He turned to Zong Yuan for help, “Zong, my legs are numb.”
Zong Yuan sighed in helplessness when Grad caused a commotion like this. He put his strong arms around Grad’s waist from behind and lifted him up.
Grad wasn’t heavy, but he wasn’t light either. Zong Yuan carried him as if he were carrying the rabbit, effortlessly, and took a few steps. He asked, “Feeling better now?”
Grad furrowed his brows, “Still quite numb.”
It looked as real as it could be.
Zong Yuan placed him on a chair and crouched down to gently rub both of his legs. “Here?”
Grad, observing Zong Yuan’s serious expression, felt oddly pleased. He drew his legs closer, “Zong, you don’t have to do this, I should be fine in a bit.”
This evasive act immediately triggered a sense of rebellion in Zong Yuan.
Zong Yuan reached for his calf, speaking concisely, “Wait.”
His large and warm hand spread warmth from his calf to his entire body. Grad watched him closely, never having seen someone like Zong Yuan before. He even longed for his neck, tempted to try licking that sensual throat once or twice.
The taste must be exquisite.
It was peculiar. Zong Yuan’s mission this time was to ensure everyone in the Argyle Manor survived for eleven days after a certain rainy night, yet 0046 didn’t specify which rainy night or why they needed to survive for eleven days. At least until now, Zong Yuan’s mission seemed unbelievably easy.
The last rainy night was when Grad came to the mansion, and it didn’t involve any life-threatening events for the people of Argyle Manor.
Zong Yuan asked, “How are you feeling now?”
“I should try getting up,” Grad stood up. However, as he took a step, his right foot hadn’t fully regained sensation, and it gave way, making him stumble forward.
Zong Yuan swiftly caught him in his arms.
Strong, stimulating male pheromones enveloped them both.
And the enticing scent of blood.
Grad remained dazed as Zong Yuan held him, and their vacant gazes met, revealing an unexpected, hazy state.
His throat started to itch again, and, even more strangely, his whole body felt itchiness.
Anyone who was gazed at by those beautiful gem-like eyes would melt. Zong Yuan’s voice was gentle, “I’ll take you back to your room.”
Worried that Grad might stumble again, he lifted him horizontally. Fortunately, it was late, and the place was peaceful, with no one in sight in the corridors.
It was only when Zong Yuan pushed the door open that Grad suddenly realized, “I’m fine!”
He was put down by Zong Yuan, and something about him felt strange. Instead of using this opportunity to invite Zong Yuan in, he pushed him against the door from outside and said, “Goodnight, Zong!”
Despite not having the vitality of fresh blood, he now felt like blood was rushing to his head, leaving him somewhat confused.
Zong Yuan’s expression changed, and he reached out to block the door about to close, saying, “Wait.”
He forcefully pushed the door back open and looked seriously at Grad, “Are you injured?”
He detected a faint but familiar scent of blood.
Grad was momentarily stunned, “What’s wrong?”
Zong Yuan leaned in close to Grad and meticulously sniffed his clothes, but he couldn’t smell the scent of blood on him. Instead, he detected the refreshing scent of a recent bath.
Zong Yuan asked, “You got injured a couple of days ago?”
The bloody scent wasn’t strong, and there were no visible bloodstains in the room. If it was an injury, it must have been minor.
Grad hesitated for a moment before nodding, and he cautiously looked at Zong Yuan, “It’s not a significant injury.”
Zong Yuan’s brows relaxed, clearly believing what Grad said, “Next time you get injured, remember to find the housekeeper. Even minor injuries should be disinfected.”
Grad heaved a sigh of relief and flashed him a big smile, “Alright, I got it. Goodnight again, Zong! Goodnight!”
He quickly closed the door behind him, muttering to himself, “What kind of nose is that…”
He was meticulous about eating, always finishing his meal cleanly, and ensuring that the blood in his wine glass was cleaned promptly. Yet, Zong still managed to detect something.
When Zong Yuan returned to his room, Sino was already waiting for him, “Cousin, where did you just go?”
Zong Yuan didn’t answer that question and instead asked, “How did you get here?”
Sino sneered. He remembered asking Danny for the key to his cousin’s room, but when he thought about it, he wasn’t sure where he left it. He decided to come and check. Luckily, his cousin’s room door was open, but there was no one inside.
He recalled why he came, “Cousin, were you mad at me this morning?”
Zong Yuan approached the bed, “I’m not angry. It’s already late. Sino, you should go back to sleep.”
Sino walked a few steps to the door and locked it, a little petulantly, “Cousin, what’s wrong with you? You’re no longer as nice to me as you used to be. Even to a stranger – you treat Grad better than me!”
Zong Yuan had a headache and spoke sternly, “Go to sleep!”
“I won’t!” Sino followed and sat on the bed, “I want to sleep with my cousin tonight!”
Zong Yuan had given all his patience to his lover, and while Sino had a face that resembled Fu Xin, Zong Yuan’s emotions were complicated. In the face of this childlike demand, he felt a bit irritated. He restrained his patience, “Sino, don’t make me angry.”
Zong Yuan rarely got angry, and he had never shown anger in front of Sino. He simply treated it as a way to scare his little cousin, “I won’t!”
Sino thought about throwing himself on Zong Yuan’s bed, but he saw Zong Yuan press the room’s bell button, “Cousin!”
How could this happen? Sino couldn’t believe it, “Why are you calling the servant?”
A son of a count, who would inherit his father’s title in the future, insisting on staying in his cousin’s room late at night.
That would become a laughingstock.
He couldn’t face the servant coming in and asking why he was there, so he reluctantly left.
Danny quickly came upstairs, “Young Master, did you call for me?”
Zong Yuan’s expression was cold, “Change the bed linens.”
Danny didn’t dare to ask any more questions and efficiently changed the bedding. Meanwhile, Grad was leaning against his own door, listening to all the sounds. The Count’s house had excellent soundproofing, but it didn’t matter when the listener wasn’t a human.
He didn’t know how much he had heard, and his expression shifted from gloomy to pleased. He casually walked to the bed, pouring himself a glass of bright red “wine” with newfound leisure, and said, “Darling?”
The white rabbit, trembling in the corner, hopped over silently when called by Grad. He praised the rabbit, “You did well today. Keep it up next time.”
He felt tempted to turn Zong Yuan into a long-term food reserve.
0046 was complaining to Zong Yuan about his strange behavior. Zong Yuan knew, but he couldn’t help it. Emotions and feelings couldn’t be controlled.
Early the next morning, Grad was waiting at Zong Yuan’s door. When Zong Yuan opened the door, he saw Grad smiling brightly, “Zong, want to exercise together?”
Zong Yuan gave him several puzzled looks. Today, Grad was dressed especially fancy and looked somewhat familiar. Zong Yuan couldn’t help feeling a bit unhappy.
Grad shrugged sheepishly, “I didn’t pack enough clothes.”
Zong Yuan furrowed his brows, “What about the clothes I gave you?”
“They are too big.”
Zong Yuan walked downstairs, taking Grad with him, and approached the busy butler. He made a swift decision, “Butler, prepare a carriage.”
With the early hour, the kitchen was not yet fully operational. The butler hesitated, “Young Master, where would you like to go?”
Zong Yuan stopped the butler from helping him put on his coat, casually draping it over Grad’s shoulders, “Put this on.”
Then, to the astonishment of the butler, he calmly said, “Get me another one.”
The coachman waited in the carriage and saw his young master coming with a guest. “Young Master, where are we going?”
“To the tailor’s shop.”
Grad watched Zong Yuan’s actions along the way, feeling a strong itch in his emotions. He asked knowingly, “Zong, why are you taking me to a tailor’s shop?”
Zong Yuan glanced at him and then at his clothes, tugging at the collar with white lace, “To have clothes made for you.”
Grad’s eyes twinkled with a hidden sense of excitement. He pretended to hesitate, “Zong, I’m just a guest. It’s already an honor for me that the Count allowed me to stay for a few days. How can I let you make clothes for me?”
Though he spoke uncertainly, there was expectation in his blue eyes.
A child who said one thing but meant another.
Zong Yuan took a cigarette out of his coat pocket, took a leisurely puff, and then, a few seconds later, he looked at Grad.
The smoke enveloped Grad’s face, and he only heard a deep voice saying through the haze, “I’ll make it for you, Grad. Just take it and be obedient.”
Author’s Note:
Grad: Good… a good top…
