Huan En stood idly in the courtyard, quietly observing a lush osmanthus covered tree
within. The tree was adorned with tender yellow blossoms, resembling stars scattered
across its branches, with many fallen flowers carpeting the ground beneath.
The air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus, intoxicating to some.
Despite the scene's delicate beauty, Huan En found no joy in it, feeling only a
stifling oppression in his chest.
Throughout his life, nothing truly belonged to him, a fact he normally disregarded,
for there was nothing he genuinely desired. The only aspiration he held was to escape
the rigid teachings he had been subjected to, believing that freedom might reveal his
true desires or ambitions. His father, who had given him life and raised him, expected
Huan En to fulfill his own wishes in return. To Huan En, this settled any debts
between them. The notion of avenging his mother, a woman he had never met and felt
no connection to, was something he dismissed entirely. His father viewed him merely as a tool for his own personal use, they had no genuine affection or bond – He was his arm for revenge.
However, things seemed to have changed now. For the first time, Huan En found
something that genuinely piqued his interest, something he wanted to grasp with his own hands.
His father, focused solely on removing any obstacles in the path of revenge, had
never inspired such a feeling in Huan En until now – truly a dilemma.
Meanwhile, Xiao Bao, pondering over his choice of words, turned a corner only to
be transfixed by the sight of a stunningly beautiful scene, as if rooted to the spot,
unable to move.
The osmanthus trees clustered together, adorned with lush leaves interspersed with
thriving tender yellow osmanthus flowers. The petals, delicate and petite, were
appealingly soft and tender. Their fragrance was strong yet not overwhelming, clear
and beautiful, refreshing the heart and soul. They had just started to bloom, and in a
few days, the scent would become even more overpowering.
In the Jin Mansion, the osmanthus trees, all ancient, spread their lush branches and
leaves, casting large shadows in the courtyard at noon. Through the light and
shadows, one could glimpse the clustered, exquisite shapes of the osmanthus flowers.
A person stood under the tree, their profile outlined against it, their fairy-like
sleeves fluttering, their hair silky as if woven from the finest threads. The slight tilt of
their neck drew graceful, refined lines, their skin as pale as snow, and their pupils
dark as ink. The expression in their eyes was cold, inspiring awe while simultaneously
stirring hearts.
This year, the osmanthus flowers had bloomed earlier than usual. In the past, they
would wait until the Mid-Autumn Festival. Xiao Bao felt that perhaps they had
bloomed early for Huan En's sake.
Historically, Li Qingzhao had praised the osmanthus, saying there was no need for
any other colors when the osmanthus was the finest among flowers. In Xiao Bao's
eyes, Huan En was unmatched in beauty and excellence in literature, strategy, and
martial arts, truly one in a million. Among all the stunning beauties in the world, Huan
En was indeed the finest.
Being so intimately connected with someone like Huan En made Xiao Bao
sometimes doubt if he was dreaming. If not for his misfortune turning into a blessing
and seizing the opportunity early, Huan En might not have even given him a second
glance to this day.
Huan En slowly turned his head under the tree, his deep eyes staring unblinkingly
at him.
After their last meeting ended on a sour note, Xiao Bao felt somewhat awkward. He
thought it best to please him right from the start, so with a dream-like expression, he
said, "Huan En, you are truly beautiful."
Huan En, whose face had been expressionless, suddenly scowled, shot him a sharp look, and coldly retorted, "Superficial."
Even though Xiaobao wasn't the brightest, he realized he had overstepped with his
flattery, making the situation even more awkward.
Huan En glared at him, his expression filled with disdain. "Let me ask you, are you...
are you only attracted to me because of my appearance?"
But Huan En quickly realized how foolish it was to ask such a question, feeling just
as silly as the person in front of him, and immediately stopped himself.
Xiaobao looked at him with confusion, waiting for him to continue.
Huan En's embarrassment and frustration grew, and he grabbed Xiaobao's collar.
For the first time in his life, Xiaobao felt incredibly naive.
He couldn't understand why he had been so eager to play mind games with Huan En
before. It was nonsense!
He had always prided himself on his ability to handle any situation with grace,
unfazed by praise or criticism, adaptable to life's challenges and joys... Well, let's be
honest, he had thick skin. Now he realized he was no match for Huan En.
Having witnessed the transition from disdainful remarks one moment to eager
advances the next, he couldn't fathom how someone's psyche could be constructed
like this, how anyone could stray so far from the realm of normal human behavior, as
if they acted on impulse, like a wild beast. Despite his usual angelic facade,
encountering someone like this rendered resistance futile, surrender pointless;
nothing mattered except compliance to avoid suffering.
Huan En seemed to have gone without indulgence for days, pouncing like a hungry
tiger, relentlessly pursuing his desires once he found an opening. Despite being
gentler than before—at least there was no bloodshed—it still hurt. Apart from the
physical pain, Xiaobao's self-loathing was another reason for his tears.
How could he be so foolish, constantly deceived by Huan En's ethereal appearance,
surrendering himself to pain at the slightest provocation? It took only a few days of
peace before he eagerly served himself up on a platter for Huan En's gratification.
Now that Huan En was satisfying his desires, Xiaobao felt like he was being
drained.
He wasn't sure how many days had passed; Xiaobao didn't dare to count, afraid he
might faint from shock. But each time he was with Huan En, he lost consciousness
towards the end, sparing himself from further trouble.
Thinking about the purpose of Huan En's visit today, Xiaobao weighed whether this
trip would be a loss-making deal. With just the two of them on this journey, if Huan En
demanded extra servings, Xiaobao wouldn't be able to refuse. If he rode during the
day and was ridden at night, then this trip would surely be a one-way journey for him.
But such a good opportunity shouldn't be wasted. If he didn't seize it now, he would
surely regret it later.
After much contemplation, love triumphed over fear, and Xiaobao made up his
mind. As the saying goes, one can't catch wolves without sacrificing a few lambs. He
would endure for another ten days or half a month. During this time, he would solidify
his relationship with Huan En. If Huan En grew fond of him too, with some
persistence, there might still be a chance for him to assert his dominance in the
future.
While Huan En had just relieved himself twice on him and was resting on his
stomach, still awake, he cautiously asked, "Huan En, I have a favor to ask of you."
Huan En, busy rubbing his butt, lazily replied with a hint of drunkenness in his
voice, "What is it?"
"What do you say you accompany me to Yuxia?"
Huan En frowned, "What are you going to Yuxia for?"
"I'm going to find Doctor Zhang to get medicine for my father. The asthma medicine he prescribed before was very effective for my father, but it's running out."
The person beside him coldly said, "Why should I accompany you?"
Xiaobao fell silent, indeed, he seemed to have no reason for him to accompany him.
Just a second ago, he was passionately demanding from him, but now it felt like they
were strangers. The speed at which this person changed his attitude was too fast, and besides, this was his father's matter. He felt that he was being too heartless, and
Xiaobao felt a bit sad and aggrieved.
Huan En saw Xiaobao pouting with lowered eyebrows, looking pitifully
disappointed, and found it quite amusing.
Xiaobao pushed away his hands and struggled to get up, but Huan En grabbed him pnd pinned him back down. Just as he was about to get angry, he saw Xiaobao's eyes were red, and his nose was trembling slightly, not looking at him.
Huan En felt a prickling sensation in his heart, feeling uncomfortable and awkward.
He didn't want to see Xiaobao like this.
Xiaobao's voice trembled, "Let go of me. If you won't accompany me, I'll go by
myself."
Unable to resist, Huan En kissed his nose gently, then pecked his eyebrows,
surprised by the softness in his own voice, "I'll go with you."
Xiaobao widened his eyes in surprise, "Really?"
"Really," Huan En replied, feeling his mood lifting as he saw Xiaobao's expression.
"Then it'll be just the two of us going. Zhao Cai and Jin Bao insist on coming along,
but I don't want them to. They're too talkative. Can you take me out without them
noticing?"
Huan En chuckled softly, "Of course I can."
"That's great." Xiaobao couldn't contain his excitement. He was really going to hit
the road alone with Huan En. Huan En must have had feelings for him, or else he
wouldn't have agreed. "I'll go pack our bags, let's leave as soon as possible." He
struggled to get up again.
Huan En firmly pinned him down, the hardness below pressing against him. "You
dare leave at this moment."
Thinking about the long night ahead, Xiaobao felt like crying but couldn't shed a
tear.