K suddenly spoke: […Gege?]
Judging from his tone, it was as if he had some objection to Xin Hexue calling Zhou Shanheng “Ziyue gege.”
[What’s wrong?] Xin Hexue smiled, [Mr. Examiner, do you have any evaluation comments about my performance?]
K: […No.]
K: [Nothing.]
Xin Hexue: [That’s good, I was worried you’d be unhappy ^^]
The examiner K, who had completely lost his status as a good gege, had no right to speak.
Xin Hexue smiled and tossed a handkerchief to Zhou Shanheng, moving back and saying, “Ziyue gege, why are you sweating so much?”
“I… I don’t know either.”
Zhou Shanheng’s throat was dry.
He clutched the white handkerchief tightly, its corner embroidered with a branch of snow plum. As if it had originally been placed close to Xin Hexue’s body, it was infused with that delicate, cold fragrance.
He held the handkerchief in his palm, and his fingers curled up to stroke it unconsciously. The material was fine and smooth to the touch, making one feel as if they were touching the young man’s warm and delicate skin.
Zhou Shanheng’s ears felt like they were burning with fire before he came to his senses. He immediately turned to ask Xin Hexue why he was here.
But as soon as he turned his head, there was no one there.
The moonlight was lonely, the room quiet and desolate.
The scene rippled as if a stone had been thrown into a lake, the furniture inside the house all undulating with circles.
Zhou Shanheng abruptly sat up.
The soreness in his shoulders and back, and the cracking sounds as he moved, revealed that he had actually fallen asleep at the table the whole night.
Outside the bamboo blinds, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
………
How could this be?
How could he have such a dream?
Zhou Shanheng paced back and forth beneath the mountain wall of the sutra library, holding a book. Though he didn’t speak aloud, his lips kept moving as if reciting.
The more he walked, the more chaotic his thoughts became; the more chaotic, the less clear the scripture meanings before his eyes.
“Zhou xiong?”
***Xiong means elder brother. (A formal and more polite way compared to Gege which is casual and affectionate
Hearing the young man’s gentle from behind, Zhou Shanheng was momentarily flustered like a guilty person. He raised his hand in frustration and covered his face with the book.
Today Xin Hexue had transformed and changed into a new cyan robe, looking even more like a jade-faced scholar.
Seeing Zhou Shanheng so embarrassed, he deliberately circled in front of him, feigning ignorance and teasingly asking, “Zhou xiong? Why aren’t you looking at me today? Are you afraid to look at me?”
Zhou Shanheng sighed heavily.
He truly had no face to meet him.
How could he, after spending just one day together with this gongzi, have such… an offensive dream?
Actually, the dream itself was not too explicit, it was just that when Zhou Shanheng recalled the scene in the dream, he felt his face flush and his heart race for no reason.
What’s more, in the dream, Xin Hexue even called him ‘Ziyue gege’…
Zhou Shanheng mumbled to himself, then recalled the first line from the dream, “Honey official, golden winged envoy…”
Xin Hexue continued smoothly like flowing water, “Flower thief, jade-waist slave.”.”
Zhou Shanheng immediately stared at him without blinking.
This was clearly something from his dream?
How could Xin gongzi know?
Xin Hexue tilted his head slightly, “Zhou xiong, why are you looking at me so strangely? Isn’t this a famous couplet from the previous dynasty?”
“A famous couplet?” Zhou Shanheng stammered, “So that’s how it is. It’s my ignorance and lack of learning.”
Perhaps he had heard it somewhere before but didn’t remember, and as a result, it was projected into his dream.
Zhou Shanheng felt even more ashamed.
When he turned around, Xin Hexue lowered his face slightly and gave a mischievous smile at the corner of his lips.
This kind of serious and proper scholar was the most fun. He had just used a clever trick to tease him twice, and not only did this person not notice, he was so ashamed he wanted to dig a hole, and his love value quietly rose again.
When Zhou Shanheng turned back to look at Xin Hexue, he saw a pink butterfly fluttering down onto Xin Hexue’s black hair.
But Xin Hexue hadn’t noticed yet. Seeing Zhou Shanheng looking over, he smiled instead. His originally cold and elegant face, when smiling, dispelled the faint coldness and became like spring stars suddenly meeting, like peach blossoms blooming to seven parts.
Zhou Shanheng stared blankly and pointed to the pink butterfly resting beside the young man’s ear, “A flower thief has landed.”
Xin Hexue frowned and gave his head a slight shake, and the butterfly fluttered away, “Thank you for the reminder.”
In the beams of sunlight filtering through the branches, one could still see the powder scattering as the butterfly flew.
Xin Hexue’s little obsession with cleanliness flared up, and he took out a handkerchief and wiped his ear.
Out of the corner of his eye, Zhou Shanheng caught a glimpse of the snow plum pattern on the corner of the handkerchief.
He subconsciously took three steps forward and grabbed Xin Hexue’s hand, “This handkerchief…”
It was exactly the same as the one from his dream!
Xin Hexue’s attitude was natural, and his expression was calm as he said, “What’s wrong? Zhou xiong, if you like this handkerchief, I’ll give it to you.”
Zhou Shanheng then realized the wrist he was holding was slender, the skin smooth and delicate. Thinking of his own presumptuous action, he immediately drew back his hand as if pricked by a needle, “I’m sorry…”
“What’s there to be sorry for? I have other handkerchiefs.”
Xin Hexue casually tossed the snow plum patterned handkerchief into Zhou Shanheng’s arms.
Zhou Shanheng almost didn’t catch it and fumbled to hold it steady.
Seeing Xin Hexue’s calm demeanor, Zhou Shanheng felt even more that he was overthinking things.
………
It was evening again, and the cuckoos in the mountains were crying intermittently.
According to yesterday’s routine, the two should part ways at this time.
But Xin Hexue let out a hiss of pain.
Zhou Shanheng asked with concern, “Xin gongzi, what’s wrong?”
Xin Hexue bent slightly and lifted the hem of his cyan robe, “I twisted my ankle when I came this morning. I thought it wasn’t serious, but now it seems I can barely walk.”
Zhou Shanheng crouched down to check Xin Hexue’s ankle.
The area just above the cloud climbing shoes was covered by fabric, but it did seem to be swollen.
Xin Hexue said worriedly, “It seems it’ll be hard to get down the mountain now. I wonder if the temple has any vacant rooms…”
The temple’s conditions were harsh, and even if there were vacant rooms, they’d probably have to share a room and sleep in a communal bed.
Zhou Shanheng said without hesitation, “I’ll carry you down the mountain.”
Xin Hexue only gave two half-hearted refusals, but since his goal was achieved, he agreed.
Zhou Shanheng carried him on his back, so it was impossible to carry the bamboo book chest as well, so he first slung it over Xin Hexue’s back.
Fortunately, it was a light, small bamboo bag, not a big box meant for long-distance travel.
Zhou Shanheng was used to farm work and was strong, so carried Xin Huexue very steadily.
Xin Hexue wrapped his arms around his shoulders and neck, nestled his face in his elbow, and cool, fragrant breaths occasionally brushed against Zhou Shanheng’s neck.
He had to shift his attention and found a topic to ask Xin Hexue, “Xin gongzi, do you plan to take the imperial exams?”
“Imperial exams?” Xin Hexue tilted his head, “I don’t plan to take the exams. Just think of me as an adventurer who roams the world as his home.”
Weren’t fish at home no matter the river, lake, or sea?
Zhou Shanheng responded with a sound.
He admired the carefree spirit in Xin gongzi’s words but knew he couldn’t achieve that. His family was poor, his mother had been sick for a long time, and all their hopes were pinned on him studying and making a name for himself.
He therefore fell silent.
Xin Hexue: “But if you pass the prefectural exam and go to the capital in November, I can go with you. I just happen to be returning to the capital.”
He still remembered the identity he’d made up, that he was from the capital.
Zhou Shanheng responded again.
The mountain path’s steps led downward, and he adjusted Xin Hexue higher up his back.
The calluses on the side of his knuckles inevitably brushed against the young man’s thigh. Even through a thin layer of summer trousers, Zhou Shanheng felt he could sense that smoothness.
Xin Hexue murmured, “It tickles.”
Zhou Shanheng was like a pervert caught in the act, and he stammered, “S-sorry.”
His hand froze and didn’t dare move.
[Zhou Shanheng love value+3]
