At the same time.
In the capital of Dong Sheng Kingdom, inside a luxurious restaurant.
The table was laden with rich delicacies from mountains and seas.
Xie Wang, clad in a black robe, sat at the head of the table, while Gu Yi, in a white robe, sat beside him.
Next to them were Gu Nian and Hu Keke.
The two were engrossed in eating, lost in their enjoyment.
"What? Don't you like it? No appetite?"
Seeing Gu Yi not picking up his chopsticks, Xie Wang reached out and pinched his face.
Gu Yi, annoyed, slapped Xie Wang's hand away and glared at him, "Scram, don't touch me!"
Gu Yi, who always presented himself as gentle and refined, a true gentleman, would never speak such words.
It was evident that after spending so much time with Xie Wang, he himself was unaware of the subtle changes within him.
Despite being scolded, Xie Wang seemed unfazed.
He leaned closer to Gu Yi, his long fingers lifting Gu Yi's chin, his words laced with indulgence.
"What? Angry again? Does it hurt? Come, let this king rub it for you. Be good, don't be angry anymore, okay?"
As he spoke, Xie Wang smiled provocatively. Releasing Gu Yi, he reached behind Gu Yi.
Several singing girls, who served nobles and dignitaries in the restaurant, stood around, their heads bowed, not daring to look up.
Yet, their minds were filled with many thoughts.
Could these two guests be...?
My heavens, this is... too much.
Among them, a few who were not afraid of death cautiously glanced at Gu Yi several times.
As they watched the "black-robed" guest's hand approach the white-robed man's buttocks, they almost screamed.
Beside them, little Gu Nian and Hu Keke, who were eating with great gusto, seemed accustomed to the scene.
However, just as Xie Wang's hand touched someone's buttocks, it was swatted away by a small hand.
"Uncle Xie Wang, you're not allowed to bully my Brother Yi anymore."
Gu Nian, spitting out chicken from his mouth, glared fiercely at Xie Wang.
His mouth smeared with grease, he rubbed his small, dirty hands on Xie Wang's hand, leaving a bit of oil.
Xie Wang showed no sign of disgust. Instead, he took out a handkerchief, wiped Gu Nian's mouth, and asked with a smile, "When did Uncle bully your Brother Yi? Uncle dotes on your Brother Yi too much to bully him. You, boy, don't speak nonsense."
"Uncle is lying!"
Xie Wang chuckled, picked up his teacup, and slowly sipped his tea.
Gu Yi turned away, unwilling to engage with him.
Little Gu Nian's eyes widened, his cheeks puffed out, "Last night, Sister and I heard everything. You and Brother Yi were in the room, fighting, and Brother Yi was begging for mercy, saying 'No, no...' while Uncle said, 'Good boy, it doesn't hurt, I'll be gentle...'"
"Pfft!"
Xie Wang spat out all the tea in his mouth.
Gu Yi's face turned red from neck to ears. If there were a crack in the ground, he would have undoubtedly burrowed into it.
The singing girls behind them all wore expressions of stunned disbelief.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Hu Keke, sitting next to Gu Nian, choked on her own saliva.
After wiping her hands with a handkerchief, she reached out and ruffled Gu Nian's little head, smiling as she said to him, "You little rascal, what did you say?"
Being a few years older than Gu Nian and constantly exposed to romantic novels, Hu Keke rather curiously questioned Xie Wang about the details of his "bullying" of their Brother Gu Yi.
Well... Xie Wang was intimidated by the questioning.
Gu Yi, enraged, turned and returned to his room.
A moment later.
Xie Wang appeased Gu Nian and Hu Keke, then dismissed the singing girls from the room. He entered with a plate of pastries, closing the door behind him.
"You didn't eat earlier, you must be hungry. Eat quickly, your favorite pastries."
Placing the plate of pastries in front of Gu Yi, Xie Wang sat beside him, watching him intently.
"Crash..."
Gu Yi flipped the plate of pastries on the ground.
Gu Yi's face was cold as he glared at Xie Wang, remaining silent.
Though he hadn't spoken, Xie Wang seemed to have seen through his thoughts.
Xie Wang bent down and picked up the scattered pastries one by one, placing them on the side of the table. When he straightened up and faced Gu Yi,
A wicked smile played on his lips. "What? Are you not satisfied with my 'skills' last night and want to try again?"
As he spoke, Gu Yi's mind flashed back to the events of the previous night.
His face suddenly felt hot.
"Scram! Get out of my sight, I hate you!"
Seeing the usually gentle Gu Yi using such crude language as "I" and "my,"
Xie Wang was amused to the point of laughter.
He suddenly stood up, walked to Gu Yi, and looked down at him.
"You brat, you've gotten brave, haven't you? Heh!"
He grabbed Gu Yi by the collar, forcing him to stand up.
With one arm around Gu Yi's waist, he used Gu Yi's backward resistance to pin him against the opposite wall.
He used his other hand to restrain Gu Yi's hands, pressing them above his head.
His broad chest pressed tightly against Gu Yi's.
"You brat, do you want to try again?"
Staring at Gu Yi at close range,
Xie Wang smiled wickedly.
"Let go of me, you..."
Gu Yi was unable to move.
He wanted to push Xie Wang away, but being physically weak, how could he possibly contend with Xie Wang?
"Be good, don't be angry. How about this, after today, I'll take you, little Gu Nian, and Hu Keke, to find Gu Qianying, and reunite you siblings?"
Looking at the person before him, who remained unhappy, Xie Wang ultimately couldn't bear to provoke him further.
"Really?"
Gu Yi was both surprised and delighted.
He hadn't seen his sister Gu Qianying for a long time and missed her dearly.
Moreover, little Gu Nian had been clamoring to see his elder sister.
If he could take Gu Nian to meet his sister, little Gu Nian would surely be very happy.
Seeing Gu Yi lost in thought,
Xie Wang's lips curved into a charming smile, and he lowered his head, sealing Gu Yi's lips.
Gu Yi's eyes widened.
The dim candlelight cast long shadows of their overlapping figures on the wall.
Xie Wang, who had never fallen for anyone before, had no idea that he would one day be captivated by one person.
And this person was a man.
He had been surrounded by countless beauties in the past and had even doubted if he had a penchant for men.
Little did he know that he felt nothing for other men. Only then did he realize that love knows no gender; it's just that the person happened to be him.
At this moment, outside the door, the two little ones eavesdropping, poked their heads out, peeking through the crack in the door.
However, these two little ones only saw two pairs of feet, nothing else.
"Sister Keke, when you grow up, will you also be with someone?"
Gu Nian asked with great curiosity.
Hu Keke shook her head.
"Why? Aren't you looking for a husband?"
"I already have a husband, why would I look for another?"
Hu Keke said with a happy smile.
"Ah? What? Sister Keke, you have a husband? Who is he, where is he?"
Gu Nian's curiosity was immense. He blinked his eyes, looking around.
He was searching for someone.
Hu Keke covered her mouth, giggling for a long time before pinching Gu Nian's little face.
"Silly boy, stop looking. This person is far away but right in front of you."
"Ah... Who? Why can't I see him..."
Little Gu Nian was bewildered.
Hu Keke just smiled without speaking.
She knew from the beginning that she and Gu Nian were not biological siblings.
When her father, Hu Biao, gave her to Sister Gu, she was already old enough to remember.
Over the years, Brother Gu Yi had treated her very well, just like a real brother.
And this little fellow in front of her also treated her very well.
She didn't want to be separated from such a family. How wonderful it would be to stay together forever.
Moreover, little Gu Nian was so cute, he would surely grow up to be a handsome man.
A few days ago, she had seen a novel about raising a child.
Reading the stories within, she suddenly felt that raising a "husband" could also be an interesting endeavor.
...
In the tribal village.
In a cave behind the mountain.
Nangong Mo and Gu Qianying held hands.
Lu Zhu followed closely behind.
As soon as the three entered the cave, they saw a monster trapped in an iron cage.
The monster had a human face and a jackal's body, with wings on its back. It was enormous, with bloodthirsty eyes filled with killing intent.
This monster, seeing strangers entering the cave, opened its large mouth within the iron cage, emitting sounds like a baby's cry.
"What is that?"
Lu Zhu, having never seen such a monster, exclaimed in surprise.
Nangong Mo tightened his grip on Gu Qianying, pulling her closer to him. They both looked at the monster in the iron cage.
The sounds seemed to penetrate the cave.
The monster in the iron cage roared, and suddenly, a figure rushed out from the dark corner.