Chapter 17 Homosexuality: How can a lone man and woman share a bed?

Under Bi Fang's supervision, Zhao Di's mother signed the contract on the spot and promised to bring her daughter over first thing the next morning. Li Yang paid fifty taels of silver, and Zhao Di's birth contract was in his hands.

Mo Lian led everyone out, and they all went their separate ways back home, leaving only Bi Fang to exchange a few more words with Ya Bao.

"Bi Fang is really capable!" Li Yang followed Chen Junbo happily, turning the birth certificate of Zhao Di over and over in her hand. "No wonder you like him so much, you have good taste."

The person in front of her paused, turned their head to look at her as if puzzled.

Seeing this, she took two steps forward to stand beside Young Master Chen. After checking that no one was around, she tiptoed and whispered in his ear, "I know everything, hehe, don't worry, don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

The man frowned. "What?"

Huh? What are you pretending for?

Li Yang felt that since it was just the two of them, there was no need for him to pretend anymore. He nudged Chen Junbo with his elbow and said, "The person you like is Bi Fang, right? Don't worry, I will never tell anyone."

As she spoke, she winked at the other person, "To be honest, if you didn't like him, I wouldn't be the one signing the marriage contract with you. Don't worry, I understand. I'm paid to do what I'm supposed to do. Besides, Bi Fang is so outstanding, I'll definitely keep your secret!"

Li Yang took a few more steps forward, then turned around when she saw that the man hadn't followed. She saw Chen Junbo standing there, his face as cold as ice. She walked back to the man's side. "What's wrong?"

Chen Junbo: "Are you saying that I like men? That's why I got engaged to you?"

"Mmm, you're absolutely right!" Li Yang smiled, winked, and nodded, just like a lapdog.

Chen Junbo then asked, "Who told you that?"

“I guessed it myself. On the day of the marriage proposal, I asked Bi Fang why you, as the young master of the Chen family, would choose a wife by throwing a bridal bouquet and agree to a contractual marriage.” Li Yang said, folding Zhao Di’s birth contract neatly. “He stammered for a long time, only saying that this matter concerned your reputation and that I must not let a fourth person know. That’s when I guessed that you liked men. However, I only just discovered that the person you like is Steward Bi…”

After tucking Zhao Di's birth contract into her bosom, she held out one hand as a guarantee, saying, "Don't worry, I'll keep my mouth shut."

Chen Junbo was amused and exasperated by her 'I'm so smart' attitude and absurd remarks. He let out a loud 'Ha! You! Very well!'

Having said that, he flicked his sleeves and strode away.

Li Yang was left standing there, stunned: What's wrong with this person now? It's always like this. He runs away whenever something happens. How many times has this happened?

She quickly followed after him, asking, "What's wrong?"

"Say something! You were fine just now, why are you suddenly silent?"

"Hey, you always stay silent when something's wrong..."

She kept calling out as she followed Chen Junbo back to the room, only to find him sitting at the table with a cold expression, drinking tea and ignoring her completely.

Is she angry?

Why are you angry? You were fine just now. This person is so hard to please.

Was it because he had exposed his affair with Bi Fang? Li Yang finally found some cause and effect. After hesitating for a moment, he leaned closer and asked, "Are you angry?"

Her face was small and delicate, with a sharp jawline. At this moment, her almond-shaped eyes held a hint of naivety, and her brows were slightly furrowed as she stood directly in front of Chen Junbo. With a slightly cautious look in her eyes, she asked again, "Are you angry? Really angry?"

She saw the other person give her a disapproving look, get up to close the door, and then return to the table to sit down.

After Chen Junbo took his seat, he looked at Li Yang intently. When their eyes met, he said softly, "Listen carefully, I don't like men, nor do I like pen-and-paper writing."

"Huh??" Li Yang exclaimed in surprise, "But..."

Chen Junbo: "Bi Fang and I grew up together and learned to manage things together at my maternal grandfather's house. We are very close. However, this does not mean that I am in love with him, nor is it a reason for me to enter into a contractual marriage."

Li Yang: "But..."

Chen Junbo: "You said earlier that I got engaged to you because I was in love with Bi Fang, and I was in love with a man?"

Li Yang: "That's right!"

Chen Junbo: "But I don't like men!"

Li Yang: ...

“Over the years, I have devoted all my energy to managing the family business and have not had the mind to think about marriage, which is why I am still unmarried at an advanced age. My mother was anxious and arranged for me to meet the daughters of various families, but none of them are suitable for the Chen family.” After saying this, Chen Junbai stared at the young woman in front of him.

Li Yang: "...So many places, none of them are suitable?"

Seeing Li Yang's eyes change from clear to blank, Chen Junbo shifted his body and continued to explain: "The Chen family is the head of the salt industry in Lianghuai. Whether it is a marriage alliance with a wealthy merchant or an alliance with an official, the result is always the same: the bigger the tree, the more the wind blows."

The moon wanes after it's full, and water overflows when it's full, but my mother wouldn't accept this principle and insisted that I marry into a wealthy or high-ranking family. Therefore, after discussing it with my grandfather, we decided to choose a wife by throwing a silk ball – that would be the only way to stop my mother's advances.

“That day, I was standing upstairs when I saw several women mixed in with the crowd who seemed to be arranged by my mother. So I threw this embroidered ball through the crowd with all my might, but I didn’t expect it to hit your stall. It was an accident. I just thought that if I could follow the story of this embroidered ball, I could get rid of the pressure of the arranged marriage that my mother had arranged. That’s why I came up with the contract.”

Li Yang parted his lips slightly, but remained silent for a long time.

These wealthy and powerful families always emphasize matching social status and family background, right? Are there really so many rules involved? I must have just stumbled upon this incredible stroke of luck, no, I've hit the jackpot! I'll have to go to the temple by the sea to give thanks sometime.

A man's voice came through, "Now, do you understand everything?"

Coming to his senses, Li Yang hurriedly said, "Oh, oh, so you and Bi Fang aren't a couple?"

Chen Junbo looked slightly helpless. "No."

"Oh," Li Yang added, "So you're still unmarried at an older age because you're busy with your family business, not because of homosexual tendencies?"

Chen Junbo remained silent, coldly glancing at Li Yang.

Seeing this, she quickly admitted defeat, "Oh, oh, then, I misunderstood." As she spoke, she even swallowed, "Hehe, I'm sorry. Well, you should get some rest."

After a long while, Chen Junbo finally managed a weak "hmm".

As if granted a pardon, she hurriedly got into bed, grabbed the blanket and covered herself up, including her head.

She was utterly ashamed to face Chen Junbo. She'd made such a huge blunder, and earlier she'd been gloating in front of him, saying she'd keep her mouth shut… She really needed to keep her mouth shut, or she'd cause a huge mess…

Just as her heart was pounding, she felt the bed dip beside her. She quickly pulled back the covers. Sure enough, she saw Chen Junbo sitting on the edge of the bed taking off his shoes. She was alarmed. "What are you doing! You can't sleep here!"

Chen Junbo didn't speak, but simply raised an eyebrow at her. At his signal, Li Yang looked out. The small house was temporary accommodation and naturally didn't have a separate bed, and it wasn't convenient for them to have someone set one up...

Or... should we let him sleep on the floor?

No, I can't let my employer sleep on the floor, especially since I just offended him.

But now that we know he is not homosexual, how can a man and a woman alone share a bed?

While he was still struggling with this, Chen Junbo had already lowered the bed curtains and lay down on the outside, fully clothed.

Wait... is that right?

After much deliberation, Li Yang picked up the blanket and tiptoed to the outside. Just as he stepped one leg over the outside, Chen Junbo reached out and stopped him, causing him to lose his strength and roll inward.

Chen Junbo: "What are you doing?"

Li Yang: "Sleep on the floor."

After a long silence, Chen Junbo turned her over, pressed her back down, and wrapped her tightly in the blanket. Then he straightened up and said, "There aren't any extra blankets here. Don't fuss, just go to sleep."

Li Yang froze, clutching the blanket tightly to her chest. She was wrapped up like a silkworm, but she dared not open it. A vigorous young man was sleeping next to her, and she felt her face burning.

Chen Junbo opened his eyes and looked at her. "Go to sleep." He then turned to face outwards.

The deep mountains in May were extremely quiet. Inside the room, only the shallow breathing of the person beside him could be heard. The only part of Li Yang's body that dared not move freely was his eyes...

The man with his back to her seemed to see through her, and spoke in a sinister voice, "Don't you want to sleep? Or..."

"Sleep! I'm already asleep!" Li Yang immediately closed his eyes, no longer daring to look around. He coaxed himself, "Go to sleep, go to sleep. If I'm asleep, my heart won't be pounding like thunder."

The man closed his eyes and remained silent, a slight smile playing on his lips as his narrow eyes furrowed.