Chapter 98 Springtime Heart in Turmoil (Part Six) Suppressing this inexplicable thirst...
But he didn't dare turn back.
Perhaps because his senior brother's clothes were disheveled, he dared not linger any longer and turned to leave in haste.
In his panic, he stumbled and nearly tripped over the threshold. Only when his fingertips touched the cold door sill did he realize he should close the door. The bamboo door slammed shut with a loud bang, causing the dust on the lintel to fall down in a flurry, almost blinding him.
The bamboo house was poorly soundproofed, and the rustling sound of the fabric rubbing against each other inside could be clearly heard, as if someone was hurriedly tidying up their clothes.
Gu Lianzhou stood frozen outside the door, feeling utterly confused and utterly disheveled.
He and his senior brother were both men, so even if they saw each other's bodies, it wouldn't be a big deal. But now, all this fuss really makes him seem like he has something to hide.
Since he'd already seen it, he might as well be open about it and make a few harmless jokes. How could his senior brother possibly blame him then?
In his confused state, he opened his mouth, unsure of what to say, when he suddenly caught a glimpse of Xiu Ming carrying a basin of water as he walked from the other end of the path.
Upon seeing Gu Lianzhou from afar, the young man's dark face immediately broke into a smile, and he said in a loud voice, "Young Master Gu, Brother Dai asked me to deliver water to Young Master Song."
As they were speaking, the person had already walked up to them.
Gu Lianzhou felt a sudden tightness in his chest. Almost instinctively, he took a step to the side, subtly blocking Xiu Ming's path between him and the door. "I'll handle this."
Realizing his mistake as soon as he finished speaking, he forced himself to add, "My senior brother is changing his clothes and it's inconvenient for him to open the door."
Xiu Ming glanced at the tightly closed door, then at Gu Lianzhou's tense expression. Despite his doubts, he didn't insist any further. He placed the basin on the ground beside the door, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Young Master Gu."
Before leaving, he couldn't help but look back one last time, only to see this young master Gu standing in front of the door with his fists clenched, looking annoyed, as if he had been chased out.
Shaking his head, Xiu Ming muttered, "I really don't understand city people," and then strode away.
Unable to fathom Song Qiling's thoughts, Gu Lianzhou cleared his throat and spoke up, "Senior brother, are you still itchy? Is the ointment enough? Do you need... my help?"
That's right, that's how it should be said.
If he is open and honest enough, he won't make his senior brother overthink things.
Thinking this, he suddenly felt confident and pressed on, "Senior brother has examined my body many times, and this time you've let me see it too. Don't treat me like an outsider anymore, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, the door was suddenly pulled open. Gu Lianzhou turned around in surprise and came face to face with his angry senior brother.
The senior brother's face was flushed, and his neck seemed to be tinged with a blush, clearly from the scratching. His wide eyes showed that he was furious.
"Don't talk nonsense!" The senior brother's voice was not as casual as usual, but instead had a few urgent hoarse sounds. "Don't say such nonsense about your health anymore. What will others think if they hear it?"
Gu Lianzhou blinked and nodded as if he understood: "I won't say anything more, senior brother, please don't be angry with me."
Song Qiling was truly furious with this fool, but she had no legitimate reason to blame him for his lecherous behavior. She could only suffer in silence, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.
"You...you're very good." She looked away and gazed at the bamboo lantern swaying gently in the wind under the eaves, and said with difficulty, "I haven't even thanked you for helping me drive away that snake, and you're already blaming me. It's my fault, senior brother. Please don't take it to heart."
"It's nothing serious. There are many insects and ants in the mountains. It was just a small favor." Gu Lianzhou looked down at his senior brother's round, rosy earlobes, thinking to himself: The poison of these bamboo leaves is so potent...
Seemingly sensing his scrutinizing gaze, Song Qiling frowned slightly, then stepped back and disappeared into the shadows behind the threshold, slamming the door shut with a "bang," leaving him standing there bewildered. "Senior brother?"
A moment later, a muffled voice came from inside the door, "I'm a little tired, so I'm going to sleep first."
Gu Lianzhou stood there stunned for a moment, not knowing what he had done to displease his senior brother. He felt a sudden tightness in his chest, as if something was gripping it, and even his breathing became a little sluggish.
In a daze, he stared at the closed door and opened his mouth, but in the end he only responded with a soft voice and turned to walk into his room.
-
Gu Lianzhou lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
The roof of the bamboo hut cast a faint shadow under the moonlight, the crisscrossing beams mirroring his chaotic thoughts at that moment.
The image of his senior brother, a mixture of annoyance and slight anger, lingered in his mind. His furrowed brows, evasive eyes, and tightly pursed lips, down to every detail of his facial features, were so clear that they made his heart tighten.
He kept thinking back, but he still couldn't figure out which sentence or action of his had offended his senior brother.
It was clearly just a normal joke between men, so why did my senior brother react so strangely?
A vague thought flashed through his mind like lightning, too fast for him to catch.
He frowned, trying to grasp that fleeting glimmer of inspiration, but only felt his chest tighten and became inexplicably irritable.
He sighed and turned to look out the window.
The shadows of the trees swayed and rustled softly, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
In a hazy state of consciousness, certain images uncontrollably surfaced: in the dim light, a slender, delicate neck, the collarbone rising and falling gently with each breath, and fair, smooth shoulders...
It was so white it was dazzling, so bright it was blinding.
So delicate it's like cream...
Gu Lianzhou suddenly opened his eyes.
In an instant, a surge of heat rose from my abdomen, coming suddenly and inexplicably.
He felt a dryness and tightness in his throat, and his heart was pounding in his chest like a drum. He suddenly sat up, trying to calm himself, but he felt that even his fingertips were covered in a thin layer of sweat.
He rolled out of bed, walked to the table, picked up the teapot, and wanted to pour himself a cup of cold tea to quench his inexplicable thirst.
But when my fingertips touched the cup, I was surprised to find that the pot was already empty.
Holding the empty cup, Gu Lianzhou paused for a moment before finally pushing open the door and heading towards the kitchen on one side.
-
Gu Lianzhou squatted in a corner of the kitchen, quietly watching the flames dancing in the stove.
The water in the iron pot began to hiss softly, and the steam gradually rose, spreading a hazy mist in the dim firelight, enveloping the entire kitchen in warmth.
His gaze inadvertently swept over the corner of the wall.
Several sweet potatoes, covered in mud, lay scattered beside the haystack, round and plump, their skins still carrying the damp scent of having just been dug out of the ground.
He suddenly remembered that his senior brother seemed to have gone to bed without having dinner today, and he wondered if he was too hungry to sleep.
The water on the stove was already boiling, making a "bubbling" sound, and the white steam surged against the pot lid, making a slight knocking sound.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally bent down and picked out three of the plumpest sweet potatoes, carefully stuffing them into the embers at the edge of the stove.
The orange flames immediately licked the sweet potato skin, making a soft "crackling" sound.
A moment later, he stopped in front of the bamboo house and gently knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" came the senior brother's muffled voice from inside the room.
Gu Lianzhou felt inexplicably guilty, as if he had done something wrong. After calming himself down, he replied softly, "Senior brother, it's me. I've come to bring you some food."
A moment later, a series of light footsteps approached from afar, and the wooden door creaked open, revealing Song Qiling wearing a worn-out outer garment.
Her hair was slightly disheveled and fell over her shoulders. Perhaps she had just gotten up, as her eyes still held a hint of drowsy weariness from just waking up.
"Senior brother," Gu Lianzhou called softly, holding up what he was holding, "I'm bringing you some hot water, and by the way..."
He paused, then handed over the dark cloth bag in his hand, "I brought you some food."
Song Qiling raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on the suspicious package for a moment, catching a faint, warm, sweet scent.
She paused for a moment, then stepped aside to make way for her: "Come in."
The room was simply furnished but clean, with an oil lamp flickering and casting a dim yellow light on the table.
Gu Lianzhou placed the kettle on the table, then carefully unfolded the cloth bag, revealing three charred sweet potatoes underneath. Their skins were slightly cracked, and the golden, soft flesh inside was steaming hot, emitting a rich, sweet aroma.
"Seeing that my senior brother hadn't eaten dinner, I thought he might be hungry," Gu Lianzhou explained in a low voice, his fingers accidentally touching the scalding hot sweet potato, and he couldn't help but pull back and pinch his earlobe.
Song Qiling had been sleeping for a while and was extremely hungry. At this moment, her junior brother's timely help made her feel relieved. She couldn't help but smile slightly and said, "It's really hard on you. You're still thinking of bringing me food so late at night."
She took a porcelain plate, broke the sweet potato open, and steam immediately rose up. The golden sweet potato flesh gleamed enticingly under the light, and its aroma was irresistible.
"Be careful, it's hot," Gu Lianzhou warned.
Song Qiling lowered her head and blew on it before carefully putting it in her mouth. The sweet and glutinous taste immediately melted on her tongue, accompanied by the unique aroma of charcoal grilling. The aroma made her close her eyes in satisfaction, and all the resentment she had accumulated today was swept away.
Gu Lianzhou also took a bite of sweet potato, and the warm sweetness immediately filled his mouth. The outer layer was slightly crispy, but the inside was soft and sweet like honey.
The two sat facing each other, quietly sharing their late-night snack.
The occasional chirping of insects outside the window mingled with the flickering of the candlelight inside, adding to the tranquility.
After finishing the last bite, Song Qiling brushed the charred sweet potato skin off her fingertips. She looked up at Gu Lianzhou, her light-colored pupils reflecting a warm light: "Where did this sweet potato come from?"
He only remembered to ask where we came from after he'd finished eating. Seriously...
Gu Lianzhou's fingers unconsciously traced the rough edge of the table, and he casually replied, "Stolen."
"Stolen?" Song Qiling seemed amused by him. Looking at the mess on the table, she swept it into a porcelain plate and then sighed softly, "I never thought that Young Master Gu would do such a petty theft."
She picked up her teacup and took a sip, the smile still lingering in her eyes. "Now I've become your accomplice. How am I going to explain this to Liu Dai tomorrow?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Lianzhou's face showed a hint of "worry," and he frowned as if in difficulty: "I will take responsibility for my own actions. Whether I am scolded or beaten, I will bear it."
He spoke with a straight face, but Song Qiling just stared at him quietly. After a while, she raised the corners of her lips slightly, and without urging him, she waited for him to continue.
Under that knowing gaze, Gu Lianzhou finally couldn't hold back and revealed the truth: "These sweet potatoes were specially prepared by Liu Dai. He was afraid we would go hungry, so he specially dug a few out of the field and put them in the kitchen. It's a token of the host's kindness, so..."
He paused for a moment, then added with a smile, "Senior brother, don't worry, I'll just dig out a few more and put them back tomorrow."
“Why would I be worried?” Song Qiling laughed, her eyes crinkling. “I just want to see how you make up stories to fool me.”
“It’s not exactly making up a story…” As she was speaking, Gu Lianzhou noticed the ash residue on her senior brother’s lips and instinctively leaned over, stroking her lips with her thumb and gently rubbing it.
The skin beneath his fingertips was warm and soft, carrying a faint, sweet scent that gradually intensified as he drew closer.
Song Qiling's eyes widened slightly in surprise as she stared at her junior brother who had suddenly approached. "What's wrong? Is... is there something evil again?"
She tilted her head slightly, her lips unconsciously brushing against the fingertip, and both of them were startled.
Gu Lianzhou snapped back to his senses, and as if burned by the instantaneous touch, he quickly withdrew his hand, his fingertips slightly curled, and he took a half step back rather uncomfortably.
The air inside the room seemed to freeze instantly, with only the soft "beep" of the lamp wick audible.
"It's getting late."
In the end, Song Qiling spoke first, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible panic, "You should go back and rest early."
Gu Lianzhou nodded, stood up and took his leave.
I closed the door for my senior brother, shutting out the warm light and the sweet aroma of sweet potatoes behind me.
Gu Lianzhou slowly stood still against the night wind, subconsciously rubbing his fingertips. He felt that the warmth not only did not dissipate, but instead burned his heart, making his heart beat faster and faster in his chest.
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