Hearing him say that, Jiang Chuting couldn't help but chuckle, "You."
Lin Zhi scrutinized his expression and pressed, "Chu Ran, when you see me with other girls... you really don't overthink it?"
"Don't worry, of course not." Although Lin Zhi was close to him, he wouldn't interfere in his affairs, and he didn't think he had the right to do so. He didn't know why Lin Zhi had such concerns.
Lin Zhizhuang seemed to understand, and slowly nodded at him, "I see."
Jiang Chuting finally had a chance to ask the question she was concerned about: "By the way, is your arm injury any better?"
"Much better." Lin Zhi moved her injured arm to show him. "There's nothing seriously wrong with it now."
Jiang Chuting breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good."
Earlier at the teahouse, Pei Jing wanted to fight him, but Jiang Chuting stopped him in a moment of panic, worried that he would get hurt. Although he didn't turn around then, he knew that Lin Zhi wouldn't appreciate his kindness and might even feel humiliated. Only by changing his face to Chu Ran's could he receive better treatment.
Lin Zhi generously presented him with both extreme aspects of ice and fire, and he could only slowly dissolve and adapt to the two completely different faces that Lin Zhi displayed.
As they talked, the two walked toward the Lovesick Pavilion. After taking their seats in the front hall, almost all the people assigned to various brothels arrived and came to report in turn, including those from the Joyful Garden. However, there was basically nothing special about their situation.
Except for the last one to report. According to him, a male prostitute in the Nanfeng Tower, which he was responsible for monitoring, had been suffering from inexplicable abdominal pain for two days. Lin Zhi and Jiang Chuting immediately set off to investigate in person.
To their surprise, after all the trouble they went to get there, the young man had already stopped hurting after running to the outhouse a few times. The doctor had come to check on him and found nothing seriously wrong. It was truly absurd, but thankfully no one was hurt.
Because they were quite far apart, it was already dark by the time they went back and forth. The two didn't take a carriage, but walked through the bustling streets. Since they hadn't eaten dinner yet, they walked for a while before sitting down at a noodle stall and ordering two bowls of noodles. Jiang Chuting had originally wanted to go somewhere else, since Lin Zhi was used to fine food and might not be used to such humble stalls. But Lin Zhi wasn't bothered at all, saying, "Let's eat here. I remember you took me to eat noodles before. It's a pity I went looking for it later, but that noodle stall is gone."
Just like before, Lin Zhi sat close to Jiang Chuting. Even after sitting down, he was still restless, talking while playing with the hair that fell over Jiang Chuting's shoulder with his fingers.
Previously, they had always been indoors, and Jiang Chuting had allowed him to act without restraint. But now they were outside, with many pedestrians coming and going, and other customers at the noodle stall. Perhaps their actions were too intimate, attracting many suspicious glances.
Lin Zhi seemed oblivious, but Jiang Chuting was getting restless and whispered to him, "Lin Zhi, could you move to another seat?"
Lin Zhihun didn't mind and smiled at him, saying, "Change seats? Shall I sit on your lap?"
Jiang Chuting was secretly surprised that he would make such a joke. Lin Zhijian firmly said, "No, I want to sit next to you."
Jiang Chuting said helplessly, "Then you should keep a little distance, otherwise people will misunderstand."
Lin Zhi glanced around casually. "Who cares what others think? I just like being close to you like this." He then looked into Jiang Chuting's eyes. "Are you unhappy that others misunderstand us like this?"
Jiang Chuting remained calm and said softly, "Not really, but it's better to be careful when you're out, otherwise, rumors can be harmful." He had a deep understanding of this.
Lin Zhi rested his arm on the table, cupped his cheek with his hand, and said to him with a half-smile, "Don't worry, if there are any rumors, I will take full responsibility and won't let anyone hurt you."
Jiang Chuting was speechless for a moment, then smiled slightly.
Lin Zhi dislikes things between men, but he still makes such jokes, which shows that he is open and pure about his relationship with Lin Zhi. Since that's the case, Jiang Chuting should just take it as a joke and not overthink it.
The two ate noodles and returned to Xiangsi Xiaozhu quite late. Lin Zhi, wearing only a thin shirt and carrying a pillow, obediently squeezed into the same bed with Jiang Chuting. Jiang Chuting knew she couldn't get rid of him no matter what, so she gave up the idea to avoid causing trouble in the middle of the night.
Lin Zhi nudged Jiang Chuting's arm and said in a very tender tone, "They say it takes a thousand years to cultivate the bond to share a pillow. Chu Ran, do you think our destiny began a long time ago?"
Jiang Chuting corrected his misunderstanding: "A thousand years of cultivation to share a pillow in sleep" usually refers to the predestined relationship between husband and wife, not our situation.
"Really?" Lin Zhi pursed her lips, exclaimed "Oh dear!" and threw herself into his arms, nuzzling her head and messing up her hair. She looked up at him with innocent eyes and said cheerfully, "It's not that different, we're sleeping on the same bed anyway. Even if we're both men, it can still be called a marriage."
"Childish words." Jiang Chuting couldn't help but chuckle. She didn't bother to refute him, but instead reached out and ruffled his hair, then brushed it aside and covered his clothes.
The scar on her chest worked quite well after being treated with the medicine Pei Jing gave her, but it hadn't completely disappeared yet, and Jiang Chuting was worried that he would find out.
Lin Zhi lay back down beside him, fiddling with his fingers, her tone suddenly becoming much lower, clearly indicating her displeasure, "Are you leaving again tomorrow?"
Jiang Chuting hummed in agreement. It's best to leave unless there's a specific situation; otherwise, the longer they stay together, the easier it is to be exposed.
Lin Zhi didn't speak, staring at his clearly defined knuckles for a moment, then suddenly popped one into her mouth and bit down. Jiang Chuting asked, "What are you doing?"
Lin Zhi asked, "Does it hurt?"
It hurts a little, but it's okay. Jiang Chuting said understandingly, "It doesn't hurt much."
Lin Zhi then took another bite, this time without holding back. Jiang Chuting hissed, and when he pulled his hand back, there were clear teeth marks left by Lin Zhi.
Lin Zhichong grinned, revealing his tiger teeth, and said, "Does it hurt? It's good that it hurts. This is a curse I cast on you. If you don't think of me or miss me after you leave, then as punishment, your finger will keep hurting."
Jiang Chuting naturally didn't believe these fabricated stories, and could only feel both amused and exasperated, thinking, "Nonsense."
Lin Zhi noticed that he hadn't let his hair down, so she reached out and pulled the wooden hairpin from his hair, examining it closely. Jiang Chuting didn't have time to stop her, and seeing this, he hesitated to speak.
Lin Zhi looked very interested in the wooden hairpin, playing with it in his hand and said, "I like it so much. I'll give you something else, but you can give me this instead. I want to keep something of yours with me."
"No!" Seeing Lin Zhi suddenly look over, Jiang Chuting realized that she had refused too quickly and decisively. She paused, then smiled and said softly, "This won't do, because someone else gave it to me. Let's get something else."
Upon hearing this, a dark glint flashed in Lin Zhi's eyes. He remembered that when they first met, Lin Zhi had used this hairpin to tie his hair, and he was still using it. This hairpin must hold some special meaning for him to value and cherish it so much. He had kept it in mind since their first encounter, and now, after a little probing, he confirmed it was indeed true.
Who gave it to him? Was it the person he had previously admitted to being in love with? Keeping a wooden hairpin for so many years shows the depth of his feelings. Lin Zhi swallowed hard, then calmly returned the hairpin to him, smiling brightly, "It was my presumption. You can keep it."
Jiang Chuting took it and held it in her hand. Lin Zhi quickly changed the subject and didn't mention it again. After chatting for a while, the two went to sleep.
Before going to sleep, Lin Zhi glanced at him and saw that he was indeed holding the wooden hairpin in his hand as he fell asleep. His lips twitched violently, and he was furious. He turned his back to him, wanting to avoid seeing him.
He naturally didn't know that Jiang Chuting either didn't let his hair down at night or held the wood in his hand so that he could dream.
That night, he did indeed have another dream.
In the dream, Zi Que was thin and hunched over his desk, practicing calligraphy. He had already filled several stacks of paper. His breathing was slightly rapid, and his pen never stopped moving, as if only in this way could he calm himself down.
Jiang Chuting felt as if she had transformed into a wisp of a soul, accompanying him, staring intently at his face. It was so real, as if Zi Que was still alive and she could still see him. Jiang Chuting couldn't bear to look away, lost in her dream, until she inadvertently turned her gaze away and realized that Zi Que wasn't practicing calligraphy, but simply writing something.
The stack of papers piled up beside him, and the papers spread on the desk, were densely packed, as if filled with a heavy and deep affection, all bearing the same name.
Chu Ting.
Jiang Chuting felt a sudden, sharp pain in her heart, and gasped, "Zi Que!" She woke up and opened her eyes.
His heart was pounding wildly, aching and sore. He was stunned for a long time, only to find that the person next to him had also woken up at some point.
The candlelight in the room was dim. Lin Zhi, propped up on her own two feet, stared at his face with her dark eyes and asked in a low voice, "Chu Ran, whose name were you calling just now?"
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It's almost the end of the month, I need some nutrient solution! =3=
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