Chapter 49
Yue ger smiled.
The news of the leader and Yue ger’s impending marriage quickly spread to every corner of the tribe.
In Wang Jin’s courtyard, several gers were gathered together weaving cloth when the topic came up. Wang Jin, upon hearing it, looked surprised.
“Yue ger is marrying the leader?” Wang Jin turned to Mu ger for confirmation.
Mu ger nodded at him. “The whole tribe knows by now. A Jin, you’re probably the last to find out.”
The idea of Yue ger marrying the leader was so unbelievable that Wang Jin was too stunned to even react to Mu ger’s teasing. His mouth hung open in shock, making him look rather foolish.
The sight amused the other gers, and one of them chimed in, “I didn’t believe it at first either, but it’s true.”
“Who would believe it so easily? After all, during the Matching Festival, Yue ger publicly rejected the leader, and the leader himself swore in front of everyone that he wouldn’t bother Yue ger again. That day, it seemed like their paths had parted for good. Yet, barely a few days later, they’re tangled up again, and now they’re rushing into marriage!”
“Hey, what do you think? Yue ger humiliated the leader that day… and yet the leader still wants to marry him?”
“Of course! Have you forgotten how many years the leader has pursued Yue ger?”
“But even after so many years, being publicly rejected at the Matching Festival and declaring he wouldn’t pursue Yue ger anymore, shouldn’t the leader have given up?”
The group exchanged glances. Mu ger pressed his lips together and interjected, “Could it be that Yue ger was the one who reached out first?”
A brief silence followed before one of them shook his head. “Yue ger is far too proud. After publicly rejecting the leader at the festival, why would he eat turned-back grass?”
[吃回头草 (chī huítóu cǎo): lit. "to eat turned-back grass"; fig. To return to a past relationship or retract a decision.]
“I’m not so sure. Maybe Yue ger confessed to Brother Heng and was rejected. Realizing he had no chance with Brother Heng, he turned back to the leader. Otherwise, how could the marriage be arranged so quickly?”
“That makes sense. If the leader had gone back on his word and pursued Yue ger again, Yue ger wouldn’t have agreed to marry him so soon!”
“Exactly. With Yue ger’s pride, even if he were interested, he’d at least make the leader court him for a few more years before agreeing. This sudden marriage… doesn’t seem like the leader renewed his pursuit. It’s more like Yue ger, seeing no hope with Brother Heng, acted fast to secure the leader before he slipped away too.”
The others nodded repeatedly, finding the explanation perfectly reasonable.
“You’re all wrong.” A voice suddenly came from outside the door, and everyone turned to look.
It was Yu ger, who lived near the leader’s residence.
Yu ger walked over and sat down with them, casually pouring himself a cup of water before speaking. “Let me tell you, the truth is something none of you would guess.”
“What? What?” The ger’s curiosity was piqued, and they leaned in closer. Even Wang Jin, though reluctant, edged nearer.
Yu ger’s face was full of mystery as he lowered his voice. “That day… I saw the leader kneel before Yue ger, as if he’d done something wrong…”
“!”
The leader kneeling?!
Wow, what in the world could have happened?
Did the leader force himself on Yue ger?
The expressions on everyone's faces turned utterly fascinating. Yu ger confirmed their suspicions with a nod. "Exactly what you're all thinking."
A collective gasp swept through the group.
If a beastman forced himself on a ger, even if it was the leader, he’d have to be punished, right...?
"So... they’re rushing into marriage to cover this up?"
"The leader’s always been a bit biased, but he’s usually rational. How could he do something like this?"
"And Yue ger, suffering such treatment, chose to endure the humiliation to protect the leader, even agreeing to marry the very man who once forced himself on him after being rejected... Isn’t that too self-sacrificing?"
"If I were the leader, I’d cherish him to the bone," Mu ger added.
The other ger nodded in agreement. "True. The leader already adored Yue ger. Now that Yue ger’s gone this far for him, he’ll probably treasure him like his own heart."
Yu ger narrowed his eyes, his voice dripping with mischief. "You’re all giving him too much credit!"
"Ugh! You’re so annoying, just spit it out already!" The ger beside Yu ger smacked his arm. Rubbing his nose, Yu ger dropped the act.
"That day... I also caught a strong whiff of liquor outside the house..."
Everyone turned to stare at Wang Jin. Yu ger followed their gaze and confirmed, "Right. It was the wine you brewed, Jin ger."
"..." Wang Jin’s eyebrow twitched. He spread his hands. "I’m not close to either of them. I never gave them any wine."
Yu ger waved it off. "Never mind where the wine came from. My point is...when you drink too much, don’t you just get dizzy and pass out? How could anyone... do that kind of thing in such a state?"
"..." The group blinked at him, baffled.
Yu ger pressed on. "That day, the leader was clutching his head in pain, but Yue ger showed no sign of a headache. Everyone who overdrinks wakes up with a pounding head."
"Are you saying Yue ger wasn’t drunk?" someone guessed.
Yu ger nodded. The other ger followed the logic. "So Yue ger was sober, while the leader was too dizzy to move properly... meaning..."
Eyes widened as the realization hit.
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