“Huh?” Show…?
Wang Jin blinked in confusion.
Mu ger tugged him to a seat. “Listen, this morning, Brother Heng took the leader to pick dawnfruit.”
“Dawnfruit?” Wang Jin tilted his head, searching his memory. Mu ger had once taught him about this world’s plants, including fruits. Dawnfruit grew only at dawn and was notoriously sour and bitter, rarely liked by gers, so beastmen seldom gathered it.
Why would Yuan Heng take the leader to pick it?
“Dawnfruit! The fruit that remembers!” Mu ger said urgently.
Wang Jin suddenly recalled, dawnfruit had a unique trait. When plucked, it turned transparent like a dewdrop, and on its surface would appear the image of the person who’d picked it, as though holding a grudge. Hence its nickname: the grudge fruit.
A transparent fruit with a human face was unsettling even in this world, which was why few dared to pick it.
And Yuan Heng had gone to pick it with the leader?!
Didn’t that mean it’d be obvious who picked which fruit?
Seeing understanding dawn on Wang Jin’s face, Mu ger grinned. “Brother Heng must’ve done it on purpose. He heard the rumors and took the leader to gather these fruits, then brought them back for their own gers. Look.”
He pointed to a cluster of dawnfruit in the corner. “Those are the ones Brother Heng brought back. The leader took his share back to Yue ger too.”
Mu ger chuckled. “Half the tribe sneaked peeks at these fruits. Now no one will dare say Brother Heng picked cold cocoons for Yue ger! After all, not a single fruit in Yue ger’s stash has Brother Heng's face on it.”
“…” Wang Jin walked over to inspect the fruits. Each was like a translucent bead, but with Yuan Heng’s face imprinted on it. Though eerie, the sight of the man’s handsome features warmed Wang Jin’s heart.
The images wouldn’t last forever, they woud fade in about a day, leaving the fruit black.
“That’ll teach them to gossip! Oh, and A-Jin, Brother Heng asked me to tell you he’s gone hunting with the leader and will be back by evening. He also said you should do whatever you want and never hold back for his sake. Otherwise, he’d be upset.” Mu ger’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Seems like he’s adjusting his schedule for you. And he’s giving you free rein. A-Jin, isn’t he the sweetest?”
Wang Jin’s face flushed, but he stayed silent. Mu ger laughed.
“A-Jin.”
A sickly sweet voice cut through the air. The two stiffened, exchanging a glance before turning toward the entrance.
Yue ger stood there, a forced smile on his face.
“A-Jin, I’ve come to invite you to weave with me. Let’s go to my place.”
The invitation was the same as last time, but the vibe was entirely different. Now, Yue ger’s malice was barely concealed.
Behind him stood a group of gers, likely there to spread rumors again if Wang Jin refused, painting him as difficult and ungrateful.
After a period of quiet, why is Yue ger targeting me again?
Yuan Heng had only just returned early yesterday, and now this…
Wang Jin pressed his lips together.
Yue ger stepped forward without waiting for a reply. “A-Jin, you haven’t visited me in so long. Do you dislike me?”
As he approached, his sharp eyes caught sight of the dawnfruit behind Wang Jin - each one bearing the face of the man he longed for.
Unlike the ones in his own home.
Yue ger’s hands clenched inside his sleeves.
How cruel. Even though they’d gone picking together, Yuan Heng had drawn such a clear line, leaving him no room for hope.
When the tribe misunderstood, he’d gone out of his way to gather dawnfruit just to set the record straight. For this lunatic, he was truly unwavering!
The more devoted Yuan Heng was, the more Yue ger hated Wang Jin. He wished he could reduce him to ashes, not a single strand of hair left.
But despite the hatred boiling inside him, Yue ger forced a smile, though the malice in his eyes seeped through, twisting his expression into something grotesque.
Wang Jin and Mu ger tensed.
After a pause, Wang Jin replied, “I don’t dislike you. But you’ve already learned weaving, haven’t you? There’s no need for me to visit. Besides, if you wanted to learn, shouldn’t you come to me?”
Yue ger reacted swiftly. “A-Jin, you’re upset I didn’t visit you? My apologies, I’m here now.”
“…” That wasn’t it at all!
Not waiting for a response, Yue ger pressed on. “And of course there’s a need! You’re our lucky star. Even if you taught me nothing, I’d be happy just to have you visit. Honestly, my weaving still needs work. I’d love your guidance.”
Guidance, his foot!
“…” Wang Jin glanced at the gers behind Yue ger, all notorious gossips. Swallowing his retort, he forced a smile. “Sure. Let’s go.”
Mu ger grabbed his arm. “I’m coming too.”
Yue ger smiled faintly and led the way.
This time, Wang Jin inspected every chair and tool thoroughly before sitting down.
Yue ger seemed to have realized his previous tricks were too childish, so he didn’t resort to them again.
Though he’d claimed to need Wang Jin’s guidance, Yue ger wove skillfully without asking for help, his movements swift.
As he finished a piece, he paused, glancing at Wang Jin. “A-Jin… aren’t you weaving?”
Wang Jin knew how to weave, but his delicate hands bruised easily, so he usually supervised rather than participated.
Mu ger and the other gers who’d learned from him knew this, and Yue ger had surely heard it too, but he pretended ignorance.
One of the gers spoke up kindly. “Jin ger’s hands are tender. He rarely weaves to avoid injury.”
“Oh, I see.” Yue ger feigned understanding, then added pointedly, “How lucky A-Jin is. He doesn’t need to lift a finger, everything’s handed to him.”
His tone was dripping with sarcasm, as though mocking Wang Jin’s helplessness.
In high spirits after reuniting with Yuan Heng, Wang Jin ignored him.
Unfazed, Yue ger continued, “A-Jin’s so beloved wherever he goes. Not like us, we have to work hard every day…”
His words stirred resentment among the other gers. They’d been weaving tirelessly to prepare for winter, and exhaustion had worn them thin.
Normally, they’d keep such feelings to themselves, knowing it was their own responsibility. But Yue ger’s prodding cracked their restraint, and some now glared at Wang Jin with barely concealed bitterness.
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