Yue ger looked devastated. "A-Jin..."
His voice was barely a whisper, his face pale, the picture of pitiful misery.
The other ger couldn’t stand it. "Jin ger, you’re going too far! Yue ger has been nothing but good to you, how can you be so ungrateful?"
"Yue ger, just ignore him!"
One ger stood up to comfort Yue ger, who took the opportunity to sob quietly, as if heartbroken.
The more Yue ger cried, the more the others berated Wang Jin, nitpicking everything from his posture to his attitude.
At first, Wang Jin endured it, letting their words go in one ear and out the other. But they just wouldn’t stop.
Finally, he’d had enough. He grabbed the bowl of soup and smashed it onto the ground. The shattering porcelain silenced the room, broth splattering everywhere, shards scattering across the floor.
The ger gasped in horror, shrinking back. Even Yue ger stopped crying, staring at him with reddened eyes.
Wang Jin snarled, "Who the hell do you think you are?! I told you, how I live is none of your business! What right do you have to judge me? Think I’ve been too nice lately? Don’t forget, I used to be a lunatic! Keep lecturing me and see what happens!"
His face was terrifyingly fierce, his usual playful eyes now sharp with menace. The gers were suddenly reminded of the deranged madman who would attack anyone who came near, this version of Wang Jin bore an unsettling resemblance.
Had his madness returned?
No one dared to speak.
Wang Jin shot Yue ger one last glare, then called for Mu ger and turned to leave. This time, Yue ger didn’t dare stop him.
But as Mu ger followed, Yue ger called out to him.
"A-Mu, A-Jin only keeps you around to weave for him. He doesn’t really see you as a friend—"
"Yue ger!" Mu ger interrupted, turning to give him a look as if he were an idiot. "Do you really think Brother Heng would adore a ger who can’t do anything? That he’d cherish someone lazy and spoiled?"
Yue ger froze.
Mu ger continued, "If you don’t even understand why Brother Heng loves A-Jin so much, how could you ever hope to win his heart?"
Then, glancing at the cowering gers behind Yue ger, Mu ger raised his voice. "If A-Jin were truly useless, how could there be so many new and practical things in the tribe? All you see now are his flaws, have you already forgotten all the good he’s done?"
It wasn’t just about creating new things. When Wang Jin had taught the tribe’s gers, he had patiently repeated himself over and over, explaining tirelessly. Despite his delicate fingers, which couldn’t handle rough materials, he had still demonstrated techniques personally, often cutting or scraping himself in the process.
He was so afraid of pain, yet he endured it to help others, even hiding his injuries afterward to avoid worrying Yuan Heng.
But they had forgotten all his kindness and consideration.
Mu ger turned away without another glance and hurried to catch up with Wang Jin. When he did, he found Wang Jin already looking back at him.
Mu ger smiled slightly and quickened his pace.
Wang Jin’s mood instantly brightened. Hearing Yue ger’s earlier attempt to drive a wedge between them had made him furious.
How dare that bastard try to meddle with my and A-Mu’s friendship right in front of me?!
He had been about to turn back and tear into Yue ger when Mu ger beat him to it.
Unlike the others, Mu ger had defended him unconditionally.
Wang Jin’s bristling hostility melted away in Mu ger’s presence, his smile softening into something sweet as honey.
Mu ger’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he pretended to shudder. "Stop smiling at me like that, it’s too mushy. If Brother Heng saw it, he’d get jealous again."
Wang Jin wrinkled his nose. "He’s not here! And it’s not mushy!"
"Try smiling like that in a mirror and see for yourself!"
As the two walked away, Yue ger’s face darkened further.
Hidden in the shadows, Yu ger, who had witnessed everything, stared after them with gleaming eyes. After shooting Yue ger a hateful glare, he stealthily trailed after Wang Jin and Mu ger.
On the way back, Mu ger voiced his worries. "A-Jin, as satisfying as that was... will there be consequences?"
Wang Jin waved a hand. "What consequences? It’s not like they can eat us."
"But what if the other ger start shunning us again?"
"They won’t. And even if they do, so what?" Wang Jin laughed. His man had said it didn’t matter, so why should he care?
"Wasn’t life just fine before?" Besides, he’d get to spend more time with his man.
"It was fine, but we’re still part of the same tribe..." Mu ger fretted. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, he was starting to regret their impulsiveness.
Seeing his concern, Wang Jin reassured him, "Really, it’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Only a few gers were in Yue ger’s yard today, most of the tribe wasn’t even there."
Mu ger said, "But those few are the biggest gossips in the tribe."
Wang Jin tilted his head thoughtfully. "Then... we’ll just have to give them something else to talk about. Actually, I wanted to show you something. Come on, let’s go to my place."
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