My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 34 Part 4

For the first time, Huo Shu laughed openly, unrestrained. Then, bending down, he scooped up the grumbling ger, lifting him effortlessly by the waist.  

Ji Taoyu’s feet left the ground, and he instinctively tightened his grip on Huo Shu’s arm.  

The firm, powerful muscles beneath his soft palm seemed to pulse with strength. He rarely had such close contact with men, let alone in such an intimate manner.  

Last time, Huo Shu had carried him too, but at that time, he had been fighting for his life - hardly any room to think of anything else.  

But now, he was fully conscious of it, making him even more flustered. His heart raced wildly.  

"W-what are you doing?!"  

"It’s cold outside, and you’re barely dressed. You’ll catch a chill. I’ll take you back first."  

Ji Taoyu protested nervously, "Put me down! I can go back on my own!"  

Huo Shu, holding the soft, light ger in his arms, had no intention of letting go. "What’s there to fear? If anyone sees, consider it an invitation to our wedding banquet, saves us the trouble of notifying them twice."  

"How can there be such a person as you!"

Seeing the near-tearful expression on the face in his arms, Huo Shu adjusted his cloak. "Fine. No one will see you now."  

Ji Taoyu huddled against Huo Shu’s chest. Though his body was all hard muscle, at least it didn’t feel unreliable. He felt secure, with no fear of being dropped halfway. And he didn’t have to worry about the rain, Huo Shu's body was oddly warm.  

Even as he thought this, he kept a stern little frown on his face.

Huo Shu patted the horse, signaling it to return on its own. He turned his head and saw the sullen face of the ger: "What's wrong?"  

"You weren’t like this before."  

"Not like what?"  

"You...you never used to be so rude, and you always asked for my opinion."  

Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly: "Then, can I hold you?"  

"Whether you can or not, haven’t you already—" 

Ji Taoyu bit his lip. He had just agreed to marry him, and now Huo Shu was acting so boldly. What would happen in a few more days? Would he just do whatever he wanted?  

Huo Shu, recalling his father-in-law’s teachings, coaxed: "I was wrong. From now on, I’ll always ask for your opinion."  

Ji Taoyu felt much better hearing Huo Shu speak softly. But before they could exchange a few more words, he spotted his family’s house in the distance.  

He clutched Huo Shu’s sleeve, reluctant to let him go.  

"Will you take me in through the front door?"  

"I’ll just leave you at the entrance. You can walk the last few steps."  

Ji Taoyu fell silent, not responding.  

Seeing this, Huo Shu negotiated: "Then I’ll take you inside?"  

"Or... or how about we go in through the place where you usually climb the wall?"  

Ji Taoyu quickly added: "I don’t even know how you get in."  

"Alright."  

Huo Shu carried Ji Taoyu around to the back of the Ji family’s house. Climbing the wall while holding someone was difficult, so he hoisted Ji Taoyu onto his back and scaled the wall barehanded from the base.  

By the time they landed, Ji Taoyu was still in disbelief, staring at his own bedroom window. Huo Shu had actually carried him over the high wall.  

Huo Shu set him down on a chair, then familiarly picked up the kettle by the charcoal stove and poured a cup of hot water: "Drink some to warm up. Change your clothes so you don’t catch a cold."  

Ji Taoyu watched Huo Shu moving around his room, feeling dazed. He had dreamed of him here many times before, but having the real person actually standing before him still felt unbelievable.  

Only then did he realize his palms and knees were aching.  

Huo Shu said: "I should go now."  

Ji Taoyu rubbed his palm lightly and called out: "Don’t go!"  

"My—my knees hurt. Can you put some medicine on them?"  

Huo Shu looked at the young ger, then walked back: "Shouldn’t you change your clothes first?"  

Ji Taoyu’s face flushed red: "How can I change with you in the room?"  

"Then I’ll step outside."  

Ji Taoyu grabbed the hem of Huo Shu’s robe: "Never mind, it’s too cold outside. You—you can stay. I’ll change behind the bed curtain. Just don’t—"  

Huo Shu said: "I’ll wait until after we’re married to look."  

Ji Taoyu’s face burned as he fled behind the bed curtain, fumbling to change his clothes before emerging again.  

He peeked out from behind the curtain and saw Huo Shu sitting obediently at the table, his back turned.  

Only then did he retrieve the medicine and sit beside him, rolling up his pant leg to reveal his fair calves.  

This was the first time Huo Shu had seen the skin beneath Ji Taoyu’s clothes. His heart stirred, but no improper thoughts arose.  

The bruise on Ji Taoyu’s knee, a patch of blue and purple, seized all his attention.  

Huo Shu warmed the medicinal wine in his palm before gently applying it.  

He had always known this ger was delicate, but he hadn’t expected a simple fall on grassy mud to leave such marks.  

From now on, he’d have to take even better care of him.  

"Walk more carefully in the future."  

Ji Taoyu sniffled: "Mhm. It doesn’t actually hurt that much. It’s fine."  

"Even so, you must protect yourself."  

Ji Taoyu blinked: "Do you care about me that much?"  

Huo Shu paused his movements and looked at Ji Taoyu.  

The ger's adaptability was impressive, just moments ago, he was stuttering and blushing, yet now he could say such things.  

Just as Huo Shu was about to respond, a knock came at the door: "Xiao Taozi, are you still asleep? Mother’s coming in."