The next day, when Yuan Heng woke up, the little ger was still fast asleep.
The sweet, soft ger in his arms lay docilely against him, undisturbed no matter how Yuan Heng played with him.
Of course—last night had been too wild. The little ger must be exhausted.
Yuan Heng’s ears warmed slightly as he pressed a kiss to the top of the little ger’s head before carefully getting up.
Even though the little ger hadn’t stirred earlier, Yuan Heng still moved as quietly as possible.
But the moment he shifted the little ger from his arms onto the bed, the ger seemed to rouse from some stubborn instinct, blinking sleepily with pouted lips.
“Brother Heng…” The little ger called out in a sticky, drowsy voice, soft enough to melt a man’s bones.
Yuan Heng leaned down to kiss his lips, then pulled the still-warm blankets over the little ger’s slender frame. “It’s still early. Sleep a little longer.”
The little ger stared blankly for a few seconds before shaking his head slightly, a glimmer of clarity finally entering his eyes.
“You’re leaving now, aren’t you?”
Yuan Heng smiled. “I’ll only be gone a few days. I’ve asked A-Yuan, Xiao Ruo, Mu ger, and Yao ger (the one who spoke up for Wang Jin and lived near the leader's house) to keep you company.”
The two extra beastmen were a precaution, just in case.
Wang Jin seemed to have listened—and yet not. Struggling to sit up, he began rummaging through the pile of clothes for something.
Yuan Heng draped an outer robe over his shoulders, sighing. “Little ger, at least put something on first. It’s cold now.”
“Found it!” Still wrapped in the robe Yuan Heng had given him, Wang Jin turned around holding a belt. “Here, Brother Heng…”
“……” Yuan Heng looked down. In the little ger’s hands was a clumsily woven belt, its uneven braiding clearly the work of an inexperienced hand. At its end was an exquisitely crafted stone ornament - flat on one side, slightly hooked on the other.
In stark contrast to the belt was the little ger’s usually soft, fair hands, now marked with several red scratches. Some of the older ones had faded with medicine, but fresh ones had appeared around them.
He had assumed they were from teaching the other gers new crafts, but now it seemed…
“Did you… make this?” Yuan Heng asked quietly.
“Mm.” The little ger nodded, his drowsiness fading as his bright eyes fixed on Yuan Heng, like a pampered pet seeking praise. “I asked A-Mu to teach me. It took me days to finish. It’s for you.”
“!” Yuan Heng’s mind flashed to the little ger hiding from him days before, head bent over some project. At the time, he had thought the ger was keeping a secret… but it was all… for him.
Yuan Heng’s heart felt as if someone had gently pressed a hollow into it, and then the little ger had filled that hollow to the brim.
Gazing at the ger before him, the tenderness in his eyes threatened to overflow.
Suddenly, he didn’t want to go to that damned deep forest anymore. He just wanted to stay by his ger’s side…
“Let me tie it for you.” Seeing the man frozen, Wang Jin clumsily fastened the belt around Yuan Heng’s waist.
The delicate stone hook caught the end of the belt perfectly, securing it in place.
Wang Jin smiled. “See? Fits just right. Now your robes won’t come loose.”
He spoke, then took another overall look at the man's attire, his gaze once again sweeping over the belt.
Though the belt fit, it was clumsily woven, and against the man’s otherwise immaculate attire, it stood out awkwardly.
The man exuded an imposing aura, his strikingly handsome face and fitted martial attire making him look like a sharp and capable warrior. Yet, this crisp, commanding presence was undermined by the crooked belt, lending him an unkempt air.
Wang Jin, who had initially been proud of his handiwork, now rubbed his nose guiltily.
He cleared his throat and reached to tug at the belt around the man’s waist. “…Forget it. Let’s just have A-Mu weave a new one for Brother Heng.”
The man paused, his fingers twitching slightly before he pressed Wang Jin’s hand down and retied the loosened belt himself.
“I like this one,” he said softly, his tone carrying an unprecedented lightness.
Wang Jin looked up at him, only for the man’s lips to suddenly descend upon his.
After a long, lingering kiss, the man finally released the dazed and pliant little ger, placing him on the bed and carefully tucking him in. He lingered, reluctant to leave, before finally restraining himself and stepping away.
Not long after he left, Mu ger arrived to keep watch in the courtyard. Wang Jin, however, fell back asleep and didn’t rise until noon.
At midday, Mu ger prepared some food at Wang Jin’s home.
After eating, the two lounged in the courtyard, basking in the sun.
Yu ger and Yao ger arrived together.
Both wore expressions of excitement, immediately sitting across from Mu ger and Wang Jin, their eyes gleaming as they stared at Wang Jin.
Wang Jin, unnerved by their gazes, asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Yu ger propped his chin on his hand. “I was just wondering… what kind of person were you before, A-Jin?”
“…” Wang Jin’s heart skipped a beat. Why was he suddenly asking this? Did he know something? Could he have figured out that Wang Jin had taken over another’s body?
His mind raced anxiously until Yu ger continued, “A-Jin, do you really not remember anything about your old tribe?”
Wang Jin masked his unease by taking a sip of water. “No, I don’t.”
Then, cautiously, he asked, “…Why the sudden interest in my past?”
He had mentioned before that he didn’t remember. The tribe rarely brought up his past, why was Yu ger bringing it up now?
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