Huo Shu bit lightly at his collarbone—not hard, just a scrape of teeth, but the pale skin flushed red at once, marked with teeth imprints.
He studied the unbroken skin, as if admiring his handiwork.
Ji Taoyu's eyes were already reddening as he withdrew his hand from Huo Shu's grip: "Biting where there's no meat hurts so much."
Huo Shu raised his gaze: "Then where do you have more meat?"
Ji Taoyu fell silent, the tips of his ears turning pink: "You know perfectly well and still ask."
Huo Shu's hand, resting on Ji Taoyu's back, slid down a few inches and gave a squeeze: "Indeed, there's much more meat here."
"But next time. I’m afraid if I bite, I won’t be able to stop myself from doing something else."
Ji Taoyu’s entire face flushed red as he burrowed under the blanket.
A faint smile touched Huo Shu’s eyes: "Sleep. We’ll go home once the rain stops."
He gently patted Ji Taoyu’s back. Though he didn’t nap, he lay quietly beside Ji Taoyu, listening to the rain outside the window.
After what felt like a long time, the rain finally ceased. Huo Shu waited another quarter-hour before rousing Ji Taoyu.
"Take care on your return. Ride at a gentle pace. With this heavy rain, avoid the mountain paths—landslides may come without warning"
"Got it."
Ji Taoyu, wrapped in a thin cloak, sat atop the horse and waved at Huang Yinsheng before the couple departed Zhenlu Alley.
Though the rain had stopped, water still dripped from the eaves, and the stone-paved streets gleamed from the downpour.
The gutters along the road gurgled with rushing water, merging into the town’s streams, their visibly risen levels obvious at a glance.
Ji Taoyu worried whether their crops at home had suffered any damage.
Lost in thought, he was startled when Huo Shu suddenly reined in the horse.
"What’s wrong?"
"Going to the medical hall to fetch something."
Ji Taoyu raised his brows: "Why didn’t you get it earlier at Grandfather’s place?"
"What do you think?"
"It’s fine for me, but you’re the one who’s shy."
Ji Taoyu immediately understood.
His ears turned pink. Now that he knew the reason, and since this wasn’t the right time for children, he didn’t oppose Huo Shu using those things.
Still, he lowered his voice: "Don’t we have some at home? Why buy more? I’ve read that they can be washed and reused. Those things aren’t cheap to begin with..."
Using one per time seemed too extravagant, especially since Huo Shu’s habits meant more than one per night.
"Too tight."
Huo Shu had previously made do for Ji Taoyu’s sake, given the urgency.
He stated matter-of-factly: "Better to buy the right size."
Ji Taoyu pressed his lips together. Money should be spent where necessary—no one should suffer discomfort.
"Then go ahead. I’ll wait outside for you."
Huo Shu dismounted but suddenly looked up at Ji Taoyu: "Maybe you should come with me."
Ji Taoyu blinked: "What use would I be?"
"They probably won’t let me test it."
"You could help check if the size fits."
Ji Taoyu’s eyes widened: "How would I know? I’m not familiar with it!"
Huo Shu chuckled. Indeed, he was the more "familiar" one.
"Fine."
As Ji Taoyu watched Huo Shu walk toward the medical hall, he belatedly realized he’d been teased.
Hadn’t Huo Shu known at a glance before that Tianyin’s gift wasn’t the right size?
The black stallion flicked its tail and snorted.
Ji Taoyu suddenly realized Huo Shu hadn’t helped him dismount. Panicking, he clung to the saddle: "A-Shu, hurry back!"
The horse seemed intent on tormenting him, circling restlessly as if biting its own tail.
Ji Taoyu didn’t dare breathe too loudly.
"If you keep spinning me, no hay for you when we get back!"
The stallion snorted twice but finally stopped turning.
Ji Taoyu exhaled in relief and slowly straightened. When he looked up, the horse had turned toward Yongning Street in the distance.
He considered sliding off but then spotted a familiar figure emerging from a mansion with stone lion statues at its gate.
Upon closer inspection, the profile revealed it was You Lingxiao.
Ji Taoyu found the place oddly familiar. Raising his gaze, he realized it was the prefect’s residence.
The man seeing You Lingxiao out was well-dressed—no ordinary servant, likely a steward at least.
Though he couldn’t hear their conversation, the prefect’s household treated You Lingxiao with noticeable courtesy, escorting him outside and only retreating after he boarded a carriage.
Ji Taoyu watched the carriage vanish before withdrawing his gaze.
It had been a long time since he’d last seen You Lingxiao. Even after returning from the northern frontier, their paths hadn’t crossed in the village.
Unless necessary, his family scarcely mentioned You Lingxiao anymore—the man who’d occupied a decade of his memories now seemed to have vanished overnight.
Yet catching sight of him so abruptly stirred a strange feeling—like recognizing a face that had grown distant, both familiar and foreign at once.
The villagers often whispered that You Lingxiao had become but a shell of his former self after his hand was crippled.
But today, he appeared in high spirits, almost restored to his former confident self. Were it not for the known injury, nothing seemed amiss.
"What’s on your mind?"
A voice came from behind as a gust of wind brushed Ji Taoyu’s back, followed by arms encircling his waist.
"All done?"
Ji Taoyu tilted his head, noting Huo Shu’s empty hands.
"Mn."
Huo Shu acknowledged and guided the horse onward.
Ji Taoyu added: "I just saw You Lingxiao leaving the prefect’s residence."
Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly.
He recalled Ji Yangzong mentioning that morning that the You family was building a new house.
"What about it?"
"He seemed to have ingratiated himself with the prefect."
Huo Shu wasn’t fully aware of the You family’s current situation, but given their standing in the village alongside the Ji family, their movements warranted attention.
"Let’s ask father when we get back. We should know what’s happened while we were away."
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