Having spent so much time in the study, Fang Yu had long known there was a small drawer under the desk. Out of curiosity, he had opened it a long time ago, but it was empty. Since the small drawer couldn't hold much and wasn't convenient for storing things, and he had nothing he needed to hide, he gradually forgot about it.
But how had these books gotten in here?
Forgetting about the medicine, he bent down to pick up the books and take a look. Coincidentally, one book fell open. The moment he looked down, his outstretched hand froze in mid-air.
"You... how could you keep such things in the study!"
Fang Yu coughed dryly, gathered the books, and looking at the wide-eyed Qiao Hezhi, said honestly, "These aren't mine."
"If they're not yours, how did they get here?"
"Before, when I returned, I saw this small drawer was empty. How would I know when these books suddenly appeared?"
Upon hearing this, Qiao Hezhi's face instantly flushed crimson. Previously, he had secretly taken the books back to his room and flipped through them. Later, when Madam Chen brought back two servant girls causing discord, he was too annoyed to have any mind for such books. Afterwards, he was planning to go to the prefectural city to find Fang Yu and simply forgot about the matter.
After returning, one day while searching through the bed, he came across these books and suddenly remembered he had forgotten to return them. Thinking that since their return had been so busy, Fang Yu likely hadn’t noticed the books were missing, he secretly placed them back in the drawer… Never did he expect to encounter them again like this today. And worse—Fang Yu had already noticed they were gone!
The more he thought about it, the redder his face became. He tilted his head down, too embarrassed to look at Fang Yu, gritted his teeth, and said, "I... how would I know!"
Seeing Qiao Hezhi's expression, Fang Yu didn't bluntly expose him. Suppressing a laugh, he turned his head and quickly flipped through a few pages of a book. He couldn't help but click his tongue. The titles were quite elegant—things like Companion of the Fragrant, Butterflies Flying in Pairs—but the content inside was wildly uninhibited. Scenes took place in locations like flower thickets, vegetable gardens, under the moonlight... the settings were strikingly varied.
He frowned slightly. Back then, because he knew little about "ger" and considering the unique nature of his own spouse, he had purposely visited a fairly reputable shop to buy educational booklets about ger in order to avoid a poor first experience for either of them. He had assumed his own fulang, being a proper young master from a good family, would be rather reserved in such matters—precisely because he worried he might not be receptive.
Who could have imagined... his tastes were so wild!
Seeing him not only flip through the book right in front of her, but even appear lost in thought! Qiao Hezhi, burning with shame and indignation, quickly closed the book pages: "I found them here too! I only looked at a few pages. They're really not mine!"
As he spoke, he turned to leave. Fang Yu swiftly caught his arm: "They're really not yours?"
"Of... of course they're not mine!" Qiao Hezhi was both flustered and exasperated, his eyes rimmed red: "If they were mine, why would I put them in your place?"
Fang Yu’s first thought was, Of course he put them there as a hint! But he didn’t dare say it out loud — he was afraid that if he did, Qiao Hezhi might cry and he’d end up banished to sleep in the study. The one-year mourning period was finally over, and he really couldn’t risk making him upset now.
But after thinking it over, it probably wasn’t Qiao Hezhi who had placed the books there. He was far too bashful—even if he wanted to learn about such things, he wouldn’t choose such… intense reading material. Working it out in his mind, Fang Yu concluded: "It must have been left here by the previous owner of this body."
According to the novel's setting, such erotic books would suit his tastes perfectly.
"Then... they're really not yours?" Seeing Fang Yu accept his explanation, Qiao Hezhi turned the question back on him.
Fang Yu couldn't help but laugh. He tossed Butterflies Flying in Pairs aside. "These are books about intimacy between a man and a woman. If I were to read something on the subject, it would be material concerning ger. This type isn't suitable for us."
"Suitable or not, how can you just say such things!" Qiao Hezhi’s ears burned fiercely. He swatted Fang Yu’s arm. "Have you no shame at all?"
"I don't say these things to anyone else either." Fang Yu whispered softly by Qiao Hezhi's ear: "You don't need to read these books. I can tell you: what is learned from paper is ultimately shallow; theory is no match for practice."
As he spoke, Fang Yu grabbed his waist and lifted him onto the desk. Qiao Hezhi, startled, immediately wrapped his arms around Fang Yu's neck, refusing to let go and sit down, pleading in a small, tearful voice: "Don't you dare mess around!"
Fang Yu fell silent, a smoldering intensity in his gaze. He weighed the consequences — just how many nights would he be exiled from their bed if he acted on his impulses right here? But before he could make a move, a knock sounded at the study door. "Master, a letter has arrived for you."
Hearing the sound, Qiao Hezhi was frightened and quickly slid off the desk. Fang Yu knew nothing could be done now. He held the person in his arms by the waist, trapping him against the desk, leaned in, and gave his red lips a long kiss before letting go.
"Come in."
Xuezhu was finally allowed in after a while. Seeing both their clothes were properly worn, he relaxed slightly. As someone who attended to Fang Yu daily, Xuezhu was well aware of the pent-up frustration his master had endured during the year of abstinence. He had thought that in broad daylight, and in the study of all places, surely nothing would happen... But then his eyes fell upon the Zhengfu and took in the similarly flushed state of his eyes and lips. In an instant, understanding detonated in his mind like a string of fireworks.
Fang Yu accepted the letter. Although thoroughly annoyed by the interruption, he noticed Xuezhu’s glance toward Qiao Hezhi. He reached over and gently took Qiao Hezhi's hand in his own. He understood the young master's temper all too well. Bullying him might make him angry in the moment, but if such matters were known by others, the most etiquette-conscious person would be furious with him for who knows how long.
"The Zhengfu's arm was scratched by a tree branch and it hurts terribly. Quickly go find the wound medicine I used before."
Xuezhu let out a breath: "The wound medicine from the study was taken to the room by this servant. I'll go fetch it for Master right away."
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