Chapter 2 Sharing the Bed & Taking a Bath

Lu Yuan woke up again, tempted by the aroma of food. The aroma of rice filled his nose, and Lu Yuan realized that he was so hungry that his front and back were touching each other. Rubbing his shriveled stomach, Lu Yuan found that his body was actually cool. The wounds were obviously coated with transparent ointment, and the frostbite and bruises were also well treated. Moreover, he was changed into a set of dry clothes, but they were a little too big.

The familiar furnishings in the room came into view again, like a nightmare that could not be woken up. Lu Yuan scratched his head, his face a little depressed.

He remembered.

The last memory of himself stayed in the hospital bed. Because he was diagnosed with a tumor, he was pushed into the operating room for removal. Then when he woke up, he was actually held by that weirdo.

 Although this assumption is incredible, Lu Yuan has to believe that he probably died on the operating table due to a failed operation, and by some strange coincidence, he entered this person’s body – and it happened to be the body of an ancient person…

Raising his hand to touch his forehead, for a moment, Lu Yuan didn’t know whether he should cry for his own death or laugh for his own resurrection.

“Are you awake?” The door opened, and Su Huai came in with two bowls. He looked at Lu Yuan, who was lying on his back on the bed and staring at the beams, and went to sit beside the bed: “Drink this bowl of ginger soup first.”

Lu Yuan was still immersed in the shock of traveling through time, and couldn’t come back to his senses for a long time. He only heard Su Huai ask again: “Can you sit up by yourself?”

Turning his head and staring at Su Huai for a long time, Lu Yuan finally understood that he was dead. Even if there was a way to go back, that body might have been cremated long ago. Lu Yuan looked around the somewhat simple mud-brick house with a bitter face, and then looked at Su Huai, who was dressed in simple coarse cloth clothes, and sighed secretly.

He is afraid that he will have to stay in this rustic village for the rest of his life…

While he was in a daze, Su Huai had already helped Lu Yuan up. He had a faint earthy smell mixed with the smell of rough medicine, and Lu Yuan couldn’t help but wrinkle his nose.

“Drink it yourself.”

Lu Yuan took the ginger soup and gulped it down, then his body immediately felt warm. At this time, Su Huai handed him a bowl of steaming white porridge.

“You are injured, overtired, and seem to have been starved for several days. Eating greasy food will hurt your stomach and is not good for your recovery.”

“That…”

Although Lu Yuan thought it was a good thing to stay, he had already made plans to stick to the life-saving rice in this strange place, but Su Huai’s sudden change of attitude still made him at a loss for a moment.

 “If you have anything to say, talk after you’re full.” Glancing at Lu Yuan’s pale face, Su Huai was really afraid that if he made a mistake, this big troublemaker would die directly on his bed.

Suppressing his doubts, Lu Yuan obediently drank a big mouthful of porridge. The soft and plump rice grains melted on the tip of his tongue, and a faint fragrance lingered between his lips and teeth. Lu Yuan’s eyes lit up, and he felt that his internal organs were all soothed after a mouthful of porridge.

“What’s in this porridge?” There was a little surprise in his voice, and it also revealed Lu Yuan’s carefree personality. Whether it was the uneasiness brought by the time travel or Su Huai’s weirdness, they all retreated temporarily because of this delicious food.

He turned his tongue around, as if he was savoring it. Lu Yuan suddenly said in surprise: “Ah, is it orange peel? No wonder it’s so fragrant!” As he said that, he kept drinking a few more mouthfuls. Soon the porridge was finished that night, and Lu Yuan blinked with an unsatisfied look.

 If Lu Yuan’s appearance at this moment is described, it is like a puppy that has seen meat bones but is tied with an iron chain. It raised its head towards its owner, with wet eyes turning around, and exuding a pitiful aura of “Can I eat it?”.

Su Huai wanted to laugh. He tried hard to suppress the corners of his lips that were unconsciously curled up – now, whether it is the timing or the object, it is not suitable to make this expression.

Scratching his head embarrassedly, Lu Yuan smiled and said, “Haha… Sorry, little brother, is there anything else?”

Su Huai stared at Lu Yuan silently, as if he could see a flower on his face.

 “Uh…what’s wrong?”

“Little brother?” Su Huai frowned. He looked at Lu Yuan’s figure, which was not skinny but definitely not tall, and then fixed his eyes on the other’s slightly delicate face. He looked about ten years old, and said: “My name is Su Huai, you can call me Brother Su in the future.”

(T/N: 10yo…incest…sounds like he was framed)

“Oh, my name is Lu Yuan.”

Su Huai didn’t intend to pay attention to him, so he interrupted him unceremoniously: “I don’t care what your name is. Anyway, this name can’t be used in the future, you can choose one yourself, or I will give you one. Also, from today on, you stay here until the wound on your body is healed.  “You can’t step out of this yard until all the scars disappear! In addition, when your injuries are healed, leave immediately!”

Lu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then he understood: “Are you afraid that I will implicate you? I’m not a bad person…”

“If you are really not a bad person, you should know that I am kind enough to save you, so don’t cause trouble for me! If you drag this body out and are found and reported to the authorities, I will be charged with harboring a criminal. I have no choice but to hide you at home. If you have a conscience, hide obediently and don’t implicate me!”

Being guarded against by others like this, anyone would feel uncomfortable. Besides, what this body did had nothing to do with him, Lu Yuan, but he had to take the blame for others and being looked down upon. This made Lu Yuan even more depressed. If he was not unfamiliar with this place, he would not stay here any longer.

 “I know, don’t worry. I won’t let you down, I’ll leave as soon as I’m healed!” Lu Yuan was angry and his face wasn’t very good, but he didn’t get angry with Su Huai. After all, what he said made sense. It was New Year’s Day, who wouldn’t feel upset if they picked up a fugitive home! 

Despite that, Lu Yuan still felt angry that he had been treated coldly. In this way, there was nothing to eat. He put the bowl on the bed, rolled up the quilt, turned his back and forced himself to sleep. 

After a long while, he couldn’t sleep, but he heard Su Huai’s footsteps, and then someone touched his shoulder: “Aren’t you drinking porridge?” 

Turning his head, he saw Su Huai looking at him with a bowl of porridge. Lu Yuan was stunned for a moment, chuckled twice, took the bowl, and ate it. While eating, he glanced at Su Huai, and Lu Yuan suddenly felt that this person was a good person except for his stinky mouth. 

 *

In this way, Lu Yuan settled down at Su Huai’s place.

It was natural to share the same bed.

Su Huai’s house was a small rough-hewn brick house with an inner and outer room. There was only one bed in the inner room, and Lu Yuan couldn’t get out of bed because of his injury. However, if Su Huai delayed his sleep because of his concerns, he would not be Su Huai.

Lu Yuan originally wanted to ask Su Huai about the situation here so that he could make plans for the next step. As a result, it was the busy time at the end of the year. Su Huai got up at dawn, cleaned, washed, fed poultry, took care of the pig shed, dried vegetables and preserved meat, prepared wine and meat for the New Year, and was occasionally called by villagers who wanted to see a doctor… In short, compared with Lu Yuan who stayed in bed all day, he had a lot of things to do.

Of course, these things also included chatting with the “big trouble” he picked up to relieve boredom. “Drink porridge”, “take medicine”, “sleep a little, it’s very crowded”, “you pulled my quilt”, these are considered small talk.

Lu Yuan was originally a playful person. In his previous life, he went to bars, karaoke, parties… He was indispensable in any lively place. Now, it’s okay to go back to ancient times, but he is imprisoned on a hard bed with this weak body. He couldn’t even think about going out. The most important thing is that there is a living person living in the house, which is no different from being dead. What Lu Yuan learned from Su Huai is not as much as what he learned from the neighbors outside…

This place is called Shihe Village. Every household in the village makes a living by farming. Except for a few large households in the village, most of them are poor people and live a very frugal life. These days, Lu Yuan can eat white rice porridge because he has stored food for the New Year. Otherwise, he can only eat bread and wild vegetables.

These are all extracted by Lu Yuan from the gossips of his neighbors.

 In a small place like Shihe Village, trivial things happening in the neighbors’ homes can be spread to everyone within a day. It’s easy for Lu Yuan to eavesdrop on other people’s gossip. Outsiders also have some suspicion when they see the old Su family brother going to the town to buy medicine and rice. So during the days when Lu Yuan was recovering from his injury, people kept coming to spy on him under various names, but fortunately, they were all dealt with by Su Huai one by one.

It’s just very strange that – in theory, whether it’s those who chat in the alley or those who are willing to gossip about their neighbors, they should all be aunts in their forties or fifties. But Lu Yuan has been here for more than ten days, and he has never heard a woman’s voice! He had never seen a woman!

“Drink the porridge first, then take medicine.” When he entered the house with a food tray, he saw Lu Yuan in a trance again. Su Huai’s lips trembled, squeezed out this sentence, and put the things neatly on the bed.

 “Thank you, Brother Su.” No matter how you look at it, Su Huai is not as old as himself. It’s really a bargain for him to be called a big brother. Lu Yuan complained in his heart, but smiled apologetically: “Haha… Brother Su, this white rice is quite precious!”

“Mm, you have a big appetite too.” He glanced at the bowl that was a circle bigger than the first time. Su Huai squeezed out a smile from his wooden face. It made people want to pinch it: “Hey, if you don’t drink it now, and it gets cold, no one will heat it up for you.” His eyes moved to Lu Yuan’s collar again: “If you don’t wear clothes properly, you will catch a cold, and I won’t treat you!”

Long used to this man’s choking way of speaking, Lu Yuan laughed awkwardly. He reached into his collar and scratched his chest, looking a little shameless: “Brother Su has taken good care of me these days, and my wounds have healed. Can I get some water? Haha… I haven’t taken a bath for many days, and my body is really itchy…”

“No, you are still too weak now.” If you want to take a bath, you need my help.

 “But, Brother Su…” Lu Yuan was really anxious when he heard it. No matter what department the doctor is from, all doctors in this line of work have a bit of mysophobia. He took a bath once a day and now he has been smelly for at least half a month. He can’t stand himself. Su Huai sleeps on the same bed with him every night. How can he not find him dirty!

Lu Yuan couldn’t help but curse in his heart that this broken village is really backward!

He looked at this “big trouble” frowning with a tangled look. Su Huai seemed to be infected and frowned.

“So troublesome.” Muttering, Su Huai turned and left.

Su Huai! You are so fucking stingy!

Lu Yuan looked at the man walking away, feeling really wronged. He reached out and scratched his shoulder again. The scab was scratched, and Lu Yuan couldn’t help but “hiss”. He got up and went to the ground. Without the quilt, he was wrapped in a single piece of clothing. He shuddered, picked up the bowl of porridge and gulped it down in one breath. He wiped his mouth, looked back at the quilt hesitantly, picked it up, wrapped it around him, and walked out tremblingly. Who knew that as soon as he walked to the door, he saw Su Huai coming in with a big wooden barrel. When they met, they were both stunned.

“I…” I came to say goodbye to you! Lu Yuan wanted to say so, but as soon as the word “I” came out of his mouth, Su Huai passed by and went into the house with a big wooden barrel. Lu Yuan froze in place, his mind a little blank.

He put the wooden barrel in the inner room with a bang. Su Huai hurried back, not taking Lu Yuan, who was wrapped like a big dumpling, seriously at all. He only said to him when he passed by him: “You’re not washing in the yard, what are you doing wrapped in a quilt? Go in and wait for me.”

“…”

At this moment, Lu Yuan suddenly felt that it might be a good idea to let Su Huai send him to the yamen. At least, communication would not be such a problem.

Soaking in the hot water, Lu Yuan closed his eyes slightly. He felt that every pore was slowly opening in the mist, feeling indescribably comfortable. Su Huai took the ladle and added hot water to the bathtub several times, which made Lu Yuan’s face slightly red.

“Brother Su, it’s hot enough.” Lu Yuan opened his eyes, and then his smile froze: “That… Su, Brother Su… why are you taking off your clothes?”

After saying this, Su Huai’s top had been taken off. It was misty, and his strong body lines were very beautiful. When only a pair of underwear was left, Su Huai completely ignored Lu Yuan’s protest and stepped into the bathtub.

Huahua——

The hot water rose an inch, and the bathtub seemed a little crowded.

 “Brother Su, although we are both men, don’t you feel crowded?”

“This saves water and firewood.”

“…”

Lu Yuan felt that he probably wouldn’t want to take a bath again.

Sure enough, Su Huai is a doctor.

What he said was right. Lu Yuan was weak and soon lost his strength after soaking in hot water. He lay on the side of the tub and let Su Huai rub his body and back. The wound from the willow leaf scratches had scabbed and was about to heal, but if he rubbed it hard, it would still break, so Su Huai was very gentle. Lu Yuan loved to be clean and was always afraid that he couldn’t wash it clean, so he asked Su Huai to rub him repeatedly several times.

He was not a good person, but his skill in scrubbing was good.

Thinking like this, Lu Yuan lay on the side of the wooden tub and slept gently. Lu Yuan had long arms and legs, but was skinny. From the back, his scapula was very obvious. Su Huai’s eyes were all focused on Lu Yuan’s skinny body at this time, and his eyes were a little deep.

 After a moment’s pause, he reached out to touch Lu Yuan’s back…

[Little Su and Little Yuan’s cute little drama]

If one day, Little Yuan becomes a dog…

Little Su: Don’t follow me, wait here obediently!

As he walked forward two steps, Little Yuan followed with a smile and hopped two steps. Little Su turned back suddenly: Huh?

Little Yuan (sticking out tongue): Ha… Ha… Ha…

He walked forward two more steps, and Little Yuan followed with a shameless hop two steps. Little Su turned back quickly: Huh?  (black face)

Little Yuan (sticking out tongue): Ha… Ha… Ha…

He walked two more steps forward, Little Yuan shamelessly continued to jump two steps behind him. Little Su turns back fiercely: Hey… I’m talking to you – um…

Little Su was pounced on by a certain Yuan and licked on the face endlessly.

*

If it were the other way around…

So, Little Su became a dog

Little Yuan (smiling): Don’t follow me, wait here obediently!

He took two small steps forward, Little Su did not move. Little Yuan turned his head: Really don’t follow me, wait obediently!

Little Su: …

He took two smaller steps forward, Little Su still does not move. Little Yuan bites his lip and turns his head: Really really don’t follow me, wait obediently!

Little Su: …

He took two small steps forward, Little Su still did not move. Little Yuan turned his head sharply: Dead dog! I told you not to move, and you didn’t!

So Little Su was pounced on by a certain Yuan and licked on the face endlessly. —＿—b