Still Beating

Yu Lanyi was in the study, where the tea snacks and fruits were already laid out, along with a pot of hot tea. When Zheng Shanci walked over, Yu Lanyi had already copied a page from a famous calligraphy book, and it looked quite decent.

Zheng Shanci approached from behind, bent down, and placed his warm fingers on the back of Yu Lanyi’s hand. He corrected Yu Lanyi’s grip on the brush, lowering his head to guide Yu Lanyi’s hand in writing.

Even though it was nothing much, Yu Lanyi’s heart still raced a bit. He looked at the characters on the paper, feeling a bit dizzy. Zheng Shanci guided Yu Lanyi’s hand to practice a few characters and explained some writing techniques.

None of these words entered Yu Lanyi’s ears; his attention was entirely focused on Zheng Shanci’s fingers, feeling a wave of nervousness and warmth on his face.

“…Alright, now try writing a few characters on your own,” Zheng Shanci said, releasing Yu Lanyi’s hand to let him practice independently.

Yu Lanyi cleared his throat, picked up the brush, and wrote a few characters, which looked no different from before. Zheng Shanci noticed that Yu Lanyi would sneakily revert to his original grip on the brush.

It was a habit that needed to be changed slowly.

Zheng Shanci taught Yu Lanyi again, noticing that Yu Lanyi’s earlobes were completely red, and there were beads of sweat on the back of his neck despite the weather. He asked in surprise, “Lanyi, are you feeling hot?”

Yu Lanyi, holding the brush, couldn’t easily escape Zheng Shanci’s hand, so he simply said he was hot.

Zheng Shanci stepped back.

“You practice on your own for a bit.”

Yu Lanyi thought to himself that he couldn’t write anything decent on his own. He had no choice but to follow Zheng Shanci’s advice and wrote a few more characters. Having Zheng Shanci teach him to write was not as effective as finding an old teacher. Otherwise, he would always get distracted and not learn well, being captivated by his charm.

Zheng Shanci glanced at him, his tone filled with helplessness, “Lanyi, you’re not focused at all.”

Yu Lanyi replied, “I will definitely focus.”

After spending the evening in the study, Yu Lanyi made some progress. He realized that he couldn’t let Zheng Shanci teach him to write, or he would never improve in his lifetime.

Back in his room, Yu Lanyi expressed this thought.

Zheng Shanci said, “Alright.”

“Don’t you find it strange? I suddenly don’t want you to teach me anymore?”

Zheng Shanci picked up a book to read and said, “I can tell you’re distracted. If it’s for practicing writing, no matter what, I wouldn’t dare to disturb you. If I’m the source of distraction, then I should actively avoid you.”

Yu Lanyi listened to Zheng Shanci’s words: “…”

He opened his mouth, only to find himself speechless.

Is he a blockhead?!!!

Feeling frustrated, Yu Lanyi lay on one side, wrapping himself in the quilt like a spring roll.

Zheng Shanci felt a chill, looked at the bundle beside him, put down his book, and poked Yu Lanyi.

Yu Lanyi hummed and didn’t say a word.

“I might get sick,” Zheng Shanci said seriously.

Yu Lanyi replied, “Go sleep somewhere else.”

Zheng Shanci said, “There’s no other place to sleep.”

Hearing this, Yu Lanyi’s lips curled up, but he still retorted, “Does Zheng Daren fear having no place to sleep?”

Zheng Shanci wasn’t as strong as Yu Lanyi, but he successfully unwrapped the spring roll and slipped inside.

With cold hands and feet, he touched Yu Lanyi’s toes, causing Yu Lanyi to shiver and quickly turn to the side, using a move to lock his throat.

Zheng Shanci: “…”

He was really about to suffocate.

“It was a reflex,” Yu Lanyi immediately released Zheng Shanci, glanced at him guiltily, and noticed his neck was a bit red. Supporting himself with his elbow, he looked at his Adam’s apple.

He blew on it.

When he was young, he once hurt his hand while playing and cried loudly. The family doctor wanted to apply medicine externally. Yu Fulang held his hand to keep him still, applying medicine while blowing on it.

Zheng Shanci didn’t expect Yu Lanyi to do such a thing. He was stunned, his gaze fixed on Yu Lanyi. He felt a strange ache in his heart, as if a clear stream had suddenly flowed through a barren wilderness.

Such surprise, bewilderment, and the softness hidden in his heart.

Zheng Shanci had always been excellent since childhood. He knew what he wanted, and his greatest wish was to control his own life, to live unrestrainedly doing his own things.

Due to his parents’ broken relationship, he learned to be independent from a young age. After graduating from university and finding a job, he realized his friends had all found their significant others, while he was still walking alone in this world. He had no attachments, with a few friends scattered in different places, seemingly unable to be tied down by anyone.

He had his own goals and way of living.

He once thought he would always walk alone, no matter where he was, and he had long been accustomed to it.

Until he met Yu Lanyi, he realized his heart was still yearning, still capable of beating for another person.

Yu Lanyi blew on it again, looking a bit worried, “Zheng Shanci, you…”

Before he could finish, Zheng Shanci hugged him tightly. Yu Lanyi was buried in Zheng Shanci’s chest, his face pressed against the soft fabric. Zheng Shanci held him tightly, as if clinging to a lifeline.

His eyes were deep and heavy, something rising and falling within them.

At this moment, Yu Lanyi was as quiet as a well-behaved kitten.

As the most cherished among the younger generation, Yu Lanyi was adept at assessing situations. His sweet words were reserved for when he needed something, otherwise, he maintained a dignified demeanor.

All the young men without enough status couldn’t hold their heads high in front of him.

“Zheng Shanci, does your throat still hurt?” Yu Lanyi asked softly.

Zheng Shanci released Yu Lanyi and smiled, “What do you think?”

Yu Lanyi felt even more guilty, “I’ll try to control my strength in the future, so you won’t get hurt.”

There’s a future, huh.

Zheng Shanci kissed Yu Lanyi’s ear, causing Yu Lanyi’s breath to hitch. Then he cautiously leaned in, meeting Zheng Shanci’s gaze, feeling warmth in his heart.

“Zheng Shanci, what do you want to do?” Yu Lanyi had already removed his hairpin, his hair cascading down, the ends brushing against Zheng Shanci’s handsome face.

Zheng Shanci’s breath caught, and he slowly intertwined his fingers with Yu Lanyi’s, his lips landing on Yu Lanyi’s, kissing gently at first.

Yu Lanyi felt a bit ticklish from his kisses.

He dodged Zheng Shanci’s lips, thinking to himself, what’s with all the dawdling?

If he can’t even figure out how to kiss, what else does Zheng Shanci understand, this little fool?

Zheng Shanci pried open Yu Lanyi’s lips, sweeping inside, kissing him until they were both breathless. Only then did Zheng Shanci pull away, his lips still glistening.

Yu Lanyi felt weak all over, as if he had fallen into the clouds. Seeing Zheng Shanci lower his head again to kiss him, Yu Lanyi, as if seeing a flood beast, covered his mouth, “If you keep kissing, my lips will swell.”

Zheng Shanci: “They won’t.”

How could they swell?

Zheng Shanci felt a fire in his heart, closed his eyes to restrain himself, and lay back, saying, “I won’t kiss anymore. Did I scare you?”

“No, it’s just that you seemed like you wanted to swallow my tongue,” Yu Lanyi shook his head, “Why are you so greedy?”

Greedy? Well, yes, he was greedy.

“I’m greedy, and you’re kind.”

Zheng Shanci put the book away, blew out the candle, and climbed into bed, saying this.

“Of course I’m kind, I’m also good-looking and of noble status,” Yu Lanyi’s lips curled up, chin raised proudly.

Zheng Shanci really wanted to see Yu Lanyi’s current expression, just to see if he was embarrassed.

Zheng Shanci thought about how he had been in Xinfeng County for almost three months now, with the winter solstice approaching. This year, he would spend the New Year in Xinfeng County.

Yu Lanyi missed his family, and Zheng Shanci wanted him to return with the soldiers stationed at the border. Marquis Changyang was a military general, and there would be uncles in the army to protect Yu Lanyi.

If he returned to the Capital City, it would take over five months for a round trip, so he could only wait until his three-year term ended to see what position he would take before returning to the Capital City.

Being separated by distance was difficult, and Zheng Shanci thought Yu Lanyi should live in Shengjing.

Yu Lanyi found a comfortable position, resting his head on Zheng Shanci’s chest, fingers entwined in Zheng Shanci’s long hair, lying on his back and falling asleep.

He really was like a cat.

Zheng Shanci patted Yu Lanyi’s head.

…

The further Zheng Shancheng and his group traveled towards Xinfeng County, the colder it got.

Lin Ge’er had already put on his cotton clothes, and Zheng Shancheng and Zheng Qingyin had done the same.

Unlike Zheng Shanci, they hadn’t calculated the journey well, so they occasionally spent nights in the wilderness.

During these times, Zheng Shancheng would keep watch for the first half of the night, while Lin Ge’er and Zheng Qingyin took the second half.

Although the coachman was said to be an honest man from the town, Zheng Shancheng and Lin Ge’er remained cautious.

Zheng Qingyin, being timid, was paired with Lin Ge’er to keep watch during the second half of the night, and they would catch up on sleep in the carriage the next morning.

They had already finished the pancakes and jerky prepared by Zheng Fulang for the journey. Whenever they reached a town, they would buy more pancakes and jerky to prepare for days spent in the wilderness.

Zheng Qingyin felt a bit cold from the wind but still lifted the curtain slightly to peek outside, squinting happily at the scenery.

“Qingyin, stop looking outside, it’s so cold,” Lin Ge’er shivered.

Zheng Qingyin responded and pulled the curtain back down. This trip had cost them quite a bit of silver, and Lin Ge’er’s heart ached. Visiting relatives was indeed expensive.

However, when Lin Ge’er thought about Zheng Shanci being the County Magistrate, he felt it was worth it.