Well, Turned the Tables

The rain gradually stopped, and the orange afterglow peeked through as Su Ran emerged from Zhou Mingyu’s courtyard. He looked up at the sky, a swath of orange halo cast upon his face, making him look almost unreal in its beauty.

Touching the spot over his heart, Su Ran felt his heartbeat finally calming down. His emotions were mixed, his thoughts a mess. He headed towards his own courtyard where two maids were busy clearing the flowers and plants battered by the rain, while the door was already open.

Taking a deep breath, Su Ran strode into the room with a forceful air, and was immediately met with the sight of Zhou Yuanzhe leisurely sipping tea in a chair. This scene stung Su Ran’s eyes, and he demanded angrily, “Why didn’t you let me in the house!”

Zhou Yuanzhe took a slow sip of tea before responding, “Does a newly entered young wife have the liberty to leave the house without greeting anyone?”

Hearing this, Su Ran was fuming, “But didn’t you say you don’t regard me as your wife…”

Before Su Ran could continue, Zhou Yuanzhe suddenly lost his temper, throwing his teacup to the ground where it shattered near Su Ran’s feet. Ceramic fragments exploded around him. With a shout, Su Ran dodged to the side, and when he looked back at Zhou Yuanzhe, he saw his eyes bloodshot, his pale face now tinged with a cruel menace.

“I indeed don’t consider you anything significant, but while in the Zhou residence, you must follow the Zhou family rules!” Zhou Yuanzhe chided.

Shaken, Su Ran watched as a maid entered, her face expressionless as she quietly swept the floor, as if such occurrences were normal, no trace of reaction, mirroring the lifelessness of the courtyard, suppressing any smiles.

At this point, Su Ran dared not retort any further, his eyes slightly red, head bowed, unable to say more.

Zhou Yuanzhe’s chest finally settled as he asked, “Did you go to Zhou Mingyu to take shelter from the rain just now?”

Surprised for a moment, Su Ran thought back. Zhou Mingyu had indeed come over; if he hadn’t been resting, he surely would have heard him. He responded with a simple, “Hmm.”

Zhou Yuanzhe glanced at the maid cleaning the floor, then told him, “Go out, and close the door.”

The maid complied, pulling the door closed behind her, which blocked the outside light, making the room appear even darker.

Zhou Yuanzhe then spoke ominously, “So, how is the task I gave you?”

Su Ran, head bowed, bit his lower lip, thinking of Zhao Jinshun now safely with Zhou Zekun, and the high risks involved in his own situation, he wasn’t ready to get killed.

“I just went to the Second Young Master to avoid the rain. He gave me some clothes to wear because he was worried I’d catch cold, nothing more. I don’t think there’s any hope of seducing him…” Su Ran said.

Zhou Yuanzhe sneered, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Zhao Jinshun is now attending to Zhou Zekun, you think I can’t touch him?”

A chill ran through Su Ran. Zhou Yuanzhe’s lips curved into a sinister smile, “If I wanted him dead, it would be easy.”

Su Ran was stunned, realizing Zhou Yuanzhe must have already thoroughly investigated; indeed, for a master like him, eliminating a servant would be trivial.

•

The next morning, the sky was completely clear, the sunlight crisp and not too hot. Zhou Yuanzhe sat at a stone table in the courtyard drinking tea, rarely leaving the courtyard or mingling with other family members.

Su Ran disliked sitting with him. Around the courtyard wall, some flowers and plants were growing, and he squatted there, digging the soil, entertaining himself.

After squatting for a while, his legs numb, he was about to change positions when he heard a familiar voice, “You’re here, Yuanzhe.”

Su Ran turned his head to see Zhou Zekun approaching with some food, casually greeting Zhou Yuanzhe.

Zhou Yuanzhe frowned slightly at him, replying coolly with a “Hmm.” Ever since he started using a wheelchair, he had become more reclusive, preferring solitude.

Zhou Zekun came closer, placing the food on the stone table, “I haven’t visited since I entered the house. Today a friend from Wuzhou brought me some premium Biluochun tea. I heard you like tea, so I thought I’d offer you some, don’t mind it.”

Zhou Zekun’s words were impeccable, yet Zhou Yuanzhe remained cold, “Did you come here for something?”

Zhou Zekun smiled openly, “No, no, just wanted to foster good relations with my siblings now that I’ve acknowledged my ancestors, nothing more.”

Zhou Yuanzhe saw through him but couldn’t openly snub him. It was said that his newly recognized brother was involved in shady businesses outside; it seemed the Zhou family was about to become lively.

Zhou Yuanzhe called a maid to brew the tea Zhou Zekun brought, a gesture of giving him face.

Just then, Zhou Zekun glanced at Su Ran, squatting at the wall root, clearly not digging anymore, possibly lost in thought or listening to their conversation.

“Su Ran, I brought your favorite meat pies, come and have some.” After saying this, Zhou Zekun looked at Zhou Yuanzhe, “Yuanzhe wouldn’t mind, right? I just happened to meet his sister-in-law on the road yesterday, so I took him shopping. I bought some things he liked on the street yesterday when I thought of visiting today.”

Zhou Yuanzhe waved his hand gracefully, already aware that Su Ran had gone out with them yesterday. His maid had seen Su Ran and Zhou Zekun returning together. His straightforward mention dispelled any suspicions Zhou Yuanzhe might have held.

Zhou Zekun’s rough demeanor was evident at a glance, especially the scar at the corner of his eye, but his laughter carried a sense of straightforwardness and a worldly air, “Actually, I never really considered Su Ran as a sister-in-law. I wasn’t thinking along those lines yesterday, after all, we’re all men.”

Zhou Yuanzhe glanced at him, disdain flickering in his eyes, but he replied, “I know.”

By this time, Su Ran had regained his senses, trying to stand up, but his legs were numb, taking a moment before he could get up and walk slowly to the stone table.

Zhou Yuanzhe watched him, frowning, “Can’t you even walk properly when people come over?”

Su Ran’s face flushed, he paused to ease his legs, then moved towards the stone table where Zhou Zekun darkly swept Zhou Yuanzhe a glance.

As the maid served the freshly brewed tea, the fragrance filling the air, Su Ran sat down at the stone table. Zhou Zekun opened the bag, handing him a meat pie, which also contained several other snacks Su Ran had mentioned enjoying the previous day.

Biting into the meat pie, joy written all over his face, his lips greasy, Zhou Yuanzhe’s face flashed with displeasure, disliking the improper eating etiquette displayed by those around him.

Zhou Yuanzhe voiced his disdain, “With that eating manner, someone might think I mistreat you.”

Su Ran paused mid-bite, then switched to smaller, more refined bites, his mood soured. Picking up a teacup, he took a sip and immediately burned his tongue, sticking it out in response.

Zhou Yuanzhe slammed his teacup down on the table, too irritated to look further, and as his gaze drifted away, he momentarily met a pair of sinister eyes, causing his heart to skip a beat before Zhou Zekun smiled briefly, as if the earlier moment was an illusion.

“Yuanzhe, try the tea, how is it?” Zhou Zekun said.

Zhou Yuanzhe brought the teacup to his nose, “Fragrant.”

Zhou Zekun then looked at Su Ran, secretly passing him a sugar cube under the table. Su Ran was startled, taking it and popping it into his mouth, the candy seemingly soothing the burn on his tongue.

Zhou Zekun’s eyes softened, finding Su Ran’s mannerisms, whether eating or sticking out his tongue from a burn, quite appealing.

•

As evening fell, Su Ran was still in the courtyard, waiting to go inside until it was time to sleep, with Zhou Yuanzhe inside the house. Just then, as if passing by, Zhou Mingyu stopped upon seeing Su Ran in the courtyard, his smile unrestrained, “Su Ran.”

Startled, Su Ran turned towards the entrance, spotting Zhou Mingyu, and involuntarily glanced inside the house where Zhou Yuanzhe was sitting on a wooden chair, positioned in such a way that he could see some of the courtyard.

Su Ran felt his heart might leap out of his chest, then heard Zhou Mingyu say, “Weren’t you interested in borrowing a couple of books from me yesterday? Let’s go now and pick them out.”

Zhou Mingyu took a few steps into the courtyard, noticing Zhou Yuanzhe inside, he said, “Let Su Ran come to my place for a bit. He saw some novels at my place yesterday and was curious. I’ll take him now to choose a couple.”

Zhou Yuanzhe, without looking up from his book, said, “I have so many books, yet you never seemed interested.”

Before Su Ran could respond, Zhou Mingyu explained with a laugh, “Brother, your books are too obscure and difficult to understand, only you could get through them. My books are simple and easy-to-follow stories, more engaging.”

Zhou Yuanzhe remained unresponsive, his face expressionless, and then said to Su Ran, “Go ahead.”

Su Ran then followed Zhou Mingyu, knowing that whatever the pretext, Zhou Yuanzhe would surely have let him go.

And at that moment, Zhou Yuanzhe finally looked up, watching their retreating figures, a cold laugh escaping him.

At this moment, Su Ran’s palms were sweaty, recalling last night’s scenes, his heartbeat quickening.

Zhou Mingyu held his hand and kissed it, then looked up at him with a gaze so intense it seemed to scorch, making Su Ran shyly lower his head. His mind was a mess, contemplating whether to yield to Zhou Yuanzhe’s threats, especially since he had seen Zhao Jinshun.

So, he hadn’t given Zhou Mingyu a definitive answer, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but now, he had made up his mind.

Zhou Mingyu pushed open the room door, and as Su Ran walked in, the moment the door closed, he eagerly grasped Su Ran’s hand.

“Su Ran, Ranran, have you made up your mind?” Zhou Mingyu asked.

Su Ran nodded, leaning in to kiss Zhou Mingyu’s cheek, and in that moment, Zhou Mingyu froze, his heart going soft.

Zhou Mingyu immediately embraced him, desperately kissing those lips he had longed for since that day, the touch unforgettable.

Su Ran timidly responded at times, raising his hand to unbutton his shirt, his fingers trembling. He had decided, better to act sooner than later to avoid further complications, and he couldn’t really keep up a secretive, close relationship like this.

As Zhou Mingyu released Su Ran’s lips, Su Ran breathed heavily, his cheeks flushed, his lips swollen, his eyes slightly unfocused—an ultimate expression of beauty. When Zhou Mingyu came back to his senses, he saw Su Ran had already unbuttoned his shirt, his long robe opening to reveal a slender neck and a pale chest.

Zhou Mingyu’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he hesitated, holding Su Ran’s hand, “Ranran, shall we take it slow?”

Su Ran looked at him, tilting up his pale neck, “Would you kiss me, please?”

Zhou Mingyu inhaled deeply, no longer able to restrain himself, kissing the pale skin. Su Ran knew his skin reddened easily, soon there would be a mark wherever he was kissed.

But Zhou Mingyu’s kisses made his body tremble and go limp, barely containing the overwhelming sensations, finally, when he made a sound, he felt the moment had come, and he cried out, “Help…”

Now, the marks were evidence, but before he could shout the third word, Zhou Mingyu covered his mouth. Whether he was prepared or just cautious, the next sounds were swallowed back into his throat.

Zhou Mingyu’s heavy breathing was close to his ear, saying, “Ranran, did Zhou Yuanzhe make you do this? You’re really foolish.”

With that, he continued his actions, licking his earlobe, kissing his neck.