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Xing Qi hesitated over whether to step inside.

Jing Heguang, growing impatient from the wait, could no longer keep up the charade.

Tossing aside the book he had been pretending to read, Jing Heguang looked toward Xing Qi, who was peeking in from the doorway.

“Not coming in yet? The sun is about to set.”

Xing Qi glanced back, only the last vestiges of daylight remained.

In his mind, he once again labeled Jing Heguang as ‘petty’, cementing the man’s reputation as a miser.

As he walked into the room, Xing Qi said, “I just went for a stroll. I didn’t want someone following me the whole time.”

Jing Heguang raised an eyebrow, his voice turning cool. “You should have taken me along. I only feel at ease when I have you with me.”

Xing Qi had been on the verge of asking, “What is there to worry about?”

After all, his martial arts skills were not inferior to those of his colleagues, in fact, he was even stronger.

But suddenly, he caught a different undertone: Jing Heguang’s awkward fussiness…was it actually concern for him?

So, it turned out Jing Heguang’s pettiness was born of ‘love’.

Swallowing his original retort, Xing Qi said instead, “I’ll take you next time, then.”

Just the two of them, leaving behind the guards and the hidden sentinels to go out and enjoy themselves.

A true world for just the two of them?!

Jing Heguang was deeply tempted.

And the way Xing Qi agreed to whatever he said, he was truly so well-behaved.

Yet, for the sake of the long run, he still had to ask Xing Qi to endure a little hardship today.

Jing Heguang glared, his heart aching, and exclaimed, “You actually want there to be a next time?!”

Xing Qi knew he was worried, so he soothed the man, saying, “I don’t, I don’t.” He added in a low, explanatory voice, “You were the one who said you wanted to come along, I was just listening to you.”

Jing Heguang seized the moment, his tone softening: “It’s a deal then. You listen to me.”

Xing Qi felt the words sounded familiar, but wanting to placate the prickly Jing Heguang, he simply smiled and nodded. “Mm.”

He thought to himself: Jing Heguang isn’t the type to make unreasonable demands anyway, listening to him is fine.

They had a light meal that evening.

Afterward, they took a stroll and chatted like an old married couple before bathing and heading to bed.

Xing Qi bathed first, followed immediately by Jing Heguang.

However, after bathing, Jing Heguang didn’t climb into the bed, instead, he sat on the edge.

Xing Qi looked at him curiously. “What is it? Aren’t you coming to bed?”

Jing Heguang pursed his lips and slowly leaned over, partially pressing his body against Xing Qi’s with an inscrutable expression. “You said it yourself, you listen to me.”

Xing Qi finally remembered why the phrase sounded so familiar!

On their wedding night, Jing Heguang had wrapped his arms around Xing Qi’s waist and held him close, acting with such bold confidence precisely because of that very phrase: “Listen to me.”

What did Jing Heguang intend to do, pressing down on him like this?

Xing Qi met Jing Heguang’s gaze, then lowered his eyes, his hand secretly tugging the quilt upward.

Jing Heguang found this amusing. He deliberately pulled the quilt back down, projecting an air of dominance.

The implication was clear.

Jing Heguang wanted to do the very thing that required pulling the quilt down…

Xing Qi felt a sense of inevitability.

When two people are together, how could they not share in the joys of intimacy? It was only because Jing Heguang exercised restraint and Xing Qi kept shying away that things had dragged on day after day.

But today, was there any need to hide anymore?

Xing Qi lifted his gaze to look at Jing Heguang’s handsome face.

He recalled the urgency he had felt upon his return. That eagerness stemmed from his promise, but also from the fact that he had been longing to come back. He simply hadn’t wanted to leave.

He also thought of everything he had discovered over the past month. First, the changes in Jing Heguang, subtle differences in conduct, personality, and temper that distinguished him from ‘that other person’ despite his attempts at concealment. Second, the affection Jing Heguang openly displayed, a honey-coated web, strand by strand, wrapping itself tightly around him and his sweet tooth.

This was a brand-new Jing Heguang, one who loved him.

So…what was there to be afraid of?

Xing Qi met Jing Heguang’s gaze, allowing the young man to clasp his hand firmly and interlace their fingers, while also letting the other hand explore his body with gentle, deliberate touches.

Jing Heguang gradually picked up the pace, starting by holding the hand Xing Qi had resting outside the covers.

Then, his other hand swept the quilt aside, tossing it away.

He leaned down, beginning his kisses at Xing Qi’s lips.

Filled with joy and with Xing Qi’s silent consent, he advanced inch by inch.

A smile played unconsciously on his lips, radiant with delight, as if the stars from the night sky had found their way into his eyes.

At some point, the hand that had been interlaced with Xing Qi’s let go, moving instead to toss aside their clothing.

That small movement snapped Xing Qi back to reality, and he found himself gazing into the sheer joy filling Jing Heguang’s eyes.

He tilted his head back to plant a kiss on Jing Heguang’s cheek. Then, struck by a playful impulse, he pushed Jing Heguang away, bracing his hands against the other man’s well-muscled chest.

Jing Heguang would never know just how many mental hurdles Xing Qi had to overcome before finally deciding to stay by his side.

Well then…let’s make sure Jing Heguang’s memory of tonight is truly unforgettable.

Jing Heguang was left dazed as he was pushed toward the inner side of the bed.

Surely not? Surely not? His trousers were already off, his sweet, obedient little shadow guard wouldn’t be ‘that’ heartless, would he?!

He was about to burst from unfulfilled desire.

Jing Heguang ground his teeth in frustration, yet he made no further move.

He wanted it, certainly, but he respected his partner’s wishes.

But before the moment could cool, Xing Qi smiled and leaned down onto Jing Heguang’s chest, initiating a kiss in return.

Hearing that laugh, Jing Heguang realized instantly that he’d been teased.

Jing Heguang thought indignantly: Just you wait — don’t go crying later!

***

The sheets were soaked, and the pillows were wet too.

Jing Heguang carried Xing Qi off to bathe. By the time they returned, the servants had already tidied up the bed.

As soon as he was laid down, Xing Qi turned his head away. His desire to ignore Jing Heguang was obvious.

Jing Heguang leaned down and kissed his cheek. “What is it? Angry? Shall I call you by that name a couple of times?”

“Husband(Xianggong)? Little Husband Xing Qi?”

Xing Qi’s eyes were still rimmed with a faint, flushed red, and at those words, the blush spread all the way down his neck.

Hearing Jing Heguang keep calling him ‘husband’, Xing Qi turned back and snapped, “Sleep. Let’s just sleep!” There were people outside, he still wanted to save face.

No sooner had the words left his lips than Jing Heguang stole another quick kiss from his mouth.

Having stolen that kiss, Jing Heguang was in high spirits. “Alright, alright, whatever you say.”

Xing Qi glared at him indignantly.

Why hadn’t he listened earlier?

A man’s mouth is full of lies, Jing Heguang was no exception. He knew exactly how to say the things one wanted to hear.

Yet people are, by and large, simple creatures, sweet words bring happiness. Thinking of how Jing Heguang had called him ‘husband’, Xing Qi let go of his annoyance regarding Jing Heguang’s excessive behavior in bed.

Jing Heguang soothed him, then climbed into the bed and lay down on the inner side.

Lying down, Jing Heguang turned on his side to embrace Xing Qi, his fingers brushing against the jade pendant at Xing Qi’s neck.

Jing Heguang asked, “What did you get up to when you slipped out on your own today? Was it fun?”

“Nothing much. I just wandered around aimlessly.” Feeling the pendant sway, Xing Qi felt a twinge of guilt.

Then, recalling the promise he had made to his grandfather before returning, that he would visit him again tomorrow, Xing Qi suddenly felt a headache coming on. He was feeling unwell, he likely wouldn’t be able to leave the house tomorrow.

Xing Qi’s brows furrowed slightly.

Jing Heguang’s mind wasn’t really on the question he had just asked, after that brief preamble, he continued, “That jade pendant of yours is impressive, the material is superb, and the carving displays the kind of mastery only a true artisan possesses!”

Seeing that Jing Heguang had noticed the pendant, Xing Qi grew nervous.

In his past life, that person had first spotted the jade pendant and thereby discovered his true lineage.

Now that the person inhabiting Jing Heguang’s body had changed, what if the existence of the Qin family came to light again…?

Once bitten, twice shy.

Xing Qi clutched the jade pendant and deliberately glossed over it: “It’s just a trinket I’ve worn since childhood, something to keep as a memento. What haven’t I seen? I once heard of a massive piece of red coral, the kind not even the imperial palace possessed.”

“That red coral? I sent it to the Empress to admire,” Jing Heguang said. “It wouldn’t have been appropriate to keep something commissioned by imperial decree.”

Possessing a treasure that even the palace lacked, and having everyone know about it, was simply asking for trouble.

Jing Heguang, driven by a strong instinct for self-preservation, had long since gotten rid of that potential source of disaster.

Jing Heguang continued to focus on the jade pendant: “Doesn’t this pendant have the character ‘Xing’ carved on it? I actually recall hearing about a pendant like that.”

Having already committed to this path, and no longer fearing that his future father-in-law might tear them apart, Jing Heguang prepared to share the good news about Xing Qi’s family.

Xing Qi, however, felt a surge of panic.

He took a breath and nodded. “Yes, there is a character on it,” he said, without specifying which one.

Jing Heguang continued, “You know the Qin family, right? The prominent Qin clan? I heard they lost a child. That child had a jade pendant, also carved with the character ‘Xing’, and his childhood nickname was ‘Xingguan’.”

A fine layer of sweat broke out on Xing Qi’s palms as he listened.

Jing Heguang’s hand moved toward the left side of Xing Qi’s chest. “Oh, right! Apparently, that child also had a red mole on the left side of his chest. What a coincidence!”

Xing Qi reached out and grasped Jing Heguang’s hand. “R-really?” he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Jing Heguang felt the dampness on his palm and exclaimed in alarm, “Why are your palms sweating so much?”

He sat up and began feeling around other parts of Xing Qi’s body. “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

His large hands roamed over Xing Qi’s body. The hurried, flustered movements betrayed his deep worry and concern.

Xing Qi let out a breath and said, “I’m fine, it was just what you said that made me nervous.”

At first, he had been too startled to think clearly, but seeing Jing Heguang’s panic actually helped him realize something: in his past life, the other person had known about the jade pendant but never mentioned it. It wasn’t until his family found him later that he learned he still had living relatives.

If Jing Heguang harbored similar intentions, why would he even mention the Qin family’s jade pendant to him? That would be foolish.

Xing Qi urged him, “I’m really fine. It’s chilly tonight, hurry back and lie down.”

Jing Heguang tucked the quilt around him before lying down himself.

“You gave me quite a scare.”

Holding Xing Qi’s sweaty hand, Jing Heguang wiped his palm with a cloth and said, “You don’t need to be nervous. Later, I’ll take the jade pendant to show Lord Qin. If it really is a match, well, the Qin family hasn’t had any children for years, so your family will surely cherish you!”

“And if it’s not a match, that’s fine too. You’re still my husband, right?” Jing Heguang teased him again with the word ‘husband’.

Hearing all this, Xing Qi felt a warm glow in his heart.

He thought to himself that Jing Heguang really might be a simpleton.

If he truly were the Qin family’s sole heir, and the two of them were already married, his family might well have given him a hard time. Even setting aside the idea of ​​exploitation, one certainly wouldn’t be so eager to reveal it. Putting on airs would have been the way to maximize one’s interests.

But Jing Heguang? He was likely thinking only of Xing Qi’s happiness.

Xing Qi reached out to wrap his arms around Jing Heguang’s waist, burying his face against the other’s chest. “Don’t call me that out there. People will laugh at you.”

Then, looking up, Xing Qi admitted, “You ‘are’ my husband(xianggong).”

Jing Heguang shifted to a more upright reclining position and leaned down to kiss the tip of Xing Qi’s nose. “Reassured now?”

“Mm.” Xing Qi nodded.

Jing Heguang smiled and said, “Then let’s get some sleep. I’m going to meet that person tomorrow.”

He loosened his embrace and lay back down, ready to sleep.

But then, a warm breath brushed against his ear, “I’m reassured, husband.”

Author’s Note: Heguang — Someone lights a fire but refuses to take responsibility.