TATSD Chapter 115

Sun Hong was a little drunk, propping his chin as he gazed at Liu Yimian by the window.

Ji Wei walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, standing side by side as they looked out at the dazzling fireworks, like a pair of lovers.

He had people around him but lacked someone truly close to him, and he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy.

The fireworks were being set off in the back courtyard of Fuxing Lou, which was very close to the street. They had been going on for a while, and their grand display had attracted quite a few passersby, all gathered in front of Fuxing Lou, making it feel like a New Year’s celebration.

Even after the fireworks faded, the smell of gunpowder lingered in the air.

Sun Hong stood up. “I’ve got things to do, so I’ll head out first. We’ll get together again another day.” He cupped his fists at both of them and, without waiting for Ji Wei to stop him, pushed open the door and left.

Ji Wei followed a couple of steps, but by the time he reached the door, Sun Hong had already taken three steps at a time down the stairs and was quickly walking away from Fuxing Lou.

“The fireworks were really beautiful,” Liu Yimian said, squinting his slightly dazed eyes. He tilted his head to look at a person a few steps away. He licked his lips, poured a bowl of wine, and handed it to Ji Wei before he could turn around.

“What’s this?” Liu Yimian’s cheeks were flushed, looking tipsy, and the wine in his hand wobbled as if he couldn’t hold the bowl properly. Ji Wei reached out and gently held his hand, signaling him with his eyes.

“Ji Ge gave me a firework display, and I’m giving you a bowl of wine,” Liu Yimian said with a teasing smile, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Ji Wei, who, even though not drunk, felt a bit tipsy. Liu Yimian must have guessed that the fireworks were from him, and it didn’t seem like a wasted effort, as he had arranged them earlier.

Ji Wei took Liu Yimian’s hand and brought the wine to his lips, tipping the bowl back and drinking it all in one go.

“A toast to Ji Ge,” Liu Yimian said, pouring another bowl for himself and drinking it down. He flipped the empty bowl over to show Ji Wei. “All gone.”

“You’re drunk,” Ji Wei chuckled, pulling apart Liu Yimian’s soft fingers, prying the tightly gripped wine bowl out of his hand and tossing it aside. “No more for you, you little drunk.”

“Drunken cat, drunken cat, happy drunken cat won’t cry…” Liu Yimian’s steps were unsteady as he hummed a random tune, swaying as he walked forward. Before he had taken two steps, he was already leaning forward, about to fall.

But he wasn’t afraid, knowing someone would catch him.

Ji Wei sighed helplessly and opened his arms, catching the drunken cat tightly.

“Be careful of the ground, you might trip—” He started to warn him, but then stopped abruptly, his gaze frozen in surprise as he looked down at the boy’s soft, tousled hair and felt the sudden warmth of a soft kiss at the corner of his mouth.

Ji Wei froze, uncertain of what to do.

Liu Yimian, still unaware of his actions, continued playing and having fun.

Not seeing a response from Ji Wei, he pouted and planted another kiss on his chin, laughing and tightening his arms around Ji Wei’s neck.

Liu Yimian was very drunk and didn’t know what was going on around him. He was still acting mischievously, but Ji Wei firmly held his head and restrained him in his embrace.

Ji Wei stiffened, thinking the little troublemaker would finally quiet down. But then Liu Yimian moved his small head, burying it in his neck to lick him, complaining, “Salty.”

His tone sounded almost dissatisfied as if blaming Ji Wei for not being sweet.

The touch was fleeting but soft, sending a tingling sensation down Ji Wei’s neck and spreading through his limbs. Unable to resist, Ji Wei tightened his hold on Liu Yimian’s shoulder, his grip tightening enough to make Liu Yimian let out a soft moan.

With the person he loved in his arms, Ji Wei couldn’t remain indifferent. He was neither a saint nor an indifferent person.

Liu Yimian lifted his head from Ji Wei’s embrace, his eyes barely open and hazy, before Ji Wei grabbed his chin and kissed him fiercely.

At first, the kiss was rough and intense, causing a sharp ache at the base of Liu Yimian’s tongue. He squinted his eyes, letting out a sound somewhere between a sob and a gasp, clutching Ji Wei more tightly around the waist as Ji Wei’s kiss softened.

Liu Yimian was thoroughly dizzy from the kiss, his face flushed, his limbs weak. He could barely stand, but somehow his body continued to slide down Ji Wei’s chest.

At that moment, Ji Wei realized something was wrong. He awkwardly helped Liu Yimian to the side and walked to the window for some fresh air.

The autumn breeze was cool, and it eased the burning heat in Ji Wei’s body by a large degree.

Liu Yimian was extremely drunk, and it was not the best place to stay. Ji Wei took a deep breath and reached for Liu Yimian’s arm. Liu Yimian, thinking it was part of the fun, playfully raised his hand to avoid Ji Wei’s grasp.

Ji Wei, helpless, grabbed both his hands, looped them around his neck, and bent down to carry him on his back, heading downstairs.

The payment had already been made, and Liu Yimian was a special guest.

The waiter, not daring to be disrespectful, came over to assist but, upon seeing Ji Wei’s resigned expression and the flushed, drunken boy on his back, laughing quietly to himself, stepped aside and refrained from interrupting.

As Ji Wei walked down the street, his pace quickened.

He couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly, feeling both anxious and irritated. Who would have thought that the usually well-behaved and obedient boy would act so wild and attention-grabbing when drunk?

It was just carrying him on his back, but Liu Yimian’s small hands couldn’t stop exploring. That alone would have been fine, but this drunken habit of kissing was driving Ji Wei crazy.

Back at Fuxing Lou, it had just been the two of them, and Ji Wei had already been flustered. Now, walking through the busy streets of Yong’an, with Liu Yimian clinging to his neck and kissing his cheek, Ji Wei didn’t know how many curious eyes were on them.

Even someone as thick-skinned as Ji Wei couldn’t handle it, his heart racing, unable to suppress a long sigh.

Thankfully, Fuxing Lou wasn’t far from the academy. Once they entered the school, the street was quieter, and Ji Wei walked even faster, running into the building with Liu Yimian on his back. With a swift motion, he closed the door behind them, gently placing the drunk boy on the bed.

Just as he was about to pull the blanket over him, Liu Yimian suddenly tightened his arms around his neck.

“Yimian, let go.” Ji Wei gritted his teeth, his forehead tensing as his patience thinned. He wasn’t a saint, but he wasn’t a beast either. He would never take advantage of a situation like this.

“Ji Ge?” Liu Yimian snuggled closer, rubbing his cheek against Ji Wei’s chest, his voice soft. “I won’t let go, I just won’t.”

“Do you know what you’re doing?” Ji Wei’s voice sounded strange in the dark.

But drunk as he was, Liu Yimian knew exactly who this person was — Ji Ge. He tightened his hold even more, not letting go.

Ji Wei gritted his teeth and growled, “Let go, or you’ll regret it!”

Liu Yimian didn’t answer. Instead, he tightened his arms further and wrapped his legs around Ji Wei.

“Yimian!”

Liu Yimian leaned close to Ji Wei’s ear and whispered, “Earlier, I made a wish to become your wife. I wonder if that wish has any chance of coming true?”

Ji Wei’s thoughts snapped, and he felt as if that one sentence had unraveled him. He thought to himself that this boy was truly sent by heaven to claim him—how else could he read every part of him so thoroughly, every gesture and word so perfectly matching his desires?

How much longer could he bear it? If he endured any longer, he wouldn’t be human! He couldn’t hold back anymore!

Ji Wei let out a low breath and pushed his thoughts down.

After all, he wasn’t drunk. He still had some restraint, knowing this was the school dormitory. When he entered, he extended his hand to the boy’s mouth for him to bite down on. It hurt, but in a way, it was a pain mixed with pleasure. Later, when Liu Yimian couldn’t take it anymore and cried, Ji Wei’s heart shattered, and he hurriedly stopped, getting up to fetch water to wipe him down.

In the early hours, after drinking and tiring himself out, Liu Yimian fell asleep quickly. Ji Wei wiped him clean, lying beside him, propping himself up with one arm, and watching his ‘wife’ in the moonlight.

Though the night was dark, the more he looked, the more he liked it.

After a while, he suddenly remembered something. He turned and climbed out of bed, rummaging through his package, and pulled out a small item, fastening it onto Liu Yimian’s wrist.

The movement was a bit too much, and in his sleep, Liu Yimian whimpered, instinctively murmuring that he didn’t want it.

Ji Wei froze for a moment, then let out a silent laugh.

He had lived thirty-one years in his past life, dying as a bachelor. Never had he imagined that heaven would bless him with a wife in this life—someone so obedient and soft, truly his heart and soul.

He laughed for half the night, and when dawn began to break, he finally felt a bit tired, yawning and closing his eyes to sleep.

In his dream, Liu Yimian was angry with him for his drunken actions and refused to speak to him.

Ji Wei, feeling anxious, reached out, trapping him in his arms, and lowered his head to kiss him.

However, the soft, fragrant sensation he expected never came. Instead, he felt a sharp pain on his nose and lips. He groggily opened his eyes and quickly sat up.

“Good morning, Yimian,” Liu Yimian, dressed in a white undergarment with the collar slightly open, revealing a sliver of his collarbone. There was a red mark on the skin, which looked even more alluring against the pale backdrop.

He was lying next to Ji Wei, staring at him intently, lips pressed tightly together, holding the pillow in his hands but not speaking.

Ji Wei felt a jolt of nervousness and swallowed, “Would you like some water? I’ll get you a cup.” He reached to get out of bed, but before he could move past Liu Yimian, he felt the corner of his clothes being grasped.

He turned back to look at him and saw Liu Yimian holding up his slender wrist. The jade bracelet, deep green and white as snow, shimmered: “What’s this?”

“This is the bracelet my mother left for me when she passed. She said, when I had a wife, I should give it to her. It’s for daughters-in-law, not for daughters. Now that you’re my wife, this bracelet is yours,” Ji Wei said, holding his wrist and pressing it gently against his own heart. “Don’t you want it?”

He thought Liu Yimian was still angry with him for acting out while drunk. His heart fluttered with uncertainty, but then he heard a low, restrained cry. He looked down at the boy, who had been trying to hold it together, but now had red eyes, tears brimming, and was shaking his head.

“I’m just… I’m just too happy, Ji Ge. I’m so happy!” Liu Yimian cried, laughing and throwing himself into Ji Wei’s arms, clinging to his waist, wiping his tears recklessly on his shirt.

He had waited for this moment, hoping to become Ji Wei’s wife. His wish had come true, spoken aloud by Ji Wei himself. What better gift could there be?

“Foolish Yimian, this is a joyous occasion. Why are you crying?” Ji Wei stroked Liu Yimian’s silky hair, pulling him close to comfort him. “When the New Year comes, the academy will be on break, and I’ll bring you into my home. Double happiness, how does that sound?”

Liu Yimian, his eyes still full of tears, smiled brightly. “Yes!”

When their emotions had calmed down, Ji Wei let go and picked up the outer garment he had discarded the day before, draping it over Liu Yimian. “It’s already autumn, you mustn’t catch a cold.”

Just as Ji Wei was about to dress himself, Liu Yimian grabbed him, looking at him with a hesitant expression. He didn’t speak, but his eyes seemed to be asking something, making Ji Wei smile. He reached out and flicked his cheek. “We are one now, so why the hesitation? Is there anything you can’t tell your husband?”

Though Ji Wei called himself her husband, Liu Yimian still blushed and lowered his head, stammering, “Wenxuan said there will be a county exam in the spring. I… I want to try.”

“Such a good opportunity, why hesitate?”

“But I’m not prepared enough, I haven’t learned well. If I fail the exam, people will just laugh at me.” Liu Yimian had already been mocked in the academy. Now, after only a few months, he was daring to enter the county exam. People would surely say he was overestimating himself.

His face turned pale at the thought, and his fingers twisted anxiously.

Ji Wei understood and smiled gently, sitting on the bed and lifting Liu Yimian’s chin. “Every year, hundreds of students take the county exam. But only a few, maybe twenty, actually pass. If they laugh at you, do you think they’re all bound to pass the exam? If they don’t, wouldn’t that be even more laughable?”

His words cleared away Liu Yimian’s doubts. He tightly grasped Ji Wei’s hand and nodded firmly. “I understand. I’ll work hard!”

“Good. If you have questions, ask Scholar Zhang. He’s more experienced with the county exams.”

“But he’s still in Changliu Town…”

“We can send a letter. I believe your handwriting has already improved,” Ji Wei said, gently hugging Liu Yimian’s slim waist and patting it lightly.

Liu Yimian, his mind still occupied with scattered thoughts from last night, flushed deeply. He quickly pushed himself away from Ji Wei, jumped out of bed, and hurriedly went to wash up.