Chapter 2

As soon as Xiao Lian entered the room and saw Feng Wuhen’s pale, bloodless face and graying hair, her eyes turned red and she was about to cry.

Feng Wuhen felt helpless. Xiao Lian always had a tendency to cry whenever she saw him. He didn’t really want to ask her to come in and serve him, but he genuinely needed her assistance.

“Stop crying. It’s such an unpleasant sight. Ying Zuo won’t like you anymore,” Feng Wuhen said with a forced smile, unable to resist stabbing her with words to shift her attention.

Xiao Lian, who was 15 and at the age when she should look her best, was upset by Feng Wuhen’s words. “Master, I’m just worried about you. Why must you suffer…”

Feng Wuhen really didn’t want to hear Xiao Lian’s nagging, which made him appear even more foolish and emphasized his pitiful state. He quickly changed the subject, “Hurry up and help me. The two are waiting for me.”

Xiao Lian pursed her lips, clearly distressed. However, she had to obey the master’s orders and began attending to Feng Wuhen.

What Feng Wuhen needed was actually Xiao Lian’s rouge.

His face was so appalling that he looked like a corpse. He didn’t want others to sympathize or look down on him, which was all a matter of pride. Xiao Lian skillfully applied cosmetic rouge to his cheeks and lips. After looking in the mirror, Feng Wuhen was quite satisfied with his now healthier appearance.

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Even though his heart was failing, he was still infatuated with Molan. This was something even the poison couldn’t change.

Shen Meeran had his back turned in Feng Wuhen’s direction. When he heard Feng Wuhen eagerly call out his name, only then did he come back to his senses from his deep thoughts, and slowly turned around —- his expression calm and indifferent.

Shen Molan was extremely handsome, with deep-set eyes and long eyelashes casting a beautiful shadow under his eyes. It was just that whenever he faintly looked at Feng Wuhen, his expression was too cold as if the two of them had never known each other.

“Young Master Feng,” Shen Molan’s tone was distant and detached.

Feng Wuhen frowned slightly, then quickly raised his lips to force a smile. “Why so polite? Molan, feel free to sit down. I’ll have someone bring tea right away.”

“No need,” Shen Molan said with neither arrogance nor humility. “Shaoqing and I have come to say our farewells. Many thanks to Master Feng for his hospitality and care over the past year.”

Chen Shaoqing didn’t like Feng Wuhen at all, feeling that he always appeared frivolous and untrustworthy. After waking up from a period of unconsciousness and learning that Feng Wuhen had saved him, he had sensed the complicated relationship between Feng Wuhen and Shen Molan. He couldn’t tell what kind of relationship the two of them had, because Meilan obviously didn’t like Feng Wuhen either.

So he kept his mouth tightly shut and remained silent

Feng Wuhen gave a soft “mm” and was a little lost in thought again.

In that brief moment, his heart felt a pang and a sharp pain. Feng Wuhen’s body was struggling with such a change in rhythm, so he gently pressed his chest to alleviate the pain.

Shen Molan didn’t like him before, and now it seems that he also even loathed him a little.

Feng Wuhen was actually aware of this.

In the past, only Shen Molan gave him a feeling of being alive, of being cared for, and taken care of. Feng Wuhen especially liked to make Shen Molan angry, because Molan had been a cold, hard, stinking stone since he was a child, and making the stinking stone appear to show other expressions gave him a mischievous sense of satisfaction.

In addition, he had always believed that Shen Molan would never get angry with him. And indeed, that was true; even when he was upset, Molan would still invite him over to play at his house with a stern face.

He had always thought that this was a kind of dependence, or some other kind of purely playful fondness. As he grew up, he gradually realized that this was not just a simple feeling, Shen Molan was forever rooted in the warmest part of his heart, and and this should be a feeling stronger than mere longing.

When he was 16, while still in the small town with Molan, he could not suppress his raging feelings for Molan. He even tried to forcefully kiss him, which made Molan show him an expression of real anger for the first time—completely different from their earlier arguments over who should play with that beautiful young lady.

Mo Lan’s face was full of disgust and revulsion. “Feng Wuhen, I don’t like men. If you have such nasty thoughts about me, please stay away from me.”

Feng Wuhen, however, was so unconcerned that he didn’t even take in his expression — though now he thought about it, he realized Molan truly hated him. “Maybe if I treat Molan better, you’ll like me?”

Molan felt that communication was impossible and repeatedly said, “Stay away from me, it’s disgusting.”

Feng Wuhen still held onto the hope that things might improve and prepared to court Mo Lan properly. However, a few days later, the Master of Feng Manor arrived to take Feng Wuhen and Mu Sanniang back.

Feng Wuhen didn’t want to leave and was forcibly knocked out and taken away. In the case of finally achieving what they’ve been dreaming of, they couldn’t hear their son’s voice at all.

Feng Wuhen didn’t know how to find Shen Molan. Coupled with Feng Manor’s strict regulations, apart from learning arithmetic, managing the family business, and preparing to take over the tea business, he couldn’t do much else.

After his parents passed away, he returned to the town to search for Molan but found that his mother had died a year ago, and Molan had long since left without a trace. Molan had never come to Feng Manor to see him. Eventually, he learned that Molan had made a name for himself in the martial world under the name “Black Swordsman.”¹Kris Xian: It’s 墨刹. Initially, I thought it means “Dark Demon” and decided to keep it in pinyin. One day, Feng Wuhen managed to find him, only to discover that Molan already had someone he liked and cared about, and it was a man.

One day, Feng Wuhen managed to find him, only to discover that Molan already had someone he liked and cared about, and it was a man.

It was the first time that he saw Molan treating another person with such warmth and affection from an outsider’s point of view. The two of them accompanied each other in Jianghu, as if they were dependent on each other, with no room for a third party to intervene. That had been his dream all along, but another person had gotten there first. Looking at Shen Molan’s expression, he was at his wits’ end. In the end, he could only leave silently.

Fate was so unfair.

Or perhaps, it was just unfair to him.

Looking at Chen Shaoqing’s delicate and exquisite face, Feng Wuhen thought as such.

Shen Molan, unwilling to see Feng Wuhen lost in thought, spoke again in a cold tone, “Master Feng, we intend to leave tonight.”

Feng Wuhen thought for a moment. His time was running short. Wang Hun Yin had been affecting him for a full eight months. According to the old texts, after nine months, it would take effect, and he would be unable to cross the River of Oblivion. That left him with only one month left…

The thought of spending that last month alone made Feng Wuhen reluctant. “Why not stay for another half a month?”

“That’s not possible!” Chen Shaoqing finally spoke. His voice was as clear and pleasant as his name. This delicate yet proud youth… Feng Wuhen couldn’t help but look at him one more time. No wonder Shen Molan cherished him so much. When they reunited, he even lowered his head and pleaded with him to save Shaoqing’s life.

Even willing to become his lover for eight months, having skin-to-skin relations — although the position in bed was completely opposite to what Feng Wuhen had initially thought. He had imagined holding Molan close and loving him well, but he didn’t expect to be fucked by Molan in turn. It was hard, and the pain was indescribable. He even felt that Molan was venting his own dissatisfaction.

Yet after it was over, Molan would help him clean up, and those moments were particularly tender— these were Feng Wuhen’s favorite times. Even though Molan still didn’t like to talk to him.

He later tried to turn things around, but Molan was always unwilling to be the one on the bottom. Considering how much it might hurt Molan, he let it be.

Now that he thought about it, it must be really painful to do it with someone you dislike. It’s ironic that Feng Wuhen thought he was trying to please Shen Molan, believing Molan also found some enjoyment in it. After all, he could still get aroused each time, but if it was all just about venting, it seemed to make sense.

Molan probably wouldn’t be so harsh with the delicate Chen Shaoqing.

Feng Wuhen thought.

He felt his reactions were getting slower and slower. He made an effort to pull himself together and smiled, “What about ten days?”

Shen Molan replied coldly, “Master Feng, don’t forget we agreed it would be after Shaoqing’s recovery.”

Yes, they had agreed it would be after Shaoqing’s recovery. Chen Shaoqing had actually been almost fully recovered and able to run and jump for nearly a month, but Feng Wuhen had been cautious and hadn’t let Shen Molan know. Unexpectedly, Shen Molan had been secretly keeping track of Chen Shaoqing’s condition and had found out.

Feng Wuhen sighed softly. He couldn’t come up with any excuses to keep them here. Thinking about how he had to put on rouge every time they met and how it would be even harder to go out next month…

“Alright,” he heard himself say.

As soon as he said it, he regretted it, “Let’s make it tomorrow morning. Tonight is a bit rushed. I’ll see you off tomorrow morning.”

Shen Molan seemed surprised that he agreed this time. After a moment, as if worried Feng Wuhen might change his mind, he said, “Then we’ll leave tomorrow morning. Shaoqing, let’s go back for now.”