Chapter Eight Qianqian

Mo Cai was the first to object, “The Yu Family Painting Contest has always awarded the top spot to the most skilled. My young master deserves it without question!”

Mu Qi retorted, “Then why doesn’t he dare to accept the challenge?”

Chang Zihao shouted, “Enough! Before sunset, let’s meet here and settle this once and for all!”

He flung his sleeves and strode off. Yu Hualiang breathed a sigh of relief. Mo Cai sidled up and asked, “Young master, why do you let him swagger like that and not put him in his place?”

Yu Hualiang was clearly uncomfortable. He whispered, “I’m about to wet myself.”

Mo Cai shuddered, looking at him with a hint of distaste.

Young master, is your mind really broken beyond repair? Should I report this to Madam and ask Doctor Wang to give you a couple of acupuncture needles?

“Hurry up,” Yu Hualiang said, and dashed off like the wind.

Ji Yuzhe was in the midst of a discussion when, turning his head, he found Yu Hualiang missing.

“Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss—” At that moment, Yu Hualiang had found a safe spot and was enjoying the relief of urination.

Downstream, Mo Cai fetched water for Yu Hualiang to drink. He took a sip and mused to himself—why does this water taste a bit odd?

He didn’t give it much thought. Yu Hualiang had asked him to stand guard while he relieved himself, and after waiting a while, Mo Cai called out toward the wild grass, “Young master, are you done yet?”

Yu Hualiang was too absorbed to respond. He noticed a beautiful woman in red standing on the wooden bridge ahead.

Her attire was thin, her face wan, raven hair flowing while her jade hand rested on the bridge, gazing quietly into the distance.

Most astonishing of all, she had the exact same face as Yu Hualiang’s girlfriend.

Yu Hualiang stared at her, lost in memories, recalling every moment with his girlfriend—could it be she had crossed over as well?

With this thought, he quickly pulled up his trousers and ran toward the bridge.

“Qianqian!” He rushed forward like a dog who hadn’t seen its master in ages.

Had Yu Hualiang not looked presentable, he would have been mistaken for a lecher and seized.

The woman on the bridge was stunned by his cry. As he lunged toward her, her face was filled with absolute confusion.

“You—don’t come any closer!” she shouted, stepping back, losing her balance and nearly falling. Yu Hualiang quickly grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

Feeling her warmth, Yu Hualiang couldn’t hold back his tears.

She was even more bewildered; it was the first time a man had violated her, yet it didn’t feel as repulsive as she’d imagined.

Especially as he wept on her shoulder, pitiful as a child. After a while, she came to her senses, pushed Yu Hualiang away, and slapped him hard!

Stunned, Yu Hualiang looked at her through tears, “Qianqian, I’m sorry! Hit me however you like!”

“Young master!”

Mo Cai called from below the bridge. As Yu Hualiang turned, the woman had already fled. He tried to chase her, but the plum blossoms in the garden hampered his way.

After circling several times, Yu Hualiang lost track of her and instead bumped straight into Ji Yuzhe, who was admiring the plum blossoms.

Ji Yuzhe smiled when he saw him, grabbing Yu Hualiang’s arm, “Ah, what a coincidence, Master Yu!”

Yu Hualiang, brows furrowed, ignored him. Seeing the tear-streaked face and the vivid handprint across his cheek, Ji Yuzhe was even more puzzled.

What on earth had Yu Hualiang experienced? Truly, he couldn’t comprehend the world of those with same-sex inclinations.

Mo Cai hurried over, water flask in hand, out of breath as he looked at Yu Hualiang, “Young master, what happened to you?”

Yu Hualiang gazed at the fiery red plum blossoms all around, feeling ever more desolate. Was it all just a dream? Otherwise, how could a living person disappear so suddenly?

He never suspected he simply ran too slowly to catch up...

Looking at the pair, he suddenly felt ashamed—crying, and now they’d seen it. He turned away and wiped his eyes, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

It was the first time Mo Cai had seen his young master cry, and this lost, broken look made him feel a strange tug in his heart.

Just as Mo Cai was thinking this, he wanted to slap himself—he must not let the young master’s mood infect him!

Ji Yuzhe, clueless, tried to ease the atmosphere. He saw the water flask in Mo Cai’s hand and said, “Come, Master Yu, have some water.”

Yu Hualiang had no mind to drink water. He replied offhand, “I’ll pass, you drink.”

Ji Yuzhe was awkward—he didn’t want to drink either! But he had to give face, so he stared at Mo Cai’s water flask, “Very well, thank you, Master Yu.”

Mo Cai worried Yu Hualiang might be upset, “Young master, I know there’s a scenic spot in this plum grove. Shall I take you to see it?”

Mo Cai might be plain in appearance, but his emotional intelligence was far above average. Yu Hualiang was touched by this offer; he had always wanted such a good brother.

Moved, Yu Hualiang hugged him tightly, “Mo Cai!”

Mo Cai’s skin crawled, and Ji Yuzhe nearly sprayed water everywhere.

Truly, he couldn’t understand the world of those who preferred their own gender!

Mo Cai stood frozen, terrified, with countless curses swirling in his mind. Could it be the young master truly liked him?

Yu Hualiang earnestly patted his shoulder, “Thank you for being here!”

“Y-young master, it’s only right for me to serve you... But young master...” Mo Cai’s face was flushed with embarrassment, evidently frightened.

Ji Yuzhe was dumbfounded. Yu Hualiang noticed the water flask in his hand and laughed, “Brother, let me have a sip.”

That “brother” made Ji Yuzhe happy. In this ancient world, to be called brother meant genuine friendship, and Ji Yuzhe wanted nothing more than to be friends with Yu Hualiang.

Li Yuzhe was from the Qionglin Painting Society, like Wang Ji, both rising talents, but their styles differed greatly. Wang Ji’s paintings were meticulous, Li’s were bold and grand.

Those who had seen his ink landscapes said his mountain and river scenes were majestic.

He had heard from Wang Ji how Yu Hualiang had helped him at the Yu Family Painting Contest, and grew to respect Yu Hualiang.

Unable to attend the Yu Family Painting Contest, he made sure to come to this Plum Blossom Gathering, just to catch a glimpse of Yu Hualiang. And so, he tolerated the rumors of Yu Hualiang’s preferences.

Seeing him today, he was delighted that Yu Hualiang regarded him as a “brother.”

The legendary Yu Hualiang was such a person; Ji Yuzhe’s fondness for him grew.

Yu Hualiang took the water and drank, but tasted something odd and immediately spat it out.

Mo Cai was concerned, “What’s wrong, young master?”

Yu Hualiang asked, “Where did you fill this water?”

Mo Cai, innocent, explained, “Just now, when you relieved yourself...”

Yu Hualiang understood at once. Ji Yuzhe naively asked, “What’s wrong, Master Yu?”

Mo Cai realized as well, and exaggeratedly said, “Young master, that was... urine...”

Yu Hualiang glanced at Ji Yuzhe and said to Mo Cai, “Hush, don’t tell him.”

Mo Cai took the flask and nodded, quietly pouring it out.

“Master Yu, I heard you became talented after your illness. What happened? I swear I won’t tell anyone!” Li Yuzhe pressed in, full of curiosity.

Yu Hualiang looked at him—he couldn’t very well say he was from another world. After some thought, he replied, “Well... that night, I had a dream of an immortal. When I woke up, I just knew how.”

Ji Yuzhe’s eyes sparkled. Yu Hualiang guessed correctly—ancient people were superstitious about things like Ma Liang’s magic brush or writers losing their touch.

“Congratulations, Master Yu! To be aided by an immortal, you’ll surely achieve great things! Meeting you is a blessing!”

Yu Hualiang smiled and waved his hand, “Brother, you flatter me. I never thought about achieving anything, just making a living.”

“In that case, for you to serve the Seventh Prince, so many envy you.”

Envy? Yu Hualiang scoffed. Speaking of the Seventh Prince gave him a headache. He had no desire to serve him, and that painting nearly made the Seventh Prince “bend.” He felt guilty.

If the Seventh Prince was truly like that, and they spent every day together... Just thinking about it gave Yu Hualiang goosebumps.

“Young master, we’re almost there!” Mo Cai pointed to stone steps hidden among the plum trees, snow half-covering the green stones, red plum petals scattered brightly in the snow.

The steps led up the mountain. Looking up, one could see a red pavilion atop the peak. Mo Cai was right, the scenery was indeed splendid.

Yu Hualiang’s eyes lit up, and he was delighted by everything. He broke off a branch of plum blossoms and admired it in his hand.

Ji Yuzhe thought it odd—what man liked to pick flowers? If another man did so, he would laugh at him for being like a girl, but Yu Hualiang gave him a different feeling.

Under the sun, Yu Hualiang lowered his brows, his lashes fanning like gold, his eyes reflecting the plum blossom more beautifully than crystal, his nose straight, lips thin as ice, his smile blossoming.

It truly made Ji Yuzhe’s heart flutter. As he was lost in admiration, Yu Hualiang looked up and said, “Brother, your shoulder.”

Ji Yuzhe turned to see a flower petal on his shoulder. Yu Hualiang kindly removed it for him.

“M-m-master Yu...” Li Yuzhe’s face flushed red, and he quickly backed two meters away.

“What’s wrong?” Yu Hualiang was puzzled. Why was he so afraid?

Li Yuzhe had always thought that same-sex preference was just a quirk; he was healthy in body and mind, and being around Yu Hualiang was simply brotherhood.

But Yu Hualiang’s recent gesture made his heart race, his cheeks burn—he’d never felt this way for a woman.

No! He needed to leave and calm down. “Uh... Master Yu, I need to relieve myself. You two go ahead, I’ll catch up.”

Yu Hualiang nodded awkwardly. Judging by his reaction, he must be desperate.

“Mo Cai... how much farther?” Yu Hualiang climbed the steps in a burst of energy, then sat down, refusing to move.

Mo Cai thoughtfully removed his cloak for Yu Hualiang to sit on. “Young master, the ground is cold.”

“No need, you’ll freeze. Put it back on.” Yu Hualiang was moved by Mo Cai yet again.

Mo Cai’s face was worried, “Young master, you’ve just recovered. Doctor Wang said you mustn’t get chilled again.”

Yu Hualiang felt warm inside. “Put it back on, I’ll just sit for a moment. We’re almost at the pavilion, and it’s colder up there.”

“Young master...” Mo Cai was tearful with gratitude. In the past, Yu Hualiang had never cared for him, a mere servant.

Of course, that was to be expected—a servant should serve the master. Mo Cai truly was grateful for Yu Hualiang’s illness.

“Hmph... So that’s why you agreed so readily last time. Turns out you’ve found someone new!”