Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 70

He was being slowly kissed.

 

The other person was using their lips to wipe away his tears.

 

This was Wu Jing’s first thought when he came to his senses.

 

The wooden ruler had been put away at some point, and Wu Jing, without realizing when, had completely sunk down, becoming soft in Ning Qinghong’s arms, soaking him through.

 

Wu Jing cried without awareness, occasionally shivering. The soft lips brushing his eyes were as gentle as feathers, soothing him quietly.

 

For a long, long time.

 

Wu Jing sobbed uncontrollably, “It hurts, it hurts—You’re bullying me again, you promised…”

 

How could this happen?

 

It was too much.

 

The boy gasped for breath.

 

Ning Qinghong spoke softly, “Does it really hurt?” He asked, his lips still touching the corner of Wu Jing’s eye, catching a tear as he spoke.

 

Wu Jing saw Ning Qinghong’s throat moving slightly, as if swallowing. They were so close that he belatedly noticed Ning Qinghong’s breath seemed slightly unsteady.

 

Ning Qinghong’s palm held the boy’s leg, not touching the back, but his fingers were dripping with water. His eyes remained unmoving, as if handling a clean object.

 

“Brother has asked you before; this is what Wu Wu agreed to. Since you agreed, it cannot be undone. It has to be done.” He spoke softly, “Once today is over, the previous words Wu Wu said will no longer count.”

 

Wu Jing shook his head, still in pain, but with each movement, the aftereffects surged, a sensation he had never experienced before.

 

But it was too embarrassing.

 

At his age, it was the first time he had been struck there—not just there, but all those places were hit precisely.

 

And again… on Ning Qinghong.

 

It was too humiliating.

 

Even though it hurt, why did it end up like this? Wu Jing couldn’t understand. Last time was different from this time. He had only been struck a few times with the ruler, yet it had led to… this.

 

He felt increasingly devastated, wishing he could hide away, crying until the world was dark.

 

He felt he would never be able to face anyone again,

 

and could no longer face Ning Qinghong.

 

Wu Jing kept his eyes tightly closed, too ashamed to move, only crying as he felt Ning Qinghong’s lips gently brushing his face, wiping his tears. Another fingertip gently wiped his other eye.

 

It was the same as last time,

 

and the same this time.

 

He wouldn’t be deceived. They had agreed. How could he be tricked into accepting this again? How could this happen?

 

After bullying him, Ning Qinghong came to comfort him.

 

Wu Jing sniffled, tears streaming, still not opening his eyes. He could feel Ning Qinghong rubbing his nose, touching his lip corner but not going further.

 

“Stop crying, okay?”

 

“We’ll apply medicine later; it will be better by tomorrow.”

 

Ning Qinghong spoke gently.

 

Wu Jing heard the soothing words, but Ning Qinghong’s hands remained still, only holding his waist and supporting his legs without touching other places.

 

There were no kisses, just touches on other areas.

 

As if there was no ulterior motive, only pure comfort.

 

Yet Wu Jing could feel the hardness of the seat he was on.

 

He couldn’t understand why.

 

Ning Qinghong had left him to think, but after so many days, he still couldn’t understand.

 

He wasn’t as smart as Ning Qinghong.

 

He really couldn’t figure it out.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed lightly, “Don’t cry.” He comforted, “Is Wu Wu thirsty?”

 

His words were interrupted.

 

Wu Jing reached down, barely touching, when Ning Qinghong grabbed his wrist. Ning Qinghong frowned, “Wu Wu, don’t touch.”

 

Wu Jing’s tears fell again, crying even harder, “Why don’t you, don’t move?”

 

Ning Qinghong paused, almost smiling, and said softly, “Why do you think?”

 

Wu Jing choked, shaking his head, “I don’t know.” He repeated, “I don’t know.”

 

He couldn’t understand why, how Ning Qinghong could act as if nothing had happened. It was making him feel extremely wronged.

 

Ning Qinghong seemed to smile, “Because brother doesn’t want Wu Wu to end up with no tears left to shed.” He gently reassured, “So Wu Wu better not touch.”

 

Just as he finished speaking, Wu Jing’s question came again.

 

“I don’t understand, I don’t get it.”

 

“I just want to ask—”

 

“Do you like me or not?” Wu Jing asked tremulously, opening his eyes slightly, his vision blurry from crying and his speech somewhat stuttering.

 

It was full of meaning that showed abandonment and self-desperation.

 

Since things had already gone this far, he might as well take the risk and ask.

 

Ning Qinghong paused, looking at him.

 

Wu Jing asked again, “Do you like me… or not?” His thoughts were in turmoil, with suppressed anger. He turned his face away from Ning Qinghong’s kiss, wiping his tears with his own hand, “You can only kiss and hug me if you like me.”

 

“Otherwise, don’t do this.”

 

After a long while, Ning Qinghong sighed softly, “Is that how Wu Wu thinks?”

 

Wu Jing instinctively nodded, not looking at him, only sobbing, “Don’t say anything else or try to deceive me again.”

 

“Just answer this question.”

 

“Do you like or dislike me?”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled after a while and asked, “Does Wu Wu mean the kind of like you’re asking about?” He gave Wu Jing a moment to react, looking at him with a half-smile, “Has Wu Wu thought it through?”

 

Wu Jing breathed heavily, thinking for a moment, unsure how to put it into words.

 

It was so confusing, really too chaotic.

 

His heart was tangled like a mess of threads.

 

Ning Qinghong asked lightly, “Is it from the past or the present?”

 

Why was there a distinction in time?

 

Wu Jing was momentarily confused, then absently denied, “It’s… it’s just liking.”

 

He heard a sound by his ear that was both a gentle sigh and a laugh,

 

and finally heard Ning Qinghong’s response.

 

Ning Qinghong said softly, “It wasn’t this kind of liking before.” After finishing, he laughed again, “Alright, brother is done talking.”

 

He leaned down to pick up Wu Jing’s discarded outer robe from the floor and said soothingly, “Wu Wu? Lift your legs, and after I clean you up, I’ll take you to wash thoroughly.”

 

Wu Jing couldn’t take in any of this. Ning Qinghong had finished speaking, but he still couldn’t understand, remaining as confused as before.

 

He was even more confused now.

 

Wu Jing could only follow Ning Qinghong’s movements, blankly watching him carefully clean him, and turned away, unable to accept the sight.

 

He shivered lightly, feeling weak and exposed.

 

Ning Qinghong laughed, “Brother isn’t disgusted, so why is Wu Wu still so ashamed?”

 

Wu Jing pressed his lips together, “It’s just embarrassing.”

 

Ning Qinghong picked him up, tossing the robe onto the floor, “It’s not embarrassing.” He said, “Once today is over, it doesn’t matter how many mistakes Wu Wu has made; just don’t be lazy.”

 

Wu Jing turned his face away and murmured in agreement.

 

Ning Qinghong grabbed another outer robe from the screen, changed his position, and wrapped Wu Jing up, carrying him out. “There’s no one outside to attend to, so don’t worry.”

 

Wu Jing buried himself in his shoulder, giving a low “mm” in response.

 

He sulked, preparing for a cold war.

 

Ning Qinghong carried him to the bathhouse, cleaned him up, and Wu Jing learned to put on a snow coat and then go into the warm chamber. Once the intricately carved wooden door was shut, he curled up under the blankets on the small couch.

 

Facing the door, he covered himself completely with the blankets, exposing only his face, burying himself in a fit of sulking, gradually covering his entire face, crying eyes hidden under the blanket, taking slow, deep breaths.

 

Because his nose was blocked.

 

After a while, he couldn’t wait any longer. He glanced back at the closed wooden door, listening to the sound of water outside, stared blankly for a while, and then turned back into the blankets.

 

He was so stuffy he could barely breathe and didn’t want to come out.

 

Wu Jing was thinking about Ning Qinghong’s words.

 

He didn’t understand how liking could be divided into specific types, nor how liking could be distinguished by year, month, and day.

 

What did it mean by “it wasn’t this kind of liking before”? What kind was it before, and what kind was it now? He couldn’t figure it out.

 

The blankets were very warm, and Wu Jing felt sleepy, but even though he was tired, he couldn’t fall asleep, as if something he needed to hold onto was missing.

 

After a long while, half-asleep, Wu Jing wondered why Ning Qinghong hadn’t come back yet. He still wanted to sulk but couldn’t hold on much longer.

 

…So tired.

 

“Creak—”

 

The door opened.

 

Wu Jing strained to stay awake, hearing Ning Qinghong’s gentle voice, “Wu Wu?”

 

The boy under the blankets remained still. Soon, he felt someone lifting him along with the blankets and carrying him outside.

 

Ning Qinghong said, “Sleep.”

 

The familiar scent and soothing tone from behind made Wu Jing instinctively feel reassured and fall asleep with his eyes closed.

 

After a long time, half-awake and half-asleep, he vaguely felt a sigh by his ear, which lasted a while, and then felt a slow kiss on his cheek.

 

Then, it gently withdrew,

 

and continued to hold him as he walked.