Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 38

Although Liu Shu often frequented brothels, in reality, he was still quite naive. Kissing was something he had no experience in, but apparently, it didn’t require much experience to figure it out, and the results were somewhat unexpected.

 

Unexpected accelerated heartbeats, unexpected dizziness, unexpectedly wanting to hold each other tight.

 

Their chests pressed together, he could also feel the other gradually losing control. It was a novel sensation, addictive.

 

Suddenly, there was a clatter nearby—Hui Shang’s gold and silver jewelry fell to the ground one after another.

 

“Oh dear, don’t waste things!” Zhang Moyang crouched down to pick them up.

 

Hui Shang stared blankly and followed suit, crouching down, “What are they doing?”

 

“Kissing, can’t you see?” 

 

“…Aren’t they good brothers?”

 

“Can’t good brothers kiss?”

 

Hui Shang covered his mouth in disbelief, “But they said I’m their good brother too.”

 

“Hehe, we’re good brothers too, want to try?” Zhang Moyang chuckled.

 

“…No need, no need.”

 

Hui Shang found it hard to believe. He had finally come to believe that these two were just simple brothers despite their excessive closeness, only for them to kiss right in front of him. It was infuriating!

 

“Are they done kissing?” Hui Shang couldn’t even bring himself to look up.

 

As soon as Zhang Moyang looked up, he saw Shen  leading Liu Shu away, saying, “Let’s go, they probably find us annoying.”

 

But just a few steps away, Liu Shu suddenly turned back, took the gold and silver jewelry back, and held the heap of items to Shen , saying, “A Ke, look, we can live a good life now!”

 

Shen ‘s face was no longer tear-stained. He habitually patted Liu Shu’s head but this time caressed his cheek, saying gently, “These are stolen goods, we can’t take them. We have to return them to the people.”

 

Liu Shu felt struck by lightning, reluctantly looking at the treasures in his hands. “So much, we can’t take any?”

 

Unable to bear seeing him look so pitiful, Shen  reached out and hugged him, patting his back to comfort him. “These things don’t belong to us, but Xiao Wu, I promise you, I’ll make sure you live well. When that time comes, you can have whatever you want, okay?”

 

“Why did you take away my lines… I was thinking of using these things to make your life more comfortable.” Liu Shu looked up, smiling, “Alright, since you don’t want them, I won’t take them.”

 

“Mm.” Shen  smiled gently at him.

 

He had always known that his Xiao Wu had some bad habits but was very obedient, a young man who was very kind and easy to love.

 

“Can I hug you again?” Liu Shu’s eyes curved, “I like it when you hug me.”

 

Well, he was also straightforward and passionate, making one’s heart beat faster.

 

But there was no time to hug properly; there were still many things to deal with.

 

“What about Miss Chen? Why haven’t we seen her?” Shen  asked.

 

“She went with me to grab the hidden money.”

 

As soon as she said this, Chen Yinglian ran over from the other side. Liu Shu just came out with his hands full of gold and silver jewelry. She was amazing, immediately wrapping up two bundles, her face slightly excited. “This lady will never have to worry about food and clothing in her next life!”

 

Liu Shu glanced awkwardly at her, wondering what expression she would have when she learned that these things would be confiscated later.

 

Fifteen minutes later, Chen Yinglian was rolling her eyes at Shen .

 

Liu Shu could only help persuade her, “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. These things originally belonged to others, and we’re just returning them. Rest assured, I’ve made friends with you. In the future, when these things are fully replenished, I won’t withhold a single bit from you.”

 

Chen Yinglian naturally wouldn’t believe his nonsense, but there were so many officials and soldiers here. She couldn’t really take away these stolen goods.

 

After cleaning up here and taking the bandits down the mountain, it was almost dawn when they returned to the yamen.

 

Liu Shu was so sleepy, yawning repeatedly. Shen  asked him to go back to the inn to rest first, while he went to the yamen to handle the remaining matters.

 

After a good sleep, feeling a bit hungry, as Liu Shu dressed, he touched the pendant on his chest.

 

Having been away for so long, he needed to find a time to go home and let A Ke meet his parents.

 

Thinking of this, he smiled again. His parents would surely like A Ke, not just because he was handsome, but also because he could read and write—something his father admired the most.

 

Just as Shen  sent a letter to his eldest brother, Liu Shu came over carrying a few steamed buns.

 

“Did you sleep well?”

 

“Are you rested?” Liu Shu asked.

 

“Just finished interrogating the bandits. We managed to redeem the girls who were sold to brothels,” Shen Ke replied.

 

“They still plan to sell the other girls to someone else. Did they find out who the buyers were?” 

 

Shen Ke glanced at the supervisor, who broke into a cold sweat. “About that… I really have no idea.”

 

“It’s the county magistrate.”

 

“Him?” While somewhat surprised, Shen Ke wasn’t entirely taken aback. He had long suspected the magistrate wasn’t a good person; failing to catch the bandits for two or three years likely meant he was incompetent. He just hadn’t expected him to be colluding with the bandits.

 

The magistrate had not returned yet, and it wasn’t clear if he had fled upon hearing something or had already been detained by the prefect. Shen Ke detailed all the events in a letter, also inquiring about the situation with his eldest brother.

 

The bandits were temporarily held in the jail, and the girls were safely escorted back home. The stolen goods were returned to the villagers who had reported the case. Finally, they could catch their breath.

 

Back at the inn, Shen Ke lay down immediately and soon fell into a deep sleep, exhausted.

 

Concerned not to disturb his rest, Liu Shu went to visit the Zhang siblings at their home.

 

Having just woken up from a long nap, Zhang Moyang was having his meal. Seeing Liu Shu arrive, he instinctively glanced behind him. “You’re here alone?”

 

“Yeah, A Ke is still asleep.” Liu Shu sat down and picked up a few peanuts to eat.

 

“Want to go drinking tonight? I rarely accomplish something big; let’s celebrate,” Zhang Moyang said excitedly.

 

Thinking Shen Ke would likely sleep for a while, Liu Shu agreed and added, “Invite Ying Lian too; she said she can handle her liquor.”

 

“Alright.”

 

“I want to go too.” Zhang Moseng, who had been quietly drinking tea, suddenly spoke up.

 

Both Zhang Moyang and Liu Shu were surprised. Zhang Moyang asked in confusion, “Can you drink?”

 

“I want to try.”

 

That night, the four of them dined at a restaurant. Chen Yinglian had an exceptional capacity for alcohol; she even managed to knock Zhang Moyang down and could keep up with Liu Shu.

 

Zhang Moseng drank less, his cheeks flushed. He admired, “Miss Chen has such a good capacity for alcohol, truly unconventional.”

 

“I’ve been drinking since I was young, for courage. It can also warm you up in winter,” Chen Yinglian chuckled.

 

“I heard your archery skills are excellent; you even shot the bandit leader,” Zhang Moyang said.

 

“That was Xiao Wu’s shot,” Chen Yinglian replied, looking at Liu Shu. “I was going to ask if you, young man, want to go hunting with us?”

 

“If I have time, I’ll join. But I doubt I can make a living from hunting,” he recalled the rabbits they had caught and released, then turned to Zhang Moseng. “I thought of another business. Would you like to join me?”

 

“What business?”

 

“I want to open a rouge shop, but I need capital for renting a shop, buying materials, and hiring staff.”

 

“So you have nothing?” Zhang Moyang burped, clearly drunk.

 

“But I have the skill,” Liu Shu said.

 

The Liu family had grown so prosperous, thanks in no small part to his mother’s assistance. After she married into the Liu family, she expanded their original business by opening a rouge shop and developed several unique rouge products that became very popular. Almost every household in Jinling used the Liu family’s rouge.

 

Initially, he had visited brothels just to see the most beautiful girls and how they used his mother’s rouge. However, he became fascinated by their songs. He had observed his mother making the product by hand and secretly studied it for a while. However, he always liked to change the formula. When his mother found out, she kicked him out, saying a man shouldn’t play with such things.

 

“You can make rouge too!?” Zhang Moyang almost fell off his chair.

 

“Is it that surprising?”

 

Young people like to play with flowers, and they can play with anything.

 

“Your rouge is expensive and rough. We can sell cheaper and better.”

 

“We actually have a vacant shop,” Zhang Mosheng said, “But can you really make rouge?”

 

“I’ll bring some finished products in a few days.”

 

After they settled their agreement, they lightly clinked glasses. As the glass neared his lips, he paused and looked up at Zhang Mosheng, “Before we collaborate, there’s something I want to tell you.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Well… um… it’s about my…” Yelling tipsy, Zhang Moyang suddenly blurted out.

 

“He kissed Ke Shen.”

 

Zhang Mosheng was stunned, and the wine in Chen Yinglian’s cup splashed out. The two girls looked at him in surprise.

 

He coughed, his face burned, pretending to be calm and said: “If you care…”

 

After clinking glasses, Zhang Mosheng was momentarily stunned. Chen Yinglian spilled her drink, and the two girls looked at him in astonishment.

 

He coughed awkwardly, his face burning, and said with forced calmness, “If you mind…”

 

“I don’t mind.” Zhang Mosheng lowered his eyes and smiled lightly after a while, “Since he rejected me, his affairs are no longer my concern. Right now, I just want to break free from constraints and live more freely.”

 

“That’s good.” Li Yun downed his drink and raised his glass with a smile. “Here’s to us living freely.”

 

After three rounds of drinks, they each went their separate ways. Li Yun returned to the inn with unsteady steps. After pushing open the door, he saw the person lying on the **, and only then did he realize that he could carefully close the door with a soft voice and quietly walk to the bed.

 

Shen Ke heard the whispering sound and slowly opened his eyes, turning his head to look at Li Yun squatting beside the bed, his brows and eyes slightly moving. “Did you go out for a drink?”

 

“Yeah.” Li Yun’s hands were folded and placed on **, supporting his chin. His eyes seemed to sparkle with light as he smiled at him.

 

“What are you laughing at?” Shen Ke turned sideways, propped his head on his arm, and his lips unconsciously curled up.

 

“As soon as I came back, I saw you and felt happy.”

 

“Me too.” Shen Ke raised his hand and touched his burning cheek. “How much did you drink?”

 

“Not much.”

 

Shen Ke chuckled.

 

“A Ke, are you still sleepy? Are you hungry?”

 

“A bit.”

 

“What do you want to eat?” Li Yun asked.

 

Shen Ke remained silent for a moment, staring into his clear eyes. Even in such dim light, it seemed he could see his own reflection inside.

 

“Do you want to eat anything?” Li Yun asked again. “I’ll go get it for you—”

 

Before he could finish speaking, a hand suddenly pressed against his head. His gaze met the gradually approaching thin lips, and once they touched, the air became warm and humid.

 

“A Ke…”

 

After who knew how long had passed, Shen Ke listened to his murmuring voice, loosened his grip, his eyes flickering, and smiled, “What’s wrong?”

 

“My legs are numb, so numb, can I go to bed?”