Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 163

163 · Extra Chapter 13: I’ll Help You

Zhao Jingshu carried Xue Ning back, tears and snot running down his face.

The military doctor hurried over to check his pulse. This time, Xue Ning was seriously injured—three broken ribs, damaged lungs, half of his left ear shattered, and the worst of all, his foot was so frostbitten that it might not be saved.

Hearing this, Zhao Jingshu burst into tears again. He didn’t want Xue Ning to become a cripple!

Outside the room, Xue Wangyun paused upon hearing his son’s condition. He closed his eyes briefly, then walked in. Seeing the unconscious figure on the bed, his eyes instantly turned red.

How could he not feel heartache? This was his firstborn, the child he valued the most. When General Zhang reported that Xue Ning had gone missing on the battlefield, Xue Wangyun had been so anxious that he almost ran out to search for him himself.

“Marshal Xue.”

“Commander…”

Xue Wangyun waved a hand. “Do your best.” With that, he turned and left the room. He had too many responsibilities—wounded soldiers needing treatment, the fallen needing burial, and strategic preparations to prevent the Turk forces from regrouping and attacking again.

He was not just a father—he was the guardian of tens of thousands of people at the border.

Xue Ning remained unconscious for three days, but in the end, his foot was saved—at the cost of three toes.

Xue Ning didn’t mind. After all, he always wore shoes—who would ever see his bare feet?

Zhao Jingshu, however, was heartbroken. Every time he applied medicine to Xue Ning’s foot, he cried his eyes out.

“It’s fine… really, it’s fine. I can still ride and walk.”

“If only I had found you sooner that day…”

Xue Ning’s heart softened. He reached out and ruffled Zhao Jingshu’s hair. “You already did great. This time, I admit defeat.”

But Zhao Jingshu didn’t feel victorious at all. Almost losing someone so important to him—it was a terrible feeling. It left him restless, unable to sleep at night.

He was still too weak. If he had been stronger, if he had killed that Turk soldier just a little sooner, Xue Ning wouldn’t have been so badly hurt.

Xue Ning needed time to recover. General Zhang pulled some strings and arranged a private room for them. Otherwise, staying in the shared barracks would have made it impossible for Xue Ning to heal properly.

The small room had only one heated brick bed and a tiny stove. The bed was barely big enough for two, so Zhao Jingshu volunteered to take care of him.

The borderlands were bitterly cold, and Zhao Jingshu’s status was special. While staying in the shared barracks, neither of them had bathed for over a month. Now, after the battle, they were covered in dried blood—it was unbearable.

During the day, Zhao Jingshu patrolled outside the city gates. At night, he fetched food, heated water, and prepared for a long-overdue bath.

“Why are you boiling so much water?” Xue Ning propped up his chin, watching him pour two buckets into the pot.

“For a bath. Do you want to wash up too?”

“I can’t do it myself.” His ribs were still broken. The doctor had secured them with bamboo splints, but he couldn’t move too much, or he might puncture his organs.

Zhao Jingshu frowned. “Then I’ll help you.”

“No… no need.” They weren’t even married yet—getting naked in front of each other seemed a little too soon.

“What’s there to be shy about? It’s not like I haven’t seen you bare-assed before.” Zhao Jingshu heated the water, scooped it into a wooden basin, then stripped off his clothes and started washing himself.

“Hey! Y-you—wait a minute! Let me step outside first—” Xue Ning tried to get up but accidentally pulled at his injury, gasping in pain.

Zhao Jingshu quickly pressed him back down. “Stay put. I’ll wash first, then help you.”

Xue Ning had no choice but to turn his head away, his ears burning red. Did this idiot even realize what he was doing? He was a ge’er—yet he was stripping naked right in front of him, completely disregarding his presence as a man!

The oil lamp cast Zhao Jingshu’s shadow onto the wall. The young man’s physique was slightly more muscular than his peers, yet his broad shoulders and narrow waist formed a perfectly balanced frame.

A gust of wind slipped through the door crack, causing the lamp to flicker. Xue Ning swallowed hard. On the wall, he could see Zhao Jingshu tilting his head back as he wiped his neck, then moving down along his collarbone—all the way to his lower abdomen.

Then, Zhao Jingshu pulled off his pants.

!!!

Xue Ning’s eyes widened in shock. As he caught sight of something swaying in the shadow, a rush of heat surged straight to his head. His nose started bleeding instantly!

“Cough, cough, cough!” Xue Ning hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief to cover his face. This is a disaster!

After finishing his bath, Zhao Jingshu dumped the dirty water, refilled the basin with clean water, and walked over. “Take off your clothes. I’ll clean you up.”

“N-no need!”

“Do you even know how bad you smell?”

“Huh?” Xue Ning was dumbfounded.

“The stench was so bad last night, I thought someone had soiled the bed.”

After weeks of blood and grime, the stench had truly become unbearable. Xue Ning, having grown used to it, hadn’t noticed until now. Embarrassed, his face turned bright red. “Just leave the basin. I can do it myself.”

“Quit dawdling.” Zhao Jingshu rolled up his sleeves, reached over, and stripped him clean in just a few swift motions.

Xue Ning clutched his chest, on the verge of tears. Xiao Quanbao is way too domineering…

Zhao Jingshu was careful as he removed the bamboo splints, making sure not to cause pain. Across Xue Ning’s chest, dark bruises from that brutal kick were still visible.

“Does it still hurt?” Zhao Jingshu gently touched the wound with his fingertips.

“It’s fine.”

A warm cloth wiped across his body, sending a shiver down his spine.

“Are you cold?”

“No…” His voice was hoarse. Not only was he not cold, but his body temperature was steadily rising.

Completely oblivious, Zhao Jingshu continued—wiping his front, then his back, and finally, reaching for his pants.

Panicked, Xue Ning snatched the cloth away. “I-I can handle the lower half myself.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!” Even if he wasn’t, he had to be. He wasn’t about to let Quanbao see him stark naked!

Once they were finally clean, they changed into fresh clothes. Blowing out the lamp, they lay side by side on the heated bed, neither feeling the least bit sleepy.

“If your grandmother knew how badly you were hurt, she’d be heartbroken.”

“War injuries are inevitable. Didn’t you also take a slash to the leg? Is it healed yet?”

“It was a shallow cut. I’m fine.”

Xue Ning slowly turned onto his side to face him. “Quanbao, do you remember what you promised me?”

“…What promise?”

“You forgot?!” Xue Ning shot up in alarm—only to pull at his ribs again. With a sharp cry of pain, he collapsed back down.

Zhao Jingshu hurriedly held him in place. “Don’t move! I… I remember now…”

Xue Ning grinned, pressing a hand to his chest. “Good. After the war, we’re getting married.”

The war lasted for two whole years.

By the time it ended, the two of them had grown from reckless youths into commanders who could stand on their own.

Zhao Jingshu was promoted to captain due to his exceptional number of battlefield kills, while Xue Ning, inheriting General Xue’s strengths, specialized in strategy and joined the Shenji Battalion. Together, they won several impressive skirmishes.

In the spring, Lu Yao missed his son so much that he came with Zhao Beichuan to deliver supplies.

After two years apart, Lu Yao looked at his son’s thin frame and the sun-darkened, wind-chapped face and couldn’t hold back his tears.

“Father, Mother, why are you here!” Zhao Jingshu was overjoyed, hugging them tightly, reluctant to let go.

Zhao Beichuan was not someone who openly expressed emotions, but after not seeing his son for so long, he also felt his throat tighten. He reached out and patted Zhao Jingshu’s shoulder, “You’ve lost weight, but you look more spirited.”

This time, they brought not only five thousand catties of alcohol but also one hundred thousand catties of millet, thirty thousand cotton-padded garments, and personal provisions, clothing, and footwear specifically prepared for their son. Lu Yao did all this for no other reason than to ensure his child could eat well and stay warm at the border, not suffer too much.

Over the past two years, he had continuously donated hundreds of thousands of taels worth of grain and supplies to Beijiang(Northern Frontier). The emperor had even summoned him personally and bestowed many rewards.

“Why don’t I see A-Ning? Isn’t he with you?”

“He’s in the Shenji Battalion now, while I’m in the cavalry camp.”

“His mother sent some clothes and food for him. You should deliver them to him later.”

“Mm.”

The three of them arrived at Zhao Jingshu’s living quarters. His current rank entitled him to a private room.

The place was clean but plain. A single blanket was neatly spread on the kang, beside it a wooden table, a single stool—so small that another person would barely have room to turn around.

Lu Yao frowned, his brows furrowing into a deep crease. “Are you used to living here?”

“I’m used to it. This is much better than where I stayed before. When I first arrived, dozens of people shared one room.”

Lu Yao was stunned, his expression instantly turning serious. “How could you sleep with them?”

“Oh, Mother, don’t worry. Other than A-Ning, no one knows my identity. And when we did share quarters, I always slept with A-Ning…” The way he phrased it was misleading, and his face turned red as soon as he said it.

Zhao Beichuan cleared his throat, “How has Xue Ning been lately? Before the New Year, we heard he was injured, and his grandmother was terribly worried.”

“He’s recovered. Just lost a few toes, and they won’t grow back.”

Lu Yao was once again startled, his heart racing. “You two are really impossible to manage. Have you decided to stay at the border for good?”

“Mm… Mother, I know you worry about me, but if the Turks aren’t eradicated, Da(Great) Wu won’t have peace. If you saw how they massacre civilians, you’d understand why A-Ning and I insist on staying here.”

Of course, Lu Yao understood. Fine, his son had his own aspirations, and as his parents, all they could do was support him as much as possible.

The two only stayed at the border for three days before leaving. First, because it was unsafe, with war breaking out at any moment; second, because Lu Yao planned to gather more grain and supplies to send over.

Xue Ning didn’t find out that Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao had visited until several days later. He rushed over excitedly, only to find they had already left.

It was just past dusk when he arrived. During the day, Zhao Jingshu had been leading a patrol outside the city and was accidentally shot by a barbarian’s arrow. Though he had pulled it out, he refused to let the military doctor treat him. If his clothes were removed, his identity would be exposed. At this moment, he was disinfecting the wound himself with alcohol.

“—Hiss—” The intense pain made his breathing tremble, and he clenched his fist, slamming it hard on the table.

Xue Ning was startled by the sound and pushed open the door, only to see Zhao Jingshu half-dressed.

“Close the door!”

“Bang!” Xue Ning shut the door from outside, stood there for a moment, then realized something was wrong and pushed it open again. “You’re injured!”

“A small wound, just in a spot I can’t reach. Help me apply the medicine.”

Xue Ning frowned and walked over, taking the medicine bottle from his hand and carefully sprinkling the powder onto the wound.

The wound was just above the scapula—not deep, but when he had pulled the arrow out, he must have used brute force, tearing the surrounding skin and leaving it looking rather gruesome.

“Why didn’t you send someone to call me?”

“Aren’t you all busy lately?” The Shenji Battalion had been working on repeating crossbows recently. If they succeeded, their odds of winning battles would increase by at least thirty percent.

“No matter how busy I am, I’d still make time. I heard your parents came. Where are they?”

“They left this morning. It’s not safe here. I couldn’t let them stay.”

After applying the medicine, Xue Ning took some fine cloth and helped him bandage the wound. Given the location, the cloth had to be wrapped around his chest, and his fingers inevitably brushed against places they shouldn’t.

Zhao Jingshu frowned slightly, his breathing suddenly hitching, and a low, unintentional groan escaped his throat.

Xue Ning’s hand paused. Lowering his head, he blew warm air against Zhao Jingshu’s ear and asked, “Does it hurt?”

“It’s fine…”

Their bodies gradually drew closer. Xue Ning half-embraced him from behind, carefully avoiding the wound, his fingers deftly wrapping the cloth around him.

This wasn’t the first time they had helped each other relieve their desires.

Teenage boys were naturally curious about such things. The first time was when they had been living together alone.

One night, Zhao Jingshu had a dream, and in his dazed state, he held onto Xue Ning, rubbing against his leg until he reached release. The next morning, he blushed furiously as he washed both their undergarments.

That night, Xue Ning had taught him how to use his hand. Since then, whenever they had time, they would secretly indulge together—though they had never gone all the way.

Zhao Jingshu’s breathing grew heavier, a thin layer of sweat forming on his forehead. His body turned a soft pink as he placed his hands over Xue Ning’s, pausing for a long moment before propping himself up. “I’ll help you…”

Xue Ning kissed his forehead. “No need. You should rest well today.”