Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 195

When Zhao Beichuan video-called, Lu Yao was shopping in a mall, picking out gifts for his parents and three older sisters before heading home the next day.

“Gege!” In the video, Zhao Beichuan was wearing a thick cotton hat and an old, army-green coat. His nose was red from the cold as he waved at him.

“You’re home?”

“Yeah, arrived this morning around six. Just got back to the village.”

“Is it cold?” Lu Yao moved to a quieter spot to chat.

“It’s alright, I’m used to it. But it’s definitely colder than A City.”

“What about Uncle and Auntie?”

“They went to my third uncle’s house. I withdrew the money and gave it to them to pay off the debt.”

“That’s how it should be. Is the old house still livable?”

Zhao Beichuan flipped the camera around. His grandfather’s old house stood behind the one they used to live in—a three-room brick house, clearly quite old, with bricks of the traditional bluish-gray kind used by earlier generations.

“This house is older than my dad, but the walls are thick. I’ll take apart the kang later and rebuild it—then it’ll be warm inside.”

Lu Yao felt a pang of heartache. “If it’s really not livable, just rent a place. It won’t cost much.”

“It’s fine, we can live here.” Zhao Beichuan carried his phone into the house, where Xiaonian and Xiaodou were busy cleaning. The two kids wore face masks, had changed out of their new clothes, and were wearing their old ones with school uniforms over them. They were sweeping cobwebs down from the ceiling.

“Lu Dage!” Xiaonian heard Lu Yao’s voice and ran over to greet him.

Lu Yao was momentarily dazed, as if he saw a younger version of Xiaonian greeting him.

“You’re home.”

“Yeah, don’t worry. Everything at home is fine.”

“That’s good.” What a pair of well-behaved kids.

Zhao Beichuan was reluctant to hang up, but there was still work to do. He moved into the kitchen and lowered his voice. “Ge, I really miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

“I want to kiss you. I want to hold you while we sleep.”

Lu Yao’s cheeks burned. He glanced at the passing shoppers in the mall and lowered his voice. “I miss you too. Be careful with your leg—it hasn’t fully healed yet, so don’t do any heavy labor.”

“I know.”

“Then I’ll hang up now.”

“Mm.” Both of them hesitated, waiting for the other to hang up first. In the end, Lu Yao was the one who disconnected the call, holding his phone with a sense of emptiness.

After a three-hour high-speed rail ride, Lu Yao arrived in Jin City. Along the way, his eldest sister called several times to ask when he’d arrive.

At 10:30, Lu Yao got off the train. His eldest sister and brother-in-law were already waiting at the exit.

“A-Yao, over here!”

“Da Jie, Jie Fu.”

Lu Fang’s husband, Chen Baolin, was an honest man. He had driven freight trucks for over thirty years, which had left him with a herniated disc. He had undergone surgery a few months ago.

“How’s your back, Jie Fu?”

Chen Baolin said, “The surgery helped, but it still aches when it’s cloudy or rainy.”

“I bought you a magnetic therapy belt. A friend said it works well. Try it when we get home.”

Lu Fang chided, “Spending money again.”

“It wasn’t much.”

Chen Baolin chuckled and pulled his brother-in-law into the car. He had practically watched Lu Yao grow up and cared for him like a son. The kid had turned out well—always thinking of them, even more considerate than their own child.

“Has Xiaochen gone on break?”

“No, he said he won’t be coming home for New Year. His company is organizing a trip to Thailand.”

Chen Chen was Lu Fang’s son, just 23 years old and full of energy.

The three of them returned to Lu Fang’s home. She had already bought groceries the day before and had been cooking since morning—braised ribs, steamed pork, cold noodles, and Lu Yao’s favorite, knife-cut noodles.

After washing his hands, Lu Yao started eating, sighing in satisfaction. “Da Jie’s cooking is still the best. I’ve been craving this.”

“Eat as much as you want. We’ll head back to our hometown this afternoon.”

“Got it.”

After lunch, Lu Yao washed the dishes and took out the gifts he had brought.

For his sister, he had bought a wool sweater—both the color and style suited her age. Lu Fang complained about him spending money but happily went to try it on.

“How does it look?” She checked herself in the mirror, blushing with the joy of wearing something new.

“It looks great!” Lu Fang had fair skin, and the apricot-colored sweater made her look elegant and refined.

“How much did this cost?”

“Not much. It was on sale at the mall, so I bought it cheap.” Lu Yao didn’t dare tell her it had cost over 3,000 yuan.

For his brother-in-law, he took out the magnetic therapy belt and had him try it on. This kind of thing wouldn’t show immediate results—it needed to be worn long-term.

Chen Baolin tested it. “Feels warm. My back is sensitive to the cold—this is comfortable.”

Seeing them happy with their gifts, Lu Yao felt satisfied. Around 1:00 PM, his second sister called, asking when they’d be heading back.

“We’re just about to leave. We just had lunch after picking up Lu Yao.”

“Drive carefully. It snowed here a few days ago, and the roads are slippery.”

“Got it, don’t worry.” After hanging up, Lu Fang pulled Lu Yao aside to whisper.

“I went to see a fortune teller in town last time I was home. I told her about you and planned to have her put on a show for us during the New Year.”

“A show?”

“I told her to read your fortune and say you can’t get married—otherwise, you’ll face a great calamity.”

“Will that work?”

“Mom believes in this stuff. It’ll definitely work.”

Lu Yao choked up and hugged his sister. “Thank you, Jie.”

“Silly kid, what’s there to thank? I just want you to have someone by your side. Whether it’s a man or a woman, it’s better than being all alone.” Lu Fang’s care for him was truly like that of a mother.

“Are you ready?” Chen Baolin called from the door.

“Coming, coming.” Lu Fang ruffled her brother’s hair. “Don’t let anything slip when we get back. Let’s go.”

The three of them drove out of the city, reaching town in an hour and a half.

As Lu Yao looked at the familiar streets, he grew eager to return home.

The car stopped in front of their house. Hearing the commotion, the family had already come out—his second and third sisters had arrived early, and his parents came out to greet them as well.

“Mom, Dad!”

His mother immediately grabbed his hands, rubbing them affectionately. “Are you cold? Why are you dressed so lightly? Your shoes aren’t thick enough either—hurry inside and warm up!”

Inside, Lu Yao was hit by a wave of warmth. They had installed underfloor heating years ago, making thick clothing unnecessary indoors.

“Sit down and rest. I’ll get you some fruit. Your second sister bought a durian. Your dad and I couldn’t bear to eat it—we’ve been saving it for you.”

Lu Yao scratched his head sheepishly. His parents always saved what his sisters bought for him, making him feel guilty.

His second sister, however, didn’t mind. She doted on him just the same.

The family sat together, chatting. Naturally, the conversation soon turned to marriage.

“You mentioned a girl over the phone last time. If you have time, go meet her. She’s really pretty,” his mother said, pulling up a photo on her phone.

Lu Yao glanced at it—she was indeed attractive, but he already had a boyfriend.

“I even saved her number. Add her on WeChat and chat for a bit. You young people have plenty to talk about!”

“Ah… sure.” Lu Yao could only agree—otherwise, his mother would nag him endlessly.

His father, too, was already planning. “If things go well, set it up early. The eighth of the new year is an auspicious date. We can renovate the house and have the wedding by May.”

Lu Yao felt a headache coming on. Sensing this, Lu Fang quickly stepped in. “A-Yao must be tired from traveling all day. Go lie down for a bit.”

“Okay!” Finally, an excuse to escape. He hurried into his room.

Once he was gone, Lu Fang cautiously broached the topic. “Mom, can Lu Yao even get married now?”

“Why not…” His mother hesitated. She wasn’t sure. Years ago, the old Taoist who had helped them conceive had already passed away. He had once said Lu Yao’s birth chart was weak, and if he married before thirty-five, he wouldn’t survive. Lu Yao had just turned thirty-six according to traditional age reckoning—but she didn’t know how that rule applied.

His father thought about it. “Maybe we should find someone to check?”

His second and third sisters, overhearing, were curious. “What’s this about?”

“Nothing,” their mother dismissed, but they wouldn’t stop asking.

“Back when we had A-Yao, we tied his fate to the mountain. The Taoist said his birth chart was weak—if he married before thirty-five, he wouldn’t survive…”

“Is there really such a thing? Then we must find someone knowledgeable to take a good look!”

This was exactly what Lu Fang had been waiting for. She cleared her throat and said, “I heard that there’s an old blind woman in our town called Granny Qi, who is skilled at fortune-telling. How about we invite her over tomorrow to take a look?”

Old Madam Lu glanced at her husband. The old man took a long drag from his cigarette before nodding. Having a child late in life was no easy feat, and they couldn’t afford to take risks with their son’s life.

The next day, Lu Fang brought the woman over. Granny Qi was blind and quite old, wearing a traditional dark blue wool jacket with a small cap on her head.

As soon as she entered the house, Old Madam Lu called her son out. Lu Yao looked at the old woman and then at his eldest sister, noticing that she winked at him. He immediately understood that this was the person she had arranged to put on a show.

His heart tightened slightly, afraid that their act would be exposed.

“Granny Qi, please take a look at my youngest son. Can he get married next year?”

Granny Qi pulled a cloth pouch from her pocket, inside which was a stash of dry tobacco. She rolled a cigarette for herself and lit it, taking a few puffs. “What is his birth date and time?”

Old Madam Lu quickly reported Lu Yao’s birth details.

Granny Qi counted on her fingers for a moment and then said, “This child was not easy to bring into this world, was he?”

“We had him when we were already forty-seven. Of course, it wasn’t easy.”

Granny Qi shook her head. “You folks did something unethical. You tethered a soul from another place, holding him back and refusing to let him go…”

Old Master Lu’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected her to see through it so quickly. He immediately grew nervous and asked, “Will this affect my son’s marriage?”

“And you’re still thinking about getting him married?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“He does not belong to this era in the first place. It was already difficult to keep him here. He simply cannot marry or have children. If you force a marriage, he might not live beyond three years.”

The expressions of Old Master Lu and Old Madam Lu instantly turned ashen. “That’s not right… Back then, the old Taoist said that once Lu Yao turned thirty-five, everything would be fine…”

“If you don’t believe me, then do as you please,” Granny Qi said, flicking off some ash from her cigarette.

“Then what should we do? Is there any way to break this fate? We’re willing to pay however much it takes!”

Lu Yao clenched his fists, worried that this Granny Qi might be tempted by money.

“Marriage is out of the question, but if you want to keep him safe, I can point you in the right direction. This young man has a weak fate and belongs to the Yin aspect. Only someone with strong Yang energy can suppress it. A woman won’t work—you need to find him a sworn brother to be his companion. Otherwise, he may not live long.”

Hearing this, Old Master Lu completely abandoned his idea of marriage. He lowered his head in silence, while Old Madam Lu wiped her tears. “Why is my Yao’er so unfortunate…”

Granny Qi finished her cigarette, then patted Old Madam Lu’s shoulder. “Old sister, listen to me. We’re already halfway in our graves—how much longer can we really look after them? Just let them be. As long as the child is happy and healthy, that’s all that matters.”

“You’re right… But where would we find a sworn brother?”

Lu Yao cleared his throat and spoke up. “I have a little brother I know well. We have a good relationship, and he’s currently renting my house. When I go back, I can check his birth details. If they’re a good match, I’ll recognize him as my sworn brother.”

Father and Mother Lu were immediately intrigued. “Would that work?”

“I’ll talk to him after the New Year.”

“Good, good, good! If he’s a suitable match, we can even give the child some money. As long as he can help you stay safe, that’s what matters most.”

After sending Granny Qi off, the old couple never brought up marriage again. Though Lu Yao didn’t get to come out of the closet, at least he no longer had to worry about being pressured into marriage.

This was, in a way, the best outcome.

Before they knew it, the New Year had passed. As a child, Lu Yao used to look forward to the holiday, but now that he was older, he found it less exciting. It simply meant another year had gone by.

After the New Year, time seemed to slow down. The elders played mahjong at home during the day, while Lu Yao, who didn’t know how to play, stayed in his room watching videos.

Suddenly, he came across a video about the northern region. His thoughts stirred, and he opened a ticket-booking app.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhao Beichuan called him, unable to hold back anymore. “Brother, when are you coming back?”

“Miss me already?”

“Mm.”

“I might come back in a few days.”

“Then I’ll delay my return too, so we can go back together.”

“Okay. By the way, what’s the name of your town again?”

“Qiushui Town. Why do you ask?”

“Nothing.” After hanging up, Lu Yao turned to the driver and said, “Take me to Zhao Family Village in Qiushui Town.”

“Hey, little brother, you must be from out of town.”

“Yeah.”

“I could tell from your accent. Visiting relatives during the holidays, huh?”

Lu Yao chuckled. “Yeah, I’m going to see my beloved.”

“Oh, heading to your in-laws’ place, eh? Then you’d better buy some good liquor. Let me tell you…”

Amidst the vast snowy landscape, the small car carried Lu Yao forward, rushing toward his happiness.

The End

[Author’s Note]

With this, all the modern-day extras are now complete!

Thank you to everyone who has been following along. The upcoming extras for Bai Yi and Chunqiu might be released as free bonus content, so you won’t need to pay to read them. Love you all!

As for my next book, unless something unexpected happens, it will be a historical BL novel titled Can I Be Your Wife?.

It features a ruthless, rough-around-the-edges gong × a gentle yet resilient shou.