Tan Hua - Chapter 98: Hard to Control

Chapter 98: Hard to Control

Song Liqing was startled by Jun Qiyu’s sudden movement. Looking down, Jun Qiyu’s eyes were still closed, clearly not awake, just mumbling in a dazed, subconscious state while unconscious.

“Don’t leave.”

Once Jun Qiyu grabbed Song Liqing’s hand, he seemed much more at ease, letting out a soft hum.

“You almost met the King of Hell, and you’re still being stubborn?”

Song Liqing muttered as he pulled Jun Qiyu’s hand away, looking at his haggard face, and his own fear lessened. Even the usually domineering jerk had his moments of vulnerability.

“Now it’s my turn to call the shots.”

Song Liqing tapped his nose, but Jun Qiyu grabbed both of his hands, and Song Liqing couldn’t break free.

“Don’t leave me, Liqing, okay?”

This time, it was a soft plea. Song Liqing looked at Jun Qiyu’s furrowed brow, his face full of pain, and stopped moving.

Jun Qiyu’s voice was raspy when weak, but still carried a clear tone, which softened his usually unappealing features. His face, though sharp, was handsome—just right in its proportions. Yet, Song Liqing’s eyes always seemed to filter it through a layer of harshness, never fully appreciating it.

“Liqing… Liqing!”

“Huh?”

Song Liqing froze for a moment, then heard Qi Miao calling him.

“Let me see your wound.”

Qi Miao pointed to his back.

After a night of mental exhaustion and tension, Song Liqing only then remembered he still had an arrowhead lodged in his back. He hadn’t noticed it before, but now that his focus was on it, it hurt even more.

But since his hand was still held by Jun Qiyu, he couldn’t turn around.

Song Liqing could only helplessly say, “I’ll put him back to sleep first.”

But after waiting a while, Jun Qiyu still gripped his hands tightly. He had to think of a way.

“It should be like lulling a child to sleep, right? Cough…”

Song Liqing cleared his throat, then began softly patting Jun Qiyu’s chest with his other hand, humming an unfamiliar lullaby. He had learned it from Xiao Di, who often hummed it when she was younger. Song Liqing had picked up a couple of lines, and in the past, officials had always fallen asleep after hearing it.

After humming for a while, Jun Qiyu finally loosened his grip. Song Liqing quickly pulled his hand out. When he looked over, he saw Qi Miao staring at him in disbelief.

Song Liqing awkwardly said, “It… it was even harder than lulling a child to sleep. The officials always fell asleep after just one verse.”

Qi Miao’s heavy expression lightened a little as he asked, “I’ve never heard you sing before. How did you learn this?”

“Xiao Di said her mother used to sing this when she was little… Did I sing it badly?”

“How could you? It’s very nice.”

Qi Miao, now aware that Song Liqing had suffered mentally, felt a little more at ease. Perhaps it was because he thought less about things, no longer needing to worry so much about others’ feelings, and no longer living cautiously, always mindful of himself.

Song Liqing’s face flushed slightly.

“I’ll learn a few more next time. The officials must be tired of hearing it.”

Mentioning the officials made Song Liqing anxious. His child was still in Loulan, and he didn’t know what his situation was.

“I should have brought him with me.”

“These past days have been so dangerous. If you’d brought him, it would have been even riskier. The child is fortunate, he’ll be fine,” Qi Miao reassured him. “The prince will break through Loulan soon. Don’t think about running back alone.”

“Mm.”

Song Liqing answered absently, then turned his back to Qi Miao, removing his outer robe. Qi Miao saw the bloodstained inner garments, and as he tore the area around the wound, his fingers brushed against Song Liqing’s smooth skin. He paused, inhaled sharply, then focused his attention on the wound.

“I’m going to treat your wound, it might hurt a bit.”

“Okay.”

Qi Miao used a small knife to remove the arrowhead. Fortunately, the wound wasn’t deep, and no vital blood vessels were damaged. There wasn’t much blood, and it didn’t seem to be poisoned, so Qi Miao was relieved to bandage it.

“All done? Qi Miao Gege.”

“Almost done, hold on a bit, I’ll be gentle.”

“Did I bleed much from the back?”

“Just a little. It’s not serious, it’ll heal in a few days. Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“Still saying it doesn’t hurt, you’re sweating so much, phew—”

“You’re more nervous than me, thank you for your trouble, Qi Miao Gege.”

“Put your clothes back on.”

“Mm.”

“Don’t move, I’ll help you put them on. You’ll have to sleep on your stomach for the next few days to avoid pressing on the wound.”

Qi Miao intentionally talked more to distract Song Liqing’s attention. The two exchanged a few words in the carriage. As soon as Song Liqing finished adjusting his clothes, he saw Jun Qiyu sitting up, looking at him as if he could see him.

“Liqing, what are you two doing?” Jun Qiyu asked, tilting his head.

“Huh? You’re awake already? I thought you’d be unconscious for the whole night.”

“…” Jun Qiyu muttered to himself, “If I didn’t wake up, who knows what would’ve happened…”

Jun Qiyu had indeed slept for a while. After clutching Song Liqing in a half-conscious state, he had been afraid he would run away. When he heard Song Liqing and Qi Miao talking in the carriage, their awkward conversation made him instantly wake up.

Jun Qiyu invited, “Liqing, you should lie down and rest too.”

Song Liqing shook his head.

“It’s too cramped, I’ll stay sitting.”

Though the carriage was fairly spacious, it could only fit two people lying down. There wasn’t enough room for all three of them, especially with Jun Qiyu taking up most of the space.

Jun Qiyu shifted back a bit and insisted, “It’s fine, there’s enough space. You can lie down next to me.”

Song Liqing thought for a moment and then said, “Just right. You can move over a bit to make room for Qi Miao Gege to rest.”

Jun Qiyu’s face twitched, and his posture froze.

He had wanted to take the chance to get closer to Song Liqing, but if it were Qi Miao, the big man, he’d really feel uncomfortable.

He scratched his nose and said, “This, uh… actually, I can’t fit.”

“How come? You just said there was enough space.”

“This… you’re smaller.”

Qi Miao coughed and said, “Liqing, you both have injuries, you should rest more. Don’t worry about me.”

“Qi Taishi is right!”

Jun Qiyu immediately agreed, nodding with appreciation.

“Alright.”

Song Liqing lay down carefully, trying not to touch the wound on his back. He could only lie on his stomach.

Jun Qiyu’s body was nearly pressed up against his. The two were close, and Song Liqing’s faint scent made Jun Qiyu feel nostalgic.

“How is it?” Jun Qiyu whispered in his ear, “If it’s too hard and uncomfortable, you can use my arm as a pillow.”

“It’s fine… it’s just a bit cramped.”

Song Liqing said as he adjusted his posture, shifting his legs and hips inward.

“Mm…”

Jun Qiyu couldn’t help but groan softly.

Feeling Song Liqing’s soft body pressing against him was like kindling igniting dry wood, making his blood boil with heat.

If not for the awkward situation, he would have found it hard to control himself.