Chapter 38

Chapter 38

"038"

"Ah Lan, I'm back!"

Xiao Lancui was going over the books in the meditation room when a dusty, travel-worn figure pushed open the door and came straight up and hugged him.

Lu Ao had led troops to suppress bandits for the first time. He'd sneaked into the capital a day ahead, under cover of night, and scaled the temple wall to see Xiao Lancui.

A year had passed, and the boy had grown like bamboo after spring rain, shooting straight up toward the sky. Now that he was getting proper nutrition, he'd shot up another notch in just the month he was out suppressing bandits. He'd broadened out, shoulders wide, his long legs sheathed in brick-red military gear, and he actually towered over Xiao Lancui now.

His strength was straight-up monstrous.

He scooped Xiao Lancui up, wheelchair and all, like it was nothing.

Even though he'd been traveling all night, he smelled clean, like soap. Xiao Lancui was a stickler for cleanliness, and Lu Ao always bathed thoroughly before seeing him.

The boy now had the mature air of a young man about him.

That wasn't surprising—most guys were married by fifteen. A prince six months older than Lu Ao had already had a kid earlier this year.

If Xiao Lancui's legs weren't crippled, he'd have been married off as a consort long ago, with kids of his own.

Xiao Lancui shoved Lu Ao back.

He shook his head no. "Don't call me Ah Lan anymore. Just call me Teacher."

Lu Ao's eyes darkened. He dropped to one knee, grabbed Xiao Lancui's hand, and looked up at him, looking a little wronged. "Teacher, did I do something wrong?"

Xiao Lancui understood the kid's clinging affection. When he was little, he'd been clingy with his dad too.

Xiao Lancui didn't pull his hand away, just said, "You've grown up now."

Xiao Lancui went in, closed the door, and handed Lu Ao the bag of clothes.

No time to wash them tonight, but they beat that wet uniform he had on. "Get dressed and come eat."

Lu Ao nodded and took the bag, obedient as ever.

Xiao Lancui shrugged off his jacket, changed shoes, and headed in. As he laid out the noodles and fruit on the table, his pocket buzzed twice.

He fished out his phone—his PI had sent over two files.

Xiao Lancui pulled out a chair, sat down, and opened them. They were today's schedules for Xiao Jingli and Xiao Liqin. He skimmed them—nothing out of the ordinary today.

He shut off his phone and put it down. Lu Ao had changed and come back over.

"Brother, I'm changed."

Xiao Lancui gave him a look. The size was definitely too small, but Lu Ao was skinny enough that he could just barely squeeze into it.

He'd taken off the cap—his head was shaved clean, basically bald. With his tall, broad frame, he still managed to pull it off.

His head and face were sharp, with strong, angular features. Once the stitches came out, he'd probably be a handsome young guy.

Xiao Lancui looked away. "Eat up."

Lu Ao stared at the bowl of noodles but didn't touch it. "Brother should eat too."

"I'm not hungry." Xiao Lancui paused a beat, then glanced at the strawberries. "I could have some fruit. Wash a few strawberries—" he asked, "You know how to wash them?"

Lu Ao took the strawberries in his left hand. "Yeah!"

Lu Ao headed to the kitchen, and the sound of running water brought a little life to the quiet place. Xiao Lancui actually found himself getting a little hungry.

The strawberries were washed in no time, and Lu Ao dried them off. Big, red strawberries gave off a fresh, natural scent. Xiao Lancui picked one up and took a little bite.

Sweet and tangy, with a super strong strawberry taste.

Xiao Lancui took another little bite. He'd always had a soft spot for sweet-and-sour things.

Lu Ao pulled out the chair across from him and sat, picking up his bowl and saying quietly, "Brother, I'm gonna dig in now."

Xiao Lancui nodded, and only then did Lu Ao tuck in.

Even so, Lu Ao didn't make a sound. The small dining area was quiet except for the occasional sound of chewing.

His right hand still couldn't move around much—he used his left, but he handled the chopsticks smoothly, like a natural lefty.

The Lu Ao he knew had always been right-handed.

Xiao Lancui picked up another strawberry and nibbled at it slowly, not saying anything to interrupt Lu Ao's meal.

Lu Ao ate fast—like, really fast. By the time Xiao Lancui was halfway through his fourth strawberry, Lu Ao had put down his chopsticks, picked up the bowl with his left hand, and downed the rest of the soup in one go.

Lu Ao put the bowl down. Xiao Lancui asked, "You want more?"

That caught Xiao Lancui off guard—Lu Ao's appetite was even bigger than he'd figured. Lu Ao obediently shook his head. "I'm about seventy percent full, that's enough."

When Xiao Lancui first started feeding Lu Ao, the kid would eat whatever he was given, no matter how much, like a little wild beast driven by pure animal instinct.

He didn't say any more, just nodded. "Go to the living room. Let me check your injuries."

Mainly your hands.

Xiao Lancui checked them over. Lu Ao's hands had been snapped by brute force—whoever did it was vicious.

But Lu Ao's recovery was insane. For a normal person, injuries this bad would take months to heal. Lu Ao could use his hands within a week, which was insane.

Same with the wounds on the rest of his body—his healing was just as monstrous as his strength. The gash on his head had already formed a scab.

Xiao Lancui pulled the ointment out of his bag—the same little round tin he'd picked up at the convenience store. He'd had two tins; the other one he'd left at Sen Mountain Psychiatric Hospital by Lu Ao's hospital bed, probably thrown out ages ago.

Xiao Lancui put it on the coffee table. "Put some ointment on wherever it hurts." He got up. "There's new bedding and pillows in the bedroom closet. Grab them and crash on the couch for now. I'll get you a bed tomorrow."

The place had two rooms, but until today he'd never thought someone else would be moving in. The second bedroom had been turned into a study.

Which meant there was only one bed right now.

He wasn't used to other people sleeping in his bed. Only once in his life had Lu Ao slept in his bed, using his pillow.

When the Late Emperor died, Lu Ao had shown up at his room that night, his eyes red, and asked, "Teacher, can I sleep here tonight?"

Lu Ao shot to his feet, asking tensely, "Are you leaving?"

Xiao Lancui nodded. "I'll come by with breakfast around eight tomorrow morning."

He headed out, knowing Lu Ao was watching him the whole time. He changed his shoes at the front door, opened the door, and glanced down at the new keypad lock.

After a beat, he decided not to call Lu Ao over to register his fingerprints.

It wasn't time yet.

Xiao Lancui didn't look back, put on his coat, and left.

The door closed, and Lu Ao immediately rushed to the window. He pushed it open, and the cold wind instantly poured in, biting to the bone. He just stared at the exit downstairs. Xiao Lancui appeared, then walked away until he was completely out of sight—and still, he didn't move.

His fingers nearly shattered the window glass.

He couldn't bear to be apart from Xiao Lancui for even a single second.

The reality of having something back after losing it still felt fragile, and he kept doubting whether this was all just a beautiful dream.

He stood there for God knows how long before going back inside, leaving the window open.

He dashed into the bathroom, grabbed Xiao Lancui's scarf, buried his face in it, and breathed in Xiao Lancui's scent like a man possessed.

He'd seen it.

The files on Xiao Lancui's phone.

Xiao Lancui was investigating the father and older brother of the body he was inhabiting. Tonight, he was heading back to where those ants lived.

Lu Ao didn't know why, and he didn't care—whatever Xiao Lancui did was always right.

He hugged the scarf tightly, as if embracing Xiao Lancui himself, and it was a long moment before he finally put it in the washing machine with the new loungewear.

It took him a few seconds to figure out the washing machine.

As it spun, he went back to the living room and pulled open the coffee table drawer.

He'd found this iron sword after his bath, while waiting for Xiao Lancui.

That day, he'd gone back to the tomb to grab things to sell for cash. He needed a lot of money, but aside from a few jade pieces and a bunch of worthless vessels, everything else in his tomb was a registered national treasure—taking out any one of them would bring the state down on him.

Only his sword had no record in history.

Lu Ao hated to part with it, but to get enough money for him and Xiao Lancui to live on, he had no choice but to sell the sword for now.

He'd find a hundred ways to get it back later.

Yet, as luck would have it, it had come full circle and been bought back by Xiao Lancui.

Lu Ao stroked the sword, thinking of the way Qi Ying's greedy, drooling eyes had been all over Xiao Lancui. He drew the blade, and the light caught its fierce killing intent. After a moment, he put it back.

For now, he'd spare that pest and stay put, waiting for Xiao Lancui to come home.

As for money...

The vessels he'd sent to auction could fetch a few million, and he shouldn't touch the other burial goods again. If he needed money later, he'd take it from the Lu family—this body's family.

He was the master of this body now, so everything the Lu family had belonged to him and Xiao Lancui.

This apartment was too small—no room for a lotus pond or a bamboo grove. Xiao Lancui liked those, so they'd need a bigger place—at least a hundred mu of land.

Thinking about the future with Xiao Lancui, Lu Ao's heart swelled with excitement. He collapsed onto the sofa and started counting down—ten hours until eight in the morning.

*

Xiao Lancui returned to the Xiao residence and pushed the door open, only to be met with a pair of resentful eyes.

Xiao Mian was leaning against the wall in the entryway, the game console in his hand nearly crushed from his grip.

He gave a chilly smile. "Well, well, the busy man finally returns." He gritted his teeth. "I just don't get it—you're a patient who just recovered from a serious illness, yet you're out wandering around every day. You never had this many friends before, you know!"

Xiao Lancui changed his shoes. "Waiting for me specifically? Something up?"

"Who's waiting for you!" Xiao Mian flushed bright red, shoving the console into his pajama pocket. "I like playing games here in the entryway." He coughed. "The feel's better..."

Xiao Lancui took off his coat, hung it up, and said flatly, "Then keep at it."

He headed further inside.

Xiao Mian muttered, "I'm done playing—going to bed!" He trailed behind Xiao Lancui, opening his mouth a few times before finally asking, "Have you picked out a sanatorium yet?"

"Yeah." Xiao Lancui headed upstairs, replying casually.

Xiao Mian fell silent, quietly following him up. When they reached the third floor and Xiao Lancui was about to open his door, Xiao Mian finally spoke. "Xiao Lancui, please don't go, okay?"

Xiao Lancui entered the room, still with that same "Yeah."

Seeing the door about to close, Xiao Mian quickly reached out and pressed against it, staring at Xiao Lancui's back with frustration and helplessness. "Hey, will you listen to me for real? I'm saying—"

Xiao Lancui turned around and said flatly, "I'm not going overseas."

Xiao Mian was instantly overjoyed. He pressed, "Really?"

A faint smile actually tugged at the corner of Xiao Lancui's lips. "I just picked up a little dog, so of course I'm not going anywhere."

Xiao Mian heard him but didn't understand.

What little dog?

Where?

He was about to ask when the door closed, and his prominent nose nearly slammed into it. He complained indignantly, "Hey, watch it—my nose is famous. If it gets ruined, you can't afford to pay for it..."

Xiao Lancui, of course, ignored him.

After showering and taking his medicine, Xiao Lancui went to bed early and slept dreamlessly. When he opened his eyes the next day, his illness had lifted like a weight being pulled away—his body felt light and refreshed. It was the first good night's sleep he'd had since arriving here.

Xiao Lancui washed up, went downstairs, and made his way to the kitchen.

The kitchen had both Chinese and Western breakfasts prepared. He had the servants pack one of each, and his own wonton soup was boxed up too.

Carrying two full bags, he walked out of the kitchen—and there was Xiao Anfeng, who'd been watching him for God knows how long.

Xiao Lancui walked past as if he hadn't seen him, but Xiao Anfeng blocked his path. There was no one else downstairs at the moment—both servants were in the kitchen—so Xiao Anfeng lowered his voice. "Xiao Lancui, last time you said you remembered someone pushing you into the sea. Have you remembered anything else since?"

Xiao Anfeng had a dream last night—he dreamed of Xie Jingfang pushing Xiao Lancui off the boat into the deep, dark sea...

That's when he remembered what Xiao Lancui had told him before.

With all the back-and-forth with Lu Siye recently and the chance to learn from Xiao Jingli, he'd almost forgotten about it!

Unexpectedly, Xiao Lancui said, "I do, but I can't tell you."

Xiao Anfeng frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Xiao Lancui lowered his eyes, leaned in close, and whispered, "Everyone in the family knows except you—I'm your half-brother on our father's side."

"So tell me, who would want me dead the most?"