Chapter 8: Spring Hunt (2)

Chapter 8 Spring Hunt (2)

"Is the young master tired?" Jili jogged up to Chen Shuoan's side and asked.

He leaned against the tree, his eyes that were usually curved in a smile now tightly shut—whether he was asleep or had passed on to the next world was anyone's guess.

Chen Shuoan let out a feeble grunt, indicating that he was perfectly fine.

Jili smiled warmly. "The young master need not put on a brave face."

With that, he waved a hand behind him, signaling the carriage to come forward.

Chen Shuoan vaguely sensed that his days of suffering were about to end.

"His Highness sent word ahead of time, just waiting for you to have your fill of fun," Jili said.

Chen Shuoan, on the verge of tears, replied, "His Highness the Sixth Prince is truly thoughtful."

Jili gave a slight smile, helped Chen Shuoan into the carriage, and stepped back.

Chen Shuoan lifted the curtain inside the carriage and flashed a smug grin at Zheng Yuanzhi and the others. "Go get some exercise, guys—knock yourselves out!"

Zheng Yuanzhi was so mad he could've pulled his hair out, while Li Wei was so upset he was clawing at the wall.

Chen Shuoan rode up to the mountaintop without a care in the world, and after getting everything arranged, he still hadn't seen Yuan Rang.

So he waited all the way until night.

Though the daytime temperature wasn't low, the mountain turned bitterly cold at night.

Chen Shuoan curled up into a ball under the blanket, convinced that the blankets were the best body bag you could ask for.

He was still worried about Yuan Rang and couldn't fall asleep.

It was that helpless feeling of knowing a teacher was about to take attendance while your roommate was still dead to the world in bed.

Suddenly, he heard the rustling sound of leaves rubbing against each other.

For no reason at all, Chen Shuoan just knew Yuan Rang was there.

He didn't care about the cold, didn't even grab a robe—just got out of bed and opened the door.

And there was Yuan Rang, all in black, walking right past his door.

Yuan Rang wasn't startled, but Chen Shuoan nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Your Highness, you don't make a sound when you walk," Chen Shuoan said, patting his chest.

If it weren't for my scary-good sixth sense, who'd have known you were coming up the mountain in the middle of the night?

Yuan Rang looked all travel-worn, with exhaustion written all over his face. He asked, "Why aren't you asleep?"

Chen Shuoan had long since thought of the guy as a good buddy, and said, "I was waiting for Your Highness."

Yuan Rang froze, staring at him without a word.

Chen Shuoan chuckled, pushing him into the adjacent room, carrying a food box all mysterious-like, and whispered, "Have you had dinner? I snagged some late-night snacks from Zheng Yuanzhi's spot—it's from Xianshiji back in the capital. Let's try it together."

A faint smile flickered in Yuan Rang's deep black eyes as he let himself be pushed through the door.

The night wind was biting, and in that short time Chen Shuoan's hands and feet had gone ice-cold. He pulled his hand back from Yuan Rang's back, closed the door properly, and pulled out a stool for His Highness.

Chen Shuoan set out the food box, sniffing the air happily. "Smells great—I kept it warm with charcoal, so it's still hot..."

Just as he said that, he caught a faint whiff of blood.

Outside, the wind had blown the smell away, but now that they were inside, the metallic smell got stronger.

"Your Highness, you're hurt?" Chen Shuoan turned to look at Yuan Rang, speaking slowly.

Yuan Rang gave a light chuckle. "It's nothing. Just fell off my horse—a little scrape."

Chen Shuoan made a low "mm" sound and went quiet.

Yuan Rang raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter?"

Chen Shuoan pouted. "I know it's not my place to say this, but I'm gonna say it anyway. Your Highness is still young, and there are tons of wild beasts on this mountain. Coming up here in the dead of night is super risky. Falling off a horse today is no big deal, but if you'd run into a few wolves on the way, even with a hundred arms, you wouldn't escape their jaws."

Yuan Rang blinked, looking all innocent, and said, "I got held up by urgent business today. It was a last resort."

Chen Shuoan's expression softened, and he started fussing like an old mother hen. "Then Your Highness should take care of that wound in a bit... no, actually, no time like the present—do it now!" He quickly grabbed a piece of pastry and shoved it in his mouth, then ran out and shut the door behind him, adding as an afterthought, "Your Highness, get some rest."

Yuan Rang stared at the closed door, listening to the loud guy run off into the distance, and couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips.

He reached out with a slender finger to pick up a piece of pastry. The little green pastry made Yuan Rang's hand look even bigger and paler by comparison.

Yuan Rang opened his mouth and took a gentle bite, hiding the dark look in his eyes.

Not bad, he thought.

————

Chen Shuoan scooped up some broth from his bowl, complaining to himself that it was too bland.

He couldn't help feeling bummed about only getting to eat that one piece of pastry last night.

Li Wei sidled over and asked, "What are you thinking about, so zoned out?"

Chen Shuoan said, all gloomy, "Last night while I was sleeping, my great-aunt came to me in a dream and said I have to eat shrimp today."

Li Wei said, shocked, "Your great-aunt manages what you eat too?"

"Of course," Chen Shuoan continued his shameless lie, "otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Zheng Yuanzhi leaned in, curious too.

"Otherwise I won't get to eat shrimp."

Zheng Yuanzhi: "..."

Li Wei: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Chen Shuoan suddenly lunged with his chopsticks, lightning-fast, snatching the meat from Li Wei's and Zheng Yuanzhi's bowls and shoving it into his own mouth.

Chewing and talking with his mouth full, he mumbled, "Thanks..."

Zheng Yuanzhi's forehead veins bulged with rage, lamenting that he'd fallen for Chen Shuoan's trick again, sick at heart.

Li Wei wore an expression of "bro, I feel for you," and said considerately, "Take your time eating; we're not going to snatch it back once it's in your mouth."

He slapped Chen Shuoan's back with all his strength, wishing he could knock the meat out of Chen Shuoan's mouth along with his internal organs.

Poor Chen Shuoan squirmed like a worm under Li Wei's hand from the pain.

With tears in his eyes, he declared: fam, it hurts so good.