Chapter 6: Do Gay Men in the Cultivation World Love White Socks Too?

Chapter 6: So, Do Cultivators Also Dig White Socks?

"What is it?"

Yan Huaixuan had already pulled open the door. His face didn't change as he just said, "With Shen Lian staying in the cold palace, those people won't come pestering me."

Ling Yun also realized that now, Shen Lian was the one doing stuff like fetching meals. But if Shen Lian got sick, then it'd be Yan Huaixuan's turn.

He felt a little guilty. "I'm sorry, Master."

Meanwhile, Shen Lian had traded for some cold medicine with the newly appointed eunuch, downed it, and lay down in bed.

He was still puzzling over why he'd suddenly passed out last night when the door was shoved open.

He thought it was Yan Huaixuan, but instead heard a sleazy voice.

"A Lian, I greeted you yesterday, why'd you ignore your big brother?"

"I heard you were feeling under the weather, so I brought some meds over."

Shen Lian's eyes flickered with irritation. This guy was none other than Ye Zhang, one of the guys the original Shen Lian was hooking up with.

Shen Lian pushed himself up despite his aching body and sat up, forcing a smile. "Why'd you show up out of nowhere? Aren't you supposed to be on duty right now?"

Hearing Shen Lian's gentle voice, the guard felt his heart turn to honey. And for some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that this Shen Lian seemed different.

The previous Shen Lian had also been beautiful, but there was an undeniable tackiness to him. Still, the thought of having slept with the former Crown Prince's wife made it more thrilling, so he'd put up with it.

But the Shen Lian before him now, leaning lightly against the headboard with such a gentle expression, made Ye Zhang like him even more.

"I swapped shifts with someone else just to come see you," Ye Zhang said as he plopped himself down. "A Lian, you were so cold to me the day before yesterday. You had me all worked up all night."

"So how are you gonna make it up to me?"

He reached out to touch Shen Lian's hand, his tone suggestive.

Shen Lian kept his smile in place. "Ye Zhang, aren't you afraid I'll infect you?"

But to Shen Lian's surprise, Ye Zhang only got more excited. "I heard that when you have a fever, your body temp's higher, so it's even more..."

Facing that revolting face, a flicker of coldness crossed Shen Lian's eyes.

Suddenly, Yan Huaixuan's face flashed in his mind.

Cold and otherworldly, elegant and proper.

But—there was also this subtle gentleness to him.

Ever since Shen Lian told him he didn't get it, Yan Huaixuan hadn't looked down on him. Not only that, but after that, he always used plain, simple words when talking to him.

When Shen Lian offered himself, Yan Huaixuan kept his composure.

Both were human, so why were they so completely different?

Shen Lian casually dodged Ye Zhang's hand. "Ye Zhang, some other time. I'm not feeling well today."

Before Ye Zhang could get a word in, Shen Lian said softly, "Brother Ye, I really don't feel good."

As he talked, Shen Lian slid his hand under the pillow.

There was a dagger underneath.

If this guy didn't leave soon, Shen Lian was really going to drop the act.

After seeing Yan Huaixuan, every other man just looked like garbage to him.

Luckily, hearing Shen Lian call him "Brother Ye" softened Ye Zhang up.

The system suddenly chimed in. "Yan Huaixuan's on his way."

Shen Lian's smile changed instantly. He shoved Ye Zhang away in a panic. "You creep! Where'd you come from? Get off me!"

He forced himself up and stumbled toward the tall figure in the doorway. "Your Highness, this guy's messing with me."

Ye Zhang: "?"

Wasn't this guy just calling him "Brother Ye" a second ago?

No—wait, he realized a second later, what did Shen Lian just call him?

Your... Your Highness?

Ye Zhang turned and locked eyes with Yan Huaixuan's cold, indifferent stare.

The so-called Deposed Crown Prince stood tall and imposing in the doorway, radiating an air of noble aloofness. It was almost impossible to link him to that sickly, good-for-nothing waste.

Cold sweat started beading on Ye Zhang's forehead.

Weird—this guy was just some commoner locked up in the cold palace, so why did his back suddenly go cold?

Meanwhile, Yan Huaixuan suddenly had an armful of Shen Lian.

The second Shen Lian slammed into him, his arms locked tight around Yan Huaixuan.

Caught off guard, Yan Huaixuan felt like he was being strangled by an octopus, with the guy's head buried in his chest.

Yan Huaixuan frowned and said in a low voice, "Stand up straight."

He grabbed Shen Lian's shoulder with one hand, trying to pry him off.

But the moment he said that, Shen Lian only clung to him even harder.

He looked up and breathed into Yan Huaixuan's ear. "Husband, I'm scared."

There was a faint whimper in his voice.

As he talked, Shen Lian didn't pass up the chance to cop a feel. His arms wrapped around Yan Huaixuan's waist, and he snuck in a couple of feels, unable to help marveling.

Lean and strong, not an ounce of fat on his waist—way better than those guys at the banquet tables who looked like they were about to pop.

Plus, Yan Huaixuan had this faint frost-and-snow scent, cool and otherworldly, and it smelled amazing.

Unfortunately, before Shen Lian could get another whiff, his arms suddenly went weak, and he couldn't hold onto Yan Huaixuan anymore.

Shen Lian blinked. What the hell just happened?

And as they separated, Yan Huaixuan's voice got sharper. "Nonsense! Don't you know there are outsiders here?"

But Shen Lian caught the slight tremor in Yan Huaixuan's voice.

Yan Huaixuan wasn't a corpse, so how could he not feel Shen Lian's hands roaming all over him as he hugged him?

Especially with others present.

Yan Huaixuan's brow twitched slightly, and he directly used Spellcraft to shove Shen Lian away.

Shen Lian pouted—who said he had to stand like a statue? This was a golden opportunity. He looked up, and his beautiful, bright eyes instantly filled with tears.

"Last night, I caught a chill while preparing medicine for my husband. Today, while lying sick in bed, this Ye Zhang barged in and tried to assault me."

"But A Lian's heart belongs to Your Highness, and I'd rather die than give in. If Your Highness had arrived any later, A Lian would have bashed my head against that pillar!"

Since Shen Lian couldn't hug him, he timidly grabbed hold of Yan Huaixuan's robe, his pale fingers turning even whiter from the tight grip.

He truly looked pitiful.

Both Ling Yun's and the system's lips twitched.

What "stayed up all night making medicine for your husband"? That was clearly crawling into bed with him in the middle of the night! And bashing your head against a pillar?

Yan Huaixuan paused, his gaze sweeping over Shen Lian's tear-filled eyes before landing on Ye Zhang, who stood frozen on the spot, trembling.

Ling Yun couldn't help but say, "Isn't this one of Shen Lian's favorite flings from his past life?"

And he'd even brought him into the master's bed!

Ye Zhang was shaking all over. Technically, Yan Huaixuan was now a commoner, but he couldn't shake the fear gripping him.

Especially when meeting Yan Huaixuan's emotionless eyes—it felt like falling into a bottomless pit.

Hearing Shen Lian's words, he felt like he'd been struck by lightning. What did Shen Lian mean?

Seeing the scheme exposed, was Shen Lian shifting all the blame onto him?

Ye Zhang gritted his teeth. Fine—if Shen Lian wanted him dead, then Shen Lian wouldn't get off scot-free either.

Ye Zhang shouted, "Your Highness, I beg you to see clearly! It was Shen Lian who couldn't take the loneliness and came on to me. I've got Shen Lian's socks right here!"

Shen Lian: "..."

Shen Lian: "Even in the cultivation world, gay dudes still can't give up their white socks."

System: "Fucking gays."

"Shouldn't the most urgent thing be that he's got your socks?"

Yan Huaixuan's gaze dropped, landing on Shen Lian.