Arc 3: Chapter 9 & 10
Jiang Qian was taken aback. He didn’t expect Lin Yuan to resort to this kind of method to make him change the way he addressed him.
Moreover, he didn’t expect that Little Prince Lin, a six-foot tall noble man, had such a soft tongue, as soft as the sweet rice cakes he ate when he was a child.
Maybe… maybe even softer than the rice cakes. It was warm and slippery, and when it swept past the lips, it brought an unprecedented tingling that poked at the tip of the heart.
Jiang Qian unintentionally thought of the shocking scene last night, when he just woke up, and Little Prince Lin was in the middle of……doing that.
Although Jiang Qian didn’t know much about these bed matters, he still thought, in that situation, the little prince’s soft tongue must have touched or swept on his thing.
He…… he actually pressed on the little prince’s head, and his stuff actually…… actually made the precious little prince of Prince Chu’s mansion choke.
As he thought about this, Jiang Qian subconsciously stiffened and his neck and ears burned and reddened.
Lin Yuan blinked in doubt: “Jiang Qian, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Jiang Qian looked at Lin Yuan’s face in front of him, but quickly, his sight seemed to be hooked by something and was attracted to Lin Yuan’s lips. The teenager’s lips were rosy and slightly swollen, and there was a small scab on the left side of the lower lip, which was the mark of someone’s bite.
This little prince now only had him as a male pet. He was muddle-headed before and couldn’t differentiate between heaven and earth, so… so this wound was bitten… by him?
Well, Little Prince Lin was willing to do that for him, so biting… biting each other’s lips was not unexpected.
Jiang Qian recalled the soft touch just then, and suddenly felt his throat was extremely thirsty and itchy. He didn’t dare make eye contact with Lin Yuan and lowered his eyes slightly. His voice was dry: “This slave……”
The moment he said a word, his mouth was blocked by Lin Yuan. The wet and soft touch followed again and made Jiang Qian feel indescribably comfortable.
Lin Yuan just gently touched their lips together. When he pulled away, Jiang Qian narrowed his eyes imperceptibly.
“Slave what? You say ah! Try and say it again!” Lin Yuan huffed angrily.
Jiang Qian squeezed his lips together that still held the residual warmth left by Lin Yuan. He examined the pale and handsome teenager, from the other’s bright and clear eyes to the moistened lips that had been bitten.
After a long time, Jiang Qian seemed to have compromised. He nodded and whispered: “Yes, I understand. I will not address myself as ‘this slave’. But, the little prince was born noble with unparalleled status, so I don’t dare speak of the little prince’s nickname, this would be disrespectful.”
Lin Yuan pondered for a bit and felt that what Jiang Qian said was reasonable. He climbed off of Jiang Qian’s lap and sat next to him. His round eyes shone like a warm light, as if he was willing to tolerate all of the other’s thorns and pain.
“Then from now on, when there are only the two of us, can you call me ‘Sui Sui’?
Lin Yuan pinched Jiang Qian’s broad sleeve and deliberately dragged the ends of his voice. He said pitifully: “Can you~ Jiang Qian~ Can you~”
Jiang Qian was still a bit hesitant. His current slave status was incomparable to even ordinary commoners. When Little Prince Lin spoiled him, the other was willing to bow his head to do that, and also allowed him to call the him by his nickname, all of which were intimate actions.
But if one day Little Prince Lin turned his face and didn’t recognize people, he would be the one at fault. As a slave, he would be charged with the crime of not knowing his place.
Lin Yuan waited for a while but Jiang Qian was still silent. Lin Yuan became a little anxious and sprawled on top of Jiang Qian and acted coquettish. His voice was so soft it dripped with honey.
“Jiang Qian~ Don’t call me ‘little prince’. I like you, and only you. I call you Jiang Qian, but you call me ‘little prince’. They don’t match~”
“......”
Jiang Qian thought that Lin Yuan’s were laughable to the point of being ridiculous.
A high-ranking prince and a lowly slave. They didn’t match in the first place, and a name couldn’t change that fact.
But as Lin Yuan pestered him, Jiang Qian got a strange feeling that when they were together, they were just Jiang Qian and Sui Sui. Two equal people who matched together.
As if he was still the original Jiang Qian.
Jiang Qian couldn’t refuse such temptation. He squeezed his fist silently and mocked this delusion of his. Had he still not accepted reality after his time in Prince Yanping’s mansion? He still thought he was Jiang family’s third son who was praised by everyone, but now he was nothing. Now he could only struggle in the mud, so what did it matter if he was delusional?!
“Sui Sui……”
Jiang Qian slightly moved his lips and spoke out this name.
His voice was hoarse and unknowingly tense. His amber eyes had also darkened.
After a pause, Jiang Qian said it again. This time, he spoke much smoother and a little lighter: “Sui Sui……”
Jiang Qian, once a jade-like gentlemen, modest and respectful, had never used someone else’s nickname so intimately. Now Little Prince Lin was the only exception, after all, they already had body to body relations.
Lin Yuan finally heard the conscious Jiang Qian call him ‘Sui Sui’ and was over the moon with happiness. He put his chin on the man’s shoulder and wrapped his arms around the other’s neck, pulling the two closer.
Jiang Qian wasn’t used to such an intimate hug and his body stiffened and was still. He didn’t know what to do, but soon, someone told him.
Lin Yuan whispered into his ear: “Jiang Qian, hug me…”
Lin Yuan held Jiang Qian’s hands and put them on his waist. His whole body was like a sticky rice cake that wrapped around Jiang Qian tightly: “Hug me, Jiang Qian. Hug me tightly…”
Jiang Qian faltered for a moment, but then tightened his embrace.
He told himself over and over again that Lin Yuan was the little prince and master of Prince Chu’s mansion, and he was just a slave. If he wanted to live better, then he needed to obey the orders of the master, Little Prince Lin. He was just following an order. Just following an order.
Just an order is all.
⋅ ˚ ₊ ‧ ୨୧ ‧ ₊ ˚ ⋅
Jiang Qian’s recovery was known by the whole Lin courtyard in less than half a day.
It was easy to tell, because Jiang Qian’s eyes used to be as simple as an infant. They were clear and empty, and one could see the bottom at a glance.
A more obvious reason was that when Sir Jiang was crazy, he was always saying ‘Sui Sui’ at every turn. Today he suddenly became silent, anyone could tell that there was a problem.
Lin Qiu was the first to get nervous. What kind of person was Jiang liuyuan? His talents shocked the capital. At that time, the Jiang family was prosperous, and he was bound to grow up arrogant and prideful.
Now that he had become the male pet of their little prince, how could a scholar like him accept this identity?
And the little prince admired Jiang liuyuan so much that through his rose-colored glasses, he couldn’t find any fault with Jiang liuyuan. What if Jiang liuyuan had any bad thoughts and harmed the little prince?
The more Lin Qiu thought, the more his thoughts spiraled negatively. After a few days, he couldn’t hold it in anymore and personally took the tea and cake from Lü Yi and carried them into the study.
The scene in the room was unexpected. Jiang liuyuan and the little prince were both sitting on the soft couch, with Jiang liuyuan reading the book in his hand, and the little prince lying down and playing with Jiang liuyuan’s sleeve.
Lin Qiu suddenly felt that he really had no eyes to see this. Before, their little prince practiced calligraphy diligently everyday, but now he only had Jiang liuyuan in his eyes and became degenerate ah.
He put the tea and cakes aside, bowed, and said respectfully: “Little prince, the elderly princess sent someone to inquire about Sir Jiang again.”
Lin Yuan and Jiang Qian looked up at Lin Qiu at the same time. Lin Yuan sat up and asked: “Did anyone say anything unnecessary?”
Lin Qiu replied: “Don’t worry, little prince. The servants in Lin courtyard know what to say and what not to say.”
Lin Yuan nodded and waved his hand to let the other retreat: “This prince understands. You can leave.”
Lin Qiu answered yes, and looked at Jiang Qian meaningfully as he backed away.
From his glance, Jiang Qian understood what the housekeeper of Lin courtyard wanted. The housekeeper was in charge of all big and small matters but came to serve at this time specifically to see him.
Jiang Qian turned to look at the ignorant Little Prince Lin, and in his heart, he wondered why Sui Sui was so simple and delicate but all the people around him were so scheming.
Jiang Qian smiled and closed the book. He said: “Sui Sui, I’m going to relieve myself.”
Lin Yuan remembered how in the last world he and Fu Cheng would go to the toilet together in high school, even if one of them didn’t need to, they just wanted to accompany each other all the time. He got up and put on his shoes: “I’ll go with you.”
Jiang Qian was left speechless at Little Prince Lin’s clinginess, but also a little amused. He pressed the other back down on the sofa and unconsciously stared for a second longer at Lin Yuan under him.
In these past few days, although they ate together and stayed in the same room, only when they went to bed would the little prince of the Lin family snuggle into his arms.
At this moment, he pressed the little prince under his body and the other party’s eyes were full of docility and dependence, as if he would obediently follow anything he did without any resistance.
Jiang Qian’s Adam’s apple rolled up and down and his fingers twitched slightly. When his reason came back, he got up immediately as if he had been burned.
“I…… I’ll be back quickly, you don’t need to accompany me.”
After he finished speaking, he strode out of the study with some erraticness, as if he was making an escape.
Lin Qiu was waiting outside. When he saw Jiang Qian, he saluted respectfully: “Sir Jiang.”
Jiang Qian’s eyes were deep and in them swirled emotions that had not yet dispersed.
He lowered his eyes quickly, and when he looked up again, those turbulent emotions were suppressed. He looked like an elegant, noble gentleman: “Housekeeper Lin doesn’t need to be polite.”
Lin Qiu maintained his smile and said: “Sir Jiang, this servant has some matters to ask for your advice, do you have time?”
Jiang Qian smiled back and said: “Housekeeper Lin, of course this one has time.”
Lin Qiu led Jiang Qian to a small room in Lin courtyard. After pouring the tea, Lin Qiu held the tea cup lid and gently blew the leaves floating in the cup. He said: “Sir Jiang is knowledgeable and talented, and this servant holds much respect for you. Today, this servant has something to ask Sir Jiang.”
Jiang Qian sat in the first seat on the left and looked towards Lin Qiu. His eyes were clear and light under the sun, and looked as warm as jade but always gave off a feeling of being deep and obscure.
“Housekeeper Lin can speak your mind.”
Lin Qiu covered the tea cup with the lid and slowly looked at Jiang Qian and said: “This servant wants to ask Sir Jiang about the matter of a life-saving grace and the saying that kindness is as heavy as a mountain. Even if a benefactor forces the person he saved to do something that the other party doesn’t want to do, the other party should still consider the life-saving grace and under no circumstances should he harm his savior. Does Sir Jiang agree with this servant?” t/n NO! NO!! NO!!! if LY was here he would call out this B.S.
Although no people were named, the people he was referring to were obvious. How could Jiang Qian not be able to tell?
The housekeeper just feared that his ego was too inflated, didn’t know how to bend and stretch, and couldn’t accept being a male pet. Housekeeper Lin was worried that he would hurt Little Prince Lin in a fit of anger.
Jiang Qian smiled faintly and raised his hand to touch the edge of the teacup: “Indeed, Housekeeper Lin’s words are reasonable. The kindness of saving one’s life is indeed as heavy as a mountain. Regardless of how the saved person is forced by his savior, he should not hurt his benefactor. His life was given by others, it would be a wolf’s heart to hurt others.” t/n again, NO
Lin Qiu was still afraid that Jiang liuyuan was holding a grudge for being a male pet. He contemplated for a moment and spoke: “Sir Jiang, some things shouldn’t be said by this servant, but our little prince is simple-minded, if I don’t say it, then I’m afraid he will never mention it. Us servants just wish that our master will live well.”
Jiang Qian looked at him: “What things? Housekeeper Lin can speak.”
Lin Qiu: “Sir Jiang, you suffered all sorts of tortures at Prince Yanping’s mansion. When our little prince took you away from the hands of Prince Yanping’s son, you were scarred and irrational, with not even half of your life remaining.”
Jiang Qian was clear that Lin Qiu was not exaggerating. When he thought of his days in Prince Yanping’s mansion, his eyes were like a venomous snake, dark and dangerous.
Lin Qiu observed Jiang Qian’s expression and continued: “The little prince ordered the physician to treat you, but he didn’t expect that because you were deeply affected by torture, you believed that the medicine was harmful. When no one was around, you picked off the medicine on your wounds.”
“In order to convince you that the medicine was harmless, he told all of the servants to retreat. Sir Jiang, can you guess how the little prince persuaded you?”
Jiang Qian thought of a possibility and was shaken: “He……”
Lin Qiu nodded and sighed: “This servant didn’t expect that the little prince would take a dagger and cut himself over and over again. He used medicine on himself in front of you to convince you.”
“A few months have passed, and the wounds on the little prince’s arms have been healed and the scar removal ointment has been used. Everyone in Lin courtyard knows about this matter, but they just don't say anything.”
“There’s more. Sir Jiang refused to eat, probably because you felt there was something wrong with the food. The little prince fed you spoonful by spoonful. If you didn’t eat, then he would eat it himself in order to show that the food was fine. In two days, the little prince ate and vomited, vomited then ate. Us servants were really afraid that he would get sick.”
“When Sir Jiang’s body got better, the little prince moved you into his own bedroom. Until recently, the little prince personally dressed you and fed you.”
As Lin Qiu spoke, he believed more strongly that although the little prince had forced Jiang liuyuan, the little prince was sincere with his affections. Even if Jiang liuyuan was unwilling, he shouldn’t hurt or blame the little prince. t/n NO, forcing yourself on someone is always wrong, it's a crime!
Their little prince was just unable to restrain his infatuation!
Jiang Qian thought that it was unlikely that the housekeeper made these things up. Lin Qiu wasn’t bold enough to weave lies using his master, so his words were likely true.
Little Prince Lin… Lin Yuan…did he really treat him with sincerity? Because of pure affection?
Jiang Qian lightly recited in his heart, Sui Sui…Sui Sui…, and he felt like his heart was softened and soaked in warm spring water.
“I understand Housekeeper Lin’s meaning.” Jiang Qian stood up and bowed to Lin Qiu, expressing his gratitude: “Thank you for telling me about these matters.”
Then Jiang Qian walked out of the room and strode back to the study quickly.
Lin Yuan was lying on the soft couch and turning the pages of the book that Jiang Qian was reading. Hearing footsteps, he immediately turned around and saw Jiang Qian’s figure. Lin Yuan sat up straight and said joyfully: “Jiang Qian~”
Jiang Qian looked at the teenager’s handsome face, bent eyebrows, bright and pure eyes, and crescent dimples. He sat next to the teenager and gently rubbed his fingertips together. He said softly: “Little prince, Housekeeper Lin called me over just now.”
Lin Yuan tilted his head and looked doubtful. He asked strangely: “Why did Lin Qiu talk to you?”
Jiang Qian silently grabbed Lin Yuan’s wrist and gently rubbed his thumb over the other’s wrists. His eyes deepened and fell on Lin Yuan’s face. His thin lips moved slightly: “Was it this arm?”
Lin Yuan didn’t understand what Jiang Qian meant: “En? What do you mean?”
Jiang Qian stared into his eyes: “Was this the arm you hurt in order to give me medicine?”
Lin Yuan realized what he was asking and nodded obediently and said softly: “Yes, it was this arm.”
Jiang Qian pushed up Lin Yuan’s sleeve and revealed the other’s slender arm. Little Prince Lin had grown up spoiled, and unlike him, his skin was fair and delicate, like high-quality soft jade that was warm in his hands.
Such a delicate body actually cut and bled so many times for him.
Jiang Qian was unable to imagine how on earth Lin Yuan, a teenager who was well-behaved and spoke softly, could be cruel to himself and hurt himself just to save that crazy version of Jiang Qian.
Jiang Qian lightly stroked Lin Yuan’s arms with his fingers, and the touch between their skin brought a mild itch.
Lin Yuan watched quietly as Jiang Qian traced his arms carefully. Even though the other party was moving lightly, Lin Yuan couldn’t help humming and his whole body softened. The corners of his eyes slowly flushed with a thin layer of red.
“Jiang Qian……” His voice was softer than before, like flowing honey.
Jiang Qian’s throat tightened. When he looked up, something was burning in his eyes: “En, Sui Sui, what’s wrong?”
Lin Yuan's round eyes were wet and innocent: “Jiang Qian… don’t touch anymore. It’s itchy…… uncomfortable.”
At first, Jiang Qian thought that when he was muddle-headed he was the one below. Even though Little Prince Lin spoke a little coquettishly, he was still a man and his figure was tall and slender. In fact, before today, he didn’t consider another possibility.
But after talking to Housekeeper Lin, and seeing Lin Yuan’s reaction, Jiang Qian felt that he had probably guessed wrong.
I’m afraid that such a delicate teenager doesn’t have this ability. Jiang Qian thought of another possibility and the scene last night came to his mind again. His eyes deepened in an instant and his Adam’s apple rolled up and down. There was wicked fire in his body that dried his mouth.
Holding Lin Yuan’s wrist, Jiang Qian approached inch by inch and said hoarsly: “Why didn’t you tell me these things? If you told me, then I would definitely repay your life-saving grace.”
Lin Yuan said perplexedly: “Why do I need to tell you? I only wanted to save you, and now that you’re better, everything’s fine. I don’t want to talk about it so that you don’t think of it and become unhappy.”
He reached out and touched Jiang Qian’s face and said with a smile: “Jiang Qian, did Lin Qiu tell you this to make you thank me? Do you feel a little moved and want to repay me? Then you can repay me by kissing me okay?”
Lin Yuan licked his lips and looked at Jiang Qian eagerly. He said a little pitifully: “Jiang Qian, you haven’t kissed me for several days. I want to kiss you.”
Jiang Qian’s eyes lowered slightly and stared at Lin Yuan’s rosy lips. The bite traces were almost gone. He took a deep breath, and said as if he were talking to himself: “Little prince, I… I’m not a cutsleeve.”
Even if he felt moved, it was impossible for him to bend. And even if… he really bent, it was impossible to bend in just a few days.
Lin Yuan nodded and said: “Actually, I don’t count as a cutsleeve, I only like you.” t/n well i guess because systems don't have genders?
He moved closer and his voice was more obedient: “Jiang Qian, just kiss me. You can take it as just repaying me ok?”
Jiang Qian pondered for a bit. Little Prince Lin did so much for himself, if he kissed the other once, it should be… acceptable.