HR Chapter 2

Lu Qinyuan groaned in pain, instantly regaining consciousness. He grabbed Xiao Qi’s hand and pulled him over, forcing him to look up at him, and said displeased, “First, I need to tell you your identity. Here, you don’t exist as a person, but as a doll. A doll’s duty is to obey and please its master. A doll has no rights of its own, only an dispensable appendage. Understand?”

Xiao Qi’s light gray eyes rolled slightly, maintaining the posture of looking up and half-lying as he questioned, “In other words, you can kill me at any time, my life could end at any moment, and my life is in your hands.”

“Your understanding is correct.” Lu Qinyuan released Xiao Qi, sat up straight, and said in a softened tone, “I’m not a bloodthirsty person. As long as you stay by my side obediently, don’t do anything out of line, and fulfill your value as a doll, I will consider giving you the respect due to a person.”

“What counts as not being out of line? How does one show value?” Xiao Qi leaned forward, crawling closer, his nose almost touching Lu Qinyuan’s. Their breaths mingled. A faint herbal fragrance lingered in the air. Lu Qinyuan chuckled and used a slender finger to push Xiao Qi’s head away, “You have the scent of medicine on you. Are you sick?”

“You haven’t answered my question.” Xiao Qi’s expression was serious, “If I don’t do it, what will you do to me?”

“You wouldn’t want to know the consequences of not doing it.” His nose always caught a faint medicinal scent, sometimes there, sometimes not. Lu Qinyuan couldn’t help but move closer. The scent was still faint but much clearer. This medicinal fragrance seemed to be integrated with Xiao Qi, becoming his body scent.

As Lu Qinyuan leaned in, Xiao Qi had to move back. Lu Qinyuan pressed, “People with a natural fragrance are rare, and even rarer are those whose fragrance is medicinal. Xiao Qi, how do you explain this?”

Lu Qinyuan was just testing him casually, but he keenly noticed a trace of panic flashing in Xiao Qi’s eyes. He quickly calmed down, and as if he hadn’t heard anything, he lowered his head and touched his ear. Feeling something that didn’t belong to his own flesh, he scratched it off, placed it in his palm, and held it out to Lu Qinyuan, “I heard that pig ear with cucumber is the best appetizer. I wonder if elf ears taste the same as pig ears?”

Lu Qinyuan took it and put it aside, feigning inquiry, “Don’t avoid the question, and don’t use amnesia as an excuse. I won’t believe it. Tell me your real name, a name with a surname, not a code name.”

Lu Qinyuan observed Xiao Qi’s expression. His large eyes met his without fear, and his clear pupils trembled slightly. The shimmering autumn water rippled gently, like a drop of crystal-clear water. A single breath could blow away the tears, making one unwilling to continue pressuring him.

He really should dig out those eyes!

Seeing the emotions on Xiao Qi’s face and in his eyes that were completely different appearing on the same face, Lu Qinyuan was even more certain of his feeling. He reached out and hooked Xiao Qi’s chin, lifting it slightly, and smiled elegantly, “The word ‘life’ gives countless people hope, but it also gives countless disappointments. For example, ‘pain beyond life’ and ‘life worse than death’ are not lives worth pursuing.”

Xiao Qi lowered his eyes slightly, and after a long time, he said, “I will fulfill my obligations as a doll. Can you not force me? I’ll tell you my name, okay?”

“Heh,” Lu Qinyuan hooked Xiao Qi’s chin and lifted it up, forcing him to meet his gaze. His cold eyes were stern and merciless, but his voice was low and gentle, “You dare to agree so casually when you know what a doll’s obligations include!”

That gaze was sharp and full of reproach, almost fierce, pressuring Xiao Qi to close his eyes. He didn’t know what was wrong with his words, nor did he understand what Lu Qinyuan’s gaze contained. Wasn’t this what he expected? Why look at him with that kind of gaze, as if he had said something rebellious and outrageous.

He could feel the breath on his face, and his eyelashes trembled uncontrollably. He wanted to open his eyes but was afraid to meet the gaze he feared. Xiao Qi felt a burst of panic in his heart, but he heard a soft sigh in his ear, “I’ll give you a chance to perform well.”

“Mmm.” Xiao Qi lowered his head in frustration, silent and no longer speaking. The hair that hung down made it difficult to see the expression on his face, and he looked very aggrieved.

Lu Qinyuan really laughed, reached out and rubbed Xiao Qi’s head, “Say it, what’s your name?”

“Jian Qilu.” His voice was muffled, accompanied by a gurgling sound from his stomach, making him even more pitiful.

Lu Qinyuan pulled him up and made him kneel on the bed with his back to him. He took out a hair tie and tied his hair up loosely, then patted his shoulder, “Turn around.” Seeing his tearful look, he couldn’t help but laugh again, softening his voice to coax him, “Alright, are you hungry? Let’s go downstairs to eat.”

Xiao Qi obediently followed Lu Qinyuan three steps behind him downstairs. The housekeeper, Bai Ze, came forward and said, “Shu Xiu just took a call and went out, saying we don’t have to wait for him for dinner.” His eyes fell on Xiao Qi, glanced over him quickly, and gave Lu Qinyuan a sidelong glance with a slight smile.

Lu Qinyuan ignored Bai Ze’s scrutiny and casually explained, “This is Xiao Qi.”

Bai Ze smiled and nodded, “Ruoyu mentioned him to me.” He looked at Xiao Qi and smiled, “He’s good-looking. Those eyes are really dark.”

As he spoke, they had already reached the dining room. The servants had already set the table. Lu Qinyuan naturally sat in the main seat, and Xiao Qi followed suit, sitting on his left.

Bai Ze sat down on the right side, reached out and took an egg to peel. His fingers were slender and pale, but his movements were extremely nimble. He quickly peeled one and handed it to the person across from him, “Xiao Qi, here, have this.”

Xiao Qi took it and thanked him, introducing himself, “I’m Jian Qilu.”

Bai Ze hummed and continued peeling eggs. At this time, a person wearing a chef’s uniform and a tall hat walked in carrying a white porcelain pot. He placed the pot directly in front of Bai Ze, opened the lid, and immediately a fragrant, hot aroma wafted over. Sha Tang said, “Sugar Cane and Yam Soup, drink it while it’s hot.”

“Put it aside for now. Let me peel an egg for you.” Bai Ze’s hands didn’t stop. He peeled a white, smooth egg in a moment, raised his hand, and placed the egg in Sha Tang’s bowl.

Sha Tang sat down next to Bai Ze, picked up the egg, and swallowed it in a few bites. He choked from eating too fast and hurriedly poured a mouthful of porridge, patting his chest to help it go down. He suddenly twitched his nose. Sha Tang had a very sensitive nose, so he poked Bai Ze, “It smells like herbs, very faint. Little Bai, can you smell it?”

Bai Ze shook his head, not saying anything, just focusing on drinking his soup, but in his heart, he wondered if Cheng Ruoyu had lost his mind, how could he be so generous? But he believed that even if Cheng Ruoyu wasn’t that generous, he wouldn’t do anything detrimental to Lu Qinyuan. Even if he didn’t care about the monk’s face, he still had to consider his, Bai Ze’s, face. He doubted that Cheng Ruoyu would dare to play any tricks.

Lu Qinyuan, who had been silent all along, put down his chopsticks, stood up, and said, “Sha Tang, make enough food for one more person in the future.”

Sha Tang turned his gaze to Xiao Qi, who was following behind Lu Qinyuan, and nodded knowingly. Bai Ze said, “That’s Xiao Qi. Ruoyu sent him.” Sha Tang’s gaze revealed a bit of sympathy.

Lu Qinyuan was used to reading before bed, regardless of the type of book, reading a couple of pages as a little bedtime entertainment.

There was a large bookshelf in the bedroom, filled with all kinds of books. Lu Qinyuan walked over and casually pulled one out, half-lying on the bed and began to read. Xiao Qi, who followed him in, was immediately attracted by the bookshelf. He threw the pillow on the ground and ran to the bookshelf, trying to reach for a book, but the book he wanted was too high. He turned his head to look at Lu Qinyuan, hoping he could help him. But Lu Qinyuan ignored him, focusing all his attention on the book in front of him, unwilling to spare any attention to anyone.

Xiao Qi frowned slightly, and a trace of helplessness appeared in his bright, clean eyes. His gaze was scorching, hopeful, and fixed on Lu Qinyuan. His light pink lips were pressed into a tight line.

After standing for a long time, Xiao Qi sat down leaning against the bookshelf, hugging his knees and curling up. His gaze never left Lu Qinyuan for a moment. Lu Qinyuan was wearing loose pajamas, with his chest slightly open, revealing his strong pectoral muscles. His handsome face was peaceful, and his eyebrows were lowered, hiding the murderous intent of the day. He looked soft and elegant under the light. He looked serious and content holding the book. Xiao Qi didn’t want to disturb him for a moment, so he silently withdrew his gaze, tightened his arms around his knees, and tried to shrink smaller.

“Come here.” Xiao Qi was startled by the sudden voice, but his brain accurately made the correct response. His body jumped up first and ran to the bed in a few steps, lowering his head to look at the title of the book in Lu Qinyuan’s hand. Lu Qinyuan turned it over for him to see. It was Lung Yingtai’s “Facing.” Lu Qinyuan asked, “Want to read it?” He made a little room for him, and Xiao Qi immediately climbed onto the bed, hugged his knees, and sat down, carefully avoiding touching Lu Qinyuan, stretching his head to look at the words on the book.

Lu Qinyuan closed the book, leaned back lazily, glanced at Xiao Qi, and smiled, “Your eyes are very beautiful and very eloquent, but I prefer verbal expression. If you have something to say, say it. Don’t use your eyes to seduce people, understand?”

Xiao Qi glared at him unhappily. Lu Qinyuan slapped him on the forehead with the book, “Didn’t you hear what I just said? Like to read?”

“Like it.” Xiao Qi rested his chin on his knees, trying to shrink himself as much as possible. He was slender, with a small frame, not fat. When he curled up like this, he was a small ball, huddled on the bed, looking pitiful, as if he had suffered a great deal of oppression. Lu Qinyuan couldn’t help but poke Xiao Qi in the lower back. Xiao Qi’s body shook, he moved forward, endured it, but couldn’t help but reply, “A gentleman uses his words, not his fists.”

Lu Qinyuan threw the book to Xiao Qi, put his hands behind his head, and smiled as he ordered, “Please, gentleman, use your words and read a passage.”

Xiao Qi picked up the book that was thrown at his feet, turned to a random page, and read softly, “I saw the face of the poet Zhou Mengdie. When I waved goodbye to him, it was just embedded in the small window of a moving bus, as if the entire bus, with unparalleled solemnity, was acting as a frame for him. I saw a blue magpie perched on a phoenix tree branch, its body weight lowering the branches covered with phoenix flowers. I saw a fishing boat the size of a shoe, appearing silently in the window to my left…”

His androgynous voice was gentle and soft, indifferent and devoid of desire, ethereal and uncertain, like the trickling of a spring, the echo of a quiet valley. Although the words were not sad, they sounded like a final farewell, and the complex and unbearable emotions led people to chase after this voice, unable to stop. He wanted to listen, was sad, wanted to give up, but was unwilling.

“Of course, the talented person’s heart is as clear as ice and snow: Some things can only be done alone. Some barriers can only be crossed alone. Some roads can only be walked alone…”

Lu Qinyuan closed his eyes slightly, and the sound in his ears gradually faded away, until a weight pressed down on his legs. Xiao Qi held the book and leaned straight against Lu Qinyuan, his shallow breathing weakly transmitting. Lu Qinyuan wanted to take the book from Xiao Qi’s hand, but he couldn’t pull it away, so he let go and moved inward, covering him with the blanket.

Even though he gave him space, Xiao Qi still curled himself into a tight ball, his face buried in his chest, breathing carefully, unconsciously lowering his presence, using his weak shell to wrap himself, seeking a sense of peace that belonged to him.

Lu Qinyuan had slept alone since he was old enough to understand things. He thought he wouldn’t be used to Xiao Qi’s presence, but he was surprised to find that he slept very peacefully. But he was awakened in the middle of the night by a soft whimper. Lu Qinyuan looked at the source of the sound by the dim light of the bedside lamp, carefully listening to the sound of mournful pleading, “Can’t I not eat it? Just this once, please…” Low sobs, sad choking.

Xiao Qi shrank himself even tighter, trying to make himself smaller, as if he wanted to squeeze the sadness out of his dream. Lu Qinyuan reached out and patted his back, giving him silent comfort. Xiao Qi’s tightened body slowly relaxed, like a hedgehog slowly retracting its angry spikes.

Lu Qinyuan gently patted his shoulder, and reached out to separate Xiao Qi’s tightly clasped hands in front of his chest. Just as he touched them, Lu Qinyuan’s fingertips suddenly contracted, then slowly covered them. These hands were slender and bony, fitting for Xiao Qi’s face, but also cold and without any warmth.

The author has something to say:

I didn’t have a draft yesterday, and I had something to do today, so it was late. Therefore, there are two updates.

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