Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 68 : Lovemaking

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“Then what will you fall for?” Shen Zechuan’s narrowed his eyes from the pinch, making it hard to tell if he was in discomfort or pleasure. His expression was very alluring, as if fanning the flames.

Light through the window was faint. Xiao Chiye observed Shen Zechuan at close proximity, then reached out and stroked the corner of Shen Zechuan’s lips with his thumb. He said, “Get a feel of it yourself.”

“I’m afraid someone will say one thing but mean another.” Shen Zechuan’s lips parted and closed as he spoke. The tip of his tongue appeared indistinctly, casting moist warmth on Xiao Chiye’s thumb, yet Xiao Chiye could not touch a thing.

“Who’s acting contradictorily?” Xiao Chiye leaned over and pressed down on him. “Second Young Master is so honest.”

“Honest indeed.” Shen Zechuan sighed. “You’re so hard.”

“I just had my fill of sleep.” Xiao Chiye was feeling him up. “And I’ve been abstaining for quite a number of days to let it all build up. So give me a sweet little treat?”

Shen Zechuan exchanged a gentle kiss with him and said, “I just recovered from a serious illness, so let’s keep it first for another time. I really… don’t have the energy.”

“Who would bear to let you exert yourself in bed?” Xiao Chiye asked, “Would I bear to do that?”

“You would.” Shen Zechuan gazed at him and said softly, “Whatever you say now are just words to coax and trick me. Once we get on the bed, it all counts for nothing.”

Xiao Chiye chuckled. “Is that so? So what did I say when I cajoled you?”

Shen Zechuan lifted a finger to block Xiao Chiye’s lips, which was about to drop a kiss. “If you want to hear all about it, then first tell me about Xue Xiuzhuo.” 

Xiao Chiye tightened his arms around him and asked, “What do you want to hear? His background before he served as an official is nothing impressive. Xue Xiuzhuo is a son of common birth, born of a concubine in the Xue Clan. Since his early years, he has never been a favored child. Look at his age. He’s older than Xi Hongxuan and Yao Wenyu by a few years. By all logic, he shouldn’t be attending school at the same time as them, so how did he become their fellow student? It’s all because he has been neglected at home back then, and the delay by his family caused him to get a late start in his education.”

“This person looks refined and has a way in the way he conducts himself in society and deals with people. Compared to Xi Hongxuan, he seemed more like a son of lawful birth from the noble clans.”

“He was already eleven years of age when he enrolled in the academy.” As if recalling this person, Xiao Chiye thought it over carefully for a moment before he continued, “He’s talented and intelligent, and he’s willing to study hard, so it didn’t take him long to stand out from the bunch of noble clans’ descendants. But the good times didn’t last long. A few years later, Yao Wenyu also enrolled in the academy.” 

“Everyone now wants to associate with ‘Unpolished Jade Yuanzhuo’ to show that they are genuine talents too. But at that time, their teacher was Teacher Chang Zong, who was well known for being harsh and exacting. Once Yao Wenyu joined them, the number of times the others got criticized and punished increased. This was because no one could outdo Yao Wenyu when it came to strategies and literary essays. The moment his writings surfaced, no one else’s works could ever again catch Teacher Chang Zong’s eyes. Xue Xiuzhuo’s limelight was thus stolen in those few years. After that, he never displayed his talents again.”