Ch85 - Lacking a Wife

Translator’s Notes:

This is an advanced chapter. I’ll be busy for the next few days, so I’m posting it early. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

After chatting with Lu Xingwang for a while, Jian Mei began to feel drowsy.

He let out a small yawn, his eyes brimming with tears, looking somewhat pitiful. It had been a long, exhausting day, and he felt completely drained.

Lu Xingwang said, “Go to bed and rest.”

Jian Mei glanced at the bed behind him. It was clearly a single bed—large enough for one person, but perhaps a little too intimate for two.

Jian Mei glanced at the person next to him and suddenly felt a bit nervous for no apparent reason. He hesitated, nervously asking, “Which side are you sleeping on?”

Lu Xingwang replied, “I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

Jian Mei froze in shock. “Huh?”

Not only was Jian Mei in disbelief, but anyone would find it hard to believe that the prince would choose to sleep on the sofa and give up the bed to a commoner. It sounded too unbelievable.

Jian Mei pointed to the bed and said, “It’s fine. This bed should be big enough for two people.”

Lu Xingwang gave him a quick glance. He sat there, his gaze deep, looking at Jian Mei before slowly parting his lips to ask, “Are you sure?”

It was just a simple question, yet for some reason, Jian Mei found himself momentarily speechless.

Turning around, Jian Mei saw Lu Xingwang sitting there, wearing a light brown pajama set. Despite the loose, shapeless fabric, it couldn’t hide his well-toned physique. He had always called him “Dazhuang-ge,” but it wasn’t until this moment that he finally realized there was a clear difference between himself and Lu Xingwang. This person was, after all, his older brother—and a man, much stronger than he was.

Jian Mei nervously swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he stammered, “I just thought the couch might be uncomfortable, and since we’re friends, it shouldn’t be a big deal, right?”

However, Lu Xingwang’s expression darkened after hearing this.

The crown prince’s face grew colder, and with an air of indifference, he parted his lips and asked, “Did you sleep like this with your friends back home?”

It seemed like an innocent question, but there was a subtle, almost threatening undertone to it.

Jian Mei, being completely honest, answered, “When I was at home, I used to sleep with close friends, but that stopped when I came here. At the mayor’s residence, I had my own room.”

When Lu Xingwang heard him mention the mayor’s residence, it brought back memories of that blank year when Jian Mei had worked as a servant for others. As these thoughts crossed his mind, the crown prince’s heart softened, almost as if it had turned to cotton. He looked at Jian Mei, who appeared a bit lost and unsure, and sighed helplessly. The problem wasn’t Jian Mei; it was his own misplaced feelings. Others saw him as just a friend, but he had already let his emotions wander.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

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Lu Xingwang paused for a moment, then turned around and said, “Yes, but I have a magic potion that can change my appearance. Just wait a second.”

Just as he was about to stand up, a small, white hand reached out and stopped him. Lu Xingwang turned in surprise and met Jian Mei’s fair face. Jian Mei gently tightened his grip on his hand and softly said, “No need.”

The palm that held his was warm.

Jian Mei’s eyes were bright and full of sincerity. His voice was clear and melodic, “It’s okay. You don’t need the potion.”

Lu Xingwang parted his lips, “It might scare you.”

Jian Mei gently shook his head, “It won’t.”

“I don’t mind.” He held Lu Xingwang’s hand, lowering his head slightly as he whispered, “It’s uncomfortable to sleep with the mask on, and using the potion too often isn’t good for your health. I don’t care about those things. I just hope… that you’re okay.”

The room fell into silence. Jian Mei didn’t look up, but he could feel Lu Xingwang’s gaze on him, as if it were fixed there.

He didn’t hear any refusal. It was as though, after much thought, Lu Xingwang had finally made up his mind. He sat back down at the edge of the bed. The lights in the room were off, and the calm moonlight outside poured in.

The crown prince withdrew his hand, and the silver-white mask was removed. A steady, masculine voice called to him, “Jian Mei.”

Jian Mei’s body stiffened, and he slowly raised his head. What he saw was a face that was both familiar and foreign. The side of his face that had been concealed by the mask was covered in blood-red scars, spreading like withered branches. It looked terrifying, and in contrast to the other half of his handsome face, it was like comparing an angel to a devil.

Jian Mei slowly straightened up, his eyes gradually reddening with distress. Without thinking, he leaned in closer, reaching out as though to touch the forbidden scar. Even his breathing became slightly uneven, filled with sorrow. “You…”

Lu Xingwang sensed Jian Mei’s body trembling. After a brief hesitation, he reached for his mask, intending to put it back on, but Jian Mei hurriedly stopped him. There was panic in his voice. “Don’t…”

The bed was soft, and the two of them were already sitting close. The sudden movement caused Jian Mei to lose his balance, and he tumbled forward into Lu Xingwang’s arms. The already short distance between them vanished instantly, their faces pressing together. It all happened in a heartbeat—Lu Xingwang only felt the warmth of a soft body leaning against him before a light, fleeting kiss brushed his cheek.

……

A brief silence filled the room.

The person in his arms seemed even more stunned than Jian Mei was. As soon as he realized what he had done, his body froze, and his face and ears turned bright red. All the talk about being brothers or friends went out the window as he flustered, trying to explain, “I… I didn’t mean to… I just… bumped into you…”

Lu Xingwang looked at him, the corners of his lips curving into a slow smile as he gave a small nod. “Mm, I know.”

The sudden incident shattered the slightly melancholic mood that had been lingering in the room.

Jian Mei had initially wanted to tell Lu Xingwang that his scar didn’t make him any less handsome, that it didn’t look bad at all. But after just kissing him, it felt strange to say something like that. After thinking it over for a moment, he quickly buried himself under the covers, muffling his head and whispering, “Tonight.”

The child, experiencing love for the first time, was unbearably shy.

He was so flustered that he didn’t notice the prince’s own ears turning red. The person who seemed so calm and composed was actually struggling to keep his composure.

After a moment, Lu Xingwang spoke softly, “Jian Mei.”

Jian Mei failed to pretend he was asleep, poking his eye out from under the covers, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Do you want to move over a bit?” Lu Xingwang smiled, the corners of his lips lifting. “I don’t have any space left.”

“……”

Only then did Jian Mei realize he was taking up most of the bed. In a panic, he quickly scooted over and awkwardly mumbled, “Okay, it’s fine now. You can come up.”

It felt a little like he was setting a trap for him.

Seeing Jian Mei’s embarrassed and flustered expression, Lu Xingwang said, “There’s no need to force yourself. I can sleep on the sofa.”

The moment he said that, Jian Mei, who had been awkwardly embarrassed, immediately relaxed. He quickly responded, “No, I wasn’t forcing you!”

……

Things were starting to feel more off and awkward.

Lu Xingwang glanced at him meaningfully, then finally walked back to the bed, lifted the covers, and lay down. The room fell silent again. The two of them lay side by side, neither asleep, yet neither said a word.

Jian Mei buried his head under the covers, feeling as though the silence in the room was suffocating. He could hear the loud “thump, thump” of his own heartbeat, fast and uneven. He had been quite tired before getting into bed, but now, with someone lying next to him, he found it harder and harder to sleep. The images from earlier kept replaying in his mind, keeping him wide awake.

After tossing and turning for a while, a steady and deep voice suddenly broke the silence beside him. “Can’t sleep?”

Jian Mei froze for a moment, turned over to face Lu Xingwang, and gave a small nod. Then he asked, “You’re not asleep either?”

“Mm.” Lu Xingwang answered softly, “I’ve always slept late. Don’t mind it.”

Jian Mei’s mood darkened a little as he remembered his physical condition. Noticing that Lu Xingwang was also awake, he asked, “Have you ever shared a bed with a friend?”

Lu Xingwang replied, “No.”

He had a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, so not only was sharing a bed out of the question, even personal belongings like cups had to be kept separate.

Jian Mei nodded to indicate he understood, but then he heard Lu Xingwang say, “I only ever slept with my mother when I was a child.”

Jian Mei’s attention was piqued, and he commented, “I saw that photo earlier. Was that your mother? She’s really beautiful.”

Lu Xingwang simply responded with a hum.

The two fell into silence again.

Jian Mei couldn’t help but think that he had probably unwittingly brought up a painful subject for Lu Xingwang. Losing a loved one and not having them around must be incredibly hard. At least when he was in school, he had friends, but it seemed that Lu Xingwang had always been on his own.

Taking a deep breath and summoning some courage, Jian Mei said softly, “It’s okay, don’t be sad. You can think of me as your family.”

……

Lu Xingwang gave him a slightly surprised glance.

Jian Mei felt inexplicably guilty under his gaze. Then he thought about it—Lu Xingwang was from the royal family, so wasn’t he the one reaching for something out of his league? Hesitant, he stammered, “I mean, if you don’t mind, that is.”

Lu Xingwang said, “I don’t mind.”

Jian Mei let out a breath of relief, but then he heard Lu Xingwang say, “Actually, I still have family. My father is still alive.”

Jian Mei’s face turned red again, feeling as though he had been a bit overly sentimental.

But then, Lu Xingwang’s voice came from beside him: “When you’re ready, I’ll take you to meet him.”

……

It felt like something was off, but Jian Mei couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

He lay beside Lu Xingwang, vaguely thinking that it wasn’t strange for friends to meet each other’s parents, so he obediently nodded and said, “Okay.”

As they talked, their emotions slowly calmed down. Jian Mei, exhausted from the day, snuggled up beside Lu Xingwang and started to drift into a drowsy sleep.

Lu Xingwang’s gaze lingered on him, unwavering, as he said softly, “So, actually, I’m not lacking family in the way of fathers and brothers.”

Jian Mei, overcome by drowsiness, didn’t quite catch what was said, and mumbled a couple of sounds: “Then, what are you lacking?”

He barely managed to ask that before the deep pull of sleep took over, and he slowly drifted off. Lu Xingwang watched his serene sleeping face, a faint smile curling on his lips as he whispered softly, “A wife would do as well.”