When Yan HeQing woke up again, he found himself lying in a dry cave. A burning pile of dead leaves and branches stacked close to him. The wet clothes on his body were stripped down and placed around the fire, and a clean upper garment was draped over him. Yan HeQing picked it up and took a look at it, finding out it was Xiao YuAn’s garment.
He tried to prop up his body, but his chest and back throbbed with pain. He was already injured to begin with, so being hit by that tree trunk with such force, would only add more to his injuries.
Yan HeQing relaxed himself, and looked around, steading his gaze.
By his side, Xiao YuAn was sitting close to the fire wearing only his thin undergarment. His elbows were resting on his upright knees; his palms clenched into fists to support his head. He was dozing, and his head nodded once or twice, looking extremely restless in his sleep.
As if dreaming of something, Xiao YuAn’s eyebrows frowned. Suddenly, his entire body was startled, and while still asleep, he shouted: “Yan HeQing!”
At this, Xiao YuAn woke up from the fright caused by the dream. Instantly, his entire body was filled in cold sweat after he realized what he did just now.
‘What the fuck! I shouted his name with my normal voice!’
Xiao YuAn’s body stiffened and looked at Yan HeQing. After a while, he breathed out a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Yan HeQing wasn’t awake. If he were to hear him, Xiao YuAn swore that he could run away from the cave, even if there were raining knives outside.
Xiao YuAn couldn’t help but say in a low voice: “….Luckily, he didn’t hear me.”
However, Yan HeQing, who should be still asleep, moved his fingers imperceptibly.
“Why haven’t you woken up yet…..?” Xiao YuAn’s eyes fell on Yan HeQing and saw that the clothes he placed on top of him to cover his body had somehow slipped down, so he grabbed them and placed them on him again. He then touched his forehead to test his temperature.
Xiao YuAn’s palm cupped over Yan HeQing’s forehead, and after waiting for a little bit, he made sure that Yan HeQing didn’t have a fever after being in the rain for so long. When he was about to take his hand back, Yan HeQing suddenly grasped his wrist.
As Xiao YuAn stiffened from the sudden shock, he saw that Yan HeQing’s eyes slowly opened. His eyes looked confused and bewildered due to his half-blindness.
Xiao YuAn panicked and swallowed a small red fruit right away. After he made sure his voice changed, he asked: “Yo-you’re awake? How do you feel? Do you feel pain anywhere….?”
His body hurt everywhere. Yan HeQing felt that his back must be bruised, showing an horrifying injury. He can’t stand up and can only lie on his side: “I’m fine. Where are we?”
Xiao YuAn replied: “It’s a cave I found before while collecting medicinal herbs. It’s a little bit higher than the ground so it’s not filled with rain, perfect for settling down for awhile.”
As he saw Yan HeQing nodding at his explanation, Xiao YuAn tried to pull his wrist out of Yan HeQing’s grasp, but he felt Yan HeQing clenched all at once.
“Don’t go.” Yan HeQing said in a hoarse voice.
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t go away.” Xiao YuAn said repeatedly.
Yan HeQing restrained his eyes and hmmmed, slowly pulling Xiao YuAn’s wrist to his lips, then gently kissing it.
It was like a fire burning from Yan HeQing’s lips to Xiao YuAn’s wrist, reaching to his cheeks, and finally spreading all over his body.
Xiao YuAn suddenly pulled back his hand and remained silent for a long time.
Yan HeQing faintly and inaudibly raised the corner of his mouth: “Shy?”
‘Who, who, who…. who the hell is being shy?’
‘Huh? You, you, who the hell are you calling shy?!’
‘I’m, I’m, I’m the kind of man that knows all the quotes from the Tyrannical Presidents by memory! What situation haven’t I seen before? What cliche sentences haven’t I said before?! Do you even know that all the Tyrannical Presidents who always say comfortable words at first, then say big dominating sentences right after?!’
‘No, no. It’s just a kiss on my wrist. Who, who, who is acting shy?!!!’
‘Who are you talking about? Who are you talking about?!!!’
Xiao YuAn replied sullenly: “…. N-no.”
Yan HeQing smiled even more: “What are you stammering about?”
‘Who, who, who stammered?’
‘Alright, alright, fine! I’m stammering, I’m stammering and I’m the one stammering! I just, just, stuttered that’s all! So what?! Go ahead and beat me! Come and get me if you dare!’
While seeing Xiao YuAn poking at the fire and no longer talking to him, Yan HeQing scrutinized his face illuminated by the firelight. Then, he said: “It’s cold.”
“Ah? Are you cold?” Xiao YuAn stoked the fire a little bit more: “Are you still feeling cold?”
“I’m cold.”
“It shouldn’t be a fever, because your temperature wasn’t high when I touched your forehead just now, right?” Xiao YuAn was wondering as he leaned over his body to test Yan HeQing’s temperature one more time.
When suddenly, Yan HeQing wrapped his arms around Xiao YuAn’s waist, pulling him into his embrace, and hugging him tightly against himself: “I’m not feeling cold anymore.”
Xiao YuAn: “….. Al-alright, n-not cold. Th-that’s good.”
Following the Third Wife’s script was his own choice, and the only thing Xiao YuAn could do now was cry in silence and play along.
—The author has something to say.—
Yan HeQing: You stutter when you’re feeling shy.
Xiao YuAn: I don’t think so.
Yan HeQing bowed his head and said to his spouse: You stutter when you’re feeling shy.
Xiao YuAn: N-no, I d-don’t.
Aahhh XYA was dreaming of YHQ 😍😍
And XYA stuttering when he feels shy is so ADORABLE!! My heart can’t take it (´；ω；`)❤❤❤
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