After the Ostracized Beauty Lost Heart - Chapter 9

Xue Gongwen felt that he was suffering from the worst luck imaginable.

Was it so strange to admire Xiao Qi? The Second Prince might have a difficult temper, but with a face like that, it was no wonder. Half a year ago, Xue Gongwen had caught a fleeting glimpse of him through a crowd. He felt as if his soul had been overturned. After returning to his manor, his mind was constantly filled with thoughts of the Second Prince.

He longed day and night to see him again, but he could never find the opportunity. During those days, he was so restless that he could neither eat nor sleep. Unable to endure it any longer, he begged his mother to find a way to place him by Xiao Qi’s side so he could see him every day.

His mother doted on him and intended to recommend Xue Gongwen as Xiao Qi’s study companion. The Duke of Wu, Shangguan Yi, had no objections. However, Xiao Qi himself was unwilling, as he found the idea of eating, living, and studying with someone else incredibly annoying.

Xue Gongwen was deeply disappointed but did not give up. He decided that as long as he could see him, it would be enough. Thus, he took an indirect route and became the study companion for the Third Prince, Xiao Hong. He knew he was not cut out for scholarship. Every day, while the others were studying, he would secretly steal a few glances at Xiao Qi, which made his heart race with joy.

He thought this was the best possible plan and secretly celebrated his cleverness. However, he never imagined that Yan Qushan would actually become Xiao Qi’s study companion.

On what grounds?

In terms of family background and status, he was far superior to Yan Qushan. In terms of looks, he was also handsome. Although his scholarly talents were inferior to Yan Qushan’s, he was straightforward and honest, a thousand times better than that smiling tiger and hypocrite.

But the matter was settled. Yan Qushan had already packed his bags and entered the Cheng’en Palace. The thought that Yan Qushan would be inseparable from the Xiao Qi he desired made Xue Gongwen burn with an uncontrollable rage.

Because of this, he did not sleep the entire night. He woke up early the next morning with dark circles under his eyes to attend the lecture. His luck was truly abysmal. The moment he walked through the door, he collided with Yan Qushan, who was just coming out.

“A scoundrel who thinks he is a master just because he wears fine silks,” Xue Gongwen snorted through his nose. He bumped Yan Qushan’s shoulder hard and walked inside. Yan Qushan maintained a smile on his face, patted his shoulder, and asked a palace maid for a hand warmer before entering.

Holding the warmer, he walked to the side of Xiao Qi, who was busy copying an essay, and moved to hand it to him.

When Xiao Qi saw this, he first knitted his beautiful brows as if to refuse. But Yan Qushan leaned close to his side and whispered something in his ear. Xiao Qi, his ears turning red, murmured something and took the warmer.

Xue Gongwen did not know what they were whispering about with their heads so close together. He watched from the side, frustrated that they were flirting while he was helpless to intervene.

He grew so anxious that he began scribbling randomly on his paper with his brush. In his frustration, he applied too much pressure and snapped the brush handle with a loud crack. The noise even woke the Third Prince, Xiao Hong, who had been secretly dozing off nearby.

Xiao Hong kicked him under the table and cursed in a low voice, “Xue Gongwen, I asked you to cover for me from the tutor. What the hell are you doing?”

The commotion was not small. Even the tutor looked up, appearing quite displeased. “Xue Gongwen, focus,” the tutor said.

Xue Gongwen replied with a “Yes” and apologized to the Third Prince. He then looked toward Xiao Qi with suppressed frustration, only to see Yan Qushan looking back at him with an ambiguous smile on his lips.

That dog. He clenched his fists in hatred. This scoundrel was doing it on purpose, showing off in front of him and watching him make a fool of himself out of desperation. Indeed, he was right. Yan Qushan was doing it intentionally.

Yan Qushan knew he was not the noble gentleman others perceived him to be. Instead, he was a petty man who sought revenge for every grievance. His background had always been a thorn in his heart, and Xue Gongwen had repeatedly poked at that sore spot with others. Naturally, he held a grudge.

At this moment, he could not do much to Xue Gongwen. However, since he knew Xue Gongwen had feelings for Xiao Qi, and since Xiao Qi was not a difficult person to understand, he saw no harm in using his proximity to provoke his rival.

Furthermore, humans are inherently greedy. Previously, he only thought about staying by Xiao Qi’s side to get closer to the young noble. Now, he secretly wondered if Xiao Qi were to fall in love with him in the future, would he not gain even more benefits?

Yan Qushan was merely acting, but Xiao Qi was unaware of the truth. Although he was a prince, he was not loved by his father or mother. For years, he had swallowed his grievances and pain, curling up like a young animal to lick his own wounds. He thought he had grown used to it.

Yet, who would have thought that a man like Yan Qushan would suddenly appear by his side? Xiao Qi was at the age where love first awakens, and it was inevitable that his heart would flutter.

On one hand, he craved the kindness Yan Qushan showed him. On the other hand, he felt awkward because he was unaccustomed to such warmth. For instance, on the day Yan Qushan was accompanying him to practice calligraphy, Xiao Qi was tracing a model, but he could not get one specific character right.

Yan Qushan stood beside him grinding ink. Seeing him fail at the same spot several times, he spoke up to correct him. “Your Highness, you must use a subtle strength when making the final stroke.”

Although Xiao Qi was proud, he knew to seek guidance in matters of learning. He stopped his movements and looked up at him. “Show me how.”

Yan Qushan took the brush and demonstrated the stroke for Xiao Qi. After he finished, he stepped back slightly.

Xiao Qi tried to imitate him but still made the same mistake in the same place. After several attempts, he inevitably grew frustrated. Just as he was about to lose his temper, a warmth spread over the back of his hand and his fingers were grasped. It was Yan Qushan holding his hand.

Yan Qushan stood behind him, his hands resting on the desk, effectively surrounding Xiao Qi’s entire body. His chin rested lightly near Xiao Qi’s shoulder, and his warm, damp breath brushed against the sensitive skin of his neck and ear.

Xiao Qi instinctively wanted to pull away, but Yan Qushan held him firmly while guiding his hand to trace the characters. “It should be lighter here,” Yan Qushan murmured.

Their fingers were locked together with a strength that did not allow for escape. If Yan Qushan leaned just a bit closer, his lips would touch Xiao Qi’s ear, which had already become burning hot and red.

It felt like they were rubbing against each other. Once this thought appeared, it could not be dismissed. Xiao Qi’s captured hand trembled slightly, and his legs felt inexplicably weak.

Yan Qushan’s chest was pressed against Xiao Qi’s back. They were so close that Xiao Qi could smell the faint scent of sandalwood on Yan Qushan. It seemed to have a hook, making him lose his concentration. As for what Yan Qushan was saying, he knew nothing of it.

However, Yan Qushan seemed to be teaching seriously. Xiao Qi could not tell if the man was doing it on purpose or if he himself was being indecent and letting his mind wander.

As Yan Qushan continued to write, he leaned closer. His cold yet soft lips seemed to truly brush against Xiao Qi’s ear, but the contact was so brief it felt as if it had never happened.

Yan Qushan set the brush aside and took a step back to create distance. He smiled, looking as handsome as a painting. “There, Your Highness should understand now.”

But Xiao Qi remained leaning against the desk, his head lowered so his expression could not be seen. Yan Qushan frowned slightly, worried that he had been too hasty. Then, he heard Xiao Qi’s trembling voice whisper, “Get out.”

Yan Qushan was stunned. “What?” he asked.

Xiao Qi looked up slightly. His fallen hair obscured most of his stunning face, revealing only eyes that were misty and filled with a lingering desire.

He raised his voice, which sounded as if it carried a sob. He pushed him with his hand. “Get out! I told you to get out! Did you not hear me?!”

Yan Qushan remained silent for a moment and eventually walked out.

The moment the door closed, Xiao Qi collapsed to the floor as if he had been granted a reprieve. His chest heaved rapidly. After sitting in a daze for a while, he pulled up his robe with red eyes and reached his hand into his undergarments.

He was still inexperienced and had never even seen erotic art. He did not understand why he had become like this. For a moment, he felt only fear. His movements were clumsy and lacked technique. After a long time, the feeling did not subside. Instead, his body felt stranger and stranger.

Outside the door, Yan Qushan was also in a state of confusion. Seeing no movement inside for a long time, he assumed his haste had displeased Xiao Qi.

He paced back and forth at the door. After much thought, he decided to go back in to apologize. Perhaps if his attitude was sincere, Xiao Qi would not hold it against him.

He eventually turned back. However, as he pushed the door open and entered, he saw Xiao Qi collapsed on the floor with blurred eyes and disheveled clothes. Xiao Qi was unable to hide his state in time.

A flush spread over Xiao Qi’s face. Being young, he was so panicked that tears began to well in his eyes. His face was wet, and he felt humiliated. In a fit of rage, he threw the book scroll near his hand at Yan Qushan. “What are you doing back in here?”

“Get out,” Xiao Qi screamed.

At that moment, Yan Qushan finally understood why Xiao Qi had reacted that way earlier. He stood dazed for a moment before hurriedly leaving.

He leaned against the closed door, breathing heavily. He could not stop recalling the scene he had just witnessed. Xiao Qi’s hair was a mess, his outer robe was loosely gathered on his shoulders to reveal a patch of snowy skin, and his undergarments were pulled down to his calves, partially exposing skin as clean as white jade.

One glance was enough to know what he was doing.

In the end, Yan Qushan actually grinned and laughed hysterically.

He thought Xiao Qi was disgusted, but he did not expect that the Prince not only did not hate it but actually liked it to his very core.

Yan Qushan felt his body heating up. His blood suddenly felt like lava, burning every inch of him.

Xiao Qi’s reaction seemed to exceed his expectations. He was so happy that he felt almost exhilarated. Yan Qushan glanced down and saw a clear bulge in his clothing.

“Pretentious, lewd creature,” he whispered very softly, thinking of those eyes that clearly glared at him but seemed to possess an infinite charm.

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