After the Stand-in Hugged the White Moonlight's Thigh Tightly - Chapter 29

 Chapter 29: Fallen Deeply

“A cinnabar mole?”

Putting a chastity mark on a man! Was this something a normal person would do?! Ruan Mingyu nearly cursed out his entire family.

But since he was on the other person’s territory, he could only contain his fury and not speak it. He mimicked Song Chenxi’s sarcastic tone: “Thank you so much, Young Sect Master. So red, how festive.”

Gong Lingdeng smiled enchantingly: “My good Ruan Ruan, this cinnabar mole will fall off when you cultivate dual cultivation with me later.”

Ruan Mingyu: “…”

Seriously, they’re all crazy. I’d rather go back and stay with Song Chenxi.

Ruan Mingyu quickly rubbed his arm with his hand, but the red dot remained unchanged. He hurriedly washed it with water, but still couldn’t wash it off.

After fiddling with it for a while, he completely gave up. He wasn’t one for prolonged trouble. He simply hid his arm inside his sleeve. Forget it. If someone sees it later, I’ll just say it’s a large birthmark.

…

Thereafter, Ruan Mingyu began his life in the Joyful Union Sect.

He had been gone for so long, yet no one had come looking for him. Although he was spoiled with good food and drink here, Ruan Mingyu couldn’t help but feel a longing to go home.

He tried to escape many times, but failed every single time.

Seeing that escaping was impossible, he had no choice but to stay in the Joyful Union Sect. But having nothing to do all day was boring, so Ruan Mingyu managed to find a furnace and started refining pills.

Although the people here spoke sweetly and there were many pretty sisters, Ruan Mingyu desperately missed his spirit field. He hadn’t returned, and he had no idea how Yueya was tending to his precious spirit field.

Ruan Mingyu sadly thought that it might all be ruined and dead, and he would have to buy new seedlings when he returned.

Ruan Mingyu had been here for less than two months, but he recognized everyone in the Joyful Union Sect, from top to bottom. Regardless of age, beauty, or handsomeness, he called them all “Pretty Sister” or “Handsome Gege.” He greeted everyone he met, making it so that no one didn’t know him.

Even Gong Lingdeng said, “You have quite the talent for attracting bees and butterflies.”

Ruan Mingyu was single-mindedly focused on freedom and asked him: “Lao Gong, when are you going to let me go?”

Gong Lingdeng: “I already gave you a choice: become a disciple of the Joyful Union Sect.”

Ruan Mingyu: “I’ve already joined the Seven Stars Sect. Isn’t that asking for the impossible?”

Gong Lingdeng said: “I’m not forcing you to do anything. Once you spend more time with me, you will naturally discover my good qualities and forget your Senior Brother.”

Ruan Mingyu immediately shut up.

Talking to Gong Lingdeng was like playing a lute to an ox—they were completely mismatched.

Putting that aside, Ruan Mingyu smiled coaxingly: “Lao Gong, when will you give me this month’s money?”

Gong Lingdeng flicked his forehead: “It’s only at this time that you remember my good side. But I’ve been in a bad mood recently. Someone keeps talking about going back, which hurt my heart.”

Ruan Mingyu suppressed the urge to hit him and massaged his shoulders: “Lao Gong, we had an agreement.”

Gong Lingdeng turned and kissed him on the cheek: “Don’t worry, Ruan Ruan. You won’t be short-changed.”

Ruan Mingyu quickly dodged away. A look of disappointment flashed in Gong Lingdeng’s eyes.

In the Joyful Union Sect, the person Ruan Mingyu got along best with was a sister named Cuiyu. She spoke pleasantly and was sincere.

Cuiyu advised him: “Our Sect Master is so good to you, why don’t you just accept him? You’re so short on money. If you were with our Sect Master, you would naturally have everything you need.”

Ruan Mingyu’s face wrinkled up: “Although I love money, some things I can do, and some things I can’t.”

Cuiyu: “Why can’t you do it? The Sect Master has been motherless since childhood, and the Old Sect Master died early, so you won’t have to deal with in-laws.”

Ruan Mingyu looked stunned: “Father-in-law? Mother-in-law? Spare me!”

Cuiyu: “Alas, we are not true immortals. At the end of the day, we’re just mortal flesh and blood. What’s the harm in giving the Sect Master a home?”

“Home?” Ruan Mingyu gazed into the distance. He didn’t even have a home himself. To give someone else a home? He was being flattered too much.

…

Ruan Mingyu was outwardly cheerful with Gong Lingdeng, but secretly, he was still looking for ways to escape. Tonight, under the dark and windy night, he attempted to break out again.

He swiftly ran to the wall. He had found out these past few days that as long as he climbed over and got past the guards at the entrance, he could leave.

He clung to the wall and climbed up as agilely as if possessed by a monkey.

He cautiously hunched over and peered over the wall. There were only a few guards scattered at the entrance. It wasn’t impossible to win against them.

Ruan Mingyu thought, I’ll fight them if I have to. I have to leave this place!

Just as he was about to jump down, he suddenly heard a soft, alluring laugh: “Ruan Ruan, you’re not sleeping in the middle of the night. Do you like climbing walls?”

Ruan Mingyu’s heart sank. Oh no, caught again!

He turned his head. His hard-won escape plan had failed just like that. He forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “The moon is beautiful tonight, hehe.”

Oh, heaven! When will I ever be able to leave? I don’t want to stay here anymore!

Gong Lingdeng climbed up and sat beside him.

He looked at the sky and said, “The moon hasn’t even come out tonight. The sky is a vast expanse of grey. Where is the moon?”

“I think you don’t see it in the sky, but in your heart,” Gong Lingdeng pointed to Ruan Mingyu’s chest. “If I had met you earlier than him, would I be in here?”

Ruan Mingyu thought about what nonsense he was talking about. Even if I met you eighteen years earlier, it wouldn’t be you. I’m not gay!

He said: “You can’t force these things. If it’s not right, it’s not right.”

Gong Lingdeng looked at him with a smile: “What if I insist on forcing it?”

Ruan Mingyu: “Ah, this…”

Gong Lingdeng: “You don’t have to answer me now. We have plenty of time. Ten years, a hundred years, I can wait.”

Ruan Mingyu was numb. If he were asked what he feared most in this life, besides death, it would be the loss of freedom. He disliked being pressured by others to decide anything. This feeling of powerlessness over his own life was enough to make him collapse.

He could pretend to agree, which would be a sensible choice, but for some reason, Ruan Mingyu chose silence. He didn’t want to answer a single word.

The two sat quietly on the wall, indifferent to the romantic setting, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Ruan Mingyu didn’t want to sit there foolishly anymore. He left behind a single sentence, “I’m going back to sleep,” and was about to jump down the wall. But Gong Lingdeng swept him into his arms, carrying him down from the wall.

As soon as Ruan Mingyu’s feet touched the ground, he immediately jumped out of his arms, scurried back into his room, closed the door, and lay on the bed.

Gong Lingdeng watched his retreating figure, his eyes filled with hidden meaning.

Back in his room, Ruan Mingyu rested his hands behind his head, but he couldn’t fall asleep no matter what.

He didn’t ask for much; just the freedom to do as he pleased. Why couldn’t even this simple wish be fulfilled?

His mind was a mess. One moment he thought of his carefree life in his previous world, the next, Song Chenxi’s face flashed through his mind. By now, Song Chenxi should have been released from Siguo Cliff, right?

If Song Chenxi found out he was missing, would he come looking for him?

Ruan Mingyu quickly shook his head.

Was he going crazy from being locked up? He was actually praying for Song Chenxi to save him.

With the Immortal Gate Grand Competition imminent, Song Chenxi probably wouldn’t have time to worry about anything else.

He told himself: Ruan Mingyu, Ruan Mingyu, why would you have such thoughts?

Even if Song Chenxi was willing to save him, could he fight off so many people in the Joyful Union Sect alone?

His mind wandered for a long time, and he finally fell asleep in the middle of the night.

But his sleep didn’t last long. He suddenly heard a clamoring noise outside. He rubbed his eyes and woke up, seeing that it was brightly lit outside. Lanterns were lit everywhere, making it as bright as day.

Did something happen?

Ruan Mingyu thought casually that whatever happened, it was none of his business. He rolled over and closed his eyes to continue sleeping.

However, not long after, an extremely soft sound intruded into his room.

Ruan Mingyu immediately opened his eyes. “Who!”

Just as he was about to light a candle for illumination, someone pressed a sword against his throat.

The person behind him was breathing rapidly and heavily, seemingly injured. He must be the one who broke into the Joyful Union Sect tonight.

As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances. Ruan Mingyu quickly begged for mercy: “Big Brother, I have no feud with you. Please be merciful and let me go. I promise I won’t disclose your whereabouts to them.”

Then, Ruan Mingyu heard a soft snicker, a half-smile that was impossible to decipher.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just kill you and be done with it?” The voice was faint, always carrying a hint of sarcasm.

Hearing this familiar tone, Ruan Mingyu felt a disbelief: “Song Chenxi?”

Song Chenxi was still his usual sarcastic self: “Little Sparrow’s wings have hardened. You eloped and ran off with someone else, and now you don’t even call me Senior Brother?”

He seemed… a little angry?

Ruan Mingyu: “I didn’t…”

“Didn’t what?” Song Chenxi mocked coldly. “You’ve defected to another sect. Today, I’ll punish you on behalf of the sect.”

The sword on Ruan Mingyu’s neck hadn’t been removed. His heart went cold. Is he going to purge the sect of me? Although he and Song’s relationship was okay these past few years, in the beginning, Song Chenxi genuinely wanted to kill him. Thinking about the last time Song Chenxi choked him, he was truly capable of anything when he went crazy.

Ruan Mingyu’s heart chilled. In a moment of quick thinking, he pinched himself,酝酿了一下, and immediately burst into tears: “Senior Brother, I was truly abducted here! I never thought of betraying the sect! Please listen to my explanation!”

Forget about the embarrassment. I need to appease him first.

The person behind him went silent. After a moment, Ruan Mingyu heard his low chuckle from above his head.

“A useless Little Sparrow, crying again.”

He released the sword and used his fingertip to wipe away Ruan Mingyu’s tears.

He said with pity: “Are you shaking so badly because you’re afraid I’ll kill you?”

Ruan Mingyu stared blankly, forgetting what he wanted to say. His eyes were red from crying, like a frightened rabbit.

Song Chenxi’s narrow eyes narrowed slightly: “Stop crying. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what will happen next.”

Ruan Mingyu had only been fake crying. Seeing him say that, he wiped away his tears and returned to normal.

Seeing Song Chenxi, Ruan Mingyu felt a strange lightness in his heart, as if the burden on him had been shared.

He pointed to Song Chenxi’s shoulder and asked with concern: “Are you hurt?”

Song Chenxi didn’t even blink, despite the blood from the wound soaking his clothes. He said lightly: “A minor injury.”

Ruan Mingyu saw that the blood on him was still flowing. He pouted. This person just loves to pretend. He’s clearly badly hurt.

Without further ado, he quickly treated the wound and bandaged it. The wound was so deep, yet Song Chenxi barely reacted, only frowning slightly.

Ruan Mingyu took out the pill he refined and fed him a bit.

Having been a doctor for a long time, Ruan Mingyu had developed a professional habit: “There, good boy. It won’t hurt after you take the medicine.”

Song Chenxi glanced at him, his expression odd.

“How did you find me?” Ruan Mingyu coughed, pretending nothing had happened, and asked the question on his mind.

Song Chenxi refused to elaborate: “Why are you asking so many questions?”

Ruan Mingyu: “I’m just asking. Hide quickly. They probably will come to search soon after you broke in.”

Song Chenxi’s eyes were filled with malice: “What is there to fear? I’ll just kill all of them.”

Ruan Mingyu calmed down and said, “They outnumber us. Let me think of a way.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door: “Ruan Ruan, are you awake?”

…

Without waiting for Ruan Mingyu’s reply, Gong Lingdeng pushed the door open and sauntered in.

Ruan Mingyu turned onto his side and closed his eyes, trying to make his breathing slow and even.

In the darkness, Gong Lingdeng stood by the bed and did not leave, just staring at Ruan Mingyu.

He sat on the edge of the bed. Ruan Mingyu’s heart tightened, and he quickly slowed his breathing. However, the person under the quilt seemed deeply dissatisfied. Ruan Mingyu quickly grabbed Song Chenxi’s hand, continually stroking the back of his hand with his thumb to comfort him.

Yes, he had hidden Song Chenxi under the quilt. If the lights were turned on, they would be exposed.

They were extremely close, practically pressed together. Ruan Mingyu’s chin rested on the back of Song Chenxi’s head. His hair tickled him, but Ruan Mingyu didn’t dare to move for fear of being discovered.

Gong Lingdeng sat by the bed and let out a sigh that was barely audible.

“Ruan Ruan…” He called out sadly and eloquently, seemingly filled with endless emotion.

The person hidden under the quilt had veins popping out on his arm. Ruan Mingyu felt that if he weren’t firmly gripping Song Chenxi’s hand right now, Song Chenxi would probably flip the quilt and fight Gong Lingdeng immediately.

Sensing Song Chenxi’s agitation, Ruan Mingyu gently patted his arm.

Song Chenxi calmed down a little, but only a little. He clamped his hand onto Ruan Mingyu’s waist and lightly nibbled on the side of his neck.

Ruan Mingyu nearly cried out and quickly covered his mouth.

He used his spiritual sense to communicate with Song Chenxi.

“Don’t bite…”

The other party only intensified his actions, growing more enthusiastic.

“Your new lover?”

“No…”

Ruan Mingyu was brought to tears, but he was afraid of being discovered by Gong Lingdeng next to him, so he could only bite his lip and silently endure.

“Then why are you stopping me from killing him?” Song Chenxi pressed on, demanding an explanation.

“Senior Brother, spare me.”

“……”

After what felt like an eternity, Gong Lingdeng finally left.

As soon as he was gone, Song Chenxi scrambled out from under the quilt and pinned Ruan Mingyu to the bed.

“Ruan Ruan—your shout was truly sincere.” He stared at Ruan Mingyu the whole time he said this, a smile on his lips, seemingly in a good mood. But a closer look at his eyes showed them covered by intense jealousy and a slight reddening.

Tears blurred Ruan Mingyu’s vision. He had cried more today than in the past two decades combined.

Even a cornered rabbit has a temper. He cried out and cursed: “Why are you having an episode?! I told you he forced me here!”

Song Chenxi froze, regaining some clarity. He lowered his head and touched his eyes with his hand. His palm felt the touch of Ruan Mingyu’s fluttering eyelashes, a slight tickle.

Ruan Mingyu’s tears wet his palm. Song Chenxi buried his head next to his ear and gently coaxed: “Don’t cry… it’s my fault.”

Ruan Mingyu opened his eyes to look at him and pushed him: “Get off me first.”

Song Chenxi hugged him, unwilling to let go.

“Just hug me a little longer.”

“……”

In the darkness, Song Chenxi stared at him and slowly smiled.

Ruan Mingyu had originally planned to send medicine to Song Chenxi regularly, but the unexpected appearance of Gong Lingdeng interrupted his plans, and he was abducted.

Song Chenxi’s condition became unstable without his medicine. Fortunately, Ruan Mingyu hadn’t been idle during his stay at the Joyful Union Sect and had refined some pills. He quickly took one out and pried open Song Chenxi’s lips to put it into his mouth.

Song Chenxi made a move to spit the pill out. Ruan Mingyu pleaded: “Oh, please don’t! I spent a lot of effort refining that.”

Song Chenxi finally swallowed the pill.

“Not mad at me anymore?”

Ruan Mingyu snorted: “How dare I be?”

Song Chenxi: “A cheeky Little Sparrow.”

He said: “When I was at the sect, I heard that a disciple, using my face, went around swindling within the sect, asking for ten spirit stones for a ‘Good Gege’ or ‘Good Jiejie.’ Tell me, how can there be such a bad person in the world?”

Ruan Mingyu was speechless. Okay, I did do some unethical things to earn money.

Seeing him not answer, Song Chenxi’s hand slowly moved down, seemingly about to cup his neck. In reality, Song Chenxi just wanted to tidy his messy collar.

Ruan Mingyu didn’t want to experience that suffocating feeling again. He hardened his heart and immediately looked at him. Although his intention was to look sincere, it came across as affectionate. He said: “Senior Brother, if they come to me, they won’t bother you.”

Song Chenxi’s hand paused. Ruan Mingyu saw that it was working and quickly added fuel to the fire: “Everything I do is for you.”

Song Chenxi froze, then suddenly lowered his head and kissed Ruan Mingyu’s lips.

“You don’t have to go through all this for me.”

His kiss was light, like a feather landing on his lips.

A huge storm brewed in Ruan Mingyu’s heart. Oops, I think I’ve overplayed my hand…

Song Chenxi’s breathing was heavy. He held Ruan Mingyu’s hand and pressed his face against it.

“Mingyu, I’ve never been this happy.”

Ruan Mingyu stammered: “You’ll encounter many happy things in the future.”

Song Chenxi: “None of them can compare to this very moment.”

There was never a trace of emotion in his narrow eyes, but when he looked at Ruan Mingyu, his gaze softened, transforming into a pool of spring water.

He had fallen deeply for him.

…

Song Chenxi was severely injured. It was already difficult for him to single-handedly break into the Joyful Union Sect, yet he acted like nothing was wrong.

Ruan Mingyu now desperately wished he would recover soon and take him away from here.

Ruan Mingyu secretly hid him in his room, and he started spending much more time there than usual. Before, he preferred to roam outside all day.

It would take at least ten days to half a month for Song Chenxi’s injuries to heal. During this time, he absolutely could not be discovered by Gong Lingdeng.

To help him recover quickly, Ruan Mingyu frequently brought back delicious food from the kitchen to feed Song Chenxi. Song Chenxi accepted everything. In reality, he rarely ate food when he was at the sect, but since Ruan Mingyu brought it to him, it was different.

Ruan Mingyu was genuinely touched that Song Chenxi was willing to come and rescue him. If only he wouldn’t act crazy and say ambiguous things.

Ruan Mingyu shared a piece of stolen pastry with him, stuffing his mouth full as he said, “Senior Brother, if you take me back, I’ll figure out a way to completely cure you. From now on, you’ll be my true Senior Brother.”

Song Chenxi stared at him and suddenly said: “You’ve changed.”

Ruan Mingyu joked: “Am I getting more handsome?”

Song Chenxi measured him with his hand in the air: “Your eyes are a little longer, and you have less flesh on your face. Are you not getting enough to eat here?”

Ruan Mingyu nearly choked. He wouldn’t object to any other criticism of the Joyful Union Sect, but if someone said the food wasn’t good, he would be the first to protest.

“Is there a possibility that… I’ve grown up?” Ruan Mingyu said.

Ah, has it really been that long since I came to this world?

Song Chenxi suddenly moved closer to him. Ruan Mingyu’s heart suddenly beat faster.

What is he trying to do now?

Song Chenxi pinched his chin and examined him from side to side: “Yes, our Little Sparrow has grown into an adult.”

At the same time, a crisp bird call sounded outside the window. Ruan Mingyu turned to open the window as if fleeing. A branch of peach blossoms stretched in from outside. Although the flowers on the branch hadn’t fully bloomed, there were many buds, signaling that spring had arrived without them noticing.