Male Lead, Please Don’t Covet the Mob Character Cannon Fodder (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 8

Qingshi froze for a moment before reaching out to return Gu Jiuli’s embrace. He could feel Gu Jiuli’s deep concern and the sheer relief radiating from him at that moment.

The others present in the government office watched as two disheveled, grimy men held each other in the main hall as if they were inseparable.

Hearing the well-intentioned laughter of the bystanders, Qingshi felt a wave of embarrassment. He nudged Gu Jiuli, trying to get him to let go. “Da Hei, I am fine. It is just that I have not bathed in two days and two nights. I am practically sour.”

Gu Jiuli allowed himself to be pushed back gently and replied in a soft voice, “I already heated the water before I left the house. You can bathe as soon as we return.”

“Then let us go home quickly!” Qingshi stood up with Gu Jiuli’s help. However, after taking only two steps, his head spun and his vision went black. He nearly collapsed back onto the floor.

“Young Master!” Gu Jiuli supported the staggering Qingshi. “Let me carry you back on my back.”

“Alright.” Qingshi truly lacked the energy to argue. Having gone two days without sleep or a single grain of rice, it was a miracle he was still conscious.

As Gu Jiuli walked back with Qingshi on his shoulders, Qingshi could not see the stubble covering the man’s face or his bloodshot eyes. No one knew the burning anxiety and unrest Gu Jiuli had felt during the two days Qingshi was locked in a cell.

“Da Hei, why do you think the eldest son of the Liu family came to clear my name?” Qingshi asked, resting his head on Gu Jiuli’s shoulder.

“Heh,” Gu Jiuli let out a cold laugh. “Perhaps he realized that if he did not speak up now, he would be silenced forever.”

“Mhm?” Qingshi thought of the crazed Zhu Xiao. “That makes sense. Second Young Master Zhu is indeed the type of person who would resort to silencing witnesses.”

Gu Jiuli paused in his tracks. “Zhu Xiao went to see you?”

“Yes,” Qingshi answered sleepily. “He came on the first night I was in prison and said some quite revolting things. By the way, since the eldest Liu son cleared my name, will Zhu Xiao seek revenge against him?”

Gu Jiuli pressed his tongue against his back teeth, a flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes. “Do not worry. He has enough trouble of his own now. A batch of top-tier fabrics that the Zhu family was supposed to supply to the officials suddenly caught fire and burned to nothing. The warehouse where the fabrics were kept was under Zhu Xiao’s name.”

“Oh, I see,” Qingshi murmured. “It seems bad people really do face divine retribution.”

“Brother! Da Hei! You are finally back! I was worried to death!” As soon as they arrived home, Song Qingyu ran toward them.

“I am fine,” Qingshi said, lifting his head from Gu Jiuli’s shoulder. “I am sorry for making you worry, Qingyu.”

“Pah, do not talk about that. It is enough that you are back,” Song Qingyu sighed like a little adult. “Brother, you and Da Hei should both go wash up and get some good sleep.”

“Brother, you have no idea. You were gone for two days, and Da Hei did not close his eyes once in all that time.”

Hearing this, Qingshi was shocked. “Da Hei, you?”

Gu Jiuli placed him on a chair in the courtyard and changed the subject. “Young Master Qingshi, I will go fetch the hot water for you.”

After Gu Jiuli entered the kitchen, Song Qingyu leaned toward Qingshi’s ear and whispered, “Brother, Da Hei is truly a valuable servant. Even Father was not this good to me.”

Qingshi remained silent. He knew the Male Lead only acted this way because his amnesia made him embrace the role of a servant. The more he did now, the angrier he would be once he regained his memories. Qingshi’s destiny was to die at the hands of the enraged Male Lead; that was an essential part of the plot he had to follow.

“Brother?” Song Qingyu looked at him with confusion, seeing Qingshi’s prolonged silence.

Qingshi forced a smile. “Yes, he is.”

“Young Master Qingshi, the hot water is ready. You may bathe now.” Gu Jiuli’s voice called out from the kitchen. With Song Qingyu’s assistance, Qingshi made his way into the bathroom.

After his bath, Qingshi was escorted back to his room by Gu Jiuli. He sat on the edge of the bed, overcome by exhaustion. “Da Hei, I cannot go on. I must sleep first.”

Gu Jiuli stopped him from lying down. “Eat something before you sleep.”

Qingshi held onto the bed frame. Having not eaten for two days and nights, he did indeed need food. “Alright. What is there to eat?”

“I have kept some porridge warm. Wait for me to bring it.” Gu Jiuli left the room and returned with a bowl of warm, thick porridge.

Qingshi was so drowsy that he intended to simply take the bowl and swallow a few mouthfuls. However, a notification rang in his head.

[Ding! Plot Advancement Task: Have Gu Jiuli feed you porridge for at least five minutes. Time limit: Twenty minutes to complete.]

Qingshi’s hand, which was reaching for the bowl, retracted. He let out a soft sigh. “Da Hei, I do not have much strength in my hands. Could I trouble you to feed me?”

“Alright.” Gu Jiuli agreed before Qingshi could even finish his sentence.

The smooth ceramic spoon touched Qingshi’s lower lip. Qingshi wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent and simply began to eat the porridge.

Spoonful after spoonful, Gu Jiuli fed him with great patience. However, Qingshi did not have a large appetite, and because he had eaten quickly at first, he felt full when only three minutes had passed. He was forced to linger, taking tiny sips in an attempt to drag out the remaining two minutes. A small spoonful of porridge felt as though it took an eternity to swallow.

The spoon was suddenly pulled away. Qingshi looked up blankly, his bright red tongue still peeking out from his pale lips.

“Do not force yourself if you cannot drink any more, Young Master,” Gu Jiuli said helplessly.

Qingshi looked at the remaining thirty seconds on his task timer and tugged at Gu Jiuli’s sleeve. “Just two more spoonfuls.”

“Very well.” Gu Jiuli scooped another spoonful and held it out.

Qingshi drank at a faster pace. Seeing the thirty seconds finally end, he breathed a sigh of relief and swallowed the rest of the porridge in one gulp.

He immediately began to cough.

“Young Master, are you alright?” Gu Jiuli reached out and rubbed Qingshi’s back to help him catch his breath.

“I am fine.” Qingshi waved his hand to indicate he was okay. In the next second, a pair of hands lifted his chin. He asked in confusion, “Da Hei?”

A finger with light calluses brushed the corner of his mouth. “There was a bit of porridge stuck here.”

The finger withdrew, leaving Qingshi feeling bewildered.

“Go to sleep, Young Master Qingshi.”

Qingshi slept until the following afternoon. That evening, Gu Jiuli prepared a large feast to welcome him back. It happened that Uncle Wang, Auntie Wang, and other villagers Qingshi had helped came to visit him after hearing of his release, so the large meal was perfectly finished.

In the days that followed, Second Young Master Zhu did not show his face again. Villagers who visited the town mentioned that the Zhu family had closed their doors and remained inside, though no one knew exactly what had happened.

“Brother! The teachers from the Quest Academy in the capital came to the private school today for examinations, and I took first place!” Song Qingyu shouted as he entered the house. “Master Qin from the Quest Academy gave me a recommendation letter! He said I can use it to study at the academy.”

The Quest Academy was the largest academy in the Great Qi Dynasty, dedicated to training the pillars of the nation. Entering the academy was practically equivalent to having one foot in the imperial government.

Qingshi was very surprised. “I did not realize you were so talented, Qingyu. It seems our Song family is going to produce a high-ranking official.”

“Hahaha! Father and Mother would be very happy in the afterlife to see their son being so successful,” Song Qingyu said proudly.

Qingshi smiled gently. “Did Master Qin say if there is a time limit to report to the academy?”

Song Qingyu thought for a moment. “Mhm, there is. He said I must report to the academy within three months.”

“Three months.” Qingshi calculated that the journey from Ganzhou to the capital, Yancheng, was roughly five hundred miles. “The schedule is tight. Qingyu, how do you plan to get to Yancheng? Can you travel with Master Qin?”

“Ah, no. Master Qin is not returning to Yancheng yet; he has to go to other provinces for examinations.” Song Qingyu’s excitement was dampened. “What should we do? Should we rent a carriage ourselves? No, if we encounter bandits, we will not be able to escape. Sigh.”

“The Zhenyuan Escort Agency in town is sending a shipment to the capital soon. We can travel with them.” Gu Jiuli’s voice suddenly rang out while the two were worrying.

Song Qingyu’s eyes lit up. “That works! That is a great idea! Da Hei, how did you find out?”

Gu Jiuli replied, “I heard about it when I went to town a few days ago.”

“Very well,” Qingshi decided. “I will go to the Zhenyuan Escort Agency tomorrow to speak with the head of the agency. Qingyu, start packing your things. I will go to Yancheng with you.”

Song Qingyu was surprised. “Brother, you are going too? I thought you disliked crowded places. Yancheng is the capital; it will certainly be teeming with people.”

“How could I be at ease letting you go such a long distance alone?” Qingshi sighed softly. “I must at least see you enter the academy.”

Song Qingyu lunged forward and hugged Qingshi’s legs. “Brother, you are the best!”

“Young Master Qingshi, what about me?” Gu Jiuli interrupted the sentimental moment.

“Da Hei, of course you are coming with us! We are a family!” Song Qingyu spoke before Qingshi could.

A family. Gu Jiuli’s expression faltered for a second before his lips curled into a smile. He gave a quiet “Mhm.”

At the rear of the escort convoy, a plain carriage followed. Gu Jiuli was the one driving.

It was now summer, and the weather was gradually becoming hot. Although Gu Jiuli wore a bamboo hat, sweat still trickled down his face.

This was the tenth day of their journey with the escort agency, and they had reached the border between Bingzhou and Suizhou.

“Brother Da Hei, are you tired? Would you like some water?” A clear female voice reached the inside of the carriage. Qingshi recognized it as the voice of Lin Yingying, the only daughter of Lin Pei, the head of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency. Since they had departed, Lin Yingying had been persistently trying to strike up conversations with Gu Jiuli every day.

As expected of the Male Lead, he attracted female admirers wherever he went.

“Thank you, Miss, but there is no need,” Gu Jiuli refused coldly.

Lin Yingying was used to being rejected and was not discouraged. Her mother had told her that a persistent woman could win over any stubborn man. Although this man named Da Hei was just a servant, he was physically strong and handsome, exactly her type. Her father had told her that if she found someone suitable, she should take the chance.

“Then, Brother Da Hei, would you like a wheat cake? My mother made them herself. They are delicious.” Lin Yingying pulled a warm wheat cake from her robes.

“I am not hungry. You should keep it for yourself, Miss.”

Hearing Gu Jiuli’s blunt refusal, Qingshi clicked his tongue. The Male Lead was truly straightforward.

“Then I will head back to the front. If you want to eat, just tell me.” Lin Yingying hurried back to the front of the convoy.

“Brother, Da Hei is far too unromantic. Miss Lin is such a good girl: young, lively, and beautiful,” Song Qingyu whispered to Qingshi.

Qingshi fanned himself with one hand and poked Song Qingyu’s forehead with the other. “What? Is your heart fluttering?”

“No,” Song Qingyu answered sheepishly. “To be honest, Brother, what kind of woman do you like? Someone as beautiful as a goddess? Or someone well-educated and polite?”

At the front of the carriage, Gu Jiuli also pricked up his ears, waiting for Qingshi’s answer.

However, Qingshi did not fall into the trap. He countered with a question. “It seems you have grown up, Qingyu, to be discussing the topic of preferred women with your brother. You tell me what kind you like first. Once we reach Yancheng, I will take charge and arrange an engagement for you.”

“Brother, it is still too early for me. Besides, you have not married yet, so how could it be my turn? There is a proper order between elders and youth,” Song Qingyu said playfully.

Qingshi laughed softly. “Now you care about the proper order between elders and youth? I have not seen you follow the rules much in daily life.”

“Oh, Brother, just tell me. I am very curious. So many women in Saji Village liked you, yet you never agreed to any of them. What kind of person do you actually like?” Song Qingyu clung to Qingshi’s arm and acted spoiled.

“Let go first. You are leaning too close; it is sweltering.” Qingshi pushed Song Qingyu away with mock annoyance.

Song Qingyu pouted and let go. Just as he thought Qingshi would not answer, he heard Qingshi’s voice. “I like someone who is quiet, considerate, attentive to my emotions, and who can stay by my side forever.”

Song Qingyu joked, “Pfft! Brother, your description sounds exactly like Da Hei.”

Outside the carriage, Gu Jiuli suddenly felt a tremor erupt from his chest, like a volcanic eruption. Scalding lava seemed to spread to every corner of his body.

“Mhm? Really?” Qingshi reviewed his words. It did seem as though there were some traces of Da Hei in his description. He tugged at his sweat-dampened collar. “It is likely just a coincidence.”

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