One Hundred Ways to Have a "BE" (Bad Ending) with the Protagonist Gong [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 4

That night, Xue Xuening tossed and turned for a long time before he finally drifted into sleep.

The wooden window had its support rod removed, yet a sliver of an opening remained. The night wind leaped over the cool, thin leaves and branches, stealing into the room from time to time, flickering lively alongside the bright, warm candlelight.

Perhaps because he had been entering these dreams for so long and so often, every interaction with Qin Guan had become unimaginably real.

On the bed, the two were sleeping together, feet entwined.

Qin Guan wore only a thin undergarment, half-propped up on his chin as he lay in Xue Xuening’s arms, revealing a curve of his lotus-root-white forearm.

“Xuening, I learned a new poem today. Would you like me to write it for you?”

“Hmm.” Xue Xuening stared at the ceiling; his hands tightly wrapped around Qin Guan’s waist. His gaze was deep and dark, though it was unclear what he was thinking.

Qin Guan used his index finger to write stroke by stroke on his chest. His fingertips slowly slid over the inner garment, the coolness seeping into the skin, bringing a faint, ticklish sensation. Xue Xuening’s eyes were half-closed, and he made no sound. It was only when he felt the hand gradually sliding downward that he suddenly reached out to catch it.

Qin Guan was relentless: “I haven’t finished writing yet.”

“There is no need to write any further.”

Xue Xuening had already opened his dark, unfathomable eyes. He pulled Qin Guan beneath him, leaning down to lose himself in the moist, crimson warmth.

“Unspeaking of the uneven water-shield, who discusses the slender and virtuous? Willing to hold the embroidered quilt, to come and join…”

He had always read books broadly and diversely; naturally, he had read the story of the Yue boatman and Lord E Jun.

When Lord E Jun of the State of Chu was on a boat and heard the song of a Yue boatman, he did not understand the meaning, so he had those around him translate it into the Chu language. Upon understanding the admiration hidden within the boatman’s song, Lord E Jun was not angry; instead, he personally held up an embroidered quilt, signaling his willingness to share a great dream with the other.

When the phrase “holding up the embroidered quilt” was traced upon his lower abdomen, Xue Xuening already understood Qin Guan’s intentions.

Yet, his second sister was conducting a clandestine affair with Ning Yuanshan, a transgression intolerable to the secular world.

He and Qin Guan were not yet married. If they were to consummate their relationship first, would it not prove that he, Xue Xuening, was no different from Ning Yuanshan both merely hypocrites who had spent years in vain studying the books of the sages?

To cherish someone is not to be so reckless.

Xue Xuening looked at the slightly distracted expression on Qin Guan’s face beneath him, a trace of imperceptible pity and tenderness in his eyes: “Only this will not do, Guan Guan.”

Qin Guan’s eyes were soft and bright, as if soaked in water, looking at him wetly: “Xuening, are you afraid? I want to be closer to you closer than you are to anyone else in this world. Let us be united like this, clouds and rain intertwined; wouldn’t it be wonderful to be together like this for a lifetime?”

He was seducing him, like a deep and gorgeous pool of water, waiting for him to willingly jump in and drown.

Xue Xuening held Qin Guan’s face with one palm, looking down in silence for a long time. He only used his thumb to slowly rub over the slightly reddened lower eyelid, smiling gently.

Qin Guan, unable to wait for his answer, seemed a little annoyed: “What is it? Why do you keep staring at me?”

Xue Xuening said: “You are adorable.”

He leaned down to kiss Qin Guan’s hair, his lips pressing against the other’s thin, red earlobes, his voice so low it was almost inaudible: “Like a cat with its fur standing on end.”

The soft body beneath him tensed instantly.

The next day, Xue Xuening awoke early as usual. When he rose, he seemed to be in high spirits; there was an unprovoked tenderness in his usually calm eyes.

Qingbao noticed he was in a good mood and said sagely: “Young Master, word has come from the palace. A summer banquet is to be held in three days, and all eligible sons and daughters from the families of Liancheng will attend. The Madam has already begun preparations. Shall we decline as per the usual custom?”

Xue Xuening did not care for socializing and had always feigned illness to avoid it in the past. This time, however, he nodded in a rare moment of compliance: “No need. Everything shall be arranged according to Mother’s wishes.”

He looked at the scroll in his hand, turned a page, and asked: “Has everything been handled?”

Qingbao’s eyes narrowed into slits, his round face smiling cutely: “Lianqiao served the Second Young Lady for years and was always proper, but who would have thought her hands were not clean? This morning, she was caught red-handed by several guards on the spot. When they pinned her to the wall and searched her, they found that she was hiding the very gold tassel that the Madam lost last month.”

The heavy rain of last evening had stopped by midnight, and the sun had come out in the morning, but there was still some undried rainwater on the eaves, dripping drop by drop—a sound that made one’s heart feel troubled.

Xue Xuening did not even lift his eyes: “How did Mother dispose of the matter?”

Qingbao said: “The Madam is kind-hearted and had not yet punished her, but the girl was so overcome with shame that she threw herself into the well. Her body has already been sent back to her father’s home. They only said she died of an incurable illness, leaving her with enough dignity.”

“She did a foolish thing at such a young age; it is quite pitiful.” Xue Xuening put down his book and said gently: “In addition to what the Madam gave, you should send some extra silver to her family as a gesture of sympathy.”

Qingbao smiled and replied: “Young Master is truly kind and benevolent. I shall attend to it immediately.”

Before long, word came that the Madam had invited him to dine together.

His father was busy with matters today and was not at home. When Xue Xuening arrived, only his mother and his eldest brother were sitting in the hall.

Although there were only three people dining, the dishes were not neglected: there were crispy fish slices, apricot blossom rouge goose, and wild mushroom and ham soup stewed with chicken marrow bamboo shoots, along with light vegetable dishes like blanched bok choy and bean sprouts mixed with sesame oil.

When she saw Xue Xuening, Madam Xue’s usually stern and solemn face transformed into a gentleness as soft as a spring breeze. She quickly stood up to personally serve him soup.

“Xuening is here. Sit quickly. I know you haven’t had much of an appetite lately, so drink some soup first to warm your body. I heard from the servants a few days ago that you are always reading late into the night and have been coughing in the mornings. Do not wear yourself out and delay the provincial examinations.”

Xue Xuening smiled and sat down obediently, taking the small bowl: “I thank Mother for your concern. Everything is fine.”

“Other medicines are neither here nor there, as you have been taking them for years without improvement,” Madam Xue said. “However, the ‘Jing Ju’ Loquat Paste that the Emperor bestowed upon your father a few days ago is quite excellent for soothing the throat and nourishing the lungs. Your father specifically saved a jar to send to you. Use warm water to brew a cup every morning, and you won’t cough so uncomfortably.”

“Yes, I have noted it all. It is truly my fault for always making Father and Mother worry so.”

Madam Xue smiled lovingly: “What foolish talk. You children are not yet married, so every day you remain by my side is a day I cherish. When the day comes for you to establish your own families, and you all move out to your own residences, it won’t be easy to sit and talk like this again.”

Xue Congjian had always been silent and rarely had anything to say to his two younger siblings in daily life. Today, he made a rare remark: “Why is Second Sister not here for the meal?”

Madam Xue sighed with heartache: “Alas, she played too hard in the heavy rain yesterday and caught a cold. She is still lying in bed unable to get up. Let her rest well. I originally thought the little maids by her side were all quite good, but I never expected there would be someone with unclean hands. Since that is the case, it would be better to replace them all and choose a new batch of steady ones to serve her, so that I may be more at ease.”

Xue Congjian did not speak further: “The household is large and the affairs are many; Mother has put in much effort.”

Xue Xuening also added: “I heard from the doctor that a spring cold requires quiet recuperation. In a few days, Eldest Brother and I shall go to visit Second Sister.”

Madam Xue nodded: “May the Bodhisattva bless the Second Young Lady and help her recover soon. You two should also not be greedy for coolness and skimp on your clothing these past two days. Pay attention to the cold and warmth.”

The two brothers both agreed.

After the meal, a servant came to report that the Prince of Xiao had arrived.

Xue Xuening arrived in the living room, but the man was not there. The little maid serving said the Prince had gone to the study. Remembering the things he had left on the table, Xue Xuening felt his brow furrow slightly, and his pace quickened.

Xiao Ziyi had always been close to him, and coming to the Xue mansion was a daily occurrence.

However, over the past few days, his sketches and casual poems had been left on the table without being tidied up. He feared the lingering, romantic thoughts from his dreams would be exposed completely.

As expected, when Xue Xuening pushed open the door, Xiao Ziyi was sitting in a chair, appreciating a painting with great interest. Seeing him arrive, he raised his eyes with a half-smile and teased: “Xuening, you have finally arrived; you kept me waiting for quite a while.”

Xue Xuening smiled slightly: “It is my fault for being late after speaking with Mother for a few more words. Qingbao, go and pour some tea for the Prince.”

Having spent years together, Xue Xuening naturally understood Xiao Ziyi. Only when he discovered something extremely interesting would he wear such an expression.

Indeed, Xiao Ziyi pointed with the feather fan in his hand: “This painting of yours has full, rich ink, and the brushwork is delicate. The person is so beautiful they appear to be standing right before my eyes. I wonder who you were painting?”

Xue Xuening remained calm, answering candidly: “It is no one in particular, just routine practice—a casual sketch.”

Xiao Ziyi did not believe him: “Is it not that Qin Guan you mentioned before? Good Xuening, don’t hide such a wonderful person away. Why not introduce him to me?”

Xue Xuening said: “There is truly no source for this. If such a spiritual and beautiful person really existed, I fear I could only meet him in my dreams.”

That statement could not be considered a lie.

Xiao Ziyi sipped his tea, stared at him for a moment, and suddenly laughed: “Is that so? I didn’t know you loved such things before. I remember you always painted landscapes and rocks; you rarely painted living things. I haven’t even seen a wild goose in your study. Now, things are quite different.”

Xue Xuening smiled and rolled up the painting: “People always change. Trying new things once in a while is also a pleasure.”

Xiao Ziyi stepped forward and draped an arm around Xue Xuening’s shoulder, speaking intimately: “I think you have finally opened your mind. Since that is the case, we need not follow tradition for your birthday celebration this time. How about we try something new?”

In half a month, it would be Xue Xuening’s nineteenth birthday.

In past years, they would host guests at the Xue mansion, eat, drink, and play the flower-flying game, inviting an opera troupe into the house for a day of excitement. It was pleasant, but lacked novelty. This year, Xiao Ziyi had set the private banquet for their group of friends at Heng Garden one day in advance.

Xue Xuening had known early on that he intended to host a banquet. He hadn’t wanted to go, but since he could not keep rejecting the other’s intent, he smiled and said: “Whatever Ziyi arranges.”

It was rare for him to agree so readily, and Xiao Ziyi gave a hearty laugh: “Then it is settled. Since you are interested in portraits of beauties, I shall invite a master painter to depict the Ten Beauties of the Capital as your birthday gift.”

Xue Xuening could not decline and naturally accepted.

Little did they know, the “protagonist” of the painting just discussed, Qin Guan, was lying on a sunken sandalwood couch to the side, holding a storybook, nonchalantly listening to their conversation in the room.

Qin Guan lazily yawned and thought to himself: What Ten Beauties of the Capital? Aside from Xue Xuening, I fear the entire State of Qi couldn’t find a second physique more beautiful than my own.