The Eldest Brother is Handsome but Sick. - Chapter 33

The Confession

“I once intended to live out this life alone, letting it end in a muddle.”

The hand Su Huai had clamped around his waist suddenly tightened. Yan Jin crinkled his eyes and leaned forward, rubbing his lips against the corner of Su Huai’s mouth in a comforting gesture.

He continued: “I have lived for over twenty years, and it feels as if I have always been searching for something I never obtained. Before coming to the Hall of Three Lives, I longed for someone to need me, to validate the meaning of my existence. Thus, I rarely accomplished anything useful, busy instead with throwing tantrums at my father and fleeing the Yan family.”

“However, after entering the Hall of Three Lives, I bore responsibilities. When everyone needed me, I longed for true family affection. It could be said that every time, I accurately lost the things I cared about, then spent my time trying to find a way to get them back.”

Yan Jin grasped Su Huai’s hand, interlacing their fingers. “But I cannot blame anyone. All of this was because of my own cowardice I was unwilling to face things and always preferred to take the easier path.”

“I know the reasons, yet I am unwilling to change; I am truly an incorrigible ‘wooden club.’ But why can’t I escape? That is simply who I am, and I accept myself. I once thought I would never enter into a relationship in this life. I thought I would reject it outright and, like a coward, refuse to take a single step forward.”

“But Su Huai.” Yan Jin paused, letting out a slow, long breath. “In this life of mine, amidst these vast mountains and rivers and the smoke of human dwellings none of it is you, yet all of it is you. I cannot escape.”

He looked at Su Huai, his eyes suddenly reddening. He had thought Su Huai was just one of the many passing travelers in his life, yet looking back, he realized their bond had long since been etched into his very bones.

Yan Jin leaned in again, wrapping his arms around Su Huai’s neck and pressing a kiss upon him, saying solemnly: “So, are you willing to enter my Yan family genealogy?”

The surroundings fell into a dead silence.

Su Huai said, “Senior Brother, you truly are…”

Then, Yan Jin heard Su Huai let out a sound that was almost a sob, and he was pressed deep into the corner. Outside, the cold wind whistled, but Su Huai blocked the draft, circling him tightly in his arms.

The Breaking of the Dam

The kiss arrived before the fingertips, carrying an undeniable tenderness. Yan Jin let out a muffled groan; the moment his back touched the wall, Su Huai’s hand was already steadily cushioning the back of his head.

This kiss was a dam breaking after a long suppression. Yan Jin’s eyelashes trembled, and he tilted his head back to respond. He could feel the muscles in Su Huai’s arm tensing as the boy held his waist, restraining an even more turbulent tide.

In the darkness, every sensation was magnified. Amidst the entanglement of lips and teeth, their clothing grew loose. Yan Jin’s eyes felt hot, and his vision grew hazy. One hand climbed onto Su Huai’s shoulder as he looked up with his red lips slightly parted. His eyes were filled with the “spring waters” of emotion tender, enchanting, and seductive without him even realizing it.

Su Huai’s breathing grew ragged again. He leaned down and bit Yan Jin’s lip hard, his hand quietly slipping into the man’s loose collar. His palm was scorching, and his calloused fingertips brushed against the delicate skin of Yan Jin’s waist, triggering a series of fine shivers.

On such a cold night, the hair on Yan Jin’s forehead was already damp with sweat. He let out a suppressed whimper, his vision blurred with mist as his body arched, instinctively pressing closer to the source of heat.

“Wait, Su Huai, stop doing that…” He leaned weakly against Su Huai’s shoulder, half-longing and half-pleading, his voice losing its pitch.

But Su Huai clearly had no intention of listening to him now; if anything, he grew even more excessive.

As if in a silent response, Yan Jin’s trembling hands also gently untied Su Huai’s belt, reaching beneath his inner robe. Where his fingertips touched, there were tensed muscles and a light coating of sweat.

No gap remained between them as their bodies pressed tightly together. Their movements were clumsy and exploratory; every touch carried a sense of cherished devotion, lingering on the edge of restraint and indulgence. Rapid breaths intertwined at their ears, speaking of desire more directly than any words could.

When everything reached its peak, a few hot tears rolled from Yan Jin’s eyes. He bit his lip hard, yet a low moan still escaped his throat.

Su Huai buried his burning face deep into the crook of Yan Jin’s neck, letting out a low, sigh-like groan of satisfaction. Yan Jin slumped powerlessly in his arms, his fingertips still unconsciously clutching the boy’s collar.

They embraced quietly in the deserted corner.

The Aftermath

After an unknown amount of time, Su Huai tidied Yan Jin’s clothes and gently kissed his forehead, saying hoarsely, “My apologies. I lost control. I am at Senior Brother’s disposal for punishment.”

Yan Jin was now sober, his face flushed bright red. He was so embarrassed he nearly fainted on the spot; he had actually failed to stop Su Huai and had even “colluded” with him to reach such a state.

He looked at Su Huai, who stood with his head bowed looking pitiful, and suddenly laughed in frustration. You big bad wolf, are you still acting?

Su Huai added, “I only ask that Senior Brother punish me later. Right now, it is better to return and change your clothes.”

Thus, the words at the tip of Yan Jin’s tongue were swallowed back down. He was covered in sweat and “fluids”; although he had been shielded by Su Huai’s embrace and hadn’t caught a draft, his weak constitution meant that after such an expenditure, he was feeling extremely frail. Staying out any longer would surely lead to a cold.

The reasoning was sound and considerate, leaving Yan Jin at a loss for words. He could only rub his forehead helplessly and follow the boy back.

As it was late, they didn’t call for servants. Su Huai personally boiled hot water and cleaned Yan Jin from head to toe before wrapping him up tightly. Only after lighting the brazier and the soothing incense did he feel at ease leaving for the pharmacy to prepare Wen Wu’s medicine.

The room was warm. Yan Jin listened to the “crackling” of the candle flame, his gaze fixed on nothingness.

He touched his freshly changed clothes, finally feeling a sense of reality. He said, “System, I feel like I just had a dream.”

He waited a moment, and when the System didn’t respond, he said again, “System?”

[System Headquarters Notification: Your system, 099, began a ‘The Pairs I Shipped Became Real’ livestream one hour ago. Due to restricted content in the broadcast, it has had a negative impact on minor systems. It has been placed in mandatory isolation for 24 hours of self-reflection. Host, please wait patiently for the punishment to end.]

Yan Jin was stunned. “…?”

He blinked, trying to process the meaning: “???”

What does this mean? The System was livestreaming?

Livestreaming what?

A thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly understood.

Almost instantly, he turned red from head to toe. From the shame and indignation of a “social death,” he dove under the covers and screamed: “System, what have you done! Aaaaaaah!!”

The Intrusion

“Wen Wu! What have you done!”

Suddenly, an angry roar rang out, followed by a world-shaking explosion!

The main gate of the Marquis Estate was blasted open by a single saber strike. Before anyone could react, the cold clatter of armored soldiers pressed in, with footsteps approaching in layered waves.

Yan Jin snapped out of his embarrassment and quickly dressed to investigate. To his surprise, as soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, he saw Lin San and Lin Si crouching at the corner of the wall, peeking around.

The two happily waved at Yan Jin the moment they saw him: “Doctor Yan, over here.”

Yan Jin looked into the distance; Wen Wu’s courtyard was already surrounded by soldiers so densely that not even water could leak through. His heart tightened, and he walked quickly to the twins. “What happened?”

Lin San waved it off. “Eh, it’s nothing. General Ao has arrived, that’s all.”

Lin Si: “The Marquis and General Ao had a fight.”

“What?! How can you call that ‘nothing’? The Marquis is poisoned right now, and he and the General are irreconcilable enemies. Bringing this many men what if something happens to the Marquis?” Yan Jin’s eyes were wide.

Lin San laughed. “Truly, it’s fine. Even if our Marquis used only one hand, General Ao wouldn’t win.”

Lin Si: “Correct.”

Yan Jin thought about Wen Wu’s physique and hesitated. “Then why did General Ao come this time?”

“Ah, that…” Lin San hesitated for a moment but answered truthfully. “Official Huang is dead. Oh, he was the mastermind behind those assassins who stole Censor Zhu’s medallion to kill you.”

“The Marquis used a ‘counter-scheme,’ taking the medallion to assassinate Official Huang and then framing Censor Zhu. Right now, Censor Zhu is locked in the Marquis Estate’s dungeon. Our Marquis killed two birds with one stone,” Lin San said excitedly.

Lin Si: “General Ao is here on Imperial orders to take Censor Zhu away.”

“Oh.” Yan Jin took a step back. Then I’d better not get involved, lest I become collateral damage.

Seeing that nothing was truly wrong, he wanted to go back and rest, but after two steps, he was grabbed by Lin San. “Doctor Yan, you can’t leave. We have important business with the Marquis but don’t dare to barge in. Could you please come with us to announce our presence?”

Yan Jin was expressionless. “No.”

Lin San: “Please, Doctor Yan! You’re a guest; neither the Marquis nor the General will blame you. And if the Marquis is injured, you can help treat him, right?”

No! He really didn’t want to get involved in court struggles!

Yan Jin felt like weeping in his heart, but he still lost to Lin San’s pleading and followed them toward Wen Wu’s courtyard.

He originally thought that given the relationship between Ao Bozhou and Wen Wu, the surrounding soldiers would stop them. However, those soldiers didn’t even spare them a glance; if anything, they moved aside to let them in.

Yan Jin paused, confused, but didn’t dwell on it until they reached the door of Wen Wu’s bedroom.

The three stopped in unison. The question of who would knock became an eternal dilemma.

Lin Si looked at Lin San; Lin San looked pleadingly at Yan Jin.

Yan Jin rubbed his forehead helplessly and stepped forward.

He stared at the closed door. There was no sound of fighting coming from inside. He let out a sigh of relief; he had thought the two would be tearing the courtyard apart, but since it was so quiet, they likely hadn’t reached the “life-or-death” stage yet.

Lin San urged him from the side; the arrow was on the string and had to be fired.

Yan Jin took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and shoved the door open: “Marquis, apologies for the intrusion, I have an important matter… to… find… YOU!” His voice grew loud and pitched upward until it nearly broke.

The room was calm no signs of a struggle, no life-or-death battle.

There was only Wen Wu, pinned against the edge of the bed and kissed until he was breathless, and a tall, handsome man hovering over him.

That man was likely Ao Bozhou.

Lin San and Lin Si let out joyful cries sounds Yan Jin was all too familiar with, as they were the exact sounds the System made when “shipping” him and Su Huai.

Yan Jin realized now that he had been tricked into a den of thieves. He took a step back, wanting to flee before he was seen.

However, the moment he looked up, he locked eyes with Wen Wu.

The corners of Wen Wu’s eyes were slightly red, and his hair was spread across the bed. He reclined there, one hand hooked around the neck of the misbehaving Ao Bozhou, the other brushing back the hair on his forehead. He looked even more “demonic” than he did during the day.

He looked at Yan Jin coolly and raised an eyebrow: “Oh?”

At his voice, Ao Bozhou also looked over, momentarily stunned: “Hmm?”

Lin San and Lin Si: “Oho!”

Yan Jin, with tears streaming down his face: “………”

This person is deceased; burn paper for me.

What kind of sin did I commit to experience this many ‘social deaths’ in a single night?!