Zhongli Zixi repeated to himself like a mantra: *This is a necessity to neutralize the poison. Do not let your imagination run wild.* He forced himself to stay calm. Because Ye Jun had been recovering from his injuries these past few days, his clothes were quite loose. Once the jade belt at his waist was undone, his robes slid down easily.
Ye Jun’s limbs were weak, so he lay there quietly, allowing his young master to fuss over him. When Zhongli Zixi looked up, he inadvertently met Ye Jun’s gaze. That blunt, burning stare was hot enough to scald him; there was no way he could keep his heart still now.
Zhongli Zixi began to panic. "…Don’t—don’t keep looking at me like that," he said awkwardly. "Close your eyes…"
It would have been fine if he hadn't panicked, but now that he had, his pale face was flushed red at the corners of his eyes. Set against his tear-drop mole, he looked cold yet strikingly beautiful—a sight that made one’s heart itch.
Ye Jun’s voice was low and raspy. "I can't bear to."
He reached out to touch the crimson flush at the corner of the Second Young Master’s eye, rubbing that soul-stirring beauty mark. There was a hint of bitterness in his tone. "Young Master, I thought… I would never live to see this day."
Zhongli Zixi paused, feeling a pang of melancholy himself. But they couldn't just stay stuck at this point forever. After a moment’s thought, he leaned down, untied the ribbon holding Ye Jun’s hair high, and tied it over the man's eyes.
The Second Young Master said firmly, "You are not allowed to take it off."
With his vision blocked, Ye Jun’s other senses became even sharper—especially the sound of the Second Young Master’s suppressed, ragged breathing, which was incredibly alluring. Ye Jun was secretly amazed: *My young master is doing this for the first time, yet he already knows how to play with this kind of flair. What a pleasant surprise.*
Zhongli Zixi let out a long breath, feeling much more relaxed. He slowly removed his own outer robe and crawled to Ye Jun’s side. He attempted to soothe him clumsily; his technique was amateurish and lacked any sense of rhythm.
*I suppose I still have to teach you,* Ye Jun thought. He raised his hand, pulling the Second Young Master into his embrace and reaching downward.
Zhongli Zixi hissed through gritted teeth, "Where are you touching?!"
Ye Jun replied innocently, "I can't see, so I don't know." He provided gentle comfort while lightly nipping at the crook of the young master’s neck, carefully listening to the other man's breathing and adjusting his movements accordingly.
Ye Jun gently patted the Second Young Master’s back, waiting quietly for him to calm down.
Zhongli Zixi felt as if he were waking from a dream. As his mind cleared, he suddenly realized something: *Wasn't Ye Jun the one who was drugged with an aphrodisiac? Why did I go first?!*
He was instantly overcome with shame and embarrassment. Hurriedly scrambling out of Ye Jun’s arms, he stammered, "Uh, I couldn't help it just now, I'm sorry… Are—are you alright?"
Ye Jun responded weakly, "I am not very well. I'm about to suffer internal injuries from holding it in."
This was the honest truth.
He had waited over a decade for his young master to strip himself bare and deliver himself to his door, making all sorts of explosive, adorable sounds. Yet, hindered by the actual poison, Ye Jun truly didn't have much strength left to move. Moving his hands just now had been his limit; if he wanted to get up and go for three hundred rounds, he was dreaming.
As Ye Jun was fretting, he heard the Second Young Master ask nervously, "Is it because your wound hurts?"
*Oh, right. I can still use that excuse.*
Ye Jun was incredibly cunning. He didn't agree immediately; instead, he shook his head with a look of stoic determination. "It is no matter. This subordinate… can endure it."
The Second Young Master felt a twinge of heartache. *Even at a time like this, why are you still forcing yourself… Just stay lying down.*
After all this commotion, the Second Young Master’s guilt toward Ye Jun had reached its peak, bordering on self-loathing. The other man hadn't forgotten to take care of him even while drugged, yet he had forgotten the situation and enjoyed himself first. He was simply a scoundrel.
Ordered to lie still, Ye Jun couldn't see what his young master was doing, but his ears were filled with various suggestive sounds of water and heavy, rhythmic breathing. Before Ye Jun could fantasize for long, he felt himself being enveloped by a gentle warmth.
Ye Jun steadied the other man's waist, gasping in shock, "Young Master?!"
*He wouldn't go this far, would he?!*
The person across from him remained silent for a long time before finally catching his breath. "Ye Jun, I'm not very skilled," he panted. "If I'm doing something wrong, tell me… mm…?"
Moved, Ye Jun pressed on his shoulder and gently pulled him back, wanting to hold him. Knowing Ye Jun lacked strength, Zhongli Zixi compliantly followed the movement, leaning over him and supporting himself with his arms.
Ye Jun’s heart was a mess of emotions. He sighed, "Young Master, you are far too sweet…"
Zhongli Zixi whispered, "I am merely returning the way you treat me."
Ye Jun felt extremely guilty. "Young Master, you really shouldn't praise me like that."
***
The next day, after the morning glow had faded, Zhongli Zixi was uncharacteristically still asleep, lying deeply in Ye Jun’s arms. He must have been truly exhausted.
Reflecting on his young master’s performance last night, Ye Jun summarized it in one sentence: "He made a massive sacrifice."
He further felt that the Second Young Master had been like a cat lately. If you tried to pet him, he would surely bare his teeth and hiss at you. But if you placed a paper bag on the floor, he would definitely dive into it with reckless abandon, and no one could stop him.
The more Ye Jun thought about it, the more adorable he found it. He couldn't help but lean over and give him a kiss.
The Second Young Master was nudged awake. He opened his eyes blearily, and before he was even fully conscious, he asked, "Are you alright? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
Ye Jun was beaming with joy. " I feel so good I could fly to the heavens."
The Second Young Master hummed in response and closed his eyes again to catch more sleep, feeling reassured. Once he had calmed down, he suddenly said, "I think there was something fishy about that aphrodisiac yesterday."
Ye Jun, who felt good enough to fly to the heavens, felt his heart skip a beat.
Zhongli Zixi analyzed, "Based on yesterday’s situation, it’s true that we might have developed a rift because of it. But what if I had eaten that dish too? If you hadn't noticed the abnormality, I certainly would have eaten it. Then it would have just turned into a consensual tryst between two people who like each other. The other party would gain no advantage from that. It doesn't make sense."
Ye Jun remained silent.
It hadn't been an aphrodisiac to begin with; it was a drug to suppress internal energy. That dish was clearly meant for him because they feared his martial prowess. If Zhongli Zixi had eaten it, he wouldn't have felt anything at all, except perhaps a bit of drowsiness.
But since Zhongli Zixi had misunderstood, Ye Jun had naturally seized the opportunity. When the Young Master delivers himself to your door, you’d be less than human not to take him.
After a long silence, Ye Jun tremulously clutched his chest. "Ah… the wound… it’s acting up… a dull ache…"
"Huh? It hurts again?" Zhongli Zixi immediately forgot his suspicions and scrambled up to dress himself. "I’ll go brew the medicine and add another course of treatment. You wait here."
The guilty Ye Jun spent the entire day lying down, pretending to be in a deep sleep. He didn't dare face his young master, fearing he would bring the subject up again.
Zhongli Zixi thought his condition had worsened and became even more worried, serving him attentively all day.
The Second Young Master thought to himself: *Ye Jun’s minor injury is relapsing like this; it’s clear his constitution is very fragile. I must take even more careful care of him in the future.*
When dinner was delivered, Ye Jun fell into a dilemma. He had faked illness at noon and hadn't eaten; he was truly hungry now.
The Second Young Master had gone out and hadn't returned yet, and the maid was currently setting the table in the room. Ye Jun shed his disguise and sat up, peeking to see what dishes were served for dinner and if they were worth the risk.
His eyes landed on a plate of century eggs.
Ye Jun frowned.
While he didn't like the dish, it wasn't something he would normally make a fuss over. However, since they moved here, they had eaten whatever Fourth Master Fang provided. This morning, a maid had finally come to ask if he had any dietary restrictions. He had replied that the Young Master disliked bitter melon and he himself disliked century eggs. Yet, tonight, a plate of century eggs was specifically sent. It was truly bizarre—almost like a blatant conspiracy.
Filled with suspicion, Ye Jun sat upright at the table. He stared at the plate of century eggs, turning it over and over in his mind for a long while. The more he looked, the more stunned he became.
Ye Jun was shocked: *This time, it really is an aphrodisiac!*
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 泪痣 | Tear-drop mole | A beauty mark located just below the eye. |
| 皮蛋 | Century egg | Also known as preserved egg or thousand-year egg. |
| 苦瓜 | Bitter melon | A common vegetable known for its bitter taste. |
| 忌口 | Dietary restrictions | Foods one avoids for health, religious, or personal reasons. |
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Fatal to Pretend With a Cheat | Chapter 96 | A Night of Tender Deception | Novela.app | Novela.app
