Nan Qing thought he might have damaged his brain in the fall.
Or perhaps he had watched too many idol dramas before, further poisoning his already less-than-clever brain.
He had to clamp his mouth shut almost instantly to swallow the words "offer myself to you" before they slipped out.
Unfortunately, Huo Yuzhou liked his white moonlight, Bai Ruanruan. If Nan Qing really offered himself to him, it probably would not be repaying a kindness-it would be taking revenge.
With his arms around Huo Yuzhou's neck, Nan Qing gave it some serious thought.
He had neither money nor power now, only a pile of scandals and a bad reputation. There seemed to be nothing he could do to repay Huo Yuzhou.
Should they become sworn brothers, with different fathers, mothers, and surnames?
But Huo Yuzhou did not even have a child, was a few years older than him, and would end up utterly disgraced because he fought the protagonist gong over Bai Ruanruan.
If they became sworn brothers, wouldn't Nan Qing still be taking advantage of him?
He knew what happened in the plot. Perhaps he could help Huo Yuzhou avoid the risks and escape the tragic ending that ultimately awaited the unhinged villain.
His fingers tightened around the man's neck. Nan Qing unconsciously pressed his chest close against him, his long lashes fluttering.
Swallowing back the words on his tongue, Nan Qing thought for a moment, then asked him in all seriousness,
"Can I look after you in your old age and arrange your funeral?"
He did not want to watch Huo Yuzhou bring about his own destruction anymore.
But Huo Yuzhou did not understand his good intentions. He merely gave him a long, unreadable look.
"No need."
"Oh," Nan Qing said, then gave it some more serious thought.
"I haven't figured out how to tell you yet, but I'll definitely repay you. You'll understand in the future."
He spoke with utter solemnity. Huo Yuzhou sighed somewhat helplessly, indulgence coloring his voice.
"All right."
Huo Yuzhou carried Nan Qing off to wash up, washing his already pretty little face until it was spotless.
The butler brought people in with breakfast. The century egg and lean pork congee had been simmered until soft, its texture just right, so that it could be swallowed almost without chewing.
Nan Qing sat in Huo Yuzhou's lap without the slightest qualm, letting Huo Yuzhou feed him. Then he lifted his pretty catlike eyes and stole glances at him, thinking he was being discreet.
Huo Yuzhou pretended not to notice. Estimating how much he could eat, he fed him until he was about seventy or eighty percent full, then began wiping his mouth.
His movements were so fluid that even the butler beside them stole several astonished glances.
Huo Yuzhou's expression remained unchanged. He had the food cleared away, then asked Nan Qing very courteously,
"The doctor will come to examine you shortly, but there probably won't be any problems. Would you like to get some sun after the examination?"
"The weather is lovely today, and the roses in the garden are all blooming. The gardener also reported today that the strawberries he transplanted are ripe. We can have the pots brought over for you to pick them."
Nan Qing nodded with an inscrutable air, then continued staring at Huo Yuzhou.
His gaze was far too direct. No matter how composed Huo Yuzhou was, being stared at by the person he loved for so long made him a little nervous.
"Is there something on my face?" he asked.
Nan Qing shook his head, sounding somewhat hesitant.
"Your taste isn't very good."
Huo Yuzhou froze for a moment, then lowered his head to look at his clothes.
For the sake of attending meetings today, he was wearing a businesslike dark blue shirt and dark trousers, without a tie. But it did look quite ordinary.
It was rare for Qingqing to be willing to speak to him so calmly, so Huo Yuzhou readily accepted the criticism.
"The stylist put this outfit together. Perhaps it isn't fashionable enough. I'll pay more attention in the future."
Ever since saving him, Huo Yuzhou had been treating him a little too well.
He even accepted criticism without objection. Nan Qing kept feeling that something was strange, but still answered honestly,
"That isn't what I meant."
He stared at Huo Yuzhou's face, unable to find even the slightest flaw no matter how he looked.
Strong, straight brows, phoenix eyes, a well-defined brow bone-from his nose to his mouth, every feature was handsome.
His physique and bearing were top-notch too. To have fought his way from a boy with nothing to his current position, his intelligence and methods were probably among the very best.
Huo Yuzhou seemed to have no flaws.
His only flaw was that he should not have liked Bai Ruanruan.
His taste really was terrible.
Nan Qing thought for a moment, then continued, "Is your preferred type very fixed?"
Huo Yuzhou did not understand what he was trying to ask, but still cooperated.
"You could say that. I don't like overly complicated things, and I'm not particularly demanding about my standard of living."
Huo Yuzhou paused, then added something to qualify his earlier words.
"Of course, those are only my expectations for myself. If it were my wife, he could do anything he wanted. He could make any unreasonable demand, even ask me to pluck the stars from the sky..."
Huo Yuzhou's pitch-black eyes fixed on him meaningfully.
"As long as he stays by my side, he can do anything."
"He would still be free. He could have anything he wanted, and no one would restrict him."
Nan Qing felt a little stifled. He looked away and let Huo Yuzhou carry him back to bed, but still made an earnest effort to offer him emotional support.
"You're such a good person. Your wife would definitely be very happy."
But how could you be so blind that you insist on liking someone like Bai Ruanruan?
Perhaps it was because his parents had both died when he was young, and he had suffered grievances while receiving support from the Bai Family. After all those bitter days, that bastard Bai Ruanruan had happened to slip in through a crack and redeem Huo Yuzhou.
Nan Qing sighed almost imperceptibly.
Huo Yuzhou's tragic ending was also inextricably linked to all the times he had bullied him before.
Otherwise, how could Bai Ruanruan have won Huo Yuzhou's heart simply by offering him a little help?
Yet that sigh made Huo Yuzhou's brows knot tightly.
Had he answered incorrectly just now? Which of his words had failed to satisfy him?
Could his taste really be that bad?
Huo Yuzhou recalled the request made in the cave that day. Unfortunately, he had been too busy these past few days, and had not been in the mood to investigate what strange circle his pitiful, inexperienced beloved had stumbled into.
Did he think he was boring? Did he find being with him dull?
Could Gu Xingchen really not have been talking nonsense? Had his beloved truly been dazzled by all the flashy things in the entertainment industry and developed a liking for something more exciting?
Or did he like the more stimulating games in that sort of circle? Did he think he was too domestic, too rigid?
Huo Yuzhou let none of his thoughts show as he tucked a cushion behind Nan Qing's lower back.
An appraising gaze fell on his face. Huo Yuzhou pretended not to notice, a faint smile still on his lips.
He reached out to stroke Nan Qing's head and answered in a very steady voice,
"Is there something I haven't done well? I didn't notice."
"It's all right. I can change it."
"As long as you like it, I'll go along with you."