The Young Husband Who Needed a Marriage to Bring Him Luck (23)

Xue Ci has been quite busy lately; his small figure can be seen moving back and forth between the backyard and several houses throughout the Song Family.

Why are you busier than honeybees when spring arrives?

Seeing his expression, Madam Liu couldn't help but smile lovingly. She had asked Xue Ci, who said it was to prepare a birthday gift for Qin Zhuo.

Originally, the two were only engaged because their birth dates were compatible. To put it bluntly, they arranged for Qin Zhuo to marry into the family to bring good luck to Xue Ci. They never expected the young couple to have such a good relationship.

Xue Ci's health improved day by day.

Madam Liu was in a good mood and gave Xue Ci a lot of pocket money, telling him to buy Qin Zhuo an expensive gift.

"Thank you, Mother."

Xue Ci prepared a unique gift for Qin Zhuo: an oil painting.

At least for now, it is absolutely unique in this world.

The pigments were homemade by him, made from some rouge and face powder he bought on the street and mixed with vegetable oil. He often failed, and the preparation work took a lot of effort.

After trying for so many days, the basic colors are all done, and it's almost finished.

Madam Liu carefully kept the money Xue Ci gave him, intending to use it as his divorce settlement for next month. With the money in his pocket, he quickly went back to his room to continue drawing before Qin Zhuo returned.

Xue Ci walked hurriedly without looking ahead, and as she was about to reach the door, she bumped headfirst into a hard chest.

He didn't look up; he knew who it was just by smelling the faint, bitter scent of herbs.

Qin Wuzhen seems to have stopped pretending lately, often pinching his face and rubbing his head, even though she used a handkerchief to cover him when taking his pulse before.

And sometimes, right after he's showered, before his hair is even dry, he'll come over and say some strange things to him.

11 said the guy was showing off his pectoral muscles.

Xue Ci didn't believe it at first, but when she saw that Qin Wuzhen's clothes were slightly open and he was wearing much less clothing than usual, his chest was indeed faintly visible after being soaked in the wet magic.

[He did it on purpose; when you came over, he deliberately let you bump into him.]

"..."

Xue Ci awkwardly took a step back and said politely, "Big brother, is there something you need?"

Qin Wuzhen's hair was neatly tied up, and his blue robe accentuated his dignified appearance. He rarely paid attention to his looks, but now he was displaying his peacock-like demeanor. "What have you been doing lately? You're always staying in your room and never come out."

Xue Ci didn't hide anything. "I'm preparing a birthday gift for Qin Zhuo."

Qin Wuzhen's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Prepared for so long?"

Xue Ci nodded emphatically, deliberately saying, "He is my husband, so naturally I must prepare carefully."

Qin Wuzhen's hypocritical expression finally cracked. With a stiff smile, he took a few steps forward. His tall body was much wider than the rice ball opposite him, forcing the person into a corner.

Xue Ci subconsciously bit her lip, looking up at him with a mixture of fear and innocence.

That look... makes you want to kiss her even more.

Qin Wuzhen still had self-control and didn't do these absurd things in broad daylight. However, if he continued to watch Xue Ci and Qin Zhuo affectionate, his self-control would soon be almost gone.

Xue Ci felt his wrist suddenly being gripped tightly. Qin Wuzhen using much force, but he couldn't break free no matter what he did.

Looking up, Qin Wuzhen's eyes were dark and unfathomable, like a thick fog that wouldn't dissipate.

The thick fog conceals unrequited love and repressed emotions.

"The things Qin Zhuo knows, I taught him."

Wh-what...

Xue Ci was dumbfounded. Her lips, which had been bitten until they were soft, were released, and a face that was both beautiful and innocent, with moist red eyes, looked over.

Qin Wuzhen's breathing became heavier, and he tightened his grip, his face almost touching Xue Ci's fair cheek.

A dangerous yet ambiguous distance.

Xue Ci froze, then heard the man speak in her ear again, "The things Qin Zhuo can do to make you feel good, I taught him."

"So--"

Xue Ci's wrist trembled from the rubbing, and a red mark immediately appeared.

"Do you want me to help you?" This was the first time Qin Wuzhen had adopted such a humble posture. At this moment, he was no different from Qin Zhuo. All that aloofness and dignified elegance was just a hypocritical facade.

How could such a refined and upright gentleman say such shameful things to his younger brother's wife?

"I'm even better at licking than Qin Zhuo."

"His tongue is also very long."

"It's very comfortable to be pampered."

After realizing what Qin Wuzhen was saying, Xue Ci's face instantly turned as red as a tomato, his cheeks burning hot. He didn't know what to say to Qin Wuzhen for a moment.

Qin Wuzhen was a truly wicked person. Knowing that Xue Ci was slow-witted, he didn't give her time to think, "I don't want any title, and I'll hide it very well, so no one will know."

"I just want to serve you."

Despite saying this, he was constantly coveting Xue Ci's position as her husband.

He was just clever; he knew he couldn't make too big a move.

"Xiao Ci, I like you."

Give me a chance.

"I'll do whatever you say, okay?"

Xue Ci was surprised that Qin Wuzhen would confess his feelings so directly. He had originally wanted to pretend he didn't know, but now he really didn't know how to respond.

The plot has completely gone off track.

Xue Ci heard the sound of the progress bar rewinding.

He felt a chill in his heart and let out a sob of grievance.

I... don't like you.

That's how I was going to reply, but an OOC warning immediately went off.

Xue Ci's character is supposed to like Qin Wuzhen, so he can't just reject him directly. He can only use morality to stop him. "I... I already have a husband. You're my older brother now. This isn't right for us..."

"What's wrong with that?" Qin Wuzhen persisted. "Several families in town have servants; just consider me one of them."

11: [Hehe, worthless, money-losing goods.]

Qin Wuzhen started promoting himself again, saying that he was in good health, knew a lot, and didn't ask for anything in return, only needing Xue Ci to care for him occasionally.

Xue Ci speechless, finally saying with a stern face, "You've already said everything, what am I supposed to say?"

Qin Wuzhen completely took this sentence as a promise he had begged for, his Adam's apple bobbing as he trembled with excitement.

Her voice was strained to hold back. "... Baby."

"...?"

Xue Ci was utterly disgusted by his mushy manner and looked over in bewilderment, when suddenly the maid's voice came from outside—

"Second son-in-law... no, son-in-law, you're back!"

In private, everyone called Qin Wuzhen "eldest son-in-law" and Qin Zhuo "second son-in-law," and they just let it slip without thinking.

Normally, Qin Zhuo wouldn't have noticed the difference in the way the address was used, but ever since he saw Qin Wuzhen's portrait in Xue Ci's drawer, he had become sensitive and uneasy.

His eyes immediately dimmed.

From a distance, he saw Xue Ci and Qin Wuzhen entangled together, with Qin Wuzhen's face almost touching his wife's.

The woman's cheeks were also flushed.

Qin Zhuo deliberately slowed his pace.

He felt as if his heart had been crushed and shattered into pieces.

Countless eyes were fixed on Xue Ci Xue Ci outside; just walking down the street was enough to attract countless people trying to strike up a conversation with her.

Qin Zhuo felt annoyed but also proud of his wife—only excellence and charm could attract others.

Anyway, Xue Ci wouldn't like them, so all he had to do was stand aside and block them, asserting his dominance.

Qin Zhuo has always done this.

He also thought that Xue Ci liked him a little bit, otherwise why would she tell the matchmaker that she liked people with dark skin when they got married?

Yeah, right.

Xue Ci likes people like Qin Wuzhen.

That's true, who would like a fool?

Now, Qin Wuzhen has also begun to like Xue Ci.

The two... were deeply in love.

Qin Zhuo couldn't move an inch. He lowered his head, not daring to look at the tender scene of the two of them leaning against each other. Perhaps before long, Xue Ci would let Qin Wuzhen become her husband.

Abandon that fool.

He should be discarded. Who would like him?

But he couldn't leave Xue Ci.

She would praise him, gaze at him with such beautiful eyes, embroider purses for him, buy him malt candy... From now on, she would only do these things with Qin Wuzhen.

Qin Zhuo originally thought that Qin Wuzhen had seduced Xue Ci, and that Xue Ci was young and naive, and had been forced to make a mistake. In that case, he would push all the blame onto Qin Wuzhen, give him a good beating, and protect Xue Ci.

But... those portraits all have the time of day on them.

Xue Ci had liked Qin Wuzhen even before they married.

She married him because of Qin Wuzhen.

No wonder they asked him to go to the study to get a calligraphy brush.

Qin Zhuo felt a burning sensation in his heart and his vision began to blur. He had been staying at the dye house for the past few days, only returning home in the middle of the night to hold Xue Ci.

Physical exhaustion couldn't make him forget these things.

It would have been better if we hadn't opened that drawer.

In that case, he would continue to believe that Xue Ci liked him and that they would continue to be loving and affectionate for the rest of their lives.

Qin Zhuo was filled with regret.

The tall, muscular man stood outside the house with his head down and his eyes red, not even having the courage to go inside and face the situation.

Why are you standing there?

The clear, familiar voice made Qin Zhuo instantly wipe away her tears.

He had to pretend he knew nothing.

That way, Xue Ci won't abandon him so quickly.

Even if Qin Wuzhen really becomes Xue Ci's husband in the future, he can still... can still be a concubine.

Qin Zhuo immediately looked up, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace, "Wife, I brought you some pastries. Are you hungry?"

"..."

Xue Ci always felt that something was off about him.

He was so close to Qin Wuzhen just now, and his voice wasn't quiet either. I wonder if Qin Zhuo noticed?

This person has always been very perceptive in this regard.

"I'm a little hungry, let's go inside." Xue Ci felt a little flustered, took his arm, and noticed that his body had stiffened.

Did you really hear that?

Qin Zhuo was an honest man, and his pretense was full of flaws. When he entered the hall and passed by Qin Wuzhen, he didn't want to see that face at all.

He was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist hitting her.

After entering the room, Xue Ci sat on the edge of the bed. Qin Zhuo cut the pastries without saying a word. Compared to her usual enthusiasm, she was unusually quiet today.

Xue Ci nervous, but the progress bar didn't go any further.

In the following days, he carefully observed Qin Zhuo and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the other party had regained his clingy nature.

Maybe I was just tired that day.

Since confessing his feelings, Qin Wuzhen has become even more unrestrained, seemingly believing he has already secured his position as the other woman. Every time Xue Ci encounters him, her progress bar rewinds a little, and she gets so angry that she goes straight to the school to minimize her contact with him.

He worried: [Will my progress be reduced every time I encounter Qin Wuzhen from now on?]

11 checked: [After your divorce from Qin Zhuo, you are free. No one who approaches you or confesses their feelings will deduct from your progress.]

Xue Ci a little more at ease.

Qin Zhuo's birthday is still two weeks away.

The oil painting was finished, so he simply stayed at the school for the next two weeks. During the day, he went to school with everyone, and after school, Qin Zhuo went to the dye house while he stayed in the student dormitory.

Qin Zhuo clung to him, saying, "Wife, I don't want to go to the dye shop anymore."

Xue Ci thought he was tired, "Then rest for a few days?"

Qin Zhuo was silent for a moment, then said, "I want to stay with you forever."

How could you not go?!

Xue Ci was waiting for Qin Zhuo's career path to make up for the progress he had missed recently. Of course, he didn't act that demanding; he took the initiative to kiss Qin Zhuo on the corner of the lips, urging him to hurry up.

Qin Zhuo was once again completely captivated, even starting to fantasize that Xue Ci initially liked Qin Wuzhen, but after spending time with him, she began to like him a little.

Or perhaps he's good in that area, Xue Ci thinks keeping him around would be useful.

Qin Zhuo's heart didn't feel as bitter as it had before.

He kept turning back as he walked to the front door, and when he saw Xue Ci Xue Ci sitting obediently in a chair looking over, he ran back and kissed her lips repeatedly.

He was very careful, not daring to stick his tongue inside, afraid that Xue Ci would find him disgusting.

Finally managing to coax the big dog into focusing on his work, Xue Ci thought he could have a peaceful night, but then the doorman came over and said that Qin Wuzhen was looking for him.

Xue Ci's eyelids twitched slightly, revealing an impatient expression.

One leaves, another arrives.

"Have you had dinner yet?" A deep voice sounded in Xue Ci's ear. He turned around and saw Xie Qiaosi looking down at him at eye level.

Xue Ci lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, then said, "I'm a little hungry."

Xie Qiaosi was not about to let this opportunity slip by and immediately took Xue Ci out.

The two went out through another door, Qin Wuzhen seized the opportunity.

Xie Qiaosi treated Xue Ci to a meal at a famous restaurant in town. Their specialty was shrimp, which was difficult to peel. The young master, who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen, peeled it for Xue Ci, but then saw Xue Ci take a bite and then disgustedly throw it aside, saying, "It's not good."

"..." Xie Qiaosi chuckled, "My hands are sore from peeling them, little bodhisattva, you're really hard to please."

Xue Ci turned her face towards him and smiled, the corners of her lips curving into a beautiful arc he had never seen before. "Is that not allowed?"

OK.

You've completely captivated me.

Is it really impossible?

Xie Qiaosi thought to himself that his life had been smooth sailing, and he had everything he wanted, probably just so he could be Xue Ci's dog.

He was happy to be a dog, and he would take Xue Ci shopping for trinkets and to a tailor shop to make clothes.

I really do resemble Xue Ci's husband.

Xie Qiaosi had a smile on his face the whole way back, and the two of them didn't get back to the academy until dark.

The moon was bright and the stars were few. Xie Qiaosi stared at Xue Ci's beautiful face bathed in moonlight, his heart fluttering. He blocked Xue Ci's path and said, "Qin Zhuo's birthday is coming up soon. Can I go to your house?"

Xue Ci nodded. "You and Qin Zhuo are such good friends, of course you had to come."

"Who said we're on good terms!" Xie Qiaosi wanted nothing more than to take his place, and her tone suddenly became coy, "I only went there to see you."

Xue Ci knew that he was about to have another episode.

I haven't seen you in so long, I miss you terribly.

I actually regret not being able to kiss you last time.

"But I can't force you, can I? Although just thinking about it makes me... well, my body just doesn't feel right." Xie Qiaosi looked like a wanton man, his ears turning bright red as he spoke of this. "Have you... thought it through?"

Xue Ci's scalp tingled. "... What?"

"It's about letting me secretly lick you."

"..."

Xue Ci moved away, using the excuse that she was too sleepy to get away with it.

He pushed open the door, carrying the things Xie Qiaosi had bought for him, and went inside, but he didn't expect there to be someone standing in the dark room.

The things in his hands were scattered all over the ground.

Xue Ci was lifted onto the table by Qin Wuzhen, and she was so frightened that she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck.

This intimate gesture made Qin Wuzhen's heart pound. He braced his hands on either side of Xue Ci and forcefully thrust his legs inside her without warning.

His hot breath sprayed onto Xue Ci's neck.

Even in complete darkness, he could tell that Xue Ci's skin had turned pink.

So sensitive.

"Are you avoiding me?" the man pressed.

His aggressive demeanor made Xue Ci her face away, turning her profile to face him.

But then Qin Wuzhen said, "If you put your ear to me, I won't be able to resist the urge to bite it."

"Your ears are very sensitive; they go limp at the slightest touch to the waist."

"!"

Xue Ci retorted, provoked, "You're annoying."

Qin Wuzhen froze, her voice filled with jealousy. "You only find me annoying? Xie Qiaosi just said he wanted to help you lick it, didn't you find him annoying then?"

[Progress bar -1.]

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