The Missing Husband Has Returned (12)

For the first few seconds after hearing the request, Xue Ci was bewildered.

What was going on...

According to their original roles in the plot, they were an honest country couple who treated each other with respect and had little intimate contact.

Xue Ci wanted to ask the little system ball why, but 11 did not reply.

"...Xiao Ci."

Zhao Ying called his name again, his scorching breath spilling over the snow-white nape of his neck.

Xue Ci's shoulders trembled slightly.

Remembering that suffocating feeling, he wanted to refuse.

Obviously, that would have been out of character.

Xue Ci hesitated for several seconds. All the while, Zhao Ying's big hands remained wrapped around his waist.

His palms were scorching hot, and through the thin fabric, they burned Xue Ci's fair skin red.

It was quiet all around them. Only the man's heavy breathing could be heard.

I seem to have dragged this out too long...

Actually, a kiss on the lips should be fine. It won't feel uncomfortable.

Xue Ci prepared to take the initiative and kiss him. He turned sideways. "We can kiss, but you have to put me down first."

Zhao Ying's eyes were dark and bright. With a slight effort of his arms, he set him on the ground.

He was still going over how he would kiss Xue Ci when something soft brushed gently against the corner of his lips.

It pulled away as soon as it touched him.

The warm, soft sensation seemed to linger, but it soon vanished completely.

Zhao Ying was clearly not satisfied with such a light kiss, but when he saw Xue Ci smiling at him shyly, his heart still pounded fiercely.

His little wife was too innocent. Perhaps he did not really understand these things.

They had to take it one step at a time. He could not scare him.

Zhao Ying gently brushed his cheek against Xue Ci's, then took his hand and went out.

A thin jacket, a straw hat... he did his best to keep his little wife hidden.

"Everyone at the factory should be off work by now." Xue Ci worried when he thought of his earlier lie. The factory workers all thought Zhao Ying had gone to the city to visit relatives, and a small number had even mistaken Lu Xiunan for Zhao Ying. If someone mentioned it... it would be bad if the truth came out.

"Mm... it's been so long, the factory director should have been discharged from the hospital. I'll go to the factory and see if he's there." Zhao Ying thought Xue Ci was afraid of getting tired. "Or you can wait for me at home. I'll be back soon."

Xue Ci immediately gripped his hand tightly. "No, I don't want to be apart from you."

The sweet words charmed the dark-skinned, rugged man so thoroughly that his soul seemed to leave his body.

"...All right."

Xue Ci did not notice the slight redness at the base of his ears. Intent on finding a way to dissuade him from going to the factory, he thought of Zhou Qize.

Zhou Qize did not know Zhao Ying very well, so he probably would not be able to tell that his husband had been replaced along the way.

"Why don't we go to Zhou Qize's house? He was the one who settled your wages last time."

Going straight to Zhou Qize was indeed faster. But Zhao Ying could not put his finger on what felt wrong.

He fell silent for a moment, then said, "All right."

Xue Ci eagerly urged him along. "He doesn't live with his parents, and his house is very close. I'll take you there."

That subtle feeling welled up even more clearly.

For some reason, Zhao Ying thought of that dream-his little wife held in another man's arms, kissed until he was wet and soft, like a ripe fruit.

The man's eyes darkened as he stared at the slender figure just ahead of him to his right.

Why was Xue Ci so familiar with the location of Zhou Qize's house?

When the two arrived at Zhou Qize's house, he had just gotten off work. The tall, handsome young man's shoulders had grown considerably sturdier lately.

His blue work uniform was casually tied around his waist, and the close-fitting black T-shirt on his upper body outlined the smooth lines of his muscles.

Zhao Ying explained why they had come, mainly to explain that his recent car accident had delayed the work.

Zhou Qize already knew about Zhao Ying's car accident and memory loss. He glanced at him, but with that single glance, he keenly sensed that something was wrong.

His manner, his clothes, even his attitude when he spoke were completely different from the Zhao Ying before.

If they did not look alike, he would have suspected they were not the same person.

The thought made Zhou Qize freeze.

Or... were they never the same person to begin with?

"I'm relieved the rest of the work was finished." Hearing that the factory gates had already been varnished put Zhao Ying somewhat at ease.

Zhou Qize came back to himself. "Oh... it's all right. The car accident was just that-an accident. Master Zhao, you don't have to blame yourself too much."

He looked at Xue Ci, whose hand was still entwined with Zhao Ying's, looking every bit like someone dependent on his husband.

Ever since Xue Ci got married, Zhou Qize had pretended to make casual conversation while asking the workshop workers about Zhao Ying. He had been adopted, and apparently the clothes he wore at the time were rather fine. Everyone guessed he was the child of a wealthy family from the city.

But Zhao Ying had been young then and remembered nothing of his past, so he had obediently stayed in this remote mountain village.

Zhou Qize had a bold guess.

He found an excuse to ask Zhao Ying to check the wooden table and chairs in the kitchen.

That left him alone with Xue Ci.

Zhou Qize got straight to the point. "Haven't you noticed anything strange about Master Zhao?"

"..." Xue Ci had not expected Zhou Qize to see through it so quickly. He wanted to shake his head, but an OOC warning soon appeared.

Can't I lie?

Xue Ci raised his head and glanced at the young man, who seemed reasonably reliable.

He rose slightly onto his toes and leaned close to his ear.

Zhou Qize's pupils contracted slightly. He could hardly believe it. "You mean the Zhao Ying from this whole time isn't the one in the kitchen now?"

In other words, Xue Ci had mistaken someone else for his husband.

And he was also fully aware that he had made that mistake.

Did that husband know he had been replaced for a while?

Zhou Qize's Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he asked, "Does Master Zhao know?"

Xue Ci placed a finger against the center of his lips and softly said, "Shh."

So he did not know.

Zhou Qize's eyelids twitched as he stared at Xue Ci's face.

It was not Xue Ci's fault. He had only mistaken the man for his husband because the two looked exactly alike.

So a husband could be impersonated. Zhou Qize's throat went dry, and his thoughts wandered somewhere unknown. Only after several seconds did he come back to himself. "Then... where is the other man now?"

"He knows I mistook him for someone else too. We're no longer in contact." Xue Ci's voice was very quiet, and he had to lean closer to make himself heard, warm breaths puffing between his lips. "I don't want my husband to know about this. Will you keep it a secret for me?"

Zhou Qize's head was roaring. He desperately wanted to ask whether they had done... those things a husband would do, but looking at Xue Ci's innocent face, he could not bring himself to ask.

They probably had. Xue Ci was so beautiful and smelled so good, and they had shared a bed every day. Probably no one could have resisted him.

Perhaps that man had long since thoroughly eaten up another man's little wife.

Zhou Qize even thought that if that man had not appeared, Xue Ci might have mistaken him for his husband too.

He quickly stifled the thought as soon as it arose, despising such immoral behavior.

"I... I'll keep it for you. Don't worry." Zhou Qize was undoubtedly excited when he realized he shared Xue Ci's secret. He held his back straight, his young body giving off the scent of hormones.

He felt as though he and Xue Ci had grown a step closer, at least closer than Xue Ci and his current husband.

After carefully checking the table and chairs, Zhao Ying came out of the kitchen.

His brows furrowed slightly as his gaze passed over the two figures by the door.

He felt uncomfortable-Xue Ci was too close to the other man, so close that jealousy bubbled up inside him.

Especially now, when Zhou Qize was inviting Xue Ci to his house to watch television, saying he had recently bought a disc of the movie they had talked about last time.

Last time?

How many times had Zhou Qize invited Xue Ci over during his absence?

Thinking of how easily Xue Ci had found his way to Zhou Qize's house, Zhao Ying had an unpleasant thought.

"Xiao Ci, we should go home." He deliberately used the intimate name to make Zhou Qize realize that Xue Ci was his wife.

"...Oh." Xue Ci said nothing more and came over to him.

Zhou Qize's expression visibly fell.

Zhao Ying was very quiet on the way back. Xue Ci still felt a little guilty and deliberately asked, "What's wrong?"

The man's tightly pressed lips curved slightly, and his voice carried an emotion Xue Ci could not make out. "Xiao Ci, who took care of you while I was away?"

"..." Xue Ci was startled, but quickly recovered. "A Hui."

A Hui often brought him meals, so he was not lying.

Zhao Ying's brows drew tightly together. He had almost forgotten about him.

He had thought his life with his little wife was happy and peaceful, but he suddenly realized that as soon as he left, countless covetous eyes would gather around his wife.

Like hungry wolves, they wanted nothing more than to swallow him whole.

Zhao Ying did not go straight home. Instead, he took Xue Ci's hand and brought him to A Hui's house.

The butcher had been sitting silently in the courtyard, sharpening a knife. He looked up in their direction, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Thank you for helping me take care of Xue Ci all this time." Zhao Ying felt conflicted, but A Hui had not actually done anything, and had instead been taking care of Xue Ci. After expressing his thanks, he said nothing more.

The butcher did not look at him. He kept staring at Xue Ci, then suddenly raised a hand and made a gesture in the air before turning and going inside.

Xue Ci understood. "He wants us to wait a moment."

That familiarity and understanding made Zhao Ying feel even worse.

Back in the inner room, A Hui glanced at the man leaning against the inside of the door.

He seemed naturally to be missing a screw. He cared about nothing except Xue Ci. For example, even though two men who looked exactly alike were now standing on either side of the door, he did not care.

There were fresh vegetables and fruit in the basket. A Hui added some cured pork and ribs, filling the basket to the brim before carrying it outside.

These were the best things he had at the moment, and all the best things had to be given to Xue Ci.

Through the crack in the door, Lu Xiunan saw Zhao Ying take the basket of vegetables. His eyes were lowered, and his face was expressionless. "I'll go back and get you the money."

Then he took Xue Ci's hand and left.

The butcher's lonely figure was once again left alone in the courtyard.

Just like a dog.

Lu Xiunan sneered coldly.

He had not expected, however, that his older brother would have no extreme reaction to another man trying to curry favor with his wife.

Perhaps their feelings for each other had never been deep.

It had been a whirlwind marriage to begin with. They did not even know each other, so how could there be any feelings?

It was just that Xue Ci was too well-behaved and traditional, steadfastly loving and relying on his own husband.

He should find an opportunity to help Xue Ci see those feelings for what they were.

He could find true love in a second marriage too, couldn't he?

Lu Xiunan thought of the kick Xue Ci had given him that morning. Recalling it, a strange thrill actually went through his body. Xue Ci was small and soft and had little strength. Whether he kicked, stomped, or slapped him, it was no different from a kitten fiercely extending its claws.

It would only make a man feel good.

He somewhat regretted parting on bad terms with him that morning. He should have made things clear-they had feelings for each other, and Xue Ci should give him a chance to compete fairly.

He could even acknowledge him as his brother's wife first. At the very least, he and Xue Ci would still have a connection.

Things as they stood were the worst possible outcome. Xue Ci ignored him and had completely cut ties with him. Their previous relationship had returned entirely to that of strangers.

He did not even have the standing to go and speak to him.

Actually, he did have a way. In a few days, when the DNA test results came out, the entire Lu family would come to Zhou Family Village to bring Zhao Ying back. Then he could see Xue Ci legitimately.

But Lu Xiunan could not wait that long.

Just one day without seeing Xue Ci was enough to make his heart ache restlessly, as though he had lost the most important thing to him.

The sky soon darkened, and Lu Xiunan went out under cover of darkness.

The weather was not particularly hot, but Xue Ci still felt tired after going out for a walk. As soon as he got back, he lazily lay down on the bed.

Afraid he would seek too much cool air, Zhao Ying turned the fan to its lowest setting.

"Rest first. Dinner will be ready soon."

Xue Ci was a little sleepy. His whole face was buried in the crook of his arm, his soft cheek squished into a small mound as he gave a muffled "Mm."

His heart felt as though a feather had brushed it. Remembering the fleeting kiss before they had gone out that evening, Zhao Ying parted his lips. "Xiao Ci, I, I..."

Wrapped in the blanket, Xue Ci rolled over.

His little wife was probably too hot. As soon as they got home, he had taken off the restrictive jacket and long pants. Now he wore only a loose shirt that covered even the little shorts underneath.

His two slender legs were bare.

Zhao Ying's mouth and throat went dry, and he swallowed. In the end, he did not dare make any request, merely covering Xue Ci's legs with a thin blanket.

He closed the bedroom door securely, then took the basket of vegetables to the kitchen.

Xue Ci's heavy eyes had already closed, but after he fell asleep, he heard some movement beside him. He struggled to open his eyes and glanced at the figure standing next to him, instinctively assuming it was Zhao Ying.

"Husband..."

His voice came out as a soft, nasal murmur.

He was clearly acting spoiled.

[Host! That's Lu Xiunan! Quick... quick-]

Before 11 was pulled into the little dark room, he used all his strength to wake his host.

What is that perverted virus going to do now?!

Hearing the name "Lu Xiunan," Xue Ci jolted awake. His eyes flew open, and he pushed himself up and shrank toward the head of the bed.

But in the next second, a hand gripped his slender ankle.

The man controlled his strength precisely-he could hold Xue Ci firmly without hurting him.

And just like that, Xue Ci was dragged back.

He rolled over, bent both legs, and curled up as tightly as he could in a defensive posture. He looked pitiful, as though the man was about to bully him terribly.

"You... l-let go of me."

He tried to keep his voice calm, but his tone shook terribly.

It made him even more likely to stir up the man's filthy thoughts.

"I won't do anything. Don't hide from me." Lu Xiunan let go. He hadn't come to bully him; a forced melon wasn't sweet. He needed Xue Ci to share his feelings before doing those things. "I came to clear things up with you."

What else was there to say...? Xue Ci glanced toward the door, terrified that his real husband would suddenly come in. He lowered his voice. "I made myself very clear. I mistook you for someone else."

"I know you did. I'm not my brother, either."

Xue Ci was bewildered. He looked at him, still waiting for him to continue, but the man suddenly said, "My name is Lu Xiunan."

His expression turned gloomy. "You never even asked my name."

Having been disturbed in his sleep, Xue Ci lost his temper a little too. "Why are you telling me this? You're not my husband. I don't want to know your name."

Lu Xiunan said nothing, only staring fixedly at him.

Soon, Xue Ci saw an expression on his face that belonged on a large dog that had been abandoned.

He looked terribly aggrieved.

Had I spoken too harshly just now...?

Xue Ci responded to softness rather than force and was easily moved to pity. Now Lu Xiunan's wounded expression made him feel guilty instead. A little awkwardly, he asked, "You came over just to tell me your name?"

All of Lu Xiunan's arrogance was gone now, and he was easy to placate. He soon crouched beside the bed, bringing himself level with Xue Ci.

"You've found your husband. What am I supposed to do?"

Xue Ci had no idea what he was getting at, and the next second-

"You've seen my whole body. Nobody would want me even if I paid them to take me." Lu Xiunan took a deep breath, seemingly placing his chastity above all else. "Now I'm just a piece of secondhand goods nobody wants."

Xue Ci froze. It took him a moment to realize that Lu Xiunan meant he needed to take responsibility for him.

For a moment, he couldn't think of a way to refute him. Then he heard footsteps nearby.

Zhao Ying: "Xiao Ci?"

Startled, Xue Ci shushed Lu Xiunan.

Lu Xiunan stared at the seam between his lips, slightly darker than the lips themselves.

"D-don't come in yet. I'm changing."

Soon, a voice came from outside. "...Mm, you... you change first. I won't come in."

Xue Ci looked so nervous that Lu Xiunan felt strongly as though they were having an affair.

He was a businessman, skilled at reading expressions, and could easily figure out a person's character. Xue Ci's character didn't even require any thought.

A beautiful wife who was easily moved to pity.

So, as long as he clung to him, kept clinging to him, and put on a pitiful show of having been abandoned, Xue Ci wouldn't leave him to his own devices.

Lu Xiunan had thought he would never do such a thing in his life, but now he discovered he had a talent for it.

At least Xue Ci was willing to talk to him.

Perhaps Xue Ci would find him physically attractive and be willing to kiss him, or even do other things.

With those thoughts in mind, he found himself pushed over to the window by Xue Ci before he knew it.

"Get out, quickly. Don't let my husband see you."

Xue Ci spoke in a tiny voice.

He didn't even realize how much those words sounded like they were having an affair.

Xue Ci's palm pressed against Lu Xiunan's back, burning hot and making his whole body tense.

The corners of his lips curled up. Even he didn't know what he was happy about. Perhaps there was still room to negotiate his relationship with Xue Ci, or perhaps it was merely this simple physical contact.

The man climbed nimbly through the window, growing more and more practiced at it.

Once he saw that the man had left, Xue Ci opened the wardrobe and took out a short-sleeved shirt at random. Only after he had changed into it did he realize it was Zhao Ying's.

"Xiao Ci, are you changed? We can go eat now."

Zhao Ying urged him on from the doorway. Xue Ci was already feeling guilty, and he immediately shut the wardrobe. "I'm done."

He opened the door to find Zhao Ying standing there, and the aroma of food wafted over.

Xue Ci hadn't been hungry, but the smell whetted his appetite. He pushed the man along. "Let's go eat."

He didn't notice that his husband's gaze was fixed on his clothes.

His slender wrist was caught, and the young man's body temperature burned Xue Ci like a hot furnace.

He instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but couldn't break free at all.

"Xiao Ci, you're wearing my clothes."

Zhao Ying's tone was unlike his usual one, and his breathing was heavy, as if he were holding something back.

Xue Ci noticed it too and gave an uncomfortable "Mm."

"Let's go eat..."

He urged him softly, but Zhao Ying still didn't let go.

Not only did he not let go, he gripped him even tighter. With his other hand, he pinched the soft flesh between Xue Ci's thumb and forefinger, kneading it back and forth as though he'd found something fun and couldn't bear to let go.

What... was he doing?

Xue Ci looked up, only to be startled by the man so close to him. He knew what that look meant. He had seen it a few times, and afterward his mouth would suffer, pounded until it couldn't close.

Pretending not to understand, he continued urging Zhao Ying to go eat.

Zhao Ying leaned close and whispered, "Once more, okay?"

"What we did this evening."

His wrist was still being held, leaving him unable to resist or refuse his husband's request for a kiss.

The poor little wife gave in after all.

He obediently tilted his face up and accepted his husband's kiss.

The honest man had no experience and kissed without any method, thinking only that Xue Ci smelled so sweet and felt so soft: his lips were sweet, his tongue was sweet, and even his saliva was sweet.

He followed his inner desires entirely. Knowing no technique, he simply charged ahead.

As soon as their lips touched, he began nibbling on them.

As though he had some oral fixation, he sucked at Xue Ci's lips over and over. Seemingly unsatisfied with that, he pried his lips apart to explore.

Once he started, he couldn't stop.

Xue Ci choked back sobs under his kisses, tears clinging to his lashes and his cheeks wet and flushed. The high bridge of the man's nose pressed against his pale cheek, coloring it a vivid red.

His eyelashes trembled violently.

"So sore..."

The words came out indistinctly.

The man loosened his hold a little. The honest man's eyes were full of infatuation as he kept calling Xue Ci "wife" and saying how soft and sweet his mouth was.

The kisses left Xue Ci dazed, his eyes slightly unfocused, though their corners were vividly alluring.

No part had been spared; even the edges of his lips had been nibbled red.

He couldn't swallow his saliva quickly enough, and his chin was wet.

By the time Xue Ci came to his senses, he was already in the man's arms.

Whether mature or honest, all men became dishonest in the face of desire.

Even the way they kissed was lewd.

Xue Ci felt as though he was about to melt. His whole body was uncomfortable, his mouth was sore, and tears kept falling.

After wetting his eyelashes, the tears quickly gathered and rolled down his cheeks, only to be licked away.

This is awful...

It's uncomfortable.

Even the fingers Xue Ci used to push the man away were pink.

He had just pushed his clingy husband a little way back when a faint sound came from the window.

Momentarily interrupted, Zhao Ying started to look back.

But the clothes over his chest were suddenly gripped tight.

His little wife looked up at him with a face flushed from kissing. Though his lips could no longer bear the rough grinding, he still asked in a small voice, "D-do you still want to kiss...?"

The last string in Zhao Ying's mind snapped. He heard nothing, only bending down to press against that softness once more.

Lu Xiunan heard loud wet sounds and swallowing.

He was probably eating up all that sweet saliva.

What did it taste like? It had to be delicious.

Xue Ci smelled so sweet; his saliva had to be even sweeter.

Lu Xiunan's body went rigid, as though rooted to the spot, not daring to move a step.

Soft, sticky little whimpers came through the crack in the window, like a kitten mewing.

Lu Xiunan turned stiffly around.

From his angle, the man completely blocked Xue Ci from view. He couldn't see him at all, much less his face, wet and flushed from the man's kisses and on the verge of tears.

But soon,

he saw a few slender fingers emerge from beside the man's arm.

They clutched his clothes tightly.

Even the fingernails were pink.

The next moment, accompanied by a quiet sob,

the fingers fell limply, as though unable to bear the deep kiss.