It was early in the morning, Lin Qingyu felt someone moving beside him. He had always been a light sleeper and since it was already his usual time to wake up, he quickly opened his eyes.
He slept on the outer side of the bed and what greeted him upon waking up was the burnt out red candles and the morning light coming in from outside the window. Turning over slightly, the man beside himâŚor rather, the young man beside him was sound asleep, lying facing him. Half his face and one hand were exposed outside the quilt, while his other hand was splayed on his waist.
After Gu Fuzhou had passed out drunk last night, Lin Qingyu took off his wedding clothes for him and after much difficulty, managed to shove him under the quilt. He originally planned on making do with sleeping in the study but reconsidered; after all, it was their wedding night. During their previous wedding night, they hadnât even known each other and they slept in the same room. If they were to sleep in separate rooms now, their two years of knowing each other would have been for nothing.
There is only one bed in the bridal chamber and there wasnât any luohan. Lin Qingyu thought about it and using all his might, he pushed Gu Fuzhou further in and simply lay down on the outer side of the bed.
Lin Qingyu thought that he wouldnât sleep well. However, he didnât expect that Gu Fuzhou would be so well behaved when he was asleep, even very rarely turning over. It was no wonder he could sleep through an enemy attack in Yongliang; finally having no choice but to move out with his quilt draped over his shoulders.
Though his actual age was a full nineteen years old, he still slept like a child. Lin Qingyu couldnât help but stretched out his hand and touch Gu Fuzhouâs straight nose. Then, he made to get up butâŚ
He couldnât get up. Gu Fuzhou⌠had pinned down his hair.
The lower half of Lin Qingyuâs long hair was completely pinned down by Gu Fuzhou. If he moved a little too much, it would result in a painful pull. He tried to push Gu Fuzhou away but even after a long time, Gu Fuzhou remained motionless. He also tried to grab his hair and pull it out but not a lot of it managed to be freed. Instead, he simply hurt himself in the process, so much so that he was tempted to poison to other.
Lin Qingyu couldnât bear it any longer. No amount of calling managed to get Gu Fuzhou to wake up so he went and pinched Gu Fuzhouâs noise shut. No matter how much Gu Fuzhou loved sleeping, the obstruction to his breathing made him furrow his brows. He then opened his eyes and seeing Lin Qingyu, also opened his mouth.
Lin Qingyu said coolly, âAre you awake now?â
Awakened by such cruel means, Gu Fuzhou was still a little dazed, a layer of mist covering his eyes. He stared intently, unable to look away, at the face so close at hand. The slowly fog dissipated and his eyes gradually became clear.
âWhy are youâŚâ Gu Fuzhouâs voice was hoarse from just having woken up. He realized where his hands were and his eyes widened suddenly. His fingers even curled up and it seemed as though he didnât know where to put them. âWhat are you doing in my bed?â
Lin Qingyu said indifferently, âWhat do you think?â
âDid I force you in bed with me?â Gu Fuzhou was horribly shocked, âI never knew I had it in me!â
Lin Qingyu snorted, âOh, just you?â He gathered up his strength and brought his fist down on Gu Fuzhouâs arm. âNow, get up and let go of my hair.â
Gu Fuzhou shifted his position and Lin Qingyu was finally freed. He sat up and said, âSince youâre awake then get up.â
Gu Fuzhou thought back to what had happened last night. All he could remember was pushing open the door, so filled with anticipation, only to see the great beauty without his bridal veil on. His blood pressure immediately shot through the roof. After that, he had no memory of what happened. He must have passed out.
He hadnât forced Lin Qingyu to bed. So, Lin Qingyu had willingly slept in the same bed? Such a good thing actually exists?
Damn, how could he have fallen asleep last night? At his age, with a beauty lying beside him â Oh, how could he have fallen asleep!
Lin Qingyu watched as Gu Fuzhou remained motionless. He asked, âYouâre not going to get up?â
Gu Fuzhou gradually got over his shock and said slowly, âWhy are you up so early? You donât even have to serve tea to your in-laws.â
Lin Qingyu said, âGet up and letâs have our morning meal.â
âWe can sleep for a while longer and just have the noontime meal when itâs time.â Gu Fuzhou laughed under the quilt, âQingyu, this is the first time weâve slept together, letâs sleep a little longer.â
Lin Qingyu wasnât in the habit of lazing about in bed but after seeing Gu Fuzhouâs expectant eyes, he nevertheless decided to lay back down. He gathered his long hair to one side, making sure that Gu Fuzhou wouldnât be able to pin it down. The two of them lay face to face like this, making small talk.
Lin Qingyu asked, âAmong the guests yesterday, were there any civil servants?â
Gu Fuzhou absentmindedly said, âThere were a few; not all civil servants are stupid c*nts â Xiao Jie also came and brought a lot of generous gifts. Hmmm, this is a certainly way to make money. Qingyu, marry me a few more times and weâll quickly become the richest men in the capital.â
Lin Qingyu wasnât in the mood to pay attention to Gu Fuzhouâs nonsense. He focused on something useful and asked, âHowâs your current relationship with Xiao Jie?â
âHe admires me a lot. He even said that he wanted to try holding the Qingyun Jiuzhou Spear with his own hands.â
Only then did Lin Qingyu realize that despite Gu Fuzhou being in the capital for so long already, he had yet to see the legendary spear. âAre you keeping the Qingyun Jiuzhou Spear in the training grounds?â
Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, âItâs a gift from the royal family. Of course, I keep it in my room to show it the proper respect.â
âIn your own room?â Lin Qingyu looked around, âWhere is it?â
Gu Fuzhou pointed lazily at the corner. âItâs there.â
He saw something like a pole standing in the corner of the room. At first glance, it looked like an iron rod with red silk tied on it.
Gu Fuzhou said added, âIt makes for a good clothes hanger.â
Lin Qingyu: ââŚâ
Having lain down for a long time, Lin Qingyu wanted to change positions. When he raised his hand, he inadvertently bumped into something. He couldnât help suddenly freezing and he quickly retracted his hand.
A certain someone seemed so calm, talking and laughing with him while lying in the bed. But, in truth, they were actually⌠so energetic?
Gu Fuzhou was also momentarily stunned and the atmosphere suddenly became a little strange.
After a brief silence, Gu Fuzhou said, âWhatâs with your reaction?â Gu Fuzhou teased, âDo you think youâll ruin your hand?â
Ruin your handâ â it made Lin Qingyu inexplicably want to laugh. âI donât think so.â
âYou werenât like this before. The old youââ Gu Fuzhou began to once again imitate the way he talked. Because the two of them were so familiar with each other, his imitation of Lin Qingyu was a lot better than his imitation of Xiao Cheng. âAs a student of medicine, there is nothing I have not seen before. There is no need for you to make such a fuss.â
Gu Fuzhou had done such a good imitation; Lin Qingyu could not refute it at all. He was indeed knowledgeable and experienced. For him, this thing was nothing more than a piece of flesh. When Lu Wancheng was wilted before, he could even calmly offer to help him check. He himself didnât know why he reacted that way just now.
After some thought, Lin Qingyu said, âIt might be because you are using General Guâs body now.â
âWhat does that have to do with it?â
âI have admired General Gu for a long time and I donât want to disrespect him.â
Gu Fuzhou snorted coldly and said, âCome off it. Youâve even gotten in bed already. Are you telling me now it doesnât suit my current body?â
Lin Qingyu was speechless. Deciding to simply smash a cracked pot, he said, âYes, I do think it would ruin my hand.â
Gu Fuzhou applauded and said with a smile, âNice, as expected of Doctor Lin.â
Thereupon, for the entire rest of the day, whenever Gu Fuzhou saw Lin Qingyu, he would grab his hand, look it all over and say, âWhy does Doctor Linâs hand still look fine? When will it start to get all wrinkle-yâŚ? â
Lin Qingyu couldnât help but wonder whether it was the right decision to marry Gu Fuzhou for the second time. That night, he ordered people to transfer the bunk bed from his Lin Residence into the bridal chamber.
For three days following the wedding, Gu Fuzhou was not required to attend court. While Lin Qingyu was ordering the servants to put away the things heâd brought, Gu Fuzhou was by his side, idling about.
He saw a locked wooden box and asked casually, âWhatâs inside?â
Lin Qingyu glanced at him and then waved the servants away. He opened the wooden box and said, âItâs General Guâs memorial tablet. Is there a hidden room in this mansion?â
âIâll ask Yuan Yin to find a room for you later â Looks like thereâs two tablets. Whose is the other one?â
Lin Qingyuâs tone turned subtle. âYou can pick it up and take a look.â
Gu Fuzhou took out the two tablets. One was indeed General Guâs tablet and the other wasâŚ
Gu Fuzhou almost threw what was in his hand. âWhat is this! Who is Jiang Dazhuang?â
Lin Qingyu said without batting an eyelash, âBack then, whether you managed to survive or not was unknown. I decided to have a memorial tablet made for you. If you had really died, without a memorial tablet, you wouldnât even be able to enjoy the incense offerings of future generations.â
âI understand your good intentions,â Gu Fuzhouâs expression was complicated, âbut why did you think this is my name?â
Lin Qingyu gave a half-smile. âYou told me so yourself. At first, you said your name was Zhu Dazhuang and then you changed your name to Jiang, so it was naturally it must be âJiang Dazhuangâ.â
Gu Fuzhou laughed and said, âYou know I was joking. Why did you take it seriously?â
With a âbangâ, Lin Qingyu suddenly closed the lid of the wooden box. âIf I didnât take it to be true, then what should I have done? I donât know your name at all.â Lin Qingyuâs Adamâs apple bobbed up and down. âI asked you, but you didnât tell me.â
Gu Fuzhou frowned, expression turning serious, âWhen did you ask me?â
Knowing clearly that it was just his own dream, saying it out loud felt unreasonable. But Lin Qingyu still couldnât help but accuse him, âOn the seventh day after your death, I asked you, I asked you so many times â I chased after you, asking you; but you still walked away without even looking back.â
Gu Fuzhou murmured, âWasnât that a dreamâŚF*ck, is it possible to connect using dreams?â
Lin Qingyuâs eyes narrowed. âWhat do you mean?â
Lin Qingyu sat at the table and watched as Gu Fuzhou drag a stool to his side. Even though both of them were sitting, Gu Fuzhou was still a lot taller than him. When talking to him, he had to bend down and bow his head. âIâm sorry, Qingyu. I didnât know if I could survive.â
Lin Qingyu said in surprise, âYou⌠know of that dream?â
Gu Fuzhou nodded. âAfter I had that dream, I woke up in General Guâs body.â
Lin Qingyu stood up abruptly. âSo that was really you? You really didnât want to tell me your nameâŚâ
âIf I died, I just thought it would be easier for you to forget about me if you didnât know my name.â
Lin Qingyu gritted his teeth and said, âYou know I have a highly retentive memory. I couldnât even forget the rooster that took your place at our wedding! What made you think I could forget you?â
Gu Fuzhou chuckled lightly. âI was wrong.â Gu Fuzhou took his hand. One standing, the other sitting, it was now him looking down at Gu Fuzhou. Gu Fuzhou looked up at him and said, âIâll tell you now, okay? My name sounds nice.â
âI donât want to know anymore.â Lin Qingyu turned his head away from looking at him and said calmly, âI donât care what your name is, it has nothing to do with me.â
Gu Fuzhou, making a big show of being earnest, said, âItâs over, itâs over. This seems to be the angriest Doctor Lin has been since our reunion. Heâs even angrier than when he wasnât sure whether Shen Huaishi had missed or gone soft-hearted.â
Lin Qingyu was indeed angry. When he thought of how upset heâd felt, like heâd lost, when he woke up from the dream, he wanted to strangle Gu Fuzhou to death.
âLetting you touch my abs isnât enough to coax you anymore so how about I let you rub your face against it?â
He was already so angry but this man was still in the mood to joke?
Lin Qingyu was completely expressionless. âForget it, Iâm afraid of ruining my face.â