"You little rascal, it's only been a few days and you're already won over by someone else? This wounds your father's heart." Cao Jun put on an exaggerated performance of a heartbroken man.
Shu Ge'er gave him a light slap. "Alright, that's enough. Let's hear what Xi'er has to say."
Cao Jun turned to Ming Xi. "Well, what is it?"
"It's too cold here. I want to build a heated kang, but I don't know how," he said with a frown.
Cao Jun: "That's simple. Have Ling Cang come over."
Ling Cang stepped forward as instructed.
"The little one is sensitive to the cold. Building a heated kang is a good idea. I'll explain it once, and you can figure it out from there." Cao Jun explained in detail.
Ling Cang listened attentively, actively asking questions about anything he didn't understand.
He's a serious and eager learner, Cao Jun thought to himself.
Cao Jun: "Even if you want to build one, you'll have to wait for the snow to melt. It might be difficult right now. The mountain soil is frozen thick in winter, and you won't be able to mix mud."
Ling Cang nodded and asked, "How do you make the hot pot on your table?" He had noticed Ming Xi swallowing hard while staring at the steaming pot on the small dining table.
Cao Jun glanced back at the pot on the table and began explaining how to make hot pot.
"Any other questions?"
The words slipped out before Cao Jun realized it—a habit from his previous life as a professor. It struck him that he had already been here for decades now. His son was all grown up, and his wife was still so beautiful. He felt like a winner in life.
Ling Cang shook his head. "Not for now." This man is quite unusual.
Once the two finished speaking, Shu Ge'er said, "Xi'er, come here."
Ming Xi stepped forward. "Dad."
"You... are you living with that Ling Cang?" Shu Ge'er asked hesitantly.
Ming Xi lowered his head, not daring to meet his dad's eyes. "Y-yes, we live together, but... we only sleep in the same bed at night."
Cao Jun's expression immediately turned stern. Ming Xi glanced at him and shrank back, hiding behind Ling Cang. "N-nothing else happened."
"Tell that boy to come here," Cao Jun said sternly, as if the joking from earlier had come from someone else entirely.
Ling Cang stepped forward to stand beside Ming Xi.
Cao Jun: "Do you know Ming Xi is a ge'er ?"
Ling Cang glanced at Ming Xi, who was still looking down, and recalled that night—the vivid red floral mark on his collarbone. "I know."
Ming Xi looked up at him. His floral mark is on his collarbone. When did he see it?
"Do you know that a ge'er's reputation is extremely important? If it's ruined, life will be difficult for him in the future?"
Ling Cang again replied, "I know."
"Then... do you like our Xi'er?"
Shu Ge'er stepped forward and asked. He could tell that their silly Xi'er had likely already developed feelings for Ling Cang.
Ling Cang looked at Ming Xi, who also raised his head to look at him.
Just as he was about to answer, Cao Jun cut in, "Our ge'er does not share a husband with others. If you can promise to be with him and only him for a lifetime, I will give you a chance."
"Father!" Ming Xi protested.
Cao Jun looked at Ming Xi. "Silly boy, did you think your father wouldn't notice? I carried you on my back as you grew up. How could you hide anything from me?"
Moreover, he observed that Ling Cang had an imposing presence—not at all like those scoundrels who deceive little treasure.
Ling Cang raised his hand. "Please give me a chance to pursue Xi'er." For over a thousand years in the celestial realm, he had never longed for someone as much as he did now. He liked this person.
Cao Jun: "Since both of you are interested, we, as your fathers, naturally won't force you apart."
"However, Xi'er is still young. *That matter* will have to wait a few years." Cao Jun said with a straight face.
Xi'er, being thin-skinned, glared at Cao Jun. "Father, stop talking!"
Shu Ge'er also coughed a few times and secretly tugged at Cao Jun's sleeve.
Ling Cang nodded. "Mm."
"Alright, that's all for today. I'll bring up anything else I think of later," Cao Jun said.
Ling Cang raised his hand and made a hand seal. The illusion instantly dissipated.
Shu Ge'er watched the fading figure. "I didn't get to ask more questions. I wonder if he's truly compatible with Xi'er?"
Cao Jun held his hand. "No rush. Xi'er is still young. We have time to observe. If it doesn't work out, we'll find someone else. Our Xi'er is so popular—I'm not worried about finding a suitable match."
Shu Ge'er: "He's not that young anymore. Look at the Imperial Censor family's ge'er, who's the same age as Xi'er—he's already a father."
He added, "I'm afraid the Su family's boy will be heartbroken."
Su Mubai and Lin Jinshu were Cao Jun and Shu Ge'er's closest friends. Without their help back then, Wanbao Pavilion would never have achieved its current prosperity.
Their son, Su Ningxuan, had always been fond of Xi'er, constantly sending all sorts of good things to the Cao residence. Unfortunately, Xi'er had no feelings for him, or else they would have been together long ago.
Cao Jun: "This matter depends on Xi'er's feelings. Being with someone you don't like would only make our little one suffer."
Shu Ge'er nodded. "If there's really no fate, it can't be forced."
Ling Cang held Ming Xi's hand. "I spoke with your fathers earlier, but I didn't ask you. Can you give me a chance to pursue you?"
"I... I'm willing too," Ming Xi stammered.
He managed to get me peaches in the dead of winter when I wanted them, cooks for me, and is gentle in every way.
"But it's only a chance. As for the outcome, it depends on you." Ming Xi looked up with a slight smile.
Ling Cang brought the hand he was holding to his lips and gently kissed it. "Then I will surely not disappoint Xi'er."
The tips of Ming Xi's ears turned pink. "Mm."
From then on, the two were considered to have confessed their feelings for each other.
"Father said we can't build a heated kang in winter, so we'll have to wait until March next year," Ming Xi said.
Ling Cang covered Ming Xi's eyes with his hand. "Close your eyes, Xi'er."
He raised his right hand, recited an incantation, and the area where the bed had been instantly transformed into an earthen kang, neatly furnished with various items.
"You can open your eyes now."
"Wow! This is exactly what I wanted! Ling Cang, are you a god or a monster?"
"Does Xi'er want me to be a god or a monster?" He wrapped his arms around Ming Xi's waist.
"A god, of course!"
If Father found out he was a monster, he would never allow me to be with Ling Cang.
He kissed Ming Xi's forehead. "Alright, go try it out."
Ming Xi nodded repeatedly, turned around, took off his shoes, and climbed onto the kang.
"Wow, it's so soft! And warm—so cozy!"
The kang was covered with a blanket, and brocade quilts were neatly folded. The left side was furnished with household items.
"Ling Cang, come try it too!" He patted the kang surface and smiled invitingly.
Ling Cang stepped forward, took off his shoes, and got on the kang. "It really is comfortable."
Ming Xi: "Right? A heated kang is much more comfortable than a bed in winter. Back when we lived in the mountains..."
Ling Cang rested his hand lightly on Ming Xi's waist, watching him smile and talk about his life in the mountains. His eyes were curved, his lips red and teeth white, and his bright eyes gazed at Ling Cang, who unconsciously swallowed.
Ming Xi placed his hands on Ling Cang's shoulders and looked down at him. "Ling Cang?" His voice was soft and captivating.
Ling Cang looked up at him. "Mm." His low voice was full of restraint.
Ming Xi traced Ling Cang's eyes with his finger. "Your eyes are so beautiful, like stars in the sky."
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