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It was one of the autumns in Yi City, autumn snacks such as the TángHúLu was a hit. The sweet treat was made with the Chinese Mountain hawthorn coated with a layer of hardened syrup, and is only available during the cold seasons because the syrup would melt off if the temperature gets too high.
Passing by the candy stall during his grocery shopping, Xiao XingChen DaoZhang had of course gotten the snacks for his housemates – knowing that the both of them would most definitely appreciate the candied snack.
He brought the snack home to the delight of his housemates. One of them – a white-pupiled girl by the name of Ah Qing was jumping about in joy, profusely thanking the DaoZhang. “Ah! It’s TángHúLu! Thank you, DaoZhang!”
“Alright, alright.” The DaoZhang gave a chuckle as he patted the girl on the head. “Though, let’s keep it for after lunch.” He said.
“Hmm? You only bought two?” Said a voice – belonging to the man the DaoZhang had saved a couple of years back.
Said man was Xue Yang – the DaoZhang’s sworn enemy. Somehow due to a twist of cruel fate, the poor DaoZhang had saved the man, blissfully unaware of said man’s identity. The man had lived with them ever since.
“Ah, I’m not really fond of sweets. So the both of you can have it.” The DaoZhang replied with a smile.
“Aww…but DaoZhang must at least have some.” Said the man in a child-like tone. “Or, we could share? I’ll give some of mine to DaoZhang!” He smiled, flashing his canine teeth.
“Tsk…” Annoyed at the antics of the delinquent, Ah Qing interrupted. “DaoZhang should not share with that Evil Thing! Lest he taint you with his evilness!” Her tone turned gentle, “Ah Qing will give DaoZhang some of her TángHúLu.”
“Aiya…what nonsense are you talking about, Little Blind?” Xue Yang got irritated. “Maybe I should sew up that mouth of yours so you can’t spout anymore nonsense?”
“I dare you to!” Ah Qing hissed, glaring at the man.
Xiao XingChen gave a sigh. “Alright, alright. You two, stop fighting.” He turned towards the man who never told them his name, “You. Go prepare the fire for cooking.” Towards Ah Qing, he said, “And Ah Qing, go prepare the bowls.” He gave his commands with a stern voice – almost similar to a parent scolding their misbehaved children.
Reluctantly, both ‘kids’ complied nonetheless as they set off to their tasks given. Satisfied at the result, the DaoZhang brought the basket of groceries into the kitchen as he get ready to prepare lunch.
He set down the groceries, arranging them orderly – segregating the vegetables and the meat. He then prepared a basin of water and was about to wash the produce when suddenly a pair of arms encircled his waist, then came the familiar candied scent as a voice spoke behind the DaoZhang.
“DaoZhang, are you feeling lonely without my ‘service’ lately?” Xue Yang asked with his child-like tone.
It had been a while…well two days, ever since that little ‘accident’ which had halted their nightly activities. Apparently the lovebirds were being a bit too adventurous – well, probably overestimating their own physique from the years of cultivation. It had ended with Xue Yang suffering from a back injury from an old wound. Ouch…
Despite Xue Yang’s multiple assurance that he was absolutely fine, Xiao XingChen had still brought him to the doctor, who had told Xue Yang to stay away from rigorous activities for at least a week – which of course included the nightly activities. Xue Yang almost wanted to cut out the tongue of said doctor and turn him into a walking corpse but held himself back – it’ll certainly raise suspicion if the doctor suddenly goes missing.
“Wh-What are you talking about!?” Noticing he was a bit loud, the DaoZhang quickly lowered his volume so that Ah Qing would not be able to hear him. “Quit messing around and go prepare the fire.” He elbowed the shorter man to make him loosen his grip.
The shorter man did not budge, merely tightening the grip on the DaoZhang’s waist. “But I’ve already done preparing the fire.” Xue Yang sulked. He noticed that the tips of the DaoZhang’s ears had reddened. How cute…He thought as he could not help himself but dive in and nibble on one of the earlobes. It elicited a yelp from the DaoZhang who then pushed him away – this time forcefully.
Unbeknownst to the two lovebirds fighting, the little ‘blind’ girl Ah Qing was actually very much not-blind as she watched the entire scene unfold in front of her. Aaaaahhhhh….You beast! Stop bullying DaoZhang! She screamed inwardly, wanting to stab the delinquent with her bamboo pole. But alas, she was unable to do anything – still needing to continue her façade of being blind.
It had been quite a common occurrence for poor little Ah Qing to witness the ‘sexual harassments’ daily. The two men would stay very very quiet; thinking that as long as no one makes a sound – Ah Qing would not notice anything.
At times like these, Ah Qing actually wished that she was truly blind. Grabbing the bowls in her hand, Ah Qing made her exit from the kitchen – not wanting to stay there anymore longer, lest she could not contain herself and end up throwing the bowls at the ‘Evil Thing’.
“Ah, Little Blind is gone.” The ‘Evil Thing’ said to the DaoZhang as he continued his little ‘conquest’, hands found their way around the taller man’s waist again and he heard the taller man sighed, defeated.
The delinquent eyed the produce in the DaoZhang’s hand and the smirk on his face grew wider – there was a glint of mischievousness in his eyes. “DaoZhang~” He cooed, “What are you doing?”
“Washing the vegetables.” XingChen replied as a matter-of-factly; ignoring the younger man as he continued scrubbing the produce – getting the dirt off it.
“That’s not how you do it, DaoZhang.” Xue Yang cut in, abruptly grabbing the DaoZhang by the hand. He guided XingChen’s hand to rub on the vegetable – an eggplant – up and down in a very much…suggestive way. “That’s how you do it…gentle but firm.” He said seductively.
Slow as he may be, the DaoZhang was still able to get the gist of things after a few ‘Hand movements’. He jerked his hand his hand away – very much embarrassed and shocked. The vegetable fell back into the basin with a plop, making a small splash.
“Wh-what are you doing?!”
“Helping DaoZhang to wash the vegetables, of course.” Xue Yang said innocently. “What were you thinking?” His tone switched from innocent to seductive in an instant.
Xiao XingChen was blushing madly as he faked a cough. “It’s alright. I can handle this. Now, go get some water from the well.” He said, trying to shake the man off.
“Alright…” Xue Yang sounded dejected as he let go of the DaoZhang.
Eh??? Xiao XingChen was actually surprised by the man’s compliance. The irregularity in the man’s behavior was actually alarming. He heard footsteps moving away, and finally XingChen was left alone with his thoughts. Was I being too harsh on him? Guilt crept up on him as he figured out ways to make it up to his lover.
He picked up the eggplant in his hand and continued to wash it, scrubbing it when the memory from before invaded his mind and the younger man’s sultry voice rang in his ear. “…gentle but firm.” Subconsciously, XingChen’s hands moved in the motion as his thoughts drifted. Will he like it if I do it like this? The thought left his mind as soon as it crossed by, he shook his head violently. Such shameful thoughts in broad daylight! What is wrong with you, Xiao XingChen?! He mentally scolded himself.
Rinsing the vegetable quickly, he moved it to the chopping board. Knife held up high as he sliced it into chunks – cutting off the improper thoughts with it. Xiao XingChen wiped off the sweat on his forehead as he gave a sigh of relief, finally managing to still his mind.
The trio ate a simple lunch that day – just adequate to fill their stomachs. Then came the highly anticipated dessert – the TángHúLu. The trio had decided to spend their time outdoors while they enjoy the treat as the weather was good.
Xue Yang and the DaoZhang were seated on a bench underneath a peach blossom tree just outside their coffin house; whereas Ah Qing pranced around the area, happily biting into her TángHúLu. She hummed a happy song, thoroughly enjoying the candied treat.
“Do run off too far!” Xiao XingChen called out.
“Ah Qing knows.” The girl replied before going off on her own.
Xiao XingChen smiled, savoring this blissful moment. Thinking to himself that this peaceful way of living wasn’t so bad after all.
“DaoZhang~ have a taste.” Came Xue Yang’s voice, breaking the DaoZhang out of his reverie. He pushed the candied hawthorn between the DaoZhang’s lips, and Xiao XingChen had no choice but to part his lips and take a bite.
There was a sour undertone after the layer of sugary syrup as the DaoZhang’s face cringed slightly. The delinquent watched his reaction, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“DaoZhang, DaoZhang…That’s not the way you should eat it.” Xue Yang said with his usual childish tone.
“Oh?” The DaoZhang was puzzled. “Is there any other way to eat it?”
Xue Yang smirked as he mischievously got closer to the DaoZhang, “You should start slowly. Let me demonstrate.”
XingChen gave a chuckle, “I won’t be able to see even if you de-” He got cut off when suddenly a pair of lips was pressed against his own. The delinquent begun sucking and licking on his lips before pulling away. Xiao XingChen was in a daze, face flushed and mouth opened slightly.
The delinquent pushed the TángHúLu against the DaoZhang’s lips again. “Here, try it.” He said, tone innocent but the undertones were hard to miss. As if caught up in a trance, Xiao XingChen begun licking the candied treat slowly.
“Li-like this?” He asked suddenly, unsure.
Xue Yang watched his ‘prey’, eyes filled with lust. He felt his throat go dry when the DaoZhang begun sucking on the TángHúLu. The delinquent could see the trail of saliva drooling at the side of the DaoZhang’s mouth. Noticing that he had dirtied himself, the DaoZhang pulled away and was about to wipe away the mess when the delinquent suddenly swooped in and lick the trail of saliva off the side of the DaoZhang’s mouth.
“It tastes sweet.” Xue Yang commented, flashing his canine teeth.
Xiao XingChen was in shocked, “Tha-that’s dirty!”
“Oh, we are about to do much dirty things, DaoZhang~” Xue Yang sounded husky.
“B-but…the doctor said-”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t do anything.” Xue Yang cut him off, pressing his finger against the taller man’s lips, “Now DaoZhang, I believed I’ve taught you a little something before. Hmm?”
And so when Ah Qing came back to the spot – the DaoZhang and the ‘Evil Thing’ was nowhere to be found. Thinking that they might’ve gone back to the coffin house, the white pupiled-girl made her way back only to stop right outside the house as ‘strange sounds’ were coming out of their tiny house.
Ah Qing now wishes that she was deaf as well.