Chapter 24: I’ll Teach You
“You… you’ll teach me?” Rong Xie didn’t immediately grasp what Shen Bingsi meant.
Shen Bingsi used his actions to tell him.
With a creak, the tea table was pushed aside. The person originally sitting behind the table stood up, unfastening his clothes as he walked toward Rong Xie.
“W-wait a moment…” Rong Xie took half a step back, his heel hitting the small step outside the second layer of the grand bed.
Rong Xie had never been so clearly aware that the bed was less than a foot behind him, and his best friend was taking off his clothes, walking toward him while doing so.
Many intense images flashed through his mind, along with several ways to defend or escape.
He regretted it now. Why did he mention “study” in the bedroom?
“T-There’s no need to rush. You can recite it to me first, I’ll copy it down, and then…” Rong Xie took another step back, landing directly on the footrest platform. The backs of his knees hit the edge of the bed, his legs went weak, and he sat down on the bed with a thud.
The lamp on the table extinguished with a puff, and the candle stand on the outer side of the bed automatically lit up. The light changed from bright golden-red to a dim crimson. Shen Bingsi lowered his eyes, his clothes sliding off his shoulders to reveal a body as resilient as a whip. His proportions were excellent, youthful and full of power. The fluid muscle lines didn’t appear cumbersome, but when he moved, they revealed a scale like a dormant dragon, inspiring awe.
Shen Bingsi’s footsteps were quick and light, soon stepping onto the same footrest platform. The dim yellow light from the candle stand shone from diagonally behind him, painting the side profile of his body in gold, while the impactful front view was submerged in shadow. His face was only a palm’s distance from Rong Xie’s, his huge shadow enveloping half the bed and the tiny Rong Xie sitting on the edge.
Rong Xie felt as if he had been slapped in the face by a huge wave. Although he looked calm sitting on the edge of the bed, his soul had actually left his body for a while.
The inner garments were piled on the floor in front of the bed, and shoes and socks were scattered along the way. Shen Bingsi stood on the footrest wearing only a pair of trousers. His bare ankles radiated heat as they squeezed between Rong Xie’s feet, domineeringly occupying a spot.
Rong Xie leaned back slightly, his hand moving backward until he touched the middle of the mattress, but still couldn’t find any handy weapon. Yes, who would put a weapon on their own bed? With no other choice, Rong Xie could only grip the bedsheet tightly to embolden himself.
“W-What are you doing…”
“Why aren’t you taking it off?”
The voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz was drowned out by Shen Bingsi’s self-righteous question.
“Why should I…” Rong Xie swallowed, “take it off?”
Shen Bingsi’s low chuckle came from above: “If you don’t take it off, how can I teach you?”
“This is… too fast…” Rong Xie lowered his eyes, his eyelids hot and swollen. He dared not look anywhere, but there were still very conspicuous things in his peripheral vision. His fingers gripping the bedsheet tightened further.
“How is it fast? We haven’t even started yet?” Shen Bingsi was somewhat puzzled, but he didn’t care much, his palm naturally resting on Rong Xie’s shoulder.
Rong Xie shuddered all over, then froze. Did Shen Bingsi think he was too slow and wanted to help him undress? Just like last time, just like…
Actually, that wasn’t bad either. He just had to close his eyes, steel his heart, and leave everything to Shen Bingsi. When it was time for him to exert effort, he would just do as Shen Bingsi said.
It was just a method of cultivation, after all.
Rong Xie closed his eyes, his body trembling slightly.
He felt Shen Bingsi’s fingers undo the buttons on his front lapel, his palm reaching into the inner garment, peeling off the outer layer like peeling lily petals. The tight undershirt inside was revealed; the short and narrow sleeves couldn’t fully cover his arms, and Rong Xie felt the skin on the crook of his arm turn chilly.
The inner garment fell, piling at his wrists like invisible shackles. The hands hidden under the clothes turned white at the knuckles from gripping too hard.
Shen Bingsi suddenly stopped.
Rong Xie felt dizzy. He didn’t feel any further movement for a long time, only his own chest rising and falling due to labored breathing. The exposed skin no longer felt cold; under a certain gaze, it gradually warmed up and became hot.
Yes, he could feel Shen Bingsi looking at him. Why stop suddenly to look at him? Wasn’t he in a hurry to get to the main topic?
The shadow covering his face withdrew, and candlelight spilled in again. The crimson light penetrated his eyelids, illuminating his pitch-black vision.
Rong Xie’s eyelashes trembled slightly, opening his eyes a slit in confusion. The person blocking him just now was gone. He saw the floor bathed in candlelight, messy clothes, shoes, and socks on the floor.
“…?” Rong Xie opened his eyes, surprised. Where did Shen Bingsi go?
The next moment, the mattress sank, and someone sat down beside him.
“Want some water?” Shen Bingsi’s voice was a bit hoarse.
Rong Xie turned his head and saw Shen Bingsi holding a bowl of water. He didn’t know when he got it. He must have drunk some himself, as there were glistening water traces on his lips.
“Mm…” Rong Xie pulled his hands out of his clothes, took the water bowl Shen Bingsi handed over, and drank sip by sip, desperately thinking in his heart: Why did Shen Bingsi suddenly stop? Why suddenly give him water? He was indeed a bit thirsty, but was this the time to drink water?
As the saying goes, one’s vigor is greatest at the first drum roll, then depletes. He had just made up his mind to go along with whatever Shen Bingsi did… but now, that bit of courage was leaked away by this bowl of water inserted in the middle.
He even complained a bit inwardly. Why couldn’t Shen Bingsi be as straightforward as the first time? Undressing when he said undress, reaching down when he said reach down. He hadn’t even reacted to what happened, and it was over…
“…Actually, I wanted to…”
A sentence seemed to slip past his ear. Rong Xie uttered a “Hmm?”, putting down the bowl he had unknowingly emptied.
His peripheral vision caught Shen Bingsi’s hand. The slender fingers rested on the dark wood grain at the edge of the bed, very close to him but cautiously not touching him. The knuckles protruded from exertion. Shen Bingsi wasn’t as composed as he appeared.
“Now that the servant boys are recruited, we have plenty of time, so there’s no need to rush the progress.” Shen Bingsi said, “Last time failed because I was too impatient. Learning from the lesson, we might as well start by closing the distance, rising and sleeping together, sharing a quilt. Once you get used to it, we can proceed to the next step.”
Rong Xie’s heart moved slightly.
He hadn’t expected the always impatient Shen Bingsi to come up with such a… considerate method.
For some reason, although he should be relieved, Rong Xie felt a sourness in his heart, and his heartbeat became somewhat heavy.
Shen Bingsi paused and asked, “What do you think?”
Rong Xie responded affirmatively.
“Good.” Shen Bingsi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his movements becoming more casual. He took the water bowl from Rong Xie’s hand, sent it to the tea table telekinetically, then climbed onto the bed, fetched a large quilt, and busily spread it out with his body bent.
Watching him bustling about, Rong Xie couldn’t help but find it amusing. once the tense atmosphere dissipated, everything looked lively.
“What are you laughing at?” Shen Bingsi looked at him with feigned anger. “Haven’t seen anyone fold blankets and make beds?”
“Do Nascent Soul grandmasters fold blankets and make beds like this too?” Rong Xie’s shoulders trembled slightly. Suddenly feeling it was improper to tease Shen Bingsi so soon, he raised his hand to rub the tip of his nose, hiding his smile.
“Nascent Souls are people too. before achieving Unity with the Dao, it’s faster to make the bed by hand.” Shen Bingsi pulled open the quilt and patted the bedsheet. “Come on.”
Rong Xie stopped being coy, took off his shoes and socks, got on the bed, and burrowed into the quilt.
Shen Bingsi crawled in behind him, and the two lay in the same quilt.
When they were young… they actually often lay together like this.
At that time, Shen Bingsi wasn’t the pride of the clan yet, but a child born to an eldest miss whose engagement was tragically broken off—a proof of shame, a hateful burden.
The eldest miss of the Shen family brought Shen Bingsi back to the Shen Clan Estate and lived in the long-dilapidated Plum Garden. There weren’t that many rooms and beds to choose from. Shen Bingsi slept on a wooden board emitting a moldy smell. The room used to be a storage room with only a small north-facing window. In winter, it was freezing cold, unbearable to stay in. Who knew how Shen Bingsi slept? In summer, however, it was cooler than other places, so Rong Xie often came to squeeze in with him.
At that time, they had endless silly things to say, just like Shen Yan and Long Shaoye. As they talked, they would giggle foolishly, not knowing what was so funny.
Several times, they laughed too hard and attracted the eldest miss of the Shen family. Shen Bingsi would let Rong Xie burrow into the quilt and shrink behind his back to dodge her inspection. She would feel from the outside in. Batches of peach wood swords, darts, and other treasures Shen Bingsi got from outside were confiscated this way.
Fortunately, he was experienced, and Rong Xie was never discovered.
Later, they had separate beds. Later still, they had separate bedrooms.
Lying in the same quilt like this almost never happened again.
“Rong’er.” Shen Bingsi’s voice came from behind. Rong Xie could feel the vibration of his voice. For some reason, Rong Xie hoped Shen Bingsi wouldn’t bring up childhood matters. Otherwise, they would be like two old relatives chatting about domestic trivia, chattering endlessly about old times due to insomnia.
“Hm?”
“Here’s my thought, tell me if it makes sense,” Shen Bingsi introduced seriously. “Why do we sleep in the same quilt? It’s to get used to close contact. The key is contact. What’s the difference between this and sleeping in two quilts?”
“Mm…”
“So,” Shen Bingsi paused, “we should hug.”
Rong Xie’s ears burned again. Luckily they were covered by hair; otherwise, they would be as conspicuous as a red candle in the night.
“Mm… okay.” Rong Xie shrunk his shoulders, hands subconsciously hugging his chest, turning toward Shen Bingsi.
Before he could turn over, two hot arms heavily encircled him. He was pulled into an equally hot embrace. The naked body of an adult male pressed tightly against him, wrapping him in a big furnace. Finally, the chin pressing on his ear rubbed up and down, letting out a comfortable sigh.
“Sleep,” Shen Bingsi said contentedly.
Sleep… Sleep my foot!
The candle went out at the sound, plunging the room into darkness. Inside the bed, it was pitch black, with only Rong Xie’s eyes wide open.
After suffering for who knows how long, Shen Bingsi had snored for two rounds before Rong Xie finally fell asleep groggily, wrestling with a giant python for half the night in his dream.
The next morning, Rong Xie got up with dark circles under his eyes, walking as if floating. After assigning tasks to the three little ones, he went back to catch up on sleep.
“I’ll lie down for a bit, come back in an hour,” Rong Xie said.
Watching Rong Xie enter the Middle Gate, the three little ones all showed sympathy.
“Brother Rong works too hard. He said we rest at sunset, but he’s still busy himself,” Shen Yan sighed.
“Tsk, the Grand Villa Master just wears him out alone. Can he not be tired?” Long Shaoye chimed in.
The youngest, Fang Renji, looked at Shen Yan, then at Long Shaoye, and nodded. After a while, he asked cautiously, “Is this sentence also a secret code?”
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