Chapter 144
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Xie Duo, with a sideways glance, softly asked, “What’s my name?”
Han Jiao leaned against his shoulder, gazing at him with infatuation. “My mother didn’t tell me.”
Xie Duo smiled and raised an eyebrow. “No matter, you just need to know how to address me.”
Han Jiao, without fear, continued to ask, “How should I address you?”
Before the words could finish, Xie Duo sealed his mouth with his lips, teasing and seeking…
Han Jiao’s hazy eyes suddenly widened, panic-stricken, with an accelerated heartbeat.
His hands pressed against Xie Duo’s shoulders with nervousness, and in his chest, joy and infatuation kept spreading. He felt like he was under a spell, unable to push the person in front of him away.
He watched his own panicked expression reflected in those amber eyes until his breath could no longer compensate for the expenditure of his heartbeat. It took a while, but eventually, his complexion turned a faint shade of crimson. Xie Duo’s lips, which had taken his breath away, slowly parted, setting him free.
“Do you remember how to address me now?”
This handsome man gave him a mischievous grin, with sharp, porcelain-white tiger teeth peeking out from the corners of his lips.
Han Jiao laughed as he caught his breath, shaking his head lazily.
Xie Duo laughed even more loudly, turning to place him on the bed, squinting his eyes to tease the little child prodigy. “Well then, today I’ll fulfill our ‘no-sleep’ agreement. Once you remember how to address me and loudly call it out a hundred times, only then will I let you go.”
Han Jiao looked at him with a confused expression, and suddenly raised his hand to tug on his front lapel, pulling it closer to himself.
Xie Duo eyes flashed a trace of bewilderment. The little child prodigy had never behaved so defenselessly in bed, but he did not think too much, and obediently bent over and approached.
Han Jiao’s eyelashes carried a bit of moisture, constantly fluttering to observe Xie Duo’s eyes, the bridge of his nose, and his gaze finally resting on his thin lips.
“I still want you to kiss me, like you just did.” Han Jiao couldn’t wait to raise his chin and beak closer to Xie Duo’s thin lips.
Xie Duo was slightly startled and quickly smiled. He was about to bend his head down for a kiss, but then he lifted up alertly.
The pouting Han Jiao was full of eagerness, humming softly to urge the kiss.
“It’s not dark yet.” Xie Duo calmly negotiated, “Kissing you alone won’t satisfy me. If you want it, you have to give it all to me.”
Han Jiao tilted his head in confusion. “What shall I give you? I don’t have a single coin on me. My mother said that children can’t carry belongings on them.”
His desire-filled expression made Xie Duo’s blood boil.
It was just this kind of feeling.
This reminded Xie Duo of the night they first committed to each other.
Han Jiao’s expression didn’t show any intention, but it left Xie Duo incapable of rational thought, driving him to madness.
Xie Duo swallowed and chuckled softly. “Did your mother not tell you what to give to your husband when you arrive at your new home?”
Han Jiao shook his head, then remembered something, mumbling nervously with lowered eyes, “Will my mother come to take me back home?”
Xie Duo looked puzzled. “Do you want to go back home?”
Han Jiao pondered for a moment and asked anxiously, “Will I still have my parents in the future?”
“They all live in the capital. If you want to see them, you can go anytime. What’s there to worry about?”
“But my parents don’t want me anymore. They left today with a chubby little boy,” Han Jiao whispered, “Maybe they found a new son.”
Xie Duo furrowed his brows with confusion, then smiled, narrowing his eyes as a warning. “Are you trying to distract my attention, Han Jiao? Tonight, nothing can stop me from fulfilling our previous bet.”
Han Jiao still looked at him with a puzzled expression but seemed unable to understand his words. He also didn’t dare to complain further, just huddled up, secretly troubled.
“What’s wrong?” Xie Duo propped himself up to look at him. “Don’t want it anymore?”
Han Jiao lowered his eyes and remained silent for a while. His eyes gradually turned red as he whispered softly, “Can you tell my parents that I’ll eat a bit less from now on?”
“I was just joking with you. Your parents don’t mind how much you eat as long as it’s not harmful. Eat as much as you like, just don’t let them know.”
“But they have another child now.” Han Jiao sounded more and more upset.
Xie Duo stared at him in confusion. “Are you joking?”
“It’s true. Didn’t you see? When my mother left, she was holding that chubby little boy and they left together!”
His expression left Xie Duo somewhat bewildered. After a moment of silence, Xie Duo decided to play along with his joke. “I saw it, and the servants also saw it. I’ve figured it out. Tomorrow, I’ll blame the matter of someone eating two tablefuls of food on that chubby boy. I’ll help you clear your name. From now on, no one will know the real amount my wife eats.”
Han Jiao looked bewildered. “Where did that chubby boy come from?”
The playful look on Xie Duo’s face gradually faded. He stared in puzzlement for a while before asking, “What do you really want, Han Jiao?”
“My mother has a new son…”
Xie Duo looked at him, still puzzled. “Alright, Xiaobai, this isn’t funny.”
Han Jiao continued to mutter, “I’ll eat less from now on.”
Xie Duo frowned, interrupting, “Stop it, you’re frightening me.”
Han Jiao looked at him timidly, then suddenly rolled to the side, sat up, and hugged his knees in a corner of the bed, burying his face in his lap.
“Xiaobai?”
Han Jiao raised his head to correct, “I’m called A’Jiao!”
Xie Duo stood there, puzzled. “What’s wrong with you?”
Han Jiao huddled up as if sulking. “My parents have a new son.”
“That’s your little brother, Han…” Xie Duo’s eyes briefly showed fear. He swiftly moved to Han Jiao’s side. “Look at me, Han Jiao, look at me!”
Han Jiao shivered and fearfully looked up at the handsome man in front of him.
Xie Duo stared at him in surprise and asked, “Who am I?”
Han Jiao shook his head.
Xie Duo controlled his emotions. With an intense gaze, he asked the little child prodigy, “Answer me, Han Jiao.”
Han Jiao remained silent.
Xie Duo silently stared at him for a while, then suddenly shouted, “Fetch the imperial physicians!”
Yesterday, Han Jiao inexplicably fell into a deep sleep, and then woke up just as mysteriously. The imperial physicians, who couldn’t figure out the cause, had just breathed a sigh of relief, but today, a rarer and more puzzling issue arose.
Han Jiao suddenly became like a simpleton.
It was selective foolishness. He could still have normal conversations with people, but his words and actions were childlike. He didn’t know his own age and had no awareness of his official career.
He could recognize his parents and some of his colleagues from the Hanlin Academy, but he couldn’t recognize his friends, his little brother, the princes he had once tutored, or even Xie Duo.
The imperial physicians took turns diagnosing him, and the final conclusion was that his pulse was perfectly normal. Perhaps, just like the previous unexplained sleep episode, he would suddenly recover soon.
The continuous medical examinations and inquiries made Han Jiao nervous. Sometimes, he would suddenly rush outside, calling for his parents. Xie Duo had no choice but to bring his family back to the palace.
Master Han and Mrs. Han, who were struck by this for the second time, were also at a loss. Their son had regressed to his childhood behavior, eagerly asking them to take him home.
Xie Duo, who had been silently observing, stood up and asked the others to step back for a moment.
However, Han Jiao clung to his parents and refused to let go.
“Han Jiao.” Xie Duo calmly looked at his profile.
Han Jiao turned his head and saw the handsome man slightly opening his arms. “Come here.”
He immediately let go of his parents and ran over, staring blankly at Xie Duo.
Xie Duo glanced at Master Han and Mrs. Han with a nod. The parents immediately bowed and left.
In the side chamber, only the two of them remained.
Xie Duo looked at him. “Do you want to leave me?”
Han Jiao thought for a moment and shook his head vigorously.
“Then why do you want to go with your parents?”
Han Jiao earnestly explained, “It’s getting dark, I have to go home.”
“Isn’t this your home?”
“Of course not,” Han Jiao raised an eyebrow and whispered, “How about I take you to my house to play?”
Xie Duo gave a wry smile and shook his head. “I don’t want to go home with strangers.”
Han Jiao looked puzzled. “Didn’t I tell you? My name is Han Jiao.”
“Then what is my name?”
“You haven’t told me yet! They all refused to tell me too.”
Xie Duo gave a bitter smile. “They dare not tell you. In this world, only one daring gentleman addresses me by my name, a Master made of cotton.”
“I dare too!”
Xie Duo raised an eyebrow and nodded. “Then say it.”
“But I don’t know your name!”
“You know.”
“I really don’t know!”
Xie Duo silently observed him for a moment, then suddenly leaned closer to his face, his lips coming near Han Jiao’s nose.
Han Jiao’s eyes widened. His heart raced, and he eagerly raised his chin, pursing his lips.
However, that kiss did not land.
Xie Duo’s captivating azure eyes locked onto his from up close. “You won’t refuse a kiss from a stranger?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why do you want me to kiss you?”
Han Jiao gazed at him, his eyes sparkling. He slowly tiptoed to the corner of Xie Duo’s lips, whispering in his ear, “Because I like you, but don’t tell anyone.”
Xie Duo was momentarily stunned, then lowered his gaze and chuckled softly. He leaned closer to Han Jiao’s ear and said, “Follow me.”
Han Jiao eagerly followed him into the inner chamber.
Xie Duo fetched a stack of papers from the top of a bookshelf, selected one, turned it around, and handed it to Han Jiao. “Read this text to me once, and I’ll tell you my name.”
Han Jiao joyfully accepted the paper, but a jumble of unfamiliar symbols and dots met his eyes. He stole a quick glance at Xie Duo, then quickly lowered his head to read the text carefully.
After a moment, Han Jiao solemnly said, “I don’t recognize a few characters. I’ll have to ask my father. I’ll come back in a little while to read it to you.”
Xie Duo smiled, gazing steadily at him.
Han Jiao, feeling somewhat guilty, lowered his head. “Is that alright? I’ll be back soon.”
Suddenly, his wrist was tugged, and he was pulled into Xie Duo’s embrace. The long-awaited kiss descended from the heavens.
Heart racing, Han Jiao wrapped his hand around the back of Xie Duo’s neck, closed his eyes, and eagerly responded.
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