Capítulo 31: First World: Gift or Love Token?
The appalling stench of rotting fish filled the kitchen just as Qie Ranzhe walked in with a beaming smile on his face. The smell was too unbearable with Machu's face turning green while gagging covering his nose, "Ran-ge you can't get into your new room smelling like this, the stench will linger," said Machu moving a few steps back. What shocked him the most was the indifference on Qie Ranzhe's face as though he couldn't smell it. He was happily smiling with the reeking odour emanating from his body.
"Mm," replied Qie Ranzhe still in a trance recalling the euphoric feeling of holding Lin Jingxie's hand. He yearned for more but had to restrain himself otherwise he would expose himself and not be able to do it again.
"I had the boys prepare a warm bath for you. This Lin Jingxie really came through for us, didn't he? I never thought I would ever have a warm bath my entire life," said Machu extremely grateful otherwise they would have spent another cold winter freezing to death.
Qie Ranzhe gently smiled before saying, "Yes, he's awesome, isn't he? I am going to take a bath then we can all have dinner together," before exiting the kitchen heading for the bathroom. By the time he was done, Qie Ranzhe felt so refreshed though still grinning like a fool putting on the clothes Manchu had brought to him. He couldn't stop himself from smiling even if he tried and it was all because of Lin Jingxie. What could he do to repay this man's kindness? He just didn't know.
A long table was set in the dining room with the ability to accommodate fifteen people. The room was nice and cool with eight boys sitting at the table patiently waiting for their older brother to arrive. As soon as he walked in, they were thrilled howling cheers at their elder brother for making this possible. Who could have thought they would have a home of their own with two meals a day and comfortable beds. To them, Lin Jingxie was truly a blessing in disguise.
"Ran-ge, big brother Jin really came through for us. The house is so warm and cosy and I get to have a hot bath every day," said one of the exuberant boys before slamming the table in excitement.
"No more excuses for some of you who hate bathing. No more using the icy cold river water as an excuse. I am talking about you Shuen," said Machu placing bowls of warm food in front of Qie Ranzhe. The boys broke down in laughter while Shuen tried to explain himself.
"Even Ran-ge's food is different from ours. Young Master Jin really treats Ran-ge well, I wish I had a friend like him," said another boy looking up in a daze when he felt a painful slap at the back of his head. "Ouch! What was that for?" he said with his brows knitted in a frown.
"Don't disrespect big brother Jin, if he was a girl he would have been your saozi (sister-in-law) so stop making googly eyes while talking about him," said Shufen half-jokingly.
Qie Ranzhe's heart skipped a beat when he heard the word saozi and couldn't hold back saying, "Who says he has to be a girl for you to call him saozi?" with his eyes half-open while placing a saucy rib in his mouth. Everyone including Machu froze in place loss of words, they suddenly didn't know how to react.
"Um.....Ran-ge this.....," stuttered Manchu stupefied.
"I like him but he doesn't know so all of you better keep your fucking mouths shut," he spoke in a threatening tone without even looking up at them.
"So the gift he gave you, is it a love token?" asked Xie Ruen who hadn't said anything the entire time. Qie Ranzhe put down his chopsticks befuddled looking at Xie Ruen as though waiting for him to explain further but the boy was as quiet as a mouse with a downcast expression.
Manchu could feel Qie Ranzhe's patience running out and so continued from were Xie Ruen left off. "Oh, you haven't gone to your room yet? An ironsmith delivered a gift for you earlier on. He said it was from young master Jin so I pl-," explained Machu before he was cut off by the sound of a chair scraping against the floor. Qie Ranzhe rushed out of the room with Machu following behind directing him on where to go because Qie Ranzhe didn't know where to go.
In a few strides, Qie Ranzhe had reached his new room but didn't have time to admire the exquisite decor scanning around for the so-called gift. Machu pointed at a familiar beautifully carved wooden case lying on the table. The same case that he had seen earlier on in Lin Jingxie's hands. His heart thumped hard against his chest as he got closer. He remembered how upset he had been when Lin Jin hid this case from him and even went as far as assuming Lin Jingxie had gotten the gift for his lover.
His legs grew weak with a shiver coursing down his spine, he exhaled trying to calm himself down before slowly opening the case. With the case open a dumbstruck Qie Ranzhe traced the scabbard with the tip of his finger in admiration. This was the first gift he had ever received, a gift from the subject of his affection.
He casually placed his fingers on his forehead with his elbow on the table partially covering his bloodshot eyes while letting out a mysterious low chuckle. "Don't think you can escape me when you pull such a sentimental stunt," he said before picking up the sword.
If Manchu said he wasn't terrified, he would be lying through his teeth. In all the years he had been by Qie Ranzhe's side, he had never seen him like this. The extreme obsession in his crystal clear eyes were a phenomena Machu had only seen when the guy was practising and now that same drive was aimed at Lin Jingxie. He silently lit a candle for Lin family as they would never have a grandchild from their eldest son.
Qie Ranzhe stood up and unsheathed the sword beaming with excitement like a child unwrapping his gift on Christmas. Machu was awe-inspired basking in Qie Ranzhe's glory, he looked like a fierce warrior as he swung the sword with ease. Each movement was flowing as graceful as a swan with potent strikes. Qie Ranzhe admired his gift tracing the engraved characters with his fingertip before sheathing it while chuckling in a low tone.
"I am going to see your saozi," he said before disappearing into the night heading towards the Lin Mansion.
Machu finally recovered from his daze yelling after him, "But it's late!" His words fell on deaf ears as Qie Ranzhe had already disappeared.
NEW ADVENTURE
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