The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 40

Two days later, Liang Yu indeed came.

The sky had just begun to lighten when Su Qingyu woke up. After breakfast and tidying up, the courtyard gate was knocked on.

Su Qingyu went to open the door. Liang Yu stood outside, his gaze sweeping Su Qingyu from head to toe. Seeing that the person was still fine, fair and pretty as ever, Liang Yu couldn’t help but curve his lips.

“Let’s go.”

Su Qingyu went back inside to tell his mother.

His mother held his hand and patted it lightly. “Go on, stay a few more days. Your mother can manage on her own.”

Su Qingyu nodded, his throat tightening a little.

He came out carrying his bundle. Liang Yu helped him onto the donkey cart.

Shuanzi drove the donkey to the foot of the mountain for the two of them; the rest of the way they had to walk themselves. Liang Yu carried a basket on his back with rice, flour, oil, and a few changes of clothes inside. Su Qingyu followed behind with a small bundle on his back, walking step by step.

The mountain path was still that same mountain path, winding and twisting. The vegetation on both sides was much lusher than in spring, so green it was nearly black. Wildflowers bloomed everywhere, not as dazzling as prized flowers, but scattered in little stars across the mountains, full of lively vitality. The birdsong was crisp and clear, calling back and forth, rising and falling through the forest.

The deep mountains were not lonely. All things lived free and joyful, following their own rules.

The mountain path was winding, and some places were quite steep. Liang Yu walked ahead clearing the way, turning back now and then to pull Su Qingyu along. Su Qingyu followed behind, stopping to rest every few steps, breathing hard, fine sweat beading on his forehead. Looking at the broad back ahead of him, he felt no fear of entering the wilderness; his heart was full of trust and the sense of safety Liang Yu gave him.

When they reached halfway up the mountain, Su Qingyu was a bit out of breath. Liang Yu stopped and turned back to look at him, pulling him close and taking a handkerchief from his chest to wipe his sweat.

“Tired?”

Su Qingyu shook his head. After Liang Yu finished wiping Su Qingyu’s sweat, he took a water flask from his basket and handed it to him. Su Qingyu took it and drank a mouthful; it was cool, with the sweetness of mountain spring water.

After resting a while, they continued walking and reached the wooden house before noon.

The wooden house was still that wooden house, with its tall courtyard wall and sturdy wooden gate. Pushing open the courtyard gate, the yard was kept clean, and the small vegetable patch was growing well, lush and green.

Pushing open the main room door, everything was neatly arranged. On the wooden table by the window, there was an extra coarse pottery vase with a few branches of wildflowers in it, red and white. They didn’t need much arranging; the mountain’s natural charm spoke for itself.

Su Qingyu looked at those few flowers, startled.

Liang Yu came up from behind, set down his basket, and said casually, “There are plenty of wildflowers on the mountain. I picked them on the way.”

Su Qingyu pressed his lips together, but he couldn’t suppress the smile on his face.

Liang Yu hugged him from behind. Su Qingyu was about to move when a hand seized his wrist, and he was pressed into that embrace, held fast. The embrace was burning hot, carrying the scent of the mountains and the familiar smell of soap.

Su Qingyu nuzzled against Liang Yu’s chest and went still obediently.

Liang Yu buried his face in Su Qingyu’s shoulder for a moment, then turned him around to face him. Those eyes were bright, full of his reflection.

Liang Yu smiled, lowered his head, and kissed those lips. Lip pressed to lip, rubbing together, carrying the warmth of sunlight.

The two of them held each other and kissed for a long time before parting, foreheads pressed together, breathing hard.

After a while, Liang Yu let go of him, got up, and went to put away the things they had brought. The rice, flour, and oil were put in their places, the clothes went into the cabinet, and he turned over the empty vegetable patch and scattered some seeds.

Su Qingyu helped nearby, passing things and lending a hand.

At noon they made a simple lunch. After eating, Liang Yu held Su Qingyu for a nap. Once the tiredness from climbing the mountain passed, Su Qingyu was back to his lively self.

Liang Yu held Su Qingyu and nuzzled him, then got out of bed, dressed, took Su Qingyu’s hand, and pulled him outside. “Come, I’ll take you somewhere.”

Out the courtyard gate, they walked along the mountain path deeper into the forest. The vegetation on both sides of the path was lush, wildflowers bloomed everywhere, and butterflies fluttered among the flowers. Su Qingyu was led by the hand; Liang Yu also slowed his pace, leisurely taking in the mountain scenery.

They hadn’t walked far when the view suddenly opened up.

It was a cliff, and at its edge was a large flat bluestone. Standing on the stone and looking down, the entire valley spread out before them. Layers upon layers of green, full of the earth’s vitality, that was nature in its most true and beautiful form.

A mountain stream flowed through the valley bottom, sparkling with scattered light in the sun. From time to time animals came to drink water, coming and going, going and coming, lively and busy, praising the mother of life.

Su Qingyu stared, spellbound. This was a mountain view Su Qingyu had never seen before. In the past, the mountain forest meant danger, hardship, and humiliation to Su Qingyu, representing the suffering he had to face alone after his father died.

Liang Yu stood behind him, both hands on his waist, afraid he might fall. His gaze never left Su Qingyu, not for an inch.

“Is it beautiful?”

Su Qingyu nodded, his eyes still fixed on the valley, reluctant to look away.

Liang Yu lowered his head, his lips touching the back of Su Qingyu’s neck, leaving a light kiss. That skin was so tender that it flushed a faint pink where it was kissed.

“I’ll bring you here often from now on.”

Su Qingyu turned back to look at him, his eyes bright. He wrapped his arms around Liang Yu’s neck and stood on tiptoe to offer a kiss.

The wind blew over, carrying the breath of the forest, that was the taste of freedom, the unbridled freshness of living.

Life should grow free and wild. The rules of propriety are nothing but the dregs defined by humans.

This world is too hard on young male lovers, but Liang Yu never thought Su Qingyu had given himself up to depravity. Liang Yu only felt heartache for all the suffering his little one had been through. Flesh is only the surface; what had always drawn Liang Yu was Su Qingyu’s unyielding soul, still standing strong after all his hardships.

The sun slowly slanted westward. The lovers leaned on each other, no longer apart.

In the evening, Liang Yu built a fire and made dinner. They hadn’t been eating long before the sky was completely dark.

It grew dark early in the mountains. Outside, insects were chirping, one call after another. Occasionally a bird would flap past, call twice, and then it was quiet again.

After washing up, Su Qingyu sat on the bed wrapped in a quilt waiting for Liang Yu. Listening to those sounds, he felt a little afraid, yet also an indescribable excitement.

Liang Yu came in after dumping the dirty water, got into bed, and pulled Su Qingyu into his arms to kiss him.

“Are you scared?”

Su Qingyu shook his head.

“What is there to be scared of? I’m here.”

Su Qingyu made a soft sound, burying his face in that warm chest, listening to Liang Yu’s strong heartbeat. The fear slowly faded.

The two of them held each other and lay down. Su Qingyu curled up in Liang Yu’s arms, then suddenly remembered something, his face reddening.

Here, there was no need to fear being loud.

Liang Yu looked down at that flushed face, curved his lips in a smile, and pinched him. “What are you thinking about?”

Su Qingyu shook his head, not daring to say.

Liang Yu stared at him for a few breaths, then didn’t waste time, flipping over and pressing down on him.

Biting that fair skin, his voice holding a smile, “Not saying is fine too.”

He kissed his way down.

That night, there truly was no need to fear being heard.

Soft, broken sounds leaked through the cracks in the wooden house’s windows, drifting into the forest, then covered by the chirping of insects. Outside it was pitch black; only the moon occasionally showed its face from behind the clouds, casting silver light on the wooden house’s roof.

A long time passed before the sounds in the room finally quieted.