LC chapter 1

 

Winter in Beijing is always bitterly cold. When it’s not snowing, the wind blows sharply against your face. Yuanzi wrapped his cotton jacket tightly around himself and took shelter at the gate of Yenching University. His breath, a puff of white, was instantly blown away by the wind.

After waiting a moment, a figure ran out of the gate. The person looked like a student: thin and frail, wearing a gray-blue satin cotton robe and a light gray scarf. The scarf was wrapped around his neck, nearly covering half of his face.

Yuanzi waved at him. “Lin Ruan, over here!”

Lin Ruan ran over, adjusted his scarf, and asked, “Brother Yuanzi, is there something you need from me?”

With his hands in his pockets, Yuanzi replied, “Uncle Tong sent me to call you back. The master sent a telegram saying he’d be here tonight.”

Lin Ruan’s eyes widened with surprise. “Didn’t he say he’d arrive later tomorrow?”

Yuanzi said, “Earlier than usual. I don’t know. Uncle Tong was really anxious and told you to hurry back.”

Lin Ruan rubbed his face and asked, “Do I have to go back now?”

Yuanzi nodded.

Lin Ruan hesitated for a moment, then said, “Then I’ll go back and ask for time off.”

“Hurry up.”

Lin Ruan responded and turned to run back. On the way, he ran into his classmate, Meng Zhen.

Lin Ruan ran, panting. “I have something to do at home, so I have to go back. Please ask for leave for me!”

Meng Zhen grabbed him. “There’s a speech competition this afternoon, and you have to give a speech. You’re not going?”

“I can’t go!” Lin Ruan waved at Meng Zhen and ran away. “I really have to go back.”

Lin Ruan followed Yuanzi back to the Lan Mansion.

Two white walls jutted out on either side of the gate. Tall ginkgo trees lined the road, now bare and devoid of leaves. Beyond the gate, a garden came into view, and a modern, Western-style house was visible. A gravel path skirted the flowers and trees until they reached the entrance.

The gate was open. Tong Bo stood at the door, directing the servants to clean the house.

He was an elderly man with a serious demeanor. He wore an elegant black satin jacket with a double-breasted front. A small pocket watch hung from a silver chain around his neck.

When he saw Lin Ruan return, Tong Bo frowned and said, “Master will be back tonight. He’ll love the cherry meat you make. Go help Aunt Cao in the kitchen.”

“Yes,” Lin Ruan agreed, lowering his head. He walked past Tong Bo and headed inside.

Seeing him run away, Tong Bo scolded him again for having no sense of propriety.

Lin Ruan’s room was on the first floor. It was a small room with a bathroom. The furnishings were simple: a bed, a desk, and a mahogany[mfn]Mahogany is a straight-grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species of the genus Swietenia, indigenous to the Americas and part of the pantropical chinaberry family, Meliaceae.[/mfn] cabinet with two gilded chests on top. A few books were scattered on the desk—the materials Lin Ruan had been looking for while preparing for the speaking competition.

Lin Ruan opened the window and a cold draft hit his face. He quickly closed it, changed into a light blue jacket, and went to help in the kitchen.

Cherry meat is made by dicing meat, adding seasonings, and stewing it in a pot with fresh cherries. It simmers on the stove for five or six hours, blending the color and flavor of the cherries with the meat to create a heavenly delicacy.

Aunt Cao set up a stove for Lin Ruan and told him to stand by it and control the heat.

Lin Ruan moved a small stool and leaned against the stove to warm himself.

This was Lin Ruan’s tenth year living at the Lan Mansion. Before that, he had spent two years at the Prince Chun Residence. Compared to the deep courtyards of the Prince Chun Residence, Lin Ruan preferred the exquisite Lan Mansion.

Zhan Xi, a descendant of the Qing Dynasty, was the owner of the Lan Mansion. Zhan Xi was his given name. He disliked mentioning his last name, and over time, no one mentioned it anymore.

At seventeen, Zhan Xi traveled to Germany to study and later visited various Western countries, a journey that lasted five years.

As the sky darkened, Uncle Tong sent someone to pick up Zhan Xi from the station while the rest of the group stayed at the Lan Mansion.

The cherry meat was almost done. Uncle Tong glanced at Lin Ruan as he emerged from the kitchen and called him over.

Lin Ruan walked over and stood before Tong Bo. Tong Bo looked him up and down for a moment, then said, “Go inside, clean up, and put on the clothes I gave you yesterday.”

Lin Ruan agreed, having learned his lesson this time. He took two steps back before slowly turning and walking away.

He took a hot shower, thoroughly washing himself clean, and changed into the clothes Tong Bo had given him.

It was a moon-white, long robe, embroidered with pale green patterns and topped with a sky-blue vest trimmed with soft fur at the collar. Made of the finest silk, the clothes made Lin Ruan look like someone from a wealthy family.

It was getting dark, and the streetlights outside came on, lighting up the living room. Uncle Tong led a group of servants and stood on the steps at the entrance, all waiting for Zhan Xi to return.

The cold wind blew in gusts, but under Uncle Tong’s watchful eye, no one dared make any unnecessary movements. He was a man of strict discipline and wouldn’t allow anyone to hunch their neck or stamp their feet.

Lin Ruan stared blankly at the warm yellow glow of the streetlight.

The sound of an approaching car made Uncle Tong perk up. A moment later, the car passed the garden and stopped at the entrance.

Uncle Tong hurried forward as the car door opened and a tall figure stepped out.

Zhan Xi stepped out of the car wearing a well-tailored suit and coat. Compared to Lin Ruan’s delicate features, Zhan Xi’s face could be described as handsome, especially his eyes. They were so deep and penetrating that they seemed to conceal countless things. These days, people prefer men who appear melancholy and refined. Zhan Xi was completely different. His features were stern and far from refined. He exuded a reserved air and was anything but melancholy.

Yet, he was undoubtedly a very charming man.

Lin Ruan was about to step forward when he met Zhan Xi’s gaze and stopped in his tracks.

Another person got out of the car, went around to the back, and retrieved their luggage. It was Tong Bo’s son, Shi Ning, who had accompanied Zhan Xi on his trip overseas.

Everyone waiting at the door greeted Zhan Xi. He waved, walked past Lin Ruan, and entered the house.

Tong Bo followed him inside, frowning as he passed Lin Ruan; he was displeased with his stunned expression.

Zhan Xi entered the house and removed his gloves and coat. Tong Bo nudged Lin Ruan, who quickly stepped forward to take them.

Tong Bo asked, “Master, have you eaten yet? There’s food in the kitchen. Please help yourself.”

Zhan Xi shook his head and said, “I ate on the train. It’s getting late. I’ll go upstairs and rest. We’ll discuss the rest tomorrow.”

His voice was deep and hoarse yet carried a certain laziness and carefree dignity. Lin Ruan thought that if a student spoke to a teacher like that, he would definitely be kept after class as punishment.

Zhan Xi walked up the stairs, then suddenly stopped and said to Shi Ning, “You don’t have to come with me. You haven’t been back for so long. Go talk to Uncle Tong.”

“Yes,” Shi Ning agreed. Lin Ruan took the luggage from Zhan Xi’s hands and followed him upstairs.

Zhan Xi’s room was on the second floor. The door opened into a living room furnished with a sofa and a coffee table. The study was on one side, and a door leading to the bedroom was on the other.

Zhan Xi sat down on the sofa while Lin Ruan went to the bedroom to pack his luggage. A short while later, Lin Ruan finished and stood at the doorway looking at Zhan Xi.

“Everything’s packed. Young Master, do you have any other instructions?”

Zhan Xi raised his eyelids and glanced at him. “Put on some hot water. I need a bath.”

Lin Ruan agreed and walked into the bathroom. He rolled up his sleeves and filled the tub with hot water. He held up his shirt with one hand, feeling a little sad. What he wore didn’t matter; he was just a servant. This outfit wasn’t as comfortable as his blue cloth jacket.

Lin Ruan’s thoughts drifted away. When he turned around, he saw Zhan Xi leaning against the bathroom door, watching him. Lin Ruan flinched subconsciously.

“What are you afraid of? I could still eat you,” Zhan Xi said in a flat voice.

Lin Ruan didn’t dare say a word. Zhan Xi began unbuttoning his shirt and lazily said, “Get out.”

Lin Ruan left Zhan Xi’s room and breathed a sigh of relief.

As he turned around, he saw Tong Bo standing by the stairs. Tong Bo walked over with a frown on his face. “Keep your back and shoulders straight. Don’t hunch over.”

Lin Ruan instinctively straightened up. Tong Bo gave him a few more instructions while still frowning. Lin Ruan complied.

Back in his room, Lin Ruan changed into another set of clothes. This time, he wore a thin silk dress. The moon-white garment fell loosely on his youthful, frail frame. Dressed in this outfit, he walked up the stairs and into Zhan Xi’s room. He selected a thick rug beside the bed and knelt down.

The sound of running water intermittently drifted from the bathroom, and Lin Ruan plucked at the carpet, bored.

After a while, the sound of running water stopped and Zhan Xi emerged from the bathroom. He was wearing black silk pajamas. His casual and indifferent gaze was quite oppressive.

Lin Ruan instinctively straightened up. “Uncle Tong asked me to serve the young master.”

Lin Ruan had been sold to Prince Chun’s mansion because he was destined to be Zhan Xi’s child bride. However, Lin Ruan was of humble birth. Everyone in the palace knew that he wasn’t even a concubine, let alone a legitimate consort. At best, he could only be a concubine.

After the emperor’s death, Zhan Xi and several others moved out of the palace, and no one mentioned the legitimate or concubine consorts again. Only Uncle Tong, adhering to the old rules, remembered that Lin Ruan was Zhan Xi’s servant.

Lin Ruan lowered his eyes. He could feel Zhan Xi’s gaze on him, sizing him up and down.

He stiffened, unconsciously clutching the carpet.

After a long pause, Zhan Xi averted his gaze and said, “Go warm the bed.”

Lin Ruan paused, “Yes.”

He stood up, climbed onto the bed, and tucked himself into the quilt.

The sun-dried quilt was fluffy and smelled faintly of the pine trees in the backyard. Lin Ruan rubbed his hands together for a long time until they and his feet warmed up.

He lay on the side of the bed, feeling drowsy after lying there for so long. Suddenly, the bed sank. Zhan Xi had lifted the quilt and climbed in.

Lin Ruan jolted awake, but before he could move, Zhan Xi reached out and turned off the bedside light. Lin Ruan’s vision darkened instantly.

In the darkness, a hand landed on his neck and slowly stroked his collarbone. Then, the hand unbuttoned his shirt and caressed his chest and back. Zhan Xi’s movements were reckless yet devoid of any erotic undertones. Only the warmth of his palms was transmitted to Lin Ruan unimpeded.

Lin Ruan curled up further and further, feeling like a figurine, allowing Zhan Xi to play with him at will.