The rain grew heavier, thick fog spread through the mountains, and cold winds occasionally rushed into the cave. Fu Shen had lost too much blood and his body temperature was low, his lips turning white from the cold. Yan Xiaohan moved him closer to the fire and sat on the outside, blocking the wind for him.
Fu Shen felt touched. He had never truly experienced what it was like to have an older brother looking out for him. But in their current predicament, Yan Xiaohan perfectly filled that role.
Setting aside prejudices about status, he was steady, calm, considerate, and treated Fu Shen like a kind and mature older brother.
He was neither the “extremely vicious” government hawk he had imagined nor the flattering and servile person rumored to have willingly accepted a eunuch as an adoptive father.
Fu Ting had always taught him to look beyond appearances and not believe rumors. Fu Shen stole a glance at Yan Xiaohan’s side profile, with downcast eyes and lowered brows, thinking: Between the imperial guard ready to draw swords at a moment’s notice and this young man sheltering him, which one is your true self?
Fu Shen was drowsy and obedient, doing whatever was asked. Yan Xiaohan put on a half-dry inner garment and pulled Fu Shen into his embrace, covering him with two outer robes, using his own body temperature to warm him up.
Yan Xiaohan held Fu Shen’s waist with one hand and shoulders with the other, protecting him from falling. Fu Shen reached out to hug his waist, resting his cheek on his shoulder, finding a comfortable position and finally settling down.
“Are you still cold?” “Not cold. But I’m hungry.” “…” “No food, no drink, cold and hungry, the two of us in this situation, it’s all your fault.” “Yes, my fault.” “You were supposed to catch the fugitive, and now what? The fugitive wasn’t caught, and you were charged by a wild boar… Will you be punished when you go back?” “No.” “Why?” “Because I have an adoptive father. No one dares to punish me.”
After a long time, he softly said: “I have no father.”
After a long time, he softly said: “I have no father.”
