Ning Zhi lowered his eyes, “Do you think, with their looks and being helpless, they could survive in the Beauty Pavilion without being harmed or insulted?”
Fei’er was somewhat annoyed. He meant to address the matter between the young master and the owner. The little widow had only been touched by the owner, who was also secretly protecting him, reducing the young master’s chances of marrying the owner.
How could the young master not care at all? Fei’er shook his head, thinking the young master must care. He couldn’t let the young master be alone forever and needed to ensure his marriage. Suddenly, a smile appeared on his face. “The young master actually still has feelings for the owner; otherwise, he wouldn’t observe so carefully.”
Ning Zhi shook his head helplessly, aware that Fei’er was scheming again. Marriage? After everything that had happened, what marriage? Only a calm heart could help one live better.
Feeling drowsy, Ning Zhi closed his eyes and leaned back against the soft cushion. Fei’er thoughtfully arranged things for him. “Young master has been busy all night and is very tired. Rest well now.”
Once Ning Zhi fell asleep, Fei’er looked at his weary face, filled with heartache. His young master should have been enjoying a life of luxury but had fallen to this state, working in the pleasure house at night. Fei’er teared up, covering Ning Zhi with a coat, resolved to get the young master married.
The wind blew softly across the dilapidated courtyard, with a few withered leaves spinning as they fell.
Su Xi tightened the porcelain bottle in her hand, her eyes reddened as she took a deep breath and walked inside. “Xiao Lian, the wind is strong outside. Let’s go in.”
Xiao Lian looked up at Su Xi’s reddened eyes and lowered her head. “At least that woman has some conscience.”
Feeling the pain in her body, Su Xi smiled faintly. “Actually, she’s kind to us.”
This mention of “kind” made Xiao Lian angry. “Not at all! She knows your body is weak yet always makes you pass out. She doesn’t marry you and only comes a few times a month, not caring about you.”
“Xiao Lian, I’ve told you that as long as you can marry into a good family, that’s enough. Don’t mention this anymore. She won’t marry me, and I won’t marry her.” Su Xi patted Xiao Lian’s head and sighed. “I’m happy that she can come here a few times a month.”
Xiao Lian stared blankly. “Brother, you’re not in love with that woman, are you?”
Su Xi lowered his eyes without speaking. Although she only came to do that and then left after paying, she had been good to them. She provided enough silver for their living and often sent people to bring things over. Those silver pieces allowed them to live comfortably and save as well.
She never prevented him from serving other clients, but he was unwilling to, not wanting other women to touch him. He waited for her arrival every month. Although he always felt sore and in pain after waking up, during the night when Jin Yu was with him, intense pleasure flowed through his body, making him moan in ways he had never experienced before.
Just thinking about Jin Yu made Su Xi flush.
Xiao Lian noticed Su Xi’s silence and redness, exclaiming, “Brother, you really like that woman? Every time she comes, she’s cruel to you. I hear the strange sounds you make and want to rush in and pull her away. If you hadn’t stopped me, I would have chased her away long ago.”
Su Xi’s face grew hotter. Did he really cry out that loudly? Xiao Lian had heard it?!
Xiao Lian took a deep breath, “What’s so good about her? Although the Jin family has many inns and teahouses, she runs a pleasure house like Huamei Lou and also operates gambling houses. How could you like such a lowly woman?” Her tone was full of dissatisfaction.
“Xiao Lian,” Su Xi said, clearly angered, “Don’t be hostile towards her in the future.”
Although she runs pleasure houses and gambling houses, we’ve never seen her do anything bad.”
“But people used to say she was utterly evil. Weren’t you afraid when we first met her?” Xiao Lian pouted, looking aggrieved.
“That was before. She’s been good to us since then.” Su Xi lowered his eyes. After being expelled from the Chen family, he lived a destitute life with Xiao Lian. When she fell ill and they lacked money for medicine, he had no choice but to come to Meiren Lou as a hidden prostitute. The first client was Miss Jin, and he was terrified, having heard rumors of her wickedness.
It was his first time serving a client and being touched by a woman. He was scared, trembling as she touched him. Her eyes were filled with lust, moving ruthlessly on his body. It was painful, and he thought he might die. In despair, he passed out from the pain. When he awoke, he saw Xiao Lian crying beside the bed. He tried to get up but found he couldn’t move, lying there for an entire day. His gaze was vacant, feeling his body was no longer his own. Despair filled his heart. The next day, he forced himself out of bed, already exhausted.
Jin Yu, from the landowner Jin family, believed he would no longer have contact with Miss Jin, but someone brought items from her. She began visiting several times each month, leaving enough silver coins for his living expenses. Each visit resulted in him passing out, but his body felt less painful and even experienced an unexpected pleasure that made him moan, leading to feelings of shame and remorse. Despite his status as a despised male prostitute, he looked forward to her visits, wanting his body to belong to her alone.
“Brother, do you really like that woman?” Xiao Lian’s question broke Su Xi out of his thoughts. He sighed, “Xiao Lian, don’t ask such questions. She is just my patron.”
Xiao Lian sensed more to the story. His brother’s dazed anticipation before her arrival suggested deeper feelings. Although the visits left him in pain, joy remained in his eyes. Xiao Lian pouted, “If you like her, then marry her.”
Su Xi was stunned, “Xiao Lian, don’t…”
“You like her, don’t you? You’re still young.”
“You can’t remain unmarried forever.” Xiao Lian looked at Su Xi with hope.
Su Xi’s eyes dimmed. He was an unloved illegitimate child, a widower who had lost his wife and father, and a male prostitute despised by society. With such an identity, how could he ever marry, especially into the famous Jin family? Two years ago, when the Chen family’s daughter came to bring luck, no good family’s son would want to marry a disabled person. His mother had sent him, an unwanted child, to the Chen family for the sake of benefits. At twelve, after a brief marriage, his wife died immediately. He was almost beaten to death by the Chen family and thrown out barely alive.
To save face, his mother refused to let this “money-losing goods” return home and even threw out his younger brother. Now fourteen, he had long lost hope for marriage. He waited for his solitary patron to visit monthly, lying in bed for her gratification. Although he liked her, he had given up hope of marriage long ago.
He wished Xiao Lian would remember him and visit occasionally. Now twelve, he hoped Xiao Lian could marry into a good family.
Xiao Lian pulled Su Xi’s clothes, “Although I don’t like her, if you like her, that’s enough. As long as she can marry you, I won’t be hostile.”
Su Xi sighed, “Let’s go inside.”
Suddenly, chicken calls came from outside. Xiao Lian looked at the delivered chickens and ducks and said, “That woman knows you’re in poor health and needs some nourishment.”
“Xiao Lian, show some respect. Call her Miss Jin,” Su Xi said, feeling warmth from Jin Yu’s kindness. No one had cared for them like she did, and he appreciated it.
