Warm beams of afternoon sunlight filtered through the window, alighting softly on the bed and glinting off of the spread of silver hair scattered on the sheets. An errant ray of golden light brushed the ends of silvery lashes, making the closed eyelids they extended from tremble. The air was pleasantly warm and steeped in tranquility when Yin Xue slowly awakened from his sleep, opening his eyes blearily. The swirling of colors in his irises seemed almost motionless, still lazy with drowsiness.

Yin Xue yawned into the back of a hand and blinked, trying to clear his mind. His arm extended to check the other side of the bed habitually and he noted the absence of his mate with displeasure. Where had his Ah-Quan run off to?

Getting up from the bed, Yin Xue put on a single outer robe over his inner clothes and set out, not bothering to dress in any additional layers, brush his hair, or wear shoes. He was no longer a servant here, so he saw no need to constrain himself with human conventions all that much.

His bare feet silently gliding over the stone floors, Yin Xue headed in the direction he sensed his mate. The servants who came across his path looked at him with complex gazes and bowed deeply. He was after all not a contractual beast bound to the household anymore but someone who would one day marry into the family as their young master’s husband. And so, he was accorded the due respect.

Yawning once again and blinking off the wetness welling in his half-lidded eyes, Yin Xue ignored them. His usual indifference was underscored by indolence as he moved with liquid grace. He didn’t care one whit about what these humans thought of him. All that mattered was his mate’s opinions.

Two weeks ago, Ming Quan had been cured of the Suixin curse after he and Yin Xue mated. As promised, an ecstatic Ming Yan had transferred Yin Xue’s contract to his son, who had promptly annulled it and set his beloved free. But as if nothing had changed, Yin Xue continued to stick to Ming Quan’s side. Despite not being a servant of the household anymore, Yin Xue still called Ming Quan as Young Master sometimes, though it sounded more like a playful nickname and was more often than not used in private in a teasing way.

Ming Quan had taken up his portion of work again, acting as the dutiful heir of Ming household once more. Except for him now having a lover to share his days happily with, his life had returned to how it had been before. With Yin Xue’s assistance, he’d even started building up the weight and muscle he had lost because of the curse. Yin Xue helped him exercise by teaching him self-defense moves and fed him plentiful of nutritious food and health enhancing tonics that he brewed. And every night, Yin Xue took especial pleasure in intimately learning all the progress Ming Quan’s body was making in building up muscle.

These days, without his duties to the household keeping him busy, Yin Xue had become a freeloader. However, he still remembered the last line he’d stealthily once read in that letter his beloved had written him while under the curse:

I wish I could live longer just so that I can taste your cooking every day.

That sentence had stayed with Yin Xue. Since he had the time to spare now, Yin Xue made sure to cook at least one meal for Ming Quan every day to fulfill that wish of his. Other than that, he helped with domestic chores for his beloved as before, but otherwise spent his days lazing around waiting for his mate to be free from work when he wasn’t spending time with him.

Of course, if Ming Quan asked or the need arose, Yin Xue was prepared to employ his various skills for the benefit of the household. But whenever Ming Yan asked the same thing of him, pleading with Yin Xue to work with him like before and reduce his burden a bit, Yin Xue would in return ask exorbitant fees for his services, sending the dejected patriarch of the Ming household slinking away while muttering grievances. Ming Quan felt both sorry for his father and amused at Yin Xue’s way of treating his former master, but he didn’t intend to ask Yin Xue to do anything he didn’t want to.

After the undoing of the contract, Yin Xue seemed to remain his same indifferent and disdainful self with Ming Yan. Nothing appeared to have changed much except for the difference in address and the lack of bowing on Yin Xue’s part. Ming Yan also kept freely talking to Yin Xue as before, ignoring Yin Xue’s mild scorn and aloofness to treat him as a trusted family member as usual.

However, though Yin Xue had been able to maintain his distance from Ming Yan when he was contracted to him as his servant, now that he was a part of the family and witnessed from up close how much care his former master lavished on Ming Quan, he inevitably began softening towards Ming Yan despite keeping up a hard exterior. Of course, Yin Xue would never admit it no matter how much a delighted Ming Quan teased him about it.

In this way, Yin Xue’s and Ming Quan’s days together went on blissfully.

As his mind thus wandered while thinking about his new life, Yin Xue arrived at his destination. He pushed open the door in front of him to intrude into the midst of a meeting.

The room on the other side of the door was well-appointed with priceless pieces of art displayed casually. A set of beautifully carved and sturdy set of table and chairs sat in the middle. Ming Yan was seated at one end of the rectangular table with a tired-looking Ming Quan directly opposite to him. Four other people occupied the other seats in between them, two on either side of the table. Three of these people were comprised of elders of the family and a business associate. The fourth one was Ming Jun—Ming Quan’s half-brother—who sat by him while looking ragged and run to the ground.

Ming Jun had once wanted to steal Ming Quan’s position as the heir and obtain Yin Xue as a servant. He was also the one who had spilled boiling tea on Ming Quan’s curse mark covered hand to see him suffer. When Ming Yan heard that his second-born son had wanted to hurt his own brother this way while he was already being tormented by the curse, he had been furious. But under Ming Quan’s request, Yin Xue had persuaded Ming Yan to restrain himself from kicking out this malicious son of his while Ming Quan was still suffering under the curse.

After Ming Quan was cured, he decided that rather than Ming Jun being disowned, he would like for his half-brother to be punished by having to become Ming Quan’s assistant. Since Ming Jun wanted to become the heir so badly, he should share his burdens and directly see what all work the position he coveted entailed. To avoid him working halfheartedly or tampering with anything important, a team of family elders and tutors would look at Ming Jun’s work at the end of each day, reporting their observations directly to Ming Yan. Due to this, Ming Jun couldn’t slack off and was forced to bear his share of the burden fully.

An heir’s work in helping the head of household was not at all easy. It was arduous, stressful, and required a lot of delicacy along with much effort to be put in. Despite being saddled with just a part of it, Ming Jun felt as if his head was spinning with exhaustion at the end of each day. He couldn’t help but bitterly bemoan his fate. He had only sought the position of heir after being encouraged by his mother so that he could use it and bring prestige to his branch of the family and also so that he could live an easy life. But who would have thought that the position of heir would require such grueling work?! He didn’t even care about his ambitions by now; he only wanted his elder brother to take a damned day off so that Ming Jun could get some rest too!

“Younger Brother, can you please give me those deeds for that seaside store?” Ming Quan’s voice called, sounding firm and decisive. “Ah, and please crosscheck the outgoing cargo logs of the Wind Dragon from Xuanling’s port with the one from Jinxing’s docks. I’m suspecting some discrepancies.”

Ming Jun meekly gave him the documents he asked and made a notation into his own schedule to check the shipping reports later. Facing this elder brother of his that he’d envied so much now calmly dealing with work that was significantly larger than his own, Ming Jun’s bellyful of unspoken grievances could only be swallowed down.

“You seem busy,” a light voice observed, floating into the room.

Ming Quan lifted his head from the papers he had been surveying and saw that the others had focused their attention on the doorway behind him. He turned to see Yin Xue striding towards him and the frown creasing Ming Quan’s brows unconsciously smoothened.

Though he looked unkempt, Yin Xue’s face bore his usual cool and aloof look as he gracefully glided into the room.

Before, Ming Quan had felt that Yin Xue was similar to those elusive deities who were above petty mortal concerns and disdained mixing with those who wore the dust of the secular world. But now, after witnessing his beloved’s warm smiles in private and being regularly bathed in his little acts of affection, Ming Quan’s understanding of him shifted. He felt that Yin Xue was an endearingly proud beast who acted arrogant and distant like a spoiled prince on the outside, but hid a cunning, petty, and sometimes childish personality within.

Though those who weren’t close to Yin Xue might find it difficult to get along with him, Ming Quan realized that making him happy was surprisingly simple. All he had to do was spend time with him, let him kill something, or cuddle together. It only strengthened his view of his usually calm and sharp beloved as an unexpectedly adorable and intriguing being. Ming Quan realized that the more aspects he discovered about this lover of his, the deeper he fell for him.

Shaking off these thoughts, Ming Quan asked, “Yin Xue, did you sleep well?”

Yin Xue gave a nod and came over to wrap his arms around Ming Quan, making the young man smile. In a quiet voice, he spoke, “When I woke up, you were gone. I missed you, so I came over.”

Ming Quan’s smile widened and turned indulgent.

Shooting a satisfied glance at them, Ming Yan peacefully continued his work with the business associate, but the two elders from the family looked at the pair intently. They all knew how essential Yin Xue’s presence had been in raising their household to its current status, so they were all too happy that he had chosen to marry into the family, irrevocably tying himself to the future head of the household. Not only would this make the heir impervious to dirty schemes like poisoning or unpredictable things like sickness, it would also mean that Yin Xue would most likely protect the household his beloved mate dwelled in with more enthusiasm than before.

With shining eyes, a grey-haired elder stroked his long and thin beard while asking, “Young Master, It gladdens me to see you and your lover doing well. But some of us have been curious, when are you planning to bring some children into the family?”

Yin Xue froze, his gaze turning icy. Was this person suggesting to his Ah-Quan about surrogacy? He wouldn’t accept it! He wouldn’t stand for his mate sleeping with anyone else, even if it was just for the sake of creating an offspring!

Ming Quan answered the elder’s nosy query casually, “No, we haven’t discussed about adopting children from the branch families yet. Yin Xue and I have plenty of time for decisions like those. I do not plan to hurry.”

The gray-haired elder nodded. “Quite so, quite so. Young Master and your lover will have more than a lifetime’s duration to decide.”

Yin Xue’s anger settled and the tense arms wrapped around Ming Quan relaxed. Knowing what his beloved had been worried about, Ming Quan turned his face away to hide his amusement.

The other elder, a man with a bald head and a sleek black goatee, spoke up, “Young Master, what about marriage? You have given the matter some thought, I hope?” The sooner Yin Xue was tied to their household, the better!

Ming Quan gave him a small smile. “Yes, I have. I and Yin Xue are indeed planning on marrying. But before that, we will work to strengthen our relationship first. I’m young and we are in no hurry.”

Satisfaction gleamed in Yin Xue’s eyes. As far as he was concerned, it was enough that they had already finished the mating ritual and bound themselves to each other for life. The human ceremony was only to reiterate that he and his beloved had pledged their lives to one another to the other, dumber humans.

Yin Xue was suddenly brought out of his thoughts by a soft cough. He peered worriedly at Ming Quan as the younger man rubbed his throat absentmindedly, his gaze drawn back to the papers in front of him.

Yin Xue touched Ming Quan’s throat with gentle fingers. “Does it hurt?”

Ming Quan blinked and looked up from the papers. “I suppose…it’s a little dry.”

“Would you like something to drink? Maybe some warm tea?”

Ming Quan nodded.

Yin Xue immediately turned to Ming Jun with glinting eyes and commanded coldly, “You, go and get your elder brother some tea.”

Stopping his inward complaining about all the work he was being made to do, Ming Jun looked at Yin Xue with barely suppressed grouchiness. “Why should I?”

Arching a brow imperiously, Yin Xue returned, “Aren’t you his assistant? Then assist him by bringing him some tea to wet his throat.”

More aggrieved than ever, Ming Jun once again swallowed all his protests and slunk away to do as told. He couldn’t help but grumble to himself about how he couldn’t even make the tea blisteringly hot as Yin Xue had done before in retaliation. After all, his father and the others were right here, watching and assessing him.

Ming Quan shook his head affectionately at his beloved’s pettiness. But as his head sent out a throb in result, he couldn’t help but grimace and massage his temples.

“What happened?” Yin Xue asked with concern. “Ah-Quan, does your head ache too?”

Ming Quan squeezed out a smile. “I had to get up very early this morning, that’s all.”

Brushing away a strand of hair from the young man’s face, Yin Xue murmured, “Ah-Quan, if you had work early today, why didn’t you stop yesterday night after taking me once? You had no need to further strain yourself by allowing me to do it to you after that.”

The clack of brushes being dropped in surprise sounded in the room, but the couple easily ignored it.

Pressing his lips together, Ming Quan forced down a blush and replied, “I got swept away and didn’t want to stop yesterday night. But it’s alright, I’m already used to working without sleep for a few days at a time.”

Yin Xue narrowed his eyes. “Then get un-used to it. It’s not good for the body or mind. Take a break for now and rest a bit. Maybe even have a nap in a quiet place.”

Not yet used to his lover’s kind care, Ming Quan felt both hesitant and pleased.

Sensing him softening, Yin Xue turned to Ming Yan. “Ma― Father-in-law, please allow the young master to rest for a bit.”

Having been looking at the pair’s interactions with interest and having heard everything, Ming Yan readily agreed. “Yes, this son of mine has worked hard enough for today. Quan-er, go and rest with Yin Xue.”

Ming Quan bent a little more under their combined convincing, but still remained uncertain. When he had been under the curse a couple of weeks ago, he had ended up having the others work harder to complete his share of the work as well. He felt guilty and felt that he owed them more effort for it. Could he really take it easy now?

Thinking on the same vein but with a different perspective, Yin Xue spoke, “Ah-Quan, you were under the curse only a couple of weeks ago. You shouldn’t strain yourself so much so soon. What if it impacts your recovery?”

Ming Quan made a token protest, “I-I would like to rest…but I can’t be irresponsible and burden the others with my unfinished tasks. I have a time consuming set of paperwork to finish by tomorrow. It can’t be delayed. But it would be unfair of me to bother someone to deal with such a tedious task.”

Ming Yan had just opened his mouth to offer to take over his son’s work regardless of his protests when the door opened and Ming Jun entered with a tray of tea.

Yin Xue’s eyes brightened with glee as he immediately said, “Then let your brother handle it for you. Isn’t that what assistants are for? In a way, it is his duty to do what you don’t have the time to.”

Ming Quan looked thoughtful, seriously considering it.

Ming Jun froze, his eyes widening with a bad premonition. “W-What? What do you want me to handle?”

Holding out a thick stack of papers, Ming Quan looked at Ming Jun hopefully. “Brother, would you mind filling out all these permits? The last day to submit them is tomorrow. The submission office closes by midday, so you might have to burn the midnight oil.”

Ming Jun hurriedly opened his mouth to refuse only to be interrupted by his father accepting on his behalf. “Since Ming Jun is still inexperienced, this will be a good opportunity to familiarize him with that sort of work while also teaching him perseverance,” Ming Yan stated. The truth was that he really didn’t want to deal with that paperwork on top of his own tasks, so he easily delegated it to his younger son. Well, unless the punishment was severe like this, his son wouldn’t learn from his mistakes, would he?

Seeing it thus decided for him, Ming Jun couldn’t help but want to weep. It seemed that his brother finally got a chance to rest as he had wanted, but how come instead of also resting, he now had to work both of their portions?! Was this what hell was like? Feeling that the world was tormenting him, Ming Jun bitterly regretted his past actions. He really shouldn’t have coveted his brother’s troublesome position or antagonized that petty beast Yin Xue! He wished he could go back in time and slap his own mouth swollen so that he wouldn’t have gotten himself into trouble like this! How he wished he had been contended with his leisurely life before!

Uncaring of the despairing look Ming Jun was giving the thick stack of papers in front of him, Yin Xue happily led his mate out to relax and spend time with.

∘━❁━∘

Without exchanging a word, Yin Xue and Ming Quan went to the Chrysanthemum Courtyard and its back porch that had the view of a field of chrysanthemums blooming in brilliant colors.

Just like he had done a few weeks ago, Ming Quan settled comfortably on the low wall, his legs extended in front of him and his back leaning against a pillar. Yin Xue stood beside him, his lips bent into a soft, nostalgic smile. His silver hair gleamed in the afternoon light, almost blinding Ming Quan.

When compared to the last time he had been here sitting like this while burdened with the Suixin curse, Ming Quan reflected how his circumstances this time were unthinkably different. Not only had the incurable curse been cured, he had also managed to receive the affections of this once-distant person that he had pined for from afar. Before, he had never talked much with this person, much less dare to seduce him. But now…

Reaching out, Ming Quan lifted a lock of Yin Xue’s long hair and studied it curiously without fear of angering him. The silver strands were smooth enough to feel slippery in his hand. He could so casually touch something that had once seemed beyond his reach even while hanging right by his face.

Yin Xue watched his lover’s fascination with his hair with loving indulgence. “Is it that interesting that it’s distracting you from appreciating the beauty of the garden like usual?”

Ming Quan let the silky strands slip from his fingers and smiled up at his lover. “What makes you thinking it isn’t your beauty that I want to appreciate here?”

Yin Xue chuckled. Who would have known that his usually staid lover was such a sweet-talker? Feeling charmed, Yin Xue cupped his beloved’s cheek with a fair palm and bent down, abruptly feeling the urge to have a taste. His eyes gleaming, Ming Quan tipped his head back and opened his lips in eager invitation. Mouths met and tongues tangled as the couple slowly savored each other. Wet sounds of sucking and licking issued out unrestrainedly. Their faces grew flushed with heat while their movements turned increasingly passionate. Despite his breathlessness, Ming Quan let the sense of urgency push him on to devour more of his beloved.

Sensing that his lover needed air, Yin Xue let go and leaned back, breaking the kiss. With darkened eyes, Yin Xue licked his glistening lips and whispered with a playful smile, “I can think of many other wonderful ways in which Young Master can appreciate me, but I’d still rather you take a rest from not just mental but also physical exertion.”

Gathering his scattered thoughts, Ming Quan sighed as if put out. “I suppose you’re right. There’d be no point in me taking a break otherwise. But I don’t feel like sleeping either… Yin Xue, how about you tell me a story then?”

Yin Xue blinked with surprise, then shrugged. “Very well. What story would you like me to tell you?”

Ming Quan hesitated before speaking, “You are free to refuse my request, but I’ve been curious about this for years. Do you recall how I wrote in my letter to you that the first time I realized I might like you was when I saw you smiling at a flower? Do you remember what made you smile at that time?”

Yin Xue let out a quiet chuff of laughter and tilted his head. “Yes. Is that the story you would like me to tell you?”

Seeing that Yin Xue wasn’t averse to it, Ming Quan nodded with barely hidden anticipation. “Do you remember what that smile was about?”

Yin Xue’s expression gentled. “It was about you.”

“Me?!” Ming Quan blinked at him with startlement. He tried to think back, but he really couldn’t remember any significant interactions between him and Yin Xue.

“It’s no surprise if you can’t recall it,” Yin Xue said. “You were very young at that time, after all.”

Ming Quan’s curiosity grew high enough to reach the sky.

Sensing it, Yin Xue chuckled to himself and settled down on the low wall with his back to the garden and his side resting against a pillar. Meeting Ming Quan’s inquisitive gaze, he patted his thighs in an obvious invitation. Ming Quan accepted it and went over to sit on his lover’s lap, his back once again resting on a thick pillar while his feet were placed on the wall beside Yin Xue. As his side was pressed against his beloved’s firm chest, the familiar and cool scent of winter enveloped Ming Quan.

Enfolding his dear mate in his arms, Yin Xue began, “It happened during one of those occasions when your father came over to meet your ill mother. You would usually spend some time with your parents in your mother’s bedchamber while they tried to act like everything was fine in front of you. Then your mother and father would send you out to play while talking about your mother’s impending death due to her sickness and silently crying with each other.”

Ming Quan’s heart squeezed and his gaze deepened with heavy memories. Feeling the weight of Yin Xue’s cool palm rubbing his back reassuringly, Ming Quan let out a breath nodded for him to go on.

And so, Yin Xue did.

On that certain day fifteen years ago, he had been indifferently standing guard over the courtyard while waiting by the garden. His then-master had ordered him to do so to have some privacy with his wife. It was only too bad that Yin Xue had still been able to pick up sounds from within, but he refrained from enlightening his master about it.

The little Ming Quan who was sent away to play happily zoomed around in the carefully cultivated and maintained garden. Unable to bear his pleas, his mother had finally given him leave to pluck a single chrysanthemum from the colorful blooms. And so, Ming Quan flitted about between the rows of bushes, searching for one to pick. Occasionally, he would take a sneaky little peek at the straight-backed Yin Xue standing under the eaves and smile happily to himself. That silver-haired man looked a bit scary, but he was also very pretty and gave him a nice enough impression.

After the thirty-fourth such peek, Yin Xue started to feel vaguely amused. What was the boy doing? He seemed to be…searching for something?

Curious, he walked to a surprised Ming Quan and crouched down. “Young Master, what are you looking for?”

Recovering from his startlement, Ming Quan giggled with delight. “I want the prettiest flower!” he declared.

Yin Xue pondered for a moment, then sighed and offered. “Would you like my help then?” Who knew what trouble this child might get up to if left on his own?

But Ming Quan showed an alarmed expression and shook his head vehemently. “No! You can’t see the flower now!” Then he turned to speed away as fast as he could.

Yin Xue blinked, his face growing even more expressionless than before. It seemed…the child disliked him? Or was he afraid of him? Yin Xue frowned imperceptibly. Did he look like someone who would hurt a little cub that wasn’t even half a decade? He wanted to scoff. Straightening, he walked back to his place under the eaves and stiffly kept watch again. Since the child did not want his help, he would simply look over him from afar.

But a few minutes later, Ming Quan himself came running to Yin Xue, a bright smile adorning his chubby little face. Dirt smudged his skin and twigs with leaves were tangled in his messy hair. “I found it!” he said while his hands hid something behind him. He looked up at Yin Xue with gleaming eyes as if expecting praise.

Yin Xue raised a brow. “I…see. I suppose that’s good.”

Not seeming to perceive his dry and uncaring tone, Ming Quan nodded and proudly held up a large, amber colored chrysanthemum to Yin Xue. “Mister, you’re so pretty. Will you take this and marry me?”

Yin Xue stiffened, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. Yet his voice remained calm, “Young Master, did one of your parents ask you to do this?” After all, for a human to become his mate would be very beneficial for them. Which parent wouldn’t want such benefits for their child?

But Ming Quan scrunched his brows and tilted his head confusedly. “My parents? No, they didn’t say to do this.” Then brightening again, he explained, “Father told me that if I wanted to marry, I should choose the best person in the world, so I chose you!” After all, the only other candidates he could think of who could bear such a title were his father and mother, but they were already married to each other and he didn’t feel like asking anyone else.

Yin Xue was stunned in place, only able to stare at the child. Then a small smile pulled up a corner of his lips as wry mirth danced in his eyes. “I see. How kind of Young Master to grant me such an honor. Unfortunately, I will have to decline it for now.”

Ming Quan’s whole person drooped.

Amused, Yin Xue went on, “But if you ask me again after you grow up, I might reconsider.” He was confident that the child would forget it by then.

Bubbles of excitement churned in the little boy’s gaze once more. “Okay! I’ll ask you after I’m all grown up! I’ll pick you another pretty flower then, so take this.”

After Yin Xue accepted the large amber bloom, the little Ming Quan happily scurried off to play in the garden. Partway, he came to drag Yin Xue by the hand to show him a shiny insect he’d spotted, thus roping the spiritual beast into being his playmate.

As Ming Quan grew up and discarded his childish naïveté, he began to grow more conscious of the stern-seeming Yin Xue and distanced himself. Eventually, he forgot about that day they’d spent playing in the flower garden. But Yin Xue was unbothered by it. This was hardly the first time he was pushed away and felt that it was only to be expected.

And yet, every time he saw an amber chrysanthemum, Yin Xue couldn’t help but touch its soft petals and smile, a certain little boy’s boldly proclaimed proposal ringing in his mind.

As Yin Xue finished reciting these events, Ming Quan’s face burned a bright pink. “I-I really don’t remember it,” he got out through his embarrassment.

Yin Xue chuckled and poked his beloved’s nose. “I know. That is what makes the memory even more precious for me, since I am the only one in possession of it. It’s only too bad that you didn’t remember to propose to me after growing up,” he teased.

Ming Quan shot him a look and Yin Xue laughed.

Ming Quan’s expression softened. While thinking back on that mysteriously warm smile before, how many times had Ming Quan wished that Yin Xue would one day smile like that because of him? And now it turned out that it really had been due to him. It felt like things had come full circle.

Now, wearing the same smile, Yin Xue looked at Ming Quan. The warmth in his expression overcame the cool colors in his eyes, turning them into clear pools of melting frost reflecting a sunlit sky. Tracing those bent lips with gentle fingers, Ming Quan gave his beloved a content smile of his own.

Sitting together by a field of flowers with affection in their eyes and warmth in their hearts…this was how they would spend their eternity.