The owner of the old house was probably in a hurry to return to Xucheng, so he gave a relatively sincere price and settled on it.
When Lao Chen brought this news to Xiao Zhan, he was still in the incense making room, melting the incense into the wax and then putting it in a delicate small container. The originally boring candle suddenly became unique.
He thought that if he figured this out well, it might become the key for Xiao's incense shop to gain a foothold in the capital in the future.
"Master, you've been busy all day, are you tired?" Lao Chen looked at Xiao Zhan's busy appearance, and felt distressed. After all, he had never been married and had no offspring, and he regarded Xiao Zhan as his own son.
"It's okay, this fragrance... the biggest problem before was that the fragrance lasted for a short time and was easy to evaporate. I was thinking about how to make it last longer, so that the fragrance can also last longer." Xiao Zhan waved his hand and lowered his head to fiddle with the pile of things.
Old Chen smiled and nodded, saying, "Master, I think our incense shop will definitely be prosperous."
Speaking of incense shops, Xiao Zhan stopped what he was doing, "Speaking of this, shops are also a problem. Shops with good locations are expensive, and those with bad locations, rich people are not willing to go there."
"Yes, I saw one a few days ago. The location is very good, right next to Wang's silk shop. I asked, it's too expensive." Old Chen shook his head and spoke.
"Then let's think about it again, don't be too anxious." Xiao Zhan comforted him and lowered his head again.
"Master, the contract for the old house has been obtained. When do you think it will be signed?"
"Yeah." Xiao Zhan responded without looking up.
Old Chen, who was standing next to him, glanced at his young master, and hesitated to speak. After a long while, he whispered, "Young master, do you feel like living here?"
Xiao Zhan glanced at Old Chen, "Why do you say that?"
"I think Cui'e takes good care of you. As an old man, I am naturally not as careful as a young girl. I am worried that you will not be used to it when the time comes."
Cui'e is the girl who loves to make a fuss. She looks crazy on weekdays, but she values feelings. Sometimes she says the wrong thing, does the wrong thing, and she will not bear grudges if you say a few words to her.
Thinking of this, Xiao Zhan felt a little reluctant in his heart. He is a dull person, and he is used to dull days. Cui'e has indeed made his life livelier.
I guess she will be sad when he leaves.
"I will find a time to talk to her later."
"Okay." Old Chen said no more, nodded, and handed the contract to Xiao Zhan.
It was almost evening when Xiao Zhan returned from the incense-making room.
That day, Chen Yu brought Zeng Qin back, and the two of them rarely left the room. Chen Yu would come out from time to time to ask Cui'e to bring him food and prepare water.
Today was the same. Cui'e brought him food, and when she heard Zeng Qin's sobbing in the room, she was frightened and her face blushed, her heart beat fast, and she dared not raise her head.
Xiao Zhan sat at the table, eating the food Cui'e prepared for him, listening to Cui'e's chattering, but his brows did not frown.
"Master Xiao, it's so scary, Master Chen Yu, is this considered private imprisonment? He would be arrested in the capital."
"Not really, after all, he is also a prince..." Xiao Zhan took a bite of the food, paused, and answered seriously.
"Hey, Master Xiao, there is something I've been curious about for a long time." Cui'e saw that Xiao Zhan was not as annoying as before, and she became much bolder. She leaned on the table with both hands and said stealthily.
"Hmm? Ask."
The vegetables today were particularly sweet, and Xiao Zhan couldn't help but pick up a few more with chopsticks.
"Tell me, who is on top, Prince Chenyu or Master Zengqin?"
"Cough..."
Xiao Zhan was choked by this and started coughing. His face flushed red as he looked at Cui'e.
Cui'e quickly handed him the teacup and took his handkerchief, "Master Xiao, are you okay?"
Xiao Zhan shook his head, coughed a few times, drank a sip of tea, and finally calmed down.
"Cui'e, why are you getting more and more presumptuous now?" Xiao Zhan glanced at her and whispered.
"You wanted me to ask." Cui'e pursed her lips and muttered softly. "Prince Chenyu doesn't look like the one on top. He looks so handsome and different from you."
The last sentence 'different from you' was as low as it could be.
"Cui'e!" Xiao Zhan's face flushed, and he raised his voice and shouted.
"Hehe, don't be angry, I was wrong, Master Xiao, you are the best." Cui'e had already figured out Xiao Zhan's character. She knew that although he was cold, he would not really get angry and blame her, so she started to smile again. "Eat more vegetables. These vegetables were given to you by a businessman from the south. You brought them here specially. If you like them, I will cook them for you tomorrow."
No wonder the southern vegetables taste different.
Looking at Cui'e's happy face, Xiao Zhan thought about moving away, but he couldn't say it when the words came to his lips. Even though Wang Yibo said that he wanted Cui'e to accompany him, the girl of the Wang family had been with him since she was a child, and he was so easy to ask for.
But the contract had been signed, and moving out of the Wang residence was a foregone conclusion. It was necessary to say it sooner or later.
Thinking of this, Xiao Zhan gritted his teeth and said, "Cui'e, you've worked hard these days." Cui'e, who was picking up food for Xiao Zhan, didn't take it seriously.
She said while moving, "What's hard? You're more tired if you're willing to listen to me talk about these things." You knew it was hard for me to listen to you, so why are you still talking? Xiao Zhan thought helplessly.
"I'm moving away."
Cui'e's hand holding the food stopped in mid-air, but she quickly picked up another chopstick for Xiao Zhan, turned her head, and smiled with two lumps of flesh on her face, "I know."
"Huh?" The move was decided a few days ago, and Cui'e wouldn't know so soon. "The young master told me!"
"He told you?" Xiao Zhan was shocked.
"Yes, when you went to make incense yesterday, he called me over and told me that you were moving away and wanted me to follow you." He actually arranged everything. "He also asked me if I was willing. If I said I didn't want to, I would just say it directly, and I wouldn't force it."
Xiao Zhan lowered his head. Although he was setting up his own business, there were only him and Lao Chen there, and they really couldn't afford to hire servants. Cui'e would have to do everything if she went there, and her life would not be better than here.
"Of course I am willing, I am very willing. Master Xiao, I just like you very much. Oh, don't look at me like that, it's not that kind of love, it's not the Master's love for you, no, anyway, it's not that kind of love." Cui'e talked a lot, incoherent.
Xiao Zhan didn't speak.
"When are you leaving?" Cui'e turned her head, looked at Xiao Zhan, and asked seriously.
Perhaps he didn't expect Cui'e to be so anxious, even more anxious than him, Xiao Zhan paused and said: "The contract has just been signed, it will probably be early next month."
"Oh, it's already the end of the month, that's almost there, less than ten days, then I'll pack up quickly. The medicine jars I've been using to boil medicine for you, it's very useful, I have to take it away, and the peach blossom dew you like, I'll take it away for you too, let me think about anything else..."
Cui'e was already in a deserted place, counting on her fingers to figure out what to take away.
Although he knew he had to leave, Xiao Zhan couldn't help feeling a little disappointed when he heard Cui'e counting his luggage.
Since coming to Beijing from Xucheng, in the past six months, he felt that he had experienced too many things in his life, like a dusty door in his heart that was forcibly pried open, and that door could never be closed again.
"Master Xiao, why do you look a little unhappy?" Cui'e came back to her senses and looked at Xiao Zhan.
"Is it?" Xiao Zhan raised his head and asked absentmindedly.
"Yes, you look so reluctant to leave."
"Cui'e..."
"Master Xiao, what are you reluctant to leave?" Cui'e leaned over and asked with innocent curiosity.
"No, no." Xiao Zhan shook his head in panic and quickly avoided Cui'e's gaze.
"Anyway, you don't like our master. You can leave Wang's house and escape from him. You should be happy." Cui'e looked indifferent and said easily, as if comforting Xiao Zhan.
"Why are you looking at me like this? Do you like our young master?"
This was a bit bold. Xiao Zhan was stunned after hearing it. He didn't say anything for a long time, and his eyes couldn't help but widen a little.
Xiao Zhan naturally didn't answer, and Cui'e didn't continue to talk. Seeing that Xiao Zhan had finished eating, she cleaned up his bowl and chopsticks and left.
After a while, the medicine was brought again.
The new medicine has been taken for half a month in a row. It tastes very bitter. Even Xiao Zhan, who can tolerate it, can't help but eat a piece of candy to suppress the nausea after drinking it.
Cui'e said that this medicine is very effective, so it's hard to drink.
After the contract was signed, Xiao Zhan handed it to Lao Chen the next day, and calculated the remaining silver with him. Fortunately, someone had lived in the old house before, and many things in it didn't need to be purchased extra, which was also a surplus.
It is said that the merchant knew that it was the son of the Xiao family who wanted to buy it, and he gave it a little extra discount, saying that when he was young, he did a small business in Xucheng and was taken care of by the master of the Xiao family.
In theory, it is always good to meet each other, but Xiao Zhan is Xiao Zhan. He just thanked Lao Chen and no longer had too much contact.
Lao Chen couldn't persuade him, but just sighed and said that the young master was too stubborn.
The capital has entered midsummer.
The night wind is not as cool as before, and there is no difference from the daytime. Every time Xiao Zhan finishes drinking medicine, he always sweats and washes again.
The medicine is so bitter that it drills into his heart.
Cui'e has been particularly busy these days, busy collecting things and packing up the items she "likes". Xiao Zhan couldn't help interrupting her several times and asked her if this is really okay?
"Oh, I'm going to take this to take care of you. Who dares to say no? This pillow is not bad either. You're used to it. Take it away." As she said that, she packed up another embroidered pillow.
"Cui'e, that pillow, can you let me sleep on it tonight before packing it up?"
"Oh, yes, I forgot about it. OK!" Cui'e suddenly realized, took it out of the package again, patted it, shook it, and put it back on the bed.
Xiao Zhan couldn't help but smile bitterly and couldn't speak.
Today is Xiao Zhan's last night at Wang's house.
He went to thank Mrs. Wang yesterday. Mrs. Wang had a headache for a few days and didn't look very energetic. She was very happy to see Xiao Zhan and asked him to talk to her more.
Since the last time they met, they haven't met again. When Xiao Zhan saw Mrs. Wang, he couldn't help but think of the last conversation and felt a little embarrassed.
He thought she would mention the last incident again, but unexpectedly, Mrs. Wang did not mention it at all. She just confirmed again and again whether it was feasible for Xiao Zhan to move out and whether there were enough people to take care of him. She also arranged Cuiyu to tell two male servants to take care of him.
"Cui'e is a girl, she is so noisy. Old Chen is old after all. You can't do some physical work by yourself. Bringing two boys over will also be considered as someone doing the work." Mrs. Wang coughed and said.
"I have been working here for half a year, which is already a trouble for you. How can this be appropriate?"
"There is nothing inappropriate. Your mother and I have been friends for many years. I treat you as my own son. Zhan Zhan, you are not like your mother at all."
"Huh?" Xiao Zhan did not understand what Mrs. Wang meant.
"She is a free-spirited person. She has been fearless since she was a child and will say whatever she wants. Your father was originally fed up with her and felt that she was not motivated and only had a pretty face, but he didn't expect that he would only love her for the rest of his life."
Hearing Mrs. Wang talking about her parents, Xiao Zhan felt a little empty in his heart.
"At that time, your father was going to befriend the daughter of a private school teacher. That girl was also very beautiful, a recognized beauty at the time, well-educated and well-mannered. I don't know how your mother heard about this and went straight to your father."
Xiao Zhan had never heard of this and was a little surprised. In his impression, his mother was cheerful but gentle. He didn't expect her to be so free and easy when she was young.
"Guess what she said to your father?"
"What?"
"She actually went to ask your father who was prettier, her or the eldest girl of the private school." At this point, Mrs. Wang probably remembered something from her youth and laughed.
Xiao Zhan also laughed. He remembered that his father always said that his mother was cute and that she was a cute person all her life.
"When you smile, you look a lot like your mother, both are very pretty."
Xiao Zhan raised his head and looked at Madam Wang. Madam Wang reached out and took Xiao Zhan's hand in her own, patted it, squinted her eyes, and said with a smile: "Zhan Zhan, good-looking people can be a little more aggressive."
"Madam..." Xiao Zhan looked at Madam Wang in disbelief, but she smiled like a child, and the look in her eyes was actually a bit like a girl.
"Okay, I won't take up your time. Anyway, I'm still in the capital, so you can come to see me often." After saying that, Madam Wang sat back and returned to her previous appearance.
Xiao Zhan was still a little dazed by that sentence, so he had to nod.
Sitting here now, Xiao Zhan couldn't help but think of Madam Wang's words, and he always felt a little surprised.
He really didn't understand and couldn't figure it out.
Xiao Zhan walked to the window, opened it, and the night wind blew. He raised his eyes and saw the peach tree.
This peach tree is strange. It has never bloomed. People came to see it, but they couldn't tell the reason. They just let it grow luxuriantly, but it never bloomed.
The door was pushed open. Cui'e was probably the one who brought the medicine. Xiao Zhan was still holding his hands by the window.
"Cui'e, just put the medicine over there. I'll drink it later." He said without turning his head.
"Okay, Master Xiao, I have put away all the things. There are some to be put away tomorrow morning. I will come back tomorrow." Cui'e responded, but she didn't say anything more and retreated.
A tree that doesn't bloom, he doesn't know what he is staring at, but Cui'e thinks it's not the time to say anything more, so she just closed the door and left.
Xiao Zhan was stunned for a while, and finally came to his senses. He walked to the table and looked at the bowl of black medicine. When he thought of the strong bitterness, he felt nauseous before he drank it.
Finally, he still had to be a "medicine jar" for the rest of his life. No matter where he went, whether he left Xucheng or Wang Yibo, he would carry this body with him for all eternity.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but clench his fist.
Xiao Zhan reached out and took the medicine bowl, drank it all in a huff, and tears were forced out by the bitter taste, choking him to cough.
He put the medicine bowl heavily on the table, unable to stop the nausea in his body, which came in waves.
This bitterness was not only today, but would continue to accompany him, and this body, no matter how beautiful it was, because his natural constitution had never brought him any happiness, except...
Xiao Zhan's eyes were still filled with tears. He raised his head and looked out the window in a trance. The peach blossom that did not bloom was leisurely and contented in the summer night breeze, and the leaves were dancing lightly and delicately.
He remembered that early spring night when he was pressed by Wang Yibo and muttered that he wanted to see peach blossoms.
He remembered a rainy day when there was a peach tree in the yard. That person asked him if he liked it or not.
Thinking of this, Xiao Zhan lowered his head, clenched his fists, loosened them, and clenched them again.
By the time he reacted, he had already rushed out of the door and pushed open Wang Yibo's door regardless of anything. The person who was calculating the accounts in the room also looked up at him in surprise.
There were traces of tears on Xiao Zhan's face, but he looked sober, not like he was in heat. He just stared at Wang Yibo blankly and stood by the table motionless.
Wang Yibo stood up, walked in front of him, looked at him for a long time, and whispered: "What's wrong?"
His tone was always soft, not at all like the bad look when he pressed on him in the past.
"Bitter." Xiao Zhan raised his eyes, looked at Wang Yibo, and whispered a word.
"Hmm?" Wang Yibo didn't hear clearly and moved closer.
The cold hands were put up, without giving Wang Yibo time to think, and the soft lips touched his, licking Wang Yibo's lips without any skill, with a bitter taste of medicine.
Wang Yibo closed the door, turned around, pressed Xiao Zhan against the wall next to him, held his shoulders, panted, and didn't speak.
Xiao Zhan's eyes were out of focus, looking at Wang Yibo with watery eyes, reflecting his appearance. The two hadn't been in such close contact for a long time, and the pheromones in his body were clamouring like crazy to break out of the door.
The whole world was filled with the strong peach blossom fragrance in Xiao Zhan's body, which was even a little too sweet and made him dizzy.
A body that has drunk medicine will not be in heat, and high-intensity medicine can at least control consciousness.
But now Xiao Zhan was clearly out of his mind, or rather, he pretended to be out of his mind, just leaning forward, letting Wang Yibo hug him, rubbing his body in his arms, and knowing the sensitive parts of that person, he stretched out his tongue to lick, sniffing the charming male pheromone scent back and forth.
"Hmm..."
Suddenly, Xiao Zhan felt a force holding him down, and Wang Yibo pulled him away from his neck with one hand, and the two of them were separated by a distance.
The man in front of him, his chest heaving, seemed to be enduring, but he was just panting, his eyes red, staring at Xiao Zhan, as if he wanted to see through him.
Xiao Zhan didn't say anything, but looked at Wang Yibo with a lustful face, and that look made Wang Yibo's lower body tighten.
These days, he didn't feel well, and there was no meaning in masturbating. He missed Xiao Zhan's body very much, missed him using his thick penis to poke into that soft place, and missed Xiao Zhan's screams and tears.
But he also understood that life could no longer be the same as before.
He could no longer surrender because of Xiao Zhan's tears, frowns, and open legs.
The two of them just kept silent, panting and looking at each other.
Finally, Xiao Zhan lowered his head and rested his forehead on Wang Yibo's left shoulder. After a long time, he sullenly said something softly.
"What?" Wang Yibo didn't hear clearly.
"You, you wait for me." The person who spoke had a trembling voice. He had never said such words before, and he felt sweat all over his body.
"Wait for you for what?" Wang Yibo was also shocked by this. He stretched out his hand to lift Xiao Zhan's face, but the other party twisted his head and refused to look up.
The thin body trembled between his arms.
"Wait until I open the shop."
Xiao Zhan couldn't finish his words at once. He didn't even know which sentence should be in front and which should be in the back.
"Wait until you open a shop." Wang Yibo couldn't bear to see him like this, so he reached out and patted his back, repeated his words, and softened his attitude.
That beautiful face finally raised up, with faint traces of tears in the corners of his eyes, but it didn't look like he was sad, but rather like he was finally released.
Wang Yibo had never seen Xiao Zhan like this.
The person who was talking stopped talking again, just stretched out his hand, slowly raised it, and put it on the back of Wang Yibo's hand that was pressing on his shoulder.
Xiao Zhan's palm was small and couldn't cover Wang Yibo's big hand. He rubbed it repeatedly on the back of his hand, his eyes shining.
"Don't marry a princess."
Wang Yibo stared at Xiao Zhan with wide eyes.
"Be decent." The person who was talking took a deep breath, and it seemed that this was too embarrassing for him, "can I have you too?"
Wang Yibo froze for a moment, then hugged Xiao Zhan, who was trembling all over, and pushed him to the bed.
When they got to the bed, he just pressed on Xiao Zhan, looked at this beautiful face, and stroked the side of his face with his fingers.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
Wang Yibo took off Xiao Zhan's clothes, but did nothing else. He just hugged him from behind, smelled the peach blossom fragrance behind his neck, let Xiao Zhan twist in his arms, and never continued.
The starlight is good enough tonight, and the cicadas are no longer annoying.
The peach tree in the yard was swept by the wind, and a few leaves fell. The red candle on the table also flickered a few times with the wind.