After The Coquettish Fake Master Was Driven Away - Chapter 31

At first, Yan Yi was indeed in a light sleep, but the moment Xie Jinning pushed open the courtyard gate, he was already awake.

He simply hadn’t spoken right away. Instead, he held his breath, waiting silently for the boy’s reaction.

His heartbeat quickened with each approaching step. When Jinning stopped at the doorway, Yan Yi couldn’t help but want to rise, welcome him inside, and even pull him into an embrace, inhaling that rich fragrance clinging to his body.

The urge to be close was overwhelming—he wanted to merge into his very bones and bl00d.

“…”

Why?

Yan Yi couldn’t understand. His mind was a tangled mess, battling itself, yet an image slowly surfaced—

He had once seen a villager treat his pet raccoon-cat the same way: acting strangely, always trying to scoop it up, pressing it to his cheek, rubbing and kissing it until the poor creature grew impatient, fluffed up in irritation, and bared its teeth.

Thinking back on his interactions with Xie Jinning, it was the same. He would make the boy angry, then coax him back, only to anger him again.

Even if it wasn’t always intentional.

Thinking of it this way, his odd behavior seemed to have a reason.

And yet… deep in his heart, there was a faint voice repeating again and again—“No.”

No, no matter how much they resembled each other, Xie Jinning wasn’t that weak little raccoon-cat. He was a person, a man.

So once again, Yan Yi ran into a dead end.

If he wanted to truly figure it out, maybe he would need to gather his strength and smash through the wall in one go.

But his instincts warned him—if he broke through, something immensely dangerous, uncontrollable, and destructive would come crashing down.

And Yan Yi had always trusted his instincts.

But…

“You weren’t asleep? You scared me.”

Xie Jinning pressed his thumping heart, glaring, “Awake and you didn’t even say anything? Were you trying to mess with me?”

The man glanced down at his own arms, looking a little dazed, then stepped back to create some distance. “I just woke up. You… came for something?”

“Can’t I come if I don’t have a reason?” Jinning shot back, but then felt that sounded wrong. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Did you put on medicine?”

Seeing Yan Yi shake his head, Jinning’s expression darkened. He pushed the door open wider to let in more light, stepped inside, and spotted the unopened jar of medicinal powder, clean cloth, and bandages on the wooden table.

Jinning sat down on the stool, knocked on the table, and said, “What are you waiting for? Come here.”

Even when his little face turned icy cold, it wasn’t intimidating at all—it was… cute.

Yan Yi placed his arm on the table, palm up. The repeatedly torn wound edges were jagged. Though not deep, the flesh was torn, waterlogged, and swollen, the sight still unsettling.

When the powder touched the wound, the stinging pain flared anew. Sweat beaded at his temples, but his breathing didn’t even change.

His gaze shifted again—to those slightly furrowed brows, the long lashes casting shadows, the rosy cheeks, the delicate nose, and then—

His throat bobbed.

“Don’t look at me.”

Yan Yi raised a brow. “Why not?”

“Because… because it distracts me while I’m treating you.” Jinning pursed his lips and deliberately pressed the cloth harder against the wound, hoping the pain would serve as a warning.

Look, it’s just two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. What’s there to stare at?

All the medicine was ready, and he still hadn’t used it. What, was he planning to never treat himself unless someone else forced him to? What nonsense.

Just as Jinning lifted his fingers, Yan Yi caught them. Honey-bronzed skin against snowy white—it was a striking contrast. Straw against blossoms, the latter appearing even more delicate, like finely carved jade.

“Let go. What are you doing? I can’t bandage like this.”

“It hurts.” His voice was hoarse. “Don’t look away. I want to watch you.”

What kind of nonsense was that? Did staring at him magically stop the pain?

Jinning scolded, “So you do know pain. Washing dishes, washing clothes—do you even care about keeping your hand?”

Still, his movements softened. His pale fingers moved deftly across the broad palm, bandaging carefully. When done, he inspected it closely, even shook Yan Yi’s hand to make sure it was secure before letting go.

“There. Keep it dry this time.”

“Yes, Doctor Xiao Ning.”

The low, amused voice slipped into Jinning’s ears. He huffed twice, “If that’s all, I’ll go back now.”

“Wait.”

Yan Yi rose and squatted in front of him. “Your foot. Let me see.”

He tilted his head slightly upward, hand extended in waiting.

Even kneeling, his tall, broad frame loomed like a mountain, his shadow covering Jinning in a heavy pressure.

Jinning’s refusal stuck in his throat. “…Oh.”

As soon as his toes left the ground, Yan Yi cupped his ankle, lifting it. Bit by bit, he slipped off the boy’s shoes and socks.

His feet were finer than most men’s—arched like white jade, the lines graceful, toes round and neat like little pearls, pink-tipped and curling slightly at the sudden chill. Pale blue veins climbed like vines beneath translucent skin.

Snow-like, delicate. The swelling at his ankle stood out sharply. Even the soles were faintly reddened with wear.

If not for the layers of cotton padding, blisters would already have formed. Every step would’ve been like walking on blades, enough to bring tears to those amber eyes.

Truly feet not meant for walking.

Better suited to being cradled in silk, admired tenderly.

His throat bobbed again.

“Does it hurt?”

The sensation of having his foot cradled was strange. The warm breath brushing his skin made Jinning uneasy; he tried to pull back. When Yan Yi didn’t let go, he mumbled, “It doesn’t anymore. You’ve seen it, now let go.”

Instead, Yan Yi swept him into his arms. Jinning gasped, but before he could shout, his body sank into the soft bedding neatly folded on the bed.

“Wait here.”

Yan Yi quickly returned with a steaming basin of water, set it down, and then, just as before, removed his other shoe and sock, placing the foot to the side.

“The bones aren’t hurt. It’s not serious. Try the water temperature—if it’s right, soak and I’ll treat it. You’ll heal quickly.”

So that was his plan—to treat his injury.

Relieved, Jinning leaned forward, touched the water with his toes. It was just right.

Warmth spread as the water covered his feet. He relaxed, smiling at the kneeling man. “You can sit, you know. I’ll call when I’m done.”

“I’ll help you.”

Startled, Jinning immediately jerked his foot up. Water splashed in an arc, landing on Yan Yi’s stomach.

“Splash—” His underclothes soaked instantly, clinging to his firm, knife-carved abs. The wetness spread down to his thighs.

“I-I didn’t mean to!” Jinning froze, long lashes blinking rapidly. His voice softened, but then he straightened with indignation, “Serves you right for not listening. I told you to sit.”

“And I just said you can’t let the wound get wet.”

“My apologies. I forgot.”

Yan Yi was the first to apologize. “My memory is poor. I’ll need Ning to remind me a few more times before I remember.”

Getting a wound wet was obviously painful—what was there to forget? Jinning muttered to himself, but the role reversal of lecturing someone older gave him a smug sort of pride.

Seven years older than me, yet I know more common sense than him.

“Fine.”

“Then I’ll use the other hand—”

“I can wash myself!” Jinning cut him off quickly. “Go change your clothes, you’re soaked.”

“I’ll finish treating you first.”

The damp heat at his abdomen cooled, but another fire blazed up from his chest, burning hotter as it spread downwards.

He’s caring for me.

And I want to ruin him.

I want to see him cry, eyes wet and glaring, then pull him into my arms, kiss his brow, the corners of his eyes, the tip of his nose, his lips. To pry them open, like in my dream, kissing him until his pupils lose focus, leaving him only pitiful little whimpers.

I want the dream to become real.

Not a raccoon-cat. Not a younger brother.

No brother would ever… react this way to his sibling’s feet.

The black in his eyes smoldered, faint flames flickering, devouring his faltering defenses.

He wanted to burn the boy beside him—flesh and bone—until nothing remained.

The water wasn’t even that hot, but Jinning’s soles tingled as he stepped and shifted. Suddenly his back prickled.

He reached to his neck. The tiny rash across his back usually didn’t itch or hurt, except when lying down it stung faintly—probably from rough fabric.

If only the village had a proper doctor.

After washing, Yan Yi fetched a clean cloth. Before Jinning could object, his ankle was lifted again.

“Just drying. Won’t get you wet.”

Yan Yi spread the towel, one hand cupping the arch of the foot, and carefully wiped from toes downward. Gentle, slow—like polishing a precious white jade bridge.

When he finished, he naturally rested the foot on his dry thigh, moving on to the other.

His leg was firm and hot as stone. Even through fabric, Jinning’s sole flinched at the heat.

“You’re so warm. Are you always this hot?” He set his foot back down.

Yan Yi paused. “…Mm. Probably born this way.”

Probably? Jinning pouted. “Lucky you. I’ve been cold all my life. My hands and feet are always freezing.”

His toes shifted, searching for a better spot to press. Yan Yi slowed his motions. “You… never treated it?”

“Of course I did.” Jinning tipped his chin. “Doctors said I was born with cold energy in me. But nothing worked. In winter, I need both a heated floor and hot water bottles, or else I can’t sleep.”

Then something struck him. His amber eyes widened. “Wait—you don’t have heated floors here, do you?”

If he meant earth dragons in the ground, sure, plenty. But heating systems? He had never heard of such a thing. Yan Yi shook his head.

“Ahhh, then what’ll I do?” Jinning groaned, scrunching his little face. “One day you’ll open the door and find a block of frozen Xie Jinning.”

“That won’t happen,” Yan Yi said. “I’ll build one.”

“Forget it.”

Given the conditions here, he doubted they could even afford charcoal, let alone a heated floor. Jinning whined, then rolled his eyes. “If it’s really unbearable, I’ll just come sleep with you. Anyway—”

“No!”

Yan Yi’s fingers suddenly tightened around his ankle. Jinning froze, then flared up. “Fine, no then! Why are you yelling? You’re not even my brother yet and you’re already shouting like you plan to spank me every day!”

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He kicked Yan Yi in the stomach. “Go away! I don’t want the medicine anymore!”