Chapter 61

“You’re now the fattest wolf in your generation.”

He completed writing those characters into the palm of his hand. Ning Shiting reached out and bundled Gu Tingshuang into the quilt, and then he closed his eyes as if he was preparing to fall asleep.

Gu Feiyin had just arrived. Ning Shiting feigned sleep with his back to Gu Thingshuang, facing outwards so Gu Feiyin would notice his sickly appearance.

Now, Ning Shiting turned over again, switching back to a position facing Gu Tingshuang, creating a slight gap between them. When Ning Shiting reached out to pull the blanket, Gu Tingshuang took the opportunity to press him closer into his arms.

Before Ning Shiting could respond, the youth muttered, “Move in a bit. If we sleep apart, the wind will get in, and it’s cold.”

Ning Shiting said, “Then should I get up and fetch another blanket for Dianxia?”

“Don’t toss and turn. If you roll about like this you can’t sleep even more” Gu Tingshuang replied. “Sleep if you want to, ba. Stop making noise.”

The little wolf was nestled warmly against Ning Shiting’s back, a soft, cozy lump. It didn’t seem to mind being under the blanket—it was a Spirit Mountain White Wolf, capable of surviving in areas with extremely thin air. Moreover, it found Ning Shiting’s cool body temperature quite comfortable in the warmth of the blanket. Perhaps its alpha thought the same way. Unlike before, the wolf didn’t try to wriggle into Ning Shiting’s arms. That spot, it decided, was reserved for its alpha.

Ning Shiting closed his eyes, but he hadn’t expected Gu Tingshuang to refuse to sleep quietly. He felt the youth pull him closer into his embrace, then stop moving.

And then, Gu Tingshuang asked, “Ning Shiting, how did you suppress your breathing just now?”

“It’s a skill all the water clans of the North Sea possess,” Ning Shiting replied.

“Oh, I see. Is it like how turtles do it?” Gu Tingshuang thought for a moment before asking another question. “Then how come you don’t hibernate?”

Ning Shiting sighed softly, lowering his voice. “Jiaoren don’t hibernate because we have no means of self-defense during that time, making us easy prey for the Blood Clan. However, we do tend to feel sleepier during the winter.”

“Oh.” Gu Tingshuang fell quiet, but after a while, he seemed about to ask another question, only for Ning Shiting to lightly slap his arm. “I said no talking, ah.”

Gu Tingshuang said, “Fine, I won’t talk. Go to bed.”

He shut his eyes.

Ning Shiting glanced at him and finally let out a helpless sigh.

In the middle of the night, Ning Shiting felt the little wolf squirming against his back. Half-asleep and worried about squashing it, he turned over, fumbling around until he scooped it up.

The little wolf stayed obediently still as he placed it by the pillow. Even in his drowsiness, Ning Shiting remained cautious. He groped for his gloves, slipped them on, tugged a corner of the blanket to wrap the wolf up, and then cradled it in his arms.

Turning on his side to hold the wolf, he dozed off for a while until he felt Gu Tingshuang stir. The youth reached out, grabbed his collar, pulled him closer by the shoulders, and flipped him back over, ensuring he maintained a position facing him.

Gu Tingshuang couldn’t quite explain it—he just felt more comfortable this way. He hadn’t been fully asleep to begin with, and even after he had finally drifted off, he eventually woke again. Ning Shiting’s movements were subtle, quiet as always, but the absence of something against his chest made Gu Tingshuang feel inexplicably uneasy.

He gave himself an excuse: With just one blanket, the two of them needed to stay close together to avoid leaving gaps that might let in the cold and risk catching a chill.

Then he heard Ning Shiting chuckle softly. “How is it that Dianxia sleeps just like Ting Shu—always needing to hold onto something?”

It had been a long time since Ting Shu had left. Gu Tingshuang no longer found the child as annoying as before.

Hearing such a comment, he only let out a low laugh under his breath. unwilling to bother explaining his physical concerns to the delicate Jiaoren. He simply didn’t like his prey falling ill.

Ning Shiting soon drifted back to sleep.

Gu Tingshuang studied their posture for a while, recalling how he’d once overheard Ting Shu pestering Ning Shiting to nap together. He couldn’t figure out in what way he might resemble that little brat.

Gu Tingshuang studied Ning Shiting. The fine features, the seemingly soft skin, the way he felt so comfortable cradled in his arms.

He wasn’t sure who was taller between the two of them. Ning Shiting seemed a little taller, probably because he was two years older. But since Gu Tingshuang was usually in a wheelchair, there was never an opportunity to compare.

As his thoughts wandered, drowsiness crept over him. He gazed at Ning Shiting for a moment longer, keeping his arms around him while his body gradually slid downward. Finally, he rested his face close to Ning Shiting’s neck, lightly leaning it against his chest.

It was a warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Just as Gu Tingshuang was about to fall asleep, Ning Shiting instinctively responded to his movements. Without waking or noticing much, Ning Shiting naturally raised an arm to encircle Gu Tingshuang’s back, holding him snugly.

Gu Tingshuang’s eyes widened slightly, his breathing instantly softening.

Yet his heartbeat began to race uncontrollably, faster and faster.

Gu Tingshuang had thought he wouldn’t sleep for long, but when he woke, the room was already filled with daylight.

The little wolf had been awake for quite a while. It had probably gone out, begged someone for food, and returned full of energy, now running circles and scratching its claws against the fragrant wood floors. Seeing that Gu Tingshuang was awake, it jumped up onto the bed, rolled around, and had grown noticeably larger.

Before its tongue could lick his face, Gu Tingshuang reached out, grabbed it by the scruff, and tossed it to the floor.

Only then did he notice that Ning Shiting was gone.

“What time is it?”

Seeing himself still lying here undisturbed, he surmised that Ning Shiting had gotten up early to meet Gu Feiyin. For now, the incense pavilion felt secure.

Hearing his voice, Hulu entered the room, pushing open the door with a tray of washing supplies as he did every morning. Setting the items before him, Hulu replied, “It’s just past the hour of Si. Did Dianxia sleep well last night?”

Gu Tingshuang responded lightly, “It was fine. When did Ning Shiting leave?”

Hulu replied, “Gongzi got up before dawn and told us not to disturb your honourable self.”(1)

He sneaked a glance at Gu Tingshuang. 

There were questions he kept to himself, especially when the subject involved his master. Ning Shiting hadn’t explained why Gu Tingshuang had shown up in the middle of the night to sleep in his room, let alone share the same bed. It was undeniably peculiar. Hulu couldn’t help but wonder when the relationship between the Shizi and Gongzi had grown so close.

“Oh, he’s with my father now, isn’t he?” Gu Tingshuang asked without much expression, though he seemed a little disinterested and impatient. “When will he be back? He still hasn’t made the Nine Treasures Pastries he promised me.”

Hulu didn’t dare answer. He had worked under Gu Tingshuang long enough to know that such questions weren’t meant to be answered, especially when he wasn’t truly seeking a response.

Having learned Gu Tingshuang’s temperament, Hulu occasionally tried to anticipate his master’s interests to keep conversations engaging. While kneeling to fasten Gu Tingshuang’s belt, Hulu softly said, “Gongzi arrived at the pavilion early, but Wangye has confined him there since, allowing no one else inside. I heard the discussions have lasted a long time—they’ve already changed the tea three times. Apparently, Wangye is unhappy about certain matters and has been asking Gongzi about them.”

“Oh, is this about the Su family incident? Did my father give him a hard time?” Gu Tingshuang paused before asking.

“It doesn’t sound like it,” Hulu answered. “Gongzi has been unwell recently, and Wangye cares deeply for him. It’s unlikely he’d make things difficult. But there have been too many things happening in the region recently, and they haven’t seen each other in days. There’s a lot to catch up on.”

Gu Tingshuang brushed off his sleeve cuffs and laughed coldly. “More likely, those sweethearts have plenty of private things to talk about. I feel this useless person is only an eyesore to them.”

Hulu stammered, “This...”

“I don’t care what he needs to do or who he wants to be with. I’m staying in the Fragrant Pavilion for the next few days and have no interest in going anywhere else. When he’s free, tell him to keep his promise. I’m waiting for him to finish those pastries and bring them to me himself,” Gu Tingshuang instructed.

Though unsure of the situation, Hulu quietly agreed. “Yes, Dianxia.”

The scent Ning Shiting left in the room was fainter than the day before.

After dismissing the servants, Gu Tingshuang nibbled on some pastries but fed the rest to the little wolf.

The wolf, now full, sprawled on its back, its round belly facing the ceiling. Gu Tingshuang picked it up and tossed it aside. “Go run some laps. You’re now the fattest wolf in your generation. If you keep this up, how will you ever hunt?”

The wolf refused to run, wagging its tail while trying to jump onto his lap to beg for affection. Its message was clear: overeating wasn’t its fault but Gu Tingshuang’s, so it shouldn’t be punished. Instead, it should curl up on Ning Shiting’s pillow for a nap.

“Wishful thinking,” Gu Tingshuang muttered, reaching for the wolf to discipline it. But before he could act, the wolf’s ears twitched, and its eyes sparkled.

It wanted to play with Ning Shiting.

The wolf loved the Jiaoren’s scent and cool body temperature. Its bright-eyed gaze conveyed a plea: to be held by Ning Shiting or to nap on his shoulder.

“Off to find him again? Who’s been raising you—me or him?” Gu Tingshuang asked.

The wolf wagged its tail enthusiastically, rubbing its fluffy head against him.

Gu Tingshuang relented. “Fine, come here.”

He extended his hand, letting the wolf sniff his fingertips. In an instant, the wolf quieted and sat before him, awaiting orders.

Their gazes met briefly. At that moment, Gu Tingshuang’s spiritual awareness took control of the wolf’s body. Its eyes burned with golden fire.

Hulu, stationed by the door and inspecting recent shipments of medicinal ingredients, was startled when the door creaked open, revealing a fluffy silver-white wolf sneaking out.

Blocked by Hulu, the wolf gave him a light swat on the leg.

Hulu quickly stepped aside. “Little Wolf Lord, off to play? Be careful outside. Don’t let Wangye see you—he dislikes animals and said he’d kill any he spots!”

Annoyed, Gu Tingshuang bit down on Hulu’s shoe, startling him into jumping on the spot.

Only then did the wolf saunter out, tail flicking proudly, and trot off.

Foot Notes

1. He uses 您 (nin) which is the formal “you”.