Chapter 2813: The Stand‑In Was Taken by the Bandit's Wife 19

Gu Fanghe saw Jin Chen's expression darken, thinking he was still upset about what had just happened, and his own regret grew worse.

He reached out and gently covered Jin Chen's eyes.

Jin Chen hadn't figured it out yet when his vision suddenly went black; he blinked and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Young Master," Gu Fanghe kissed him, "don't look anymore; from now on I will never let you see those irrelevant things again."

"That drawing is no good; tear it up if you want. I'll draw for you every day until you're satisfied, alright?"

Jin Chen placed his hand over Gu Fanghe's; understanding, Gu Fanghe slowly released his grip.

Jin Chen stared into Gu Fanghe's eyes, touched him again, still lost in thought.

Being stared at like that left Gu Fanghe somewhat helpless; he wasn't good at coaxing people, and his usual tough tactics wouldn't work on Jin Chen, so all that remained was heartfelt tenderness.

He thought for a moment, then began to undo the ties of his robe.

Jin Chen came slightly to his senses and looked at him.

The sash loosened, moonlight streaming over it, the honey‑toned skin glowing brighter, his chest muscles full, his abs defined, rising and falling slightly with his breath.

Gu Fanghe took Jin Chen's hand and placed it over his own heart.

Under Jin Chen's palm lay warm skin, firm yet supple muscle, and the steady thump of a heartbeat.

What is kept here, what is thought of—only you.

I will never mistake you.

Gu Fanghe continued kissing him, from the corner of his lips to his cheeks, then to his earlobes, finally burying his face in his neck.

"Young Master," he murmured, his voice muffled, "don't ignore me."

Jin Chen patted his back, resting his chin on the top of his head, no longer clinging tightly.

There will always be a chance to figure it out.

"Not ignoring you, I'm just tired," Jin Chen said, his voice heavy with fatigue. "I really like this drawing; I'll have it framed tomorrow, so I won't waste the Chief's thoughtfulness."

Gu Fanghe's heart eased. "Good, let's rest."

In the room, A Yan had already prepared the bed in the side chamber; the brocade quilt was soft.

Jin Chen lay there awhile, lazily stroking Gu Fanghe's back, then suddenly asked, "I tore the drawing—are you angry?"

"Not angry," Gu Fanghe said, gazing into Jin Chen's eyes through the hazy moonlight, hooking his fingertip and lightly pressing it to his lips.

"You think I drew someone else, so tearing it would be justified… but I've never drawn anyone else."

Jin Chen rubbed his hand over Gu Fanghe's chest, hearing this, he smiled and kissed his eyes again.

"Was that picture you didn't let me see also of me?"

"... Yes." Gu Fanghe sighed softly, "but I had never seen you before, so I didn't know how to bring it up."

At that time, Jin Chen had just been kidnapped to the mountain; if it were discovered he had a portrait, wouldn't that prove he intentionally abducted someone, and how could he escape then?

"I understand, go to sleep." Jin Chen said, yet he didn't loosen his hold on the snug, well‑warmed blanket; Gu Fanghe glanced down, pulled the thin cover over them both, and finally closed his eyes contentedly.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +12, total 57!】

——

Du Yan felt that he really ought to have checked the almanac before heading out today.

The school building had just been completed, and they had even asked Master Jin to write an inscription; once free, people grew lazy.

He led seven or eight brothers down the mountain, originally intending to go to the newly opened tavern in South Continent City to grab a bite and pick up some supplies lacking in the stronghold.

The group chatted and laughed, the hooves clopping, just as they rounded the rarely used shortcut near Black Mountain Cliff, they spotted a carriage parked in the Misty Forest.

That carriage was quite fine; the two horses pulling it were also fat and strong, their coats glossy, fine steeds.

"Tsk," Du Yan reined in his horse, grinning, "what a fat sheep delivered right to our door."

Ordinary merchant caravans and escort teams would rather take a detour than dare to enter; this carriage looked wealthy yet veered into the Misty Forest—either they were lost or had some urgent matter forcing them to take the shortcut.

Whatever the case, once it fell into their hands, squeezing out some profit would keep the brothers happy for a while.

He gave his brothers behind him a look; they understood, drew their waist‑worn sabers, faces breaking into vicious grins, and spurred their horses forward to surround it.

The sound of hooves startled the person beside the carriage.

"Listen, those in the carriage!" Du Yan brandished his blade and shouted hoarsely, "If you want to go on safely from now on, leave a toll!"

At that moment, a figure stepped out.

The person wore a plain white long robe, over it a matching thin cloak, stood slender and clean‑cut by the muddy roadside, yet exuded a clear, pure aura.

Du Yan's vicious grin froze.

His one good eye widened, locked on the person who had stepped out of the carriage.

He hated it! He hated how sharp that single eye was! How… how could it see so clearly!

"Young Master Ruan?" the yellow‑cloaked lackey behind him cried out in disbelief, his voice gone.

Du Yan snapped his head back, glaring fiercely at that brat.

The seven or eight brothers on horseback were stuck—couldn't advance, couldn't retreat.

Du Yan was inwardly lamenting nonstop.

If it had been any other rich young master, he would have already swarmed in with his men and cleaned them out.

They stared at each other, "What do we do now?"

"Du Yan bro, is this really Young Master Ruan? I didn't missee, did I?" the yellow‑cloaked one whispered for confirmation.

"Nonsense!" Du Yan growled irritably.

"Should we… invite Young Master Ruan up the mountain?" another brother hesitated, "If the Chief knew Young Master Ruan had come but we didn't bring him up, wouldn't he…"

"Invite him up?" someone immediately objected.

"Have you thought about how Young Master Jin would feel? Young Master Jin is the Chief's apple of his eye! If he saw Young Master Ruan… would he be happy?"

"Exactly, if Young Master Jin isn't happy, will the Chief let us off?"

"... But the chief has always been like that toward Master Ruan, right?" someone wanted to say but stopped, the meaning obvious without words.

Everyone was talking over each other, seven mouths eight tongues, arguing until Duyan's head hurt.

He only felt like he had two heads.

How does he always run into these deadly, aggravating messes! Last time he snatched the wrong person, bringing back a young master Jin, causing how much trouble afterward.

This time, though, he directly blocked the main person on the road!

Before they could reach a decision, over there, Ruan Sutong walked over slowly.

Two attendants followed closely behind, hands always on their sword hilts, eyes vigilant.

"Duyan brother, long time no see, how have you been?" Ruan Sutong stood a few steps away from them, a faint smile on his lips, his voice clear and bright.

Duyan only felt his scalp go numb and a bitter taste in his mouth.

He hurriedly reined in his horse, dismounted, his movements even a bit rushed; the brothers behind him also all dismounted, clattering as they stood in a row.

Duyan cupped his fists, forcing himself to speak: "Master Ruan... long time no see, how did you come here?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself.

What a pointless question!

Ruan Sutong didn't mind his faux pas, saying, "I and Dage have been apart three years; I've missed him deeply."

"This time returning to South Province, it's been a while, and I never had the chance to come pay a visit; thinking of an old friend, I specially came to seek him out and catch up. I don't know if I could trouble Duyan brother to bring me up the mountain to see him?"

Duyan: "..."

His lips twitched a few times.

Not bring him?

But Master Ruan once did a favor for the stronghold, and the chief indeed kept him in mind, often looking at that portrait.

Bring him?

What about that young master Jin? That little ancestor has recently been spoiled rotten by the chief, and if he finds out...

Oh dear!

Duyan gritted his teeth, deciding to throw the problem back to the chief—really, it's not like he can easily let go of either side.

"All right, Master Ruan, having come from afar, you certainly should… please, please come in!"

Having said that, Duyan stepped aside to clear the road, making a gesturing invitation.

At the same time, he quickly gave a glance to the yellow-cloaked one behind him, lips moving slightly, silently mouthing with his mouth shape, "Quick, go report!"

Huang Pifeng understood, nodded deeply, taking advantage of everyone's attention being on Ruan Sutong, he quietly stepped back a few steps, mounted his horse, and gave a shake of the reins.

——

Black Mountain Stronghold, at the gate.

Yan Qi and Liu Mianfeng had almost arrived one after the other, sweat visible on both of their foreheads, obviously having rushed here upon receiving the news.

They hurried and dawdled, but finally managed to block the place in front of Ruan Sutong's carriage as it arrived at the stronghold's gate, though they hadn't yet had time to inform Gu Fenghe.

Having just caught his breath, he saw Duyan leading Ruan Sutong walking over slowly.

"Master Ruan, after three years apart, your bearing surpasses what it was before." Liu Mianfeng stepped forward first, clasped his hands and smiled, giving Ruan Sutong a discreet once‑over.

Three years without seeing, this Master Ruan has grown a bit thinner, but that aloof, transcendent aura of his remains unchanged.

Yan Qi also hurriedly cupped his fists, "Master Ruan, long time no see."

Ruan Sutong got off the carriage, gave the two a slight nod, "Master Liu, Brother Yan, how have you been?"

"Why isn't Chief Gu here? He… isn't he in the stronghold?"

"He… he…" Yan Qi, quick‑tongued, instinctively wanted to answer, but the words got stuck in his throat.

He unconsciously drifted toward the east side's Warm Pavilion, hesitation and anxiety flashing across his face.

"What is Dage up to right now? Is Young Master Jin nearby? If they run into each other…"

Liu Mianfeng lightly tapped Yan Qi's back with his fan, took over the conversation, his smile unchanged.

"Dage is currently handling some urgent affairs in the Warm Pavilion; Master Ruan, having come from afar and endured a hard journey, why not first go to the Front Hall for a cup of tea to rest? I've already sent someone to pass the word."

Ruan Sutong, however, slightly furrowed his brow.

Yan Qi's hesitant almost‑speaking and Liu Mianfeng's somewhat deliberate obstruction were plain to see, but his purpose for this trip was clear, and he was certain Gu Fenghe would not refuse to see him.

"No problem, I and Chief Gu are also old friends; no need to stand on ceremony. He's in the Warm Pavilion, I'll go straight to find him—plus, I'll get to see how the Black Mountain Stronghold has changed over these three years."

Saying that, he actually lifted his foot and started walking toward the east side's Warm Pavilion.

"Hold on!!!"

Yan Qi gave a start, jumped up to block Ruan Sutong's front, his voice rising an octave: "No, no, that's not all right!"

"Master Ruan! That… the Warm Pavilion over there… isn't convenient! Chief Gu really has urgent business! Extremely urgent business!"

Liu Mianfeng also stepped forward, "Master Ruan, please wait a moment."

"Chief Gu indeed has pressing matters keeping him occupied; it's not convenient to meet right away, I've ordered someone to summon him—surely Chief Gu will arrive shortly."

He turned to the two wide‑eyed little bandits beside him, raised his voice, "Pitch dark, hurry up and go report to the chief in the Warm Pavilion—just say a distinguished guest has arrived, please have the chief come quickly to the Front Hall!"

The two named little bandits gave a start and replied in unison, "Yes! Third Chief!"

Ruan Sutong stopped his steps, seeing Yan Qi and Liu Mianfeng's tense, enemy‑like demeanor, his brow furrowed even tighter.

He felt these two were especially strange, their attitude different from three years ago.

But he didn't want to argue, so he suppressed that odd feeling, gave a slight nod, "All right, then I'll impose on you."

Liu Mianfeng secretly let out a breath, quickly stepped aside to lead the way, "Master Ruan, please."

——

Inside the Warm Pavilion, however, the scene was quite different.

By the window, a small daybed held an open chessboard; Jin Chen held a black stone, lost in thought.

Gu Fanghe sat opposite him, casually propping his chin, but his gaze wasn't on the chessboard; instead it was fixed on the person opposite, no matter how you look, it never feels enough.

Jin Chen had decided where to place his piece, his fingertip twitched, but Gu Fanghe suddenly leaned in and quickly pecked his lips.

"Pa-da." Jin Chen's hand shook, and the piece landed where it shouldn't have.

Jin Chen: "……"

He lifted his eyes, glaring at the culprit.

Gu Fanghe, however, acted as if nothing had happened, even pushing forward and moving closer, chuckling lowly, "My turn."

Jin Chen extended a finger, blocking his forehead as he moved in again, helpless, "How are you even more shameless than I am?"

Gu Fanghe had clearly learned his tricks, smiling as he was about to say something more, when suddenly the door of the warm pavilion was pushed open.

"Elder Chief, something's wrong… ah! No! Elder Chief! Young Master Ruan has arrived!"

Two little bandits rushed in, blurting out their words before they could see the situation inside.

The Elder Chief held Young Master Jin's hand, his lips still touching the other's fingers, Young Master Jin…… his clothes were in disarray.

The two youths froze, turning in unison, each covering the other's eyes.

It's over, it's over!

Gu Fanghe released Jin Chen's hand, sat up straight, a little displeased, "…Speak clearly, who came?"

In the dark, with their backs to them, they were so frightened their legs went weak, "It's Young Master Ruan, Ruan Sutong, Young Master Ruan!"

"One-Eyed Brother met him down the mountain, brought him up, the Third and Fourth Chiefs are accompanying him, Young Master Ruan said he wants to see you."

Jin Chen slowly returned the piece to the container, his brow twitching slightly.

"Young Master Ruan, I've long heard of you."

Gu Fanghe: "……"

Because of a single portrait, he'd spent the past two days exerting the strength of nine oxen and two tigers, coaxing, kissing, laying bare his heart, almost unable to get out of bed, only managing to soften the person a bit—now it's fine, but worse.

"Xiao Chen…" Gu Fanghe grabbed his hand, brows slightly furrowed.

Jin Chen, however, had already risen leisurely, casually smoothing his slightly disheveled clothes and hair, then bent to pick up the white piece he'd accidentally dropped and put it back in the container.

"Let's go."

"Let's go see the… Ruan, Young Master, whom everyone in the stronghold avoids speaking of."