His Ending
Liu Yingqu was invited by the manager into a small room, which made him a bit uneasy. This was clearly a VIP area. He was only borrowing fifteen taels of silver and didn't need the manager's personal reception.
"Manager, I'm here to borrow money." Liu Yingqu sipped his tea calmly, but inside he was very nervous.
"I understand, Young Master Liu. Please wait a moment." Manager Li showed a secretive smile and winked at Liu Yingqu.
Liu Yingqu: ?
What do you understand? Liu Yingqu suddenly felt a chill on his scalp. Something felt off.
He glanced sideways at the decorations around him. There were sounds of other guests being served at the door, while the manager stood smiling nearby. The contrast between the lively outside and the quiet inside was stark.
The manager was also puzzled. This Young Master Liu used to be good at networking and smooth-talking. Now he sat obediently, leaving the manager at a loss.
He thought of Shen Qingwu arriving soon and suddenly understood. This was truly high-class, a new trick. This refined aura was even more pleasing than before.
"Manager, don't you need to write an IOU when lending money?"
"…Of course you do, but you…" You never wrote one before. Usually, you just took the money and left.
A flicker of suspicion appeared in the manager's eyes. Liu Yingqu asked for paper and pen again. It seemed he really wanted to write an IOU.
Once this IOU was written, the money would truly be borrowed. Liu Yingqu felt a bit uncomfortable sitting there. He suspected the manager had some ill intentions. It's wise to be cautious. Better not stay here too long.
"Young Master Liu, please." Manager Li placed the paper and pen on the table.
Liu Yingqu dipped the brush in ink and instinctively wrote in the slender gold script he had practiced so well. He focused, his brows serious.
Suddenly, the curtain of the partition was lifted. A pale, slender hand with distinct joints lowered the curtain. Shen Qingwu immediately saw Liu Yingqu. Seeing Liu Yingqu hadn't noticed him yet, he felt some curiosity and amusement, shook his head at the manager, and quietly approached.
The characters on the paper were slender and strong. Liu Yingqu's brushwork was lively and light, with a style of its own.
Shen Qingwu's eyes widened. He was a man of experience and had never seen such beautiful handwriting even in the Great Zhao Dynasty. Could it be Liu Yingqu's own creation? Was he really that talented? Honestly, he doubted it.
Shen Qingwu had originally planned to teach Liu Yingqu a lesson today. He even prepared eight strong men at the alley entrance, ready to sack and beat him up as soon as he passed by to vent his anger.
Hearing Liu Yingqu use his money to help other brothers, Shen Qingwu was about to give him a good thrashing.
Two days later, news came that Liu Yingqu had lost a poetry contest at the academy and, in a fit of anger and frustration, had fallen into a pond while dazed.
He leaned in to examine the characters on Liu Yingqu's paper. It seemed to be an IOU?
Liu Yingqu had never written an IOU before when borrowing money; he always took it openly. Was this a sign of guilt? Shen Qingwu had heard of some bad deeds men did in the inner quarters. He only wanted someone good-looking, and at least not too bad in character.
While writing, Liu Yingqu noticed a pale wrist. He avoided looking directly but couldn't help noticing. When he looked up, a handsome man was staring at him.
Liu Yingqu was a bit shocked. When did another person start watching him? How did he not notice! He turned to look at the manager, who looked up at the sky, giving him no glance.
But the money was still needed.
Liu Yingqu gritted his teeth and finished writing the IOU. He was about to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Young Master Liu, you're here." Shen Qingwu smiled. His face was full of youthful collagen, looking lively and fresh. His hair was tied with a jade crown, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted from him. His black eyes held a smile, and under one eye was a small black mole, elegant and alluring.
Liu Yingqu was startled, and the brush in his hand stained the IOU with black ink.
This tone was the same as calling a lover. Liu Yingqu's hand holding the brush stiffened slightly, his heart turbulent. Who would call him Young Master Liu!
This age, this posture—this was Shen Qingwu, wasn't it?!
[Shen Qingwu didn't know why either. He treated Liu Yingqu very well, but in the end, he still died by his hand. The Shen family mansion's floor was stained red with blood, then set ablaze, burning all sins to ashes. The once godlike Shen Qingwu of Qingshui County died in that fire, and from then on, Qingshui County never saw a young man dressed in fine clothes, galloping proudly and admiring flowers along the streets again.]
[The rain in the capital city kept falling. Liu Yingqu held his husband close, draping a cloak over him, speaking softly and gently. He had long forgotten everything that happened in Qingshui County, regarding his former husband as a disgrace. A mere merchant dared to dream of being his legitimate husband; all his feelings for Shen Qingwu were fake. After his husband left, Liu Yingqu saw his trusted confidant and realized he no longer had any worries behind him.]
[Anyone who stands in his way is his enemy.]
"Liu Lang, what are you thinking about?" Shen Qingwu sat opposite Liu Yingqu, carefully reading the IOU on the table.
"…Nothing." Liu Yingqu pulled his thoughts back. The shopkeeper had already left, and only he and Shen Qingwu remained in the private room.
Liu Yingqu grew nervous again.
Had the original owner already started exchanging meaningful glances?
He began to feel afraid. In the book, Shen Qingwu especially liked learned people, was extremely possessive, and liked to monopolize. He was also paranoid and held grudges deeply.
At least the original owner was someone who could like men; he himself did not like men.
Even Shuang'er was a man in his eyes.
Moreover, Shen Qingwu was now just settling for his face; he was Shen Qingwu's compromise, probably without much feeling yet.
And Shen Qingwu would definitely make him take the imperial exams!
In fact, just as Liu Yingqu thought, compared to others, he was a tall guy among the short ones. His family was pressing him urgently, and Shen Qingwu was annoyed too. He was handsome, and the person he liked had to be good-looking as well.
Liu Yingqu was good-looking.
Good-looking but must not be fickle.
"I heard you have dealings with Bai Zhi," Shen Qingwu asked directly, without beating around the bush.
Liu Yingqu's mind went blank, his back chilled. He said, "I do have dealings with him, but I already have you. I just talk to him."
"If you don't like it, I won't talk to him anymore," Liu Yingqu said with clear black eyes.
"Ahem, I'm not that domineering," Shen Qingwu pretended for a moment. "Don't listen to others' nonsense. I'm still very gentle, a good guy."
Hiss, if he hadn't read the original, he might have believed that. Liu Yingqu was speechless and choked up.
"You ran too fast, there's still sweat on your face. Wipe it off," Liu Yingqu changed the subject sideways, not wanting to discuss whether Shen Qingwu was gentle or not. That was too difficult a question.
"Ah." Shen Qingwu blushed, took out a handkerchief, hurriedly wiped the sweat, and complained, "It's all your fault. If it weren't for the rumors between you and Bai Zhi, I wouldn't have had to run so fast!"
Is this my fault? Liu Yingqu felt very wronged, but he knew people weren't rational at times like this. He decided not to provoke Shen Qingwu.
No, maybe he could provoke a little. Maybe provoking would be better. He really wanted to break up.
Suddenly, a bright idea flashed in his mind. He really was a little clever fox.
"Qingwu, you don't trust me. How about we separate for now? My family is so poor, I'm afraid I'll drag you down."
Shen Qingwu stood up in a flash. "You want to break up with me? No way! Why do you want to break up? Do you have someone else?"
Shen Qingwu was about to die of anger. He stomped quickly to Liu Yingqu's side.
Liu Yingqu felt the pressure, his scalp tingled, and his survival instinct kicked in. He hooked his pinky finger around Shen Qingwu's hand. "Don't be angry. I was confused because of you."
Shen Qingwu: ?
Don't bully me for being less educated.
Liu Yingqu explained, "How can you easily doubt me because of others' words? Have you ever truly liked me?"
"Do you not like me anymore? Do you have someone else?" Liu Yingqu was very sad.
Shen Qingwu: ?
This sounds a bit familiar.
"Do you know that what you are doing can easily make you lose me?"
Shen Qingwu: ? No, it's not his fault. Is it his fault? Shen Qingwu began to doubt himself. He shouldn't have doubted Liu Yingqu.
"It's also my fault. I will keep my distance from others in the future," Liu Yingqu said seriously, looking very upright.
Shen Qingwu was very taken in by Liu Yingqu's little trick. Since he hooked his hand, he couldn't say much more. "Liu Lang, I will trust you more."
"Thank you, Mr. Shen." These words were just words, sigh.
"Still calling me Mr. Shen?" Shen Qingwu's fingers burned.
"…Qingwu." Liu Yingqu's quick wit helped him get through the crisis. Seeing Shen Qingwu playing with his hand, Liu Yingqu knew this road was long and arduous.
Men playing hand-holding and such, isn't that a bit off?
"I'll write an IOU first." Liu Yingqu was still very conscientious about debts.
Shen Qingwu chuckled lightly, lazily opening his eyes. "It's my own property. Why bother writing? It'll all be deducted from my account anyway."
Liu Yingqu: !!!
He recalled a very fitting phrase: What a big bowl of soft rice!
He wanted to shout, "I can!" Hesitating even a second is disrespectful to money.
"This is wrong," Liu Yingqu said with difficulty. "Your money is yours. Qingwu, you are easily deceived this way."
He was an upright person. How could he take others' money? That was too shameful. A good man should work hard with his own hands.
Shen Qingwu was moved. He looked at his lover properly for the first time and thought Liu Yingqu looked better today. How had he never noticed before? His face was pale, very pale.
Drowning from anger and panic was still a bit cold. Liu Yingqu's face was really beautiful! He could look at this face for two more months.
"You're not a stranger either."
