OFTLHFRO C14
by NininiaChapter 14: It’s Soft
“Why don’t you just sleep inside?”
Luo Mingchen felt uneasy thinking about Huo Yan sleeping outside; he barely dared to turn over.
Huo Yan said, “You’ll fall off.”
“Me? No way. Besides, you’re so big…”
Before Luo Mingchen finished, under the moonlight streaming through the window, his gaze met those deep black, ink-like eyes, and his heart skipped a beat.
Truly captivating…
Luo Mingchen looked away and heard Huo Yan say, “You’re afraid of me.”
“Ha! Afraid of you?”
After speaking, Luo Mingchen didn’t hear Huo Yan’s reply but couldn’t help sneaking another glance.
Huo Yan was also watching him with particular focus and repeated, “You’re afraid of me.”
“I…”
Honestly, Luo Mingchen was a bit afraid of him, but as a man, he could never lose face.
So Luo Mingchen stubbornly said, “I’m afraid that in the middle of the night, if I’m half-asleep, I might do something to you.”
Huo Yan asked with a half-smile, “Like cutting me with a kitchen knife?”
Luo Mingchen felt slightly embarrassed hearing that, but looking at Huo Yan’s teasing expression, he didn’t want to back down and leaned closer with narrowed eyes saying, “There’s something I forgot to tell you.”
Seeing the puzzled look in Huo Yan’s eyes, Luo Mingchen lowered his voice and said each word distinctly, “I like men.”
After finishing, Luo Mingchen successfully saw some surprise cross Huo Yan’s face. He inwardly smiled with eyes curved, stretched lazily, and casually said, “So if you want to move inside, you’d better do it soon. Otherwise, if I’m half asleep, who knows what I might do, maybe even hug and nibble on you.”
Huo Yan stared at Luo Mingchen’s fair profile, still with a trace of baby fat, then fell silent.
Originally, he intended to choose a male groom to have more bodyguards for the children, and he didn’t want to trouble other girls or be questioned by matchmakers every time he returned.
To say he liked men, to imagine doing intimate things with a certain man, was something he dared not think about.
But if that person was Luo Mingchen, it somehow seemed less difficult to accept.
“Is that so?”
“Hmm?”
Hearing the voice, Luo Mingchen turned his head. A shadow covered him, warmth on his lips, then quickly withdrew, leaving only a slight soft touch.
Huo Yan had originally wanted to kiss his cheek but didn’t expect Luo Mingchen to suddenly turn his head.
However, this was not bad at all.
Realizing he had been kissed, Luo Mingchen’s pupils suddenly dilated, and he sat up, “You…”
Huo Yan licked his lower lip innocently and said, “It’s soft.”
Luo Mingchen: “…!!!”
Was he being teased?
Right?
“It’s okay, I don’t hate this feeling. You can hug me and nibble.”
Luo Mingchen stared surprised as Huo Yan closed his eyes and fell asleep right after saying that.
What was this?
Although he wanted to say something, even do something to Huo Yan, by the time Luo Mingchen came to his senses, quite some time had passed and he could only lie down, feeling frustrated, to sleep.
This was his first kiss and yet it was so casual…
Though feeling conflicted and awkward about this, Luo Mingchen also felt somewhat disappointed.
Previously, he liked a certain person, and that person confessed first, but the most they did after was hold hands and, when no one was around, hug.
Later Luo Mingchen realized that person was deliberately deceiving him after hearing he was the same sex and trying to get benefits from him.
He was foolishly sincere, joyful with just hand-holding.
Even when Luo Mingchen thought about being more intimate, that person feared others knowing their relationship and tolerated it while secretly having a mistress.
Upon the final confrontation, that person told him every moment spent together was unbearably disgusting…
Thinking of this, Luo Mingchen’s sense of disappointment grew, and seeing Huo Yan sleeping so carefree, he kicked him once, turned over, and stole the blanket.
Huo Yan, who hadn’t fallen asleep yet: “…”
Luo Mingchen fell asleep at some point. When he woke, the window was brightening, and a large warm body seemed pressed against his back.
Yawning, Luo Mingchen turned in confusion and saw a somewhat familiar face. Not fully awake, he just thought it was handsome and reached out to touch it.
“Good morning.”
A slightly hoarse voice sounded by his ear. Luo Mingchen paused, fully awakened, and sprang from Huo Yan’s embrace, “Why are you holding me?”
Huo Yan was still a little tired, “You tossed and turned all night—crying, kicking—and then seemed to be searching for something. I couldn’t sleep without holding you.”
“Is that so?”
Luo Mingchen frowned, “I sleep very well; don’t lie to me.”
Huo Yan stood up and looked at him, with faint dark shadows under his eyes, lazily asked, “Who told you that you sleep well?”
“Ahem…”
Luo Mingchen felt guilty and yet curious, “Huo Yuhui and the others never said I sleep badly.”
“Maybe they didn’t dare to say?”
The two looked at each other; Luo Mingchen: “…”
Alright, that possibility existed.
But…
Not crying and kicking, right?
Remembering Huo Yuhui and Huo Xiang had to go to Baiye Academy, Luo Mingchen hurried to make breakfast, while Huo Yan got up to fetch water and feed the chicken and ducks.
After Luo Mingchen finished cooking, Huo Yan finished feeding the chickens and ducks, and the two kids cleaned the yard.
While eating noodles, Luo Mingchen tentatively asked, “Xiang, did I kick you last night when sleeping?”
If he asked Huo Yuhui, that person might lie for his face, but Huo Xiang was different, being innocent and sweet; he would answer honestly.
“No.”
Huo Xiang asked puzzled, “Did little daddy kick daddy last night?”
“No.”
Luo Mingchen glanced at Huo Yan and secretly nudged him, implying — you lied to me, right?
Huo Yan calmly asked, “Xiang, how did your little daddy sleep last night?”
“He just hugged me and Yueyue, sometimes he cried.”
Hearing this, Huo Xiang seemed to miss the days of being held to sleep. Little daddy was gentle and not hot; his body was cool, so there was no fear of being taken away from beside him.
After listening, Huo Yan looked at Luo Mingchen, implying — I lied to you?
Luo Mingchen, wanting to kick Huo Yan, silently withdrew his foot.
So, he had this habit at night?
Luo Mingchen shrank his neck and lowered his head to eat noodles, pretending not to understand.
After breakfast, the group went to town together.
It was the kids’ first day at school; they forgot to buy backpacks yesterday. The backpacks were canvas bags Luo Mingchen found in his space.
After sending Huo Yuhui and Huo Xiang into the academy, Luo Mingchen carried Huo Xinyue and went with Huo Yan to buy some vegetables. They also bought a large stone mill and checked tofu prices.
Here, selling in the street required just renting a stall. Selling not very special foods was easy, but special foods needed certification to confirm no toxic additives.
After the shopping, the three of them took the ox cart home.
The tofu here was not very tender, probably because too much gypsum was added, also related to the method, cooking time, and pressing time.
Of course, Luo Mingchen didn’t know if locals preferred firmer water tofu.
He could try making some to sell; if the response was good, it would provide a source of income for the next three months.