“You’re a young lady… don’t say things like that…”
“I’m just joking too. Why are you so nervous?”
“I…”
“What’s wrong? Are you blushing?”
The system watched in agony as Lu Youling went from timid to boldly teasing Gong Ze. It felt like watching a seemingly lecherous but actually pure-hearted college guy teasing a seemingly innocent Republican-era gentleman who was actually a seasoned D/s (?) expert.
Its own morally bankrupt host—with skin so fair and cold it seemed almost translucent, hiding a pitch-black interior, whose sheer number of schemes could trigger trypophobia—put on a fragile, helpless act, telling Lu Youling, who was grinning foolishly thinking he’d gotten the upper hand while his little heart pounded away, “No, don’t, I can’t.”
Watching this made the system feel the same kind of trauma as discovering that the Main God was actually a sweet little housewife bottom.
The system wailed, covering its eyes and rolling all over the floor.
[Aaaah, it hurts! My eyes! I’ve got a stye!]
And Gong Ze’s response to that?
“Scram if you can’t watch.”
Gentle smile, ruthless eyes.jpg
The system: … Fuck.
—
While handling Lu Youling, that little rascal’s teasing, Gong Ze was also mentally constructing his persona for this world.
He had prepared a new character for himself.
This “Gong Ze” had received the most advanced education this era had to offer. Like all intellectuals of his time, he was humorous, witty, and possessed both the gentlemanly virtues of the old era and the brand-new values brought by the reforms of the new era.
He had inner strength and unwavering resolve—the kind of man willing to die for justice and country, harboring dreams of revitalizing his motherland, shining brightly in his chosen field.
That was the image that would give Lu Youling, coming from the future, the greatest sense of security and trust.
—
With “Gong Ze” quickly taking shape in his mind, Gong Ze shifted his focus back to Lu Youling.
Faced with Lu Youling’s bold remarks, he frowned and scolded him disapprovingly. When Lu Youling responded with a question he already knew the answer to, a flicker of panic crossed Gong Ze’s expression.
“Gong Ze” had never been teased by a girl before. Even though he had had female classmates during his school years, back then everyone was passionately discussing their dreams and ideals, and gender was rarely a focus.
It wasn’t that feelings never developed between boys and girls at school, but expressing them came with the reserved restraint of the era. So “Gong Ze,” meeting Lu Youling—raised in a future era, free-spirited and casual—found himself unsure how to respond.
He didn’t know Lu Youling was a man disguised as a woman.
All he knew was that when he met those probing, wide-eyed, unflinching eyes—and Lu Youling, who didn’t shy away from his female identity at all as he looked straight at a man—
And seeing Lu Youling get excited by his fluster, his pupils practically sparkling—even “Gong Ze” found himself retreating, flustered, the tips of his ears turning red.
“You’re far too bold. How can you… look at a man like that…”
It would be taken as a hint.
“Gong Ze” sighed.
He thought of a good explanation for Lu Youling’s behavior: Lu Youling had been homeless and begging before this. No one had ever taught him about boundaries or etiquette between men and women. That was why he acted without any sense of restraint.
“How about this—when I teach you to read, I’ll also teach you some proper manners for young ladies. It’ll make you more presentable. That way, when you get to a city like the capital, you won’t cause trouble with your behavior.”
“Gong Ze” looked helplessly at Lu Youling, who was staring back at him with a delighted little smile.
He thought to himself: Like this. This kind of interaction is just too ambiguous.
Lu Youling, completely lost in the way this vintage handsome man looked at him with such helpless tolerance, was too dazed to even hear what Gong Ze was saying. He just said automatically, “Okay, sure.”
“Oh, by the way,” Lu Youling asked Gong Ze, “Gong Er, is there any girl you like?”
“Gong Ze”: “…’Gong Er’ is what my elders call me. You can just call me by my name… never mind. Call me whatever you like. And…”
He covered his face. “Don’t just ask people that kind of question. It’s very rude and it makes people uncomfortable. Besides, a girl asking a man that… it might be misinterpreted…”
Lu Youling blurted out, “Even by you?”
“Gong Ze” froze, then his eyes widened in shock at how brazenly Lu Youling was teasing him.
But when he saw that the “girl” who had asked the question had perfectly clear, innocent eyes, he realized he was overthinking it. Flustered, he turned his face away. “…Yes. So don’t ask that kind of thing in the future.”
He added, “And I… haven’t met a girl I like yet.”
Lu Youling didn’t understand why Gong Ze had suddenly gotten so shy. Luckily, he was quick-witted, and after a moment’s thought, it clicked. Instantly, he felt nothing but fond, indulgent affection for his vintage brother-in-law—the kind an old hand feels for a pure-hearted innocent.
Looks like even the more open-minded people in this era are still too conservative by our modern standards.
And instead of getting angry or scolding him for the teasing, Gong Ze just got flustered?
God, how could men from this era be so adorable?
Lu Youling’s heart raced even faster.
[Ding—Protagonist bottom Lu Youling’s affection +1]
“Gong Er~”
Lu Youling called out in a mischievous, wheedling tone. Gong Ze turned his head away, refusing to look at him.
Humans are like that—there’s a little bit of cat in all of us. The more you realize someone gets shy around you, the more you can’t help teasing them.
“Gong Ze’s” expression grew even more helpless. He glanced at Lu Youling’s lively, slightly wicked face, then couldn’t help but smile at his childishness.
“No teasing people older than you. It makes us lose face.”
“Pfft~”
Lu Youling couldn’t help bursting out laughing.
“Gong Ze” smiled in response, his eyes crinkling.
Lu Youling noticed that Gong Ze’s eyelashes weren’t the curly kind. They were straight and downturned. Whenever he avoided eye contact, they would lower and cover his eyes, hiding the emotions within.
There was something unbearably alluring about that restraint, that hint of flustered innocence.
Lu Youling thought: My god.
Isn’t this just asking for trouble?! How can a man be so pure and still so seductive at the same time? Even more tantalizing than a beautiful woman—or someone like me, who’s on the bottom.
Lu Youling (д;) thought: I’m sorry. I’ve sinned against my vintage brother-in-law.
Gong Ze could feel the gaze on him growing more and more heated. He took a breath and said quietly, “Anyway, you’re done eating. You should leave now. Don’t let anyone see you with me…”
“You’re afraid they’ll get the wrong idea about the two of us.”
Lu Youling understood instantly.
Under Lu Youling’s smiling gaze, Gong Ze’s heart grew more and more unsettled. He put on a stern expression and shooed him away. “Stop fooling around. Gossip is a terrible thing. You’re a girl—if people start spreading nasty rumors about you, how will you ever marry in the future?”
As he spoke, genuine concern and care showed on his face.
Afraid she’d tease him too far, Lu Youling reined himself in a little. “Then don’t forget—you promised to teach me to read and write.”
“Mm… I won’t forget…”
The man, still half-turned away, glanced at her. His eyes accidentally landed on her chest, then he quickly looked away in a panic. The tips of his ears turned twice as red.
Lu Youling: …
He was silent. He said nothing. He just quietly let his affection points go up.
He had hated having to live dressed as a woman. He used to feel resentful—other transmigrators became rich kids or princes, while he got a cram school education, died of overwork, and ended up unluckily transmigrating into this era as a beggar.
He had suffered so much hardship, pretending to be a woman just for a bite to eat. The only thing even close to a golden finger was his spiritual spring water, but he only got one drop a day—barely enough for anything.
Until he met Gong Ze.
Now, Lu Youling thought, dressing as a woman wasn’t such a big deal.
And if it meant teasing this vintage handsome man, even if the sky rained knives tomorrow, he’d still show up to learn traditional characters!
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