6

The next day Nie Huanzhang originally planned to hire a carriage for Zhou Chuyu but Zhou Chuyu declined and said:

"I don't need a carriage, but please do a favor to me."

"What?"

"Teach me how to ride a horse. But when learning how to ride a horse, is it possible to fall off the horse?"

Nie Huanzhang looked at Zhou Chuyu who still nestled in his arms and replied:

"It is possible."

"Will it hurt a lot?"

"What do you think?"

"I think it must hurt a lot. As you know I am afraid of pain. If it hurts I will cry."

Nie Huanzhang chuckled and said:

"So, are you still willing to learn?"

Zhou Chuyu hesitated for a moment. Nie Huanzhang looked at his expression and couldn't help but find it amusing. Zhou Chuyu looked up at him and said:

"Will you make me fall off the horse?"

Nie Huanzhang assured:

"Well, I promise you to protect you well and try my best to prevent you from falling off the horse."

"Okay then. I want to learn. You know, my eldest brother and my elder brother can ride the horse, buy only I can't. So I want to learn. "

"Don't worry, we'll take it slow. Besides, my horse listens to me. I'll gradually introduce it to you, and it will listen to you too."

"Really? Will it listen to me?"

Nie Huanzhang suggested:

"Yeah, you can start by patting it, talking to it and letting it get used to you."

Zhou Chuyu asked:

"Does it have a name?"

"Step Snow. You see, it is entirely black with only a ring of pure white on its two front hooves. That's why I call it Step Snow."

"Good name."

After saying that, Zhou Chuyu slowly moved away from Nie Huanzhang's embrace and leaned forward, hugging the horse's neck. Nie Huanzhang suddenly felt a void in his arms. He quickly wrapped his arms around Zhou Chuyu's waist to prevent him from slipping off the horse. Zhou Chuyu then said: 

"Hello, Step Snow, my name is Zhou Chuyu, a friend of your owner. Am I your friend too?" Then he turned to Nie Huanzhang and asked, "Are we friends?"

"Of course."

Zhou Chuyu continued to talk to Step Snow:

"Well, did you hear it? Your owner admits I am his friends so I am also your friend. As you know, your owner is going to teach me how to ride but I am really scared, especially of the pain. Please! Please help me and don't let me fall off. Okay?"

And so, Zhou Chuyu remained perched on the horse, chatting with Step Snow and continuously stroking its neck. They slowly walked toward the outskirts of the town. On this way, they were in no hurry to travel. In the open space outside the town, Nie Huanzhang led Step Snow while Zhou Chuyu sat on the horse, learning how to ride. They spent a whole day there. However, to their surprise, even though Zhou Chuyu had learned to ride, neither of them suggested buying another horse. The two continued to ride Step Snow together, with Zhou Chuyu still cradled in Nie Huanzhang's arms.

Nie Huanzhang, knowing that Zhou Chuyu wanted to explore the outside world, decided to take him on a journey to see the world. He wrote a letter to a friend in Xin'an town, asking him to keep an eye on news about Zhou Chuqi. If his friend encountered Zhou Chuqi, he was to deliver Zhou Chuyu's message to Zhou Chuqi so that Zhou Chuqi knew that Zhou Chuyu is safety now. Additionally, Nie Huanzhang also sent a letter to Family Zhou, along with Zhou Chuyu's letter to reassure them and let them not worry about him. With these arrangements in place, the two of them didn't rush on their journey. Instead, they leisurely traveled, enjoying the scenery and engaging in various places. Nie Huanzhang not only shared stories of his adventures in recent years but also recounted tales of strange occurrences and local customs from different regions. Zhou Chuyu listened with great interest, expanding his horizons along the way. 

For the past two days, the two of them had been walking in an unnamed mountain. A stream was flowing gently through the mountains, surrounded by lush greenery, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the melody of birdsong, creating a vibrant spring scene. 

Nie Huanzhang said:

"Chuyu, as you know, I love this kind of scenery, just like the Qingyun Mountain where I grew up." 

"Ge, could you call me by my zi from now on? You see, you mentioned that you don't like me calling you Mr. Nie because you thought we were not closer each other. So I'd like to call you Ge. Similarly, I also hope that someone would call me by my zi. You know everyone who knows me calls me Zhou Chuyu or Chuyu but no one has ever called me by my zi. I'd like you to call me by my zi. Is that okay?"

"But I don't understand why you have your own zi at your 14 years old."

"I asked my father for this. If I have my own zi, that means I grow up."

"But you are still 14 years old."

"That is why no one call my zi because it is secret. Don't you want to call my zi?"

"okay, Wangshi (Chuyu's zi), right? No problem, I will call you by your zi from now on."

Zhou Chuyu smiled happily and, while running, shouted loudly:

"Someone called me by my zi. Someone calls me by my zi. I am a adult person. Ge, I love this kind of scenery too."

Nie Huanzhang, leading the horse with horse's rein in his hand, looked at Zhou Chuyu, who seemed to have gone a bit crazy now. He shook his head and smiled. He hadn't expected that he would enjoy being with this silly boy so much, who was always clinging to him, bouncing around, finding everything fascinating, thinking everything tasted delicious. When something made this boy happy, his emotions exploded in a riot of colors, just like now. While watching Zhou Chuyu standing on the rock by the stream, Nie Huanzhang called out:

"Be careful, the rocks are wet and slippy. Don't fall down."

"I kno….ah…"

As expected, Zhou Chuyu underestimated the stones eroded by the stream. His feet slipped and he tumbled into the water. Nie Huanzhang pulled him out quickly and found him completely soaked, tears welling up in his eyes as he looked at his hands.

"Are you okay? What happened?"

Nie Huanzhang took Zhou Chuyu's hand and inspected, finding a few blood scratches on his hand, so he said:

"Just some scratches and you are fine."

Zhou Chuyu asked with a teary voice:

"But it hurts a lot, can you bandage it for me?" 

Nie Huanzhang looked at Zhou Chuyu in surprise, tears welling up in Zhou Chuyu's eyes. Nie Huanzhang thought about his own experiences, contemplating how painful such scratches could be. He wondered whether he had ever bandaged himself when faced with a similar situation. It seemed not very painful, and he hadn't bothered to bandage it. However, the 14-year-old boy in front of him was tearfully pleading for him to bandage the scratches. Nie Huanzhang couldn't help smile and said:

"Wangshi (Chuyu's zi), how old are you now? You're 14. Now you are crying and asking for a bandage for these minor scratches. You are quite something. Now it is the important thing for you to take off your clothes quickly, they're all wet. If not, you could catch a cold. "

"But, Ge, it really hurts. My elder brother would always bandage me up at home."

"You're so afraid of pain. Stop looking it and take off your clothes first."

But Zhou Chuyu continued to stare at the bloodstains on his hand. Nie Huanzhang sighed and started to help him undress. However, when Zhou Chuyu stood bare-chested in front of him, Nie Huanzhang couldn't help but catch his breath, gazing at the youth's fair and delicate skin. Unaware, the young boy continued to examine his hand. Nie Huanzhang discreetly swallowed, suppressing any inappropriate desires, gently patting the boy's shoulder and using this opportunity to caress his skin. He then draped his own cloak over the boy while saying: 

"Don't look, take off your pants and I will find you a set of underwear to change into."

Nie Huanzhang didn't dares to look at Zhou Chuyu anymore and tossed the clothes to him. Zhou Chuyu pleaded pitifully:

"Ge, can you help me change my underwear? I have injuries on my hand."

Nie Huanzhang was getting a bit annoyed and couldn't help but shout at Zhou Chuyu:

"What kind of nonsense injury you have! How old are you? Just a few scratches and you want me to change your clothes. Do you also want me to feed you?"

Zhou Chuyu paused, glancing at the back of Nie Huanzhang with a look of grievances. He bit his lip, choosing not to dwell on his injury, and proceeded to change his clothes.

"I'm done changing." Zhou Chuyu said with a bit of sadness and a nasal tone, "Ge, don't be mad at me. I've always been afraid of the pain."

After speaking, he tugged at Huanzhang's clothes. Nie Huanzhang turned around, looking at Zhou Chuyu who was with teary eyes. He couldn't help but pull Zhou Chuyu into his arms and said:

"I'm sorry, it is my fault. It is my ...,don't cry, um, being your Ge, I care about you."

"Ge, don't yell at me. It makes me uncomfortable." Zhou Chuyu said, nestled in Nie Huanzhang's embrace. 

Nie Huanzhang said with a smile:

"Isn't it that you're about to cry because of the pain in your hand?"

"No, it's not. It is uncomfortable when you yell at me so I am sad to cry. My hand doesn't hurt anymore. I know I'm a bit delicate. My dad and mom also say the same about me. I know I need to change myself and promise my parents I will."

"Alright, I admit it is my fault. Don't be sad again. Stop crying! Please! The weather is nice today and let's bask here in the sun here and dry our clothes."

After speaking, Nie Huanzhang released Zhou Chuyu. They spread their wet clothes on the rocks then found a flat stone to sit against. Zhou Chuyu took Nie Huanzhang's arm and hugged himself, leaning against Nie Huanzhang's shoulder. Nie Huanzhang asked:

"Do two of your brothers also do like this, letting them hug you?"

"No, it's not like this. My eldest brother likes to pat me on my head and my elder brother just gives me a pat on the shoulder. Only my mom and my little mom have hugged and embraced me, but that was when I was a child. Now, only my mom hugs me occasionally. My little mom doesn't hug me anymore, saying that I've grown up and should behave like a man."

"So, when I hugged you to sleep that day, you were very touched."

"Yeah, I like having someone to lean on and hold me. It makes me feel at ease, knowing that my relatives are around me, safe and happy. That's very nice."

"Relatives? Honestly, that's quite unfamiliar to me. I don't seem to have any relative and there's no one who can make me feel at ease."

"Don't you have a teacher? And what about Feng Yuan and Yue? Where is your parents?"

"I don't know whether my master is my relative or not. He raised me up, taught me everything and then let me stand on my own at the age of 16. After I turned 17, we never lived together again. I don't remember that he have hugged or embraced me, but I do wish we could be closer. Guan Yuheng and Feng Yuan are my best friends like the brothers but our relationship is more business-oriented. Of course, if one of us has a problem, the others will help out. As for Guan Yue, she is Yuheng's daughter, a orphan now. She could be considered as entrusted to me by Guan Yuheng in his final moments. However, I don't have a stable home to properly take care of her so it falls on Feng Yuan. As for my parents, I don't know. I have no memories of them and I don't think I've ever met them. Whoever they are, I have no idea."

"What? So that's how it is. Sorry, Ge, I thought everyone should have the life like me."

"Not everyone grows up like you who grow up in the rich family. You have never experienced hardship. As for me, I'm a lone ranger. One person eats their fill and the whole family isn't hungry."

"Ge, I am willing to be your relative. Even though I feel like consider your master as your relative, and he has never hugged or embraced you. Let me hug you, embrace you and make you feel at ease."

After saying this, Zhou Chuyu sat up straight, placed Nie Huanzhang's head on his shoulder and wrapped his arms around his shoulder. He continued to say:

"Close your eyes and feel it for a moment."

At first, Nie Huanzhang felt a bit inclined to laugh, but when he closed his eyes, he sensed the comfort of having someone to lean on, someone who made him relax. The person's well-being brought him a sense of peace as well. Finally he understood what Zhou Chuyu meant by that sense of tranquility, a feeling he had never experienced before. As a result, he found himself yearning for this sensation, and he tightly embraced Zhou Chuyu's waist. As the same time, he could feel Zhou Chuyu holding onto him even more tightly.