7

Waking up from a nap, Nie Huanzhang found himself still leaning on Chuyu's shoulder, with Zhou Chuyu still embracing him. He lifted his head and gazed at Zhou Chuyu's serene sleeping face. Raising his hand, he gently caressed Zhou Chuyu's cheek. Perhaps because of this touching, Zhou Chuyu stirred slightly. Quickly withdrawing his hand, Nie Huanzhang then lifted Zhou Chuyu onto his lap. This movement prompted a couple of murmurs from Zhou Chuyu. 

Nie Huanzhang said:

"It is okay. Continue sleeping." 

Then he kissed Zhou Chuyu's forehead lightly. Zhou Chuyu mumbled:

"Ge, I am your relative."

Nie Huanzhang replied:

"Yeah, great. I like it."

After that, he continued to gaze at the sleeping figure in his arms. He thought Zhou Chuyu had woken up, but upon closer inspection, Zhou Chuyu was still sound asleep. Nie Huanzhang held him even tighter, his eyes slightly moist. This teenager, whom he had only known for a little over ten days, had managed to enter his heart, touching him and calming his restless soul. 

Nie Huanzhang asked the innkeeper:

"Waiter, do you have a room with two beds?"

The waiter replied:

"Is it okay for one bed and one couch?"

"That's fine. Also, please prepare some water for washing and drinking and have it sent to our room."

"Sure, no problem, please follow me. Do you both have had dinner?"

Nie Huanzhang asked Zhou Chuyu:

"Are you hungry?"

Zhou Chuyu touched his stomach said:

"I think I'm a bit hungry."

"Alright, prepare some food again, not spicy though. My brother can't handle spicy food."

"Okay, rest for now and we'll bring food and water to you shortly."

Nie Huanzhang said to Zhou Chuyu again:

"As soon as we entered the town, you began eating. You've had a lot of random stuff and now are you still hungry?"

"Those things are not proper meals. Besides, you ate more than me because I couldn't even compete with you for the snacks."

Nie Huanzhang thought about how and when they first entered the town, they bought snacks in pairs, one for each person. But later, somehow, they started grabbing and eating each other's snacks. It became amusing and that's how they playfully made their way to the inn.

Nie Huanzhang said to Zhou Chuyu:

"You rest in the room. When the water arrives, freshen up a bit. I'll be right back."

"Where are you going? Should I come with you?"

"No, I'll be back soon. Wait for me and we'll have dinner together"

When Nie Huanzhang returned with a large bag, as he entered the inn, he noticed three young men in the process of booking rooms. One carried vigorously an air of nobility with graceful manners, dressed in a seemingly ordinary robe that, upon closer inspection, revealed itself to be of high-quality fabric, a figure that seemed like the master. Another exuded a refined temperament, dressed in a standard scholar's attire, suggesting a strategist. The third had fierce brows and eyes, a robust physique, clad in sturdy armor, resembling a guardian. All three had swords hanging at their waists. Upon seeing Nie Huanzhang enter, the one resembling the master only gave a fleeting glance, the guardian kept a watchful eye on him while the strategist engaged in conversation with the innkeeper:

"Is there luxury room here? Preferable a private courtyard." 

The innkeeper responded:

"Sorry, sir, we don't have a private courtyard."

The strategist sighed and said:

"Alright then, just give us two luxury rooms, adjacent to each other. One of them should have two beds. Is that possible?"

"No problem, please follow me, sir."

The strategist added:

"Prepare some water for us to wash up."

The innkeeper asked:

"Do you need us to prepare some food as well?"

"No, we don't need."

Nie Huanzhang only gave them a casual glance before returning to his room. Inside, he found Zhou Chuyu leaning on the couch, reading a book. On the table, there was a food box that hadn't been opened yet. Seeing Nie Huanzhang return, Zhou Chuyu quickly stood up and asked: 

"Did you go shopping?What did you buy?"

Nie Huanzhang replied, placing the bag aside.

"I'm not telling you. It's a secret. Let's have a dinner first."

At night, Nie Huanzhang lay on the bed while Zhou Chuyu lay on the couch. Originally Nie Huanzhang wanted Zhou Chuyu to sleep on the bed but Zhou Chuyu insisted on the couch, citing his short stature as a reason. Neither of them fell asleep right away. Zhou Chuyu asked:

"Ge, are you asleep?"

"Not yet. What's up?"

Zhou Chuyu said, a bit shyly:

"I can't sleep. Maybe I napped too much during the day. It's so comfortable sleeping in your arms."

Nie Huanzhang chuckled and said:

"You've practically numbed my legs. I haven't been able to stand up for a while. You may be small but you're surprisingly heavy."

Zhou Chuyu grinned and said:

"Can I come over and lie down with you? I want to chat with you while lying with you. I like it this way."

"Sure, come here."

Zhou Chuyu happily jumped up from the pallet, immediately ran to Nie Huanzhang's bed and lay down beside him. Nie Huanzhang asked:

"Do you want me to hold you?"

"Yes, please. It's comfortable. Oh, no, I hold you. I am your relative, your younger brother."

Nie Huanzhang chuckled and said:

"No, I am not a child."

Zhou Chuyu replied:

"Me either but I like it."

Nie Huanzhang embraced Zhou Chuyu and they chatted about their childhood memories. As they continued talking, Zhou Chuyu gradually fell silent. Nie Huanzhang glanced at him, kissed his forehead and whispered:

"How clingy you are!"

He adjusted their positions to make Zhou Chuyu more comfortable and to ensure his own comfort as well. In this way, they drifted off to sleep, continuing to share the warmth of the night.

The next morning two of them left the inn early. When they reached the wilderness, Nie Huanzhang took out the bag and handed it to Zhou Chuyu, saying:

"This is for you. Open it."

Zhou Chuyu was surprised, pointing to himself, and asked:

"For me?"

"Yes."

Zhou Chuyu immediately took the bag with joy, swinging his legs back and forth in the air. With a playful excitement, he opened the bag to find a sturdy box inside. Opening the box, he discovered various snacks and treats. Surprised, he looked at Nie Huanzhang. Nie Huanzhang explained:

"Yesterday I noticed you liked to eat them, but we were just playing around so you didn't eat too much so I went out and bought the ones you like for you to enjoy on the journey."

Zhou Chuyu, feeling deeply moved, couldn't help but hug Nie Huanzhang. Although his brothers often bought him delicious things, he felt that it was different when Nie Huanzhang did it. Why is it different? He couldn't pinpoint exactly what made it different, but he just wanted to hold Nie Huanzhang tightly and Nie Huanzhang reciprocated the embrace.

The two of them casually rode one horse along the road. Zhou Chuyu enjoyed the snacks and treats that Nie Huanzhang bought, occasionally feeding some to Nie Huanzhang. Nie Huanzhang, in turn, savored these simple joys, indulgently watching Zhou Chuyu's various movements. He provided water whenever Zhou Chuyu needed it and used his hand to wipe away any crumbs from Zhou Chuyu's mouth. 

Just as two of them were enjoying their two-person world happily and peacefully, the sound of hooves echoed from behind. Nie Huanzhang, recognizing that it wasn't just one person, turned his head to look, and Zhou Chuyu also turned back to see. Nie Huanzhang quickly identified the three individuals they had encountered at the inn yesterday. Although trio wasn't rushing, their speed was noticeably faster than Nie Huanzhang and Zhou Chuyu's. Soon, the three caught up and the guard continued to gaze at Nie Huanzhang. However, upon seeing Zhou Chuyu, a hint of a smile appeared on his face. Nie Huanzhang noticed Zhou Chuyu who had a bit of red bean paste on his lips so he quickly wiped it away with his hand. This action seemed to catch the attention of that master, who also smiled and spoke:

"Guy, you dote on your little brother so much."

Nie Huanzhang smiled and said:

"Sorry to make us idiots. My younger brother may have been spoiled too much at home. He's not familiar with the ways of the world so I have no choice but indulge him."

Zhou Chuyu blushed a little and smiled at the leader. That leader introduced himself:

"My name is Hong Xuan. This is my strategist, Yu WeiWei and my bodayguard Lee Da."

"I am Nie Huanzhang and this is my brotherly friend Zhou Chuyu."

Hong Xuan said:

"You two are on the way to ...."

"We're heading to Xin'an town. And you, sir?"

"We're heading to Liangzhou City in the western border. It seems that we can travel together for a while."

Zhou Chuyu placed the snack box in the bag, hanging it on the saddle. He then took out a map from his pocket to locate Liangzhou. Hong Xuan quickly pointed it out for him. Chuyu asked in a surprise:

"What? It is so far away from here, almost reaching the border. Ge, do you have been to Liangzhou?"

"I've been there once or twice." Nie Huanzhang replied, thinking to himself: he had been there more than once or twice. Every time he transported goods, he had to pass through there. 

He lied to Zhou Chuyu because he didn't want Zhou Chuyu to know a lot about his business. However he decided that he must find a chance to tell Zhou Chuyu the truth.

"Is it a beautiful city?"

Nie Huanzhang said:

"Endless yellow sand, vast and boundless. I think you might cry when you get there."

Hong Xuan mentioned casually:

"But there are border troops stationed there for defending against the attacks from the Huichun tribe."