Applaud for Happiness - Chapter 42

 

Chapter 42

The momentous event that was as striking as a storm was not immediately accomplished, and the reasons were lack of preparation. Two things were insufficient: the lack of tools, and the lack of experience shown by the 'puppy'.

Shen Qi did not want his first time to be a disaster. After having enough fun with kisses and touches, he nudged the puppy aside and commanded, "Go learn!"

He stated sternly that they would continue once the puppy had grasped the full process. He made it clear - to stay by his side, the puppy had to be adept at serving. If not, there was no need to stick around.

Feeling restless yet agreeing to his lack of expertise, Zhao Huaiyu immediately got dressed and started looking for the relevant material.

Worried about him struggling to find resources, Shen Qi instructed Shen An to gather the needed information. This was then delivered to Zhao Huaiyu for his learning.

Zhao Huaiyu studied late into the night, keeping his room's light illuminated until dawn.

The next morning, upon waking with a yawn, Shen Qi saw a figure sitting by his bedside. With bloodshot eyes intensely focused on him, the person radiated a mysterious glow, just like a hungry wolf that had found its prey, "I have learned," the eager 'wolf' pounced onto him, pinned him to the bed, and said: "I've gone through all the material and pictures. I promise to make you feel good!”

Shen Qi extended a finger and pressed it against Zhao Huaiyu's forehead: "Are you sure you're awake enough right now?"

It was clear he hadn't slept all night. Imagine how disappointing it would be if he dozed off right after starting due to exhaustion.

Having spent all night browsing the secret manual, Zhao Huaiyu felt invigorated as if possessed by divine power. He was far from tired. He immediately responded, showing his readiness, his breathing heavy, teeth gritting: "I'm sure!"

Feeling his readiness, Shen Qi's heart fluttered. Coupled with the spring in the air this early morning, he no longer resisted, but still asked with a hint of doubt: "Are you really sure you know what to do?"

Responding to Shen Qi was Zhao Huaiyu's body pressing down on him.

Surprisingly, the young, eager Wolf didn't deceive him. He did a full suite just for the foreplay, undressing him and caressing his whole body even before he magically pulled a small box from somewhere, seemingly ready to explore further.

It amused Shen Qi that he originally intended to navigate by himself. But when Shen Qi took hold of his hand and guided it, he froze in astonishment for a moment before his determination returned.

From there, they went on from early morning until noon, stopping only when hunger became unbearable, and called for servants to bring food.

Zhao Huaiyu did not let the servant into the room. He opened the door just a sliver to take the food before shutting it abruptly. The room was filled with the scent of their intimacy; anyone entering would immediately know what had occurred. Plus, due to his selfishness, he didn't want anyone to see how spent Seventh Young Master Shen was.

Shen Qi had started the day without breakfast and was thoroughly explored, thus he was famished when their passionate encounter concluded. At the sound of the food arriving, he nonchalantly draped Zhao Huaiyu's shirt from the floor, disregarding the soreness in his waist and legs, and emerged from the bedroom.

Seeing him in this state as he turned around with the food tray, Zhao's eyes immediately reddened. If he wasn't holding something, he'd probably lunge at him right again.

Shen Qi was wearing only a carelessly buttoned white shirt, seemingly unconcerned. He walked barefoot on the carpet and lounged on the couch. As soon as his rear touched the sofa, he frowned and opted to lie down instead.

The shirt did not quite cover his buttocks, exposing his bare posterior and his long and fair legs. His faintly visible waistline and the languid aura he exuded made him naturally seductive. He was leaning on one elbow, looking inattentively while brushing his chin.

Zhao Huaiyu took a deep breath, carried his meal to the table, and gently lifted Shen Qi across his waist. Leaning halfway on the sofa, he made Shen Qi lie on him.

Shen Qi didn't resist. Having someone willing to serve as his cushion was a good thing. He adjusted himself, finding the most comfortable position. But in doing so, he felt something poking against him. He playfully kneed it, propped his chin on Zhao Huaiyu's shoulder, and cooed, "Not bad, a good thing indeed."

Zhao Huaiyu's body tensed up, and he had a compliant look on his face as if willing to make any sacrifice. "I'm glad the young master likes it," he said.

Shen Qi loved this obedient side of Zhao Huaiyu, who'd listen without asking too many questions. Especially after this incident, his contentment value rose by an immediate twenty-five points. That was noteworthy, considering that such feelings had gleaned only eighteen points over his past four years. Now, it all added up to a substantial fifty-three points, bringing him closer to the passing line.

Considering how well-behaved the little wolf dog was, he didn't mind giving a reward. Gently holding its chin, he gave it a kiss. Although there were times before when he had kissed it in moments of wildness on the bed, those were mostly incidental due to passionate excitement. This gentle, affectionate kiss was a first.

Shen Qi was very involved in the kiss. Although he had no choice but to be on the bottom in bed, he thought to himself that in this relationship, he was the one who was truly in control. He did not allow the little wolf dog to resist at all. Their lips and tongues entangled deeply, letting him follow his own rhythm.

"Good boy." In a particularly good mood, Shen Qi found the puppy irresistibly endearing. Taking a moment to steady his slightly labored breath, he unabashedly commanded it, "Serve me my meal."

"Yes, sir." Holding his waist with one hand, Zhao Huaiyu helped him sit up. He then brought over the rice porridge, diligently spoon-feeding Shen Qi one mouthful at a time.

Watching the seventh young master swallow it in one gulp, he felt satisfied. It didn't matter if he acted as a servant, or if he pretended to be a fool, he would be willing to do anything as long as he could stay by Shen Qi's side. Anyway, it was him who touched his body and entered him. It's him who owns the other's body, and he's the only one who can see him twisting and moaning under him. Only he can leave traces on his body, and no one else can!

Remembering the charming scene in bed before, his breathing became stagnant and his eyes darkened. However, he caught a glimpse of the red and swollen buttocks and suppressed his desire. Not to worry, the future is long.

Originally, Shen Qi promised to return home and eat lunch, but the morning's events threw off his plans. Lunch was out of the question. He had to send someone to find an excuse and postpone the meal till evening.

Zhao Huaiyu's overnight cramming did yield some results. As a novice, he didn't hurt him, nor was he excessively indulgent - he made sure Shen Qi could still get out of bed.

Of course, Shen Qi concluded it was because he was afraid. Even in bed, even when he was at a disadvantage, he firmly believed his authoritativeness still prevailed. Zhao Huaiyu only responded with, "As long as you're happy."

They both fell asleep after finishing their meal. Especially Zhao Huaiyu, who had stayed up all night and put in considerable effort in the morning, slept soundly until six in the evening. Seeing him sleep so soundly, Shen Qi didn't rush to wake him up. By the time they got ready and headed to the house, it was nearly seven, and they had long missed dinner.

Since receiving news from Shen Qi's elder brother yesterday, everyone back home was extremely curious about Zhao Huaiyu. Those with a better memory immediately recalled the young boy who stayed at their house for three days years ago.

"Did Xiao Qi take a fancy to him back then?" The eldest wife recalled the shy and well-behaved boy from her memory and suddenly gained a new understanding of her son's character. "I remember the child was only about thirteen or fourteen back then. Although he looked a bit more mature, Xiao Qi should've..." (Note: Xiao Qi = Little Qi, it's just a nickname/ term of endearment for Shen Qi)

She hesitated since it seemed a bit inappropriate given that Zhao Huaiyu was just a child at that time. If this weren't about her son, she would surely be disgusted.

Shen, the President, initially didn't have much of an impression about Zhao Huaiyu. Yet, after the recent turn of events in the Lu Army, Zhao Huaiyu's information had landed on his desk. He didn't agree with his wife's speculation; what kid could cripple his own father and disable his brother?

Zhao Huaiyu was just slightly less ruthless than Tang Taizong. Of course, comparing him to Tang Taizong would be overly flattering. Fortunately, Zhao Huaiyu hadn't been too extreme, or President Shen would have been the first to disapprove.

Recalling the words delivered by his son, he reassured his wife: "Don't worry, Xiao Qi has a good sense of propriety; he won't do anything inappropriate. Besides, he only met the child a few times back then. His insistence on seeing Zhao Huaiyu now just shows it's not just a whim. Knowing Xiao Qi's character, once he makes a decision, he won't change his mind."

The elder wife looked worried and said, "With everything that's happening with Xiao Qi, I was just thinking of cuddling a grandchild, and now that's gone. We suddenly have a 'son-in-law' instead of a daughter-in-law. How are we to get along with him?"

President Shen seemed to think about something, let out a chuckle, and then confidently stated, "What is there to worry about? Get them engaged first, then let them marry once that child is twenty. Two years from now, we might not even be living here. We can return to our old house, each to their own courtyard. It will be much more open than this palace. It's not like the old days when we need to pay respect every morning and evening. By then, seeing them once a day would be an achievement. As for grandchildren, you can talk to our first, second, and third sons to see if they are willing to adopt."

The elder wife sighed: "That's probably the best we can do."

She believed that her son had eloped with an underage boy, so when Shen Qi brought Zhao Huaiyu in, she enthusiastically pulled Zhao Huaiyu to her side, not even giving Shen Qi a glance.

Shen Qi figured out what she was thinking and could only touch his nose in acquiescence.

Zhao Huaiyu, having changed from his military uniform into a light-colored suit, looked particularly innocent and naive, given he was even taller than Shen Qi. He sat obediently next to the elder wife on her side, speaking in favor of Shen Qi. His face showed a shy and modest expression: "I admire and love Xiao Qi. The first time I saw him at the Beijing hotel, I fell for him. I am willingly staying by Shen Qi’s side. Auntie, you don't need to worry. As long as I can be with Shen Qi, I don't care what others say."

Seeing him like this, the elder wife sighed and said, "What kind of attitude is this? Don't worry, since Shen Qi brought you here, I won't be polite. We will prepare for your engagement when we find the right time, and you can marry when you're twenty. What do you think?"

Zhao Huaiyu's eyes brightened for a moment, but soon dimmed as he hesitantly looked at Shen Qi. "And what about Shen Qi...?"

Seeing this, the elder wife forcefully said, "Why are you looking at him? Don't mind him, just tell us what you think."

Zhao Huaiyu immediately bowed his head in embarrassment, scratching his neck: "I'll listen to Auntie."

As he lowered his head, the elder wife spotted several marks and even teeth marks on the side of his neck. It was obvious what had happened. No wonder they were missing during lunch. Shen Qi was a bit too impatient. This child was just eighteen, really...

Sigh.

The elder wife sighed again, along with a subtle glare at Shen Qi, and hastily decided: "Alright, it's settled then. I will select a date later. Have you both had dinner? I'll order the kitchen to prepare something if not and have it sent to Shen Qi's courtyard. Don't leave tonight, just stay here and meet everyone in the morning."

"Alright." Zhao Huaiyu nodded, "Thank you, Auntie."

Listening to all this, Shen Qi was speechless. His opinion had been completely disregarded in deciding the matter. He wanted to say something, but was quickly dismissed by the elder wife as she wanted to have a private chat with Zhao Huaiyu. With no choice, he had to go back to his courtyard first.

Nothing much happened that night. After all, they had just made love that morning and he wasn't as energetic as he once was. A break was necessary.

The next morning at breakfast, Zhao Huaiyu was formally introduced to the Shen family. Thanks to Shen Qi's earlier coming out, the Shen family took everything calmly. Other than finding Zhao Huaiyu a bit different from the image of a sister-in-law they had in mind, they were pretty friendly towards him.

Zhao Huaiyu went straight to report to President Shen after breakfast while Shen Qi, having not visited home for a while, decided to stay and spend time with his mother and his nieces and nephews.

As they were talking, he noticed his second brother's attendant gesturing towards him from the corridor.

"Excuse me," Shen Qi said to his mother, pulled back the curtain and walked out, "What's the matter?"

The attendant respectfully replied: "Sir, the Second Young Master asked me to let you know that the third Young Master of the Wang family has arrived and would like to meet you."

Shen Qi furrowed his brows.

The third young master of the Wang family, Wang Yunzhao, was the younger brother of Shen Qi's second brother's friend. He graduated from Beijing University last year and then joined Shen's second brother's lab. He was quite handsome and well-mannered. When Shen Qi came out, Wang Yunzhao was the first one to secretly confess his feelings to him. However, Shen Qi didn't want to be the dominant one in the relationship, so he had to refuse.

Despite the rejection, Wang Yunzhao didn't give up and used every chance to get Shen Qi's attention.

Shen Qi guessed that Wang Yunzhao had probably heard some news. After all, many people had seen the scene where Zhao Huaiyu knelt down to hug him yesterday. A day later, those who should know probably knew.

He didn't really want to deal with it, but since his second brother had sent someone to find him, it meant that his brother also had no solution. Hence, he followed the attendant to see Wang Yunzhao.

As he walked through the door, he indeed saw Wang Yunzhao. Wang Yunzhao was sitting on a couch, staring blankly at the door. When he saw Shen Qi enter, his eyes lit up immediately.

"Qi-ge!"

Wang Yunzhao's elder brother and Shen Qi's second brother were good buddies. Wang Yunzhao had grown up calling the young masters of the Shen family "big brother." So naturally, he called Shen Qi "Qi-ge" (Note: seventh brother).

Shen Qi's impression of Wang Yunzhao wasn't deep. He only remembered him as a genuinely shy and introverted kid, and it wasn't an act like Zhao Huaiyu's in front of Grand Madam. When he initially received Yunzhao's confession, Shen Qi was quite taken aback.

Feigning ignorance of Yunzhao's presence, Shen Qi gave him a slight nod, "Yunzhao, you’re here too. Are you looking for Second Brother?"

Upon seeing no one behind Shen Qi, Wang Yunzhao looked relieved. Gathering courage, he stammered, "I, I heard that... Brother Qi chose someone yesterday..."

"Indeed," Shen Qi confirmed without hesitation, shattering Yunzhao's fantasies. There was a courteous smile on his face, "Soon, we will send a betrothal invitation to the family."

Wang Yunzhao lost all his color, and there was no response for a long time.

Shen Qi had intended to dispel Yunzhao's hopes from the beginning. Scanning the room and not seeing his Second Brother nor any servants, it was clear that he was intended to be the one to deliver the bad news.

After delivering the news and seeing no reaction from Wang Yunzhao, Shen Qi felt it was enough and turned to leave.

"Why?!" Wang Yunzhao chased after Shen Qi into the courtyard, shouting, "Why can't it be me?!"

Shen Qi felt a headache coming on but, in consideration of his Second Brother's face, he suppressed his impatience. Gently, he said, "I'm sorry, Yunzhao. I've always thought of you as a younger brother."

Yunzhao's eyes reddened, "But I like you. I've liked you since we were little..." He pursed his lips, "I don't mind if you like someone else. As long as you let me stay by your side, I promise not to cause you any trouble..."

"I do mind!!"

Before Shen Qi could respond, a gloomy voice came from behind. Turning around, he saw Zhao Huaiyu entering the room with a grim expression.

Raising an eyebrow, Shen Qi turned to Wang Yunzhao and said, "Let me introduce you to my partner, Zhao Huaiyu."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huaiyu's face brightened slightly, while Yunzhao's darkened.

"This is my Second Brother's friend, Wang Yunzhao."

Zhao Huaiyu extended his hand, "Nice to meet you."

Wang Yunzhao did not reach out his hand in response.

Feeling impatient, Shen Qi would've left early if not for his considerations towards his Second Brother. His expression cooled as he nodded to Wang Yunzhao indifferently, “I must be off, other matters call.”

After passing these words, he walked away, casually pulling along Zhao Huaiyu.

Yunzhao’s face couldn't have looked worse, tinged with humiliation.

Zhao Huaiyu followed Shen Qi immediately and turned to glance at Yunzhao. His eyes bore down like a pair of clandestine, venomous beasts, cold enough to make one shudder.

Yunzhao turned deathly pale.

Shen Qi thought that would be the end of it. He didn't feel the need for further explanation, and Zhao Huaiyu didn't appear to take it to heart either.

However, that night, upon returning to their quarters, no sooner had he entered the room than he was grabbed by Zhao Huaiyu. In one fluid motion, Zhao swept him up, closed the door, tossed him onto the bed, and climbed on top.

Brow furrowed, Shen Qi retorted, displeased, "Let go."

"I won't let go!" Zhao Huaiyu seemed to have suffered some sort of stimulus, his expression gloomy. Instead of letting go of him, he unbuckled his belt with a snap and bound his hands to the bedpost in just a few moves.

Now, Shen Qi's countenance fell entirely, his gaze icy. "Let me go!"

Unfazed at the next moment, the puppy dog looked at him stubbornly with teary eyes, as if he had done something wrong to him: "No, I won't."

Finally, Shen Qi understood. It turned out that Zhao Huaiyu was concerned about Wang Yunzhao. Right there, he clarified: "There's nothing between Wang Yunzhao and me. I don't like him."

Who would have thought that the little puppy would start crying right after Shen Qi finished speaking, tears dripping down. But his actions didn't stop. While crying, he kept tearing at Shen Qi's clothes: "He calls you 'Qi Ge' (Brother Qi), I call you 'Qi Shaoye' (Master Qi), he calls you 'Qi Ge', and you even call him by his name. You never even call me by my name..."

Speechless, Shen Qi responded: "Fine, from now on, you call me 'Qi Ge', and I'll call you by your name too, okay?"

"No." The little puppy managed to strip him of his clothes, then leaned down and bit his lip, tears flowing non-stop. "From now on, I'll call you 'Shaoye' (Young Master), my own exclusive master!"

"Okay, okay, as you wish." Shen Qi felt as if he had raised a son. Indeed, this is the downside of a cultivation system, he thought. "First, let me go."

"No." In a blink of an eye, the little puppy had also stripped himself and was now hugging Shen Qi. "Young master, say my name."

Shen Qi moved his wrists. The little puppy was somewhat skilled—he couldn't break free, much to the chagrin of someone who was used to taking charge. He raised his foot and kicked: "I'm saying this for the last time, let go."

I tried to kick it away, but the puppy caught my ankle midway. I tried to pry it off and nearly burst into tears saying, "Are you threatening me...?"

Shen Qi felt a stress headache coming on and said, "Speak clearly!"

The puppy let out tears freely like it didn't cost a thing, crying and hugging him tight. "I'm sorry, I know I'm wrong to do this, but I can't control myself. I just like you. Don't worry, sir. I will make you comfortable, please don't turn to others..."

"Sir, will you only like me and no one else?"

"Don't fancy others, I will satisfy you..."

"Do you feel good, sir? You clearly like when I do this to you..."

The master chose to remain silent.

Seeing no response, the puppy cried even harder, resting its head on his chest. Every now and then, it would look up with a pitiful face, "Sir, will you only like me? Will you?"

Shen Qi was emotionally moved by the puppy's crying yet was still begging him. He was helplessly speechless.

Even though he was being pushed down, the situation seemed as if he was the one pushing the puppy.

Overwhelmed with a sense of exhaustion, witnessing the puppy's pitiful behavior extinguished any spirit to argue further. "Do as you please." He gave up resisting, closed his eyes and just focused on enjoying the moment.

As the old saying goes, only women and villains are difficult to raise. (Note: 唯女子与小人难养也 = from The Analects of Confucius: "Only women and villains are difficult to raise. Those who are close will not be inferior, and those who are far away will be resentful.)

Author's Notes:

Zhao Huaiyu: Victory! \(≧▽≦)/

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter