The heart seemed to stop beating suddenly, and Gu Song could hardly sense the existence of his body and lowered his head stiffly and slowly. "Youngest Master…"
——But he has nothing to offer except these.
The clueless servant lowered his head, trying hard to think whether he did something wrong or said something wrong, and wondered if there's something else that could be promised. Meanwhile, the slippery thin, white hand was already fumbling on his wrist and fell into his palm, the cold fingers clenching hard.
The Youngest Master is having a hard time.
Gu Song immediately discarded his extra thoughts and wrapped his hands around the trembling cold hand, wanting to check his physical condition. However, Lu Qingshi held him firmly, the rare stubbornness was seen in his dark black eyes. Then, he spoke in a slow but determined voice.
"…I don't want your life."
Gu Song was startled.
Lu Qingshi looked at him while panting for a moment before curling the corners of his lips upwards with a faint blush on his delicate face. "I want you to take care of me…"
While speaking out this obviously willful request, his voice became lowered again and tugged softly at the heart of the servant in front of him.
The hanging heart instantly fell down at those words. Gu Song was finally able to smile and breathed a sigh of relief. He gathered his arms, bowed his head and asked him softly. "Am I not taking care of the Youngest Master now?"
"Always take care of me."
After the start, the following words became much easier. [mfn]Anna: After having started to speak, the rest of the words are easy to say since what he was saying is quite embarrassing.[/mfn] Lu Qingshi took a breath and raised his head to meet the gentle black eyes of the juvenile servant. "So I have to live for a long time."
He took a few breaths and insisted once again. "You have to live longer than me."
Gu Song was stunned for a while before finally understanding what his Youngest Master meant actually. The sweetness and sourness that intertwined in his heart was covered with speechless bitterness, almost suffocating him.
Lu Qingshi was still stubbornly looking at him so he tightened his arms before lowering his head and kissed him gently. "…Okay."
Lu Qingshi's delicate and pretty eyebrows were beautifully curved upwards and the corners of his lips finally raised. He then wrapped his arms around Gu Song's shoulders and neck and rubbed his lips against his like a reward before closing his eyes again.
Gu Song also put his arms around him and patted him slowly. When the Youngest Master's breath became clear and long, he lowered his head and pressed his cheek against his forehead. His voice became choked with emotions. "Youngest Master can live for a long time… so don't think about these things anymore."
Lu Qingshi was falling asleep, and when he heard his voice, he mumbled instinctively. Gu Song only asked him to agree, finally showing a soft smile on his face and rubbing the Youngest Master's hair again, and put him back on the bed gently while hugging.
How old is his Youngest Master to be thinking about these matters of life and death?
The Youngest Master fell into deep sleep in his arms quietly, his face was pale and his breath was soft. Although his complexion was not healthy, it was still soft, revealing the soft luster of life.
Gu Song lowered his head and kissed him. He then carefully covered him with the quilt, adjusted the temperature and humidity of the room, and blocked the dim and warm light before going out.
The interrupted promise quietly took root in his heart.[mfn]Anna: I don't like this foreshadowing[/mfn]
It would be great if the vitality could also be infused and transferred.
It would be great if he could give the health and the ability to live healthily to his Youngest Master…
❆
Lu Nanxing, who felt so sorry for his youngest brother, started to help Lu Qingshi skip class deliberately.
This kind of thing was undoubtedly hidden to the brother who had always been sensible. He could only rely on the help of the obstructive rebellious servant, and a few brothers were used to cover it. When encountering particularly hard lessons such as piano, everyone combined efforts to make sure that five classes a week could be reduced into two or three classes.
During the turn of summer and autumn, Lu Qingshi's body was always weaker. Sometimes, he slept longer than the time he was awake. He couldn't even remember the days so he didn't notice the little moves made by his brothers and Gu Song.
With the concerted efforts of the family, Lu Qingshi became much more relaxed than before and also had the mood and spare energy to go out and walk around.
"Youngest Master, today's weather is good. It's nice to go out and get some air."
It was rare that the sky was bright and fresh, and Lu Qingshi's spirit was better than usual. Gu Song half-kneeled in front of the bed and adjusted his cuffs for him. He then checked the weather outside and smiled while holding his hand and raised his head. "I will accompany the Youngest Master out for a walk, okay?"
After crossing that boundary, he also discovered many new details that he had never noticed before or that he didn't dare to think about.
For example, his young master always liked to watch him secretly at all times.
He heard from the Sixth Young Master, who majored in art, that the slanting angle from the top to the bottom was the best looking. Naturally, the juvenile servant, who rarely had any heart to say no, made full use of his convenience and insisted on meticulously completing the steps of dressing and putting on his shoes every day by half kneeling by the bed. Every day, that way, he could see the scarlet color on the Youngest Master's face creeping up to his ears, and then the stars burst in the soft black eyes.
Unfortunately, the grown-up Youngest Master is no longer buried in the medicine bowl and spit bubbles again.
Secretly regretting for a moment in the bottom of his heart, Gu Song quickly and professionally collected all his thoughts, helped him stand up, and tidied up his coat neatly. "Does the Youngest Master have any places he wants to go?"
The almost grown-up servant now had well-built shoulders with broad arms and long sword-like eyebrows. He was dressed in a tailored shirt and tuxedo, looking very chic with a casual shake of his clothes. Lu Qingshi's heart beat lightly, letting him hug himself and put on his coat. "Are there no classes today?"
"The teacher asked for a temporary leave, saying something happened."
The Youngest Master was too obedient. Even if he was not really interested, he must go to class, and even if he didn't go, he must finish his homework.
Recently, Lu Qingshi's physical condition wasn't that good, and it took longer than usual to do his homework. He even fell asleep in front of the desk several times before Gu Song could find a chance to carry him back to the bed.
After being pulled into the group by a few Lu family children led by the three young masters, Gu Song struggled for two nights, and finally joined the Alliance to Care for Youngest Master Skipping Class[mfn]Anna: I can't!!!!! Jue: Anna is out of the world now kekeke[/mfn] on the night when Lu Qingshi fell ill while doing homework.
In addition, he also undertook the arduous task of secretly completing the coursework that Lu Qingshi had left unfinished when he didn't know.
As always, the Youngest Master wasn't easily fooled and blinked at him in disbelief. Gu Song spoke calmly and fastened the buttons one by one for him. "I will accompany the Youngest Master to the simulated fighting training ground, do you want to go?"
Most of the time, this training ground was for the Lu family's children to train their mental abilities, and could simulate a variety of real environments. As long as the mental power was introduced, even if a person was leaning on a recliner and basking in the sun, he could fight and brawl in the arena to exercise more detailed control of the mecha.
But for Lu Qingshi, the training ground was usually used just to simulate various scenes, then Gu Song led them to wander around and admire them.
After shutting himself at home for a long time, he naturally felt bored. So, his eyes slightly brightened at those words and he nodded immediately. "Can we go now?"
"Let's go, we'll be back after a while Youngest Master, just be careful not to tire yourself out too much."
The training ground was semi-outdoor, which not only relaxed the mood but also allowed Lu Qingshi to breathe some fresh air and get more sunshine, which was always good for the body.
While smiling, Gu Song stretched out his hand and led him out of the bedroom through the clean corridor built with Ningshen wood[mfn]MG: Calming wood. 宁神 – To calm the mind and spirit – Comes from '法言·至孝序; 'Fayan: Filial Piety'. to find a place for him where the sun and wind were right and to protect him from sitting in a semi-fitting recliner. "Youngest Master, sit here and watch the scenery. I will be back in a while."
Putting on the goggles, everything in front of you instantly became a vast interstellar ship, and you could move freely in it with just one thought.
For the Youngest Master, who usually stayed in the house getting recuperated and was allowed to go out only on rare occasions, this was such a great recreational activity.
Although Lu Deng liked to stay quiet without moving around, the monotonous life of recuperating from illness day after day was boring after all. He had even forced himself to turn his interest in studying. It could be seen clearly that he was very bored.
Lu Feng was afraid that he couldn't use mental energy properly and it would backfire in his body. So, he was never allowed to touch or take part in such a dangerous place as the training ground. Only today, his brother and Gu Song schemed together to open the back door, as there were not many opportunities to come and play.
Lu Qingshi looked up at Gu Song and nodded. He put on his goggles and guided his mental energy into the training ground.
Gu Song took out the accompanying small medicine furnace from the spatial button, placed the medicine inside to simmer it and set the time before joining him. He also channeled his mental power into it. In front of his eyes, however, was not a vast forest, but a majestic and vast interstellar ship.
Lu Qingshi's figure was standing on the deck.
The projection of the body was based on the strength of his own mental power. Lu Qingshi had been sick since he was a child, but his mental power was a little stronger than others. The silhouette projected in this way looked much healthier than in reality.
Virtual reality spread out a vast expanse of stars, and the stars shone brilliantly on the wide deck. Countless planets slowly revolved around a certain star, and bright and quiet galaxies lay across the distant sky.
Everything in front of him was brilliant and majestic. Lu Qingshi's silhouette was outlined by the light, and it looked very delicate. But inexplicably, the frail back also looked like it was about to merge into that light at anytime, which made people feel empty.
Gu Song couldn't help himself from leaping over to hug him from behind. "Youngest Master–"
This virtual reality suite was designed by Lu Qingshi's fifth and sixth elder brothers. To let their youngest brother have seamless fun in it, they secretly placed numerous safety precautions all over. If Qingshi were ever to enter a remotely frightening place, he would be directly transported to a more pleasant place. Thus, scenes such as a very dark forest or a valley ominous with death were replaced with a clearing full of flora and fauna, or a valley of flowers and trees with bubbling streams. The fierce interstellar beasts were also deliberately modified to match the appearance of cute, naïve pets, allowing Lu Qingshi to personally feed and pet them.
But no matter how elaborate the tricks construed were to please their youngest brother, all the elder brothers had a silent understanding. They never opened the battlefield section of the interstellar ship to him.
Gu Song once heard people secretly mentioning that Lu Qingshi's mother was radiated by nuclear waves on an interstellar ship and died early.
Because of this, his Youngest Master was weak and sick since he was born. He had finally grown up, but he still felt sick and uncomfortable from time to time. He wondered when he would get better.
His health will get better once he grows older.
Gu Song tightened his arms slightly. The young man between his arms leaned back in response, his thin back pressing firmly against his chest and held his arm with one hand before turning sideways to cover his lips. "Shh- "
Gu Song was stunned but stopped talking immediately, the silent question swimming apparently in his eyes.
Before he could ask his question, Lu Qingshi grabbed his arm and squatted down with him to avoid a beam of the searchlight.
"Youngest Master?"
Gu Song's heart jumped as he reflexively raised his hand to protect him, a bit of cold sweat breaking out on his back.
There were still people in the training ground!
Someone must have entered the training ground ahead of time. Their entry failed to open a new training world, thereby dragging them directly into the existent virtual environment being operated by his Youngest Master.
There were several entrances to this training ground. Except for the semi-outdoor environment that the two were familiar with, the rest were in the study rooms of the Lu family's children, plus Lu Feng and an instructor, who was a few years older. It would be okay if the Lu brothers were there. But if Lu Feng was actually there, the two might be punished together.
It wouldn't matter if he were to be punished to death, but he couldn't allow his Youngest Master to be dragged along.
His Youngest Master was finally able to come out to play. Even so, his softened heart was no excuse for allowing his Youngest Master to face such a dangerous situation, no matter how much the latter wanted to.
Knowing they would be unable to exit the suite within the next fifteen minutes, Gu Song held him with one hand and propped up his body, hurriedly mapping for places to hide. Suddenly, there was a faint movement in his arms.
The slightly startled Gu Song lowered his head subconsciously. His Youngest Master emerged from his arms like a little squirrel, smiling and arching his eyebrows. "I know there are classes today."
An escapade or two wouldn't have been discovered, but one could always encounter sufficient clues and catch someone in the act if they keep doing it. Moreover, Gu Song always lit up the lamp and spent time studying at the desk while he was sleeping, obviously because he had something to hide from him along with his brothers.
It felt so good to be spoiled in this way that Lu Deng couldn't bear to expose them. And, he rarely saw Gu Song doing his homework, so he cooperated along with them.
Gu Song was stunned for a while. Looking at the smiling black eyes of the Youngest Master, he didn't know where to laugh or cry. He couldn't help but bow his head and kiss him. "Youngest Master has learned bad things."
In the end, he was still corrupted by bad examples.
The warm and soft body in his arms was still as comfortable as when he was a child, but the light in his eyes became brighter than before, holding a clear, bright smile, like sunlight falling through the shade of the willow. From the bottom of the clear pond, stone ripples could even touch the sparkling light.
Leaning on his arm comfortably, Lu Qingshi raised his head and let him kiss him, and waited for the beam of the searchlight to pass before fumbling and holding his hand. "Let's go."
Gu Song was a little worried so he was about to pull him back, but Lu Qingshi had already grasped his hand, jumped up dexterously, and dragged him into the ship cabin. "It's okay, even if we are punished together by my father. I'll just do my homework."
Gu Song paused slightly on his feet and his mind turned awake afterward.
His Youngest Master was now a mental body, completely healthy, not at all uncomfortable or weak.
Although not as strong and sturdy as those who came for the trial, the young man in front of him was lean and slender, his body was well proportioned and supple, and his black eyes were steadily bent, clear and bright with vitality, through the warm eyebrows.
The eternal silent light of the stars gleamed in his eyes.
Gu Song's chest suddenly felt sore, and he blinked desperately to remove the mist accumulating in his eyes. Then he smiled at the rare dazzling light in those eyes. "I'll listen to the Youngest Master."
If the Youngest Master wants to fool around, then there is nothing wrong with fooling around.
Lu Qingshi became satisfied. The corners of his lips curled up softly and he held his hand tightly, pulling him into the huge warship.
This warship could accommodate at least three legions, which was almost as big as a small satellite, so they might not collide with people who were already here.
Gu Song allowed him to play around in the warship freely. The Youngest Master was much more agile than he expected, and he even had to work harder to ensure that he would not be left behind. Seeing that figure slide up on the iron ladder with one hand, he hurriedly followed up quickly and kept guarding beside him, to protect him from falling and bumping.
When the two of them went into a cabin, Gu Song, who was panting following him around, was about to speak, but Lu Qingshi covered his mouth with the back of his hand. "Shh–"
When the Youngest Master covers his mouth, it actually feels quite good. He's pretty certain it would be the same even if it's other places.
Probably because he was being too unrestrained, he had some messy thoughts uncontrollably. He swiftly dissipated it, then stopped after him.
A vaguely fierce quarrel was happening in the cabin.
Lu Qingshi, who had never thought that his family would quarrel, paused and suddenly felt a little uneasy. He instinctively pursed his lips and turned his head. Gu Song comforted him and gently hugged him. "Youngest Master, it's okay, they often quarrel…"
How the youngest brother should be raised, what could or couldn't be eaten by the youngest brother, whether the youngest brother should have more or less schoolwork, when the youngest brother wanted to go out to play, they should let him or not, what kind of clothes the youngest brother should wear, and where the youngest brother should sleep, etc. were often the topics of their frequent quarrels.
The twelve brothers of the Lu family not only quarreled but also fought, even overturned Lu Fanghai's study several times.
Worried about frightening the well-behaved brother, fighting usually only happened in places where Lu Qingshi couldn't see. In the presence of the youngest brother, his brothers were always happy to cooperate with each other.
With a soft voice, Gu Song calmed the agitated Youngest Master down. He raised his hand to release his skill, shielding their presence, and told Lu Qingshi to wait on the spot as he lightly walked over.
Although they usually quarreled, they were mostly in common places such as the study. As long as people had the intention to avoid them, they were deliberately avoided. Since they came across it today, the Youngest Master would inevitably listen to it. If it was about the enlightenment of the Lu family's young children's sex education, he was afraid that the Youngest Master would be cooked on the spot.[mfn]Anna: from blushing[/mfn]
Only after a few steps, there was a familiar feeling behind him.
Gu Song stopped and glanced back, meeting the still uneasy light in the black eyes, so he turned around to face him, and lightly held his hand. "Youngest Master, do you want to hear it?"
The whole time Lu Qingshi was growing up, he hadn't even heard his family members raise their voices even a little. Therefore, he couldn't relieve his nervousness, his lips were slightly pale, and he nodded silently.
Gu Song couldn't help smiling and stroked the top of his hair lightly before taking his hand patiently and squatting at the door together with his Youngest Master.
The body in his arms was still slightly tense. Gu Song had actually long been tired of listening to the details of the twelve sets of parenting theories. He instead concentrated on the Youngest Master who was scared to the point of trembling all over, only occasionally parting some of his attention to eavesdrop on the voices inside.
The people inside the room seemed to have turned up their shielding to mask their conversation, too. Only a few words could be vaguely heard outside, and it was hard to tell whose it was. However, he was still able to catch wisps of the person with the loudest voice – And admittedly, Gu Song couldn't figure out what may have agitated the always-poised Lu family's eldest brother to get angry like this.
Gu Song also grew curious. He planted a soothing kiss on the top of the Youngest Master's head and then focused to listen carefully. Lu Fanghai's angry low roar happened to be heard at that instant.
"You go ask father – our family can get anything! If we really can't get it, we brothers will go to other galaxies to find it. It's no big deal to become a star pirate! We can always find a way to get it! Even if Qingshi really is——Is, is it true that only a foreign slave can give him a host body!?"