Chapter 48: Letting Love Spread

In a bright room, two women sat facing each other.

Between them stood a rectangular glass coffee table, upon which rested two teapots. Teacups were placed within easy reach of both women, faint wisps of steam rising gently above them.

"I only said I wanted my son to borrow your seed—I never said I was giving him to you. And now you've lost him, and you still have the nerve to show your face before me?" The two had been sitting stiffly for a while. Du Gu Muqing was losing her patience—a woman usually the epitome of composure—and now, no matter what, she could no longer hold back.

Fang Ke pursed her lips slightly before smiling and taking a delicate sip from her teacup, showing no anger. She was one of the rare young surgeons in the Ideal Kingdom, skilled not only in general surgery but particularly adept at women's health and obstetrics. It was precisely this that earned her the reputation of being a noble among commoners. Du Gu Muqing had recognized this quality and thus agreed to let Du Gu Yi borrow her seed.

But now, it seemed she wanted more than just a simple borrowing.

“Madam Du Gu,” Fang Ke began thoughtfully, “I’ve long heard you disdain your daughter-in-law. Since you’re willing to lend me your seed, why not simply let me take control of the Du Gu family? I promise, the Du Gu family will be a hundred times stronger than it is now.” She paused, then decided to be direct—this was her nature and her usual way of doing things.

Du Gu Muqing, expecting a different response, was taken aback by Fang Ke’s bluntness. Ever since meeting this woman, she had sensed her ambition. She had agreed to lend her seed precisely because she saw through that ambition, but she hadn’t expected Fang Ke to be so forthright.

“The Du Gu family does not need to be a hundred times stronger than it is now, nor can I allow anyone to seize our legacy under any pretense,” Du Gu Muqing said firmly. In her younger days, she would have long since thrown away a useless daughter-in-law like Gu Xinyao. But things were different now. Her daughter was not one to be relied upon, and if she was to remain in charge, she would need dependable support—someone without ambition. Du Gu Yi and Gu Xinyao were the best candidates. A woman like Fang Ke, brimming with ambition, would only bring instability.

Fang Ke toyed with her teacup, her expression calm and composed. When Du Gu Muqing finished, she leisurely said, “Madam Du Gu, it’s already too late for you to say that. Do you know what kind of medicine I gave your son?”

Du Gu Muqing stared at her, a growing unease gnawing at her—she felt the situation slipping beyond her control.

“It’s called Huyu Mian. Oh, perhaps you’re unfamiliar with the term. Let me explain: it’s a potent nerve-paralytic drug with sedative and analgesic properties. In essence, it’s like a tranquilizer but many times stronger. Those who take it are practically incapacitated.” Before Du Gu Muqing could react, Fang Ke continued, “My professional skills are well-known—I don’t need a man competing with me. So even if he fathers my child, he can’t be too outstanding. Unfortunately, I hadn’t yet performed the embryo implant surgery on him before he was stolen, which complicates matters.”

Fang Ke shrugged, feeling no remorse for her actions. She was someone who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals—and she knew it.

Du Gu Muqing gripped the arms of her chair tightly. She had never suspected that the seemingly refined woman before her was so ambitious, nor that she would be so unabashed about her deeds. Was she shameless, or was it simply that Du Gu Muqing was growing old and had misjudged her? The thought of her capable son possibly ending up mentally impaired made her veins stand out in anger.

“Enough! I warn you, Ms. Fang, I made you from an obscure young doctor into a nationally renowned expert. I have the means to ruin your reputation forever. Don’t send anyone after my son again, or you’ll regret it.” Du Gu Muqing rose, her face stern and authoritative, leaving no room for argument.

Fang Ke was taken aback. She’d assumed Du Gu Muqing was a ruthless woman like herself, someone who would stop at nothing to achieve her aims. Why would she hold a grudge? She hadn’t expected such a cold turn.

“Ahem! Madam Du Gu, I think you misunderstand. I have a husband and no intention of marrying your son. We can share benefits—this way…” Fang Ke tried to reason.

But Du Gu Muqing didn’t want to listen any longer. She opened the door and left without looking back.

Fang Ke finished her sentence to the closed door, “That way, no one gets harmed.”

She lifted her hand; the white buttons on her shirt shimmered silver under the fluorescent light.

Near midnight, she still hadn’t heard from Du Gu Yi. Her communicator buzzed twice; she took it out and answered. After a brief exchange, she said, “Withdraw. No more surveillance.”

Since the other party no longer wanted her involved, there was no reason for her to persist. She was self-aware in certain matters.

She turned off the device and walked to the left side of the room, where a door painted the same color as the wall was concealed behind a coat rack.

Pushing it open, she entered a bedroom. The room was silent except for faint breathing drifting through the air.

She approached the bed, where a man was already asleep. Moonlight faintly illuminated his face—it was a face so beautiful it seemed unreal.

Fang Ke pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, then quietly slipped out as she had come.

Eighteen Li Township was a little-known leisure spot combining residence and dining. When Qin Rou arrived with a few people, the place was nearly closing.

Qin Rou was well-connected, so the staff were very familiar with her. The store manager personally came out to greet her.

At that moment, Du Gu Yi and A Fei were each eating a steaming bowl of noodles. Why just the two of them? Where were the others? Of course, Gu Xinyao had no appetite, and Shang Ran and Qin Rou were preoccupied, discussing how to leave Connorliang smoothly.

The now simple-minded Du Gu Yi still paid little attention to food, but he ate this bowl with great focus, completely unaware that a piece of vegetable had stuck to his cheek.

A Fei, refined and slow in his eating, glanced at Du Gu Yi from time to time. Seeing his unrefined way of eating, he shook his head—such a handsome man acting so innocently was rare.

Beside Du Gu Yi sat Gu Xinyao, watching him with concern. Had he been deprived of food since being taken away? Otherwise, how could he eat so messily?

She couldn’t help but brush the vegetable from his cheek. Despite her busy schedule, Du Gu Yi managed a faint smile—a satisfied one.

Seeing him like this, she clenched her fists tighter. How could she restore him to who he once was?

After smiling at Gu Xinyao, Du Gu Yi resumed eating his noodles. So content was he that his feet swung beneath the stool, utterly at ease.

The chair shifted slightly. Gu Xinyao looked down and noticed his long, bare feet. Only then did she recall that he had no shoes on because he had just come from the hospital.

She stood, pulled a small footstool from under the table, sat down, and took his cold feet into her warm hands. They were as cold as his hands had once been.

She massaged his feet attentively until they felt warm and blood flowed freely, then stopped. Seeing his bare feet exposed, she couldn’t help but hold them close to her chest. No matter how much he had changed or how incapable he’d become, her love for him would never wane.

After finishing his bowl, A Fei noticed Gu Xinyao had disappeared. She was sitting beneath the table, clutching something. He looked closely along the tablecloth and saw—it was a pair of feet. Yes, the feet of the man still eating noodles at the table.

He propped his chin on his hand, glancing at Gu Xinyao, then at Du Gu Yi, who seemed oblivious, happily eating away.

A Fei felt some sympathy for the woman. If this man remained like this, she would bear a heavier burden. He shook his head—he could barely manage himself, yet he found time to care for others.

“Hey, you little fool, why don’t you ask your wife if she’s hungry?” Unable to resist, A Fei addressed Du Gu Yi using the nickname he had just given him.

At first, Du Gu Yi didn’t realize the question was directed at him until he saw A Fei’s gaze fixed upon him.

With noodles still in his mouth, he frowned at A Fei, somewhat indignant. “I—I asked Xinyao. She said she’s not hungry. And, I’m not a little fool. I’m not.”

He swallowed the noodles in a huff, set down his chopsticks, and felt warmth beneath his feet. Only then did he realize Gu Xinyao was holding his feet.

“Xinyao, are you hungry?” he asked, biting his lips stained bright red with oil.

Gu Xinyao looked into his slightly wronged eyes—still clear, though no longer as profound.

“No, I’m not hungry. If Yi is full, then I’m not hungry.” She smiled softly, soothing him.

Seeing her smile, he smiled back, nodded firmly, and resumed eating.

Gu Xinyao sat back down and pulled the rather heavy Du Gu Yi into her lap. The posture was odd and uncomfortable, but she insisted, placing his feet on her legs so they wouldn’t get cold.

“A Fei, don’t call him little fool anymore. He’s not foolish!” Gu Xinyao said earnestly, no hint of teasing on her face.

“Oh, I was just joking!” A Fei scratched his nose. Well, it was just a joke—they needn’t take it seriously.

“That’s better!” Gu Xinyao nodded and ignored him.

Feeling like a third wheel, A Fei stood and went to look for Shang Ran.

It took nearly two hours for Du Gu Yi to finish the large bowl of noodles. He rubbed his full belly contentedly.

“Are you full?” A gentle female voice came to his ear.

After such a long car ride, feeling full made him sleepy. Rubbing his eyes, he sensed something soft and comfortable behind him and nodded, “Yes, very sleepy, want to sleep.”

Gu Xinyao watched his childlike gestures with a mix of novelty and a strange ache in her chest. She took his hand from his eyes and kissed him on the lips, not caring about the grease.

“All right, good Yi, I’ll carry you to sleep.” Like soothing a child, she lifted him. Though their sizes differed, it didn’t lessen her sense of fulfillment in holding him.

He wrapped his arms around her neck, his cheek nestled in her neck crease, and soon fell into a deep sleep without any barrier between them.

Gu Xinyao didn’t know whether to feel happy about his trust or guilty about his childlike intimacy. She felt as if she were holding not her husband, but her son.

She shook her head to dispel the absurd feeling and carried him to their pre-booked room.

Once inside, Gu Xinyao planned to put Du Gu Yi down and freshen up, but the sleeping man refused to let go.

She lay down with him, watching his peaceful sleep and feeling a surge of emotions.

“Ugh—” She was still gazing at his sleeping face when he let out a low, sob-like whimper and nuzzled closer.

They had been married for some time; she knew what this meant. Her hand moved to his groin, and sure enough, there was a response.

She frowned, wondering what was wrong. Then she recalled carrying him back, their bodies brushing, his scant clothing—it must have stirred the dormant fire within him.

Though simpler now, his body was still that of an adult. He was not deeply asleep and was roused by discomfort.

His clear eyes were tinged with pink; he didn’t know what he wanted but felt a burning flame inside. Only her closeness could slightly quell that fire.

Seeing his distressed expression, she gently licked his lips. His body seemed to have a will of its own, responding eagerly to her touch.

As she kissed him, her hands skillfully removed his simple clothes. His skin was smooth as before, but now even more sensitive.

He tore at her clothes as well, though they were already tattered, so soon they were both bare.

He pressed against her body, as if seeking to quell the fire within.

Her hands roamed over his skin until they reached the source of the flame. She flicked her fingers softly; he gasped and trembled slightly. She smiled low and sweet against his lips.

He didn’t understand why she smiled, but in that moment, his simple mind was consumed by the burning sensation.

They had been lying on their sides, but she laid him flat on the bed and straddled his abdomen. His eyes blazed with desire, yet he was unsure what to do. When he reached out to grab her, she caught his hand, interlocking their fingers. He arched his back, pressing his pelvis against hers, uncertain how to proceed.

She laughed, leaned down, and licked his lips. In his simplicity, she could fully lead this intimate dance.

She lifted her hips, fully accepting him.

“Ugh—” he moaned softly, a mixture of pleasure and pain. She watched his expression and moved slowly.

This was their first loving moment since the disaster, and his first since his transformation. She couldn’t think of any other way to comfort and soothe his fears but through physical closeness.

She knew he was afraid in the face of such change. Though simpler than before, the unease in his eyes was unmistakable.

He closed his eyes, enduring this bittersweet pain. She nestled against his chest, softly exploring his rosy nipples.

This was a pursuit with no winner—only love spreading in its wake.

Yi, how I wish you could live carefree. How I wish you were still the man you once were.

Author’s Note: Many asked for a chapter without explicit content, so this one is somewhat toned down. Does that make me a fickle writer? Hopefully, it won’t be censored. o(n_n)o~