The Godlike Jade Rabbit Chapter 56

‘Promise me, stay by my side, keep close to me and don’t get hurt ever again.’

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Ch. 56 | A bath

 

By the time they returned from Fuyin Street, it was lunchtime. The retired veteran Styx was doing some sewing in the sunshine, legs crossed, grey hair flowing down, the picture of virtuousness.

‘Whose clothes are those?’ asked Dandan.

Hearing his voice, Styx answered very reluctantly, ‘Eldest Master’s.’

‘Oh, a steward also has to be responsible for mending clothes?’ Dandan bent down and inspected the clothing for a while. ‘These sleeping clothes are made of pure silk?’

‘Mmhm.’ Styx bit off the the thread with his teeth and Dandan noticed for the first time that his teeth weren’t quite like normal ones but more of a serrated shape.

‘What are you looking at?’ Styx glanced at him woodenly.

Dandan retreated a few steps. ‘Nothing… I just feel that since the Song family is so wealthy, they can afford to buy new clothes to replace torn ones. Why do they need you to do the mending?’

‘Father bought those for us,’ Song Lin interjected from behind. He was just about to walk off when he hesitated and added, ‘I have a set too.’

‘Eldest Master and Second Master used to defy Old Master when he was alive but after he passed away, they kept every single thing Old Master left them,’ Styx said softly.

‘Clearly very filial sons but still want to pretend otherwise.’ Dandan nudged Styx. ‘I say, is it possible that Song Lin was a brat last time?’

‘Well, if I had to say, he laughed more and was more talkative compared to now.’

‘You mean he actually had a cheerful personality before?’ Dandan asked.

Styx glanced at Song Lin’s side profile before giving the tiniest of nods.

Dandan’s curiosity was instantly aroused. ‘Even that taciturn¹ Eldest Master as well?’

Styx reminisced for a few moments. ‘Mm. Both brothers were very cheerful and very playful. I have a photo album of their younger days.’

‘I want to see, I want to see!’ Dandan raised both his arms to express his eagerness but it accidentally affected the wound on his shoulder and he hissed with pain.

‘Pipe down,’ Song Lin said. ‘Stop fooling around. We’re going for lunch.’

Styx obediently put down his sewing. ‘Yes.’

Dandan’s ears, which had initially been pricked with interest, drooped, ‘… Okay.’

On the way to the dining hall, Song Lin walked ahead while Dandan, trailing behind him, secretly mouthed to Styx: hey, let me look at the photo album later!

Styx was just about to reply when Song Lin said coldly, ‘Don’t even think about it.’

‘… You even managed to hear that…’ Dandan muttered under his breath.

On the dining table, a plate of fragrant roasted lamb legs had been placed in front of Dandan’s seat but next to it was a dish of carrots, of all things. ‘Wait a minute! Why is this stuff in front of my plate?’

‘They’re a token of Young Master Liang’s sincerity. Throwing them away would be too much of a waste,’ Song Lin said neutrally while taking some vegetables with his chopsticks.

‘I don’t want them, don’t want them. I refuse.’ Every cell in Dandan’s body was protesting.

‘Styx said that you have to eat more carrots to help you recuperate faster.’

‘Really?’ Dandan looked doubtfully at Styx.

‘Mmhm,’ Styx nodded calmly.

Song Lin picked up one and held it to Dandan’s lips. ‘Here, try it.’

Dandan immediately retreated but Song Lin stretched out a hand, cutting off his means of escape and urged him, ‘Open wide —’

‘Nonono!’ Dandan’s double chins had already appeared, so fierce was his resistance. Just then he heard Styx cough and spared him a glance, only to see him cover one side of his mouth while coughing but he was actually mouthing: photo album. Dandan understood right away — if he ate the carrot, he would be able to see Song Lin’s childhood photos, right?

His eyes darted between the carrot and Song Lin.
Aaahhh!!! For the sake of seeing a young Song Lin, he would risk it all.
He thus closed his eyes, opened wide his mouth and bit off a big chunk. The subsequent crunching was very loud and clear.

Song Lin was quite astonished. To be honest, he had quite given up on the prospect of ever seeing Dandan eat carrots in this lifetime.

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Half an hour later saw Dandan in Styx’s room, holding on to the doorframe while retching. ‘Found it yet, Ol’ Fish Eyes?’

Styx took his time climbing down the ladder, a thick photo album in his hand. He then blew a thick cloud of dust off the cover. Dandan immediately seated himself properly at the study table and after Styx had brought the photo album over, he flipped it open impatiently. On the first page was a snap of the brothers when they were around ten years old; the background appeared to be that of the hunting ground. The sun was shining brightly and they were both mounted on horses and smiling widely.

‘… S-so cute…’ Dandan couldn’t help cradling his cheeks. ‘Feel like kissing them.’

Styx’s gaze rested on Song Fuyan and after a long interval, he nodded lightly and said, ‘Mm.’

‘What are you mm-ing about?’ asked Dandan.

Styx was caught off-guard before instantly reassuming his poker face. ‘Nothing.’

‘I actually thought Eldest Master really hated Song Lin. Didn’t expect them to be so close last time.’ Dandan stroked the picture of Song Lin’s young and tender face.

‘Eldest Master has… his own difficulties which he can’t mention,’ Styx mentioned in passing but did not care to elaborate.

At the same time, a servant girl carrying a tub of medicinal herbs hurried to Song Lin’s room where she asked, ‘Second Master, have you seen Dandan?’

‘Why?’

‘It’s time for his herbal bath. He needs to take one every five hours — those were His Excellency Styx’s instructions.’

‘Have you checked Styx’s room?’

‘Not yet, I’ll go now.’

Song Lin considered it for a moment before saying, ‘Hold on.’ He got to his feet and took the tub of medical herbs from her, saying, ‘I’ll do it.’ He then brushed past her.

‘… Huh?’ The servant girl stared in surprise at Song Lin’s retreating back, at a loss for words.

As soon he reached Styx’s door, he heard Dandan’s voice within. ‘Aaahhh!! This is Song Lin? How come his complexion is so tender? It looks positively juicy!’

Song Lin’s expression stiffened and he pushed open the door to be greeted by the sight of that dratted photo album lying open on the table. He asked severely, ‘Who took it out?’

A poker-faced Styx unhesitatingly pointed at Dandan.

Dandan: Σ(⊙▽⊙”a！What the… you’re really quick to shift the blame!

Styx coolly and unhurriedly closed the photo album and reminded Dandan, ‘Don’t rummage through my things next time.’ He then turned away elegantly, climbed up the ladder and put the album away on the topmost shelf of the wardrobe. All of which he did with natural grace².

Dandan: This wretch sure can act!

Just then, Song Lin suddenly told Dandan, ‘Come here.’

‘…’

_{² 行雲流水. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.}

The little rabbit got up very slowly and went over with dragging steps. ‘Y-yeah?’

Song Lin caught hold of his hand and said with a sinister twist of his mouth, ‘Bathtime.’

‘… Huh?’ The little rabbit was thus caught and brought to the bathroom by Second Master. A tub of hot water had already been placed there by a servant girl and the temperature was just right.

‘I can manage by myself. You can go.’ Dandan pushed Song Lin out the door.

‘You’re sure?’

‘Of course, I can manage a soak by myself just fine.’

Song Lin quirked an eyebrow but did not insist and allowed him to close the door.

Soon after that however, the door was opened just a crack. Dandan stuck his head out and said very gloomily, ‘Ehh… Second Master Song…’

‘Yes?’

‘Can… you help me… take off my clothes?’ After saying that, he pointed at his shoulder which was largely immobilised by a sling. ‘I suddenly realised that it’s a bit difficult… trying to do it myself.’

Song Lin: ‘Beg me first.’

The little rabbit scrunched up his face and gritted out two words, ‘Pretty please.’

‘All right then.’ Song Lin pushed open the door and strutted in.

A dejected Dandan stood next to the bathtub as he let Song Lin undress him. The bandage underneath his clothes had faint traces of blood and after it was removed, the shocking³ wound from his left shoulder to the right side of his lower abdomen was revealed.

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Song Lin gazed at this wound for a very long time.

Dandan noticed his gaze and looked down at himself as he asked, ‘Is it very ugly?’ He sounded a little dispirited.

‘No.’ The wound was still slightly red which contrasted sharply with his fair skin and Song Lin couldn’t help reaching out to trace it gently with a finger.

‘Eeek!’ Dandan shivered abruptly and backed up against the bathtub.

‘It hurts?’

‘… No…’ Dandan looked conflicted and after stammering for some time, blurted out, ‘Ticklish.’

‘Ticklish?’ Song Lin’s eyes were half-lidded, long lashes casting little shadows on his face.

‘Stop looking at it, it’s hideous.’ Not wanting him to see such an ugly scar, Dandan lifted his hands to cover it.

But Song Lin caught hold of his wrists, forced his hands apart, then bent down and kissed the wound just above Dandan’s heart.

‘Eh???!!!’ Dandan was so shocked by this unexpected development that he was speechless.
Wh-what is this guy doing!!!
But Song Lin’s lips were extremely cool and when they touched the wound, it felt gently soothing. A peculiar feeling welled up in Dandan’s heart at once and he tried to push Song Lin’s shoulder away but failed.

He then asked in a small voice, ‘Song Lin…?’

‘Mm?’ Song Lin’s lashes quivered, dusting his skin, tickling it.

‘What… are you thinking about?’

‘I’m thinking that… my Dandan mustn’t get hurt again,’ Song Lin said huskily after an interval. ‘Promise me, stay by my side, keep close to me and don’t get hurt ever again. Okay?’

This kind of injury — once was enough.

Dandan stared in surprise for a second before replying softly, ‘Okay.’

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_{(Approx. 1694 words)}

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Translated and edited by 12

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