EHW Ch64

Before Gu Yunchuan departed for the south, the four brothers gathered for a proper meal together and even took a short family trip to the outskirts of the capital.

Gu Fangzhi couldn’t bring himself to overwrite save slot No. 1. Before Gu Yunchuan, Ye Bao, and Qin Xuan left, he saved that moment as slot No. 2 instead.

First, just in case.

Second, so that whenever he missed his elder brother, he could open the file and look at him again. That file, with its perfectly preserved image of his big brother, felt like an interactive holographic photo, a kind of cyberpunk beauty.

As for Gu Fangzhi himself, now serving as Vice Minister of Rites, he began his new post with three symbolic “fires.” On his very first day, he extended the lunch break and arranged for daily deliveries of tea and snacks for the whole department, instantly capturing every colleague’s heart.

Even the system chimed in helpfully with a notification: “Bad Ending Unlocked, Lady-Killer.”

***
Spring thunder came, marking the season of Jingzhe.

It happened to fall on a rest day, and on Gu Fangzhi’s birthday. Coincidentally, his lunar birthday was the same as the body’s original owner.

He had barely opened his eyes that morning, not even washed up yet, when Manman stuffed a hard-boiled egg into his mouth and chirped sweetly, “Happy birthday, Fangfang-gege! May you get super rich!”

The kitchen had even prepared him a bowl of longevity noodles.

After breakfast, Gu Huaiyu’s hired opera troupe arrived, set up a small stage in the courtyard, and began to perform. Gu Fangzhi pretended to understand the lyrics, smiling, clapping, and sighing profoundly at the right moments.

By afternoon, his colleagues from court began to arrive at the Gu residence, all bearing birthday gifts.

Now that Gu Fangzhi had a voice in the Ministry of Rites, many used the opportunity to drop subtle, or not so subtle, hints about wanting cushy posts for their relatives.

Gu Fangzhi neither agreed nor refused. He simply smiled mysteriously and said,
“Considering the current situation, and I mean current, the situation… everyone needs a certain… you know, thing, yes?”

The other person: “……”

So… was that a yes or a no??

After an entire day of socializing, the sun finally dipped west, and the Gu residence quieted down.

Gu Fangzhi collapsed face-first onto the table.

Honestly, today had been more exhausting than a full day at work. So much for a rest day.

For some reason, his mind wandered to Pei Xin, who in recent days had taken to holding him for long stretches like a human pillow.

Maybe because the system had triggered too many “Bad Endings” that day, Gu Fangzhi now felt a bit self-conscious every time Pei Xin hugged him, never quite able to relax.

And yet… he found himself missing Pei Xin.

Lost in thought, he suddenly felt someone lightly tug a lock of his hair near his ear.

Gu Fangzhi said, “What is it, Manman?”

A childish voice called from the front veranda, “It’s not Manman! It’s Emperor-gege!”

Gu Fangzhi froze and instinctively turned, sure enough, Pei Xin stood right behind him.

From the veranda, Gu Huaiyu quickly stepped forward, scooped Manman into his arms, and briskly carried him away.

“Manman, you’re sleeping with me tonight.”

“Okay!” the boy chirped.

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

He could guarantee Gu Huaiyu had misunderstood something!

Thanks to the system, his and Pei Xin’s relationship was purely platonic, just lip-based friendship!

Watching his brothers disappear down the hall, Gu Fangzhi turned back. “Why has Your Majesty come?”

“To celebrate Teacher’s birthday.”

Pei Xin pulled a lychee from somewhere and tossed it to him, then took a square embroidered box from his sleeve. “A gift.”

“What is it?”

Gu Fangzhi reached to open it, but Pei Xin stopped him. “Open it later, when it’s just you.”

Hm?

So mysterious… surely it wasn’t that kind of book?

Gu Fangzhi tucked the heavy little box into his sleeve. “Will Your Majesty stay the night? Have you eaten? If not, I’ll have them prepare something and send it to my room.”

Pei Xin answered both questions at once with a single word: “Yes.”

The food at the Gu residence wasn’t as refined as palace fare, but the cooks had clearly put in their best effort, fish soup, steamed goose, spring rolls.

Pei Xin asked, “Will Teacher eat with me?”

“No, I’m stuffed already. Just let me steal a bite or two.”

At that, Pei Xin picked out a tender piece of fish and held it up for him.

Gu Fangzhi bent forward and took it from the chopsticks, but when he looked up again, Pei Xin was staring at him fixedly, chest rising and falling faster.

After all those kisses, he still got this excited over a bite of food?

Gu Fangzhi couldn’t help but laugh.

He was just about to tease him when Pei Xin, still holding his gaze, placed the tips of those same chopsticks between his own lips.

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

Now it was his turn to blush. “Th-that… Your Majesty, please continue eating. I’ll just, uh, read.”

He grabbed the nearest book from the table and flipped it open.

Seeing him flustered, Pei Xin smirked triumphantly.

His eyes flicked over the cover of the book and his smile widened. “What’s this one called, Three Charming Wid, ”

Gu Fangzhi’s face went scarlet. “It’s literature. Literary art! You wouldn’t understand.”

His heart was pounding so hard he half-expected the system to pop up with some “Heart Attack” achievement. Better to sit on the bed and read quietly.

Despite the ridiculous title, the image of him reading beneath the lamplight was undeniably beautiful.

Pei Xin finished eating, then came to sit beside him.

Gu Fangzhi pulled a puzzle ring, Manman’s toy, from under the pillow and handed it over. “Good job finishing dinner. Be a good emperor and play for a bit.”

His tone was exactly the same one he used when humoring Snowball the dog.

Pei Xin, bristling, flopped onto his back beside him and began fiddling with the toy.

It wasn’t hard for him; in just moments he’d solved it.

But the instant he did, the world went dark again, the puzzle reset itself to its unsolved state.

Pei Xin: “?”

Ah. That familiar feeling of helpless déjà vu.

He turned to Gu Fangzhi. “Teacher, why did you rewind time?”

Gu Fangzhi smiled without looking up. “Efficiency. The sooner I finish reading, the more time I’ll have to talk with Your Majesty.”

Pei Xin: “……”

So this time… he’d rewound for him.

Gu Fangzhi’s thoughts included him.

Pei Xin was no longer frustrated; he grinned broadly.

He played with the puzzle a bit longer, but soon grew bored and tossed it aside. Then he reached out to touch the strands of Gu Fangzhi’s hair draping over his waist.

Black, soft, and slightly wavy, it felt like the well-groomed fur of a pampered animal.

Pei Xin wound the hair around his fingers, index, middle, ring, pinky…

He really had nothing better to do.

Finally, he tugged lightly at the hem of Gu Fangzhi’s robe, grumbling,
“I want to read too.”

Though the book’s title sounded scandalous, its contents were actually quite tame , it told the story of three widowers reclaiming farmland in the countryside and building prosperous new lives.

At least that shouldn’t trigger any “showing the Emperor explicit materials” Bad Ending.

Gu Fangzhi said, “Your Majesty, lie down here.”

The two lay side by side on the bed, the book open before them. At first, Gu Fangzhi propped his chin on his palm to read, but when his elbow went numb, he shifted and leaned against Pei Xin’s shoulder instead.

There were only a few pages left. Gu Fangzhi read to the end in one breath, only to find the words “End of Volume One.”

He felt cheated.

So it was a long series after all.

Closing the book, Gu Fangzhi said, “I’ll go tidy up the couch to sleep on.”

Pei Xin caught his wrist. “We’re not sleeping together?”

Gu Fangzhi froze.

Pei Xin’s gaze burned into him.

Gu Fangzhi found it harder and harder lately to resist that look. “Ah… well… I suppose that’s fine.”

The lamp was extinguished. Both lay in bed.

Gu Fangzhi knew nothing would actually happen tonight.

Last time had proven that, even if Pei Xin didn’t call him “Teacher,” overly intimate contact seemed to instantly trigger a Bad Ending in the system.

After thinking it over, Gu Fangzhi decided the cause might simply be two words: content moderation.

Still, it was their first time truly sharing a bed, so he couldn’t help being a little nervous.

He cleared his throat softly. “Your Majesty, good night.”

Pei Xin murmured, “Mm.”

It had been a long, exhausting day. Gradually, drowsiness crept over Gu Fangzhi.

The faint herbal scent clinging to Pei Xin made him even sleepier. He rolled over, and came face to face with the Emperor.

They were very close. In the darkness, he could see the faint shine of Pei Xin’s eyes.

Gu Fangzhi was just about to move back when Pei Xin’s arm circled his waist, pulling him close, holding him fully against his chest.

Gu Fangzhi could hear Pei Xin’s quick, strong heartbeat.

Then Pei Xin began to kiss him.

From forehead, to eyelids, to the corner of his eyes, to his earlobe, and finally to his lips.

Gu Fangzhi was drowsy, his lips soft and slow, barely responding.

But that sleepy, hazy passivity only stirred Pei Xin further. He deepened the kiss, greedily tracing his mouth until the sound of wet breath and sliding tongues filled the quiet room.

Cool fingers pinched Gu Fangzhi’s left earlobe, rolling and tugging gently.

Half-asleep, Gu Fangzhi found the sensation oddly pleasant, a few breathy hums escaping his throat, sounds that didn’t even seem like his own.

“Does Teacher feel good?” Pei Xin whispered.

“But don’t get too lost in it. With that thing called the system around, pleasure tends to lead to disaster.”

His tone was perfectly calm, if not for the kisses between every few words, Gu Fangzhi might have actually believed him.

Gu Fangzhi muttered, “Then what should we do? Maybe I should reload a save?”

Pei Xin replied, “If we’re going to rewind… then let’s wait a little first.”

He shifted, bracing his arms on either side of Gu Fangzhi, his weight pressing down as he kissed him harder.

Gu Fangzhi’s lips began to ache. He stroked Pei Xin’s back. “Don’t rush…”

But as he spoke, he suddenly felt something press against his thigh.

At first he assumed it was the book they’d forgotten to put away.

He reached down to move it, and instantly realized what it really was.

At that exact moment, his vision began to fade to black.

[Congratulations, Player has unloc- ]

“HE’S AN ADULT!! HE’S AN ADULT!!”

Gu Fangzhi, seeing another Bad Ending window materialize, lost his temper. Raising his voice, he yelled into the air, “He’s of age, okay?!”

The floating white text froze midair.

One second. Two. Three.

Then, poof, it vanished.

Gu Fangzhi: “?”

Pei Xin, who’d been ready to rewind time again: “?”

“What just happened??”

Gu Fangzhi felt like he’d just stumbled upon something monumental. He asked, “Your Majesty, may I… test something?”

Pei Xin, delighted, said, “By all means.”

Gu Fangzhi raised a hand and pressed his palm to Pei Xin’s chest.

Slowly, his hand slid down toward the flat plane of his abdomen, then stopped abruptly.

Even though Pei Xin had said go ahead, Gu Fangzhi didn’t have the nerve to go further.

He hesitated, until Pei Xin caught his wrist and guided it lower himself.

The moment his fingertips brushed skin, Gu Fangzhi jerked his hand back, but no Bad Ending appeared.

Pei Xin blinked, astonished. “What’s going on? Teacher, any idea?”

Gu Fangzhi gave a helpless laugh. “Your Majesty… it’s probably because you never completed real-name verification.”

Pei Xin: “……?”

He didn’t understand a word of that, but somehow, he felt offended.

–

---

Happy new year everyone!