The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 178: The Young Master’s POV

Chapter 178: The Young Master’s POV

Strolling past the weathered exterior of the greenhouse, a silent observer of the gradual transformation of its front. He noticed the subtle signs of wear etched into the wooden structure.

The wood didn’t seem to be treated to withstand the harshness of the passing winter. The coating, if any, had weathered, its hues slightly muted, yet the charm of the rustic architecture still stood beautifully against the increasing warmth of spring.

The term "greenhouse" initially perplexed him. In the beginning, it seemed a weird wordplay invented by the witty ger, an investment in frivolous pursuits. However, as the days unfolded and the seasons shifted and deepened, Xuan Yang started to see the value in such "indulgences."

It became less of a strange personal hobby, and more of a refined luxury few could even think of, being able to afford the greenhouse was beside the point.

Envisioning the cost of such a simple indulgence, Xuan Yang mentally compared it to the extravagant expenses of his "mother." He had glimpsed into her world often, a realm adorned with lavish feasts in Jinghua’s finest establishments and lavish fabric purchases, all mingled with secret affairs with her younger lovers.

Images of Lady Xuan’s secret meetings swirled in Xuan Yang’s thoughts. Her outward refinement, carefully crafted to impress her social circle, was all a disguise. She danced on the edge of propriety, caught between the allure of sophistication and the indulgence in "irrational" desires.

In comparison, the greenhouse stood as a reflection of his own interests—unadorned, yet deeply satisfying. It was a quiet haven, a sanctuary away from the whirlwind of what his life was like in the capital, a superficial existence.

With a subtle sigh, Xuan Yang marveled at the greenhouse’s transformation. It was more than just a structure; it was a haven that held the essence of a more genuine world, a world far removed from the wealth and superficiality that described his mother’s social circles.

The greenhouse, Blooming Courtyard, Nanshan estate, and the owner of all three, Xu Feng, the peculiar ger, were all deeply satisfying and unpretentious.

Lady Xuan was too much of a pleasure chaser to cut off all her "unreasonable" behaviors as was his "father." Xuan Yang’s eyes darkened slightly into a darker shade of black.

He hated to admit it, but he seemed to have taken after both his parents. He had a deep hunger he tried to control with his lovers, but it was still shameful.

Lady Xuan’s pursuits for pleasure knew no bounds, her lovers slipping in and out of her life unnoticed by the world. Her skillful art of veiling indiscretions and upholding a facade of respectability made her adept at navigating the tides of social expectations as the matriarch of the Xuan family.

Willfully, his father, Xuan Muyang, indulged in his desires without reserve. He basked in a plethora of concubines and maids, their presence a constant in the household. Their lives intertwined with the inner workings of the Xuan family, shaping an environment too mature and unkind for a child’s eyes.

The pompous and self righteous lovers of his parents filled the halls with their airs, seeking wealth and status given to them by Lady Xuan’s generosity or the patriarch’s favor.

They were creatures of ambition, using their connections within the Xuan household to fortify their positions, uncaring of the family’s true dynamics.

Xuan Yang knew the bitter truth, the carelessness of his parents’ affection and their disinterest in anything beyond his innate potential. A potential, neither parent had. Xu Feng’s not so generous betrothal gifts, not even considerable, would hardly draw a reaction from Xuan Yang.

While Lady Xuan was better with her bed habits than his nominal father, neither really cared for him, only for what he could do for them individually, and what his future children could do for the family.

The couple hundred silver spent on the underground house wasn’t important. Now, Xuan Yang wished he had more money to spend on his "greenhouse—"a sanctuary within a sanctuary.

The beams of the greenhouse were sturdy from the inside, but the wood that was visible and peaking out from the ground would need to be treated sooner rather than later. He wouldn’t want anything to happen to the structure.

The ger was truly intelligent, naughty, but very intelligent. The outside wooden covers or shutters kept the window paper from ripping under the heavy snow, and they would help with the spring showers, there was nothing that wasn’t considered.

In addition to the uncoated shutters, some beams visible from the top would need to be changed at some point, but it was still ingenious.

Xuan Yang ran his fingers down the closest beam. His fingers traced the wood’s texture, pondering the need for repairs in some areas. While not the owner of this greenhouse or the estate itself anymore, Xuan Yang found relief within these walls.

He never wanted to leave this place, or the people. It was a true sense of belonging.

Almost daily over the winter, he would come to the greenhouse and spend a few minutes in the enclosed space. He was either here or in Xu Feng’s house in Blooming Courtyard—another place with the ger’s genius painted all over it.

The heating and warmth in both places led to the most active and comfortable winter season he’d ever had.

Xuan Yang was truly a snake demon beast descendant. He was cold blooded like a snake, and was prone to sleeping in random places in the winter time.

Xuan Jian would occasionally call him lazy as he liked to lounge around and read more often than the other man. Jian was more active, his bloodline of a different bloodline heritage. When they were younger, he was all over the place, climbing trees and falling off things.

Xuan Yang smiled as he remembered the young Jian. It had already been 8 years since they first met, and nearly 2 years since he confessed his love to Jian and Jian finally accepted him back.

His smile broadened.

He hoped they would be together forever, and now he hoped they would be together forever with one more troublemaker in the mix.