The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 404: Error 404: Awkward

Chapter 404: Error 404: Awkward

Lee Hua’s face was pulsing at his youngest’s lack of restraint, but he still pinched the little ger’s face.

Xiao Momo grinned brightly much more relaxed here than Lee Hua had ever seen him. "Dad is okay with you both here." And here is where they should stay.

Midwife Lee’s resolve grew stronger. He wasn’t willing to leave this new home.

He would try harder to impress Master Xu Zeng for his children. They were so happy now, even Xiao An, the cautious little bird played happily with the dogs every day and got to play with the young masters.

This was a life they couldn’t let pass them by.

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Xu Zeng’s obliviousness seemed to know no bounds, much to the frustration of both Bai Mo and Xu Hu Zhe. It had become a well-established fact, a piece of lore whispered among the inhabitants of Nanshan Estate.

Despite this, Xu Zeng continued to baffle them with his dense and slightly shameless demeanor. The fact that he could switch genders seemed to pale in comparison to this unbelievable fact.

From his almost kiss with Bai Mo, to the awkward showdown with Xu Hu Zhe, Xu Zeng didn’t have too much of a visible reaction.

As Midwife Lee and his two children scurried off to the servants’ quarters for dinner, leaving the three alone, Xu Zeng inexplicably stood up, the red mark marring his forehead catching eyes.

It was a contrast to the height and clothing Xu Hu Zhe remembered from earlier that afternoon. The smaller brighter clothing was slightly more uncharacteristic.

The man who could occasionally transform into a ger seemed to have forgotten the confessions he had made mere hours ago, both to Xu Hu Zhe and the recent one Bai Mo initiated.

Xu Hu Zhe had hurried to the reception room, spurred by the snippets of conversation he had overheard between Bai Mo and Xu Zeng.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to intervene somehow, to prevent Bai Mo from whispering sweet nothings to the man who had lent him a "helping hand" once or twice. This was a man who he felt—what did he feel? He had only picked up his pace to save Bai Mo from embarrassment, right?

Because Xu Zeng was clearly infatuated with him. Right.

However, as Xu Hu Zhe entered the room, the sight before him caught him off guard. Bai Mo and Xu Zeng stood mere inches apart, their hands intertwined, while Bai Mo’s other hand rested gently against Xu Zeng’s face.

The intimacy of their proximity sent a surge of frustration coursing through Xu Hu Zhe’s veins, his hands clenching and releasing in agitation as he remembered the sight.

The mask he wore, usually a source of comfort against the summer heat, provided no comfort today. Made from the scrap piece of iron he and Xu Feng had retrieved from the giant snake in the Nanshan Forests.

Yet, at this moment, the mask felt suffocating, failing to cool the heat rising within him. Today, it did nothing for him. Nothing at all.

Xu Hu Zhe could feel himself on the verge of exploding. He wanted to have a private conversation with Xu Zeng, to address the confusion and frustration swirling inside him. But with Bai Mo present, that seemed an impossible task.

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Bai Mo’s palms were clammy, his heart racing at an alarming pace as they walked in silence from Budding Courtyard to Blooming Courtyard. The atmosphere was suffocating, the tension palpable, and it left him feeling utterly out of character.

He had never been one for spontaneity, even when he was engaging in mischief with his best friend. But now, in this charged moment, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted within him.

Had he been influenced by his best friend’s reckless nature? Was he somehow broken, straying from his usual composed self?

The thoughts gnawed at him as they continued their silent march, the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on him like a heavy cloak.

With his immortal bloodline awakening and his senses sharpening, Bai Mo could almost feel the emotions swirling around them, not just his own but also those emanating from Xu Hu Zhe in waves.

Their interactions had always been civil before, even when Xu Feng was around. Bai Mo had spent a lot of time with Da Long and Xiao Long, occasionally finding himself alone with Xu Hu Zhe, and it had never felt awkward.

But now, as they walked in uncomfortable silence, Bai Mo couldn’t help but wonder what had changed. His ears twitched involuntarily, a reflection of his turbulent emotions. He resisted the urge to sigh, fearing it would only add to the awkwardness of their situation.

In addition to focusing on his cultivation and studying for the upcoming scholar’s exams, Bai Mo realized he needed to learn how to control his ears better.

The ears were really becoming a nuisance, betraying his inner turmoil to everyone around him, and he couldn’t put them away after confessing to the elders of the Bai and Deng families.

It was a skill he would need to master if he hoped to navigate his abilities and emotions in a public setting.

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Finally, the gender bender of their awkward trio. What was he thinking?

Xu Zeng’s mind drifted, his thoughts diverging from the tense atmosphere surrounding him. Unlike his two companions, his mind was preoccupied with memories and regrets.

’I should share the flowers with Xu Feng,’ he thought to himself, his steps measured and deliberate as he moved forward. There was no hint of haste in his movements, only a solemn determination.

The memory of Xu Feng’s body disappearing before him lingered in his mind, a painful reminder of their separation. Xu Zeng wanted to access their shared space, the sanctuary where Xu Feng’s body had been last. But he knew he couldn’t enter at will.

The space had likely set Xu Feng somewhere safe for his body to rest. A safe finally resting place. The space seemed to listen to Xu Feng much more than him. Xu Zeng couldn’t even enter at will.

This had a lot to do with the energy Xu Feng had managed to accumulate while he saved all his energy—the crystal nuclei from zombies—and only used them when necessary.

He hoped it would keep his body safe instead of sending it to the zombie filled apocalypse.

Even if it found its way there, who would know his body for the treasure it was? No one!

’If only I hadn’t let all the crystal energy gather dust,’ Xu Zeng thought ruefully, lamenting his lack of foresight. Perhaps if he had been more diligent, he would have the ability to enter the space now.

Lost in his thoughts, Xu Zeng’s heart churned with regret. He wished he could visit his brother, to pay his respects and offer the flowers Midwife Lee had picked.

If he couldn’t reach wherever he was transported to, he resolved to scatter the flowers over the blood stains that marked his brother’s final resting place in the meadows.

As he continued on his path, the weight of his decisions bore down on him heavily. He knew he should have worked harder, should have been more prepared. Now, stranded in this energetically barren place, the task of accumulating enough energy to access their space seemed daunting.

He wanted to visit his brother.