The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 448: Holding Tight

Chapter 448: Holding Tight

Bai Mo’s face became calm in a matter of breaths. From confusion and shock to a neutral painting, but the gears turning in the background couldn’t be hidden, at least not from Xu Zeng.

The fox had something on his mind, something he didn’t want to share, and that was alright. It was okay to have things you didn’t want to share with others.

Xu Zeng almost wanted to ask, but he knew the answer at the back of his mind. Now was a good time to give him some space.

No matter what was troubling the fox, it wasn’t his place to pry, at least not right now.

Gathering his belongings didn’t take any time at all. All Xu Zeng’s necessities were neatly packaged in a "school bag" or "backpack" made by Xu Si. It was similar to some bags he’d seen in the other world, including the ones he’d used to store his necessities and crystal nuclei.

He missed the fruit of all his labor. All the time he’d spent hunting the walking dead. All the close calls he’d had in Dongmen and all his crystal nuclei were gone!

Xu Zeng could have had more than enough energy to switch between forms while he was still trapped in Dongzhou. Maybe it would have been enough energy for his nephews too.

He pulled out another bag with a few things added as a soft basis before transferring Da Long and Xiao Long over to the bag. They didn’t have to take the back basket inside this way.

Bai Mo was silently getting his things together, but he continued to look over as they moved quietly and separately.

"Do you want a backpack?" Xu Zeng finally asked.

"Huh?"

"One of these?" He pointed to the grey colored backpack with blue embroidered embellishments at the bottom.

It was crafted with a lot of love and detail, using colors both Xu Zeng and Xu Feng liked in the detailing.

Bai Mo was a bit confused but smiled lightly as Xu Zeng continued.

"They are very useful and light to carry. I’ll ask Xu Si to make one for you when we return."

Bai Mo’s small smile turned into a large grin and he simply nodded in return. There was still some discomfort in his eyes, but Xu Zeng didn’t know where to begin. How would he placate the other? What was even making the other ger upset? Was it about the rooms?

Bai Mo wasn’t always talkative, but he was always lively when he was around Xu Zeng. He’d never really noticed, but the fox was more withdrawn in social settings.

He was also commanding when he was around those from Bai Mansion. Xu Zeng wanted to know how he would behave in other settings as well. Was there even more to Bai Mo he hadn’t seen?

Xu Zeng decided once they got into an inn maybe it would be better to ask for another room, even if he stayed in the carriage or the area for the animals it would be fine.

He just wanted to make sure the townsfolk—Bai Mo and Xu Hu Zhe— were comfortable. The look on Bai Mo’s face was so lost he reflexively held the other’s hand.

"We’ll be done with this trip soon enough. When we’re in Sun Village, I’ll show you my favorite places to hide," He paused for a moment as he tried to recall anything else worth sharing.

It was fall, so his favorite fruit wouldn’t be in season, hmm...

"Ah! I’ll show you my favorite area to catch fish! When I was hungry, I’d catch small fish, crabs, and shrimp." That was a good idea. Bai Mo liked to eat. That was beyond obvious. The fox ALWAYS brought food from famous restaurants in Yilin Town for them to eat.

By them, he mostly force- fed the two children—Lee An and Lee Mo— and Xu Zeng. He would also make sure there was a large portion for Xu Si, Xu San, and Xu Hu Zhe. Everyone else would have to struggle for their portion.

It was always amusing watching the big men—Bo, Jie, Liu, Min, Jia, and Jun— fight for their portion of snacks and delicacies.

Xu Zeng would happily share all the good food with the fox beside him. The other had always been giving him special treatment from the start.

"My cooking skills are not as good as my brother’s, so the taste will be lacking compared to Xu Feng’s cooking, but it’s delicious the way I make it."

Bai Mo was a little taken aback. He didn’t seem to expect Xu Zeng to hold his hand so gently, or soothe him, because that’s exactly what was going on.

The younger ger was treating him like a young and fragile lover... it wasn’t too bad at all.

Still, Bai Mo lowered his head, blushing as he listened to the steady voice share memories of his childhood like a moving stream, gentle but continuously moving.

Bai Mo was trying to pull himself together, and it was all falling apart. He’d learned a lot about controlling himself in Jinghua. The Bai and Deng families were no joke.

Although they disregarded him as a second- rate descendant, they were a skulk of foxes after all. They were always watching him.

Bai Mo had almost relaxed completely when he returned to Nanshan Estate. From Xuan Yang to Xuan Jian, the martial artists, the new little children, the puppies, and the Xu’s, it all felt like home. A real home where he didn’t have to worry about appearing a certain way.

Now trying to build his shields back up was proving to be quite hard. It was especially hard with the warm hand holding his own.

It was calming and intimate. Bai Mo knew he should be the one calming Xu Zeng, he was older by nearly three years. He lived a more privileged life and his initial goal was to marry someone into his Bai family, but this didn’t feel wrong.

Being relaxed and pampered was ideal.

Even though Xu Zeng was an Immortal Beast with a very big ego. A VERY BIG EGO. Very big... He still went out of his way to cater to a simple immortal bloodline descendant like him.

They weren’t of equal standing.

He should have been the one working to win Xu Zeng over as someone with a "privileged" background, yet it was the other who was born with a true silver spoon that couldn’t be contested, doing the heavy lifting.

And, this golden thigh was treating him so gently.

Bai Mo’s grip on the hand in his tightened, then relaxed as they sat beside each other patiently waiting for Xu Hu Zhe’s return.

Bai Mo still felt uncomfortable. Xu Hu Zhe was his competition, and the other knew what he’d done with Xu Zeng in the back of the carriage. It was embarrassing.

He shouldn’t be competing with a younger man, but he might compete with anyone for the gentle silver- haired ger beside him.

Xu Zeng wasn’t always like this. In fact, he was rarely like this. It just showed how serious he was about them to open up his heart like this.

"Haah—" Bai Mo interrupted the steady flow of conversation with a sigh from deep down in his chest.

He withdrew his hand from the other’s and wrapped his body against the taller ger’s frame. He should have said something, but he didn’t want to, he just wanted to be close to Xu Zeng.

He would compete. He would be strong. He wasn’t going to let go of his heart. Bai Mo couldn’t make himself say all of that, so he hoped his warmth would tell the other everything he needed to know.

"I won’t let you sleep somewhere uncomfortable. If you don’t like the room, Hu Zhe will see if there’s a better inn—"

"Hahah," Bai Mo laughed. He was thinking about forever, about the dynamics of their relationship, about how much he didn’t want to lose the ger he wrapped himself around, and the ger in question was only thinking of ways to pamper him.

He was older than both Xu Hu Zhe and Xu Zeng, but the silver- haired ger wasn’t even taking that into consideration.

He moved his head to lean against the other’s clavicle. Bai Mo wanted to attach himself to Xu Zeng and never let go.

The one in his heart was aloof, oblivious, and slightly annoying, but his heart was plain to see.

"I’ve secured the room," a voice came from outside the carriage. It was Xu Hu Zhe. Bai Mo and Xu Zeng hadn’t heard when the other had returned, but he was back.

"I’ll take us there now."

There was some time allowed for them to prepare for the carriage to move, but both gers were already seated and Bai Mo had no intention of removing himself from Xu Zeng yet.

If either of them had the correct piercings, he wouldn’t mind staying close to the other even in public. But it was strange enough for the inn staff to know all three of them would be sharing a room.

He would need to have some self- respect as soon as the carriage stopped and the doors opened. Till then, Bai Mo would enjoy the scent wafting off Xu Zeng.