Upon seeing Xiao Bao, everyone was very excited, all standing up to greet him with clasped hands, "Young Master Jin, long time no see."
Xiao Bao hurriedly returned the greeting, puzzled, looking at Young Master Liu, "What... What is going on?"
Young Master Liu chuckled, "Big Young Master Jin, you've become a busy man recently. We haven't seen you for a month or so. A few days ago, Yi Cui Lou got a new courtesan, extremely charming. We were guessing whether Young Master Jin would again spend a fortune for that beauty's first night. Unexpectedly, it seems like Young Master Jin has vanished without a trace, nowhere to be found in all the pleasure grounds."
Son Sun added, "Yeah, Big Young Master Jin, you have no idea how much I missed you. Going out for fun without you just doesn't feel complete. I wonder what has been keeping Young Master Jin so busy lately."
Someone pretended to be mysterious, "I heard that Young Master Jin has hidden a peerless beauty at home, living a carefree life like a god every day, too lazy to even step out of the door. Seems like the rumors are true."
Xiao Bao laughed along with everyone else, but felt quite embarrassed inside. So, this was what he used to do?
Chen, who was quite close to him, stepped forward, linking his arm with Xiao Bao's, pretending to be serious, "Young Master Jin, you can't just forget about us because you have a beauty at home."
"Indeed, a beauty is good, but after all, there is only one. How can she compare to the endless allure of the world's beauty? However, Young Master Jin, just how beautiful is the beauty you've hidden at home, to make even the discerning Young Master Jin so infatuated? Are you planning a grand marriage with a sedan chair? When can we have the honor to see her face?"
Everyone agreed in unison.
Xiao Bao felt a chill down his spine. If they knew the person hidden at home was a genuine man, and that he was the one being dominated, his reputation as Young Master Jin, renowned for twenty years of romantic exploits, would be ruined overnight. How would he ever get by in Suzhou or even across the four provinces of Jiangnan?
Xiao Bao had no choice but to say that it was too early for such matters, requiring his father's approval, etc., skillfully diverting the conversation.
Then, led by Chen, they began to persuade Xiao Bao to have a drink with them, to have a good gathering.
Xiao Bao used to mix with these people often, so how could he not know that having a drink meant going to a place of ill repute? Currently worried about his father's health, he really didn't want to go. Even if he was fine, he also had no longing for those indulgent days anymore. Although it's inevitable for men to play roles in such scenes, the thought of going to a brothel, regardless of the myriad excuses, would be a betrayal to his own significant other. If Huan En found out, he didn't want to imagine the consequences.
Xiao Bao quickly excused himself, claiming he had matters to attend to, and decided then not to mix with this group anymore.
Young Master Liu presented a delicately crafted small wooden box to Xiao Bao, "Look, Young Master Jin, my father knew you were coming to collect the recipes and prepared everything early. Today, he was taken out by me, otherwise, he would have definitely come to welcome you personally. I've also prepared many herbs not found in the south, fearing that you might not be able to gather them all in time to start cooking for Elder Jin. Everything is ready; you just need to have your servant take the items back as soon as possible, so it won't delay your business."
Xiao Bao accepted the small wooden box, expressed his thanks, but still did not want to go, only saying he wished to return home quickly to prepare other ingredients.
Young Master Liu continued to persuade, "Young Master Jin, such tasks shouldn't bother you personally. Just leave them to the servants. Most are simple home cooking, requiring little preparation. Come have a drink with us, let's have a good chat, you might still make it home for dinner. We haven't gathered for so long, Young Master Jin wouldn't be so heartless, would he?"
Young Master Liu's face showed a bit of disappointment, although he tried not to show it, Xiao Bao could still tell. It was a kind gesture, all preparations made, and so many people eagerly inviting; morally and logically, he shouldn't keep refusing. They all used to have good relations, frequently visiting each other, and their parents also had many business dealings. If things turned sour, it was unnecessary. Yet, he truly did not want to go, and the thought of Huan En made him hesitate even more...
Someone jokingly said, "It seems not only does Young Master Jin hide his beauty in a golden house, but before she even crosses the threshold, he's already under strict control. This woman must be extraordinary."
The crowd echoed the jest, making Xiao Bao quite embarrassed. No man likes to be publicly teased about being afraid of his wife. What happens behind closed doors is one's own business, but to have it known by all would be a loss of face. Xiao Bao always cared about his reputation, being shameless in private was his character, but rarely had he been publicly humiliated like this. Thus, his pride was strong, and hearing the group say such things made it difficult for him to bear.
Xiao Bao repeatedly denied it, saying that in the Jin family, even his parents had to give way to him, let alone being dominated by a woman.
Seeing Xiao Bao waver, the crowd continued to provoke him. Xiao Bao really couldn't stand being egged on and confusedly agreed. Moreover, he remembered he needed to raise funds for Su Yin, and it would be much easier to start with these young masters than their savvy fathers. Today was the best opportunity. If he offended them all, the plan would fall through.
Xiao Bao found a good reason for himself and went with them a bit more willingly.
Zhaocai left with others, while Jinbao brought the cookbook back to the Jin residence, hoping to have a few drinks with Xiaobao to take care of official business before rushing back before dinner, so Huaien wouldn't know. Unfortunately, he forgot that his little Jinbao was single-minded and not very bright, where missing a single instruction could lead to a disaster.
Master Jin, surrounded by a group of people, grandly headed to the brothel, and Jinbao returned to the Jin residence with the box.
Jinbao was carrying the cookbook to see his master when he ran into Huaien head-on.
Jinbao, younger than Zhaocai by a year and just turned seventeen, was naive about many things. He had a vague understanding of the matters between his young master and Huaien. Since Zhaocai disliked Huaien, Jinbao followed suit, adopting a hostile attitude towards Huaien. So, upon seeing Huaien, he turned his head aside and walked past without giving him a glance.
Huaien asked, "Where is Xiaobao?" He had woken up to find Xiaobao missing, unsure of what business he had gone to attend to. Even though Suzhou was under the Jin family's control, he was still somewhat worried about Xiaobao venturing out alone. He feared the actions of those from the Zhongzhi and was also concerned that someone from the clan politics might take preemptive action. Especially since he had indulged in pleasures consecutively in the past few days, and after a night trip to meet Li Gongxiang, using light skills to travel swiftly for nearly three hours, and the tiring mental battle with that old cunning fox, he had returned to the Jin residence nearly exhausted. Holding Xiaobao, he slept till the afternoon, only to remember upon waking that Xiaobao seemed to have mentioned going out for some errands, and he should have accompanied him.
Jinbao lifted his chin, "My young master has gone to the Yicui Building."
He felt somewhat proud, thinking of the times when the young master chased after you only to be ignored. Now that the young master no longer cares for you, see how you deserve it. Fearing Huaien, the outsider, wouldn't know where Yicui Building was, he added, "It's the most famous brothel in Suzhou."
Jinbao wanted to say more to provoke him, but he dared not speak further. Huaien's eyes suddenly widened, emitting a bloodthirsty sharpness, his face covered in shadow, his thin lips trembling as if restraining something. A strong murderous aura erupted from him, his fists clenched tightly, making a cracking sound, and his long hair floated up due to the burst of internal energy, making him resemble a fearsome ghost from hell, instantly freezing the surrounding air. Jinbao felt a chill in his limbs, his heart pounding as if it was drumming. This was the first time he was scared by someone's presence, almost unable to hold onto the small wooden box.
When Huaien shot out like an arrow and disappeared in front of him, Jinbao realized he might have said something wrong.
The wind whistled past his ears, causing him a splitting headache, feeling as if his body was about to explode. A suppressed anger swelled inside him, causing him immense discomfort, his heart aching as if it was being squeezed, the fear and rage of being on the verge of bursting made him want to destroy everything in sight. Yet, he knew he had to head to the Yicui Building first. He grabbed several moving figures, people with blurred faces but uniformly terrified expressions. They pointed him in a direction, and he ran wildly towards it. He heard someone calling him from behind, calling him "young master," knowing it was Zuo Ying's voice, but now, everything else was irrelevant to him.
At Yicui Building, a brothel,* he knew what a brothel was—a place for men to seek pleasure. His Xiao Bao was in that place, in that place!!
He couldn't suppress his tumultuous heartbeat, couldn't smooth his ragged breath. His mind was filled with images—Xiao Bao embracing others, whispering sweet nothings, naked in their embrace, their bodies entwined. All the words and deeds once shared with him were now used to please someone else. If he were to witness these scenes, he would tear that person to shreds!!
He had never felt such rage, a fury so uncontrollable that his breathing was erratic, his steps unsteady. His qi was running amok in his meridians; at this moment, a sneak attack could easily defeat him.
But he couldn't contain the storm within him. He couldn't imagine Xiao Bao, his Xiao Bao, the only thing he ever wanted to possess in his life, touching someone else or being touched by someone else. Jin Xiao Bao had sworn—he belonged to him and him alone, and he would never go back on his word. Now, there was no turning back for him!!
Finally, the golden-lettered sign of Yicui Building appeared before his eyes. Huai En stormed in like a whirlwind. After scanning the hall and not finding the person he was looking for, he rushed to the second floor and kicked open each tightly closed door. The moment he saw Xiao Bao's terrified face, it took all his strength to restrain himself from twisting his neck into the shape of a bee's abdomen.