BYBOTE Chapter 15: Getting Married!

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Luo Fei straightened his clothes and realized this was bad. If anyone saw him meeting Zhang Yangfan on his wedding day, he wouldn’t be able to explain himself even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

So after a moment, Luo Fei called back with a few sounds to indicate: "Wait a bit! I'll be right out!"

Of course, he had no intention of actually going out. But he didn’t need to—someone else could!

Shortly after, Luo Yi walked out with a puzzled look.

Zhang Yangfan had always considered himself noble and virtuous, but now he was sneaking around like a thief, hiding in the corner before dawn. If their teacher saw him, he’d scold him for throwing his education to the dogs. But there was no teacher here, so Zhang Yangfan shivered in the cold and kept peeking into the yard, not hopeful that Luo Fei would actually come out.

So when he heard Luo Fei respond, he was unexpectedly excited.

The Luo family's house was near the mountain. To prevent wolves from coming down, the fence was tightly built. It was still too dark to see clearly inside, but Zhang Yangfan kept his eyes peeled for any movement.

Finally, footsteps approached.

Luo Yi followed his brother's orders. He didn’t get angry but spoke coldly. "Zhang Yangfan, go back. My second brother said he never wants to see you again. You broke his heart."

Zhang Yangfan panicked when he saw Luo Yi. "Sibao, please, tell your brother I just want to talk to him for a moment. Let me see him, just for a little bit!"

Luo Yi cursed Zhang Yangfan in his heart but outwardly put on a troubled expression. "No way. Today is my second brother’s wedding. Don’t hurt him anymore. He said jumping into the river for you once was enough. He’s completely given up on you."

Luo Fei, who was approaching with a sieve full of ashes, heard this and gave his younger brother a thumbs-up. Finally, the kid was being useful!

Zhang Yangfan felt as if his insides were being torn apart. The more he heard, the more desperate he was to see Luo Fei. He pleaded, "Sibao, just help Brother Yangfan once. When I pass the imperial exam, I won’t forget you!"

Imperial exam, my ass! With your character? Shameless! Luo Yi thought but said, "No! I need to get back inside. My brother said he’ll pretend he never met you in this life."

Without waiting for Zhang Yangfan’s response, Luo Yi ran back into the house.

Meanwhile, Luo Fei, who had been crouching nearby, suddenly stood up. He picked the perfect moment to dump the whole sieve of ashes over Zhang Yangfan’s head! Then, without waiting, he turned and ran.

"Who?! Who did that? Cough cough! Ugh—" Zhang Yangfan quickly shut his mouth, afraid of drawing attention to his disgraceful behavior. His face turned red and black in embarrassment.

Luo Yi, having just returned inside, saw his second brother sneaking back from the backyard and frowned at Luo Fei’s smug grin. "Second Brother, why did you make me say those things to Zhang Yangfan? And what were you doing? You weren’t thinking about him, were you?"

"Like hell I was!" Luo Fei smacked his younger brother on the head. "I just dumped ashes on him for bad luck! And I made you say those things so he’d keep thinking about me. That way, he and Jiang Bailian won’t have a peaceful life together. Trust me, I know what I’m doing."

T/N: Bailan means white lotus

"Who's Jiang Bailian?"

"Jiang Baining. Whatever, just trust me—your second brother is absolutely not thinking about that scumbag. If I do, may I be struck by lightning!"

"Alright then. Hurry up, the water's ready for you!" Luo Yi said. "Brother Xi even brought his bathtub just for you!"

"Really?" The thought of a hot bath instantly revived Luo Fei’s spirit. "You sure are quick."

"It wasn’t me. Brother Xi got the water ready. He was here while you were at the latrine, heating water with Mother."

"Where is he now?"

"He left. Mom said he’s busy with wedding preparations. He even put grapefruit peels in the bath for you."

Luo Fei went inside and found the bathtub steaming with a faint grapefruit scent. He slowly undressed and soaked in the warm water, deep in thought.

It really seems like… Xi Yanqing is treating him too well.

He gave him money, prepared his bath, worried about people taking advantage of him, and even smeared dirt on his face to protect him. Not to mention the generous betrothal gifts—especially the six slabs of pork, as if he was afraid Luo Fei wouldn’t eat well.

If it wasn’t because he liked him, why else would he do all this? He didn’t need to give so much. After all, Luo Fei’s reputation was already in shambles. Even if Xi Yanqing had only given a modest amount, the Luo family wouldn’t have objected.

But Xi Yanqing still went all out.

Could it be… that he liked him?

But wouldn’t that kind of affection have developed over time? Before he transmigrated, there were no signs at all.

Wait! He had protected his head! When the cart went off the cliff!

At such a critical moment, maybe it wasn’t just his imagination?

Luo Fei soaked absentmindedly, losing track of time until the water started to cool.

Luckily, someone was more anxious than him.

"Erbao, are you done yet?" If he had been a daughter, Li Yuehua would’ve gone in to help. But since he was her son, it wasn’t convenient.

"Almost done!" Luo Fei hurriedly dried his hair and put on clean clothes. He didn’t dare wear his wedding outfit yet, afraid of dirtying it.

Long hair was such a hassle—it took nearly an hour to dry, even with the heat from the kitchen fire.

Li Yuehua saw that Luo Fei was almost done washing up and brought someone in. Luo Fei had only seen this person in his memories—another young man from Huaping Village, now in his thirties. He wasn’t originally from this village but had married into it from another one. However, he had lived well in Huaping Village over the years, with both a son and a daughter, and a harmonious relationship with his husband. The original owner of Luo Fei’s body used to call him “Uncle Li,” because his name was Yue Li.

"Let your Uncle Li comb your hair properly," Li Yuehua said. "Sorry for the trouble, Brother Xiao Yue."

"Sister-in-law, you’re too polite." Yue Li wasn’t particularly handsome, but he gave off a very warm and comfortable vibe—like a spring breeze. Especially when he smiled, he looked like a kind older brother from next door. "Erbao, you’re growing up so well. Uncle Li has never seen a child as good-looking as you."

"Uncle Li, you really know how to flatter!" Luo Fei grinned. "I’ve never seen anyone who looks as happy as you do."

"If I weren’t happy, how would I have the energy to come comb your hair?" Yue Li took the comb. "I’ll comb your hair now. Try not to interrupt, okay?"

"Got it." Luo Fei sat still.

"Your hair is so dark and shiny." Yue Li gently ran the wooden comb through Luo Fei’s hair. "One stroke to the end—wealth without worry; two strokes to the end—good health with no worries; three strokes to the end—many children and longevity. Four strokes to the tip—mutual respect in marriage; five strokes to the tip—flying together in harmony; six strokes to the tip—an everlasting union. With both a head and a tail, wealth comes every year… Alright, I’ll wait outside. Change into your wedding clothes, and I’ll help you put in a hairpin later."

Luo Fei knew what that meant—it was just inserting a hairpin after combing his hair. He didn’t need to tie his hair up like a woman, which was still within his comfort zone.

He quickly changed into his wedding attire and looked in the mirror. Honestly, his body had excellent conditions—despite the dry climate, his skin remained soft and smooth, which was quite remarkable.

Soon, Luo Ru and Yue Li came back in. Luo Ru held some makeup items. "Second Brother, come, let me draw your brows and put on some rouge!"

Luo Fei was startled and quickly blocked her hand. "No, no, no! I don’t like that. You keep it!"

Yue Li chuckled. "I also think it’s fine as it is. But maybe you should put a little red mark between your brows? It would look festive; otherwise, it’s too plain."

Luo Fei didn’t want anything, but he couldn’t win against the persuasion of the whole room. In the end, he reluctantly agreed to a small red dot on his forehead. He didn’t feel much when it was being applied, but afterward, it made a striking difference. Before, he had looked pure and delicate, but now, he had an added touch of charm—enough to steal anyone’s breath away.

Forget about Zhang Yangfan and Xi Yanqing—anyone who saw him now would be unable to look away.

"Second Brother, you’re making us girls lose face!" Luo Ru circled him twice. "You look stunning! Absolutely stunning!"

"Of course. So, can I eat something now?!" He had been up since early morning without food, took a bath, and now was starving. His stomach let out a loud grumble, sounding utterly pitiful.

"You can only eat an apple." Luo Yi handed him an apple.

It wasn’t apple season, so the fruit wasn’t particularly fresh, but it was better than nothing.

Luo Fei sat on the heated kang bed, eating his apple while chatting with Han Xu, who had come to help.

"Are you going to cover your head with a veil later?" Han Xu asked.

"I think so." It wasn’t a requirement for grooms to cover their heads in their village, but it wasn’t a problem if they did either. Luo Fei wasn’t too keen on it, but he felt awkward being watched, so he figured he might as well cover himself up. If he couldn’t see others, they couldn’t see him—problem solved.

It was lucky that the original owner of his body had a girlish streak and had prepared the veil along with the wedding attire. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even have one.

Han Xu burst out laughing. "Are you saving your most beautiful look just for your Brother Xi?"

Luo Fei shuddered at the thought, feeling goosebumps rising. But strangely enough… if he covered his head, aside from his family, Han Xu, and Yue Li, wouldn’t Xi Yanqing be the only one to see his face?

Luo Fei had no idea that just the night before, Xi Yanqing had imagined how he would look in his wedding attire and even pictured him wearing a veil. Now that Luo Fei was actually doing it, it was as if he had granted Xi Yanqing’s secret wish.

Possessiveness was something all men had—Xi Yanqing was no exception.

& & &

In reality, to save costs and avoid delaying farm work, most rural weddings were held in the summer when there was less work in the fields. By then, home gardens would be full of fresh vegetables, so they only needed to buy some fish and meat. But this season, fresh vegetables were scarce, so to make the banquet look good, they had to prepare more meat.

Xi Yanqing bought a lot of meat, but he didn’t invite too many people—just those he had a good relationship with. He also scheduled the wedding procession for the morning. Most people thought he did it to accommodate those who had work in the fields later, but only he knew—he just wanted to bring Luo Fei home as soon as possible.

Firecrackers were already strung up at the entrance. Seeing that the courtyard was mostly ready and the guests had arrived, Xi Yanqing mounted his black horse, adorned with red silk, and led a band to Luo Fei’s house.

Since the distance wasn’t far, the villagers weren’t bothered by the trouble and followed along to enjoy the excitement. After all, it wasn’t a long journey.

Luo Fei had just finished his apple, but he was still hungry—hungrier than before. Since he wasn’t allowed to eat anything else to avoid needing a restroom break, he was suffering. At this point, he was desperately waiting for Xi Yanqing to arrive. His family was strict—no food meant no food! He perked up his ears, listening intently, and when he finally heard the sound of drums and suona playing, he nearly jumped up and ran outside. His fair, rosy face showed no trace of wedding sadness—only the kind of excitement one would have at the sight of braised pork!

Meat! Xi Yanqing’s place was bound to have lots of delicious food!

His eyes gleamed with hunger, and he licked his lips slightly. His wolfish expression instantly wiped away Li Yuehua’s impending tears.

"You little rascal!" Li Yuehua, torn between laughter and tears, poked Luo Fei’s chest. "Hurry and put on your veil!"

"Alright, alright." Luo Fei patted Li Yuehua’s hand. "Mom, don’t cry! I won’t cry either. Let’s all be happy. I can still visit you every day."

"Alright, alright." Li Yuehua wiped away her tears. "Let’s go."

Outside, firecrackers exploded as Xi Yanqing dismounted and approached the door. Bowing to Luo Tian, who stood tall like a mountain, he said, "Uncle Luo, I’m here to take Luo Fei with me. May I invite him out?"

Luo Tian nodded and stepped aside. Behind him, a fiery red figure stepped into the morning light, supported by Luo Ji and Luo Yi.

When Xi Yanqing saw the red veil covering Luo Fei’s head, his heart softened. He took two steps forward and held Luo Fei’s hand. "Have you been waiting long?"

Luo Fei whispered, "Can we hurry up? I’m starving!"

Xi Yanqing stifled a laugh. "We can." He discreetly slipped a small millet cake into Luo Fei’s hand. "Eat it when we get on the horse."

Hearing it was food, Luo Fei lit up with joy, practically floating as he walked. He even made a token effort to sob for appearance’s sake when he heard Li Yuehua crying, but his mind was entirely on getting to Xi Yanqing’s house—and the feast waiting for him.

As soon as they got on the horse, Xi Yanqing wrapped his arms around him. Luo Fei tensed instinctively but, mindful of the crowd, didn’t push him away. Instead, he gritted his teeth and whispered, "Hey! Why are you hugging me?!"

Xi Yanqing's deep, laughter-tinged voice brushed against Luo Fei's ear:

"I'm holding my newlywed wife—what's wrong with that?"

"Of course, there's something wrong!" Luo Fei's ears burned strangely. "If my dad hadn't beaten me and forced me to marry you, I wouldn't have married you!"

"Tsk, knowing you couldn't escape but still had to take a beating before giving in—did you leave your intelligence at home?"

"Damn it, Xi! If you have the guts, don't come to bed tonight!" How dare he say he had no intelligence?!

"Oh…" Xi Yanqing, who had been riding ahead on horseback, suddenly flicked the reins with a crisp "Hyah!", urging his horse forward. Having been on the battlefield, his equestrian skills were naturally top-notch.

Luo Fei was startled and instinctively clung to something for support. At that moment, the spring breeze decided to play a prank—whoosh!—blowing his wedding veil away. His fair cheeks, wind-tossed black hair, and the bright red wedding robes instantly leaped into everyone's view, along with Xi Yanqing, who was holding him tightly.

One looked dashing and confident; the other, stunningly beautiful. One carefully protected the person in his arms; the other clung tightly to him. The newlyweds were like a painting, frozen in the most picturesque moment.

Zhang Yangfan, who had just changed clothes and stepped out for some fresh air, witnessed this scene and felt an unfamiliar surge of jealousy. It was as if his feet had grown roots—he couldn't take another step forward.

What on earth had possessed him to give up someone like this and choose Jiang Baining instead? Was he blind…?

His heart was full of regret.

But Luo Fei, who was still hungry, had no time to dwell on such things. He took advantage of the fact that they were riding ahead and nudged Xi Yanqing with his elbow:

"Hey, got anything to eat? I didn’t eat enough."

Xi Yanqing’s lips lightly brushed against Luo Fei’s ear:

"Yes, I secretly left some food in the bridal chamber for you. While I’m outside toasting the guests, you stay inside and eat—but don’t let anyone find out."

"Mhm." A subtle ticklish sensation lingered at his ear, making Luo Fei’s face flush. He lowered his head, rubbing his earlobe, and suddenly recalled that before leaving home, he had been wondering whether Xi Yanqing liked him.

Now, he was almost certain.

—

Tl Notes:

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