Chapter 109 – Black-Bellied Regent VS Loyal Shadow Guard (13)
So, it wasn’t until a few days later, when Wen Renhong finally had time to visit the vicinity of the quarantine zone, that he discovered his little shadow guard, Mu Jin, had become quite famous in the area.
Seeing the cured patients flock to Mu Jin to thank him, Wen Renhong felt a surge of pride, thinking to himself that his shadow guard was truly the best.
Mu Jin quickly helped the patients to their feet, saying, “Don’t thank me; I’m only following the prince’s orders. Without the prince, we wouldn’t have had the medicines and supplies to save you. If you want to thank someone, thank him.”
Thus, all the villagers began to pray to the heavens and express their gratitude to the prince for saving them.
Hearing that Mu Jin still remembered to build his reputation, Wen Renhong’s gaze softened as he watched the young man. If there weren’t so many people around, he would have rushed forward to hug and kiss him.
Despite the villagers’ gratitude, Mu Jin’s expression remained flat, and his voice was calm and formal as he told them not to thank him, which made Wen Renhong chuckle.
After watching for a while, Wen Renhong cleared his throat and walked over, addressing Mu Jin, “Long time no see, Doctor Mu.”
He emphasized the “Mu” in a playful tone, causing Mu Jin’s ears to twitch. Although he had noticed Wen Renhong’s arrival earlier, seeing him in person brought a flash of joy to his eyes.
Although his face showed no extra emotion, his eyes couldn’t hide the delight. Mu Jin quickened his pace and approached Wen Renhong, bowing slightly as he called him, “Master.”
It had been more than ten days since they had seen each other, and Mu Jin was naturally missing him. If it hadn’t been for the urgent need to save lives, he would never have agreed to be apart from his lover for so long.
Wen Renhong felt a warm glow in his heart seeing Mu Jin’s expression but then noticed the dark circles under his eyes and felt a pang of concern.
He patted Mu Jin’s shoulder and said, “I’ve heard about everything you’ve done. You’ve done well. Now it’s time to hand things over to others. You haven’t had a break in a while, so come with me.”
Mu Jin considered that he had already handed over his prescriptions and procedures, and the staff he had trained were competent enough. There were also other reputable doctors in the area, so his absence wouldn’t cause any major issues. He nodded, feeling that he could use a break, and followed Wen Renhong.
Since the quarantine zone was far from Wen Renhong’s residence, the prince was concerned that frequent travel would be too exhausting for Mu Jin. He arranged for a place for Mu Jin to stay near the quarantine zone.
Despite being in Jiangnan for a while, they hadn’t had a chance to spend time together. Once they entered the room, Wen Renhong dismissed everyone, leaving just the two of them. Mu Jin noticed that the room was simply decorated, resembling a typical rural house.
While a commoner might find it acceptable, for a prince, it was quite basic. However, Mu Jin understood that given the flood disaster, even this accommodation was a luxury. Besides, Wen Renhong’s intention was to truly help the victims, not indulge in extravagance.
Before Mu Jin could think too much about the simple surroundings, Wen Renhong suddenly pulled him into his arms, kissing him passionately.
Mu Jin’s heart fluttered at the intensity of the kiss. He closed his eyes and melted into Wen Renhong’s embrace, offering no resistance.
Wen Renhong’s arms tightened around him. Though they had only been apart for a few days, Wen Renhong’s longing for Mu Jin was overwhelming.
They had always spent every moment together, never separated for this long. Wen Renhong thought that without Mu Jin by his side, he might feel a little uncomfortable. But after just one day, he realized it was more than just discomfort. Without Mu Jin’s presence in the room, he couldn’t even sleep properly.
The flood disaster was severe, and Wen Renhong worked tirelessly, handling tasks day and night without rest. Yet he was almost grateful for the workload; otherwise, if he had any free time, his thoughts would be consumed by images of Mu Jin.
It turned out that someone could make him feel this much longing, unable to bear even a moment away from them. He had raced through his work to return quickly, just to see Mu Jin’s face.
As soon as he saw him, he couldn’t help but pull him into his arms, especially now, with just the two of them in the room. How could he hold back his overflowing feelings?
Thus, he held Mu Jin tightly and kissed him with all his passion.
A kiss that began intensely slowly became more gentle, as if the man’s turbulent emotions calmed down after finally connecting with the one he missed. The fierce biting turned into a tender embrace, and after a long while, Wen Renhong lifted his head and gazed into Mu Jin’s eyes. Seeing the faint blush on the other’s cheeks, it felt like a surge of electricity coursed through his entire body.
Watching the person in his arms panting for breath, Wen Renhong felt a sense of satisfaction. However, he held back upon hearing the growling of Mu Jin’s stomach. A hint of a smile crossed his eyes, and when he saw Mu Jin’s brief expression of embarrassment, the smile deepened, thinking his little shadow guard was starting to seem more human.
When they first met, the joy in Mu Jin’s eyes was unmistakable. It wasn’t just him missing the other—Mu Jin was just as eager to see him. This realization lifted his spirits, and he opened the door to instruct the servants to prepare dinner. Not long after, someone brought in a meal tray.
Mu Jin opened the tray to find a simple spread of three dishes and a soup, two of which were vegetarian. It saddened him to think that his lover, now a noble lord, was living in such austere conditions. What he didn’t know was that in the days without Mu Jin by his side, Wen Renhong often subsisted on just one dish, quickly eating whatever he could to return to work.
Today’s meal was slightly more substantial, as Wen Renhong knew that Mu Jin had a sweet tooth, so he made sure to add a few more dishes. There was even a plate of desserts on the side—his favorite milk cakes.
Mu Jin sat quietly beside Wen Renhong, eating from the modest plates. When he saw that the man was giving him all the meat, he felt a pang of guilt and said, “Master, you should eat as well.”
Noticing the unexpected emotion on Mu Jin’s face, Wen Renhong became excited. He couldn’t help but think, ‘Xiao Jin feels sorry for me.‘ He shook his head, reached out, and pinched Mu Jin’s round cheek, saying, “My little treasure should eat more; you look like you’ve lost weight these past days.”
He then leaned in and kissed Mu Jin on the forehead, showing a deep sense of closeness.
However, Mu Jin was stubborn, insisting on giving half of the meat back to him, saying, “Taking care of you is also my duty; I hope you won’t make me neglect my responsibilities.”
Wen Renhong was surprised that Mu Jin, normally compliant, would object to him, but the reason brought him joy. They shared the meal, taking turns with each bite, and Wen Renhong thought, despite the simple food, it tasted particularly sweet.
That night, Mu Jin planned to stand guard by the door, thinking Wen Renhong would rest, but the man stopped him. This wasn’t the royal palace, where rooms had multiple beds; here, there was only one. Wen Renhong sat down on the bed, undressing, and said, “This bed is big enough; we can share it.”
Mu Jin hesitated, saying, “Master, this is against the rules. You should rest; I will stand watch.” But Wen Renhong would not have it, warning sternly, “Are you disobeying my orders?”
Mu Jin, hesitating for a moment, finally lay on the bed, but he kept to the edge. Wen Renhong sighed and pulled him closer, sensing Mu Jin’s initial stiffness before he relaxed in his embrace. Smelling the familiar scent of the person in his arms, he soon fell into a deep sleep.
Mu Jin knew his lover was exhausted and, seeing the dark circles under his eyes, felt a wave of sympathy. He closed his eyes, using his inner energy to soothe Wen Renhong’s nervous system, hoping he could get a good night’s rest.
The next morning, Wen Renhong woke up feeling refreshed and clear-headed. However, when he looked at the bed beside him, Mu Jin was no longer there.
He missed the comforting feeling of holding someone dear and realized that this sense of tranquility was something he had never experienced before. Having someone special beside him seemed to improve the quality of his sleep.