The Substitute Groom

Lin Chunbao was sickly, out of breath after three steps and faint after five. His eyesight wasn't very good, either. As the youngest son of the Lin family, he had never been loved or cared for.

His older brother had all the family's affection. He was refined and courteous, one of the few educated scholars in the village, and had been promised in marriage since childhood.

When his brother heard his betrothed was a fierce-looking, brutish tyrant who was poor, he looked down on him. The brother had his eye on the county magistrate's son instead.

With the wedding day approaching, the family discussed it and sent Lin Chunbao to take his brother's place.

His future brother-in-law became his husband...

Lin Chunbao entered the Xue household in a daze. When he saw Xue Tu, he shrank back like a little rabbit.

Xue Tu looked fierce and rugged, like he could easily pick Lin Chunbao up with a single finger.

At first, Lin Chunbao called to him in a trembling voice, "B-brother-in-law..."

Later, his eyes would grow red, and after being teased until he could only clutch at the man's lapels, he'd slowly wrap his arms around the man's neck.

*

Though Xue Tu was rough and rugged, and had a sharp tongue, he warmed Lin Chunbao's feet with his palms when it was cold. He picked little flowers and tucked them behind his ear, saying they looked pretty. When Lin Chunbao was sick and miserable, he would hold him gently, unsure what to do, and call him Chunbao.

*

Lin Chunbao's eye condition flared up, and he fell into a pond, hurting himself.

Xue Tu carried him dozens of miles to the county town for treatment. Lin Chunbao felt terribly guilty and asked the man if he was tired.

"Yeah. Give me a kiss and I won't be tired anymore," Xue Tu said.

After Lin Chunbao kissed the man's cheek, Xue Tu thought to himself: Damn, those lips are soft.

2023/1/5

Rugged gong x sickly shou

Theme: Love your partner as you would a flower, and cherish the people by your side