Cataclysm Chapter 136: Extras · Fated Marriage 07

Chapter 136: Extras · Fated Marriage 07

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Kou Xuanling’s relationship with Lu Xiuzhi grew more harmonious, and he was pleasantly surprised to discover that he and Lu Xiuzhi shared so many similar interests. Once they started a conversation, they could talk endlessly without tiring. If there were no topics to discuss, it didn’t feel awkward. They could both work in the same enclosed space, occasionally glancing up at each other with a smile, and a warm, unspoken affection blossomed between them.

Lu Xiuzhi was as gentle as a breeze brushing past the treetops, cool and comfortable like a mountain spring flowing in summer. If Kou Xuanling turned around, he would find that he had been standing quietly behind him, watching over him, giving him an incredible sense of security. Kou Xuanling slowly accepted Lu Xiuzhi’s pursuit and, after returning from the Wei Family’s collection museum, they both tacitly acknowledged their relationship. It was only when they went to the Tianshi’s Mansion and encountered a roadblock set up by the Taoist Association that he truly opened his heart and confirmed their relationship.

The sudden accident on the road—collapsed ground, underground sewage pits, and falling cables—was enough to electrocute Kou Xuanling and the children. In a life-threatening moment, Lu Xiuzhi grabbed the cable and saved everyone. He stood outside the crowd, staring deeply at Kou Xuanling. Without hesitation, he walked up to him and said, “A-Zhi, thank you.”

Lu Xiuzhi remained expressionless and silent, pulling Kou Xuanling’s hand and walking straight ahead. His hand hurt from his grip, but he tried to keep up with his pace. “A-Zhi, where are we going?”

Lu Xiuzhi walked all the way to a nearby hotel’s front desk, where the receptionist’s eyes flickered between them, but her movements remained swift. They quickly received the room key, entered the elevator, and found their room. Lu Xiuzhi locked the door and pulled Kou Xuanling into the bathroom. Kou Xuanling began to struggle. “Calm down, I’m fine.”

Lu Xiuzhi released him, leaned against the bathroom door, and nodded toward the bathroom. “Go take a shower.”

Kou Xuanling crossed his arms, suspicious. “How about we go back to the original hotel? Or meet up with Chen Yang and the others? I think it’s necessary to inform them, at least notify them. After all, this is a big deal—”

“This big deal will definitely reach their ears, you don’t need to worry about it. Go take a shower, I won’t come in. You were in that sewage pit for over ten minutes, the water’s dirty and toxic. Hurry up and clean yourself,” Lu Xiuzhi pushed him into the bathroom and then closed the door.

Kou Xuanling stared at the closed bathroom door for a while before confirming that Lu Xiuzhi wasn’t playing hard to get; he truly had no ulterior motives and was completely honorable. He felt a little guilty for misjudging him but also felt a slight regret because Lu Xiuzhi hadn’t done anything. He shrugged, turned on the hot water, and took a comfortable shower. He threw his damp, foul-smelling clothes into the laundry basket. But when he finished and looked around, he found that besides the towel, he had nothing else to wear.

He paused, picked up the towel, and measured it against his body. After some time, he realized it only reached his thighs. “So short?” After searching the small bathroom for a while, he couldn’t find a bathrobe, so he wrapped himself in the towel. When he opened the door, he saw Lu Xiuzhi turn around, his deep gaze fixing on him, making him feel quite uncomfortable. “Are you going to take a shower too?”

Lu Xiuzhi’s throat moved a couple of times. “Mhm.” His response was soft, but his body didn’t move. His eyes grew more intense, tracing every inch of his exposed skin, as if wishing to replace his gaze with his fingers, his tongue, kissing his sweet skin.

Kou Xuanling felt more uneasy under his intense gaze, pretending to stay calm and quickly walking past him, trying to grab the bedspread to cover himself. Suddenly, Lu Xiuzhi grabbed his arm and yanked him back, spinning him around until he was disoriented. When he regained his senses, he found himself pressed onto the bed, unable to move. As he lifted his head, he was kissed on the lips, Lu Xiuzhi’s tongue slipping into his mouth.

Kou Xuanling’s hand, which had been holding his sleeve, clenched tightly, gradually becoming absorbed in the intimacy, no longer rejecting or fearful. After a while, Lu Xiuzhi lay on top of him, his cool breath brushing his neck. He heard him say, “I was scared just now, my heart skipped a beat.” He kissed his ear, his voice trembling with intense emotion. “Don’t scare me like that again, Kou Xuanling. I love you, don’t reject me anymore. I won’t foolishly let you go. I won’t give you a chance to escape or regret. Kou Xuanling, be mine, okay?”

Kou Xuanling parted his lips, his bare chest pressed against his, and the heat from their bodies made him want to pull away. But Lu Xiuzhi pressed him down, leaving him with no way to escape. He opened his mouth, trying to refuse, but no words came out, no matter how hard he tried. He remembered the moment of danger earlier, when his life hung by a thread, Lu Xiuzhi’s red eyes, and the deep regret and yearning in his heart.

“Okay.”

Kou Xuanling finally accepted Lu Xiuzhi’s deep affection, their fingers intertwining, their hearts connecting. Lu Xiuzhi’s kiss followed, lightly landing on his cheeks, neck, and other places, “Thank you, I love you.”

The deeper physical exchange inevitably brought them closer emotionally, and even without words, just by looking at each other, they could understand one another’s thoughts. This kind of mutual understanding felt both blissful and joyful, making Kou Xuanling squint slightly, with a smile always on his lips. While at the Tianshi’s Mansion, he had a video call with his family, gradually revealing Lu Xiuzhi to them.

Kou Xuanling’s father was the first to notice the unusual atmosphere between the two, so he contacted Kou Xuanling privately to test the waters. Kou Xuanling allowed his father to probe, having no intention of hiding their relationship. This straightforward attitude showed just how serious he was, which made his father feel troubled.

If it had been Kou Ying or someone else daring to be with another man, Kou Xuanling’s father would have immediately intervened, possibly even breaking their legs or handing them a stick to make the point clear. But it was his own son, Kou Xuanling. It wasn’t that he was troubled because Kou Xuanling was his son, but rather because Kou Xuanling had lived away from his parents for so long.

Kou Xuanling’s father had always felt guilty about not being there for him while growing up, even though Kou Xuanling never blamed them. After discussing it with his wife, the couple was equally distressed. When they encountered Kou Xuanling’s uncle, the elder placed his hand on Kou Xuanling’s father’s shoulder and chuckled, “You and your wife seem to have a great relationship. Got any secrets to share with me? Maybe I could use them to woo my wife.”

Kou Xuanling’s father, sensitive and fragile, was severely provoked by this remark. He recalled how his uncle had often referred to the ‘brotherly bond’ between Kou Xuanling and Lu Xiuzhi, and he nearly wanted to punch himself for not noticing earlier. But before punishing himself, he first wanted to deal with his uncle.

Thus, a tragic scene unfolded in the Kou family’s ancestral home, where the two brothers’ conflict escalated.

Soon, not just Kou Xuanling’s parents, but other relatives, including cousins, knew that Kou Xuanling had found someone—a man, no less. Everyone fell silent for a long time, secretly approaching Kou Xuanling to talk. Once they confirmed his genuine feelings, they all began offering him comfort, glad that he had found someone and wasn’t destined to be alone. They found it much better than they had imagined.

It was somewhat amusing, really. The elder members of the family, comforting each other, would start by comforting one person, only for the next person to be the one needing comfort. It became a cycle of reassurance, at least Kou Xuanling had found someone to spend his life with, and as long as he was happy, that was enough.

Kou Xuanling’s uncle sighed, “The children will find their own happiness.”

The Kou family gathered together, their expressions not particularly pleasant, but after hearing his words, they each felt something stir inside, their moods softening somewhat. After his sigh, Kou Xuanling’s uncle turned and asked, “Who’s gotten a partner?”

Everyone’s face instantly darkened, and it became clear that Kou Xuanling’s uncle had been continuously reassured for days without even realizing that Kou Xuanling and Lu Xiuzhi were together. Kou Xuanling’s father took a deep breath, “Brother, let’s have a talk.”

Kou Xuanling’s uncle, bewildered, asked, “Huh? Why all of a sudden?” Before he could get an answer, the other elder members of the family asked him to discuss it with them, keeping him so busy that, in the end, he never found out who had gotten a partner.

During the New Year, Kou Xuanling brought Lu Xiuzhi back to the Kou family’s ancestral home. Kou Xuanling’s father called Lu Xiuzhi into a room for a two- or three-hour discussion. When they emerged, his attitude towards the two of them was no longer cold. Over the New Year period, other elders in the family also sought time to meet with Lu Xiuzhi privately. Kou Xuanling wasn’t sure what happened during those meetings, but he could tell that while they hadn’t openly supported their relationship, they had begun to treat Lu Xiuzhi like family.

Lu Xiuzhi held Kou Xuanling’s hand, and, when no one was looking, he leaned in and kissed his cheek. “I have a secret to tell you, but not now.”

“Hmm?” Kou Xuanling couldn’t quite hear clearly; the fireworks exploding in the sky were too loud, masking his voice.

Lu Xiuzhi smiled, “I’ll tell you later.”

Kou Xuanling heard that clearly and nodded, “Got it.”

In the midst of being excluded by everyone, Uncle Kou sulked and retreated to his wife’s side, quietly complaining about how his younger brothers and nephews had disrespected him. He was both heartbroken and angry. Aunt Kou, chuckling, peeled an orange and stuffed it in his mouth to silence him. As Uncle Kou chewed the fruit, his eyes wandered around, and he saw Kou Xuanling and Lu Xiuzhi together. He casually remarked, “Their relationship is really good. One day, I’ll suggest to Second Brother that he should adopt little Lu as a godson.”

Aunt Kou froze, her body stiffening, and she turned to look at her husband with an expression of complete disbelief. Uncle Kou, completely clueless, asked, “What’s wrong?”

Aunt Kou, gazing at her husband with affectionate eyes, smiled sweetly, “Dear, just don’t say anything more. I will always stand by you.” Her tone was like a loving mother speaking to a child.

Uncle Kou felt a wave of emotion, flustered. “Old husband and wife, don’t say such things.” He blushed, embarrassed.

Later, Kou Xuanling and Lu Xiuzhi held their wedding ceremony, inviting everyone from the police branch office to attend. Four years after their marriage, Lu Xiuzhi formally introduced himself for the first time, saying, “Ah Xuan, my real name is Lu Jing, courtesy name Xiuzi.”

The author’s note:
PS: The timeline in the Extras will have some jumps, but if you pay attention, you can spot how the timeline and the intensity of the relationship evolve. I haven’t detailed every step of their emotional progression, as it would make the story too long.

 

 

 

This Title is available for faster chapter releases through paid Patreon membership. Any proceeds go to keeping the website running. Check it out HERE.