Chapter Text
World peace, no war AU. No secret identity. Chang Geng is just an ordinary village boy. Gu Yun is just an ordinary sickly man that’s three years older than Chang Geng. Shen Yi is Gu Yun’s cousin.
***
This is the worst day in my life , Gu Yun murmured as he looked at the huge nasty wound at his chest. A small boy around twelve years old whimpered beside him, tears threatening to fall as he tried to stop the bleeding with a piece of cloth that was ripped from the hem of his robe. The boy’s trembling hands were pressed against Gu Yun’s wound, making him hissed in pain. This brat, what’s his name again? Chang Geng? Ah, whatever. Gu Yun looked at the boy, his gaze unfocused. The pain from his wound kept him from thinking straight.
Let’s go back to 10 minutes ago when Gu Yun and his cousin, Shen Yi, just arrived at this small village. Shen Yi warned Gu Yun not to wander around, but would he listen?. Of course not. Gu Yun being Gu Yun, would rather piss his cousin off a thousand times over than ever obeying him. His good intentions were better fed to the dogs than spent on someone like Gu Yun. Just kidding. In any case, the moment Shen Yi looked away, Gu Yun had already disappeared, walking around the village like it was his own backyard.
It was by mere coincidence that he was met by a scene of a young boy being chased by a pack of wolves.
It was also by mere coincidence that he was there to shield the boy when a wolf extracted its claw at him.
How strange. How very unlikely. The village was small and peaceful—and yet—something like this could still happen.
Gu Yun could not believe it. Was he going to die here? He was only fifteen! But oh well, whatever. There was nothing he could do in this situation. All he could was hold this small boy, Chang Geng, in his arms.
At the very least, he could protect the child with his body.
At the very least, he could die without regrets.
At the same time, he kept cursing at Shen Yi non-stop for not appearing, for not being there.
Shen Yi, that bastard, where is he when I need him the most?
And then, just when he had given up hope, he saw that very same Shen Yi he was just cursing, coming towards them intimidatingly, holding a huge sickle as big as he was—god knows where he borrowed that from— screaming as he chased away the wolf pack.
Once he was done, Shen Yi approached Gu Yun and Chang Geng. Squatting near the wounded Gu Yun, his voice low and uncertain, “Are you okay?”
Gu Yun, that bastard cousin of Shen Yi, smacked Shen Yi on his back so hard he almost fell head first into Gu Yun’s wound. Instead of thanking his cousin for saving his life, Gu Yun complained in anger and dissatisfaction. “Too late!!! What if I die? What have you been doing all this time? A second later, you would have a dead cousin instead of a living one!!”
Shen Yi gritted his teeth in pain, wondering if it was too late to leave his bastard cousin to die. “You’re the one that disappeared without telling me! I spent 10 minutes searching for you!”
Feeling a strong urge to smack his ungrateful cousin to death, he recited in his mind. Calm down, Shen Yi. He’s your cousin, he’s injured. You can’t hit him back. Yes, that’s right. I am calm and collected. Calm and collected. After repeating this mantra thrice, Shen Yi slowly calmed down. He then proceeded to treat Gu Yun’s and Chang Geng’s wounds.
Chang Geng thanked Shen Yi repeatedly.
As for Gu Yun?
He kept telling Chang Geng not to thank Shen Yi repeatedly.
Shen Yi truly considered putting Gu Yun, that ungrateful brat, for adoption only to remember that no one would be willing to adopt Gu Yun. He can only sighed. He could only be stuck, involuntarily, with his cousin for a long, long time.
***
Today, like any other day since their meeting, Chang Geng came to Gu Yun’s house. As a thank you for saving his life, Chang Geng started taking care of Gu Yun who was still recovering from the wolf attack. He cleaned, cooked, and reminded Gu Yun to take his medicine. Shen Yi cried tears of joy.
Finally! Someone to share the burden of taking care of this useless cousin of his!
According to this village tradition, as long as one saves another’s life, the one who was saved was bound by karma to being the benefactors’ family. In this case, Chang Geng had asked the two if he could have the honour of calling them yifu .
Gu Yun laughed so hard he almost choked to his death. Shen Yi, a yifu? That’s funny. Of course, Shen Yi rejected this “yifu” title because he was too busy working and taking care of his useless cousin, Gu Yun.
And since Gu Yun was too young, he could not be Chang Geng’s yifu either.
Gu Yun pondered for a moment, his gaze never leaving the boy and then raised his eyebrow in a teasing manner. He winked at Chang Geng. “Sorry, I can’t be your yifu. Instead of that, don’t you think being your “bride” would be much more interesting?”
“You better prepare the dowry. No dowry, no bride.”
Of course Gu Yun was just joking. One of his many hobbies was teasing people till they were flustered. But his intended goal was not achieved. The small boy was not blushing. Neither was he red to his ears. He was unexpectedly greeted instead with sparkles in the brat’s eyes.
"That’s even better. Ok then, I will marry you in the future."
Gu Yun almost dropped the teacup he was holding. "?????"
Wait. What? That brat agree? Gu Yun could not believe his ears. This brat seriously want to marry him? But he’s just twelve. Kids his age will change their minds easily. Ah, whatever.
And thus Gu Yun, alongside his cousin, Shen Yi, lived in Chang Geng’s village. Chang Geng would dutifully remind him to take the medicine, do the housework, cook for him, etc, etc.
By the time Gu Yun’s wound had fully healed, he was already spoiled by the brat. He started to think if he should fake his wounds so Chang Geng would continue taking care of him. The brat’s cooking was so good, he wondered if he should just keep the boy.
Of course, every time he voiced such thoughts, his dependable-not bastard cousin, Shen Yi, would smack him and start nagging at him like an old auntie, “Don’t take advantage of that poor kid!”
He could only curb his wishful thinking.
Fortunately for Gu Yun, even when he did nothing, the brat would still be at his beck and call. Even after knowing that Gu Yun was fully healed, Chang Geng still came to their house everyday. Gu Yun, without a doubt, was as happy as a pig in mud. He finally had someone that was a three-in-one package; a friend, a little brother and a servant.
Shen Yi could scream at him all day and he would not give a damn.
“HE! IS! NOT! YOUR! SERVANT!! Are you a pig?! Get off your ass and clean the floor by yourself!”
***
It had been more than a year since Gu Yun met Chang Geng. Their relationship had become closer and closer. Gu Yun stopped teasing others. The only one who was not as lucky was Chang Geng. He would tease Chang Geng until his face was red like tomatoes. He loved seeing the brat all flustered and red. After that, Gu Yun would laugh it off, pretending to repent and apologise.
And he would be forgiven without fail.
Rinse and repeat.
Since Gu Yun could not see and hear clearly, he would often drag Chang Geng everywhere. Gu Yun would take Chang Geng shopping and buy snacks and candies for him. Gu Yun noticed that Chang Geng was very strong and could lift heavy things easily. Of course he would take advantage of that. What good was having strength if not for carrying all his groceries.
Chang Geng, his dutiful three-in-one someone, would gladly comply with all his wishes.
As they were never seen alone, stuck to each other like siamese twins, there was even a saying in the village that went, “Wherever there’s Gu Yun, there’s Chang Geng.” So if anyone ever wanted to meet Chang Geng, all they have to do is search for Gu Yun and vice versa.
***
Gu Yun stared at Chang Geng, who was busy preparing his meal at the table. Gu Yun felt that there was something different about the brat.
Chang Geng, who felt Gu Yun’s gaze, sighed internally, bracing himself for another one of Gu Yun's pranks.
"What is it, Shiliu?" Chang Geng asked with a doting tone that was filled with infinite patience.
Shiliu is Gu Yun’s nickname since he was born on the sixteenth of the first lunar month. That brat dared to call him by his name. How disrespectful! Thankfully he was cute, so Gu Yun readily forgave him. Anyways, that was not important. On to the main goal.
"Little Chang Geng, don’t tell me you already experienced that?"
“That?”
"Spring dream."
Chang Geng dropped the plate on the floor.
Gu Yun started laughing very hard the moment he saw his brat’s reaction. "HAHAHAHA. My guess is right. So who was it? Those nice young ladies who constantly give you free vegetables? Your neighbour? Ay, my little Chang Geng is all grown up now.”
“Come back here!!”
“Don’t be shy, young lad. Tell me, who’s the person that appeared in your dream? This big brother will help match you up.”
Shen Yi, whose existence was as good as invisible, watched on as Chang Geng chased Gu Yun around their yard. He sighed in contentment. Yet another peaceful day in this household.