Panic seized Leo. His heart hammered against his ribs. Consummation? Tonight? This wasn't part of the transmigration package. This was a nightmare wrapped in a shabby hut.
"Kai," he hissed, eyes wide, turning to his best friend. Kai's face mirrored his horror, a silent scream frozen on his features.
Chen Rong, seemingly oblivious to the internal meltdown, shifted. His large hands, rough and calloused, smoothed his worn tunic. A deep flush spread across his cheeks. He wouldn't meet Lin Yue's gaze.
"We... we should prepare," Chen Rong mumbled, his voice a low rumble. He gestured vaguely towards the back of the hut, where a thin curtain separated a sleeping area.
Mu Qing, usually quick with a sarcastic retort, just stared blankly. His mouth worked, but no words came out. This was uncharted territory, even for them. They'd faced bad dates, awkward family gatherings, even death, but this? This was a whole new level of 'oh, hell no.'
Leo's mind raced. He needed a plan. Fast. He looked around the tiny, dilapidated hut. One rickety table, two stools, a hearth with cold ashes. Their entire new life was contained in this small, sad space.
"Prepare for what, exactly?" Leo managed, his voice a little too high. He tried for nonchalance, but it came out as desperate squeak.
Chen Rong finally looked up, his brow furrowed in confusion. "For... for the night. You are my ger. I am your man. It is expected." His eyes, a warm, earthy brown, held a vulnerability that twisted something in Leo's gut. This man wasn't a villain. He was just... following custom.
Mu Qing finally found his voice. "Expected by whom? The village gossips? The ghost of tradition past?" He jabbed a finger dramatically at the air. "We just got here! We're disoriented! We probably have amnesia!"
Zhao Wei, who had been leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, pushed off. His eyes, sharp and intense, flickered between Mu Qing and Lin Yue. He said nothing, but his presence filled the small space with a quiet, watchful energy.
"Amnesia?" Chen Rong repeated, his voice laced with concern. He took a hesitant step towards Lin Yue. "Are you unwell, Lin Yue?"
Leo held up a hand, warding him off. "No, no. Not unwell. Just... overwhelmed. It's a lot. New home, new husband, new... life." He gave a strained smile that felt more like a grimace. "Perhaps we could, uh, ease into things? Get to know each other first?"
Chen Rong's expression softened slightly. "We have been married for a day."
"A very eventful day!" Mu Qing interjected. "We've barely had time to mourn our previous, non-ger lives! Give us a moment to adjust to... *this*." He gestured wildly around, encompassing their entire new reality.
Zhao Wei spoke, his voice deep and surprisingly gentle. "It is true, your new gers seem... troubled. It would be wise to allow them time." He directed this to Chen Rong, a silent plea in his gaze.
Chen Rong hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Perhaps... a little time. But not too long, Lin Yue. Our families will expect news soon." His words were soft, but the underlying pressure was clear.
Relief washed over Leo, so potent it made his knees weak. "Right. Time. Excellent. We'll, uh, we'll get right on that... eventually." He gripped Kai's arm, pulling him towards the corner of the hut, away from their husbands.
"What do we do?" Kai whispered, his voice tight with barely suppressed panic. "We can't just... *do* it, Leo! We're men! And he's... he's a man! And we're supposed to be gers!"
"I know, I know!" Leo rubbed his temples. "My head is spinning. Okay, new plan. We buy time. We pretend we're shy, traumatized, whatever. Then we figure out how to get out of this mess."
"Get out? Where? We have nothing! We *are* nothing! We're ger-husbands in the middle of nowhere!" Kai's voice rose slightly.
"Keep it down!" Leo hissed. He glanced over at Chen Rong and Zhao Wei, who were now having a quiet conversation near the doorway. Their husbands. It still sounded alien.
"We need food, first," Leo decided, trying to focus on something tangible. "And then we need a way to make money. We can't just... sit here and wait for the inevitable."
A thin, reedy cough from Chen Rong brought their attention back. "Lin Yue, Mu Qing," he said. "We should fetch water. And perhaps forage for some herbs. The sun will set soon."
They followed, feeling like two bewildered sheep led to slaughter. The village, as they walked through it, was a collection of similar mud-and-thatch huts. Poverty clung to everything, a dusty, ever-present companion. Children, with too-big eyes and bony limbs, played in the dirt. Women and gers tended small gardens or mended clothes. Men sharpened tools or repaired fences.
No one looked at them with outright suspicion, but the curiosity was palpable. Whispers followed them. They were the new gers, the ones who had been married off to the poorest men in the village. Not a promising start.
"See?" Kai muttered, nudging Leo. "We're the village charity cases. This is worse than I thought."
"It means we have nothing to lose," Leo countered, a spark of his old determination igniting. "We start from zero. Again. But this time, we know the world is even stranger."
They reached the village well. It was a simple stone structure, a wooden bucket on a rope. Other gers were already there, chatting softly, collecting water. Chen Rong and Zhao Wei motioned for them to wait.
"You should introduce yourselves," Chen Rong encouraged Lin Yue softly. "They are good people."
Lin Yue hesitated. He'd never been good at small talk, especially not in a language he barely understood. But this was their new reality. He needed to adapt.
"Hello," he managed, bowing slightly as he'd seen others do. "I am Lin Yue."
A ger with kind eyes and a round face smiled. "Welcome, Lin Yue. I am Hua. And this is Mei." She gestured to a younger ger beside her. "We heard you arrived yesterday. It is good to have new gers in the village."
Mei, younger and more timid, simply nodded.
"And this is Mu Qing," Leo said, nudging Kai forward.
Kai, ever the showman, managed a charming smile despite his inner turmoil. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. Such a lovely village." He laid it on thick, his eyes scanning for any hint of information.
Hua chuckled. "It has its charms. Are you settling in well?"
"Oh, wonderfully," Kai lied smoothly. "Just, uh, adjusting to the, ah, local customs. It's all so... rustic."
Hua's smile tightened just a fraction. "Rustic. Indeed. We work hard here." Her gaze flickered to Chen Rong and Zhao Wei, who were patiently waiting by the well.
Zhao Wei, ever observant, sensed the shift. He stepped forward. "Hua, Mei. It is good to see you. We are taking our gers to collect some herbs before nightfall."
"Of course," Hua said, her tone suddenly cooler. "May you find what you seek."
As they walked away, Leo exchanged a look with Kai. "What was that about?"
"Rustic," Kai whispered. "It was the 'rustic.' She thinks I'm mocking their poverty."
Leo face-palmed. "Kai, you idiot. Read the room. These people are barely scraping by."
"How was I supposed to know?" Kai threw his hands up. "I'm still reeling from the fact that I'm supposed to be breeding stock for some quiet hunter guy."
Zhao Wei’s head snapped towards them. He hadn't understood the words, but the sudden tension in Kai's voice was clear. His eyes narrowed, a flash of something cold and dangerous in their depths.
"Is there a problem, Mu Qing?" Zhao Wei asked, his voice low.
Kai swallowed. "No, no problem, husband. Just... marveling at the beauty of nature." He forced a wide, shaky smile.
Zhao Wei just stared at him for a moment longer, then turned away. The air crackled.
---
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery oranges and purples. It should have been a beautiful scene, but Leo felt only dread. The inevitable was approaching.
They had collected a few meager herbs. Chen Rong showed Lin Yue which ones were edible, which had medicinal properties. He was patient, his large hands surprisingly gentle as he pointed out leaves and stems.
"You have a good eye, Lin Yue," Chen Rong praised, a small smile touching his lips. It made him look less like a stoic farmer and more like a genuinely kind man. This complicated things.
Back at the hut, a small fire flickered in the hearth. Chen Rong stirred a thin gruel, the aroma of boiled grain doing little to whet Leo's appetite. Zhao Wei was outside, sharpening his hunting knife. The rhythmic scrape of metal on stone was a constant, unsettling sound.
"This is it," Kai whispered to Leo, as they sat on the floor near the fire, trying to look busy. "The moment of truth. What's your excuse going to be? Sudden onset of mysterious illness? A vow of chastity you forgot you took?"
"I don't know!" Leo hissed back. "I'm thinking... extreme exhaustion from the journey. A deep-seated psychological trauma that makes physical intimacy impossible. Maybe I can feign a fever?"
"Ooh, a fever!" Kai brightened. "That's good. But what if they call your bluff? What if they have village healers who just give you some weird herb that makes you... *more* receptive?"
The thought sent a shiver down Leo's spine. This world was clearly not like theirs.
Chen Rong ladled out the gruel. He offered it to Lin Yue first, his gaze soft. "Eat, Lin Yue. You must be tired."
Leo took the wooden bowl. The gruel was bland, but warm. He ate slowly, forcing each spoonful down. He watched Chen Rong, who ate with a quiet dignity, his movements economical. This man, his *husband*, was kind. Too kind for Leo's current predicament.
Zhao Wei entered, the sharpening complete. He took his bowl from Mu Qing, their fingers brushing. Kai flinched visibly. Zhao Wei's eyes narrowed again, but he said nothing, simply sat and ate.
The meal finished in strained silence. The fire crackled. The air grew heavier with unspoken expectations.
"It is time to rest," Chen Rong said, finally breaking the quiet. He stood, his gaze fixed on Lin Yue.
Leo's heart leaped into his throat. He looked at Kai, a frantic, desperate plea in his eyes. Kai, pale and rigid, could only offer a weak shrug.
"Rest," Leo repeated, the word tasting like ash. "Yes. Good idea. I am... extraordinarily weary." He made a show of yawning, stretching dramatically. "Perhaps a very, very long rest."
Chen Rong walked over to the thin curtain that separated the sleeping area. He pulled it back, revealing a simple straw mat on the dirt floor, covered with a rough blanket. It was bare, functional. And terrifying.
"Come, Lin Yue," he said, his voice gentle, but firm. "It is late."
Leo's mind raced. He had to stall. "Oh, but... but where will Mu Qing and Zhao Wei sleep?" he blurted out.
Chen Rong gestured vaguely to the main area of the hut. "They will sleep here. There is only one sleeping mat in this hut."
"Ah, right," Leo mumbled. He looked at Kai. Kai was frozen, eyes darting between Zhao Wei and the straw mat.
Zhao Wei, leaning against the wall, spoke. "Mu Qing, we will make our own arrangements for the night." His voice held a surprising edge. "Your... aversion... is clear."
Kai flushed crimson. "Aversion? I merely... appreciate personal space! A lot of it! Vast, empty tracts of personal space!"
Zhao Wei pushed off the wall. He moved towards Mu Qing, his stride purposeful. Kai visibly tensed, shrinking back.
"Come," Zhao Wei commanded, his voice now devoid of any softness. He took Mu Qing's arm. It wasn't rough, but it was firm, leaving no room for argument.
"Where are we going?" Kai squeaked, trying to pull away.
"To my hut," Zhao Wei replied, his grip unyielding. "It is better we resolve this where there are no distractions. And where you can scream as much as you like without bothering Chen Rong and Lin Yue."
Kai's eyes widened in horror. He looked at Leo, a silent plea for help.
Leo was equally horrified. This was not going to plan. Zhao Wei was far less patient than Chen Rong. "Wait!" Leo called out. "Zhao Wei, please! My friend is... he's delicate! He needs time!"
Zhao Wei ignored him. He half-dragged, half-pulled Mu Qing out of the hut. The last thing Leo saw was Kai's terrified face, before the wooden door slammed shut, echoing ominously in the small space.
Silence descended. A heavy, suffocating silence.
Leo was alone with Chen Rong.
Chen Rong turned, his expression unreadable in the dim firelight. He walked slowly towards Lin Yue, his shadow stretching long and distorted behind him. Each step was deliberate, unhurried.
Leo's heart pounded like a drum. His breath hitched in his throat. This was it. There was no Kai to help him, no distraction, no escape. He was truly on his own.
He scrambled backwards, bumping into the wall. "Chen Rong, please," he stammered, his voice trembling. "I... I need more time. Truly. I'm not... I'm not ready. I don't understand this world. I don't understand... *us*."
Chen Rong stopped a few feet away. He knelt, bringing himself closer to Lin Yue's eye level. His large hand reached out, brushing Lin Yue's cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle, almost feather-light.
"Lin Yue," he said, his voice a low, tender murmur. "You are my ger. My family. I will protect you. But we are married. And it is my duty to ensure our line continues." His thumb stroked Lin Yue's jawline. "Do not be afraid. I will be gentle."
His eyes, in the flickering firelight, held an intensity that sent a fresh wave of panic through Leo. This wasn't some cold, unfeeling obligation for Chen Rong. This was personal. This was real.
Leo gulped, his throat dry. He could feel the warmth of Chen Rong's hand, the rough texture of his skin. He was trapped. Utterly and completely trapped.
He had to say something. Do something. But his mind was a blank. He was a man, a modern man, in a world where he was a ger, expected to bear children, and his kind, gentle giant of a husband was about to...
Chen Rong leaned closer, his gaze dropping to Leo's lips. Leo could feel the warmth of his breath, smell the faint scent of earth and woodsmoke on his skin. He closed his eyes, bracing himself.
Suddenly, a loud, urgent knock rattled the door.
Chen Rong froze, his hand dropping from Leo's face. He straightened, his expression changing from tender resolve to mild annoyance.
"Who could that be?" he muttered, clearly irritated by the interruption. He glanced back at Leo, then reluctantly moved towards the door.
Leo watched, heart still thrumming, as Chen Rong unlatched the heavy wooden door.
Outside, silhouetted against the dark night sky, stood Hua, the ger from the well. Her face was grim, her usual gentle smile replaced by a look of grave concern.
"Chen Rong!" Hua exclaimed, her voice hushed but urgent. "It's Zhao Wei. He's in trouble."
Chen Rong's head snapped up. "Trouble? What kind of trouble?" His voice was sharp, all tenderness gone.
Hua wrung her hands. "He was attacked! By a wild boar! He's badly hurt! Mu Qing... Mu Qing ran for the village healer. He said to tell you..." Her voice trailed off, filled with fear.
Leo's eyes widened. Zhao Wei attacked? Mu Qing running for help? This was an entirely unexpected turn of events. His best friend was in danger, and his own immediate threat had just been put on hold by a sudden, violent emergency.
Chen Rong was already grabbing his hunting knife from its sheath by the door. "Show me!" he commanded Hua, his face grim, his focus entirely shifted. He didn't even glance back at Lin Yue.
He was out the door in an instant, Hua hurrying to keep up.
Leo was left alone in the hut, the door left ajar, the fire casting dancing shadows. The silence was back, but this time, it was laced with a chilling new reality. His husband had been about to... and now his best friend's husband was gravely injured.
He stood up, his legs still shaky. He had to go. He had to see if Kai was okay. He had to help. But what could he do? He knew nothing about this world, its injuries, its healing.
He peered out the open doorway into the oppressive darkness. The village was still, save for a few distant murmurs. He had to find them. He had to find Kai.
His heart throbbed. This world was ruthless. And now, the true dangers were beginning to show themselves.
He took a step, then another, out into the cool night air. The stars were brilliant overhead, uncaring witnesses to their plight. He had to find his best friend. He just *had* to.
He started walking towards the direction Chen Rong and Hua had gone, his bare feet sinking into the soft dirt path. The urgency pulsed through him, overriding his fear.
What if Zhao Wei was truly badly hurt? What if Mu Qing was in shock? What if...
A faint glow appeared ahead, then vanished, as if someone was moving with a lantern. He picked up his pace.
He could hear voices now, hushed and frantic. He pushed through the gathering darkness, his eyes straining to see.
He reached a cluster of huts. A small crowd had gathered. In the center, a man lay on the ground, groaning. It was Zhao Wei. His leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, and a dark stain spread rapidly across his worn trousers.
Mu Qing was kneeling beside him, his face streaked with tears and dirt, clutching Zhao Wei's hand. His usually dramatic demeanor was gone, replaced by raw, visceral terror.
"Kai!" Leo gasped, pushing through the small throng of villagers.
Mu Qing looked up, his eyes wide and bloodshot. "Leo! He's... he's really hurt! The boar... it just came out of nowhere!"
Chen Rong was already there, examining Zhao Wei's injury, his face grim. The village healer, a frail old ger with surprisingly strong hands, was also present, muttering incantations and pressing herbs onto the wound.
Leo knelt beside Kai. "What happened?"
"We were... we were talking," Kai choked out, still clinging to Zhao Wei's hand. "He was trying to, you know... explain things. And then this huge boar just burst out of the bushes! It gored him!"
Zhao Wei let out another pained groan. His breath was coming in ragged gasps.
The healer shook her head, her face etched with concern. "The leg is badly broken. And the tusks... a deep wound. He has lost much blood."
Leo looked at the wound. It was worse than he imagined. A jagged, gaping tear in Zhao Wei's thigh, still oozing dark blood. This wasn't just 'badly hurt.' This was life-threatening.
Mu Qing whimpered, burying his face in Zhao Wei's chest. "No, no, no... he can't..."
Leo felt a cold dread settle in his stomach. They were poor. Medical care in this world must be rudimentary at best. A wound like this could mean infection, or worse.
He glanced at Chen Rong. The farmer's jaw was clenched, his eyes dark with worry and determination. He was already helping the healer, his large hands surprisingly deft as he held bandages in place.
This was their new reality. Life was cheap here. Danger was ever-present. And now, a man, their *husband*, was bleeding out in the dirt.
Leo looked at Kai, who was now openly weeping. His best friend, who had just been trying to avoid an unwanted intimacy, was now terrified for the life of the man who had been about to force it upon him. The irony was brutal.
The healer finished applying a poultice. "We must get him inside. And then... we pray." Her voice was solemn, grave.
Pray. That was all they could do.
Suddenly, a new voice cut through the hushed tension. It was a man, older, with a stern face and an air of authority. "What is this commotion?" he demanded, pushing through the crowd. "Is the hunter Zhao Wei truly so careless?"
Chen Rong looked up, his jaw tightening. "Elder Han. He was attacked. It was not carelessness."
Elder Han's gaze fell upon Zhao Wei, then on Mu Qing, still clinging to the injured man. A flicker of disapproval crossed his face. "This is ill fortune. A strong hunter laid low. The village relies on his skill."
Then his eyes found Lin Yue, standing a little to the side. "And where is Lin Yue's husband? Has he not come to assist?"
Leo's blood ran cold. He had completely forgotten about Chen Rong's presence here. And Elder Han's question was directed at him. He didn't know the customs. He didn't know what to say.
Chen Rong, still focused on Zhao Wei, grunted. "I am here, Elder Han."
But Elder Han ignored him. His gaze was fixed on Lin Yue, sharp and critical. "This is not how gers behave in a crisis. You should be at your husband's side, assisting, not simply observing."
Leo bristled. He wasn't *observing*. He was trying to process. He was trying to figure out how to help. He wasn't even *supposed* to be a ger!
He opened his mouth to retort, but Chen Rong cut him off, his voice surprisingly firm. "Elder Han, Lin Yue is new to our ways. He has just arrived. Please, focus on Zhao Wei."
The Elder's eyes narrowed, but he conceded the point, turning his attention back to the injured hunter.
As the villagers carefully lifted Zhao Wei to carry him to his hut, Mu Qing still clung to his hand, his face a mask of distraught worry. Leo watched, a knot of confusion and fear twisting in his gut.
This was their new life. A life of unexpected dangers, of duties they didn't understand, and of a bond with these men that was rapidly becoming more complicated than they could have ever imagined.
He felt a hand on his arm. It was Chen Rong. His face was still grim, but his eyes held a strange mix of concern and something else, something almost... possessive.
"Lin Yue," Chen Rong said, his voice low. "Go back to the hut. I will be there as soon as I can. We have much to discuss."
He released Leo's arm and followed the procession carrying Zhao Wei.
Leo stood frozen, the words echoing in his mind. *We have much to discuss.* What could that possibly mean now? Was it about Zhao Wei? Or about their unfulfilled wedding night? The threat of consummation had been momentarily forgotten in the chaos, but it hadn't disappeared. It was still hanging over him, a silent, menacing promise.