Yichen was sullen and depressed the whole way home. Aside from needing to talk to the ox cart driver he barely spoke at all.
Mochou wanted to comfort him but he was unwilling to give him what he wanted. Not if it meant getting pregnant. When they finally reached their home Mochou was fed up with his depressing mood and decided to kick him in the ass.
Bam*
Caught off guard Yichen lost his balanced and fell to his knees.
"Mo... Mochou?!"
"Stop sulking. So we don't have the magical herb to make THAT medicine. It's not the end of the world." Mochou shouted.
"Then you're still willing to make love without it?" Yichen asked hopeful of Mochou's answer.
"No!"
Yichen felt like he had been struck by lightning. The very thought of going a full two weeks without being able to touch his bae was unbearable.
"Please. I promise to be very VERY careful."
"You made that same promise last night and not once did you keep it." Mochou rebutted angrily.
"That... I was too excited. I swear I've learnt my lesson. I won't do it again."
"No. I won't change my mind about this."
"But, Mochou it's fourteen days!"
"You went seventeen years without it before. Fourteen days will go quick. I guarantee it." Mochou said. He himself went over three decades as a virgin. Unlike the depressed Yichen he wasn't upset about the fourteen days of celibacy.
"Mochou, why aren't you more upset about this? Do you not enjoy it?" Yichen asked feeling worse by the second.
"I enjoy it. I'm also unhappy about us not being able to do it for the next two weeks. However more than my want to be intimate my fear of getting pregnant is a lot stronger." Mochou explained.
"You won't. I'll be careful. I promise." Yichen muttered.
"Why is he sulking like an abandoned puppy?" Mochou wondered. His heart couldn't help but squeeze at the sight of his husband's begging.
Mochou was absolutely determined not to give in but it didn't stop the guilt from eating away at his resolve. Afraid he might fold at any moment Mochou made a break for it.
"I'm sorry Yichen but the answer is no." Mochou said before grabbing the basket of vegetables and running away.
"Mochou, where are you going?" Yichen said before darting forward to chase after him. Unfortunately he was too slow. Mochou managed to lock the door of their little hut before he could go inside.
"Mochou, open the door?" Yichen called out.
"No, I'm going to make lunch. While I cook you should work on the chicken coop." Mochou commanded.
"Why can't I come in?"
"Because you keep begging for THAT. Until you stop you can't come in." Mochou said.
"Sorry, I know you are worried about getting pregnant. I'll stop pressuring you. I won't pressure you, but I want you to know that I love you. I love making love to you. It feels great and it makes me feel connected to you, not only physically but emotionally as well."
Yichen revealed his heart through the locked door. While he did that Mochou was quietly going into a panic on his own side of the door.
"No!!! Why are you being so sweet? How am I supposed to reject your advances if you say those things?"
"Stop! Yichen, it's only fourteen days. We can wait fourteen days." Mochou reminded while trying his best to resist opening the door. Yichen gently tapped on the door in response.
"I know it isn't that long but I still don't like it. Mochou, as soon as the medicine is made prepare yourself." Yichen warned before finally walking away from the door with a roguish smirk.
"My... my husband is such a pervert!!" Mochou thought as he jumped into bed alone and began frantically rolling around.
...
Yichen brought his new five little chickens and the old hen to the back of the yard where his little MoMo happily waited.
"MoMo, I brought you some friends." Yichen happily reported.
When he brought the cage over he couldn't help but frown. The area they had set up was small and pitiful.
"This won't do. You deserve better than this."
Yichen put the cage down and headed back to the little hut.
Knock... knock...
"Mochou, I'm heading over to Hong's place to get some wood to build a better chicken coop." Yichen announced.
"Okay."
"Do you want to come with me?" He asked.
"I'll stay here. I'm still cooking." Mochou said.
It wasn't that he didn't want to go with Yichen but he needed more time. He was still worried he might fold if he had to face Yichen's puppy dog eyes.
"Okay. Stay safe. I'll be back soon." Yichen said. His voice was low and it was obvious he was disappointed by Mochou's choice. Even so, Mochou remained firm.
...
Yichen did as he promised and quickly ran out of the yard and headed for Hong's place. The Hong's didn't advertise selling building materials but Yichen remembered seeing all the wood around the yard the day before. He couldn't imagine them refusing to sell some of it to him.
Before he reached the house he ran into Jie Hong walking down the street.
"Jie Hong, do you have a minute?" Yichen called out to the man and his young son.
"Yichen? Sorry but I need more time." Jie Hong said.
"Thanks but that's not what I came to ask you about."
"What do you need?"
"I need to rebuild the chicken coop at the house. Do you have any wood or supplies I can use?" Yichen asked.
"I should have some wood to spare. It won't be the best material because it's the scraps from the furniture but it should be fine for a small chicken coop." Jie Hong said.
"That's great. Thanks."
"No problem. Follow me."
"The scary looking one isn't with you today?" The young boy said.
Yichen's good mood plummeted.
Smack*
"Have I not taught you better." Jie Hong rebuked after smacking his son across the back of his head.
"Yichen, I'm sorry about my son."
Yichen's anger was calmed by Jie Hong's quick response.
"It's fine. His name is Mochou and he isn't scary. He's my spouse. It's the one who injured him that is the real monster." Yichen said.
"Sorry. Why isn't your spouse Mochou here today?" The young four year old boy remorsefully corrected.
"He's at home making lunch." Yichen answered.
"Grandma said she'd make my favourite eggplant. She always puts in a lot of garlic and makes it really tasty. What will you have for lunch?" The young boy asked.
"I don't know. My spouse has decided to surprise me."
"Do you like surprises?"
"I do. I love these types of surprises because I get to learn more about my spouse. I get to learn what recipes he knows and what type of food he likes to eat." Yichen said with an innocent smile.
"That sounds like fun. The scar... your spouse sounds like fun." The boy said.
"He is. He is super fun." Yichen said with pride.
...
Rustle*
"Yichen?"
Mochou was surprised to hear Yichen return so quickly. He expected him to be gone at least an hour but it had been less than forty minutes and he was already back.
"Maybe he forgot to bring a basket to carry everything?" Mochou wondered as he unlocked the door.
Before Yichen left he refused to look at him. However after more than half an hour Mochou regretted his behaviour. He wanted to apologize and make up.
"I'll let him kiss me but no touching. I can't give him the wrong idea." Mochou decided. With renewed determination he opened the door ready to face his lustful husband.
"Yiche...??!!! What are YOU doing here?" Mochou shouted furiously.
"You're Mochou right? It's me Fu Ling. We met earlier. I... I was wondering if I could talk to Yichen. Is he here?" He nervously said while trying his best to seem harmless.
"Who gave you permission to come in?! Get out!"
"I'm sorry but I really need to speak with Yichen. Could you tell me where he ?" Fu Ling asked.
"He's not here."
Mochou's heart was pounding. He had faced gangsters, fought against trained enemy forces, and decapitated flesh eating zombies. Yet at this moment he was scared and for the first time in his life he called out for help.
"Yichen, I need you." He quietly whispered as he stepped back towards the small little dilapidated hut.
Creak*
"I'm sorry. I know it's inappropriate but I need to talk with Yichen." Fu Ling said as he pushed open the gate.
"What... what's the point of a gate if it doesn't keep anyone out?!" Mochou complained as he tried to think of a solution.
He looked around and spotted some firewood close by. He thought of grabbing it but when he reached out with his left arm he saw the splint. He stared at his arm. If it was the past he wouldn't doubt his ability to fight even when injured. However at this moment, in his current body, he had no confidence. His mind could only think of how he was alone.
"I don't want to die alone, not again." Mochou mumbled. His hand began to shake and his chest felt tight. The firewood that was within sight was now blurring.
"Could you please tell me where Yichen is? When will he be back?" Fu Ling continued to ask as he moved closer and closer.
"Step back!" Mochou shouted when he realized how close Fu Ling was getting to him.
"Sorry. I won't come any closer. I won't come any closer but can I wait here? I really need to speak with Yichen."
"No, you can't. You can't be here. This is my home. Get out of my home!"
"Sorry, I..."
"Stop apologizing and get out!"
Mochou was becoming more and more stressed. It was a foreign feeling for someone like him who had always lived relying on his own strength. He raised his head and glared at the the man who broke into his home. With renewed determination he bent down and picked up the firewood he had been staring at despite his trembling hands.
"I can do this. I'm not some weak GER. I am a man. I am a soldier. There is no reason I should be afraid of some suspicious scrawny ass man." Mochou tried to tell himself. Yet his heart continued to pound in fear.
...
"Jie Hong thanks for helping me carry these back. I left in a hurry and forgot to bring a basket along." Yichen said as he and Jie Hong hurried back to his home.
"It's no problem. Things have been slow lately so I appreciate the work." Jie Hong said.
"In that case I wonder if I could bother you to work on the wall around our home first. It's low and provides no security."
"If it's just a simple wall it's possible. When were you thinking of having it built?"
"I know it's impossible but to be honest I'd appreciate it if you could start working on it tomorrow." Yichen said.
"Tomorrow might be cutting it a bit close. I'd need a few days to get the materials gathered. There's no guarantee but I could start in five days at the earliest." Jie Hong said after some thought.
"I appreciate the help." Yichen said.
...