| GB | Ashamed | 22
After a peaceful night of sweet dreams, Yu Bai woke up feeling warm in his hands and feet, his cheeks glowing a rosy red.
He turned over with some difficulty and found that Huo Duo'er still hadn’t gotten up. His eyebrows were relaxed, and with his eyes closed, he didn’t look so sharp and cold anymore.
Their legs were tangled up in the animal hide blanket. At some point during the night, Yu Bai’s legs had slipped between Huo Duo’er’s knees again. The other man was holding onto his leg, practically pulling him into his body.
The stone bed was narrow, barely enough for two people, but this position was far too intimate. Yu Bai’s face flushed red, and he tried to pull his legs out from between Huo Duo'er’s.
As soon as he moved, Huo Duo'er woke up. He looked down and met Yu Bai’s gaze, their breaths instantly mingled.
Yu Bai stammered, “Y-you’re awake?”
Then he added, “Can you let go of me now?”
After speaking, he tried again to pull away. His palm, pressing through the animal hide, pushed against Huo Duo'er’s body to gain leverage, then he suddenly asked, “What’s this thing that’s so hard?”
Does Huo Duo'er have a habit of sleeping with a wooden stick?
He saw Huo Duo’er shirtless, silent, getting up with a stretch around his hips. Yu Bai froze for a moment, then suddenly understood.
That wasn’t a stick.
But honestly, that hadn’t been Yu Bai’s first thought. It really did feel just like a self-defense baton, thick and long, who would immediately assume it was that...
Yu Bai let out a small startled "ah!"
Huo Duo’er turned around to look at him, and Yu Bai immediately buried his now burning-hot face into the animal hide, waving his hand in flustered denial.
“N-no, it’s nothing, you go on and do your thing…”
Huo Duo’er glanced at him, Yu Bai’s face half-buried, clearly trying to escape the situation.
Huo Duo’er glanced at Yu Bai with his face buried. He felt depressed by his hasty and evasive attitude. He replied with a low grunt and left to tend to the yard, wearing only a piece of coarse linen tied around his waist.
—
The sky was draped in gray clouds. The desolate and bleak winter scene brought a faint sense of heaviness to Yu Bai.
After eating a bowl of meat and vegetable stew, he stepped into the wind-sheltered part of the yard to stretch his limbs. He raised his arms, bent his legs, and chanted “one, two, three, four” softly under his breath as he moved.
The animal-skin robe he wore was long and heavy, making him look like a clumsy creature as he tried to exercise. Before long, he was panting from the effort, he paused to catch his breath, and then went right back to moving again.
In the courtyard, Huo Duo’er swung a stone knife, splitting large chunks of wood and stacking them into a pile. From time to time, he glanced back, his gaze landing on the clumsy sub-female swinging his arms around, and the corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.
Yu Bai caught sight of that smile and froze for a second, his face turning red.
“Is it that funny?”
“No. Bai looks beautiful.”
Yu Bai had nothing to say to that.
Though Huo Duo’er smiled at him, it wasn’t a mocking smile. Instead, it carried a meaning Yu Bai couldn’t quite grasp.
Or perhaps he did, but he didn’t want to. The giant’s eyes were too bright, burning with a sharp, powerful light, as if they wanted to…
Yu Bai shook out his arms and patted his warm cheeks, refusing to think further. Once he’d finished exercising, he helped carry the chopped wood into the house for storage.
His face was still flushed with heat, but the wind seeping into his skin made him tremble and shiver.
The place they lived in was open and flat, with withered trees all around. In winter, the cold wind came howling in from all directions. Unlike the main city of the tribe, there were no towering, tightly built stone walls to serve as protection.
So during the day, aside from doing some odd jobs, the orcs rarely went outside. The tribe, which usually had some liveliness, became desolate and quiet in the winter.
A few more days passed, and Yu Bai caught a cold with a low fever. He stayed indoors, avoiding the wind and keeping warm by the fire.
Huo Duo’er didn’t go anywhere, he stayed right by the bed, grinding stone tools and watching over him without leaving his side.
The stone pot was always filled with hot water. After taking his medicine and drinking more water, Yu Bai spent most of his days in a deep sleep.
On this particular day, when he woke up, that heavy feeling in his body had lifted, and he felt much lighter and more at ease.
He hadn’t stepped out of the stone house in several days. Now, standing outside, the quiet and overcast world gave him a strange sense of gloom. He lingered at the doorway by himself.
Huo Duo’er stepped out behind him, shielding him from the wind blowing in from the side.
“Bai, go back inside.”
Yu Bai snapped out of his thoughts, rubbing his palms together and pressing them to his cheeks. His face looked a little thinner, but his eyes still held a smile.
He spoke in a gentle tone: “I’ve been cooped up inside for days, it’s okay to come out and walk around a bit. I can’t stay indoors for the next few months straight, can I?”
Yu Bai followed behind Huo Duo’er, slowly strolling along.
In the corner by the wall, there was a large pile of clay. Last time, Yu Bai had mentioned wanting to fire some pottery, and after cleaning the yak, Huo Duo’er had dug up a lot of clay from the riverbed and brought it back.
Yu Bai turned over the clay and suddenly had an idea. Since the cold weather made the other work difficult, he might as well use this time to fire the pottery.
He discussed it with Huo Duo’er, and once the decision was made, they got right to it.
Yu Bai went inside and found a stone jar used for storing water. As he carried it out, he stepped on the hem of his animal robe and nearly tripped.
Huo Duo’er’s eyelid twitched, and he stepped forward just in time to catch Yu Bai along with the jar. He gently took the jar from Yu Bai’s arms and, with one arm wrapped securely around his waist, carried him back into the house.
“Bai, I’ll go fetch water from the river. You stay here.”
Yu Bai could only watch as the jar disappeared from his arms. He felt a little deflated, but couldn’t help letting out a small smile.
“I’ve been lying around for days, I think I’ve gotten dumber.”
Huo Duo’er replied, “Not dumb at all.”
His straightforward response held not a trace of teasing. The sincerity in the giant’s voice made Yu Bai feel a little embarrassed.
He gave Huo Duo’er’s waist a gentle push and said softly, “Go fetch the water.”
Huo Duo’er returned soon with the water, pouring it into the clay and stirring it with a wooden stick.
According to Yu Bai, they first needed to build a clay kiln to fire the pottery. The kiln had to be shaped from clay and dried with fire. Only then could the shaped, air-dried clay vessels be placed inside for proper firing.
The two divided the tasks: Huo Duo’er selected a wind-sheltered spot near the wall to build the kiln, while Yu Bai stayed inside, shaping pots and bowls from the clay.
They kept the fire going through the night. Once the kiln was ready, they placed the first batch of pottery inside, sealed it with wet clay, and continued to feed the flames with more wood.
Late into the night, Huo Duo’er got up to tend the kiln, adding more firewood. Yu Bai, sleeping drowsily, suddenly slipped into a nightmare. In a haze, he reached to the side, there was still warmth on the bedding, but the giant was nowhere to be found.
He shivered, and his eyes flew open.
Cold wind lashed against the stone walls, and Yu Bai’s forehead was slick with cold sweat.
He stared blankly at the empty bed for a few seconds, then without even putting on shoes, stepped barefoot on the ground and stumbled out in search of Huo Duo’er.
The deep winter night wind was sharp and biting. Just as Huo Duo’er finished adding more firewood, he caught sight of a small, slender figure stumbling out into the cold. He rushed forward and scooped the sub-female into his arms.
“Bai?”
Yu Bai’s dazed eyes gradually cleared when he saw Huo Duo’er. He swallowed and was just about to speak when the wind rushed into his throat, making him choke and break into a fit of coughing.
Huo Duo’er quickly carried him back inside, sat down with Yu Bai on his lap, wiped the cold sweat from his face, and gently coaxed some hot water into his mouth.
Yu Bai gulped down half a bowl of water and, catching his breath, said, “I’m fine now.”
“Bai, what happened?”
At that, Yu Bai looked a little sheepish.
“I had a nightmare. I dreamed there was a storm and a beast tide. It all happened right here, in this house. Then I realized you were gone… and everything else was gone too.”
Huo Duo’er replied in a low voice, “It was just a dream. Don’t worry.”
Even if something like that did happen, he would protect the sub-female by his side, no matter what.
Yu Bai gave a small nod, and only by curling up against Huo Duo’er’s chest did he manage to fall back into a peaceful sleep for the rest of the night.
—
They fired pottery for three full days. During that time, Yu Bai stayed indoors, busy mending and crafting the things they’d need.
He turned some gray rabbit hides into a hat, one that fit snugly on his head, with two flaps on the sides that came down to cover his ears.
Then he cut two more pieces of hide and began sewing a windproof, warm hat for Huo Duo’er as well.
He finished sewing the hat with a bone needle and was just about to bring it over for Huo Duo’er to try when the other stepped into the house, ducking slightly to pass through the doorway.
“Bai, the kiln can be opened.”
Yu Bai’s face lit up with joy, and he followed Huo Duo’er to the kiln.
The first batch of pottery turned out pretty well, especially the clay pot.
The one Yu Bai had fired earlier was a bit small and couldn’t hold much food. This time, he’d made a larger one. He gave it a knock, crisp sound. When filled with water, there was no sign of seepage at all.
That afternoon, Yu Bai decided to use the new pot to fry up a big batch of pork meatballs.
There was still plenty left from the yak that Huo Duo’er had slaughtered, which was all stored in the underground cellar.
They brought up a large chunk of pork, chopped it into fine mince, then mixed it with egg and other finely chopped ingredients. They ended up with three whole jars of pork meatballs.
By dusk, Yu Bai scooped up the freshly fried meatballs, planning to bring some over for A’Li’s family to try.
“I’ll go deliver them,” Huo Duo’er said.
Yu Bai quickly chased after him, softening his voice to plead, “I haven’t stepped outside for almost a month. Please take me with you.”
Huo Duo’er: “...”
“Please, Huo Duo’er,” Yu Bai added, his voice full of earnestness.
“…Alright,” Huo Duo’er finally relented.
Yu Bai smiled, biting his lip, and stretched out his arms.
In the next moment, his body was lifted effortlessly, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around the giant’s neck, holding him tight.
The wind was harsh, and the walk to A’Li’s house would have taken quite some time for Yu Bai, but with Huo Duo’er carrying him, they saved a lot of time.
—
A’Li’s family had set up three wooden sheds. The outermost one was where A’Li’s eldest brother, the strongest and most capable of the bunch, lived with his partner, A’Mu.
To reach A’Li’s place, they would have to pass around the first shed.
Just as they were about to reach their destination, Yu Bai gestured for Huo Duo’er to set him down.
Once on the ground, Yu Bai hurriedly ran toward the door, but before he could get close, he suddenly froze in place.
He was holding the jar of meatballs when strange sounds came from inside the first shelter.
The noises inside were ambiguous, and one followed another. Yu Bai stood there, unsure whether to go in or turn back, wishing he could just vanish into the ground. His face was burning with embarrassment.
Huo Duo’er, on the other hand, remained calm and composed. With a neutral expression, he took the jar of meatballs from Yu Bai’s hands and stepped past the first shed. He made his way to the next, where he knocked on the door.
“Bai brought some food,” he said simply.
After that, he led the still-stunned Yu Bai away from the shed.
—
The sky had darkened, and Yu Bai, head bowed, followed Huo Duo’er. His heart raced as if he had done something wrong.
He wasn’t watching where he was walking, and Huo Duo’er had to reach out and steady him.
“Bai, you look like something’s bothering you.”
Ever since hearing the sounds from the shed, the sub-female had been acting off.
Could it be…?
Huo Duo’er’s expression darkened.
Yu Bai blinked, confused. “Huh?”
He looked around, shaking his head to deny it.
“No… nothing at all.”
Huo Duo’er frowned. “Is it because Amu mated with his female?”
Yu Bai jumped in surprise. He hadn’t expected Huo Duo’er to say something like that.
He looked at Huo Duo’er, who seemed completely unaffected, and stammered, “Y-You can’t just say that! What about what we did earlier was that… was it not good? It feels like we might’ve disturbed them…”
Huo Duo’er simply replied, “It’s fine.”
Then he asked again, “Bai, are you really not bothered by A’Mu mating with…”
Yu Bai: "Stop talking!"
Seeing that he was about to die of embarrassment, Huo Duo’er paused.
The orcs have no sense of shame. They hunt in the summer and have almost no work to do in the winter, so they are naturally full of energy.
Therefore, they often hold their females and mate with them to pass the long and boring winter.
This is an important and common thing in their lives.
If you are lucky, the female may become pregnant with cubs next spring.
Yu Bai was embarrassed and was reluctant to continue the conversation.
Even though it was something that the orcs were accustomed to, he felt ashamed and did not have the courage to say such words casually.
Huo Duo’er wanted to say more, but Yu Bai refused to listen.
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