| GB | Come Closer | 45
Yu Bai soon noticed Huo Duo'er's loss of control and the infatuation in his gaze. Startled, he suppressed his embarrassment and gently shook his leg, saying, "Put me down."
Huo Duo'er continued to stare at him intently, his eyes filled with restrained yet restless desire.
Yu Bai began to regret his earlier actions.
Having been raised at home since childhood due to his delicate health, Yu Bai's sensitivity from illness made him overly introverted. Apart from his mother and grandfather, he rarely took the initiative to get close to anyone.
He had initially been somewhat evasive towards Huo Duo'er, even at night, he passively endured the sensations the orc brought.
Under the gaze of those emotionally charged orc eyes, Yu Bai's cheeks burned as if on fire. Even the cool drizzle falling on him couldn't dispel this heat.
Enduring the unusual pounding in his chest, Yu Bai murmured, "At... at home, it's okay..."
Before he could finish, Huo Duo'er let out a deep growl from his throat. The sound was like a release, carrying a hint of savagery, yet also a touch of sensuality and aggression.
In response to this growl, Yu Bai trembled all over, his lips tightly pressed together, suppressing a cry that threatened to escape his throat.
He said in a trembling voice, "Stop... stop rubbing."
As soon as he spoke, he felt the flesh on his buttocks burning.
Seeing Yu Bai's fear, Huo Duo'er stopped his advances.
Reason told the orc that he should stop; Yu Bai had reached his limit.
But he still couldn't bear to let go of the softness cradled in his palm.
Spring clothing wasn't as thick as winter wear, and Huo Duo'er's hands were large and strong.
In broad daylight, just a few rubs had already left Yu Bai in disarray.
Fortunately, the rain grew heavier, dousing Huo Duo'er's restlessness.
He brought Yu Bai back inside, his robe around his waist still tented, but he ignored it, first going to gather the wood in the yard to prevent it from getting wet.
Because of this, Yu Bai didn't dare get too close to Huo Duo'er in the following days. If he showed even a little initiative, the orc would want to devour him in broad daylight, so Yu Bai couldn't ask anything.
—
Early in the morning, Yu Bai had breakfast, took his medicine, and picked up his small hoe to till the soil.
He planted seeds he had brought back, then planted some spices like ginger and wild yams. Wild yams were similar to sweet potatoes; not only were the stems edible, but the leaves were also delicious. A handful stir-fried with oil and salt was incredibly fragrant.
The fenced vegetable plot wasn't large, and Yu Bai finished planting in less than two meals' time. Seeing the water jar was empty, he picked up a stone pot and went to the river to fetch water.
The taro by the river was tenacious. Just two months into spring, the stalks that had rotted and collapsed in winter had already stood back up. Nourished by several spring rains, the green stalks were full of vitality, and a large patch had grown.
Marveling at the wondrous soil of this world, Yu Bai carried the water back to the small courtyard, then picked up a stone knife and a small chair, slinging a basket over his shoulder as he walked to the riverbank.
He chose a spot to set down the basket, arranged the chair, and gently cut the taro stalks.
The orcs fetching water by the river stopped in their tracks.
The news that the stems of the itchy grass were edible had spread through the tribe. According to the sub-female, the stems of itchy grass were called taro.
Now, seeing the small sub-female cutting the stalks of itchy grass, they were itching with curiosity.
A naturally friendly orc approached, "Bai, what are you cutting these stalks for?"
"Bai, the thing you're sitting on is quite special, different from a stool, and it looks very comfortable."
Yu Bai had just finished cutting a bundle of taro stems. Normally reserved, he now smiled with a hint of pride and said, "It's a chair made by Huo Duo'er."
This small chair had been completed the day before yesterday.
Yu Bai had used the stone knife embedded in the wooden handle as an example to explain to Huo Duo'er how the interlocking structure could be highly effective in furniture.
This structure, passed down from ancient times, is still widely used today and is known as mortise and tenon.
With the stone knife as a teaching tool and examples of tables and chairs, Huo Duo'er grasped the concept in just half a day.
From this, Yu Bai realized that orcs were far more intelligent than he had imagined. Their minds were not dull; they simply lacked knowledge. When introduced to new things, they quickly understood with a little guidance.
Moreover, they had strength and the skill to craft stone tools, which they wielded more adeptly than he, a modern man, could.
Huo Duo'er used the polished wooden blocks to make the first chair, complete with armrests and a backrest.
Yu Bai leaned back, feeling incredibly comfortable.
The orc asked, "A chair?"
They crouched down and curiously touched the wooden chair.
"Bai, what about these stems of the itchy grass?"
Yu Bai replied, "I plan to pickle them. During the hot summer or when I have no appetite, I can eat some pickled vegetables. Pickled vegetables can be stored for a long time."
A circle of orcs had gathered around him. Those who came later to fetch water, unaware of what was happening, also joined the crowd.
When Yu Bai finished speaking and looked up, he found himself surrounded by several rings of orcs. The color drained from his face, and he was so frightened that he couldn't speak.
He stammered, "Ah," and muttered to himself, "So many people..."
After that, he quickly lowered his head.
He wasn't used to being around so many orcs. With dozens of eyes on him, he felt weak and his heart raced.
But he clenched his teeth and didn't speak, trying to gradually adapt.
—
Huo Duo'er returned from the mountains and saw the little wolf basking in the sun in the yard. He asked, "Where's Bai?"
The little wolf stretched its neck, pointing towards the riverbank.
Awoo, awoo, awoo.
He went to the river.
The yak-wolf pup had grown quickly, becoming larger, with thick, fluffy fur that shimmered with a dark luster in the sunlight.
It had calmed down a lot, it no longer chased the penned black sheep and bared its teeth, nor biting the wild chickens and ducks kept together. If it was hungry, it would jump over the wall and hunt for wild prey in the surrounding mountains.
Huo Duo'er tossed today's prey into the wooden shed, washed his hands, and went to the riverbank to fetch Yu Bai.
The orcs were densely packed around him. Huo Duo'er's eyes turned cold: "Step aside."
The small figure in the middle was indeed his mate. Huo Duo'er sensed something was wrong and quickly approached.
"Bai?!"
He held Yu Bai in his arms, feeling the slightly cold sweat on his forehead. His heart tightened, and he demanded, "What did you do to Bai?!"
The nearest female quickly shook their heads: "We didn't do anything, we just asked him some questions..."
They pointed to the basket of itchy grass stems and the wooden chair: "Just about these..."
Huo Duo'er's physique and strength were unmatched in the tribe. Even the strongest male orcs feared him, let alone these females. They couldn't afford to provoke him!
The nearest female scratched her head, "What should we do? Should we take him to see the high priest?"
Huo Duo'er picked up Yu Bai with one hand and carried the basket and wooden chair back to the courtyard with the other.
As soon as they entered, Yu Bai lifted his sweaty face from Huo Duo'er's neck and licked his dry lips.
He spoke faintly, "I'm fine..."
Huo Duo'er sat him on his lap and fed him some warm water.
"Bai, what exactly happened? Did they bully you?"
Yu Bai shook his head.
It was a bit difficult for him to speak up, but he was also afraid that Huo Duo'er would go and cause trouble with those orcs.
Holding the ceramic bowl, Yu Bai, under the gaze of his light-gray orc partner, had no choice but to continue.
"I... I was scared..."
His voice grew softer, "When I was a child, I had a severe illness. My family did everything they could to cure me, but they couldn't..."
Yu Bai's eyes ached, "I know I burdened them; those years were very exhausting for them."
He stayed at home to recuperate, rarely going out, so he didn't interact much with outsiders. Coupled with his sensitive and fragile nature, and the inferiority complex caused by his illness, he felt guilty towards his family. Over time, he became afraid to interact and communicate with others.
Yu Bai hung his head, "I'm useless, aren't I..."
Huo Duo'er tightened his arm around Yu Bai's waist, "Is it that illness that causes you so much pain?"
Yu Bai murmured, "Yes."
"Bai, why did the old orc find you by the river? Did you fall in, or..."
Yu Bai hesitated, but under Huo Duo'er's gaze, he didn't dare to lie.
"I sneaked out and walked into the lake."
Huo Duo'er was shocked.
Orcs cherish their lives deeply; in a survival-of-the-fittest environment, as long as there's a breath left, they wouldn't seek death.
But his Bai chose to walk into the water alone, wanting to end his life.
Yu Bai groaned as the arms around him tightened. He didn't resist, only softly cried out when it hurt.
Huo Duo'er loosened his grip, "Don't do that again."
Yu Bai's head drooped, his voice weak, "Okay..."
Huo Duo'er stared intently, serious, "Bai."
Only then did Yu Bai straighten up slightly, looking into the orc's eyes to promise, "I promise you."
Despite his words, Huo Duo'er felt a lingering fear. He stayed with Yu Bai and didn't go hunting in the afternoon.
Fortunately, there was a flock of wild chickens and a black sheep in the courtyard, they had enough food for the month.
—
For several days, Huo Duo'er stayed in the courtyard in the afternoons, making furniture. Sets of tables, chairs, and shelves gradually took shape, making the interior more orderly.
After finishing the tables and chairs, he started thinking about laying wooden planks on the dirt floor. When it got cold, he would lay fur on top so Bai’s feet wouldn't feel cold.
Since Huo Duo'er didn't go out, Yu Bai stayed in as well. When the sun came out, he would move his chair to bask in the sun, twist hemp rope, with a lively little wolf by his feet, adding some liveliness to their life.
Their courtyard was the most unique in the tribe, with a separate thatched hut, a shed for raising poultry, a vegetable garden, and especially the interior, where everything was neatly organized, with sets of tables, chairs, and shelves adding to the aesthetics.
Occasionally, orcs would gather outside to watch; everything in the courtyard was novel to them, even the chief came to take a look.
The sarcastic priest who had been giving him a hard time didn't show up, but once Yu Bai heard that a male orc from the tribe had injured his leg while out and returned from the fire platform. The priest used wooden planks to immobilize the injured orc, though whether the method was correct remained unknown.
A’Li enjoyed coming over here. Firstly, Yu Bai's small courtyard was comfortable, and secondly, Huo Duo'er taught him archery skills.
A’Li practiced diligently, hoping to one day live in the city.
—
At the end of spring, the high priest was to perform a blessing ceremony on the sacred platform, and the orcs flocked to the altar to kneel and participate in the ritual.
Yu Bai and Huo Duo'er also went.
The fastest route to the Fire God Mountain took two days, and the orcs set off before dawn with water and food.
As the seasons changed, Yu Bai always had trouble sleeping soundly.
The sky was still dark, dotted with stars, and he groggily followed Huo Duo'er out of bed. After sleepily brushing his teeth and washing his face, with water droplets still clinging to his brows and lashes, he felt his body lifted as Huo Duo'er picked him up face-to-face, arms sliding under his knees, supporting his buttocks and waist.
Yu Bai was so tired that he didn't wake up until they had been walking for quite a while, as he was carried by Huo Duo'er.
The shadows of the trees were lush, and the sunlight bathed the mountains and fields in brightness.
Many orcs were around, occasionally glancing in their direction.
Yu Bai's face turned red: "Huo Duo'er, why didn't you wake me up..."
Huo Duo'er continued to carry him in this manner, walking all the way.
With a soft, fragrant body pressed against him, the strong orc did not feeling comfortable.
Yu Bai wanted to get down, but as soon as he moved, he felt something pressing against his bottom...
His face was damp with sweat, which had trickled from Huo Duo'er's chest.
"You, you..."
Huo Duo'er pressed him down slightly, his voice deep: "Wait a moment."
"..."
Yu Bai felt uncomfortable, his stomach was pressed uncomfortably.
But if he got down and walked on his own, Huo Duo'er's excited state would be noticed by the other orcs, which would be embarrassing.
This season was still a bit cold for Yu Bai, but for the robust orcs, a thin linen robe was enough, making any movement quite noticeable.
Yu Bai felt ashamed but didn't struggle, only feeling his stomach grow hotter.
Ever since he had confessed his past suicidal attempt, he had grown closer to Huo Duo'er.
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