Chapter 118: Falling to Pieces (Second Update) Please Subscribe!

Upon hearing Zhuge Jun’s words, both Fang Xu and Shangguan Lian could not help but blush.

"Brother Fang, you wouldn't blame your brother here, would you?" Zhuge Jun asked with a playful look. Fang Xu, feeling awkward, scratched his head, unsure of how to respond.

"Brother Jun, don't make things difficult for Young Master Fang," Shangguan Lian said, pouting coquettishly at Zhuge Jun.

"Oh? You haven't even entered the household yet, and you're already speaking up for Brother Fang?" Zhuge Jun teased with a hint of sourness, which only made Fang Xu and Shangguan Lian feel even more embarrassed.

"Young Master Fang, let's ignore Brother Jun and go check out the temple fair!" Without waiting for Fang Xu's consent, Shangguan Lian pulled him toward the bustling, lively fair in the distance. Fang Xu could only offer an apologetic nod to Zhuge Jun.

"That little girl! She’s going to be the death of me! Wait for me, you two!" Zhuge Jun stomped his feet in frustration before chasing after them.

Old Wu, who had been tending to the horses, kept his eyes and ears fixed on the trio’s movements. He sensed something unusual in the interaction. It was quite strange—ordinarily, Zhuge Jun wouldn't speak with such a bitter tone unless he had a particular interest in one of them. Otherwise, why would he adopt such an attitude?

Watching Zhuge Jun’s departing back, Old Wu seemed to have realized something. A subtle smile touched the corner of his lips. He snapped his fingers, and dozens of guards in various disguises appeared from the shadows, awaiting his command.

"Protect the Young Master and the two... actually, just protect the Young Master," Old Wu instructed after a moment’s thought. The guards bowed in silent acknowledgment. If not for that snap of his fingers, no one would have suspected their true identities; it was a testament to the prowess of the Imperial Guards.

Old Wu then turned back to the inn. In his view, Fang Xu and the others would likely prefer not to have a shadow trailing them. He ordered a couple of side dishes and a jug of fine aged wine. Having been bored to death on the road, he savored the aroma of the wine and smacked his lips, ready to enjoy his downtime.

***

On the other side, Fang Xu was unaware that Old Wu had dispatched guards to shadow them. The fact that Old Wu hadn't followed them directly brought Fang Xu a sense of relief; while he felt safe with the old man around, he always felt stifled, as Old Wu could be quite rigid and stubborn. Little did he know that the "rigid and stubborn" man was currently at the inn, sipping wine and enjoying his meal.

Fang Xu found that the temple fair felt much like the ones he had visited in his past life—the only real source of joy in his childhood. Yet, he didn't feel the same excitement now, mostly because his situation was rather awkward. Shangguan Lian was clinging tightly to his left arm, which was understandable given their ambiguous relationship, but he couldn't fathom why Zhuge Jun had to get involved as well.

Zhuge Jun was currently gripping Fang Xu’s right arm, turning Fang Xu into quite the spectacle at the fair. Many onlookers gazed at the handsome pair of Fang Xu and the beautiful Shangguan Lian with appreciation, seeing them as a perfect match. However, when their eyes shifted to Fang Xu and Zhuge Jun on his right, their expressions grew strange.

Fang Xu knew exactly what they were thinking. In this era, which was not as open as his past life, men were expected to maintain a "gentleman’s distance." Such physical intimacy between men was usually associated with "Long Yang" tendencies—homosexuality. The way the crowd looked at them made Fang Xu feel incredibly uncomfortable, yet he couldn't shake Zhuge Jun off. Beside them, Shangguan Lian watched the two with a complex expression, her suspicions about Zhuge Jun’s leanings seemingly confirmed.

***

Since he couldn't break free, Fang Xu had no choice but to accept his fate. The Danyang Temple Fair soon became home to a bizarre sight: a complex trio consisting of two men and one woman.

Many men envied Fang Xu for having such a peerless beauty on his left, some even looking as if they wanted to challenge him to a duel. Meanwhile, several young women cast lingering, curious glances at Zhuge Jun on his right. His dashing, heroic aura combined with Fang Xu’s refined, delicate appearance created a scene that sent many maidens into a frenzy—though one could only imagine what sorts of scenarios they were dreaming up.

Fang Xu, however, just wanted to know when this would end. Did they intend to hold this formation all the way back to the inn? Did Zhuge Jun and Shangguan Lian have no sense of shame? It seemed that only Fang Xu felt any embarrassment at all.

He sighed, and both his companions noticed.

"Sister Lian, look at you, you’ve exhausted Brother Fang. Why don't you let go?" Zhuge Jun sneered.

Shangguan Lian was unfazed. "Is that so, Brother Jun? A man of your standing, engaging in such 'Long Yang' behavior? Could it be that you truly have a penchant for men?" she retorted sharply.

"Sister Lian! Do not push your luck!" Zhuge Jun snapped, his patience wearing thin.

"What? Are you going to fight me? As if I’m afraid of you!" Shangguan Lian glared at him, her beautiful eyes flashing. Fang Xu felt completely overwhelmed.