Wu Bin.
Yan Yun's memories of him all contained this young scholarly gentleman with impeccable manners and cultured poise. He was the eldest son of the Minister of Rites, well-educated and popular with the literary masses. Just two years ago, he had excelled in the imperial examinations, earning himself the title of the youngest 'Zhuangyuan', the principal graduate, in all hundred years of this fictional Ye Dynasty.
Although, because of his refined appearance, many people had joked that he had also been the most suitable for the title of 'Tanhua'. 'Tanhua' was the title of the third-best performing candidate in the exam but also traditionally reserved for the most handsome.
To Yan Yun, Wu Bin was like a beacon of light in the dark abyss his life had become. After the execution of his family, his younger sister and he had had their status as free civilians revoked by imperial decree. Their names had been recorded in the slave register and they had gone from being the pampered son and daughter of a prestigious aristocratic family to goods for barter.
Up till the point where Yan Zheyun took over control of this body, Yan Yun had no idea where his sister had been sold off to. But he himself had been bought by the Minister of Rites, who was his father's old friend and biggest ally. Although the family couldn't treat a traitor's son like him too well for fear of earning the censure of the civil officials in court, Yan Yun was still grateful that they had taken him in. He was even more grateful for the unending kindness that Wu Bin showed him, idolising him as a big brother figure and relying on him for protection from Wu Bin's lecherous maternal cousin, Liang Ming.
But Yan Zheyun knew better than that. He hadn't read the novel himself, but Wu Bin's treachery had formed about 50% of his little sister's roasting, so he was at least familiar with this part of the plot. He knew that the real reason why the Minister of Rites had bought Yan Yun was to keep him like a trophy in a cabinet, a symbol that he had finally bested the man he had been secretly jealous of for so long.
He also knew that the real reason why Wu Bin behaved like an older brother towards Yan Yun was that he was mesmerised by his face and coveted his body. Worst still, he wanted to obtain both while still keeping his reputation and the right to enjoy the adoration Yan Yun had for him. Underneath that gentlemanly façade was a scheming monster that plotted to have Yan Yun emotionally indebted to him. Yan Yun thought Wu Bin was his saviour but had no idea that most of his coincidental encounters with Liang Ming had been engineered by Wu Bin himself, just so he could sweep in at the last minute and rescue Yan Yun, pull that small lithe body into his lap and hold him close in the guise of comforting.
Liang Ming may be a disgusting beast, but Wu Bin was the true demon.
Yan Zheyun had a habit of listening to his sister's ramblings halfheartedly—and he was regretting this sorely now—but the gist of her complaints was that Yan Yun would at some point in the future fall hook, line, and sinker for Wu Bin's trap with foolish naivety. Convinced that this was true love, he would capitulate to Wu Bin's patient advances, cry in quiet envy as Wu Bin married the daughter of a general, but forgive him as soon as he received an apology and explanation. He would even feel guilty for being selfish enough to put Wu Bin in a position where he would have to choose between obeisance to his parents and Yan Yun's affections.
Yan Zheyun couldn't say he felt the same. Maybe because he was a modern 21st-century man, but if his hypothetical boyfriend turned out to be some sort of lying cheating scumbag, he would happily say bye-bye. Why not? That was the only way of ensuring that the next one would be more docile.
"Yun Er?"
He could ruminate on the whole list of Wu Bin's transgressions later on. Right now, he had to figure out how to deal with this hot mess on his hands. After considering what he knew about Yan Yun's personality, he forced himself to turn his head towards Wu Bin but made sure to timidly avoid his eyes.
"Young Master," he said, using the term of address that Yan Yun, Wu Bin's manservant, had used. The one silver lining of this whole situation was that he had transmigrated into the setting where he at least spoke the language. If this were medieval Europe, for example, he had little doubt that he would be dragged out and burnt at the stake for sorcery in no time at all. Especially since, unlike the transmigration novels his little sister loved, he didn't seem to have any so-called 'Golden Fingers' to assist him. No special powers he had noticed or any system lurking in the recesses of his brain with a marketplace where he could exchange quest points for rewards.
So much for the weird robot voice. The least it could have done was accompany Yan Zheyun through the plight it put him in.
"Yun Er, are you all right? You keep daydreaming." A cool hand pressed itself to Yan Zheyun's forehead. Caught off-guard, he flinched away from the touch, heart skipping a panicked beat as he saw a flicker of surprise on Wu Bin's face.
Shit. Okay. There was plenty of time to wallow in self-pity later but for now, he had to get his act together and find a way to get rid of Wu Bin or get out of the room without being accompanied. Only then would he be able to work out a plan of action. Maybe brainstorm on ways to get back to his world without dying for good.
'Yun Er is all right," he said, as demurely as he could, surprised to discover that Yan Yun's voice was startlingly similar to his own. Not too low and with a soothing melodic quality, but also with a hint of polite coldness that made him seem loftier than everyone else. The extra memories in his head hadn't portrayed this accurately and so Yan Zheyun hadn't realised how incongruous Yan Yun's voice was with his actual personality.
Interesting.
He struggled to sit up and it took all of his willpower not to shove Wu Bin away when he immediately wrapped an arm around Yan Zheyun's shoulders to assist him. A weak cough escaped unbidden from Yan Zheyun's lips and Wu Bin patted his chest soothingly to try and help ease the discomfort. But Yan Zheyun didn't miss the way his gaze flitted to the sliver of white skin peeking out from the loose neckline of Yan Zheyun's robes. Or the way his touch lingered for a second longer than appropriate.
Great. There was nothing more delightful than being taken advantage of while possibly dying of pneumonia. How could Yan Yun be block-headed enough to believe that Wu Bin was a gentleman? Wu Bin wasn't even trying to hide the fact that he was openly eating Yan Yun's tofu. If Yan Zheyun hadn't been privy to the innermost thoughts of this host body, he would have suspected that Yan Yun was just acting coy on purpose to capture Wu Bin's attention. No one could be that innocent.
Except Yan Yun was. No wonder tragedy plagued his footsteps no matter where he tried to run or hide.
"Young Master, this humble servant is too lowly to be in your bed." He struggled feebly against Wu Bin's grasp and tried to explain that he really wanted to leave, but could barely get a word out edgewise without coughing his lungs out. At this rate, the chances of him dying before losing his virginity were pretty high, assuming the medical advancements and sanitary conditions of the era he was currently in were equivalent to the ancient societies of Z country.
Evidently, Wu Bin was worried about this too, because he steadily called for the maids outside to enter, and a row of young girls filed in obediently. One carried a wooden tray holding a single porcelain bowl and another had a fancy bronze basin with water. The one who brought up the rear was holding a folded cloth so respectfully in both hands, she seemed like she was offering it up for ritual sacrifice.
Although he had been a true blue wealthy third-generation young master back in his world, the enlightenment of modern society obviously made slavery illegal. Therefore, while Yan Zheyun was used to being waited on hand and foot by a butler, a housekeeper, and other domestic helpers, he was still incredibly uncomfortable at all the bowing, prostrating, and diminutive forms of address that were the norm here.
But he had to get used to it soon because he was now expected to behave like this as well.
"Drink this medicine," Wu Bin coaxed. "Good boy, It'll make you feel better soon."
[What was the historical BL novel version of date rape drugs?] was all Yan Zheyun could think about, even though he knew that it was illogical for Wu Bin to resort to that. Liang Ming? Yes, without a doubt, and the second he got the opportunity to do so. But not Wu Bin. He was too conscious of his self-image. The illustrious youngest principal graduate of the Ye Dynasty couldn't possibly stoop low enough to drug his manservant just so he could have his wicked way with him. Even if no one else knew about it, losing Yan Yun's adoration would be too big a consequence for Wu Bin, who probably got off on some sort of idol complex.
Pretty certain that the bowl of medicine was safe, he accepted it meekly and took a tentative sip at the inky black liquid. It tasted as disgusting as it looked and smelled but Yan Zheyun wasn't the sort to fuss too much about this. His parents had spoiled their children with material wealth but had raised them to be tougher than bratty whiners who wanted everything their way. A bowl of bitter traditional medicine was nothing.
Yan Yun, however, was a different story.
This only son of the prime minister had been the precious treasure of the entire family, the one they had held the highest of hopes for. He had grown up in an environment where his every whim had been met without a second thought, a classic example of the saying 'afraid that he would fall if they carried him in their hands, afraid that he would melt if they held him in their mouths'. This doted-on little young master's treatment could rival those of the small princes in the palace, so even now, at 18 years old and a whole 4 years of slavery, he was still prone to throwing small tantrums whenever asked to take medicine. Nothing too serious, just a subtle plea to try and get someone to pamper him. So that he could forget, for just a few seconds, that he was nothing more than a worthless slave.
Wu Bin knew this. Yan Zheyun knew he knew this. He also knew that Wu Bin was expecting it, had probably already prepared a stash of sweet dates to pop into Yan Yun's mouth and earn even more gratitude.
So Yan Zheyun had to put on a show. But whether he could act it out was an entirely different matter. He could already feel his face muscles twitching in agitation just from the thought of having to contort it into a sulky pout. This was not part of the skill-set required for the position of CEO.
[How do I do this, how does anyone do this, can I use Lixin when she sells cuteness as a reference—ugh no, that's too much…] He ransacked his brain for a memory of Yan Yun taking medicine as a child and being surrounded by cooing adults. What had been his technique?
[Ah yes. Turn the head to the left 35 degrees, angle chin downwards 25 degrees, puff out cheeks—never mind, that's too hard. Furrow brows, reach out, push the bowl away gently and say 'don't want'—]
"Don't want~"
The bowl went flying out of Wu Bin's hands. Medicine splashed all over the extravagant silk sheets, Yan Zheyun's arms, and…Wu Bin's probably very expensive hanfu-style clothes. For a first attempt, it was pretty damn horrific.
…so maybe that didn't quite achieve the desired effect. But at least, Yan Zheyun consoled himself, he now had a valid excuse to get the hell out of there.