Gem & Geson 3 E-Book

Sweet One

• Herausgeber: via tolino media
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

This is a love story between two men from two well-known families engaged in tea business. Shrewdning Wong, the influential female manager of tea business of the Fangs, sets fire to the mansion and kills the parents of Geson Fang. As a result, Geson becomes the crippled puppet head of the Fang family, and he is determined to fight back and awaits an opportunity. He, however, has to cut himself off Gem Fore for whom he has had affections since his childhood because he does not want to get his sweetheart involved with his revenge. Gem becomes the substitute for the bride, who should have been his younger sister in an arranged marriage, and marries Geson. Since then their love has grown deeper and deeper. Moreover, Gem assists Geson in bringing Shrewdning down. At last the couple have a happy ending.

Leseprobe

Gem & Geson Ⅲ

Always Be Together

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.For permission requests, write to :[email protected]

GEM & GESON

First edition. February 27, 2024.

Copyright © 2024 Sweet One.

Written by Sweet One.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Gem & Geson

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Further Reading: Step Closer, I Want to Love You

About the Author

Written by Sweet One

Translated by Snow Han

Chapter 40

The autumn rain hit Chuchou the next day. It was getting cold while the osmanthus fragrans started to bloom. The two hatchetfish were swimming excitedly under the bowl lotuses in a white porcelain water container on a stone table in the courtyard. They were safe now.

Sanbor helped Uncle Mute make breakfast in the kitchen. After the sun came out, Sanbor hung a birdcage on a branch above the stone table. One of the two yellowing leaves fell on the container and the other on the table.

Gem was still sleeping, holding Geson’s shoulder.

The fire last night ruined Lady Shrewdning’s years of efforts and greed. The purchase order triggered the evil intent of the ingrate who had been riddled with avarice. She had been indulging in the comfort and wealth of the Fangs and would not become the victim of freezing coldness and poverty again. Her worries about being driven away from the Fangs increased along with her rapacity, so she set fire to the storehouse and killed Mr. and Mrs. Fang so that she could be the boss. What’s more, she had used the misunderstanding as the perfect excuse to avoid the obvious truth and cover up her shame.

With difficulty Geson opened his stinging, swollen eyes and tried to recollect what happened last night, later he started to watch Gem who was still in a sound sleep. Recently he had been sharing a bed with Gem but he had been preoccupied with so many things that he could not take a good look at his sweetheart. A boy had become a man. Gem had not woken up, so Geson touched his nose and cheeks, saw his longer eyelashes and a thin scar on his forehead, and some faint wrinkles, the marks of his smiles, at the outer corners of his eyes – which might grow deeper with age. Geson touched Gem’s earlobes and looked for the mole which had been below one of them. He saw it and then put his hand on Gem’s forehead.

“A fall?” he whispered.

“No.”

Gem suddenly spoke and grasped Geson’s wrist and put his hand on the scar. “Iron wires scratched my forehead and my hands when I was making a birdcage,” Gem said, with his eyes still closed. “Scars were left thought not painful.”

“But why did you do it?” Geson asked in surprise, touching the scar.

“It’s Jack’s fault,” Gem said. “He was a troublemaker and deliberately let the two redpolls bought by me fly away and trampled my cage.”

“Was he gloating over it?” Geson asked.

“Well, you should think about me,” Gem said, still closing his eyes.

“You were unhappy.”

“I was so angry.”

“What did you do next?”

“I had some erotic books sent to him and led my father into his room when he was devouring them with the door shut. My father was very good at educating Jack and punished his son by heavy blows with a large, iron ruler and asked him to copy The Classics of Tea for one hundred times.”

“Lady Willow would have one more grudge against you.”

“She disliked me.”

“You are not her own son.”

“I dislike her but I can understand her,” Gem said, moving closer to Geson. “Anybody who threatens her interests is her enemy. She is neither a good woman nor a wicked one. Many people are like her, including me. I would not have worked with her if Lady Shrewdning had not hurt my husband. Oh, I open my eyes now.”

“Do your legs still hurt?” Gem continued, sitting on Geson’s knees and watching the blushing man.

“They did a few days ago, but now better,” he replied calmly.

He put his hands on Geson’s genitals after he massaged the legs of the latter for a moment.

“Did you masturbate?” Gem asked.

“Seldom. I lived like a monk.”

“Oh, it’s getting hard. You are so responsive. Whom were you thinking about when you were touching your penis?”

“Only you.”

“I want to do it right now.”

“We may do it at night. Uncle Mute will soon ask us to have breakfast.”

“At night? Well, I know how hot you are at night. You are such a hunk and you were a passionate monk.”

“I saw you in my dream one night.”

“What did I do?”

“I gave you a blowjob.”

“Wow, amazing. Your dream has come true. Let’s do it again now.”

Gem started to suck Geson’s cock while the latter heard the footsteps of someone and covered Gem with a quilt at once.

Uncle Mute was knocking at the door.

“Come in, please,” Geson said.

Gem pulled his head out of the stuffy quilt and understood Uncle Mute’s gestures. He looked at Geson, got up, opened the window and saw Amy in a light green dress kneeling in the courtyard, carrying a bag on her back and holding a long piece of white cloth.

“Let’s go out and enjoy the balmy autumn sun, Geson,” he said cheerfully, watching the clear blue sky.

Chapter 41

Lady Willow walked into the courtyard and shook her head when she saw Amy.

“I’ll go to the Ye County today to receive the ships which will be used to deliver the goods to the Purchasing Department, Gem,” she said outside the window. “Any word from Geson?”

Geson heard her voice and moved to his wheelchair from the bed with the help of Uncle Mute. Gem put a light cloak on his shoulders and wheeled him into the drawing room.

Sanbor poured Lady Willow a cup of tea but was unwilling to serve her. He would not bury the hatchet although she had made a successful deal with Gem, and he would rather draw a distinction between his group and hers.

She glowered at Sanbor but she put down the cup on the table at once when she saw Geson.

“How are you feeling now?” she said obsequiously.

“I’m fine, my lady. Thanks for asking,” Geson said politely. “Have a seat, please.”

She had a reputation for doing business in the tea markets and was glad that she was being treated decorously by Geson. She made eye contact with the well-mannered Gem and looked at Amy kneeling in the courtyard after he did the same. She went to the outer chambers this morning and intended to deride Lady Shrewdning, but found the latter having hanged herself with a piece of white cloth.

“She did not die of shame,” Lady Willow said without any sympathy, sipping her tea.

“What’s your opinion on her death?” Gem asked.

“Things were bad for her,” she replied. “The other three families have been standing with Geson. She would not benefit from our delivery of the goods into the Purchasing Department and would be thrown out of the tea markets. She had been notorious for being a hypocrite and would rather die with her intact mask. It serves her right.”

“All the tea was ruined in the fire last night, my young lord,” Sanbor whispered in puzzlement. “How can we deliver the new tea into the Purchasing Department?”

Gem sitting in a chair tapped his servant’s head with his fan. “A good plan has been well carried out,” he said.

Sanbor understood it after a moment of thought.

The plan had been made before the tea tasting event was held. Gem and Geson had speculated that Lord Soong would come to Chuchou for the event. The appearance of Spruce was beyond the couple’s expectation but they could assist him, who had been invited by Lady Shrewdning, in winning the contest. The winner would get the huge order from the imperial family. Afterwards, a trick was made to let that woman mistakenly believe that Geson would fight back against her after his long years of preparation; as a result, she would do something driven by her grave doubt. Gem had made business deals with Adept, Pine, and Lady Willow: buy the fresh tea buds from the Taos, hire the labourers of the Hus, and use the ships of the Fores – the three families would work together and ship the goods to the capital city from the mansion of the Fores. The Fangs would provide a free service for the huge order and the escorts would be chosen by the other three families. After their arrival in the Purchasing Department, they could make small talk with the officers, which might contribute to large orders. Geson had to sit in a wheelchair and could not go to the capital city, so he, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tea, wrote a letter to Lord Chang, the current director of the Purchasing Department, and said that the Big Four would ensure the timely arrival of the goods through teamwork. In this way, the other three families would be cooperative to deliver the tea to the imperial court. The production processes of the brand Lotusherb created by the Fangs would be shared with the Hus. Lady Willow was envious of the opportunity that the Hus could have, but she wanted to create the extraordinary tea brand of the Fores.

“How will you punish that girl kneeling outside?” Lady Willow asked.

“Just let her go,” Geson replied.

“She and her master Lady Shrewdning must have done a lot of bad things, and she should be sent to prison,” she insisted.

Geson nodded and let Uncle Mute handle it. With his gestures Uncle Mute hoped that Amy should learn to distinguish between right and wrong if she had a guilty conscience and should become more inner-directed. The weeping girl implored him to let her deal with Lady Shrewdning’s body. That woman had treated the Fangs badly but had provided food and shelter for Amy since she bought the latter in a street. The maid would bury her dead master to pay a debt of gratitude. Uncle Mute nodded and got a handcart for her and let her finish her own task. Later he dismissed all the servants of the Fangs except Robert, which was a job asked by Geson, and then returned to the inner chambers.

Lady Willow went home for more important things in her own family, and she was unhappy about being outshone by the Taos and the Hus in the delivery of the goods into the capital city.

Two hours passed. Gem, who was eager to have an autumn outing with his husband, loaded a carriage with food, warm clothes, tea-things, a chessboard and chess pieces, two jars of fruit wine, a bamboo flute, a seldom-used zither, and two pornographic novels. Meanwhile, Geson was sitting in a wheelchair nearby the carriage and holding some blank scrolls for painting. Gem was thinking about what else he would take. When he was watching the zither, he suddenly jumped out of the carriage and scooped Geson into his arms.

“The most important thing for me is to be with you,” Gem smiled.

Chapter 42

Uncle Mute, who had to deal with domestic affairs and could not accompany Geson, gave a pouch to his young master. Gem drew back the curtains on the carriage and saw the elderly man’s anxiety.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Mute,” Gem consoled him. “I’ll take good care of Geson.”

Uncle Mute gesticulated: “Do not act like a naughty boy again.”

“I’m a man now,” Gem smiled.

Uncle Mute gesticulated: “Enjoy your holiday.”

Sanbor got into the cab and, holding a bag of glutinous rice cakes, sat next to the coachman.

“You and Robert will housekeep, Uncle Mute,” Sanbor said excitedly. “We’ll look after our masters and come back the day after tomorrow and bring you delicious seasonal food.”

Sanbor had become chubby since he came to live in the Fangs with his young master. The elderly man smiled and waved to them.

In the carriage Gem enjoyed kissing and caressing Geson. “Have a nap, my dear,” Gem said.

It was a pleasing autumn. The carriage rushed to the Winding Pass which was located in the outskirts of Chuchou and which was famous for the tortuous mountain routes. A pavilion had been built at the end of the Pass.

It was a stop-and-go trip for better sightseeing along the way. Geson was feasting his eyes on the spectacular views outside. During these eight years, he had been able to go out twice: the first time was that he and Gem saw Adept off while he was worried about Gem who might flirt with a new hunk in a club; the second time was that Gem was sitting opposite him right now. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the company of Gem.

“Look, Geson!” Gem exclaimed. “What’s this? I’ve never seen it before!”

Geson moved his eyeballs without opening his eyes.

“Look at this! It’s marvellous!” Gem continued.

Geson opened one of his eyes and saw Gem’s face close to his. “Here is the precious gem for you.”

Geson failed to stifle his laugh although he still kept one of his eyes shut. Gem withdrew the curtains and was attracted by the alluring fruits outside.

“Stop,” Gem shouted. He jumped out of the carriage and walked into an unattended fruit-bearing forest with some scarecrows fluttering in the autumnal breeze. He unloaded the wheelchair from the carriage and helped Geson sit in it, and then he put an empty bamboo basket on Geson’s lap.

Geson immediately knew what Gem would do next. “I suggest that you should not take away the pomegranates when the owner of the forest is not here,” he said.

“Don’t worry. I’ll put some silver ingots under the tree before I leave,” Gem said.

Geson had to agree with him and was wheeled by the latter into the forest, followed by Sanbor. The servant made futile attempts to jump and reach the mature pomegranates high up in a tree, but his young master Gem was an agile climber.

“Be careful,” Geson said.

After Gem picked the best pomegranate, he moved his body lower so that he could put it into the bamboo basket which was being held by Geson as high as possible. He did not throw it so as to avoid hitting Geson’s head. The practice was repeated until few fruits were left in the tree.

Gem climbed down and held the trunk of another tree while a group of farmers with hoes in their hands were coming at him.

“Catch the thief!” they yelled.

Gem looked at them calmly and fumbled for his moneybag. But where was it? Meanwhile, his servant was jumping under a pomegranate tree, trying to reach a fruit.

“How many silver ingots have you carried with you, Sanbor?” Gem asked anxiously.

The servant threw away the leaf he grasped just now and rushed to search for his money pouch.

“Bad luck, my young lord!” Sanbor shouted. “We have left our moneybags at home!”

Gem ran to the haystacks deep in the fruit forest at once but something came into his mind. He looked back and saw Geson sitting in a wheelchair, holding a basket full of pomegranates and watching him blankly.

When they were little kids, they often climbed trees and walls; whenever they were chased by their parents, Geson was either following Gem or running in front of him, holding his hand. Gem wanted to reexperience their sweet childhood memories, but Geson could not run now.

The farmers encircled Geson. Gem saw his husband giving some silver ingots to them. The wise Uncle Mute was indeed a great helper. Gem walked up to Geson after the tree owners left. Geson glanced at him and did not speak. In the carriage he kept silent and his eyes closed for nearly one hour.

“I’m sorry, my dear,” Gem said, massaging Geson. “It’s my fault. I was in a panic at that time.”

His husband looked away silently.

“You came into my mind when I was running,” Gem added. “When I saw those farmers standing around you in a friendly manner, Sanbor and I felt relieved.”

In childhood, the mischievous Gem was often educated by Lady Rachel; if Geson was with him, he would be scapegoated for Gem’s troublemaking, followed by their bickering. If Gem was wrong, he would admit his own mistake; if he was right, the two boys would cold-shoulder each other and would not make peace until they could not bear the coldness anymore. Gem was wrong again this time and Geson was still sulking.

“I should jump out of the carriage now,” he sighed. “Out of sight, out of mind.”

Geson knew that the speaker would not jump, so he opened his eyes and said, “A couple will go their separate ways if they get into trouble.”

“We are indeed a couple and we go to the same path,” Gem smiled.

Geson did not know how to retort but closed his eyes again.

Chapter 43

At dusk the carriage stopped in front of a large house surrounded by flowers and trees. It had been rented together with the carriage by Sanbor and it was a hotel in the mountain. It was a clean, quaint place with a stone table and two old trees in the courtyard. A river was flowing in front of the courtyard and a lofty mountain was standing at the back of it. There was an ancient temple on the mountaintop for sutras, sightseeing and quietness.

The visitors would stay here for their trip. In the room there was a bed, a couch, and a square table with some bowls and chopsticks as standbys. Sanbor moved the luggage into the room and then went to the kitchen to make supper with the vegetables prepared by Uncle Mute; later he cooked congee and heated some sugar pancakes.

Gem asked the coachman to wheel Geson while he walked around the courtyard. After a moment the coachman wheeled the man back to Gem and then went to the kitchen. The husband lowered his head silently and seemed to have his hands washed.

“You could have let me wash your hands,” Gem smiled.

Geson cleared his throat, blushing.

Before evening came, Gem put a chessboard on the couch beside the window. “How about playing chess now?” he said.

Geson wanted to get the upper hand, so he leaned on the window and held one chess piece. Gem got a head start, but Geson was a much better chess player than Gem who was much more active in childhood and who would be impatient if without Geson. He thought that he had figured out Geson’s ways but the latter was a deep card. Gem enjoyed the game although it often resulted in a draw, but now he was at a disadvantage. At the crucial step, Gem chose a position on the chessboard after a long moment of thought. Just before Geson won, Gem grasped his wrist and withdrew the piece.

“I’ll take another step,” Gem said. “Let me think it over.”

He kept thinking while the dishes were getting cold. Sanbor put some cakes on the table and lit candles.

---ENDE DER LESEPROBE---