Qiu Ling almost fell off the edge of the bed. It wasn’t that he was an idiot who wasn’t aware that his lover was currently naked over there but … he had tried not to think about that until now. Suddenly being reminded of it … that was too much of a foul!

He hurriedly cleared his throat so Jing He wouldn’t get the wrong impression. Anyway, Jing He had probably forgotten because the situation this morning was very different from usual. Being disturbed in his regular routine, such a simple matter slipped his mind and contrary to him, Jing He likely wasn’t used to carrying a change of clothes around in a spatial ring.

“I’ll get you one.” He stiffly got up and marched over to the closet where Jing He kept his robes. Opening it up, he stared at the multitude of them, unsure what to do. His beloved was very particular about what he wore so … he couldn’t just casually pick something, could he?

He rubbed his neck and then picked an inner robe first. Most of these were light colors so the difference wouldn’t be so big. As for the other robe … His gaze roved over the neat row and he finally grabbed a white one. He didn’t have the patience to think about what would fit well together and his beloved looked lovable no matter what he wore anyway.

Closing the door and turning around, Qiu Ling stopped in his tracks. Ugh … it seemed like he had forgotten a few things. For one, a belt would be needed to keep the robes in place, and then … well, his beloved would need a few more items to be fully clothed, right?

For a moment, Qiu Ling stared off into space. Then, he turned around, and opened the wardrobe again, adding a robe and then very carefully adding the more personal items and hiding them beneath. He certainly didn’t want to make Jing He think too much about this. It was more than enough if one of them did so.

Once again closing the door, he finally walked over to the folding screen and then gulped. The screen had five panels and was angled very well so that you couldn’t see behind it no matter which side you approached from. It was also high enough that you couldn’t glance over it so he didn’t have to worry about that either. He still had to hand these over somehow though.

Qiu Ling looked up at the upper edge where he had thrown his robe earlier. He could, theoretically, hang everything over there but then his careful consideration of putting the personal items below the belt would be for naught. It might be worth it though since he at least wouldn’t have to approach the side of the screen and make Jing He feel self-conscious due to that. His beloved was easily worried, after all.

Sighing, Qiu Ling couldn’t help but wonder how he had gotten himself into this situation. He certainly wouldn’t have thought he’d ever be in such a conundrum only based on a single set of clothing. Maybe he should wash his hands off this and simply retreat from the bedroom, closing the doors behind him? In hindsight, that might have been the better choice … but he had already promised that he’d get him his clothes. If he pulled back now, wouldn’t it be even more embarrassing for the two of them?

Qiu Ling fretted for a moment longer and then carefully stepped closer to the edge of the screen. He finally didn’t dare to approach too closely though. Instead, he cleared his throat again to announce his presence and then took a small chair out from his spatial ring, putting the clothes on top. “I … will leave them here. I know you would be uncomfortable with me … seeing anything so I’ll leave first and wait outside. Just come out and tell me when you are ready.” Saying so, he turned around … and then fled the scene as if the room was on fire.

He definitely didn’t want to make Jing He misunderstand anything shortly before he had to leave for his trial. Today was supposed to be especially harmonious so that his beloved would feel more comfortable leaving. If he caused any issues now, wouldn’t the last few hours they could spend together feel forced? No, he definitely wouldn’t let that happen!

Qiu Ling stopped right behind the door and leaned back against it, sighing to himself. He genuinely had no issue waiting. As long as Jing He needed more time, he’d give it to him and patiently wait. All he needed was his promise that he wanted to be together, get married in the future, and spend the rest of his life with him. He wasn’t asking for instant gratification. If he cared for that, he wouldn’t have tried to woo him for ten years.

Still, he did feel just a tiny bit flustered when thinking of his beloved in that state. He couldn’t help it. After all, he loved him and he’d be lying if he pretended that he didn’t want to be close to him physically as well. To have the privilege to see him take off his robes or be allowed to do so for him, to feel that certainly satiny skin beneath his fingertips … Ugh, yes, he’d like that very much. Just not at every price and Jing He’s comfort was a price not worth paying for this.

The person whom Qiu Ling feared might be worried waited for a moment until he heard the sound of the door closing. Even then, he didn’t dare to immediately step out. The situation was simply too embarrassing. If he was seen by Qiu Ling like this … he didn’t know what he should do.

He hesitated for a moment and finally pulled down the inner robe he had worn previously, at least holding it in front of his chest as he stepped up to the corner of the folding screen and carefully peeked out. Nothing could be seen of Qiu Ling and the door to the bedroom that he usually kept open to make the place seem more spacious had been closed. He was indeed alone and nobody would see.

He heaved a sigh of relief and then looked down, finding a set of clothes neatly folded on a small chair. Seeing this, he smiled and carefully picked them up before retreating behind the folding screen again. He put down the old robe and unfolded the clothes Qiu Ling had picked.

A white set … he wasn’t sure if there was any additional meaning to it or if it was just that Qiu Ling liked seeing this on him. To be honest, it might be the latter. Back when they had attended the Ji Yi festival together, he had also gifted him a white robe so maybe this was his preference. Either way, it didn’t matter. If there was an added meaning to it, it shouldn’t be a bad one and he himself also felt that he would look good in this. He could stand in front of Qiu Ling dressed this way without pressure.

Finally completely relieved, Jing He carefully put on his clothes. He didn’t actually worry about what Qiu Ling had feared he might. In fact, the thought didn’t even cross his mind. He might be embarrassed to have forgotten his clothes and panic at the prospect of possibly being seen without but having Qiu Ling pick out any part of his outfit did not seem like an issue to him. Anyway, it wasn’t his own body but just an item of clothing. It didn’t seem all that scandalous unless it was taken directly off or directly put on his body.

Jing He hurried up to get dressed and then walked over to the door, faintly clearing his throat before opening it. “I am sorry for making you wait.”

Qiu Ling had stepped back when he heard Jing He approach and turned back to him. Seeing him dressed in the robe he had picked out … he just sighed. Ah, just as expected, his beloved indeed looked good in anything.