"Maybe... Bai Gege wants my body?"
That question popped in Han Shun’s head, and he thought it was even more ridiculous.
"I am too dirty and ugly. Bai Gege could just buy someone better looking and cleaner from the town...." Han Shun thought. "But... I don’t think I have any other worth other than that. Maybe Bai Gege wants me to do that...."
Although he was only 8, Han Shun already knew the harsh life of street kids and prostitutes in the town. He saw plenty of young girls only a few years older than him already taking up old men clients, and even some of the boys around his age or slightly older.
He was just lucky because he didn’t look as good as them. Han Shun looked scrawny and dirty, so nobody looked at him twice, except for Bai Gege, of course.
Sometimes, he saw those prostitutes leave their clients crying or beaten up. Sometimes, he also saw the kids around his age who got sold left with only food for what they needed to do to please those old men.
Han Shun knew it was wrong to sell one’s body to someone’s else in exchange for favor or food, but one prostitute told him once;
’There is no choice for a street woman like me, like us. As long as I can eat for another day, then I will continue doing it.’
Han Shun also remembered how the woman gave him half of her bread, even though she was as scrawny as him.
Han Shun cast his eyes down, looking at his own reflection on the water. The grime on his face had been washed, and his shoulder-length unkempt hair had been cleaned as well. He still thought he looked ugly, but if Bai Gege wanted him...
Han Shun swallowed his saliva hardly, trying to curb his fear, "B—Bai Gege has given me a bowl of meat, that’s enough for everything...."
"Han Shun, you have no worth in this world. At least when someone is kind to you, you have to repay. If Bai Gege wants your body, then you should give it to him...." Han Shun said to himself to assure that what he did was right.
After he made sure that he cleaned his body, he got up from the tub and took the towel to dry himself. It was his first time to ever use a clean, soft towel.
He took his time and then wore the black robe that Bai Gege bought for him. Han Shun’s body trembled when the soft material of the robe touched his skin.
"Bai Gege... bought this for me. It’s so expensive, probably more expensive than your life, Han Shun. Don’t disappoint Bai Gege...." Han Shun said as he slid the bathroom door open and saw an opened door not far from the bathroom. He walked with the sash in his hand because he couldn’t tie the small sash.
Besides, he thought he wouldn’t need it because Bai Gege would just take off his robe again anyway.
Han Shun clenched his fist to brace himself, entering the opened room.
Then, he saw Bai Gege sitting while reading a scroll. He sipped the tea on the small table. Strangely, Bai Gege didn’t seem to be too eager about this.
"Bai Gege, I’m done...." Han Shun said.
Bai Shijue glanced at the kid. He smiled and put down the scroll he was reading. He got up from the chair and crouched in front of Han Shun so they could be on the same eye level.
"Where is the sash? Let me tie it up for you."
Han Shun showed the sash. Bai Shijue wrapped the sash around Han Shun’s waist before tying it on the back, "Ok, now you’re all set. Is it too tight?" Bai Shijue asked because he really had to wrap the sash around Han Shun’s waist a few times. After all, the kid was too thin.
"It’s good, Gege...."
Bai Shijue stared at Han Shun’s face for a while, and his smile blossomed even more, "Look at you, you’re not bad looking at all. You have beautiful round eyes, and you have a clean face after you took a bath. No need to feel ashamed of yourself. You’re not dirty or anything now, okay?"
...
"Oh, hold on a second," Bai Shijue got up and then took a small ribbon from a box. He brushed Han Shun’s hair and tied it with ribbon. With this, Han Shun looked more like a young master from a distinguished family.
"Now, you look like a fresh, noble kid. You shouldn’t feel less from now on, okay?" Bai Shijue said. He was happy that he finally came to this world to save Han Shun.
Because he couldn’t even think what would happen to Han Shun if he came too late. Maybe a random old man would find him, take him, and clean his body, then... maybe at that point, it was too late for him because Han Shun would’ve been taken as a toy boy, a random old man.
Especially knowing how fragile Han Shun was, he didn’t even have a sense of self-worth.
"Bai Gege..." Han Shun suddenly called his name.
"Hm? What?"
"When will you bed me?"
...
...
"Huh?" Bai Shijue blinked a few times as he was dazed. He didn’t expect Han Shun to say that. "What do you mean by bedding you?"
"Bai Gege, I’ve been living in the street for a year already. I saw many old men taking young girls and young boys to prostitution. If... if this is what you want, then I’m ready to repay you with my body, Gege...."
[Pupa... tell me that I heard the wrong thing. He didn’t say that, right? RIGHT?]
[Pupa: He did. You must know that he is, by any means, a very fragile young kid who had been exposed to the harsh life out there. He lived not the street and probably has seen so many young girls and boys around his age getting taken by creepy old pedophiles who wanted to deflower young children.]
[Pupa: He is serious about what he meant.]
"No, no, what are you talking about?" Bai Shijue’s face paled as he grabbed Han Shun’s arms. "You shouldn’t speak about something like that. You’re not supposed to sell your body just for a favor or material things!"
Han Shun shook his head. He was determined to repay what he owed, "You have given me so many things, I don’t know how to repay it. Gege, a woman in the street, once told me that virginity can be really expensive. Gege, I haven’t been taken by any man before. If this is what you want... then I’m ready," Han Shun said. He said that he was ready, but his body trembled, and he was about to cry.
Bai Shijue felt his heart was crushed. He hugged the boy tightly and said, "Han Shun, listen to me. I will never take something from you. I did everything because I wanted to help you, to give you a life you deserved. If you want to repay me, you should follow my teaching with all your willingness. Not with your body...."
"I will not allow you to speak about this again. You’re forbidden to speak about selling your body. You are now under my protection. Remember that," Bai Yunyu gave Han Shun reassurance, making sure the kid knew his self-worth.
Han Shun slowly hugged Bai Gege’s shoulder as he buried his face on Bai Gege’s chest. He didn’t know if he truly deserved such kindness.
"Gege... Thank you..."