There were some things he would only enjoy doing with Xia Xianning.
So after Xia Xianning returned, they hung out for a while, and Luo Yingbai suddenly asked him: “Do you think I’m too dependent on you?”
Xia Xianning: “?”
Luo Yingbai said: “Your words kind of inspired me, or maybe I should find a partner? What if you abandon me?”
Xia Xianning said: “…I won’t abandon you.”
He hesitated, using a voice that tried to sound casual but was actually slightly trembling: “If you want to find… find a partner, is that okay?”
When he said this, his heart was racing, feeling both joyful and slowly rising with an indescribable sadness, so expectant, yet so fearful.
However, Luo Yingbai seemed not to notice his junior brother’s feelings. He was pouring beer and baijiu into the same glass without looking up. Hearing Xia Xianning’s words, he just looked up and smiled, saying: “Are you drunk?”
His eyebrows were extraordinarily beautiful. His gaze bright, with a slight smile, and a hint of red on his cheeks due to the alcohol.
Xia Xianning, who hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, said: “I’m not.”
Luo Yingbai’s personality seemed soft but actually had a bold side.
He never persuaded others to drink, nor needed persuasion. He poured a drink, clinked glasses with Xia Xianning, and downed it, saying: “Mm, that’s great. We’re definitely a perfect match. But, have you thought it through?”
He pointed at Xia Xianning’s nose: “Being with me, you’re not allowed to accompany anyone else anymore, male or female… none are allowed!”
Xia Xianning’s heart was about to burst, realizing that the truly drunk one was actually him. He confiscated the alcohol on Luo Yingbai’s side and held the hand pointing at his nose.
Knowing Luo Yingbai probably wouldn’t understand much of what he was saying, Xia Xianning still answered seriously: “Whether or not I’m with you, I won’t accompany anyone else. I’ll only accompany you.”
Luo Yingbai seemed quite satisfied, nodding: “Good, my junior brother. I’ll give you something.”
He withdrew his hand and began unbuttoning his collar.
Xia Xianning was stunned, watching Luo Yingbai unbutton several buttons, revealing a patch of snow-white skin, then fumbling on his own chest.
At that moment, Xia Xianning suddenly thought that the novel descriptions of “dry mouth, thundering heartbeat” were not exaggerated.
The warm-colored light seemed to glaze the overly pale skin. Luo Yingbai’s slender fingers brushed his own skin, making one almost want to reach out and help.
Xia Xianning involuntarily raised his hand, pausing in mid-air, and finally gently pulled up Luo Yingbai’s collar, asking softly: “What are you looking for?”
Luo Yingbai said: “My amulet… My dad said it’s for my future wife, but now, I want to reward you! …But how is it gone?”
Xia Xianning was suddenly shocked, as if awakened from a beautiful dream. In an instant, the emotions rising in his heart were unclear – was it heartache or hatred? The slight ambiguous thoughts just moments ago disappeared without a trace.
Xia Xianning stroked his hair, saying softly: “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely help you find it back. But once I find it, it’ll be mine.”
“By then, you’ll give it to me without that ‘but’, willingly.”
He helped the dazed Luo Yingbai wash up and put him to bed, feeling he needed some time alone, and went to the guest room.
Xia Xianning tossed and turned for a long time, and finally fell asleep, dreaming a special dream.
The dream was like a continuous drama, extending from his conscious state. In his hazy state, he vaguely heard Luo Yingbai asking: “Isn’t our current relationship good? Why do you want to change our relationship?”
Xia Xianning answered: “Because I want to be with you legitimately. I never want to be separated from you again.”
As he spoke these words, he felt like another voice was speaking with him, a voice that sounded familiar, almost like his own.
Feeling suspicious, his eyes brightened, and the blurry surrounding scenery suddenly became clear. Flowers bloomed all around, clouds like cranes, and hanging willow threads carried the subtle fragrance of plants – he was actually standing in a garden.
Xia Xianning felt that he originally knew clearly that everything was fake, but now with the sun high overhead and the wind tugging at his sleeve. The clothes he was wearing were still the ones from before sleep, which suddenly made him doubt whether he was really dreaming.
In front of him was a bluestone path, narrow and only wide enough for one person, winding through lush flowers and trees towards a small house.
Xia Xianning suddenly stopped at the doorway, and through the half-closed carved wooden door, he was shocked to see two overlapping figures inside. Their robes were intricate and luxurious, their long hair bound by hairpins, with a distinctly ancient style, but their faces and voices were clearly those of himself and Luo Mingbai!
The Luo Mingbai in the dream leaned against a pillar, half-encircled at the bedhead, seemingly at a disadvantage but remarkably calm.
His hand was playing with a strand of Xia Xianning’s hair hanging over his chest, smiling and responding: “You’re wrong. Whether in love or not, people must eventually part, either by life’s separation or death, and how many can escape that?”
His face, expression, and voice were exactly the same as the real Luo Mingbai, only with a hint of additional maturity. In a daze, Xia Xianning alternated between feeling like an observer and feeling like he was the one holding Luo Mingbai half-embraced.
There was no wind, yet the air inexplicably stirred. In the cool temperature, a heat rushed from his body to his heart, everything so contradictory that it made love and hate indistinguishable.
“Xia Xianning” leaned in to kiss him, laying “Luo Mingbai” flat on the bed, whispering: “I can. When I say I won’t leave you, I absolutely won’t. If you want to leave me, you absolutely cannot.”
Xia Xianning stood in shock, witnessing everything happening naturally. The relationship between these two seemed even more intimate than his own with Luo Mingbai, leaving him bewildered and at a loss.
Who was that? The man kissing, caressing, and entangling with his most important person – who was he?!
Luo Mingbai’s voice came again, slightly breathless, still clear and pleasant, but with a hint of nasal tone adding a seductive ambiguity.
“Eventually, the living’s love will turn into the fear of death, and cherishing will make you no longer invincible…”
Luo Mingbai softly said: “Your Highness, when that time comes, won’t you be afraid?”
Your Highness… Your Highness?
The unfamiliar title shattered the dream. All confusion and emotion transformed into blazing anger. Xia Xianning summoned a long sword, its qi breaking through the air. Before it could strike the person resembling him, the entire scene suddenly tore apart. The surrounding flowers instantly withered, and he sat up from the bed, his forehead covered in fine sweat.
“Tap, tap.”
Someone knocked on his door. Xia Xianning stared at the door, his mind unsettled, momentarily forgetting to respond.
Luo Mingbai pushed open the door, peeking in. His face showed some hangover-induced haggardness, but his eyes had regained clarity.
He asked curiously: “Xianning, aren’t you getting up? It’s time for work.”
Xia Xianning collected himself: “Okay.”
He zombie-like completed his morning routine before asking: “Why are you up so early?”
Luo Mingbai rubbed his temple: “I was tagged in red on my Weibo, but I haven’t understood the specifics yet. I’ll ask and tell you later.”
Xia Xianning replied: “Go ahead.”
He hesitated, then added: “About what you said last night…”
Luo Mingbai waited, and when nothing more came, he tapped his forehead: “What did I say? Give me a hint.”
