Xi Yu unexpectedly wrapped his arms around Lu Zhixing’s waist, resting his chin against his shoulder. Even his face was pressed tightly against Lu Zhixing’s.
Xi Yu held Lu Zhixing in an extremely domineering manner, their chests pressed tightly together without leaving the slightest gap.
Lu Zhixing was squeezed until it hurt slightly, yet his heart, which had been crushed to pieces, slowly pieced itself back together.
Lu Zhixing was incredibly stiff, afraid that this was merely a beautiful dream born from the depths of his fear. He cautiously called out, “Xi Yu?”
“Shh, don’t speak.”
Xi Yu rubbed his face against Lu Zhixing’s, then buried his face into the crook of his neck and ordered, “Hold me.”
His body reacted faster than his brain. Like a robot receiving a command, Lu Zhixing immediately hugged Xi Yu back and closed his eyes.
It was an emotion almost like reverence—the fear and joy that arose when a faithful believer was shown mercy by a god.
Xi Yu did not know what Lu Zhixing was thinking. He merely kept his eyes open, without the slightest trace of ambiguity, seriously sensing the demonic breath within Lu Zhixing’s body as well as his own heartbeat.
Lu Zhixing’s body temperature was lower than his, so when they were pressed together, the sensation was especially clear.
A very faint scent drifted from Lu Zhixing’s skin. It was light, a pure and refreshing fragrance.
It was somewhat familiar—the incense burned inside Lanxing Hall.
It was the scent that had belonged to Zhi Yue.
Xi Yu’s body stiffened for an instant. He had never smelled it before.
Because he had never been pressed against Lu Zhixing’s body closely enough to smell it.
The fragrance was truly very faint, so faint that the tip of his nose had to be pressed against Lu Zhixing’s body for him to detect it.
It was hidden within Lu Zhixing’s body, a scent contained in Zhi Yue’s divine power.
Gentle, pleasant, and soothing.
Xi Yu breathed it in lightly and slowly closed his eyes.
It had started again. His heart had started beating again.
Just like the previous two times, it was beating so hard it almost seemed as though it would leap out of his chest.
Sure enough, every time he got close to Lu Zhixing, this happened.
“Lu Zhixing, do you resist me being this close to you?”
Xi Yu asked with his eyes closed. His warm breath curled around Lu Zhixing’s neck, and his voice gave away no emotion.
Lu Zhixing’s eyelids trembled, but he did not open them.
He did not dare open them, nor did he dare think about why Xi Yu had suddenly hugged him.
And why was he asking this?
Was he testing him?
But what could he be testing him about with an action like this?
Testing whether he liked him?
No. His Master knew absolutely nothing about matters of love. He was practically dull when it came to such things.
Otherwise, he would not have failed to notice his feelings.
Even his Master’s good friend, the Heavenly Clan’s Crown Prince, had seen through it and warned him not to indulge in wishful thinking, yet his Master had never noticed.
Even during the twenty years since his rebirth, no one had ever taught his Master anything about love.
During those twenty years after his Master’s rebirth, Lu Zhixing had watched him through the Reversal Mirror. He had never developed feelings for anyone.
But why was he asking this?
Lu Zhixing cared about Xi Yu too much, to the point that he was seeing danger everywhere.
Xi Yu’s simple question was broken down by him into countless possibilities. For a long time, he did not dare answer, afraid that one wrong answer would leave him doomed forever.
Like that immortal who had been thrown into the Ten-Thousand Snake Pit and could never again glimpse the face of Heaven’s beloved.
“Answer me, Lu Zhixing.”
“I don’t resist it,” Lu Zhixing said.
He had thought of countless answers.
Like you.
Hate you.
I’m not used to it.
How could you resist being close to a good friend?
Among countless possible answers, Lu Zhixing chose one that did not go against his instincts while remaining relatively cautious.
He did not resist.
Xi Yu fell silent, but he could feel that Lu Zhixing’s heartbeat was just as fast as his own.
Ridiculously fast.
Yet he did not resist.
That shouldn’t be.
Wasn’t it the demonic breath at work, trying to drive him away?
Then Lu Zhixing, as its vessel, should have been connected to the demonic breath and should have resisted his approach.
Xi Yu could not figure it out no matter how much he thought about it. He muttered, “That’s strange.”
Lu Zhixing’s heart was like a toy in Xi Yu’s hand. Xi Yu squeezed it in his palm, tossed it high into the air, slammed it hard onto the ground, and then picked it back up.
Over and over again, leaving him frightened and restless.
So much so that he did not dare say another word.
Xi Yu said softly, “The thing inside your body is resisting me, yet you actually don’t dislike me getting close to you.”
As Xi Yu spoke, he unconsciously leaned close to Lu Zhixing’s ear. His breath, neither too light nor too heavy, teased against Lu Zhixing’s ear, making it impossible for him to think about Xi Yu’s words.
It took him some time to piece together Xi Yu’s meaning completely.
“What do you mean, the thing inside my body is resisting you?”
Lu Zhixing was bewildered.
He was resisting Xi Yu?
Xi Yu released Lu Zhixing and placed a finger against his chest. “That bad… thing in your—”
Before Xi Yu could finish, Lu Zhixing covered his mouth.
Xi Yu blinked his eyes and tilted his head in confusion.
Lu Zhixing glanced at the concealed camera.
Even though he was currently suffering the greatest injustice in the world, even though Xi Yu had just dumped such a huge load of shit on his head, he had no time to investigate what had caused Xi Yu to say that the thing inside his body was resisting him.
Xi Yu had mentioned the demonic breath in his body while they were under the camera. The impact would be enormous.
But now he could be certain that Xi Yu did not hate him. That look had not been directed at him, but at the demonic breath within his body.
Even though Lu Zhixing was already a demon at this moment, it did not affect his happiness.
As long as his Master did not hate him now, that was enough.
Lu Zhixing had never admitted that he was a demon.
Once the Extermination Formation was activated and he stripped away half of his demonic bones, he would once again become Zhi Yue.
His Master’s Zhi Yue alone.
“I think there must be some misunderstanding between us. Can we talk about it after the show ends?”
Xi Yu nodded and pulled Lu Zhixing’s hand down. “Okay.”
As he spoke, Xi Yu even thought Lu Zhixing had quite the celebrity image to maintain. There were no drones around anymore, yet he was still being this cautious.
But it was not an important matter.
He had originally only wanted to confirm whether his heart palpitations happened because he got close to Lu Zhixing.
Now he had confirmed it.
They did.
It was definitely the demonic breath at work.
Hah. Even a tiny bit of demonic breath dared to act presumptuously in front of him.
Xi Yu grabbed Lu Zhixing’s hand, even hooking his arm around his and pulling him along as they walked.
He simply refused to let the demonic breath have its way.
He had to make sure the demonic breath understood who was in control.
The previous Demon Venerable had died by his hand. This time would be no different.
【Phew~ Scared himself for nothing~】
【Holy crap, what an earth-shattering reversal!】
【I thought they were just fake-flirting for the CP, but turns out they’re a real CP.】
【The little couple found an empty corner to hand out sugar.】
【I thought Xi Yu was straight. Turns out he’s the teasing type…】
【Emperor Lu’s expression went through a thousand changes. He never expected Beauty Yu to call him over just for a hug, hahaha!】
…………………….
【What kind of question was Beauty Yu asking? “Do you hate it?” My Brother Lu’s expression was like: “Resist you? Me?”】
【Beauty Yu gives me the feeling that even if Brother Lu were checking his academic credentials, he’d still ask, “Are you cold?” That’s how oblivious he is.】
【Leopard and Kitty! The CP I ship just kicked the closet door down!】
【If these two aren’t real, I’ll eat shit standing on my head.】
【I can’t even imagine what their expressions will be like when they see all those surveillance cameras after the variety show ends.】
【This was way too sudden. I didn’t ship them originally, but that little clingy hug from Beauty Yu… Seriously, are you forcing a cow to drink water by pressing its head down? Fine, I ship them! I’m shipping them, okay?!】
Xi Yu had no idea that this hug had completely cemented the originally rather unstable “Suixing Suoyu” CP.
It also caused the Luo couple to receive a phone call from overseas.
“Qingqing~ When do you think we can find some time to have a meal together~”
When Shen Qing saw that the incoming call was from Country X and heard the gentle yet excited female voice, she fell silent for a moment.
“Who are you?”
The person on the other end laughed. “Don’t doubt it. I’m your good bestie! Zhixing’s dad and I have already packed our things and are preparing to return to the country. Do you have time the day after tomorrow? The two kids will be done with the variety show by then. We can pick them up and have a meal together. How about it?”
Shen Qing had the call on speaker, so Luo Yuan heard everything clearly as well.
The husband and wife exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked toward the live broadcast on the television, where Xi Yu and Lu Zhixing were hugging as though they had been glued together.
They fell silent again.
After a long while, Shen Qing let out a dry laugh. “There are more and more scam calls these days.”
“Yeah, I think so too. The two children are obviously just good friends. Look… aren’t they… sepa…rating…?”
Luo Yuan watched as Xi Yu pushed Lu Zhixing away, only to reach out and take his hand again not long afterward.
He held himself back again and again, then suddenly covered his mouth.
“Wuwuwu, my son is bringing home a male wife for me! He isn’t just finding me a son-in-law, is he?”
“He should… maybe… perhaps… be the one getting married?”
The more Shen Qing spoke, the less confident she became. It was really impossible to determine who was the top or bottom based on their physiques.
Xi Yu and Lu Zhixing were about the same height, with Lu Zhixing only slightly taller by the top of a head. But when Xi Yu and Lu Zhixing hugged, Lu Zhixing’s hand covered most of Xi Yu’s waist.
Shen Qing really had no confidence at all, and Luo Yuan began crying even louder.
His son had only just returned. He couldn’t be marrying out!
Even if he were marrying into the Lu family, that wouldn’t do!
Luo Yuan hugged his wife and wailed, “My son! My son!”
“Hey, I’m here!”
Luo Cheng’an waved at Xi Yu. “Bro, I’m right here!”
After Xi Yu returned, he had not seen Luo Cheng’an. He had just asked Yu Qian about him when he saw Luo Cheng’an come back.
By then, Xi Yu had already released Lu Zhixing’s hand within the range visible to the drones and headed toward the resting area, immediately looking for Luo Cheng’an.