Wang Dian felt terribly uncomfortable. His breathing was already labored, and being carelessly pressed into the blankets nearly suffocated him. He struggled angrily, and his elbow unexpectedly struck Liang Ye’s nose, causing him to loosen his grip in pain.
Still furious, Wang Dian sat up and grabbed Liang Ye’s collar, shouting, “I don’t want to do it, can’t you fucking understand human speech? I’m a weak, sick person, open your damn eyes and see clearly!”
Liang Ye was stunned for a moment by the shouting, but his hands were still restless.
“Try to force me again! If you don’t fuck me to death, I’ll fuck you to death sooner or later!” Wang Dian’s anger escalated, his head spinning with rage, his whole body aching so much he wanted to knock himself out. “If you want me dead, just stab me directly. Come on, stab right here!”
In his fury, he pointed at his own chest. Liang Ye’s pupils contracted, and he immediately fell silent.
Wang Dian belatedly realized where he was pointing and also fell silent, lowering his hand while still seething with anger.
Liang Ye sat cross-legged on the bed, casually averting his gaze as if suddenly fascinated by the tassels on the bed curtains.
The deathly silence made the atmosphere even more stifling.
After a long while, Wang Dian took a deep breath. His voice was hoarse from shouting earlier. “I know you’re angry, but if we were to start over, I’d still run away.”
Liang Ye looked up coldly.
“Liang Ye, you’re so smart. I don’t believe you don’t know why I ran.” Wang Dian pressed his brow tiredly, softening his tone. “I’ve talked to you, taught you, scolded you… I really don’t know what to do with you anymore.”
Liang Ye lowered his eyes, slowly caressing Wang Dian’s warm wrist.
“You can’t abandon your empire and throne to come with me, and I can’t willingly let you trap me in the palace.” Wang Dian’s throat felt sour. “If you forcibly take me back, I could run a second time just like I did the first. But that’s really pointless. I don’t want things to get too ugly between us.”
Liang Ye’s grip on his wrist tightened slightly, but he still refused to speak.
“Avoiding the problem won’t help.” Wang Dian cupped Liang Ye’s chin. “Liang Ye, look at me.”
Liang Ye looked at him expressionlessly, his eyes devoid of any emotion, empty and desolate, without any trace of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.
This was Liang Ye’s state most of the time, though he was always adept at concealing it with madness, laughter, and anger. All his desires were so superficial, without emotional support. When truly facing problems, he would at most express “Zhen wants,” “Zhen desires,” or “Zhen forbids.”
As an emperor, this wasn’t a problem. No one dared to defy him. He could easily get what he wanted, or kill to vent his anger if he couldn’t. But he didn’t want to kill Wang Dian, so he could only stubbornly and helplessly repeat his irritating demands.
Liang Ye was resourceful, yet unable to satisfy himself. Wang Dian understood this, feeling both annoyed and sympathetic.
He couldn’t communicate effectively with Liang Ye, so they always remained at the first step of resolving conflicts—Liang Ye was never willing to open his heart and entrust his trust.
It was still the same now.
When Wang Dian left, he had steeled his heart. No matter how much he liked Liang Ye, he didn’t need to waste time on someone like this. But the moment he saw Liang Ye at the bow of the ship, he knew he couldn’t leave.
Liang Ye liked him.
Perhaps Liang Ye knew it himself, or perhaps he was still confused, but Wang Dian’s importance in Liang Ye’s heart was far greater than either of them realized.
“Don’t look at Zhen like that.” Liang Ye frowned in displeasure, trying to sit up straight, but Wang Dian held his face.
“Just one question.” Wang Dian sighed resignedly, pinching Liang Ye’s cheek. “Is ‘Wang Dian’ still alive?”
Liang Ye looked at him as if he were an idiot. “Nonsense, you’re breathing right in front of Zhen.”
“You know that’s not what I’m asking.” Wang Dian narrowed his eyes, trying to find some other emotion in Liang Ye’s eyes. Sure enough, he saw a hint of gloom.
“Bedridden with illness.” Liang Ye said flatly.
Liang Ye hadn’t let “Wang Dian’s” identity die. Clever as he was, he had instinctively left himself an escape route.
Wang Dian felt joy spreading from the depths of his heart, permeating his entire being. Liang Ye instinctively wanted to open his mouth to say some threatening words, but Wang Dian quickly covered his mouth.
“Shut up. Let me be happy for a moment.”
Liang Ye tried to bite Wang Dian’s hand in discontent. Wang Dian coughed twice, belatedly starting to feel cold. Liang Ye glanced at him, pulled up the blanket to wrap him, and said disdainfully, “So delicate. After Zhen was bedded by you, Zhen could still ride a fast horse for days without sleep.”
“Humans and beasts are different,” Wang Dian said seriously. “I was almost worn to death by you.”
Liang Ye brazenly groped Wang Dian’s bottom, earning a slap on the back of his hand. Undeterred, he tried to grope elsewhere. Wang Dian grabbed his restless hand. “Let’s be clear about things today.”
Liang Ye clearly didn’t want to be clear. He instinctively resisted such frankness between people, even with Wang Dian. But Wang Dian always forced him, pushing and even daring to kick if he didn’t move.
Liang Ye slowly caressed Wang Dian’s wrist, finally saying after a while, “Zhen has already removed the Gu worm from you.”
Wang Dian raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Liang Ye, probably feeling he’d lost face, his imperial dignity trampled before Wang Dian, said irritably, “You’re not allowed to run away again.”
At the negotiating table, Liang Ye would definitely be the opponent Wang Dian hated and despised the most – self-righteous, arrogant, even sincere words from his mouth sounded full of calculation.
Wang Dian calmly stroked his face. Liang Ye pondered his expression, seeing little happiness, which confused and displeased him, mixed with vigilance and wariness.
“How did you remove it?” Wang Dian asked. “Afraid I’d run? Or hoping I wouldn’t want to run?”
Liang Ye narrowed his eyes, suddenly grinning, showing no trace of gloom or anger. His act was clearly refined, knowing what would make Wang Dian sympathetic, but evidently not knowing why.
Wang Dian patted his head. “Is it fun?”
“Boring,” Liang Ye said expressionlessly. “When you’re not by Zhen’s side, Zhen thinks of you every day. It’s very annoying.”
Unclear if he was annoyed at not seeing Wang Dian or annoyed at wanting to see him.
Wang Dian’s nose felt stuffy. He drooped his eyelids, saying, “I really intended to leave.”
“Zhen knows,” Liang Ye said. “You can’t leave. You like Zhen.”
Wang Dian’s mouth twitched. He asked in a muffled voice, “What about you?”
“Zhen—” Liang Ye paused, seemingly reluctant to admit.
“You like me,” Wang Dian said. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have chased me to Yunshui.”
Liang Ye looked at him somewhat disdainfully. A vein throbbed on Wang Dian’s forehead. “Are you asking for a beating?”
“Zhen just missed you very much,” Liang Ye said primly. “If you must think Zhen likes you, suit yourself.”
Wang Dian wanted to pick him up and beat him, but also found his smug look attractive. His back teeth itched. After a while, he controlled the urge to hug and squeeze him hard, calmly asking, “Do you know what I want?”
“Not to be the empress,” Liang Ye tilted his head slightly to kiss Wang Dian’s neck, slowly licking and kissing, mumbling, “And you don’t want Zhen.”
Wang Dian’s neck tickled from the kisses. Resisting the urge to kiss back, he said hoarsely, “Answer directly… don’t seduce me.”
After a long thought, Liang Ye bit him gently. “You want to be on equal footing with Zhen.”
He probably wasn’t familiar with the word ‘equality’, so he chose the closest term.
“More or less,” Wang Dian said. “What do you think?”
“Difficult,” Liang Ye pressed his hand against Wang Dian’s back, trapping him in his embrace. He said softly, “Zhen knows you have no interest in the throne, but you’re dangerous. Sometimes you make Zhen… can’t help but be wary.”
“Zhen really wants to trust you,” Liang Ye’s voice carried a chill. “But you always calculate against Zhen without hesitation. Zhen can’t think of any other way except to keep you confined.”
“Everyone around Zhen is calculating. They only treat Zhen as an object, exchanging favors. Zhen has been used since Zhen can remember, unable to trust anyone.” Liang Ye chuckled softly. “When Zhen is useful, they shower Zhen with praise. When Zhen is useless, they discard Zhen like old shoes…Even you are the same, leaving without a second thought.”
“Zhen will use any means to keep you by Zhen’s side, to make your eyes focus only on Zhen.” Liang Ye’s dark eyes stared at him. “Zhen can’t change, and won’t change. You’ve deceived Zhen before, Zhen will never trust you again.”
A gentle smile appeared in Wang Dian’s eyes. He leaned in to kiss Liang Ye’s ear, asking softly, “Then what are you doing now?”
Liang Ye’s expression tightened. “Zhen is being clear with you.”
Wang Dian nodded contentedly. “Hmm.”
Liang Ye looked at him, puzzled. Wang Dian, wrapped in the blanket, fell back onto the bed weakly. He kicked Liang Ye’s waist lightly. “Please, pour me some water.”
Liang Ye reflexively grabbed his ankle, pulling him towards the edge of the bed. The small leaf pendant on the red string swayed gently, a sight that made one’s mouth go dry.
Wang Dian met his dark gaze, which was full of “old habits die hard.”
“No,” he firmly refused.
Liang Ye narrowed his eyes, lowering his head to kiss the red string. His sinister gaze fixed on Wang Dian as he took the small leaf between his canine teeth and bit down slowly.
Wang Dian recalled certain indescribable scenes. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he tensed his face and looked away, his ears and neck flushing red.
But Liang Ye suddenly let go and turned to pour him a cup of warm water.
Wang Dian cleared his throat, trying to clear the mess in his mind. He took the cup and drank a few sips, wincing as his throat hurt.
Liang Ye pried open his mouth and put in a cold pill. It spread a cool sweetness at the root of his tongue. Wang Dian tasted it, “What is this?”
“An aphrodisiac,” Liang Ye said calmly.
Wang Dian instinctively tried to spit it out, but Liang Ye held his jaw closed with his thumb, making him swallow it. The coolness spread to his stomach, and his throat felt much better. He buried his face in Liang Ye’s neck, exhaling a cool breath.
“Liang Ye, it’s almost New Year’s Eve.”
“Mm.” Liang Ye wrapped him tighter in the blanket, pulling him into his arms.
“Do you know how to make dumplings?” Wang Dian asked.
“No.” Liang Ye glanced at him. “You look like a dumpling now.”
“Get lost,” Wang Dian laughed and cursed. After a pause, he said, “I’ll teach you.”
“Alright.”
