June was the month when the Xu family’s twins graduated from university.
The university was lively and noisy on the day of the ceremony. The siblings were busy taking photos with their friends. Their grandparents took the photos and their second uncle helped carry their things. They were busy running around with everything.
By the time Xu Fengqing finished his meeting and rushed over, he saw a strange family of three beside his two children.
Xu Fengqing was taken aback when he saw the woman in the family of three. Long-forgotten memories suddenly surged up from the depths of his mind.
This was his ex-wife.
Ever since the divorce, they hadn’t seen each other for 20 years.
The woman noticed his gaze, looked in his direction and was startled. Then she smiled at him as if reuniting with an old friend.
Xu Fengqing originally thought she wouldn’t want to see him again. To his surprise, she said something to her current husband and walked towards him.
20 years had passed. They were now nearing 50 and were no longer young.
The woman was very well-maintained. Her face had few fine lines and she looked radiant. Her eyes and brows radiated joy, showing that she was living well now.
Seeing her like this, Xu Fengqing felt as if some shackle in his heart had been loosened.
He had always harbored resentment towards this marriage and felt guilty towards his former wife.
Fortunately, after leaving him, she started a new life and found her own happiness.
“President Xu, you’re late again.” The woman came up to him and joked as if she was talking to an old friend she hadn’t seen in years.
Xu Fengqing paused before whispering, “I’m sorry…”
The woman looked at him, her smile slowly fading. “I should be the one saying that.”
She lowered her head slightly. “Chenxi told me that you haven’t dated anyone all these years, not even once…”
“Is it because I said you aren’t suited to start a family?”
Xu Fengqing’s hands slightly clenched into fists.
He paused before shaking his head. “It has nothing to do with you. It really is me…”
“Actually, I never regretted marrying you back then.”
He heard the woman say this.
“At that time, my family was also in a mess and your appearance led me out of that predicament.”
“The eldest son of the Xu family was young and promising. Not only are you mature and rational, but you also value your family. In the circle, you were one of the few people who always kept yourself pure before marriage.”
“You never let me down even after we got married.”
Xu Fengqing looked at her as he listened to her talk about the past.
“But my decision to marry you was indeed made after weighing the pros and cons.”
“So when the Xu family was going through such a difficult time, I didn’t stay by your side until the end. I even said harsh things and put all the blame on you.”
In fact, she never experienced hardship in the Xu family. The Xu family had problems at that time but Xu Fengqing was a big tree that supported everything.
He never brought work-related worries home.
She had a nanny and caregivers to look after her sick in-laws and young children, so it wasn’t particularly hard for her.
“I know you did everything you could to take care of the family.”
“However, I couldn’t understand you back then. Why did you insist on investing in that project during such a difficult time, even if it meant selling your possessions?”
“It is understandable for Ah Heng to feel guilty that Ah Li is gone, but why did you act so crazy and reckless when you should be the most rational one?”
At this point, the woman took a deep breath, her face showing a hint of unease.
“Then I believed some unpleasant things I heard.”
She pursed her lips, not offering a detailed explanation, before quickly smiling again. “But as it turns out, you were right and I was short-sighted.”
“Starry Sky Age is indeed a great project.”
Xu Fengqing didn’t know how to respond and could only remain silent.
The woman saw him like this and couldn’t help sighing.
“Why are you still so quiet and reserved? It is hard to like someone who is so quiet.”
She asked, “Haven’t you met anyone you liked in all these years? Or do you not even know what it feels like to fall for someone?”
Xu Fengqing looked at her helplessly before finally nodding. “Yes, I did meet someone.”
The woman’s eyes widened slightly and a gossipy expression appeared on her face. “If that is the case, why aren’t you together? Or are you already together?”
Xu Fengqing pursed his lips slightly. “We aren’t together…”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure about the person’s feelings and their identity is rather special.”
For some reason, Xu Fengqing found that he could share his emotional troubles with his ex-wife so naturally. He had kept these things to himself all along, never confiding in his two younger brothers.
“Is the other person single?”
“Uh? Yes.”
“The age… um, much younger than you?”
“No, we are around the same age.”
The woman, who had been conflicted, suddenly became confused. “Then what is there to hesitate about?”
Xu Fengqing looked up at the bright blue sky, but a gloomy feeling lingered in his heart.
He was afraid that once he expressed things, they wouldn’t even be able to remain friends.
Xenos…
He couldn’t be sure if that person would show him disgust and distance if he confessed the feelings that had been buried for many years.
If so, how would he face it?
“I don’t know your specific situation, but at our age, it is really rare to meet someone who is perfect in every way and matches our heart.”
“I hope you cherish them and don’t leave any regrets.”
“If it is because of your children… They both want you to be happy too.”
Xu Fengqing was startled and turned his head to look. He saw that the Xu family members, who had been busy taking photos, were all looking in this direction.
After he looked over, they glanced away as if nothing had happened.
“They are the ones who made you…”
The woman smiled without saying anything. Then she turned to walk towards her husband and child.
Xu Fengqing watched her departing figure and felt as if the shackles that had bound him for so long had finally shattered.
He might’ve indeed moved on from the shadows of the past but…
What was Xenos thinking?
It was already evening in the Roland Empire when Xu Fengqing logged back in.
He appeared in the gardens of the Roland Imperial Palace. The patrolling guards looked over warily before saluting when they recognized him.
Due to Xu Sili’s relationship with Xenos, Xu Sili had unimpeded access to the imperial palace. The palace guards and maids all knew him. He was the sworn brother of the former emperor, Snow, and the close friend of the current emperor, Xenos.
A close friend…
Xu Fengqing pursed his lips. He was about to leave the palace when he checked the unread messages on his communicator and stopped in his tracks.
Xenos:
[Fengqing, I’m in the bath… I feel a bit dizzy.]
Looking at the time, it was sent half an hour ago.
Xu Fengqing felt that Xenos was unlikely to act so recklessly, but he instantly turned into a shadow and rushed to the bathhouse.
He didn’t see serving maids or guards outside, but the lights were still on inside.
Xu Fengqing’s heart tensed and he entered without any hesitation.
The moment he entered the shadows, he could see a figure soaking in the steaming water under the dim light. His upper body was resting on the edge of the bathtub, motionless.
“Ah Xe!”
Xu Fengqing rushed over and looked down. He saw the man’s face flushed with an abnormal redness, and his eyes were closed. He had truly fainted.
Xu Fengqing didn’t care about anything else and hurriedly carried the person out of the bath. He placed Xenos on the bed next to the bath.
It was only then that he had time to check Xenos’ information panel. He sighed with relief when he found there was no debuff.
Now that he relaxed, his mind started to focus elsewhere.
His gaze moved slightly downwards from Xenos’ tightly closed eyes over his flushed cheeks, rosy lips and further down… his collarbone, chest, torso, abdomen and…
His gaze slid over Xenos’ body inch by inch. Years had passed and Xenos no longer showed any signs of fragility, but he was still breathtakingly beautiful.
Xenos, the current supreme ruler of the Roland Empire, lay before him completely unguarded as if Xu Fengqing could do whatever he wanted to him.
Xu Fengqing’s heart skipped a beat.
He quickly looked away after realizing the filthy thoughts that had been flashing through his mind.
He hid the little monster imprisoned in his heart even deeper and carefully pulled the blanket over Xenos.
“Ah Xe, wake up.”
His voice was gentle yet filled with helplessness. “You are well aware that you aren’t in good health but you still won’t let anyone stay by your side while you take a bath…”
Seeing that he couldn’t wake Xenos up, Xu Fengqing stopped talking and took out a towel from his backpack to gently wipe Xenos’ hair.
The man’s long, silver hair was like silk, damp with moisture. It was beautiful beyond compare, just like him.
The palace was quiet, with only the sound of flowing water in the bath.
Xu Fengqing held Xenos in his arms, carefully and attentively wiping his hair. His actions were intimate and his eyes filled with undisguised tenderness.
It had been a long time since he took care of Xenos like this.
He often recalled their first encounter. It was the most unfamiliar stage, but that was the time when they had the most intimate contact.
Later, Xenos took over the reins of power from Xiao Li. He transitioned from acting ruler to Xiao Li’s complete abdication. Now Xenos had been diligently managing the empire for eight years.
He was busy with state affairs and they no longer had such opportunities to be close.
Xu Fengqing didn’t know when his feelings for Xenos started to change.
Perhaps he was smitten from the first moment he saw Xenos in the underground cave, but never dared to admit it.
“It has been so many years. Why is your physique still so weak?” Xu Fengqing asked with some concern.
“You’ve clearly gained weight…”
Xu Fengqing came to his senses and realized that his hand was gently stroking Xenos’ abs through the thin blanket. He froze and quickly withdrew his hand.
Xu Fengqing was silent for a while. Finally, he reluctantly let go of Xenos and allowed the other person to lie back down on the bed.
After tidying up the room in the side hall, he returned. Then trying not to look sideways, he helped Xenos change into a bathrobe. He carried Xenos to the bed in the side hall and covered him with a blanket.
“Goodnight, Ah Xe.”
His gaze fell on Xenos’ lips. Finally, he leaned down and kissed Xenos on the top of his head before forcing himself to leave the room.
After Xu Fengqing closed the door, the silver-haired man suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes.
The pale purple eyes were calm and clear, showing no trace of the weakness of someone who had woken from a deep sleep.
He touched the spot on his head where he had just been kissed. Then he looked at his bathrobe, which was wrapped tightly around him. It was dry and comfortable, but…
Xenos frowned and a hint of struggle and distress gradually appeared in his eyes.
What exactly was this?
Did Fengqing like him or not?
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