Xiao Ling's lip twitched when he saw Zhu Xi's calm expression. Meanwhile, xiao Bao almost laughed. But, to not make his xiao Ling angrier, he held it in.
Zhu Xi stared at xiao Ling's furious face and he heaved a sigh. "Whether or not senior wanted to tell me or not, it is up to you." He sincerely said. "I can just ask Wen Yan myself." He looked back at Fei Yinzi's and Wen Wen's tent.
Xiao Ling became angrier at Zhu Xi's words, but then he immediately calmed down. "How can you ask your friend about this matter?" he said and smiled.
Zhu Xi's brows knotted and he turned back to look at him. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Xiao Ling grinned and he took out a fan, flipped it open before he covered the smile on his lips. "Will he really tell you about this matter…? I wonder." He said.
Zhu Xi frowned.
"Hey. Don't look at me like that. I am not trying to sow discord between you two." Xiao Ling said when he saw Zhu Xi is glaring at him. "But, your friend really can't tell you, much less discuss with you, about this matter." He told him. "That is why I sincerely want to tell you, since I know that it will be impossible for him to tell you this matter." He explained.
"What problem does Wen Yan have, he always tell me." Zhu Xi said as his eyes narrowed. "What problem must it be thus he can't tell me?" he asked as he clenched his fists.
Xiao Ling stared at him. "Are you sure you want to know?" he asked.
"Xiao Ling…" xiao Bao called.
Zhu Xi looked at xiao Bao before he turned to xiao Ling. "Tell me." He said.
But, xiao Ling didn't speak. He fell silent. Even the playful smile on his lips was gone.
"What?" Zhu Xi asked. "Wasn't it you earlier who asked me to ask you about this? Why aren't you speaking now?" he said as he frowned in displeasure.
"There is a difference." Xiao Ling finally spoke. "Earlier, I am just fooling around." He said.
Zhu Xi. "…" well, since it is you, then it is definitely reasonable! He thought and inwardly cursed. "Then, can't you tell me now - ?" he asked.
"Zhu Xi." A voice called behind him.
Zhu Xi turned. It was Wen Yan.
"Who are you speaking to?" Wen Yan asked as he walked towards him.
Zhu Xi's brows knotted and he turned back, only to see that xiao Ling and xiao Bao were actually already gone!
Damn it! That fox xiao Ling! I will definitely beat him into a pulp tomorrow when he attacks me! Zhu Xi thought as he clenched his fists. "It's nothing!" he answered and forced a smile as he turned to Wen Yan. "How are Er Zi and Wen Wen?" he asked as they walked back.
"Their condition is getting better." Wen Yan answered.
"Oh. That's good, then." Zhu Xi said.
"En." Wen Yan nodded.
Silence fell upon them. Zhu Xi stared at Wen Yan's back.
"Hm? What's wrong?" Wen Yan asked as he turned when he noticed Zhu Xi's gaze.
Zhu Xi didn't speak. He just realized that whether it is just the two of them right now, or even if they are in a large crowd, Wen Yan would notice his gaze on him. Wen Yan would always know that it is him. "What was on your mind earlier?" he asked after a while. "You seem angry." He added.
It was Wen Yan's turn to become silent. If it was the usual, Zhu Xi would definitely push Wen Yan to tell him what problem he is currently facing. But, Zhu Xi what remembered xiao Ling said earlier to him. That Wen Yan's problem this time is one that Wen Yan can't tell Zhu Xi.
How big is that problem is? Zhu Xi thought and clenched his fists. His heart beat loudly, feeling worried for Wen Yan. Why can't he tell me? Is it because I can't help? He thought and became even more worried.
Zhu Xi's family is well-off, and leisurely. He is the third child of his family. Since his eldest brother will inherit their family's property while his second brother can be filial to their parents, Zhu Xi was permitted by his family to become a cultivator. So, Zhu Xi has no worries in his life, and thus he is very helpful to others, especially to Wen Yan who became his fellow disciple. Wen Yan's family also is poor thus he felt more concerned of Wen Yan.
But, now, Wen Yan can't even tell his problem to him. It means that this time, Wen Yan's problem is more serious. This made Zhu Xi feel frantic. Wen Yan has always told him his problems, no matter how big or small. There has never been secrets between them two. After all, what matter should be kept between them? They are friends, aren't they?
He raised his head to look at Wen Yan, only to meet Wen Yan's gaze. Suddenly, Zhu Xi's heart skipped a beat, and then beat wildly inside his chest for some reason… no. He knows the reason. It is because of Wen Yan's eyes… his gaze…
Wen Yan's gaze speaks volume. Zhu Xi's heart beat louder…. He felt nervous. But, although he felt nervous, he didn't feel fear. Instead, he feels… anticipation? He thought, feeling confused. Where did this anticipation come from? He thought as he clutched his chest.
Wen Yan continued to watch Zhu Xi, from his inquisitive expression to his now bewildered expression. Wen Yan really had let his emotions slip earlier, because he wanted to see Zhu Xi's reaction. He knows that Zhu Xi is smart despite being seen as ill-tempered like their master. Meanwhile, Wen Yan, as the eldest disciple of the Xinfaxian Sect, is seen as dependable even though he was the one who has ill temper.
After Wen Yan guessed what happened to Wen Wen feeding Fei Yinzi medicine earlier, he has realized this feeling he feels towards Zhu Xi all these years. These past years, it was cloudy. But, after he guessed what Wen Wen did to feed Fei Yinzi medicine, he felt that this thick fog obscuring him disappeared and finally revealed his real feelings towards Zhu Xi.
Even though he has keen senses, it only works towards his younger brother, and his fellow disciples and for their sect. But, although Zhu Xi is his fellow disciple and also a part of the Xinfaxian Sect, Wen Yan's keen senses never worked on Zhu Xi. Wen Yan feels that Zhu Xi is a simple person, thus he has always let his guard down to him. It was only today did he realize why he always wanted to be close to Zhu Xi.
He is in love with him. Although Zhu Xi is younger than him, he never treated him as a younger brother because he feels that their ages are just close, and that Zhu Xi is older than Wen Wen. For Wen Yan, the ones who are the same age as his younger brother, and also younger than his younger brother, he would treat as a younger sibling. Thus, he treated Zhu Xi as a friend.
But, he didn't think he would fall in love with Zhu Xi. When did it start, and started to accumulate? Wen Yan doesn't know, since everything for him, what happened between him and Zhu Xi are all pure. So, his affection towards Zhu Xi reached to a higher level.
"Wen Yan? Zhu Xi?" it was Chen Wu.
The two who were lost in their thoughts immediately woke up.
Wen Yan stared at Zhu Xi before he turned back to Chen Wu. "What is it?" he asked.
"Er Zi seems to be waking up, as well as Wen Wen." Chen Wu answered.
"Oh. Okay. We will be following." Wen Yan said.
Chen Wu nodded before he went back to Fei Yinzi's and Wen Wen's tent.
Wen Yan turned to Zhu Xi who is still silent. "I… today…" he spoke. "I realized something so I was absent-minded." He explained.
What did you realize? Zhu Xi wanted to ask, though he feels embarrassed to ask. "Oh." He muttered.
Wen Yan saw that Zhu Xi is still absent-minded, but didn't seem to be afraid or anxious. He secretly sighed in relief. Zhu Xi has been his partner for many years, and he is smart. With their tacit understanding, Wen Yan knows that Zhu Xi should have noticed the emotions in his eyes earlier, and could guess what he wanted to tell him.
A smile appeared on Wen Yan's lips and Zhu Xi's heart skipped a beat when he saw it. Although he has seen Wen Yan smile many times, Wen Yan's smile today is… different. It is like the snow melting during spring, revealing the buds about to blossom beneath it.
Wen Yan's smile is filled with so much affection.