CH 77

Chapter 77: Confession

Huo Zaiyuan honestly thinks he's about to go crazy right now. He has already blatantly rejected that woman, and shown that he will not be threatened, but she persists in annoying and blocking him everywhere. At this moment, he is preparing to return to the temporary abode when he sees Shen Yueran standing outside the door. Acting like he doesn't notice her, he turns a corner and ducks into a small alley.

Every house within this town has a front and back entrance. Since that woman is obstructing the front door, then he will go from the back…his heart feels rather suffocated as he escapes from her. Who in the world did he offend to be forced into running away like this?

Walking along the small path, Huo Zaiyuan is about to exit the alley when a pair of arms suddenly drags him back. His vision blurs for a split-second, then his back is pressed up against the wall. Tilting his head back, tension drains out of his body as he sees Long Zhanye.

"Eh? Older brother Long? Is something wrong?" There is barely any distance between the two of them, causing Huo Zaiyuan to feel a little uneasy.

"Un." Catching the uneasiness in Huo Zaiyuan's expression, he softens his tone, afraid that he had unintentionally scared the person before him. "I have something to tell you."

"What is it, you can say it directly." Seeing Long Zhanye's expression remains the same, he glances down, still feeling a little apprehensive.

Bracing one hand on the wall and the other cupping Huo Zaiyuan's face, Long Zhanye decides to go right in. He has never been someone to hesitate, and since he already made up his mind, he will not shrink back at this crucial moment.

"I like you."

"Eh?!" The abrupt confession makes Huo Zaiyuan freeze. From the startled exclamation, it is very clear he never expected Long Zhanye to say something like this to him.

Staring intently at the wide-eyed Huo Zaiyuan, Long Zhanye continues. "I saw Shen Yueran kiss you…but I still decided to tell you plainly because I'm afraid if I keep it in my heart and don't come clean, you will never know. Little Yuan, if you really don't return my affections, then just reject me. Let me give up completely and I wouldn't make life difficult for you. Forget about what I said and treat it as if this matter never happened…"

"I have absolutely no relations with that Shen Yueran! It was her who suddenly kissed me!" Seeing Long Zhanye's slightly lost expression, the first thing that comes to mind is not rejecting his confession, but to clarify that there is nothing between him and that woman.

Upon hearing Huo Zaiyuan's explanation, Long Zhanye's expression brightens, inching his face even closer to Huo Zaiyuan's nervous and rapidly reddening one. Softly, as though afraid he will scare away the opposite party, Long Zhanye breathes. "Then what about me? Do you dislike me?"

Gaze locked with Long Zhanye's anticipating pair of eyes, his heart skips a beat, and he slowly shakes his head. "Don't dislike."

"That means you like?" A dazzling smile surfaces, and a strong arm curls around Huo Zaiyuan's slim waist. With a light pull, he drags the youth into his bosom, negating the remaining distance between their bodies.

"Ah…that's…don't dislike doesn't mean…"

"I don't care. Since little Yuan already say don't dislike, that means you like me. Unless little Yuan is lying." Long Zhanye smiles, curving his eyes. Due to embarrassment, Huo Zaiyuan looks away bashfully, completely missing the dangerous light that appears in the soldier's eyes. Compared to the anticipating or lost look mere seconds ago, this one is a hundred thousand times different.

"You…you really are a rascal."Huo Zaiyuan murmurs, blushing furiously, not knowing if it's from anger or shyness.

"I am one originally ah. Not to mention, you like me this way." Looking at that red face, Long Zhanye can't resist dropping a kiss on his brow. "Little Yuan, let's give it a try, shall we?" In his twenty-five years of life, this is the first time he ever said this sentence.

Heart moved by those words and the gentle kiss, a fire seem to ignite deep in Huo Zaiyuan's heart. After witnessing his father betraying his mother, he never dared to love, and doesn't quite understand the concept of this word. He doesn't dislike Long Zhanye and when the other confessed to liking him, there was no feeling of instant rejection, only one of happiness…that must mean Huo Zaiyuan does like Long Zhanye too, right?

To give this a try, it would be the right thing to do…

"All right. Let's give this a try."

Long Zhanye is extremely pleased with Huo Zaiyuan's answer. Tightening his arms around that soft waist, he presses Huo Zaiyuan against the wall, gaze dropping to those pink petal lips.

"That woman kissed you." Eyes narrowing, the dangerous glint returns as Long Zhanye's finger unhurriedly traces Huo Zaiyuan's lips. "From now onwards, this place belongs exclusively to me, understand?"

"It's not like I voluntarily allowed her to kiss me…" Huo Zaiyuan immediately frowns when Shen Yueran is brought up.

"If that's the case, then I should thoroughly disinfect it."

"Dis - disinfect?" How would one go about disinfecting it?

Only reacting to Long Zhanye's words with wide eyes and nothing else, it is obvious Huo Zaiyuan completely doesn't understand what he meant by 'disinfect'.

"Of course." Long Zhanye answers, lips curving into a smirk.

Lowering his head, Long Zhanye covers those soft and sweet lips with his own, sucking lightly as he leisurely begins to explore. Then he slowly deepens the kiss, nimble tongue running over the lightly closed seams of Huo Zaiyuan's mouth, seeking entrance. Pushing in as soon as that pliant mouth parts, he tastes every sweet part of him, swallowing the adorable breathless sighs emitting from Huo Zaiyuan's throat.

"Mmhmm…"

Although Huo Zaiyuan liked to party in the past, he still lived clean and honestly, never having a girlfriend or a one-night stand. Comparing Shen Yueran's light kiss to Long Zhanye's current scorching one is like holding a small candle next to a burning pyre. Huo Zaiyuan's brain shuts down completely as he drowns in the sensation. Heartbeat thumping erratically in his chest and face pleasantly warm, he thinks, no, there's no dislike at all.

At this point, Long Zhanye's kiss is hard and intense, plundering his mouth and sparing nothing. Just as Huo Zaiyuan begins to feel faint from the lack of air, Long Zhanye finally withdraws, a fine strand of silver hanging between their lips. Breaths coming out in short pants, Huo Zaiyuan flushes an even deeper red as he stares at that thin thread. Not sharing any of Huo Zaiyuan's shyness, Long Zhanye merely smirks wider and licks those kiss-swollen lips.

"Disinfection completed."

"……" Long Zhanye's words render Huo Zaiyuan momentarily speechless. Staring wide-eyed at the older man for a moment, he finally huffs. "Indecent. I'm going to ignore you." Saying this, he prepares to enter his interdimensional space, intending to escape from this dangerous man and seek refuge in his 'sanctuary'.

"Don't go." How can Long Zhanye be oblivious to Huo Zaiyuan's intentions? Refusing to release the tight hold he has on Huo Zaiyuan's waist, he leans his chin on the youth's shoulder. "Let me hold you for a while."

Prior to confessing, Long Zhanye has prepared himself for the worst. Now, however, with this treasure securely in the palms of his hands, he is naturally unwilling to let him go so soon. But he also knows he cannot be too possessive right now, lest the person in his embrace becomes irritated. If that happens, kissing and hugging his beloved in the future will be more trying.

With this thought in mind, Long Zhanye silently hugs Huo Zaiyuan, occasionally inciting gently whispered conversations. Unconsciously, the two wear matching soft smiles.

~~~

"I hear your friends always address you as older brother Long. So, eldest brother Long, why did you suddenly call me out? Is something the matter?" Shen Yueran displays an alluring smile, the pair of lustrous eyes that seldom failed to captivate trained on the man before her.

Never did she imagine Long Zhanye himself would arrange a meeting with her. Compared to men like Huo Zaiyuan with a slim figure and a more attractive visage than her own, she greatly prefers someone with a taller, broader frame coupled with a handsome face. And if they possess extraordinary skills and dominant aura…all the better.

If she is able to obtain esteemed grandmother Zhang's wooden chest from the little brat, then get together with this man, it would be her wonderful fortune.

Thinking of these joyous matters, she barely suppressed a gloating leer, managing to turn it into another gentle smile at the last second. But unexpectedly, in a flash of silver light, the loose strands of hair curling around her left cheek suddenly snaps, the severed ends fluttering slowly down to the ground. A thin cut appears on her flawless skin, beads of red blood welling up at the corners. The sudden biting pain makes her entire body stiffen.

"You - what do you want?!" Her dream abruptly shatters to pieces. Shen Yueran retreats a few steps, trembling as she beholds Long Zhanye's menacingly ominous face, an intimidating glint in his eyes. A sharp and gleaming military dagger is clasped loosely in his hand.

"I'm warning you, stay far away from little Yuan." Long Zhanye's eyes are cold as frost, as though the object before him is nothing more than a chunk of dead meat. No trace of mercy can be found in his body language, which frightens the lass to the point of hyperventilating. "If you use another despicable method to threaten little Yuan again, the next time this knife will not cut your cheek and the thing severed will not be mere strands of hair…of course, just a quick stab to end your life will be rather dull."

Long legs move forward leisurely, closing the distance between him and the terrified woman. Stooping down slightly, Long Zhanye's tone turns incomparably soft and gentle. "I will chop your fingers off one by one, then slice chunks out of your flesh. Miss Shen, don't not believe…I have a lot of ways to ensure you continue living throughout the entire process."

Immediately after, Long Zhanye's expression smoothes over as though he had been merely conversing about the weather. But in Shen Yueran's eyes, that bland smile is terribly similar to a devil's, causing her heart to tremble uncontrollably.

Because she knows full well, that man's every word is the truth…

Collapsing to the ground in an undignified heap, shivers wreck Shen Yueran's body. As for Long Zhanye, he simply strides pass her and swiftly departs.