What Right Did You Have?

Qi Yunheng's eyes shifted slightly, and his fingers curled.

He had begun to harbor selfish desires... for Xiao Yu.

Recalling what Xiao Yu had just done to him, he seemed to realize something.

He pressed his lips together, his hand involuntarily clenching.

He glanced at Xiao Yu, a trace of restraint and accusation in his voice. "Are you this warm toward every stranger?"

He looked sidelong at Xiao Yu, momentarily dazed.

Ever since that year, when he had received news that his mother was being subjected to every kind of humiliation by his father's favored consort, he had hurriedly left the Jin Kingdom.

Six full years had passed since then.

Xiao Yu now had bright, starry eyes, peerless good looks, and a tall, slender figure.

He was no longer the frail child in his memories, innocent and tinged with sickliness.

Nor was Qi Yunheng still the weak hostage prince he had once been.

They had both grown up.

Qi Yunheng lowered his brows and fell silent.

When his father had been his age, his children had already been running around.

Yet his own harem remained empty.

His ministers had presented him with plenty of beauties, but not one dared approach him.

Because he had killed all those who did.

He did not like them, whether they were men or women.

He was busy.

And they wanted to take up the time he spent writing letters to Xiao Yu.

That put him in a difficult position.

He could only kill them.

He wanted to see Xiao Yu.

Exchanging letters alone could no longer satisfy his endless longing.

He had come to find him.

To the Jin Kingdom.

All along the way, he had heard rumors of Prince Yu spending fortunes just to win a beauty's smile.

He told himself.

They were only rumors.

Yet he had seen Xiao Yu tangled up with another man.

The sight hurt his eyes.

So much that he had wanted to pierce Xiao Yu's throat outright.

At the last moment, his hand had trembled.

His strike had gone wide.

In the end, his heart had softened.

Hearing his words, Xiao Yu's expression stiffened.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

Buddy... if you don't know how to talk, could you just keep quiet?

What do you mean, warm? You make me sound desperate.

I'm a prince, and I personally cleaned and dressed your wound. It's fine if you don't thank me, but what gives you the right to insinuate I'm loose?

If you didn't look a little familiar, do you think I'd even bother with you?

Hearing this, Qi Yunheng could not help grinding his teeth.

He suppressed the indignation in his heart, his gaze sharpening.

"Who are you seeing when you look at me?" he demanded.

Always so good at sweet words and false appearances.

He had clearly said he loved him, yet had forgotten all about him and thought only of someone else.

"Someone you don't know," Xiao Yu replied.

Qi Yunheng's eyes darkened instantly.

As expected, he might as well destroy this wretched world.

Ah, I wonder what Qi Yunheng is doing now.

It's been six years. What does that skinny little kid look like now... he definitely can't be taller than me, anyway.

Qi Yunheng raised his eyes, his lips parting slightly.

This world really is amazing. Who could've imagined I'd end up becoming pen pals with Qi Yunheng?

When I get back later, I'll write to Ah Heng and tell him I met someone today with a temper just as rotten as his was when he was little.

Qi Yunheng's ears twitched.

For a moment, he looked bewildered.

Xiao Yu remembered him.

He was looking at someone else and thinking of him.

"What is it? Does something else hurt?"

Seeing him suddenly clutch his chest, Xiao Yu thought he had internal injuries too, and frowned slightly.

He rose to check him over. "Why are you so hot? Has your wound become infected? Do you have a fever?"

"Don't touch me," Qi Yunheng said hoarsely.

Xiao Yu's raised hand froze in midair.

He looked down and met that restrained, reproachful gaze, then faltered.

He seemed to see his own reflection in those deep, dark pools.

Thump, thump.

Xiao Yu heard someone's heartbeat.

He did not dare find out whose it was.

He quickly withdrew his hand and stiffly averted his gaze.

Changing the subject, he said, "...I've been busy all night. I'm hungry."

He glanced at him, then quickly looked away.

"Um, are you hungry?" he asked.

"Yuchu. Call me Yuchu," Qi Yunheng replied.

That was his courtesy name.

Actually, he preferred Xiao Yu calling him Ah Heng.

But Xiao Yu had not recognized him.

"All right, Yuchu."

Xiao Yu suppressed the strange feeling that had suddenly welled up inside him.

"Will you come downstairs to eat with me, or should I have someone bring the food up to you?" he asked.

With the mask he wore and his refusal to let anyone touch him, he clearly disliked too much contact with others.

He certainly would not join him.

After they parted tonight, there was no telling whether they would ever meet again.

"Together," Qi Yunheng said, rising.

Xiao Yu abruptly froze in place.

For a moment, he failed to process what Qi Yunheng meant.

Seeing this, a hint of amusement involuntarily flashed through Qi Yunheng's eyes.

His tone, however, remained cold. "What? Was your offer to eat together just an excuse?"

Xiao Yu: "..."

Could he say that it was?

They were only passing acquaintances.

Why should they eat together?

He replied, "I was just worried about your injuries."

"We... I'm not that delicate," Qi Yunheng said dismissively.

Xiao Yu gave a quiet snort.

Then who was the one who had fainted earlier, unable to walk without his support?

"Then let's go downstairs and eat together."

So he said.

Spring Drunk House.

A private room on the second floor.

Watching Qi Yunheng glare furiously at the man opposite him, Xiao Yu's eyes shifted evasively before he quietly looked away.

The inexplicable atmosphere in the room earlier had already made him feel awkward about dining alone with Yuchu.

They had happened to run into Su Xun, who insisted they all eat together.

Only then had Xiao Yu reluctantly agreed.

But Su Xun had chosen Spring Drunk House as their dining spot.

And now he and Qi Yunheng were at each other's throats.

Had Xiao Yu known, he would never have agreed.

Then he could have spared himself this awkwardness.

"Qi'an, this new friend of yours isn't very friendly, is he?"

Su Xun watched the man opposite him, who looked as though he wanted to gouge him open, an unreadable gleam passing through his eyes.

It was good enough that they could sit together without incident. Friendly was asking too much.

Xiao Yu shot Su Xun a sidelong look, warning him not to stir up trouble.

Su Xun looked away, pretending not to notice.

He signaled to a male courtesan nearby, and someone stepped forward to address Xiao Yu. "Your Highness, allow this humble servant to attend you during your meal."

Having said that, he was about to sit beside Xiao Yu when someone abruptly blocked him-

"Get lost," Qi Yunheng said, his gaze icy.

Then he turned to Xiao Yu and ground his teeth. "Do you come here often?"

Xiao Yu's eyes shifted evasively. He was just about to answer when he heard-

"Even I, his older brother, don't tell him what to do."

Su Xun set down his wine cup and looked at Qi Yunheng.

"What right do you have to control him?" he asked hostilely.

The corner of Xiao Yu's mouth twitched.

This Su Xun... could he stop making it sound like Yuchu and I have some shameful relationship?

I just want to eat a meal in peace, thank you.

Su Xun: "..." Just who was he doing this for?

Qi Yunheng's eyes dimmed, and he silently lowered his gaze.

Then, with self-mockery, he said, "What right do I have to control him..."

He gave Xiao Yu a long look, a trace of reproach in his eyes.

Then he turned and leaped out the window, vanishing into the night.