Even though he knew, it still hurt.
The events of the past two days had been far too heavy, leaving even the usually optimistic Shen Yangge subdued.
He set down the pellet drum. "Did Physician Liu... leave any last words?"
Chu Xuanzhen murmured an assent. "About his young apprentice."
Guessing it himself was one thing; hearing it from someone else was another. But regardless of the truth, Shen Yangge still felt sad.
Chu Xuanzhen took his hand and pulled him close. His calm eyes fixed on him as he said softly, "I killed everyone who murdered Physician Liu. Don't be sad."
Shen Yangge stared at him, his throat dry. It was a feeling he could not put into words. He lowered his eyes, hiding the emotions about to spill out. "I'm... not."
He knew he was contradicting himself, because he did not want Chu Xuanzhen to see this side of him.
Some good people were destined to die, while some wicked people still clung to life.
Chu Xuanzhen reached up to caress his face, his thumb brushing gently over it. His unreadable expression briefly grew solemn, and his voice was low and soft. "If you're still sad, wouldn't everything I've done have been for nothing?"
He drew him into his arms and half closed his eyes, feeling the breath of the man in his embrace.
Shen Yangge's hands hovered in the air. He did not hug Chu Xuanzhen back.
If one day he died in order to live, what would become of Chu Xuanzhen? Would he be sad?
Shen Yangge did not know.
He only felt that the embrace he had once resisted now held a warmth.
So he lowered his hovering hands to his sides, then slowly raised them again and hugged Chu Xuanzhen back.
It was the first