Unlike Mo Yu, who wore only swimming trunks, Shen Ru was soaked from head to toe. His slightly sheer shirt had completely lost its ability to cover him in the water.
Mo Yu's attention was entirely on the person before him. Having Shen Ru in his arms now eased the agitation and unease inside him.
The pool water was cold, but the air around them was gradually warming.
Mo Yu pushed his luck and moved another step closer. In the silent pool, it was impossible to tell whose heartbeat was growing louder.
Just as Shen Ru was thinking that Mo Yu hadn't been joking after all, the man's voice sounded beside his ear:
"Do you actually know why I'm angry?"
Shen Ru looked up into those restrained, deep eyes, his lips parting slightly. "Because I acted alone and gave the Puppeteer an opening."
He answered according to the hint the man had given him.
Mo Yu wouldn't take his anger at the Puppeteer out on him. Shen Ru couldn't figure it out; he needed Mo Yu to give him an answer.
Night had deepened. At some point, the moon had hidden behind dark clouds, leaving their surroundings dim and quiet.
Shen Ru was intent on waiting for an answer, unaware that the pure curiosity in his red eyes looked like a secret invitation to Mo Yu.
The man had always believed that, for things to have reached the point where he wanted to lock Shen Ru up, Shen Ru himself had to bear at least half the responsibility.
Mo Yu sighed, stroking the young man's soft cheek. "It is because you acted alone, but not because of the Puppeteer. It's because you always think you can do everything on your own."
Warm fingertips brushed past the outer corner of his