115 A Parting Once More

Beigong Qiyi opened his eyes as the sky outside brightened. He sat up and just stretched lazily when suddenly someone pounced onto him, ruffling the young man’s hair. Beigong Qiyi chuckled softly, “Ximo, why are you so forward today?”

The scent at his nose was the familiar, unique fragrance belonging solely to Beigong Qiyi. Ximo greedily inhaled it several times before looking up at him. The youth was as exquisitely beautiful as ever. Slowly, Ximo tugged the corner of his mouth into a smile. “Last night, I had a dream. I dreamed that you no longer wanted me.”

“Dreams are always the opposite,” Beigong Qiyi said, rubbing Ximo’s hair. He vaguely recalled having a dream himself—a vision shrouded in white mist, indistinct and unclear, as if something was there, yet also not. Frowning, the vermilion mole on his forehead deepened to a striking red.

“Master, master,” Ximo called out, a hint of panic in his voice. Beigong Qiyi snapped back to reality, patted his head with a smile, and said, “It’s nothing, just some thoughts passing through.” Ximo lowered his eyes, nodding, hiding all expression in them. “Really,” he grumbled, “you’ve messed up my hair.” Brushing Beigong Qiyi’s hand aside, Ximo smoothed his hair and pouted, “Master, get up quickly.”

Beside the bed lay clothes that had been prepared long ago. Beigong Qiyi frowned and called out, “Someone.” The maid who stood outside the inner chamber lowered her head and stepped in. “Master of the estate.” The maid did not understand why the estate master instructed everyone to call the young master the estate master, but since it was the master’s order, they simply obeyed.

Hearing the title, Beigong Qiyi paused, sensing something amiss but, upon reflection, found nothing wrong. Furrowing his brows, he pointed at the pale yellow robe beside the bed and said in a low voice, “Don’t you know I usually prefer white?”

The maid was startled. The young master normally wore yellow; when had he ever worn white? But since her lord’s words were correct, she immediately knelt and said, “I acknowledge my mistake.”

Ximo bit his lip and smiled softly. “Master, actually, I prepared this robe for you. Don’t you like it?” Beigong Qiyi glanced at it disdainfully. “I don’t like yellow. Take this away and get me another.”

The maid hurriedly responded, “Yes,” and quickly left with the robe.

Don’t like yellow... then why did you always wear yellow before? Ximo pondered silently. Suddenly, a sharp tap landed on his head. Wincing, he covered his head and looked up at Beigong Qiyi. “Master! Why did you hit me?”

Beigong Qiyi raised an eyebrow. “Don’t prepare those messy clothes for me without permission next time.”

Ximo nodded, feeling wronged. Not long after, the maid returned with a white robe. The garment was pure white, trimmed with silver at the collar. The youth’s skin was so pale it almost blended seamlessly with the robe. His jet-black hair was neatly draped behind him, with two strands falling on either side, creating a striking contrast of black and white.

Ximo gazed at him blankly. Beigong Qiyi cast a teasing sideways glance. “What, stunned?”

Ximo nodded blankly. “Master, you’re really handsome.”

“Big brother is really handsome...” In his memory, he seemed to have once gazed at someone just as blankly. Beigong Qiyi shook his head, finding the thought absurd. He chuckled quietly, then reached out and tilted Ximo’s chin, teasing, “Ximo, you’re not bad-looking either.”

Blushing slightly, Ximo pushed Beigong Qiyi’s hand away and turned his head, muttering softly, “What good is being not bad-looking if Master doesn’t like me...” Adjusting his collar, Beigong Qiyi glanced at him and asked, “What are you muttering to yourself?”

Ximo quickly shook his head. “Nothing.”

Lotus blossoms stood tall on the lake, pure and untainted despite growing from the mud. Beigong Qiyi watched the lotus, blooming more profusely in winter than in any other season. He remembered that in Hainan there was a type of lotus that bloomed year-round, never fading, especially vibrant in the coldest months. Yet he could not recall when this variety had been introduced. It seemed to him that the lotus in the lake had always been perennial.

He slowly walked to the pavilion, where a stone table held a wine pot. Beigong Qiyi picked up the pot; it was empty. “Ximo, go bring me another pot of wine.” Setting down the empty vessel, he took up a nearby cup and sniffed. The faint scent of wine lingered, but mingled with it was an unfamiliar fragrance.

Settling into a wicker chair, the scent became clearer. Beigong Qiyi closed his eyes and inhaled. The fragrance was delicate yet stirred an inexplicable tremor within him. He seemed to see a man clad in a dark green robe, lazily reclining on a lounge chair, occasionally sipping wine with languid ease... Suddenly, Beigong Qiyi’s eyes snapped open.

Behind a nearby rockery, a figure in dark green slowly vanished into the distance.

—“Then I suppose big brother doesn’t remember that I loved wearing white when I was young. But it was because of big brother’s remark, ‘You actually look good in yellow,’ that I started wearing only yellow afterward.”

Beigong Juechen had taken nothing with him except the fox mask that Beigong Qiyi had bought for him.

“What are you looking at, Master?” Ximo came in carrying the wine. Following Beigong Qiyi’s gaze toward the rockery, he saw no one there. Beigong Qiyi slowly withdrew his eyes, took the wine pot, shook his head, and said, “Nothing. I thought I saw someone, but maybe it was just my eyes playing tricks.”

Pouring wine into the cup, Beigong Qiyi suddenly asked, “Ximo, among the people you know, is there anyone who likes wearing dark green clothes?”

Ximo’s hand twitched as he replied smoothly, “Many people I know like wearing dark green. Why do you ask, Master?”

“Nothing.” Beigong Qiyi smiled faintly and sipped his wine thoughtfully. He felt as if, upon waking this time, he had forgotten something—something important, people and matters he absolutely must not forget.

Fu Zhi did not expect that upon waking, he would find the very person who had appeared in his dream moments ago standing in his room. The man had his back to him, gazing at the painting on the wall. Hearing the voice behind him, the man turned and smiled at Fu Zhi. “Nice painting.”

Putting on his shoes, Fu Zhi asked, “Why did you come?”

Handing him clothes, Beigong Juechen said, “I have nowhere else to go.” Fu Zhi took the clothes and dressed quietly. “You left him,” Fu Zhi said softly.

Beigong Juechen nodded. “Since he has forgotten me, there’s no need for me to stay by his side.”

“Maybe if you stay by his side long enough, he will remember,” Fu Zhi suggested. Beigong Juechen smiled and pointed at the painting. “Why didn’t I see this painting before when I came?”

The painting depicted a man with long hair flying wildly, exuding reckless abandon. Fu Zhi moved his finger and suddenly lowered a curtain that covered the entire wall.

He tossed the remote control to Beigong Juechen. “I always carry the button for the curtain. Whenever you come, I’ll put it down for him.”

Playing with the small device in his hand, Beigong Juechen smiled. “Why bother with all this?”

Fu Zhi looked at him but did not answer. Beigong Juechen blinked and returned the button. “I plan to travel around. You...”

“My brother won’t go with you,” Fu Zhi said firmly.

Before he could finish, Ran Luo suddenly appeared, interrupting. Fu Zhi frowned. “Why are you here?”

Ran Luo snorted. “If I didn’t come, you would just leave with him, wouldn’t you?” She hurried to Beigong Juechen’s side. “If the estate master doesn’t stay with the young master, why do you come looking for my brother every day?”

“I’m here to see your brother. What does it have to do with you?” Beigong Juechen replied coldly.

Ran Luo narrowed her eyes, snorting coldly. “He’s my brother, so it’s definitely my business.”

“Why are you here so early?” Fu Zhi asked again.

Ran Luo pouted and placed a lunchbox on the table. “I’m bringing breakfast to my brother.”

Opening the lunchbox, a faint aroma of congee wafted up, but Fu Zhi frowned. “Xiao Luo, don’t make this kind of food again next time.”

“Brother...” Ran Luo looked at him with a hint of grievance. “I brought you breakfast early in the morning. Even if you don’t like it, you have to eat some.”

Fu Zhi regarded her with his usual indifferent gaze. Under his scrutiny, Ran Luo inexplicably felt guilty.

Turning away coldly, Fu Zhi said slowly, “Xiao Luo, don’t forget, many things you know were taught by me.”

Ran Luo bit her lip and said nothing. Closing the lunchbox, Fu Zhi handed it back to her. “Take it back.”

“I just want you to live well,” Ran Luo couldn’t help but say. “You’re too lonely, and your love for him will only make you lonelier.”

Fu Zhi’s lips curved slightly. “Xiao Luo, you’re wrong.”

“I’m not!” Ran Luo pointed at Beigong Juechen. “Brother, if you can’t forget him, then you’ll always love him and never be able to like anyone else! But he, he doesn’t love you!”

Patting Ran Luo’s shoulder gently, Fu Zhi said softly, “Xiao Luo, if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have fallen for anyone else.”

“Why can’t you just forget him?” Ran Luo suddenly asked in a low voice. Glancing at the onlookers standing nearby, Fu Zhi said calmly, “Xiao Luo, if I forgot him, then I truly would be a heartless, loveless man... Moreover, anyone who can be forgotten is simply not important enough. But he... he means too much to me.”

Ran Luo gazed deeply at Fu Zhi. After a long moment, she nodded. “I understand.” Expressionless, she picked up the lunchbox and left.

Beigong Juechen stroked the jade ring on his thumb. After a brief pause, he said, “Fu Zhi, I plan to travel around. Are you interested in coming with me?”

Fu Zhi was momentarily taken aback. He looked at Beigong Juechen, who smiled lightly, the tension in his lips softening into a smile. Fu Zhi nodded slowly. “Alright.”

He knew that what Beigong Juechen really wanted to say was, “Take care,” not “Would you like to come with me?” But what did it matter now? It no longer mattered...

Author’s note: If I were to end the story here—

Big brother and Master Fu Zhi have gone off to explore the mountains and rivers; the little pervert and Ximo have started to fall in love~

Will I get scolded? = =

—166 Reading Network