117 Reunion

The distance between Beigong Qiyi and Beigong Juechen was no more than a single wall.

"Are you planning to keep avoiding him like this?" Fu Zhi asked. Beigong Juechen curled the corner of his lips in a half-smile, half-smirk. "I'm not avoiding him. I just don't want to see him right now." He stood by the window, watching the rain mixed with heavy snow fall relentlessly. Suddenly, he recalled something Beigong Qiyi had once said.

"Big brother, next time it snows, let's build a snowman together."

He still remembered how the boy's pinky had hooked onto his own, gently swaying as he smiled like a child. That was the purest smile Beigong Juechen had ever seen from Beigong Qiyi—so beautiful.

"I once told him that I liked him even more than he imagined," Beigong Juechen murmured. Fu Zhi moved to stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder. "But between liking and loving, adding one more degree is still just a bit; adding ninety-nine more degrees is also just a bit."

Beigong Juechen shook his head with a soft laugh. "Exactly. Even I can't clearly say how much more I like him." Fu Zhi’s expression was indifferent, but his eyes darkened. "Juechen, in your heart, from the very beginning, Beigong Qiyi was different. He knew you weren’t his biological elder brother, yet he still respected you as the master of Lizhuang. You probably thought back then that he was just enduring quietly, but he truly was enduring—for you, not for Lizhuang."

Beigong Juechen replied, "Compared to being the master of Lizhuang, I preferred those years I spent traveling outside." Fu Zhi said, "I know you’re naturally cold and never get especially close to anyone, but think about it—how many times have you tolerated things for Beigong Qiyi that even you can hardly believe?"

Beigong Juechen slowly lowered his eyes. "I named Beigong Qiyi. When he was little, he especially liked to laze beside me. The first words he spoke were to call me 'brother'." At that time, Beigong Juechen was only an eight-year-old child. No matter how cold his nature, how cold could he really be?

Fu Zhi fell silent. He had said enough and could say no more. Beigong Juechen turned to look at him and smiled faintly. "Thank you, Fu Zhi." Fu Zhi closed his eyes briefly and nodded quietly.

The most terrifying thing is not being naturally cold-hearted; the most terrifying is for someone naturally cold-hearted to fall in love. Like Beigong Qiyi, like Beigong Juechen, like himself... Beigong Qiyi’s love was destructive, Beigong Juechen’s love was casual, but his own love was one of fulfillment.

Fu Zhi would never forget that day. The sky was as gray and oppressive as today. He was alone, studying medical books and concocting herbs, when his master brought back a child. Fu Zhi glanced up amidst his busy work and saw the most handsome person he had ever laid eyes on. That year, Beigong Juechen was ten; Fu Zhi was thirteen. They spent six years together.

Fu Zhi turned around. "Where are you going?" Beigong Juechen asked softly. Fu Zhi replied indifferently, "I’m going out for a walk." Beigong Juechen chuckled and teased, "Be careful not to be blinded by some beauty." Fu Zhi frowned slightly and walked out quickly. Indeed, he was blinded by a beauty—not only blinded but also enchanted in his heart.

"Young master, who did you just see?" Xi Mo took off his coat, somewhat damp from the rain, and casually asked. Beigong Qiyi stood by the bed, thoughtful. "Xi Mo, I feel like something’s not quite right."

"What’s not right?" Xi Mo didn’t turn around, his back facing Beigong Qiyi. Outside, the rain and snow grew heavier, showing no sign of stopping. He vaguely recalled a promise he had made to someone. Instinctively, he touched his pinky, still feeling a faint trace of contact.

Beigong Qiyi narrowed his eyes and approached Xi Mo. "Xi Mo, tell me honestly, among the people I used to know, was there anyone who liked to wear dark green clothes?" Xi Mo’s hand clenched tightly. Looking into Beigong Qiyi’s dark eyes, his lips trembled slightly. "Was there or not?" Beigong Qiyi asked again in a low voice. Xi Mo shook his head firmly. "No." He spoke resolutely. "Who exactly is the person you want to ask about, young master?"

Beigong Qiyi stared at him for a moment. His eyes were icy and sharp. Xi Mo forced back a shudder but kept his expression steady as their gazes locked. After a while, Beigong Qiyi smiled lightly and looked away. "Nothing, just something I remembered."

No, something was definitely wrong. Xi Mo was hiding something. Beigong Qiyi didn’t understand why he was so concerned, why he insisted on remembering. Perhaps, as Xi Mo said, if it could be forgotten, it wasn’t important enough. Maybe that person was too important in his heart. Because of that importance, forgetting was unbearably painful.

Seeing Beigong Qiyi still deep in thought, Xi Mo said, "Young master, staying in your room all the time is boring. Why don’t we go out for a bit?" Beigong Qiyi teased, "What, are you in a hurry to meet a beauty?" Xi Mo blushed, lowering his head, ignoring the tease.

Beigong Qiyi smiled. "Alright, no more teasing. Let’s go." Since he had seen that person, and with the weather like this outside, he surely wouldn’t leave the Yihua Pavilion now. Maybe he could run into him again...

Idly watching the world beyond the window, Beigong Juechen heard the door across open. His eyes darkened slightly as he slowly walked over to the table and picked up the fox mask.

Despite the dreadful weather, the Yihua Pavilion was still lively with song and dance. There weren’t many guests, but given the conditions, not few either. Beigong Qiyi glanced around but did not see the familiar dark green. However... he did see someone. The man wore white, his expression cold and distant. Beigong Qiyi narrowed his eyes and slowly approached.

Since Beigong Qiyi had come downstairs, Fu Zhi noticed. He had a premonition that Beigong Qiyi would come looking for him—and sure enough.

"Master Fu Zhi," Beigong Qiyi smiled. Fu Zhi gave him a cold glance. "Master Beigong." Beigong Qiyi raised an eyebrow. "I didn’t expect Master Fu Zhi to come to a place like this." Fu Zhi replied calmly, "I came with a friend."

"A friend..." Beigong Qiyi narrowed his eyes. "Where is Master Fu Zhi’s friend?" Fu Zhi asked, "Does Master Beigong have something to ask?" Beigong Qiyi shook his head. "Nothing. I just came over to greet Master Fu Zhi."

"Since there’s nothing, I won’t bother the master." As Fu Zhi started to leave, Beigong Qiyi quickly called out, "Wait, Master Fu Zhi. Just now, I happened to see your friend, and he looked very familiar. Could you tell me where your friend is now?"

Fu Zhi looked at him coldly. "My friend only recently arrived in the Central Plains. I don’t think Master Beigong has met him."

Beigong Qiyi’s eyes darkened. "Whether I’ve seen him or not isn’t for Master Fu Zhi to say. I need to see for myself."

His smooth forehead suddenly furrowed. Beigong Qiyi followed Fu Zhi’s gaze behind him. A figure slowly walked down the corridor. The man wore a dark red robe, his black hair loosely draped over his shoulders. At the hem of his robe, red spider lilies bloomed like flames. Beigong Qiyi’s expression abruptly darkened.

The man’s robe parted slightly, revealing pale skin. Beigong Qiyi felt an impulse to rush forward and wrap him tightly. The man came to their side and smiled softly, "Looks like you really have been blinded by a beauty."

His voice was cold and low, striking Beigong Qiyi’s heart with every word. Strong physique, perfect voice, but alas... his face was hidden.

Fu Zhi frowned deeply. "Why are you out here?" Still dressed like that—though the second half of his thought was silent. The man laughed, "You’ve been out so long, I came to see if someone had taken you away. So, am I disturbing you?"

"Have we met before?" Beigong Qiyi asked hastily. Beigong Juechen turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and Beigong Qiyi felt his mind explode with a buzzing sensation. Those eyes—those dark green eyes, so cold and sharp—he suddenly thought he would be utterly captivated by them for his entire life, willingly.

He had no memory of a man with dark green eyes. If he had truly met him before, he would never have forgotten. Yet the expression in those eyes was so familiar. Who was he? Had he met him before?

"I haven’t met you," the man replied calmly. Beigong Qiyi’s face darkened. He spoke casually to Fu Zhi but was ice-cold to him. Beigong Qiyi took a deep breath and asked again, "Why do you wear a mask?"

The man touched the fox mask on his face and smiled slightly. Beigong Qiyi's breath caught. The man’s smile was gentle, and Beigong Qiyi clearly felt his heartbeat quicken. This feeling of accelerated heartbeat was painfully familiar...

"Can you take off the mask so I can see your face?" Beigong Qiyi’s tone grew cautious. Xi Mo watched the man nervously, twisting his hands tightly. The man’s dark green eyes narrowed slightly. In a low voice, he said, "I have a scar on my face, so I wear the mask."

"It’s okay..." Beigong Qiyi began to speak but then thought that perhaps the man didn’t want others to see the scar. He let out a disappointed smile. "Then never mind. My name is Beigong Qiyi. What’s yours?"

The man stared at him for a moment. Beigong Qiyi swallowed hard as a flush crept over his jade-like face, blooming like flourishing peach blossoms. The man seemed to sigh softly, then slowly said, "My name is Bai Juechen."

"Bai Juechen... Bai Juechen..." Beigong Qiyi murmured the name quietly, strange in its familiarity yet unfamiliar at the same time. "You..." He suddenly lifted his head but only saw a receding figure in red.

"Red is beautiful, but it’s not your color..." Beigong Qiyi gazed dreamily at his departing back, murmuring to himself. Xi Mo took a deep, panicked breath and gently tugged Beigong Qiyi’s sleeve, forcing a smile. "Young master, what are you muttering to yourself?"

Beigong Qiyi withdrew his gaze. "Xi Mo, I think I’ve known him before..." The smile vanished from Xi Mo’s face immediately.

Author’s note: Sometimes, meeting is not as good as remembering.

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