"That... I truly didn't know you were a ger before, so I was unrestrained and my words and actions were often improper. Please don't take it to heart."
Shen Qingyue looked directly at Huo Anding, seeing his expression full of regret. He slightly lowered his eyes and coldly uttered two words: "I won't."
Huo Anding made an affirmative sound, then added, "But, but some words still hold true."
Shen Qingyue raised his brows. "What words are 'some words'?"
"Although I'm always grinning and cheeky, I will definitely take responsibility for what I should."
Huo Anding's hands on the table clenched a little tighter. He took a light breath. "If you want me to take responsibility for you, I... I will write to my father and little father now."
The room suddenly fell into silence. The wind tonight seemed particularly strong, the rustling sound of the pear tree leaves in the courtyard was unusually clear.
"You're asking me?"
After a long moment, Shen Qingyue's voice broke the silence in the room.
Huo Anding found himself unable to meet Shen Qingyue's gaze, those eyes that were almost too beautiful to look upon directly.
"No, I don't mean to push the decision onto you. By all reasoning, I should take responsibility. It's just... you're so exceptional, and clearly come from a good family. If I were to insist on it directly, it would seem like I'm using this situation to pressure you instead."
"Put that way," Shen Qingyue said slowly, "your reasoning does make sense."
Shen Qingyue said slowly, "Since you have promised to keep my secret, then there is no need for these troubles. From beginning to end, just treat me as a man."
Huo Anding thought he would feel reassured hearing Shen Qingyue say this, but in fact, when he heard such a decisive statement, he actually felt somewhat disappointed.
Where this disappointment came from, he did not know.
He attributed this unwarranted disappointment to his usual experience of being surrounded by admirers. With so many people eager to marry him, he felt an unexpected letdown when confronted with someone who showed no such interest.
Huo Anding felt thoroughly disgusted with himself for this sense of entitlement. Who was he to think that everyone should want to marry him?
When he left Shen Qingyue's room, the lanterns in the dormitory building were already lit.
The evening breeze brushed against his face, yet it could not disperse the turmoil in Huo Anding's heart.
He glanced back at Shen Qingyue's room, thinking that from now on he could no longer come and go so freely. A profound sense of change settled over him—the surroundings were the same, yet everything felt different.
At night, Huo Anding tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
The wind outside whistled fiercely. The unclosed doors and windows in other rooms banged loudly in the wind, mirroring his heart's unrest all day.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "It's raining, get the clothes!"
In a moment, raindrops the size of beans pounded on the roof. It was less noticeable downstairs, but the noise was particularly loud for those living upstairs.
Muffled thunder rumbled, and the window flickered between light and dark.
The summer rain arrived without warning. Amidst the dense trees covering the mountain peaks, the downpour sounded even more intense.
Though the commotion outside offered a temporary distraction, it couldn't fully divert Huo Anding's troubled thoughts.
He rested the back of his head on his hands, listening to the thunder and rain for half the night.
In a daze, the sound of thunder and rain in his ears somehow turned into the sound of firecrackers exploding.
Shreds of red paper drifted through hazy smoke. He lifted his head, thinking it might be New Year's, but his gaze fell directly upon a pair of dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles.
In their flickering light, he suddenly realized he stood in a bridal chamber adorned with red silks and paper-cuttings.
One part of Huo Anding found the scene unbelievable, yet his feet carried him forward against his will.
A bride sat poised at the edge of the wedding bed, covered by a red veil, wearing an intricate and magnificent wedding gown that complemented the one he himself wore.
Overcome by curiosity, he reached out and lifted the veil. The person seated gracefully on the bed turned to him with a serene and gentle smile.
That person... was none other than Shen Qingyue!
Huo Anding looked at Shen Qingyue, whose face was flushed rosy by the dragon-and-phoenix candles. He felt he should be very surprised, but it seemed he wasn't; instead, it was as if he had known it would be so all along.
Without saying a word, he actually reached out and embraced Shen Qingyue. His attire was cumbersome, but he was still as slender as remembered.
His own heart seemed to ache a little for him. Perhaps as comfort, he actually kissed him.
Shen Qingyue in this moment shattered his memory of Shen Qingyue.
Aloofness and reserve transformed into passion and dependence......
With a creak, Huo Anding suddenly sat up in bed, his eyes dazed for a moment.
The grayish dawn light seeped in through the window. The rain had stopped at some point, and day was about to break.
Looking at the familiar dormitory, Huo Anding knew he had been dreaming.
He lifted the quilt and glanced underneath, then let out a heavy breath, closed his eyes, and pursed his lips in frustration. It had been a spring dream.
He had had such dreams before, but he had never seen the person's face. More accurately, he didn't even know if it was a person, though subconsciously he treated it as one.
Because of this, he had always assumed such dreams were naturally vague. He never imagined that one day the face would appear so clearly, and that every moment would feel utterly real.
Annoyed, he got out of bed and found a set of clean clothes to change into.
After tidying up and going out, he habitually started walking towards Shen Qingyue's room.
Just as he reached his door and was about to knock...
The intricate wedding robes, difficult to remove, and the muffled yet uncontrollable sounds suddenly flashed vividly through his mind once more.
Huo Anding's face instantly burned crimson. He had never imagined himself capable of such vulgar thoughts.
He nearly fled, turning on his heel to rush hurriedly downstairs.
Thank you for the update!
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