Cheng Bai looked at him for a while and said, "Tonight is extremely important to me. Could you please return home first, Young Master Pan? I will definitely visit tomorrow to apologize."
"..." A wave of intense bitterness washed over Pan Shulin, his eyes turning red. "How can you say such things to me...?"
His voice was choked and slightly trembling. "I sold fireworks for you. I've done all sorts of things for you these past days. Even the pastries I sent you were made by my own hands. You can do all of this for Xi Yao... can't you understand my feelings?"
"..." Cheng Bai was stunned, staring at Pan Shulin in shock, his thoughts thrown into complete disarray.
He had considered the possibility and had always maintained distance, but he never expected this person to confess so frankly to him...
In such a situation... it was truly awkward.
"I..." Cheng Bai collected himself and said firmly, "I thank you for your kind feelings, Young Master Pan, but my heart belongs only to the little delicate one."
"!" Pan Shulin's eyes were red. Staring at Cheng Bai, he was filled with intense hatred and resentment. He took two steps towards Cheng Bai. Pan Shulin was very thin, and his steps were always light, but these steps felt as if heavy weights were dragging at his ankles.
The servant behind Pan Shulin, seeing this, fearing his young master might do something irrational, quickly grabbed him and called out in a low voice, "Young Master..."
Pan Shulin stared hatefully at Cheng Bai.
"..." Cheng Bai frowned, took two steps back, and bowed respectfully to him, saying, "I am grateful for your previous help, Young Master Pan. Tomorrow, I will certainly deliver your share of the profits."
"..." Was he still trying to settle everything with money?!
Pan Shulin, whether from hurt or anger, began breathing heavily. Finally, after taking several deep breaths, he turned around and called to his servant, "Let's go."
With that, he quickly disappeared outside the gate.
Cheng Bai heaved a heavy sigh of relief. Zhao Qi, who had been watching from the shadows, came forward shaking his head and tutting: "You've broken another ger's heart."
Cheng Bai sighed: "It's better to refuse early."
"You won't regret this later, will you? Like you did with the young master?" Zhao Qi asked.
Cheng Bai said firmly, "No. I am already very certain. In this life, I want only the little delicate one."
"..." The beastman's features were handsome. Under his resolute gaze, he appeared extremely determined, and his words were unconsciously convincing.
Zhao Qi had been Cheng Bai's close friend for over ten years, and this was the first time he had seen him so certain... so sure about a person.
He had never imagined his friend could be so profoundly devoted. Yet such deep affection was often fleeting, especially now that the young master had an Ancient Beastman constantly at his side—accompanying him everywhere, sharing his meals and his home...
Zhao Qi was worried. He opened his mouth, testing the waters: "Young Master Cheng, what if..."
Zhao Qi paused, as if afraid Cheng Bai would take it too seriously, and added: "I mean, what if... if the young master rejects you, what will you do?"
"He won't." Cheng Bai's mind seemed to have already envisioned such a future, the smile that had been on his lips fading.
"It definitely wouldn't have happened before, but he has an Ancient Beastman by his side now. Rejection isn't impossible."
"Zhao Qi!" Cheng Bai called out displeased: "Are you still my friend? Always pouring cold water on me."
Zhao Qi looked innocent. He was just about to explain: "I..."
Cheng Bai pressed his lips together and interrupted Zhao Qi: "I said he won't, so he won't. If he rejects me this time, there will be a next time, and the time after that, until he agrees or until I die."
"..." The beastman's face was full of determination, the seriousness in his eyes startling Zhao Qi.
His friend had been excellent since childhood, able to get anything he wanted easily through his own ability, so he never cared much about anything. The way he treated the young master before was also because it was too easy to gain the young master's affection, so he didn't know how to cherish it...
This was the first time Zhao Qi had seen him so serious, as if he had staked his very life on achieving the outcome he desired.
Indeed, one only learned to cherish something after losing it. The young master from before would probably have been overjoyed...
But the young master now was different. He had matured... and a more suitable person stood by his side...
Zhao Qi sighed silently and quietly took something from his sleeve and handed it to Cheng Bai: "I got the thing you asked me to find. Here."
Cheng Bai felt a jade hairpin being pressed into his hand. One end of the pin was inlaid with a crystal-clear, luminous pearl. The sight of it filled Cheng Bai with joy. "The last hairpin I gave the little delicate one, I never saw him wear it. He must have thought the craftsmanship was too poor. I practiced for many days and finally created a fine one. With this pearl retrieved from the sea added to it, he is sure to like it."
Zhao Qi offered no reply to his friend's words. He pressed his lips together and said, "If you've confirmed the hairpin is satisfactory, then I will take my leave now and return to sleep."
Cheng Bai waved a hand in acknowledgment.
Seeing that Cheng Bai's attention was now entirely consumed by the banquet preparations, Zhao Qi shook his head. Without another word, he turned and exited through the rear door.
Cheng Bai carefully placed the hairpin into an exquisitely crafted wooden box. He set the box upon the table, then straightened the bowls and chopsticks that Pan Shulin had disturbed earlier. Finally, he gazed outward with hopeful anticipation, quietly awaiting the arrival of the one who held his heart.
Yet, the sky continued to darken. The soft radiance from the Luminescent Flowers bathed the entire Jiuyuan in light, but the silhouette of that certain person remained absent from view.
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