Chapter 27: Getting Separated
“It’s your birthday today. Did you forget?”
Sheng Qianheng stared at the bowl of noodles, feeling dazed. Only Chu Yi still cared about his birthday. He hadn’t eaten longevity noodles in a long time…
“Why so suddenly… This is… noodles… you… me?”
Chu Yi had never expected Sheng Qianheng to be so moved. Sheng Qianheng was so flustered he was momentarily incoherent.
“Of course one must eat longevity noodles on their birthday. Won’t you have a bite?”
Sheng Qianheng gave a faint smile, took the chopsticks, and tasted the noodles, his voice slightly choked. “Brother, thank you for still remembering my birthday…”
Chu Yi felt a pang of guilt and quietly averted his gaze. “Eat a few more bites. I wish our A-Heng happiness every year.”
Sheng Qianheng responded softly, took the bowl with both hands, and in no time, had eaten all the noodles in it.
“Thank you, brother. Will you spend my birthday with me every year from now on?”
The moment Sheng Qianheng finished speaking, several images flashed through his mind. He suddenly felt a splitting headache and could only raise a hand to his forehead, trying to alleviate the pain.
“Have you said this to me before?”
Seeing Chu Yi’s unsteady figure, Sheng Qianheng immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulder and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”
For some reason, Chu Yi always had the illusion that his relationship with Sheng Qianheng was not as simple as a few brief mentions in the book. But in the end, he was just an outsider to the book, and what he knew was very little…
He waved his hand and said faintly, “It’s nothing. How did the noodles taste?”
Sheng Qianheng nodded. “They tasted excellent.”
Chu Yi quickly suppressed the doubt in his heart. “That’s good…”
Seeing that Chu Yi seemed to have a lot on his mind, Sheng Qianheng directly raised a hand, pinched his chin, and kissed him. “Brother looks so worried. Did you cook the noodles?”
“I cooked them myself. I was just afraid they wouldn’t taste good…” Chu Yi was surprised for a moment by the softness on his lips. He didn’t pass the medicine to me, did he?
Sheng Qianheng shook his head, soothing his emotions. “They were delicious. Thank you, brother.”
Chu Yi looked at the empty bowl and felt a sense of panic in his heart. He hoped that everything would go as smoothly as he had planned. He took out the candle he had prepared beforehand, lit it, and handed it to Sheng Qianheng.
“Make a wish. You have to make a good birthday wish.”
Sheng Qianheng stared into Chu Yi’s sincere eyes and asked, “Make a wish?”
Chu Yi looked puzzled. “You can make a wish on your birthday every year. You don’t have to tell anyone. Just close your eyes, put your hands together, and make a wish silently in your heart.”
Sheng Qianheng closed his eyes, put his hands together, and silently made a wish for his twenty-third birthday.
First, he wished for Chu Yi’s peace and safety every year, and a life without worries.
Second, he wished for Chu Yi to stay by his side for a long, long time.
Third, he wished that everything he did in this life would be true to his heart.
Chu Yi stared at Sheng Qianheng’s smiling face in a daze. Although Sheng Qianheng was a tyrant, he was no different from an ordinary person in daily life. He was also an ordinary person with flesh and blood, and emotions.
When Sheng Qianheng opened his eyes, he met Chu Yi’s gaze. Their eyes met, and there seemed to be a hint of affection.
Chu Yi instantly averted his gaze and asked, “Are you done?”
Sheng Qianheng nodded.
Perhaps because he was feeling guilty after drugging him, Chu Yi didn’t dare to look into Sheng Qianheng’s eyes at all. Only now did he understand what it felt like to have a guilty conscience.
Sheng Qianheng, on the other hand, cupped Chu Yi’s face, pressed his forehead against his, and said slowly, “Brother A-Yi, may I kiss you?”
Chu Yi’s nose was filled with the scent on Sheng Qianheng. The moment he drew near, his thoughts had already quietly drifted away.
He tilted his head up slightly, his breathing unconsciously quickening. The moment their lips met, he could only close his eyes and not think about any other trivial matters.
“Can I refuse you?”
Sheng Qianheng raised a hand to rub the back of Chu Yi’s neck, gently biting everything he wanted…
His tongue was already numb from being sucked on several times, and his body grew weaker and softer.
Chu Yi had never been a person with strong desires before, but now, with just a little hint from Sheng Qianheng, he would unconsciously sink into it. What was wrong with him?
As his thoughts grew muddled, he bit Sheng Qianheng’s tongue lightly and complained, “You… I can’t breathe…”
Sheng Qianheng tasted Chu Yi’s lips a few more times before he was willing to stop. “Brother, I’m very happy today. How about you?”
Chu Yi was nestled in Sheng Qianheng’s embrace, busy gasping for air. He had no mind to reply and could only give a few perfunctory responses.
The next day, for some reason, there were many new and strange activities on the streets.
The head eunuch was afraid that with the crowded and chaotic streets, there would be a risk of assassination. He secretly reminded, “Young master, the situation outside is unclear, and the outcome is hard to predict. Rushing out may lead to unforeseen disaster. It is best to stay in the room.”
Chu Yi, of course, wanted to go out to proceed with his plan. The crowd would only increase his chances of escape. He wrapped his arms around Sheng Qianheng’s waist and said, “A-Heng, I’ve been wanting to go and listen to the storyteller on the southeast corner of the street for a few days… But from what Head Eunuch said, I’m afraid… why don’t I just go alone!”
Sheng Qianheng was naturally not at ease with Chu Yi going out alone. He refuted the head eunuch’s words. “I’ll go with you. I’ve never heard a storyteller either…”
Chu Yi naturally intertwined his fingers with Sheng Qianheng’s on the street. The two of them found the teahouse and chose an empty seat.
The storyteller had white hair, and the fan in his hand opened and closed with the unfolding of the story.
Chu Yi calculated that the drug was about to take effect and was extremely anxious. He leaned against Sheng Qianheng’s shoulder, paying attention to his condition. Sheng Qianheng seemed to be blinking more and more frequently, and his breathing was gradually deepening.
Sheng Qianheng had been listening to the storyteller with peace of mind. He didn’t know when it started, but he felt waves of heat wash over his body. He smelled the faint scent of Danshen on Chu Yi, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
He only felt his eyelids grow heavier. Sheng Qianheng raised a hand and patted his forehead, trying to wake himself up a little…
Seeing that Sheng Qianheng’s condition was getting worse, Chu Yi pretended not to notice at all. He took the tea on the table and handed it to Sheng Qianheng. “This tea is quite good. Would A-Heng like a sip?”
Sheng Qianheng took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. Then he took Chu Yi’s hand, stood up, and walked toward the street. Was his Passion Tide Period coming again?
Chu Yi looked at Sheng Qianheng’s dazed state and felt that victory was at hand. He made a hand signal to Lianfang…
The streets were already bustling with many activities, and the crowd was surging.
Sheng Qianheng took Chu Yi’s hand and hurried, wanting to get back to the inn.
He held Chu Yi’s hand tightly, afraid of being separated by the crowd.
However, just as they passed a lively stall, the crowd suddenly became more congested. The vendor selling candied haws shouted his wares, and the surrounding crowd instantly swarmed over, as if an invisible force was pushing them apart.
Sheng Qianheng felt himself being pushed by the crowd and couldn’t help but stumble back a few steps. The moment his grip loosened slightly, Chu Yi’s hand slipped away. When he tried to grab it again, it was already gone.
His vision was already blurry. In the blink of an eye, he could no longer find Chu Yi’s figure…
