Chapter 66: Hangzhou Part 6

But Xiao Kun did not blame Xiang Xian. He murmured to himself, “From the moment he tried to kill you at Dongting Lake Shore, I knew that boy couldn’t be spared. It was my karmic debt; I had to end it myself. These past two days, I’ve kept thinking I’m unworthy of the Previous Emperor. But I keep turning it over in my mind—are these just excuses?”

Xiang Xian said gravely, “Xiao Kun, it’s in the past. You owe no one.”

Xiao Kun said, “Do you know what his last words were before I purified him? He said, ‘The Yelu Family will never forgive you.'”

Anger flared in Xiang Xian’s heart. He had a bellyful of words but could not speak them now. He only wanted to tell Xiao Kun: You owe no one. From birth, the Xiao Family and Yelu Family had targeted you—why should you bear it?

And that was not all. The Yelu had exploited it, binding Xiao Kun with endless responsibility in exchange for his loyalty. What kind of logic was that?

“Xiao Kun! Listen to me! Xiao Kun!” Xiang Xian said loudly. “Stop thinking about it!”

Xiao Kun said, “I want to ask him why he tried to kill you.”

Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun fell silent together, sinking into quiet.

Xiao Kun finally calmed and said, “Maybe the real killing intent I felt toward him had nothing to do with other things. Because Sa Luan mercilessly wanted to kill you, I killed him.”

Xiang Xian sighed, gazing at the wine remnants in his cup. “I just hope you can… be freer. I want you to be happy, Xiao Kun. You’ve had too much suffering in this life.”

“If I lose you too,” Xiao Kun said gravely, “then my last shred of hope is gone. I won’t risk it.”

Xiang Xian looked up abruptly, meeting Xiao Kun’s eyes. Xiao Kun said frankly, “I can’t lose you. Maybe that’s just how I am. I’ve never said many heartfelt words because it’s too embarrassing. You mean a lot to me—far more than you think.”

Xiang Xian had never expected Xiao Kun to say such things at this moment; it caught him off guard.

Xiao Kun continued, “Remember when you asked if I’d ever had any happy times in this life? The day I escorted you home, when you gave me this red rope—that moment, I was truly happy, Feng’er.”

Xiao Kun averted his gaze several times before finally meeting Xiang Xian’s eyes directly. “Friends, brothers, whatever—I just… just…”

In the end, Xiao Kun found he could not express his feelings. Tears still in his eyes, he said, “I’m always clumsy with words. Anyway, I think you should understand. If not now, maybe someday. If never in this life… well, that’s… also…”

At this point, Xiao Kun suddenly remembered his fate and instinctively pushed Xiang Xian away a little.

“I don’t want you implicated by me. I don’t want you hurt or suffering. Many hardships, I can bear myself and am willing to,” Xiao Kun murmured. “Feng’er, I just want you to be well.”

Xiang Xian gripped his wrist tightly.

They gazed at each other calmly for several breaths. Suddenly, Xiang Xian placed one hand behind Xiao Kun’s neck and kissed him.

In the instant their lips touched, Xiao Kun pushed Xiang Xian away immediately. But since Xiang Xian had started the kiss, he went all in, pressing him down, his body covering Xiao Kun’s, even extending his tongue. It was the first time in Xiao Kun’s life someone kissed him like this; his whole body stiffened, hands hovering unsure. In their extremely close gaze, he saw the mix of sorrow and tenderness in Xiang Xian’s eyes.

Xiang Xian’s heart pounded wildly. He had done something so reckless, breaking the windowpaper. What followed could not be taken back. And facing an irreversible situation, Xiang Xian’s response from childhood had always been the same—run.

After the kiss, Xiang Xian only wanted to turn and leave at once. But Xiao Kun slowly raised his hands and wrapped them powerfully and firmly around Xiang Xian’s waist.

Xiao Kun flipped over, straddling Xiang Xian’s waist. After a brief parting of lips, he pressed down again, kissing fiercely in hot response.

In that instant, they both understood each other’s feelings. Xiang Xian hugged Xiao Kun tightly, kissing him passionately. Their breaths grew rapid, hearts racing.

A whistle of fireworks piercing the sky sounded outside Zhen Garden. Several sparks rose, red, purple, and orange blooms exploding, illuminating the handsome faces of Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian.

Xiao Kun looked up toward the sound, fireworks reflecting in his pupils.

Xiang Xian turned his head back, signaling him to look at himself. “We’re in the middle of something intimate. Don’t get distracted.”

Xiao Kun’s mind was in chaos. Instinctively, he lowered his head, their lips and tongues entwining.

Their robust bodies in thin robes pressed tightly together, palms caressing. The Contract Red Ropes still adorned their wrists. Xiao Kun pinned Xiang Xian’s hands above his head; Xiang Xian interlaced their fingers in response. They kissed greedily. Xiao Kun’s lips were soft and gentle, Xiang Xian’s warm and fervent. Xiao Kun had only one thought—I must be crazy.

It was like a dream. He inhaled Xiang Xian’s clean neck and began kissing it.

As they rubbed cheeks intimately, Xiao Kun’s body trembled. He regained a flash of clarity, released Xiang Xian’s hands.

His face flushed red, he got off Xiang Xian, said nothing, turned, and walked away.

Xiang Xian breathed heavily. After a long while, he sat up and called toward the direction Xiao Kun had gone: “Hey! Wait!”

Xiao Kun did not answer. Soon, a soft door-closing sound echoed from the separate courtyard.