Misunderstanding Cleared

There was a painful feeling in his chest, as if he was being stabbed by a needle in the most sensitive spots, and then had his heart crushed by a hammer to add onto the pain.

He didn't want to show his shameful appearance now, but He An had already bent down in front of him, peering at his face with wide eyes.

Qi Xiu's tears had started to pour without him even realizing it. The tip of his nose and his eyes were red and he was pursing his lips tightly to prevent any muffled cries from escaping.

Looking at this situation, He An was at a loss on what to do. He just grabbed his clothes that were spread out on the floor and rushed to put them on before covering Qi Xiu's body with a blanket.

"I'm deeply sorry... I'll leave you alone for now." He showed a pained expression yet still forced a fake smile on his face to ease the air around them.

But as he turned to leave, Qi Xiu suddenly threw the blanket off himself and said, "I'm willing..."

He An, who was now completely sober, almost died there on the spot. He thought he had gone crazy.

What did his cub just say?

He An stood there in puzzlement, blinking slowly.

"Your Majesty, I'm willing." Qi Xiu clarified. He then bit his lip, and in order to show his full devotion, he turned over on the bed, exposing his buttocks in an inviting manner for He An to use for his own satisfaction.

Yet instead of taking up on Qi Xiu's tempting offer, the panicked Emperor went to put the blanket over his cub again, making sure he wouldn't throw it off this time.

He could tell Qi Xiu was confused by his actions.

"You really shouldn't say things like this in the future." He An sat besides him and let out a long sigh. Qi Xiu peeked out from underneath the blanket and stared at He An, his heart stirring with emotions.

He wanted to ask so many questions.

"Then, if not me... are you going to see this 'Cub' person?" Qi Xiu's mouth eventually betrayed his brain and he said what he was thinking out loud.

While he was anxious to hear He An's answer, the man in question suddenly laughed, but the laugh didn't sound genuine.

"I wouldn't dare. The cub isn't someone who should be tainted by anyone— I even hope he'll remain untouched forever." He An replied honestly and his eyes softened as he looked at the little cub poking his head out the blanket.

Qi Xiu on the other hand felt his heart drop.

Ah.

They're that important to you...?

They must be a pure and lovely person, completely different from me.

The thought of comparing his defiled body to someone else made him feel insecure and he subconsciously gripped the blanket, his eyes threatening to water.

Someone like that deserves to be the one in He An's heart...

He knew this, but he couldn't understand why he was feeling intense jealousy. He wanted to hit himself in order to bring his thoughts back to track.

This person was the Emperor, he didn't belong to anyone.

He's not and never will be yours, Qi Xiu.

But even if he thought he didn't have the right to monopolize He An, he still didn't want this person to be intimate with anyone that wasn't him.

"You like them a lot." Qi Xiu finally brought himself to say, showing a self-deprecating smile.

"Yes, I like you a lot." He An confirmed.

"They must be a very special... huh?" Qi Xiu looked up in surprise.

"Since I like you so much, I hope you'll learn to cherish yourself." He An gently rubbed him on the head, finding the stupefied expression plastered across his face to be adorable.

He wasn't lying at all.

He genuinely wanted to protect Qi Xiu from any sort of harm and pave a happy future for him. He had accidentally seen the scars on Qi Xiu's body just now and it caused him to realize just how fragile and small his cub truly was.

He An was afraid even the tiniest crack could cause the person on the bed to shatter into pieces. He wasn't willing to let anyone break him, let alone being the one to do it.

If anyone dared to hurt his cub, he would never forgive them.