CHAPTER 6: Xian-Ge

Hao Yuxian was surprised to see tears rolling down his cheeks. He was even more surprised to hear such a heavy-hearted question from someone who usually couldn't hold a serious conversation for too long. 

Despite the shock, Yuxian faced him and responded.

"They were the best rulers this city has ever seen. And the kindest"

Yueying let out a laugh that seemed to be coming from his chest as he wiped his tears. 

"I knew it", he replied. 

"I don't remember anything about them so could you please tell me about them?", he asked with a sad smile on his face.

Yuxian was often told that he was hard-hearted, a monster, indifferent, you name it. In reality, he was the opposite if all those things. However, after being through a lot, he built a wall. One that protected him from the scornful words and actions of people. 

It had been so long since he last saw a friendly face, but now he had Yueying's face.

"As you wish", he said.

Yuxian went on and on about all their good deeds. Like saving a neighboring city from starvation, or when they built several shelters for the less fortunate. 

He also talked about the kindness they'd always shown him, and how they'd always taken his side when all the royal family members framed him. He lost his parents long ago in a war, so the Imperial Majesties were just like the parents he'd never had. They even told him to call them the "Imperial Parents" which Yuxian was never quite comfortable with.

They took care of him and treated him like their own son.

He also mentioned knowing Yueying before he disappeared which he couldn't believe.

"You knew me??", he asked in surprise.

Yuxian nodded before continuing.

"The Imperial Majesties had been wanting a child of their own long before I came to the city. Finally, when I was around 12 years old, they had you"

Yueying felt his face heat up slightly. 

"I had always wanted a sibling, so I was especially excited to see your little pink face. Though, I wondered how someone could have such silvery hair and pink eyes"

Yueying felt his face heat up even more.

"You looked like a little spirit or perhaps fairy would be better"

Yueying couldn't let him continue after that and urged him with red ears to get to the point of the story.

"Of course, the Imperial Majesties told me to take care of you and make sure no one in the palace bullied you. It wasn't easy, after all, I was told that I practically had a huge sign plastered on my forehead that read 'Bully Me'.

"But still, they know how my parents felt about you", said Yueying.

"Bullying you would mean the same thing as bullying me. So, why would they?"

Yuxian sighed deeply as he stopped in front of a pair of gates. They had a set of characters manufactured in white jade that read 'East Residence'.

"I don't know. Then and now. I still don't know", he said.

"But I'll make sure you're not subjected to the same fate. It is my duty after all"

He patted his head and smiled a little, though it wasn't one that lasted too long.

After coming over the shock of seeing Yuxian smile, Yueying proceeded to walk towards the gates. As if on command, they opened up by themselves.

Yueying had just turned around to wave Yuxian goodbye when he noticed he wasn't behind him anymore. He then heard a voice call out to him from somewhere within the residence.

"Young Master! Aren't you going to come in?", the voice that sounded uncannily like a certain Mr. Eye Candy.

"Hao Yuxian…", Yueying started.

Yuxian immediately went up to him.

"Yes, young master?", he replied.

"You're…", he started once more.

Yuxian looked almost impatient, but Yueying wasn't sure if it was merely his eyes playing tricks on him.

Just to be safe however, he finished his sentence.

"…Sleeping here?", he asked.

Yuxian looked at him dead in the eyes and replied with a 'mn'

Yueying's face had a blank look and a smile on his face. It looked very calm on the surface, but he had fireworks going off in his head.

"He's sleeping here?"

"Why??"

"Maybe he can't return to his own quarters…"

"Does that mean he's being bullied???"

Thankfully, Yueying's thoughts were interrupted by Yuxian calling his name. He'd actually done so multiple times, but Yueying was busy planning to avenge the broken and bruised soul that Hao Yuxian.

Though I'm pretty sure it would do more harm than good. He wouldn't even be able to land a punch without hurting himself more than the enemy so maybe he should just sit this one out.

And I better not hear anyone trashing him. He might have MC Plot Armor, but he doesn't know that yet.

"Yes? Sorry I wasn't listening", said Yueying bashfully as he ended his dreams of being a martial arts master and kicking butts that weren't his.

"No worries Young Master. I was just trying to explain that this was also my residence as well. The Imperial Majesties always encouraged me to share a residence with you. They thought it'd be better for us to stay together"

Yueying replied with an offhanded 'oh' which made Yuxian think that he didn't want to. He wasn't facing Yueying properly which was probably why he thought he saw a frown on his face.

In reality, it was just Yueying's idiocy showing its face once again.

When Yuxian said 'together', he thought that meant staying in the same room and potentially share the same bed. Yueying found this to be the most mind-boggling thing that his head ever had to process which caused his face to explode into a riotous mess of color. His mind also became unclear and his steps were now less sure.

I mean, one couldn't blame him. Anybody would feel uneasy if they were sharing a bed with someone who:

1)They only met a few days ago and

2) Was as handsome as Hao Yuxian

However, what he could be blamed for letting his mind stray too far and in an unreasonable direction. I mean think about it. The entire East Residence was about the same size as three mansions placed side-by-side, which was very shareable indeed.

Also, Hao Yuxian had only mentioned they would stay in the East Residence together, but he never said they'd share a room.

So, no matter how you look at it, Yueying was a dummy.

"If you do not wish for me to stay, then I'll leave Young Master", said Yuxian with a slight frown on his face.

Yueying snapped back to reality and faced Yuxian, which allowed Yuxian to finally see Yueying's ears and face had gone an incredibly bright shade of red.

He said a lot of things but none of them were comprehensible as he'd stutter at each word a good number of times.

Perhaps this sent a signal to Yuxian's brain, I don't know. But somehow, he'd come to understand that were in fact a misunderstanding.

He held Yueying's flailing arms and placed them at his sides managing to calm him a bit.

"Young Master, I'm not sharing a room with you or even a bed", he said.

Yueying didn't react at first having only his blank-faced smile. Soon though, he laughed awkwardly, realizing that he'd gotten way ahead of himself. However, Yuxian hadn't finished speaking and what would be the missing part of his sentence would surely cause Yueying to go into a frenzy. He was quite shy after all.

He was just about to apologize before he heard the rest of Hao Yuxian's sentence.

"Unless you want me to"