C77. What If You Don’t Feel Forced?

C77. What If You Don't Feel Forced?

Chu Hechao stood up abruptly, taking large strides over to the steward kneeling on the ground. He grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up, veins bulging on the back of his hand. "Take me to find him," he demanded.

The steward was almost lifted off the ground, trembling as he pointed towards a path on the west side.

Ignoring Cai Ji and the others who were puzzled, Chu Hechao, accompanied by his guards, marched out.

Chu Hechao was worried about the assassin.

The place where the Hu dancers came from was chaotic, with Eastern Hu, Xianbei, Xiongnu, Wumang and even Wuhuan people present. There were many Hu people who had migrated to Youzhou, but not all of them were law-abiding.

There were bound to be spies and assassins from various tribes and nations among them.

Chu Hechao's face was expressionless, but his hands trembled slightly inside his sleeves.

Realizing his fear, Chu Hechao's brows furrowed even deeper, feeling shocked in his heart.

What had Yuan Li turned him into?

The steward was half carried and half pushed by the guards and soon led everyone to the door of the guest room. However, the door was locked, and even the windows were securely closed.

Inside the room, there was utter silence.

The steward cleared his throat and raised his voice, "Governor?"

No response came.

This was not the normal sound one would expect during a peaceful rest, and why would the door be locked from the outside for a simple nap?

Chu Hechao's lips stuck together from dryness as he said, "Step aside."

The steward was pulled away by the guards, and Chu Hechao walked to the door and tried to push it open, but it wouldn't budge. Breathing sharply, he lifted his foot and kicked the door with all his might.

The door was forcefully kicked open with a huge force, even falling apart halfway. The door frame had a large hole ripped into it, with wood chips scattered on the floor.

Chu Hechao entered the room and immediately saw a Hu woman tied up and unconscious on the ground. Without wasting any time on her, he searched the entire room inside and out.

However, while the Hu woman was present, Yuan Li was not.

The entire room was eerily quiet.

Chu Hechao stood still for a moment, his mind momentarily blank. His voice sounded hoarse as he commanded, "Find him."

He had brought a dozen or so guards with him. Only one remained to protect Chu Hechao, while the rest respectfully saluted and efficiently dispersed to search for the missing person.

Soon, shouts were heard outside the room, "Governor Yuan!"

"Governor?"

Listening to the voices, Chu Hechao closed his eyes briefly.

Then, he strode over to the Hu woman and ordered, "Wake her up."

One of the guards poured a jug of water over the woman, causing her to startle awake, looking around in fear.

Chu Hechao sat at the table, gazing intently at her. "Where is he?"

The Hu woman swallowed nervously, seeing an opportunity to end her life, but the guard intercepted her in time.

Chu Hechao's expression remained unchanged as he ordered, "Interrogate her."

*

Not long into the interrogation, urgent footsteps were heard outside the room, "General, we have found Governor Yuan!"

Chu Hechao immediately turned around to see Yuan Li swiftly approaching behind a guard.

Before he could say anything, Chu Hechao's gaze swept over Yuan Li.

His clothes were intact, spirited, and unharmed.

With a sigh of relief, Chu Hechao noticed that his back was soaked with sweat within just a few moments.

"Where were you?" he asked abruptly, his tone sharp.

Yuan Li explained quickly, "The Hu dancer was a spy. When I discovered her trying to escape, I knocked her out, tied her up, and locked her in the room while I went to search for anyone assisting her."

Chu Hechao's breath was hot as he inquired, "Did you find anyone?"

"We caught a suspicious person, but we're not certain yet," Yuan Li replied.

Chu Hechao paused for a moment, instructing the guard to continue questioning the Hu woman.

The other guards closed the door and stood outside, keeping watch.

There was a faint smell of blood in the room.

Yuan Li sat quietly at the table, watching Chu Hechao.

Chu Hechao said, "What are you looking at?"

His tone was still harsh, and he regretted his words as soon as he spoke. His face was stern, still recovering from the scare.

Yuan Li's gaze shifted to Chu Hechao's hands.

Chu Hechao clenched his fists, trying to conceal his trembling hands.

"You..." Yuan Li pursed his lips, unsure of what to say next, his expression softening unconsciously.

Chu Hechao looked at his expression and his own became grim. He coldly sneered, "What, thinking of Chu Mingfeng?"

Chu Mingfeng was bedridden at that time, and his hands shook just like Chu Hechao's did now. During the time when Yuan Li married into the Chu family, he must have seen Chu Mingfeng in such a state.

Yuan Li was taken aback by Chu Hechao's sudden mention of Chu Mingfeng, shaking his head after a moment of hesitation.

Chu Hechao clenched his jaw, lips straightened, and remained silent.

Yuan Li asked again, "What happened to your neck?"

There was a cut on Chu Hechao's neck, caused by the sharp wood chips flying when he forcefully kicked the door. The impact had ripped his skin on the neck.

The wound had scabbed over, looking like a scratch from a nail.

Chu Hechao turned to look at him, asking, "What?"

Yuan Li reached out to touch it but withdrew his hand. "You have a wound on your neck."

Chu Hechao stared at his retreating hand, then suddenly grabbed it.

The hand of this young man was warm, dry, and well-defined, distinctly different from a woman's. In his many years in the military camp, Chu Hechao had shaken hands with many men, but it was only Yuan Li's hand that made his heart race, unwilling to let go once he grasped it.

Chu Hechao held Yuan Li'shand for a while, then suddenly placed it on his own neck.

The man's neck was slender and masculine. Chu Hechao pulled his lips into a sneer, "Where is the injury?"

As he spoke, Chu Hechao's Adam's apple trembled, clearly felt by Yuan Li's fingertips. Yuanli's eyelids twitched, quickly touching around the cut mark.

Interestingly, before Yuan Li touched it, Chu Hechao didn't feel any pain. But after Yuan Li's touch, he did feel a stinging sensation.

He didn't let go of Yuan Li's hand, continuing to stare at the young man, gripping his hand tighter and tighter, causing more pain.

Yuan Li remained still until the pain in his hand bones felt like they were being crushed, then he couldn't help but pull away.

Chu Hechao didn't let him withdraw, chuckling self-deprecatingly, "Afraid of me?"

Yuan Li replied, "Your grip is hurting my hand."

The mention of pain reminded Chu Hechao of the time when Yuan Li uttered a distressed cry in the cave.

Chu Hechao's breath caught, almost as if spellbound, as he leaned closer to Yuan Li.

The doors and windows were tightly shut.

The guards outside wouldn't come in or know what was happening inside the room.

Chu Hechao's guards only thought they were dealing with spies between relatives, never imagining anything impure or vile.

In this secure and tranquil space, like the artificial cave during a storm, Chu Hechao's heart raced faster, and the thick desire could overflow with any touch or gaze.

Yuan Li seemed to sense something and looked up, prompting Chu Hechao to stop in time.

The distance between them was only a fist's length, their gazes intertwining in the air, sending shivers down their spines and their backs, all the way up to their scalps. Warm breath sprayed onto their faces, carrying Chu Hechao's moist, seductive scent and Yuan Li's distinct aroma.

A desire to kiss but restrained from doing so.

Yuan Li's face flushed, lowering his eyes first as his eyelashes fluttered rapidly, "You're too close."

Chu Hechao remained still, his gaze fixed on Yuan Li's lips as he clenched his teeth.

Yuan Li added, "Don't do something you'll regret."

Chu Hechao smirked, "Regret? "

Standing upright, he joked, "You're right, I did regret the last time."

Yuan Li pursed his lips.

Chu Hechao muttered to himself, "I regret forcing someone who still mourns his deceased husband to be intimate with me, making them now fear and despise me, wishing to be far away from me."

After a self-deprecating smile, Chu Hechao slowly stood up from his chair and walked towards the door.

But as he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, and after a while, he whispered, "The last thing I said was a lie."

Yuan Li turned to look at him.

In the shadows by the door, Chu Hechao revealed, "Yuan Li, I don't regret forcing you. Even if you were unwilling, I only regret saying that was the last time."

With that, he intended to leave.

But suddenly, a dry voice from behind, "What if... what if I didn't feel forced by you?"