Chapter 42 Li Xiao's Independent Side Story - Obsession (Twenty-Seven)

The door creaked softly.

Lin An turned around blankly, her face still wet with tears.

When his gaze fell on the person standing at the door, Lin An blinked his bloodshot eyes, as if he had suddenly woken up, and stood up abruptly.

Lin An stared intently at Li Xiao, who had arrived late, his eyes flashing with resentment and hatred.

This was something he would never have dared to do before.

A few years ago, if Lin An had dared to do this, Li Xiao would probably have already started a fight with him.

Then this shameless rabbit spirit would hop behind Yu Qingzhou.

Only half of its head was visible, and it grinned foolishly at Li Xiao from where Yu Qingzhou couldn't see it.

He had this smug, arrogant look on his face, like, "Come on, come on, I can't afford to mess with you, you big devil, but I can't afford to mess with you..."

At that time, Yu Qingzhou would be caught in the middle, acting as the peacemaker.

He's just a kid, why are you arguing with him?

Since he's rarely back, let's treat him like a guest...

In situations like this, Li Xiao usually wouldn't give in.

His home, his territory, his people... by what right?

Besides, aside from the years they were actually asleep, who knows who might be the younger one?

Of course, Li Xiao wouldn't say these things directly.

As wise and powerful as he is, it would be so humiliating for him to compare himself to a useless rabbit spirit who only knows how to hide when trouble comes.

However, Li Xiao simply couldn't swallow this insult.

When the two sides were deadlocked, Yu Qingzhou, who was in the middle, would sigh softly, then walk directly to the boy's side, grab his collar, and whisper a few words in his ear.

Then, after a moment of stunned silence from Li Xiao, he turned and left.

"Hmm, what should we eat for lunch, rice or noodles?"

"Wait...you, were you serious?!"

Seeing that Yu Qingzhou casually changed the subject, Li Xiao, realizing what was happening, hurriedly asked her questions.

The boy's eyes darted around, and his tone was somewhat conflicted, as if he were expecting something but also afraid that the other person might go back on their word or swear.

"What do you think?" Yu Qingzhou asked instead of answering.

Having received the assurance, Li Xiao suddenly fell silent, only slightly turning her head to reveal a bit of her fair earlobe, which was so red it looked like it was about to bleed.

Then, those who were supposed to cook went about their business, and those who were supposed to chop wood went about their business.

Secretly, she looked forward to the night falling and the moment when Yu Qingzhou would fulfill her promise.

Things don't always go so smoothly.

Once, Li Xiao was happily poking at the fire in front of the stove when a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and then he suddenly realized what it meant as if he had been burned by a spark.

Then, ignoring the rice in the pot, he went straight to Yu Qingzhou, who was sunbathing in the yard.

With such a tall stature, he immediately blocked out most of the sun.

Yu Qingzhou opened her eyes and glanced at the boy in front of her with a slightly weary look.

Seeing the other party's aggressive and accusatory demeanor, he wasn't in a hurry. He simply raised his chin slightly and lazily asked, "What's the matter?"

His nonchalant demeanor made it seem as if he didn't take the newcomer's attitude seriously at all.

"I--"

Before coming, Li Xiao had a lot to say, but when he actually stood in front of the real person, he started to stammer and didn't know where to begin.

How so?

Although he did benefit a lot from it, the thought that the whole thing started because Yu Qingzhou was protecting that brat Lin An made him feel uneasy.

Do we have to be so direct and honest?

Li Xiao thought to himself.

But wouldn't that make me seem petty and narrow-minded?

Just as I was struggling with this decision, I suddenly caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of the other person's neckline, which was slightly open due to their casual lying down...

As if pricked by the varying shades of red, Li Xiao's eyelids twitched. Just as she was about to subconsciously look away, she suddenly felt that something was wrong.

This is his home!

His people!

He... he did it himself, what's so unacceptable about it!

—Of course, only he himself can see it!

Thinking this, Li Xiao reached out and grabbed Yu Qingzhou by the collar, pulling it up to her chin.

"What are you doing?" Yu Qingzhou frowned, seemingly feeling somewhat uncomfortable, and reached out to pull him away.

Li Xiao hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, spouting a bunch of nonsense.

"That's good, it prevents you from catching a cold while lying down, and then passing your illness on to me—"

Yu Qingzhou then stopped moving, and Li Xiao, meeting those slightly amused eyes, also stopped moving.

To be precise, they dared not move.

"Heh, I never realized you were such a coward?" Yu Qingzhou asked with a faint smile.

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Li Xiao quickly corrected himself: "I...I was just talking nonsense. Haha, don't mention a minor cold, even if...if something were to happen to you, Yu Qingzhou, someday, I'd just be—"

Before Li Xiao could finish speaking, Yu Qingzhou covered his mouth first.

"Don't talk nonsense."

As Yu Qingzhou spoke, the smile on her face faded, replaced by a rare serious expression.

At that time, Li Xiao didn't understand and only thought that he had said something wrong and offended the other party.

He understood that Yu Qingzhou was, after all, a pure human, and of course, his main thought was to get over this as soon as possible.

Following what the other party had said before, he half-jokingly said, "Yes, yes, with a rare and unique talent like Sect Leader Yu, you are destined to achieve perfect merit and ascend to immortality in the future."

Upon hearing Li Xiao's words, Yu Qingzhou's eyes flickered slightly.

"You... you actually still remember."

"Of course, I haven't dared to forget a single word that Sect Leader Yu has said, lest I accidentally add another entry to your ledger and be unable to pay it off for several lifetimes."

Li Xiao was engrossed in talking to himself and didn't notice the complex expression that flashed across Yu Qingzhou's eyes.

When he looked over again, the other person had already resumed their calm and smiling expression.

"...No, that won't happen."

Yu Qingzhou murmured softly, as if talking to herself.

Li Xiao didn't hear clearly and was about to ask when suddenly a pair of hands cupped her cheeks.

—This is a metaphor for a light boat.

This sudden action made Li Xiao somewhat uneasy.

Although they had done more intimate things before, it was rare to see Yu Qingzhou being so proactive as she was now.

The last time... it seems like it was when we officially became a couple. It was Li Xiao who took the initiative and kissed him for a long time before the other party finally responded.

At this moment, Yu Qingzhou cupped the boy's cheeks, pulling half of his body into the recliner that the boy had made himself.

Forehead to forehead, nose to nose.

Their breaths mingled, their lips and teeth intertwined.

In broad daylight, Li Xiao felt a little embarrassed, vaguely feeling as if he had forgotten something.

He immediately forgot all about it. Damn it, this wasn't the time to use his brain... By the time the kiss ended, Yu Qingzhou was already covered in a light sweat.

Li Xiao didn't sweat, but he was in the middle of a good time when Yu Qingzhou suddenly pushed him away.

Full of grievances and a deep sense of unfinished business.

He simply pretended to be dead on the spot, burying himself in the other person's neck and refusing to get up, sniffing the other person's scent again and again.

Like a little brat who only knows his territory.

Yu Qingzhou raised her hand and touched the fluffy head. The silk felt smooth to the touch and had a slight coolness to it.

Li Xiao felt the stroking on his hair, so he tilted his head to make it easier for Yu Qingzhou to touch him.

He clearly didn't mind Yu Qingzhou doing whatever she wanted to his hair, and it would be even better if she could touch other parts of his body...

“Ah Xiao.”

Just as he was lost in his fantasies, Li Xiao suddenly heard Yu Qingzhou softly call his name.

The young man's voice still carried the lingering effects of the kiss, slightly hoarse and tinged with weariness.

It felt like it was about to tear open Li Xiao's heart.

"Um?"

"Please promise me something, okay?"

"What's up?"

While Li Xiao asked this question aloud, he thought to himself that even if Yu Qingzhou offered to take his life at this moment, he would probably find it difficult to refuse.

Of course, if that's the case, he has to choose the method himself. Either don't do it at all, or be a thoroughly satiated and promiscuous ghost...

Ke Yuqingzhou didn't want Li Xiao to die. On the contrary, he wanted him to live.

Li Xiao didn't quite understand why such a self-evident thing needed to be singled out and emphasized again.

In Yu Qingzhou's eyes, did I look like the type who would innocently seek death?

He readily agreed, saying, "How could I die? Otherwise, when you've lost all your teeth and hair, your eyesight is failing, your legs are trembling, and you're so ugly that no one wants to talk to you, who will take care of you and let you enjoy your old age?"

"..."

Yu Qingzhou remained silent, and Li Xiao could not see her expression.

All that could be felt was the slight rise and fall of Yu Qingzhou's chest.

The only sound in the boy's ears was the quiet heartbeat of Li Xiao, a sound that, for some reason, made him suddenly feel somewhat lonely.

He then silently embraced the warm body.

He said gently, "Of course, I'm not doing this for nothing. After you pass away, I'll go find your reincarnation. Just like when you suddenly appeared in front of me, I'll give him a big surprise."

He paused, then added, "Let's make this clear beforehand: you can't look down on me for being a widower. If you do, I'll forgive you for not remembering me. Is that a deal?"

After an unknown amount of time, so long that Li Xiao began to suspect that Yu Qingzhou had actually fallen asleep, he couldn't help but look up and heard her softly respond.

"Okay, it's a deal."

Li Xiao was overjoyed and didn't pay attention to the other person's follow-up sentence, "If you find me."

He lingered and dawdled for a while longer, until he heard Yu Qingzhou say that something was burnt, and then he realized that there was still rice cooking in the pot...

However, now, both the iron pot emitting black smoke on the stove and Yu Qingzhou leaning against the door with a calm smile watching the show are as distant as a dream.

Li Xiao walked step by step, stepping over the ruins of memory and walking straight into the cold reality.

Yu Qingzhou was there, just as she had been when she was alive.

It's no different from what I remember.

However, Li Xiao could no longer feel that subtle connection between them—the connection was severed the moment the formation in the old house failed.

Yu Qingzhou was not surprised at all; in fact, she had a premonition.

Searching for a way to save oneself, the possibility of finding a glimmer of hope there... all of these are just excuses to get rid of oneself.

This guy is a complete liar, and yet I... I was so stupid to believe him again and again.

"Did he leave any message?" Li Xiao sat down on the edge of the bed and asked.

He asked Lin An, but didn't turn around to look at him. He just stared intently at Yu Qingzhou's face, which seemed to be just sleeping.

Lin An paused for a moment. Although Yu Qingzhou had given him instructions, he was still somewhat resentful of Li Xiao's late arrival.

But seeing the other person's unusual appearance, he didn't know where to begin.

Finally, he could only sigh and sniffle, saying, "The Taoist priest said that it should be buried under the loquat tree in the courtyard."

"I see, I understand."

Li Xiao didn't seem surprised; he simply expressed his agreement calmly.

Lin An thought for a moment and decided to leave the other person some space.

As she reached the door, she couldn't help but turn back and say, "Aren't you going to ask him if he left you any message?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin An saw Li Xiao's shoulder twitch and he laughed without warning.

"No need."

Li Xiao spoke softly, more like a soliloquy in a dream than a reply: "What he really wanted to tell me, he's probably already said it all..."

His tone was surprisingly gentle and tender.

Lin An was stunned for a moment, then finally pushed open the door and went out.

Lin An finally breathed a sigh of relief after watching Yu Qingzhou's body being buried.

After all, in his mind, Yu Qingzhou was dead, and Li Xiao should be the first to go crazy.

Li Xiao, however, remained remarkably calm.

It makes one wonder what is brewing beneath this calm surface.

But nothing happened.

There was no dramatic display of emotion, no wailing or lamentation; it all passed peacefully and uneventfully.

"What are your plans for the future?"

Lin An looked at the patch of land beneath the loquat tree and asked hesitantly.

Strictly speaking, he and Li Xiao didn't have much of a relationship. Over the years, it was only through Yu Qingzhou's mediation that they were able to barely eat at the same table.

But now that Yu Qingzhou is gone, there's no longer any need for them to pretend to be a loving family.

He thought Li Xiao would stay behind to keep vigil for Yu Qingzhou.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiao answered decisively that he would be leaving soon.

"Leave?" Lin An found it unbelievable.

"Well, so this place is a good deal for you, you little rascal."

Li Xiao showed no intention of explaining.

He warned in a rather unfriendly tone, "If someone steals your house, you'd better get cooked in an iron pot."

Having known each other for so long, Lin An had no doubt that the other party was telling the truth.

However, he couldn't help but ask one more question: "Where are you going?"

For Li Xiao, what could be more important than a light boat?

Suddenly, a thought struck Lin An like lightning, causing his emotions to surge and leaving him speechless for a moment.

Yes, there won't be any more, so... so Li Xiao's departure can only be because...

Before he could verify, Li Xiao had already disappeared.

After that, Lin An met Li Xiao several more times, all on the anniversaries of Yu Qingzhou's death.

Li Xiao always seemed to be in a hurry.

Each time they appeared, the malevolent aura surrounding them intensified.

The last time Li Xiao appeared before Lin An, he seemed like a completely different person.

The light gray in his hair had completely faded, and he was now filled with an eerie, bloody aura; even one of his eyes was missing.

Nevertheless, when looking at the loquat tree in the corner of the yard, the gentle expression on the other person's lifeless face was still exactly the same as Lin An remembered.

He's not here.

Li Xiao said, "But it will be soon, I'll find him soon."

Lin An's heart skipped a beat as he listened to Li Xiao's rambling words.

The other person's tone was confident, yet it made Lin An more uneasy than ever before, as if something was about to happen.

This premonition had also occurred to Yu Qingzhou on the eve of her serious illness.

Lin An didn't know what to say.

Li Xiao did not expect a response from him.

Looking back, perhaps Li Xiao came to say goodbye that time.

Lin An could not confirm.

Because afterwards, during Lin An's lifetime...

Before he entrusted the loquat tree in the yard to someone else and then passed away...

Lin An never saw Li Xiao again, nor did he hear any news about him.