Chapter 44 Chapter 44 I want to break up with you.
"Why do I feel like His Highness is avoiding me today?"
Xie Tingyu spoke almost close to Ji Lian's ear. Her warm breath was like a feather, causing the tips of his ears to tremble slightly.
"Yes." Ji Lian turned her head away, her voice so soft that it was almost inaudible. "I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore."
"Why?" Xie Tingyu stroked Ji Lian's tense chin with his fingertips. "Isn't Your Highness happy with me?"
Happy? How could he not be? Every moment he spent with her, he felt as light as a cloud. But... would this happiness last? Would it always belong to him?
Won't.
A tear slipped down from the corner of his eye without any warning and sank silently into his temples.
"So what if I'm happy?" Ji Lian suddenly pressed hard against Xie Tingyu's shoulder. "You can't give me what I want." His fingertips trembled slightly. "Let me up now. Don't... let your lord see anything he shouldn't."
"Then what does Your Highness want?"
Ji Lian bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes glistening but stubbornly refusing to let go. The words "marry him" rolled over and over in her throat, finally fading into a suppressed gasp. Her chest heaved violently, even the shadow of the peony flower on his lapel trembling.
I can't cry. If I cry now, how will I explain it to Xie Guijun later?
"What's wrong?" Xie Tingyu wiped away another tear from the corner of Ji Lian's eye with her fingertips. "Is Your Highness made of water? So many tears?" She leaned over and kissed away the tear that was about to fall. "Don't cry. How are you going to explain this to your brother later? Will you say I'm bullying you?"
The moment Ji Lian closed his eyes, a warm force gently lifted his chin. He opened his eyes and was met with Xie Tingyu's face, so close to him. Before he could react, his lips were sealed.
Unlike the previous kiss, this one was so gentle that it made one's heart tremble.
Not only was she skilled at kissing, she was also adept at exploiting his weaknesses. Her tongue was soft yet aggressive, teasing the tip of his tongue, repeatedly seducing him, as if leading him into an abyss.
It fell inch by inch and was lost inch by inch.
Ji Lian's breathing became increasingly ragged, his fingertips unconsciously clenching her sleeve. Their lips met, their breath draining out, but he could only tilt his head back and endure, whimpering like a small animal. Reason and desire clashed, his hand finally resting limply on her shoulder, unsure whether to flee or draw her closer.
As their lips and tongues were entangled, the sudden sound of footsteps outside the screen woke the two people who were immersed in it like thunder.
Ji Lian suddenly pushed Xie Tingyu away, sat up, and hurriedly straightened her messy clothes.
Footsteps happened to stop outside the screen, and a palace attendant respectfully asked, "Your Highness, thank you, sir. The kitchen has prepared some Sushan and Honey Floating Suna Flower. I wonder if they suit your taste? If you don't like them, I will go and change them."
… Turns out it wasn’t you, my Lord. I felt like I had escaped death and was suffocating.
Ji Lian forced herself to remain calm: "Nothing... What do you mean... Um..."
The palace servant who had been bowing and waiting for His Highness the Emperor's reply was taken aback. He only felt that the voice inside gradually became low and hard to distinguish, as if revealing suppressed breathing and confusion.
Xie Tingyu's arms snaked around his waist. She brushed aside the long black hair at the back of his neck, pressed her lips against that fair skin, and traced it gently with the tip of her tongue, causing Ji Lian's fingertips to tremble.
"You..." Ji Lian's fingers tightly grasped Xie Tingyu's fingers, and the sweet feeling climbed up his throat like a tide. He almost bit his lower lip before he could barely hold his voice. "I can eat anything... um... down..."
The next moment, Xie Tingyu's teeth rubbed lightly against the side of his neck. Ji Lian shuddered all over, bit the back of his hand hard, and swallowed back his moan.
"What about Lord Xie?" the palace attendant asked again.
The movement behind him finally stopped.
"Me?" Xie Tingyu lazily put his arm around Ji Lian's waist, resting his chin on his back. "Whatever Your Highness eats, I will eat."
The palace attendant was stunned, replied with a low "yes", and quietly retreated.
When the footsteps completely faded, Ji Lian broke free from his shackles, turned around, and stared at Xie Tingyu fiercely. "Do you think it's fun to tease me?" He grabbed Xie Tingyu's collar. "Do you really want to see me in such a state of disgrace? Do you really want everyone to know about it?"
Xie Tingyu leaned back, resting his elbows on the table, and looked at Ji Lian's crimson eyes. "But Your Highness was clearly happy just now."
Ji Lian stood up suddenly, and the rings and bracelets on his waist clashed with each other: "From now on, I will never be alone in a room with you again." He walked away quickly, his back straight.
The hall was filled with the scent of incense and was filled with tranquility.
When Xie Helan returned, he saw Xie Tingyu drinking tea alone and was surprised: "Why are you here alone?"
"Your Highness has suddenly felt unwell, so I'll take my leave now." Xie Tingyu slowly put down his teacup. "Your Highness is deeply sorry and has sent me to pay my respects to my brother."
Xie Helan had no suspicions. After taking his seat, he nattered to her to take care of herself, and ordered the palace attendant to serve the prepared snacks. The two chatted for about half an hour before Xie Tingyu rose to take her leave.
Walking slowly along the vermilion-lacquered corridor, Xie Tingyu was still thinking about Ji Lian's resolute expression when she left. While thinking about it, he suddenly saw Ji Lian's personal maid Jiangzhu standing under the flower stand.
Are you waiting for her?
Seeing Xie Tingyu approaching, Jiangzhu raised her hand and saluted, "Thank you, my Lord, my prince has something to say to you. Please follow me."
The palace was vast, and except for the main road, all the ground was rammed earth, with locust and willow trees planted on both sides. Xie Tingyu followed him through the bamboo and bamboo paths, such secluded paths would be difficult to find if he was not a palace veteran.
We arrived at a secluded garden. Here stood several peculiarly shaped boulders, staggered and stacked to create spaces large enough for a person to hide. Verdant grass grew around the rocks, and several tall elm trees were densely leafed. A few water lilies floated in a shallow pond beside a rockery, their shadows swaying in the water.
A slender figure stood quietly by the pool.
Xie Tingyu couldn't fathom this prince's thoughts. Just now, he'd said he didn't want to be alone, and now he'd invited her to this secluded place. Clearly, they were so passionately kissing each other, yet he'd pretended to be as cold as ice.
It's really hard to fathom the feelings of a handsome man, she thought.
"Your Highness."
Ji Lian turned around, the tears on his face gone. He said coldly, "Xie Tingyu, I asked you to come here because I wanted to make things clear with you."
"Your Highness, please speak."
"First, there has never been any promise between you and me. I have never been attracted to you. From now on, please observe the etiquette and do not overstep the boundaries."
He spoke very slowly, each word was like an ice pick piercing his heart, but Xie Tingyu's face remained expressionless.
"Secondly, I have a very good relationship with your Excellency, and I do not wish to ruin it because of you. From now on, in your Excellency's palace, I hope you will...be careful with your words and actions."
Xie Tingyu was silent as a stone.
"Third..." He suddenly choked, his Adam's apple rolling several times before he could continue. "Although I'm grateful that you saved me from danger that night, you and I are not suitable. I hope you won't bother me again in the future. You... take care of yourself."
It’s out, it’s finally out.
I'd been mulling over these words since last night, and now I finally spoke them. I should be relieved, but why did my chest feel like it was being weighed down by a huge rock? Ji Lian bit her trembling lower lip tightly, her heart inexplicably churning with waves of wrenching pain.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew by, blowing Ji Lian's wide sleeves, making his figure look even more desolate.
"Your Highness," Xie Tingyu said in a terrifyingly calm voice, "Are you really so resolute?"
"Yes." Ji Lian's voice was hoarse and she took a few steps back unconsciously. "I called you here secretly because I wanted to make things clear with you and end it completely. I also didn't want others to see me and you in the same place."
Xie Tingyu's eyes swept over the cold water behind him. Although it was midsummer, the fresh water was still chilling. Seeing his face as pale as paper and his expression of deep irritation, she gently agreed with him, "Okay, then I will obey your order and have no further contact with you."
These words were spoken with the utmost tenderness, yet they made Ji Lian feel as if he had fallen into an icy cave. He swayed, nearly losing his balance. She had clearly agreed to let go, so why did every word sound like a blunt knife cutting flesh?
It hurts, it hurts so much.
Ji Lian felt that even breathing was difficult. He took another half step back, and his heels touched the slippery moss at the edge of the pool.
Is it... that this is the end between them?
"Your Highness." Xie Tingyu stood still. "There's water behind us. If you step back any further, you'll fall in. Come forward..." She slowly raised her hand. "I swear I won't bother you again."
Seeing Ji Lian still standing there motionless, Xie Tingyu thought he was suspicious of his promise, so he turned around and said, "I'll take my leave now."
"Xie Tingyu!"
Before she'd taken six or seven steps, a tearful cry made her turn. Ji Lian stumbled toward her, tears streaming down her face. He clutched her sleeve tightly and, with a fierce vengeance, dragged her into the crevice of the rockery.
The jagged rocks blocked out the sunlight, and in the cramped space, only the mingling of their breaths remained. Ji Lian's tears fell on the back of Xie Tingyu's hand, burning it incredibly.
He sobbed, his words coming out in broken pieces, "You hurt me like this... You hurt me like this..." His voice was heartbreaking, "How could you get away with it so easily... Are you still human? Did you ever have even a little bit of love for me... for me?"
"Didn't Your Highness want to sever our ties?" Xie Tingyu pulled a handkerchief from his bosom and wiped away Ji Lian's tears. "Now that I've complied with Your Highness's wishes, why are you so angry again?"
“I…I…” Ji Lian’s throat felt like it was clogged with cotton wool, and she couldn’t utter a single word. “I…I…”
I don't want to break up with you!
Ji Lian's hand gripping her sleeve was throbbing with veins, but his rationality was tearing at him. The cry from the bottom of his heart was deafening, almost bursting through his chest: I don't want to break up with you! I really don't want to break up with you! But... we are not the right match for each other. You will get promoted, you will slowly move up, how can we have a good relationship! But I really... don't want to break up with you.
Xie Tingyu watched Ji Lian's hands drop weakly, and tears filled her beautiful fox eyes, rolling down like pearls from a broken string.
This was the first time she saw Ji Lian cry so heartbreakingly.
Ji Lian had cried in front of her many times, sometimes in anger, sometimes in rage, always with a hint of pride. But now, it was as if all his pride had been stripped away from him, his sobs echoing off the rockery walls, his shoulders shaking from crying.
So helpless, so painful.
“Ooo ...
Ji Lian couldn't stop crying. He knew crying looked ugly, but he couldn't help it. He really couldn't. He covered his face with his hands, tears streaming from between his fingers.
He didn't want Xie Tingyu to see him crying in such a miserable state.
Since we are breaking up, let's keep the last bit of dignity and let him leave with a beautiful face.
Just as he stumbled to escape, a hand firmly grasped his wrist and pulled him back into that familiar embrace. The refreshing scent of agarwood instantly enveloped him, mingling with the traces of lingering tears, spreading a damp warmth between them.
With a twirl, Ji Lian's back rested against the jagged rock wall. Blurred by tears, she saw Xie Tingyu approaching.
The shadows of the two people overlapped and merged on the stone wall.
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The author has something to say: Xie Tingyu: Why is it that the person who breaks up usually cries the most?
I still updated it at midnight. Actually, I wanted to stabilize the update time at 10:00-11:00 pm.
What if I don't update tomorrow? If I don't update tomorrow, will you guys bombard me?
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