As soon as Mi Lu heard HuLü Yan’s choice of words, specifically his use of the term “say,” he felt something was off.

He cast a complex look at HuLü Yan and asked softly, “How do you plan on saying it?”

HuLü Yan, picking up on his unease, touched his face, pinched his nose, and replied with a grin, “Relax, I’ll use words.”

“…” Mi Lu, feeling a bit exposed, awkwardly moved to touch his own nose, only to realize his hand was on HuLü Yan’s.

Just as Mi Lu was about to pull his hand back, HuLü Yan grabbed it.

In a manner he was completely accustomed to, HuLü Yan brought Mi Lu’s hand to his lips and kissed it gently before making a promise, “At least with your parents, I’ll use words.”

As for everyone else—

If he could settle things with his hands, why waste his breath?

Hearing this, Mi Lu felt a pang of sympathy for everyone else.

Though HuLü Yan’s promise didn’t sound entirely convincing, it gave Mi Lu a chance to play turtle and hide away from this thoroughly embarrassing situation. HuLü Yan’s words somehow allowed him to shove the mess of thoughts out of his mind quickly.

After being interrupted like that, neither of them felt like continuing whatever they’d been doing.

Mi Lu lay on HuLü Yan, resting for a while without much spirit. He noticed HuLü Yan’s hand initially stroking his back absentmindedly, but the motion gradually stopped.

Looking up, Mi Lu saw HuLü Yan’s brows slightly furrowed, his long lashes shadowing his dark eyes, and his breathing steady and long.

Unexpectedly, HuLü Yan had fallen asleep without Mi Lu even noticing.

And he looked to be sleeping quite deeply.

Just as Mi Lu was about to get up, HuLü Yan seemed to sense his movement.

HuLü Yan’s eyes snapped open, and he reflexively held Mi Lu tighter. “Where are you going?”

Startled by his almost extreme reaction, Mi Lu explained in a hurry, “I was just getting up.”

HuLü Yan’s gaze held a trace of wariness as he pressed, “To where?”

“Nowhere,” Mi Lu continued to explain, “I’m just staying right here with you.”

“Then why are you trying to get up?”

It was then that Mi Lu finally caught HuLü Yan’s meaning, and he couldn’t help but laugh. He patted HuLü Yan’s chest soothingly, “You fell asleep, so I thought you might be uncomfortable. I was just going to get up and let you sleep well.”

HuLü Yan’s eyes went from drowsy to sharp in an instant, observing Mi Lu closely.

Mi Lu stated sincerely, “Really.”

But HuLü Yan’s dark brows stayed furrowed, not relaxing one bit.

They stared each other down for what felt like ages until HuLü Yan finally saw the sincerity in Mi Lu’s expression and let out a noticeably relieved sigh.

“Don’t go anywhere. Stay right here.” HuLü Yan buried his face into Mi Lu’s neck, breathing in deeply.

For a moment, that faint scent of Mi Lu, something between flowers and fresh grass, filled HuLü Yan’s senses. It was light and pleasant.

HuLü Yan suddenly felt a sense of safety he’d never known before.

As long as Mi Lu was by his side, everything felt right.

Even if they weren’t lying here in this cozy bed. Even if they were still wandering the world without a permanent home. As long as Mi Lu was there, HuLü Yan would feel content.

Since he was a child, since four or five, a hole had been torn in his heart.

Only Mi Lu could fill that void completely.

Only Mi Lu…

Unable to move in HuLü Yan’s embrace, Mi Lu lay there quietly. Then, after a while, he turned his head to find HuLü Yan had fallen asleep again.

This time, Mi Lu dared not move. Like a quail, he lay obediently on HuLü Yan, so much so that his body started to go numb. He carefully shifted to a more comfortable position, moving very slowly.

He must’ve slept a lot before because he had no sleepiness in him now. His eyes wandered around idly.

He hadn’t even noticed it before, but HuLü Yan had brought him back to the room he used to stay in at the Mi family’s house.

After several years, the room’s layout was exactly as he remembered it, down to the pattern on the teacup on the table.

No wonder his parents had barged in so suddenly. Due to his poor health, he’d spent years bedridden, with his parents often visiting to care for him whenever they had time.

Over the years, Mi He Feng and Gu Qiu had developed the habit of coming and going as they pleased, and even his maids, Liu Li and Fei Cui, had grown lax about announcing visitors.

After all these years, his parents hadn’t changed a bit.

Mi Lu sighed helplessly.

He thought he didn’t have much affection for his storybook parents. But seeing these familiar things brought a strange warmth to his heart.

A strange, unfamiliar sensation gripped his heart.

It felt both wonderful and foreign.

Thankfully, he didn’t mind it.

Mi Lu’s gaze wandered around the room, eventually settling on HuLü Yan’s face.

Looking up at HuLü Yan, his cheek pressed against HuLü Yan’s chest.

With each steady breath HuLü Yan took, his chest rose and fell, and Mi Lu’s head moved slightly with it.

In that moment, he felt as if they were breathing in unison.

Even through clothes, HuLü Yan’s warmth reached his face and hands so clearly.

Out of sheer boredom, Mi Lu began trailing his fingers over HuLü Yan’s body.

He was checking if there were any other injuries on HuLü Yan.

Luckily, he didn’t find anything else.

Despite Mi Lu’s movements, HuLü Yan showed no signs of waking. Once, Mi Lu accidentally pressed a bit harder, causing HuLü Yan’s eyelashes to flutter before he slowly opened his eyes.

Mi Lu froze like a child caught in the act, quickly laying his head back on HuLü Yan’s chest, his eyes wide and looking up at him pitifully.

HuLü Yan leaned down and kissed Mi Lu on the lips.

Before long, HuLü Yan closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

Watching the hollowed cheeks and dark circles under HuLü Yan’s eyes, Mi Lu realized how absurd he’d been not long ago.

He’d let his emotions take control, blindly wanting something with HuLü Yan immediately, afraid that once the impulse faded, he’d hide back in his shell like a turtle.

Yet he hadn’t once considered HuLü Yan’s state.

And HuLü Yan hadn’t pushed him away but had tried his best to go along with him.

Mi Lu’s mind went blank.

He often fell into this habit, immersing himself in his own world, heedless of those around him.

Only when his emotions reached a peak and could climb no higher would he slowly return to his senses, as if cooling down.

He never thought there was anything wrong with it because he knew others like him. Once, he had a friend in the hospital, even worse off, to the point of hurting others.

But Mi Lu would never hurt others.

Whether he was alive or dead, in pain or joy, it was of no concern to anyone else.

Not to his friends, classmates, or even his own parents.

He thought he’d stay like that forever, so long as he didn’t hurt HuLü Yan.

Raising his hand, Mi Lu placed a fingertip gently on HuLü Yan’s lips.

Sorry for hurting you.

Mi Lu said in his heart.

He would try to change.

For HuLü Yan and for himself.

HuLü Yan slept for a long time.

Mi Lu grew so bored he even drifted off for a bit, but HuLü Yan still hadn’t woken up.

Mi Lu waved his hand in front of HuLü Yan’s face, and seeing no reaction, he tried to wiggle free from his grip.

As soon as he moved, HuLü Yan’s eyes flew open.

Mi Lu: “…”

HuLü Yan, seeing Mi Lu’s face, tightened his grip around his waist and asked unhappily, “Where are you going again?”

“I’m thirsty; I want some water.” Mi Lu sounded a little wronged, “Besides, I’ve been lying on you all day. My arms and legs are going numb. I just wanted to get up and stretch.”

HuLü Yan replied, “I’ll go with you.”

As HuLü Yan made to get up, Mi Lu quickly pressed him back down. “You keep sleeping; you haven’t had a good rest yet.”

HuLü Yan looked reluctant but still tried to get up.

Mi Lu could only promise, “I’ll be right by the bed, not going anywhere. If I go out, I’ll tell you.”

He leaned forward and kissed HuLü Yan twice on the lips.

HuLü Yan was indeed tired.

In the weeks Mi Lu had been unconscious, he’d not only fed him blood daily but stayed by his side without a break, hardly sleeping.

Yet the thought of Mi Lu not being beside him left him restless.

If he could, he’d shrink Mi Lu down and tuck him in his sleeve, so he’d never leave his sight.

But his overwhelming worry kept him from sleeping, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Mi Lu. “I’ll come with you.”

“I told you I’m just by the bed. You look terrible and need to rest.” Mi Lu kissed his lips twice more, then blinked, “Be good.”

HuLü Yan didn’t respond, but his expression softened visibly.

Seeing this, Mi Lu took the chance and planted a loud kiss on his lips.

Dazed from the kiss, HuLü Yan surprisingly calmed down.

Mi Lu got up from the bed, adjusted his clothes, checked HuLü Yan’s nose, confirmed the bleeding had stopped, then lifted his sleeve to examine the scars on his arm.

Up close, they looked even worse.

Mi Lu felt around himself but couldn’t find his Qiankun Bag. Not seeing it in the room either, he quietly headed outside.

The hallway was empty, with no sign of Liu Li or Fei Cui.

Mi Lu hesitated a bit, just about to go further, when a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

He jerked back, startled, and turned to see Gu Qiu, who had been waiting behind a screen, her expression somber as she pulled him outside.

Once behind a column, Gu Qiu finally let go.

Mi Lu rubbed his sore wrist, avoiding her gaze.

Gu Qiu glared at him, but she stayed silent, clearly holding something back.

After a long, tense silence, Mi Lu bit his lip and muttered weakly, “Mother.”

“Hah! So you remember you have a mother?” Gu Qiu scoffed. “You followed HuLü Yan for years without a single word back home. I thought you’d forgotten all about your father and me.”

Mi Lu lowered his head, nearly burying it in his collar, and took her scolding without a word.

So much had happened over the years, and with grievances pent up, Gu Qiu let it all out, scolding and complaining.

At some point, her eyes reddened, and tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

Mi Lu, alarmed, quickly used his sleeve to wipe her tears. Seeing her tear-streaked face, he felt a pang of guilt.

“Mother, I’m sorry; it’s all my fault.” Mi Lu apologized, wiping her tears as he went. “You can scold or hit me, I deserve it. Just don’t cry; it’s bad for your health.”

With a slap, Gu Qiu swatted his hand away, wiped her face with the back of her hand, and glared at him with tear-filled eyes, “It’s about time you realized your fault.”

Then, with a sudden shift, she pointed at him and scolded, “Not only did you find a partner, but of all people, it’s HuLü Yan. And on top of that, you’re behaving like an absolute beast!”

Mi Lu froze, “…What?”

“Didn’t you see what a state HuLü Yan is in after saving you? You came out of it unscathed, but he’s practically drained!” Gu Qiu’s voice rose, and she slapped his shoulder.

She hit hard, causing his body to slump slightly, his shoulder aching.

“And what do you do? As soon as you wake up, you…you…” Gu Qiu struggled to continue, her expression impossible to describe.

In the end, she spat out, “You really are a beast.”

Mi Lu: “…What?!”