Liu Zhenqing froze up for a long moment before uttering: “…..Ah?”

What was this girl asking him?

Why would she pose such an odd question?

The girl said very seriously: “I’ve noticed that the two of you are very close, and I want to know what the young master thinks of Huo Fenglie. I…..”

“Do you like Huo Fenglie?” Liu Zhenqing asked directly.

The girl’s face immediately reddened, but she nodded and said: “Yes.”

She liked Huo Fenglie. She was very perceptive, so she had noticed long ago that Huo Fenglie liked Liu Zhenqing. She understood Huo Fenglie’s character, so she had never considered fighting for him, since she knew it would be impossible to succeed.

She was old enough to be engaged, and her older sister was a concubine in the East Palace and could find a good marriage for her. She thought that if Liu Zhenqing never liked Huo Fenglie in this life, she would be willing to wait. Even if she couldn’t win Huo Fenglie’s heart, she was still willing to marry him. After all, how many couples among the nobility were actually in love?

But if Liu Zhenqing accepted Huo Fenglie’s affections, she would keep her distance even if it broke her heart. So she didn’t need to express her feelings to Huo Fenglie – she just needed to know what Liu Zhenqing thought.

Liu Zhenqing thought for a long time before saying: “You’ve misunderstood. Fenglie and I are close, but…..”

The girl was clever and naturally knew what Liu Zhenqing was going to say, so she cut in: “The young master doesn’t need to explain himself to me. Whether or not you do, I believe in my judgment, so please give me an answer.”

Were all of the Jian family girls so angry when they spoke? Jian Shuang didn’t seem to like him very much either.

Liu Zhenqing stared at the girl for a moment, but she was too impatient to wait any longer: “The young master is older than us, and my sister says you’re popular with women. Is this such a difficult question to answer?”

Huo Fenglie’s eyes darkened behind the tree, and he held his breath.

In the next moment, Liu Zhenqing said without hesitation: “No. He’s my didi.”

Huo Fenglie was stunned, and a surge of energy rushed to his forehead.

The girl was a little surprised at Liu Zhenqing’s wholehearted answer: “Really?”

Liu Zhenqing smiled faintly: “What need have I to deceive you? I watched him grow up, and he’s closer to me than my own brother. Plus, I like girls, ah.”

How should he put it? Being asked this sort of question felt really strange. No one would fall in love with their relative.

Huo Fenglie had clung to him since childhood because his parents died when he was young. The one who took charge of him was his big brother, but Huo Feihan wasn’t very good at taking care of others, much less Li Xingruo. So among their trio, it was Liu Zhenqing who took care of Huo Fenglie. He was the one who’d saved Huo Fenglie’s life, and he was the one who gave him the nickname Er-gou. Everyone told Huo Fenglie that he should be grateful for Liu Zhenqing.

It was no exaggeration to say that the child had been brought up by someone who was a father, mother, and brother to him.

Such a close relationship may indeed seem too close from the perspective of outsiders, but it was very normal to the three of them.

Huo Feihan, Li Xingruo, and even the Huo family steward and the old duke didn’t feel that there was anything wrong.

How could it have become romantic love in the eyes of others?

Liu Zhenqing thought narcissistically that it was probably because he was so handsome. So handsome that he was seen as a love rival.

He suppressed the strange feelings, as if distancing himself from the recent inexplicable illusions and the dream that had utterly shocked him. With a clearer mind, he said to the girl: “If you like him, pursue him boldly so that you don’t have regrets. But he does have someone in his heart, so if you feel that……the degree of your sadness will exceed how much you like him, then give up and look for someone else.”

Liu Zhenqing gave her advice like an older brother taking care of a little sister. She was rather moved at first, but in an instant, her expression changed. She stared behind Liu Zhenqing in shock, and her cheeks first turned pale, then blushed with shame.

Liu Zhenqing came to a sudden realization and looked back to discover a tall figure standing under a peach tree.

This should be a beautiful scene of peach trees beneath the moon, but that person’s expressionless face made it feel somewhat somber.

Thinking of their conversation being overheard, Liu Zhenqing should have made some jokes, but he inexplicably looked away in guilt after meeting Huo Fenglie’s dark eyes. His mind that had been clear and firm seemed to have been blown away by a strong wind, and he was suddenly flustered.

The girl spoke first in the end: “Young Master Huo…..”

When Liu Zhenqing heard the rising tone of her voice, he felt that he should make himself scarce. The girl must want an opportunity to confess her feelings.

But before she could speak, Huo Fenglie said coldly: “I apologize, Jian-guniang. Even if I can never marry him, I won’t choose anyone else. He is the only one for me in this life.”

Huo Fenglie’s abrupt words astonished Liu Zhenqing, and he looked at him in disbelief.

The little brat….was suddenly saying such sweet words?

The color instantly faded from the girl’s face. Tears gleamed in her eyes, but they didn’t fall. After a moment of silence, she smiled faintly and said: “I actually already sensed that, but I couldn’t give up without trying. You will never back down once you’ve made up your mind. Thank you for giving me your answer.”

She wouldn’t put up a fuss over who Huo Fenglie liked. It was enough to know that he wouldn’t accept anyone else.

The girl bowed to Liu Zhenqing before taking her leave.

This peach blossom grove was not very quiet, and there were others not far away, but the surroundings were so silent to Liu Zhenqing that he could even hear Huo Fenglie’s increasingly heavy breathing.

Liu Zhenqing momentarily didn’t know what to say as he stared at Huo Fenglie, but Huo Fenglie suddenly turned with a dark expression and paced quickly toward Liu Zhenqing.

His speed was so fast and his steps so heavy that gusts of night wind kicked up wherever he passed, picking up the peach blossom petals on the ground.

The aura emanating from Huo Fenglie grew increasingly more intimidating as he approached. It actually made Liu Zhenqing uneasy, and he instinctively wanted to leave. But what rational reason did he have?

So when Huo Fenglie arrived and looked down at him, Liu Zhenqing feigned calmness and raised his eyebrows: “Feng…..Er-gou, what are you doing!”

But Huo Fenglie stepped forward until they were almost plastered together. The closeness was uncomfortable, and Liu Zhenqing could only retreat. But with each step he took back, Huo Fenglie took another step forward, causing Liu Zhenqing to repeatedly shrink back until his back met the trunk of a peach tree.

With this collision, numerous blossoms fell onto the black hair over Liu Zhenqing’s shoulders, adding a flowery look to his appearance. Even the anger forced out of him seemed charming and attractive.

Huo Fenglie placed a palm to the side of Liu Zhenqing’s face. Peach blossoms also fell onto him, but they didn’t diminish the determination and pain in his eyes in the slightest.

“Will Qing-ge never like me?” Huo Fenglie suddenly said in a low voice, staring at Liu Zhenqing with burning eyes.

For the first time, Liu Zhenqing felt that Huo Fenglie’s voice had changed. It had become deep and hoarse, with a masculine charm. But Liu Zhenqing’s expression shifted when he heard this sentence.

“What did you say!” Liu Zhenqing said almost angrily.

In fact, Huo Fenglie already knew the answer to his question…..he had long expected it. But even though he knew, he still felt something in himself break when he heard the answer.

Why was he able to answer without hesitation? Did he really never have any doubts in his heart?

So no matter how old he got, his place in Qing-ge’s heart would never change, and he would always be his didi? Even though the other party had revealed that he liked Qing-ge, he was still able to answer like this.

This seemed to be telling him that no matter what he did, nothing would work.

He had been holding himself back and waiting, hoping not to scare Qing-ge or distress him, and slowing changing their relationship so that Qing-ge could gradually realize the difference in his heart. He always thought that he was striving to pursue Qing-ge, but it seemed he was wrong.

Years of pent-up emotions seemed to collapse in an instant.

Huo Fenglie looked at Liu Zhenqing fiercely, but his eyes held untold grievances.

“Will my love for Qing-ge always be one-sided?”

Liu Zhenqing was shocked again by Huo Fenglie’s words – truly shocked this time. He wasn’t stupid enough to ask if he was referring to familial love. Love between friends? Love between family? He knew that Huo Fenglie was talking about that kind of love, but how could it be possible?!!!!

“Huo Fenglie! Are you joking?! Do you know what you’re saying?” Liu Zhenqing was as anxious as if he was watching his own child make a huge mistake. “You’re mistaken and confused. Has being too close to me made you crazy? Do you know what romantic love is?”

This was the first time Liu Zhenqing had spoken to him in such a harsh tone. Huo Fenglie was momentarily stunned, and then his expression filled with sadness.

Liu Zhenqing’s heart shook, and he immediately wanted to take back his words, but…..he wasn’t wrong. Huo Fenglie liked him? It was outrageous! 

Huo Fenglie trembled as he said: “You don’t believe me?”

Liu Zhenqing found it ridiculous, and pushed him away: “Go back and wake up!”

But not only did he fail to push him away, his wrist was tightly grabbed and pinned to the tree.

This forcefulness reminded Liu Zhenqing of something. His expression changed slightly, and he suddenly glared up at Huo Fenglie: “Huo Fenglie, you’re rebelling, ah!”

But at this moment, Huo Fenglie’s expression made his heart tremble, and a strange feeling of oppression enveloped his entire being.

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it to you!”

Liu Zhenqing was about to speak when his entire field of vision was filled with Huo Fenglie’s face. There was an almost painful sensation against his lips as he was immediately attacked before he could even shut his mouth.

Liu Zhenqing was dumbfounded, incredulous, shocked, and a feeling identical to that dream washed over him. By the time he realized what was happening, the window paper of shame had already been pierced. He was immediately embarrassed into anger, and struggled wildly.

It turned out that the so-called sweetheart was him, and that the girl’s words were true – Er-gou had been harboring such wicked thoughts toward him. So that dream during his nap was real?! He was simply…..a lawless bastard!

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(Alt Universe) Extra 17 << Table of Contents >> (Alt Universe) Extra 19