“You… What are you talking about?” A dull thunder struck his heart and the hand that was comforting Bai Wu paused with the slightest motion possible.

“I know,” Bai Wu did not notice Xu Lan’s tensing jaws and continue talking obliviously, “I know that she likes me. I thought about it too. It doesn’t matter who I marry if it means that I’m able to stay beside Papa.”

“… You… you want to marry Sheng Ya?” Xu Lan’s expression was becoming worse. He was confused if it was the feeling of unwillingness for Bai Wu to be ruined by a pig, or was it because he was still thinking about that day when he asked him to be his boyfriend in the office.

“It would be great if Papa likes Sheng Ya too. Sheng Ya is a kind and bright girl, and she likes me. It’s torture if the person you like doesn’t reciprocate your feelings. That’s why if Papa likes her, she’ll be my partner,” Bai Wu said with self-mockery.

“So, you like… forget it. Let’s head back first. We don’t even know if we could get out of here alive,” Xu Lan changed the subject abruptly and stood up to pat his bottom before walking towards the mayor’s house.

Bai Wu’s answer was at the tip of his tongue, but Xu Lan avoided it like a coward. It was impossible for Bai Wu to stay beside him forever. He was just weaving an old man’s dream. There will come a time where one had to wake up from it.

The slanting rays of the sun shone through the ancient tree and the scattered beams reflected on the clean flagstone path like twinkling stars. Both of them walked in tandem, the latter was chasing the former, causing friction against the bright flagstone. Xu Lan was going to run away again.

“Papa!” Bai Wu cried out anxiously after failing to catch up with Xu Lan, “What are you afraid of?”

“Me? What am I afraid of? What is there to be afraid of?” The hoarse, trembling voice betrayed the owner.

Bai Wu strode forward and grabbed Xu Lan’s trembling hand. He immediately withdrew his hand from Bai Wu as if it was jabbed by a needle.

“You’re trembling! Are you afraid of me marrying Sheng Ya?” bai Wu asked sincerely while he held Xu Lan’s hand to observe closely.

“No! I… It’s because of Xiu He!” Xu Lan denied hastily. His conscience was forcing him to deny it.

“Is it? So, does Papa like Sheng Ya?” Bai Wu’s crimson red lips looked so seductive when it moves, but his words were pinching Xu Lan’s heart and suffocating him.

“Yes… Yes,” Xu Lan answered softly and kept his head low. He did not dare to look at Bai Wu.

“Ha ha, Is it?” Bai Wu put on a false smile and asked while he made a sudden turn and dragged Xu Lan into a narrow alley.

“…”

“Before this, I was worried that Papa might dislike Sheng Ya, that’s why I was hesitant to tell you about this. I never thought that…”

Bai Wu lifted Xu Lan’s chin, forcing him to lift up and look at him. His reddened eyes were covered with a layer of icy frost. The corner of his mouth had a slanted hook as if it was filled with mockery. The teardrop in the corner of his eyes also seemed to mock Xu Lan’s naivety and oblivion. The sun shone directly onto Xu Lan’s face, it was so bright that he could not open his eyes.

“I didn’t expect Papa to be the one to ask about Sheng Ya. I don’t want to lie to Papa. Ha ha, this is also great, I can reply her then,” Bai Wu pretended to answer lightly with gritted teeth.

The sunlight was hurting Xu Lan’s eyes. His chest tightened when Bai Wu released him and left. He stared at him blankly like a wooden puppet. He walked further and further into the scattered trees along the boulevard until his receding figure disappeared completely. It felt like he had never existed. In the near future, he would be walking out of his life just like that.

Xu Lan hugged his knees and curled up on the floor. His stomach started to convulse and his whole body trembled in the same way he reacted when he received insults and curses.