Chapter 64: Honesty

Fu Tian hesitated for several days before, one afternoon, finally pulling Chu Xiangtian into the Shu Fang to hide away.

His brows were tightly furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line, and his dark, glossy eyes seemed to harbor countless worries.

“What do you want to say? Why so secretive?” Chu Xiangtian reached out to smooth the crease between Fu Tian’s brows, clearly displeased by this heavyhearted expression.

His Little Marquis should always be smiling.

But Fu Tian couldn’t relax. He pursed his lips and shot Chu Xiangtian a serious glance. “Sit still. Don’t move.”

Obediently sitting down, Chu Xiangtian watched Fu Tian pacing anxiously. His brow furrowed slightly.

The restless and uneasy Fu Huo didn’t notice Chu Xiangtian’s expression.

After pacing for a long while, Fu Tian finally took a deep breath and quietly asked, “Do you believe in Ghosts and Gods?”

He didn’t sit down, standing with his back to Chu Xiangtian, his expression hidden, only his slender, straight back visible.

Yet Chu Xiangtian sensed this was a very important question.

Normally, he would have answered without hesitation—he didn’t believe in Ghosts and Gods. Having fought on the battlefield, seen countless corpses and seas of blood, he was the least superstitious person.

But Fu Tian was asking if he believed.

Chu Xiangtian felt like Fu Tian was a cautious snail slowly extending its antennae to probe the outside world. If he said the wrong thing, the timid snail might retreat into its shell.

So, against his own feelings, he replied, “Ghosts and Gods… are intangible and elusive…”

Fu Tian’s spine stiffened, bitterness flickering across his lips. His glossy, dark eyes dimmed.

Chu Xiangtian finished his sentence and saw Fu Tian suddenly turn his head. His trembling lips spoke silently… But better to believe they exist than not.

“I believe.”

Chu Xiangtian’s heart tightened. He stepped forward, pulling Fu Tian close and looking deeply into his eyes. “No matter what you say, I believe you.”

Fu Tian opened and closed his mouth silently several times. Chu Xiangtian heard him whisper in a low voice, “Actually… I died once.”

Looking up slowly at Chu Xiangtian, Fu Tian’s voice was hoarse, “And then I came back to life.”

He had never told anyone this before. Now that he had, his heart was overwhelmed by panic. He feared being misunderstood, feared being seen as a madman or a monster.

Chu Xiangtian sighed softly and pressed Fu Tian against his chest. His mind was a mess, but he quickly calmed down—first, he had to soothe him.

“So, how did you die in your past life?”

Buried in Chu Xiangtian’s embrace, Fu Tian felt safe with the man’s broad chest and presence. Taking a deep breath, he hoarsely recounted the story of his previous life.

It was somewhat laughable—he didn’t really know how he died. There was a sudden loud noise outside, and when he opened his eyes again, he had returned to when he was sixteen.

But Fu Tian believed that was when he died.

The past life wasn’t a happy memory. Fu Tian spoke briefly, then quickly fell silent.

Chu Xiangtian was silent too, gently patting Fu Tian’s back without saying a word.

After a long pause, he tentatively asked, “In that past life… was I not there?”

If he had been there, he would never have allowed the Little Marquis to be so lonely and helpless.

The man in his arms muttered, “I never saw you.”

“No seeing means no recognition, so there was no careful protection like now.”

Chu Xiangtian was silent a while longer, then kissed the top of his head. “I’m sorry…”

Fu Tian shook his head. They didn’t know each other back then, never met, so Chu Xiangtian had nothing to apologize for.

Yet Chu Xiangtian still felt as if his heart was being squeezed, aching deeply. His Little Marquis was so delicate and prone to tears—he couldn’t imagine how those days had been endured.

Pressing gentle kisses on Fu Tian’s forehead and face, Chu Xiangtian spoke warmly, “The past is past. From now on, you have me.”

Fu Tian softly responded, pressing his whole face against Chu Xiangtian’s chest, quietly hiding his face for a while.

Then, as if drawing on newfound courage, he pulled away from Chu Xiangtian’s embrace and sat upright, putting on a serious face. “I still have serious matters to discuss with you.”

“Alright, I’m listening.” Though he said this, Chu Xiangtian held tightly onto the Little Marquis’s hand resting on his knee.

Fu Tian awkwardly tried to pull his hand back but was firmly held, so he ignored it and solemnly recounted all the disasters and calamities of his past life in detail.

Chu Xiangtian’s playful expression faded, his brows knitting into a deep crease.

After Fu Tian finished, he took a sip of water and sheepishly admitted, “I’ve never left Sifang Town, so that’s all I know about the outside world.”

Seeing his lowered eyes, Chu Xiangtian suddenly realized something. Gently placing his palm on Fu Tian’s face, he opened his mouth to say something, then stopped.

Fu Tian instinctively rubbed against his palm, his expression soft and trusting.

This involuntary display of dependence and trust made Chu Xiangtian’s heart ache with tenderness. He had originally thought the Little Marquis confided in him because he didn’t want to keep secrets.

But only after hearing about the disasters of the past life did he realize the truth—the Little Marquis risked laying all his cards on the table because he was the Third Prince of Chu, and the current emperor was his elder brother.

So the Little Marquis wanted to help him.

There was nothing more heartbreaking for Chu Xiangtian than that.

Pressing his forehead against Fu Tian’s, Chu Xiangtian sighed, both tender and helpless, “Don’t be so foolish next time.”

“This matter mustn’t be told to anyone else. As for those disasters, I’ll figure out how to handle them. You don’t have to get involved.”

He couldn’t help but sigh again, “Why are you so reckless? Aren’t you afraid I’d find out and get you in trouble?”

Fu Tian shook his head. His long eyelashes nearly brushed Chu Xiangtian’s cheek. “At first, I was afraid you’d think I was a monster…”

“But…” he whispered, “I believe you.” I believe that even if you don’t believe me, you won’t hurt or reject me.

“You’re just so endearing…” Chu Xiangtian closed his eyes and scooped him up into his lap. His heart surged with emotion.

Fu Tian looked up at him like a little lamb who’d stumbled into the mouth of a big bad wolf.

Chu Xiangtian kissed him, gently nibbling and teasing his lips, then skillfully prying open his tender, shy teeth, unleashing a stormy, overwhelming kiss.

Including the last time, this was only Fu Tian’s second kiss. He was like a fish out of water, clinging helplessly to Chu Xiangtian’s shirt, passively responding.

When the kiss ended, Fu Tian’s neck flushed red. His dark, shining eyes looked like water-soaked jewels—so beautiful they were impossible to look away from.

Chu Xiangtian laughed softly and kissed the corners of his eyes, pressing him closer. “Still don’t think I won’t hurt you?”

Fu Tian jumped as if burned, but Chu Xiangtian’s grip was too strong to escape. He curled like a little shrimp, cautiously avoiding the source of heat.

“You… you…” He wanted to ask Chu Xiangtian to let go but couldn’t find the words.

“Don’t be so foolish next time,” Chu Xiangtian smiled as he released him, though his eyes remained serious. “Think more about yourself.”

Fu Tian didn’t know where to put his hands or feet. He jumped down from Chu Xiangtian’s lap like escaping, then pushed open the Shu Fang door and ran out.

After a few steps, he seemed to remember something. Turning back, blushing, he closed the door behind him.

Chu Xiangtian looked down and sighed softly. “Looks like you still have a lot bottled up…”

The Shu Fang door remained tightly closed. Fu Huo sat on the stone bench beneath the tree, unable to hear anything inside, growing restless as he waited.

He had expected to wait a long time, but soon the door was pushed open.

Seeing him waiting outside, Chu Xiangtian was a little surprised, but before he could speak, the Little Marquis’s eyes widened in shock, blurting out, “That fast?”

Chu Xiangtian’s face twitched. Striding forward, he pinched the soft flesh of Fu Tian’s cheek and shook it with a dangerous look. “What do you think I was doing in there??”

Fu Tian’s eyes flickered, unable to meet his gaze. “N-nothing…”

Chu Xiangtian was nearly amused to death. Pressing close to his ear, lowering his voice, he murmured, “You thought I was in there… hmm?”

His fingers gently rubbed the back of Fu Tian’s neck as he said softly, “I only want you. Without you… I can’t come out…”

The old rogue even licked near the ear he was speaking into.

A shiver of delicious numbness shot up Fu Tian’s spine.

His scalp tingled, his throat dry, swallowing several times before regaining his voice. Awkwardly changing the subject, he said, “Y-you… I forgot to give you something…”

Chu Xiangtian chuckled and took a step back, but his gaze still roamed over Fu Huo like a hungry beast.