Chapter 122
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Han Jiao couldn’t see any change in Xie Duo’s expression, but his eyes went from being angry to curious as he stared silently.
“What are you looking at?” Han Jiao smiled. “So stern, still angry?”
Xie Duo spoke quietly, “That night, do you not remember?”
Han Jiao shrugged. “I just forget everything that happens in the hours after getting drunk. My family says I even cry, it’s quite embarrassing. I haven’t told anyone outside, but my family knows about this quirk of mine.”
Xie Duo furrowed his brow. “That night, there wasn’t even a trace of alcohol on you.”
Han Jiao nodded in confusion. “I know, I only had one drink. You shouldn’t be able to smell alcohol, but my tolerance is terrible.”
“Actually, it was just half a glass,” Xie Duo squinted his eyes, leaning in to question him, “Only half a glass, Han Jiao, how can I believe you got that drunk?”
Han Jiao paused. “Do you think I’d lie about this? I genuinely can’t remember.”
Xie Duo stared at him. “So, are you saying that you initiated intimacy that night because you were interested in me?”
Han Jiao blushed, trying to evade the question, “Initiated intimacy? Your Highness isn’t making things up just because I can’t remember that night, are you? At most, I might have said I liked you. There’s no way I’d initiate…”
Xie Duo’s expression suddenly became bewildered.
There was no trace of pretense on Han Jiao’s face.
When Han Jiao saw the big boss remain silent, he decided to pass the blame, “At most, I said I liked you! You must have misunderstood. That should count as you taking the initiative!”
Xie Duo lowered his eyes and said in a deep voice, “I’m even afraid of scaring you away by speaking loudly. Do you think I’d dare to have such intentions towards you?”
Han Jiao: “……”
That makes sense, so did he actually take the initiative to “be intimate” with the big boss?
Damn, this level of embarrassment was unbearable!
He also wanted to, when revealing their relationship in the future, convey that he was genuinely moved by Xie Duo’s affection and reluctantly gave in, so that in this way…
“Could it be that Your Highness misunderstood my intentions?” Han Jiao tenaciously clung to his image as a restrained scholar. “What did I say to you that night?”
Xie Duo raised his eyes and looked at him. “You cried, asking me not to leave you.”
Han Jiao: “……”
He shouldn’t have asked!
The level of embarrassment just kept exploding!
“I wanted to light some candles, and you wouldn’t let me move an inch away.” Xie Duo’s expression suddenly turned gentle, as if he had returned to the passionate mood of that night. He looked at Han Jiao and reminisced, “I wanted to hold you while you fell asleep. But you asked me if I wanted to, and then you undid your own belt, looked at me with a dazed expression, and said you had loved me long ago. It was when I saved you for the second time that you decided to give me back two lifetimes.”
Han Jiao hung his head, too weary to argue.
He hadn’t realized he was that kind of person!
But wait…
“Why two lifetimes?” Han Jiao blinked at Xie Duo. “Why not the usual talk about three lifetimes or something?”
Xie Duo looked weary as he replied, “You should ask yourself that.”
“Wasn’t it strange? Your Highness didn’t ask me why I said that at the time?”
“I just wanted to get with you quickly,” Xie Duo remained as sincere as ever.
Han Jiao nodded, showing he understood.
“You don’t remember any of this?” Xie Duo squinted at him.
“That’s right, I don’t remember any of it,” Han Jiao boldly tried to play innocent, “If I don’t remember, there’s no way to verify. Can we consider it a joint decision between Your Highness and me? No need to find out who took the first step!”
Xie Duo frowned at him, his emotions entirely in disarray. “Is that really important?”
Han Jiao looked puzzled. “Then, what’s important?”
Xie Duo’s expression grew stern. “What’s important is why you were willing to give yourself to me!”
Han Jiao was taken aback by the shout.
The big boss had never been this fierce before.
It took a while for his blank mind to regain its composure. Han Jiao trembled as he spoke, “Because I like you… Do you even need to ask?”
Xie Duo looked saddened. “You suddenly realized you liked me after that one drink?”
“I’d been keeping it hidden in my heart all along,” Han Jiao anxiously replied, “Are you questioning my feelings? That night, when you were eager to be with me, why didn’t you interrogate me like this?”
Xie Duo’s breath grew heavy. He swiftly walked to the desk, picked up a small teapot, and gulped down its contents, then his breath finally calmed.
Han Jiao looked at Xie Duo in confusion. “Why would you doubt something like this? If I didn’t like you, I would have fought with you the moment I woke up that morning.”
Xie Duo smiled self-mockingly. “At least that way, I could feel a bit better. You’ve always been afraid of me getting close to you, and at least that’s the real you.”
“What do you mean?” Han Jiao nervously looked at him. “Are you regretting it? Xie Duo, you don’t need to pick on me afterwards. If you regret it, let’s just pretend nothing happened that night!”
Han Jiao clenched his fists, breathing rapidly, staring at Xie Duo as if waiting for a death sentence. However, his eyes revealed a shameful trace of hope, hoping that Xie Duo’s inexplicable anger wasn’t about wanting to push him away.
Xie Duo stood quietly, leaning against the desk, closing his eyes in deep thought, offering no response.
Time dragged on, and Han Jiao’s self-esteem was emptied of all its expectations. He couldn’t contain his anger and shouted, “Well, I only liked you a bit anyway!”
He turned to leave.
Just as he was about to push open the study door, his wrist was grabbed.
Finally being caught, Han Jiao was secretly relieved. He hoped Xie Duo would say something to explain his earlier roughness. However, Han Jiao still struggled symbolically, then turned to Xie Duo and sternly threatened, “I won’t be your personal tutor anymore.”
Suddenly, Xie Duo lowered his head and kissed his lips, but it was a very gentle kiss.
Han Jiao just stood there, letting his heart race.
“You said you’d give me back two lifetimes.” Xie Duo released his hand, looking at him with solemnity. “I haven’t even finished this lifetime, how could I let you go that easily?”
Han Jiao tried to tease him, “Your words don’t count. I don’t like you anymore.”
“You just said you liked me.”
“I only like you a little bit!”
“A little bit is enough.”
He was pulled into Xie Duo’s embrace, and he heard Xie Duo whisper in his ear, “I like you a lot. When you add up that little bit of yours, it’s enough for two lifetimes.”
Han Jiao suddenly forgot why he had argued with Xie Duo just moments ago, his heart turned soft.
Was the big boss always this skilled?
Why hadn’t he seen him charm someone like this before?
Could this guy be a master in the art of romance, after all?
Han Jiao looked up at him. “I can see that you like me, even more than I like you.”
Xie Duo gave a bitter smile. “If I could like you a little less, I wouldn’t have to be so suspicious and feel like life is not worth living.”
“Are you really worried that I don’t like you?” Han Jiao’s mood brightened, and he suddenly realized that Xie Duo’s inexplicable emotions earlier might have been due to overthinking during their days apart.
Was Xie Duo also worried that his feelings weren’t strong enough?
This discovery made Han Jiao so happy that he initiated a hug with Xie Duo.
“From now on, don’t meet with Sixth Brother privately. If there’s something, I’ll accompany you.”
This statement left Han Jiao puzzled. He looked at Xie Duo in astonishment for a long while before saying in surprise, “You’re not jealous of your Big Brother, are you? He has a sweetheart, and he’s not interested in me in that way.”
“Promise me.”
“Alright.”
After all, he initially sought refuge with Prince Yan, and now, unexpectedly, Xie Duo had become the heir to the throne. It made sense to avoid any suspicion.
Moreover, he didn’t have any reason to meet with Prince Yan now, and certainly not any reason to meet Prince Yan behind Xie Duo’s back.
Xie Duo pulled him close and started reviewing the documents.
Han Jiao realized his self-control was a bit lacking. In this position, nestled against Xie Duo, he couldn’t concentrate on a single word, but Xie Duo’s reviewing speed remained unaffected.
In an attempt to calm himself, Han Jiao tried to sit up and look at the documents on the side, but he was pushed back onto Xie Duo’s lap. Inadvertently, his leg brushed against a certain part of Xie Duo, and that was when he noticed that Xie Duo wasn’t as composed as he appeared.
Han Jiao didn’t dare to move erratically, hoping that Xie Duo would “calm down” soon. However, half an hour passed, and Xie Duo, in this subtle way, demonstrated his stamina to Han Jiao.
Han Jiao’s confidence in the big boss’ skills in that department became even stronger.
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