Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 412: Scars

Being trapped in the shower with Luo Muchen was like a wee little lamb being trapped in the wolf’s den. When he finally left the bathroom he felt his ass was finally safe... momentarily off course.

Luo Muchen finally stepped out of the shower, feeling refreshed. As he wrapped a towel around his waist, he expected to find Qie Xieling, waiting for him in the bedroom. But to his surprise, he was nowhere to be seen.

A sudden wave of anxiety washed over him like he had experienced this before. His heart was in so much excruciating pain like he had been abandoned by him in the past.

He hurriedly searched the entire upper deck, his heart pounding in his chest. Despite his efforts, there was no sign of him. Panic began to consume him, and he reached for his communicator to call Bo Ailun.

"Have you seen Qie Xieling?" Luo Muchen’s voice trembled with concern as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

Bo Ailun was a little surprised. He honestly thought that they had made up already so what was going on now? His voice came through the line, filled with genuine confusion. "No, Captain. I haven’t seen him. Is something wrong?"

"Find him," he said and Bo Ailun was perplexed. These two seemed to fight easily. He tapped his communicator and went through the warship’s surveillance cameras. He scrutinised the footage, his eyes darting across the screens, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

Finally, amidst the sea of images, Bo Ailun’s eyes widened as he spotted Qie Xieling. He had exited the elevator on Luo Shih’s restricted floor.

When Bo Ailun sent him the live feed Qie Xieling was sitting with Luo Shih looking quite cosy like it was his mother. Relief flooded over him as he watched the scene unfold on the screen.

Qie Xieling was holding a beautifully wrapped box, his face radiating with a mixture of joy and nervousness. He was giving her gifts he had carefully selected for her on Rion.

Luo Muchen had no idea how to feel. He could feel his heart melting at the heartwarming scene. His love for Qie Xieling seemed to have intensified. He suddenly had the urge to keep him by his side forever.

***

"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Qie Xieling as they walked down the passageway to find that dwarf. Luo Muchen who didn’t even realise that he was staring took his hand and interlocked their fingers.

"What? I am just looking at my handsome boyfriend. Is there a problem?" Qie Xieling averted his gaze while biting his lower lip lightly. He loved the sound of those words coming out of his boyfriend’s mouth.

Luo Muchen reluctantly let him go when they entered the interrogation room. Their eyes fell on the dwarf hunched over the table, hungrily devouring a plate of potato mash and squid. The room’s stark walls and cold atmosphere seemed to mirror the dwarf’s wearied appearance.

As he heard their footsteps, he looked up, his eyes briefly meeting Captain Luo’s stern gaze. His weathered face bore the marks of a difficult life, and it was evident that he hadn’t tasted good food in a while. Yet, despite his worn-out exterior, a glimmer of defiance flickered within his eyes.

"I will only speak to him," he declared, his voice carrying a mixture of weariness and determination. The words hung in the air, and Luo Muchen was unwilling. He hesitated, reluctant to leave Qie Xieling alone with this unpredictable individual.

However, Qie Xieling understood the gravity of the situation. With a reassuring smile, he turned to Luo Muchen and said coaxially, "Go, my love. I’ll be fine. Let me handle this."

Luo Muchen, "..."

He nodded reluctantly but his heart was doing cartwheels. Being called by love my Qie Xieling made his spine tingle. He was so happy though his expression remained unreadable. With a final glance, he left the room, closing the door behind him, and leaving Qie Xieling alone with that man.

When he entered the monitoring room Bo Ailun was already broadcasting what was happening in the interrogation room.

"Captain, is everything good now?" he asked and Luo Muchen sat down seeming all nonchalant.

"Yuh, we are good."

Bo Ailun sighed before saying, "I thought having a boyfriend would be easier than having a girlfriend. It’s all the same. They have to be coaxed and you guys fight a lot. It hasn’t been long since you are dating yet here you are... bickering-," he said only for his voice to die down abruptly when he saw Luo Muchen staring at him icyly as though daring him to keep talking.

After a period of long silence, Bo Ailun finally asked, "Captain, does he know what you look like without taking your medication?" Based on Luo Muchen’s expression it seemed he hadn’t said anything to Qie Xieling yet.

"I think you should tell him," he continued to say and Luo Muchen had completely forgotten about the matter. He didn’t worry about it before but now that Bo Ailun had mentioned it he was anxious about it. What if Qie Xieling disliked him when he saw those ugly scars? He would die if he got dumped because of that.

Meanwhile, Qie Xieling sat facing the dwarf with the table between them. The man had refused to talk to him until he was done eating so Qie Xieling had no choice but to be patient.

The room’s silence amplified the tension, broken only by the dwarf’s sporadic spoon clinking against the plate. Qie Xieling studied his weary face seeming curious about him.

Taking a moment to choose his words carefully, he leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but filled with curiosity. "What’s your name?"

The dwarf paused, his gaze meeting Qie Xieling’s, as if sizing him up. The lines on his face deepened, revealing a lifetime of hardships. With a sigh, he finally spoke, his voice laced with a mixture of resignation and annoyance. "Balin."

Qie Xieling crossed his arms on his chest and asked, "So Balin, can you tell me how to open the box?"

"There are things you must know... things they don’t want you to know. Your parents died for it already so why follow them to the grave? Isn’t it better to live your life with the prince and be happy?"