Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 440: ... the romantic type

Bo Ailun stood in the passageway of the palace outside Luo Muchen’s office, his eyes fixed on the intricately braided bracelet adorning his wrist. The glistening gold strands, delicately interwoven with vibrant gemstones, sparkled under the soft glow of the chandeliers.

He never thought he would be this excited to get such a childish thing as a friendship bracelet. That was a thing little kids do but here he was smiling while playing with it.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence, and Luo Muchen entered his office seeming burdened. There were plenty of demands for him as the future King thus he wasn’t in a good mood.

His sharp eyes immediately caught Bo Ailun’s smile. "What are you smiling for?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Bo Ailun’s eyes lit up with excitement, eager to share. "Qie Xieling gave me this bracelet. He said it was a friendship bracelet and we are friends forever," he replied, his voice filled with genuine joy.

Luo Muchen should have been a rational adult about that but he couldn’t help himself. His boyfriend went out shopping and was busy buying other people things. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. His baby didn’t even say anything to him today. He had been checking his communicator each time there was a vibration but he couldn’t help but feel disappointed. It was as though he had been forgotten and abandoned by his boyfriend.

"It looks so pretty doesn’t it? He also got one for himself. It was a set of pairs," he continued to say completely unaware of steam coming out of Luo Muchen’s ears.

His jealousy tightened its grip, but he remained silent, his expression guarded. He knew his boyfriend favoured Bo Ailun just like he disliked Bi Yu. That hatred was so deep despite having never interacted. He knew their interaction was innocent but he couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the story.

Completely unaware of Luo Muchen’s internal struggles, Bo Ailun launched into a lively description of their day together. "Captain, I thought Qie Xieling wouldn’t buy much. Like he would buy a few things here and there but noooo. He bought clothes, shoes tons and tons of it. He bought jewellery lots of it. I’m pretty sure your bank account is bleeding right now... Seriously you should probably check your account... just saying,"

As Bo Ailun recounted their adventure, his eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, but he failed to notice the subtle change in Luo Muchen’s demeanour. His mind raced, grappling with the familiar feeling of jealousy. The vinegar was incredibly sour today.

Suppressing his inner turmoil, Luo Muchen forced a smile a terrible attempt at concealing his unease.

"Did you get my suit for tonight?" he finally managed to say, his voice tinged with a hint of tension.

Bo Ailun, still oblivious to the Captain’s hidden emotions, "I did and I am pretty sure everything will go well tonight."

Luo Muchen nodded but he was still so nervous. He had written and rewritten his proposal but the more he thought about it the more nervous he was.

***

Qie Xieling still had no idea what Luo Muchen was plotting. He was admiring his fresh new haircut in the mirror. It’s too bad he couldn’t get a tattoo. He wanted one on the side of his neck but he wasn’t sure of the design yet.

"Wow," said Jolie almost scaring Qie Xieling half to death. With a yelp, he picked up his shirt to cover himself up. He had been standing in front of the mirror shirtless when Jolie showed up out of nowhere. "Oh for fucks sake. What if I was naked?" he asked and Jolie retorted.

"I wouldn’t be able to see anything ungodly. I am a very censored AI."

Qie Xieling sighed before putting on his shirt. "What’s up?"

"Well... I just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to worry about Leong Jinn... well, for now. Your parents have everything under control so you can relax in this game and enjoy your time with your boyfriend," she said but she didn’t dare tell him that they could see him. It would ruin things.

"Oh," he said and Jolie couldn’t help but notice something in his voice.

"I thought you would be excited to get out of the game. Why is it that you sound sad?" she asked and Qie Xieling buttoned up his shirt before saying,

"It’s nothing."

Jolie could tell he wasn’t in a good mood so she decided to leave him alone. That was definitely Luo Muchen’s job to cheer him up.

"I know what you are worried about... just try and enjoy tonight. Don’t overthink it," she said and Qie Xieling nodded his head. It’s not that he wanted to be in this game but that he just wanted to be with Luo Muchen. He didn’t know what would happen in the outside world thus he wanted to stay in the game longer so he could be with him.

He tried to take Jolie’s advice but it was incredibly difficult. The entire way he was more silent than usual. He rubbed the necklace hanging around his neck his expression distant.

Qie Xieling stepped out of the hover car, his eyes scanning the surroundings, taking in the grandeur of the fancy restaurant. He straightened his suit and ran his hands through his well-groomed hair.

As he approached the door, the waiters greeted him with a warm welcome. Qie Xieling shot them a handsome smile, and the manager rushed over to welcome him. "Right upstairs to the rooftop sir," said the manager while his bodyguards surrounded him. He led him to the elevator and Qie Xieling got inside.

The manager stepped up in front of the bodyguards stopping them from following him. "Gentlemen, his majesty’s orders. He goes alone from here."

Qie Xieling told them that it’s fine. As he stood in the elegant elevator, his heart was pounding with a mix of excitement and anticipation. He was staring at the watch on his wrist. When he thought of the other pair in his pocket he touched his pocket with a smile that was so mesmerising it made the manager look at him twice.

Unable to resist he said, "His Majesty is a very lucky man," with a flattering smile.

Qie Xieling’s smile grew even bigger as he said, "I think I am the lucky one."

The manager wanted to say something else when the polished metal doors opened. Qie Xieling straightened his tie, ensuring every detail of his appearance was immaculate.

When he stepped out his gaze was immediately captivated by the breathtaking scene that awaited him. The soft glow of candlelight danced across his face, casting an ethereal glow as he took in the sight before him. The red carpet stretched out like a path to enchantment, guiding his every step.

The air was filled with the sweet aroma of roses, their petals cascading down the archway like a cascade of love. Qie Xieling couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the delicate beauty of the red roses, entwining and climbing like vines, embracing the arch in a passionate embrace. The scent of their sweet fragrance filled the air, mingling with the cool evening breeze.

As he moved forward, sparklers burst into life, illuminating the night sky with a myriad of shimmering lights. Their radiant glow painted the heavens above, creating a celestial canvas of flickering stars. He felt as if he had stepped into a realm where dreams and reality intertwined.

The ambience was enchanting, and the romantic atmosphere embraced him, whispering promises of a magical evening. Qie Xieling’s heart swelled with anticipation but he was still a little vexed. He looked back intending to ask if they had the right person but when he turned around the elevator doors had already closed and the manager was gone.

He strolled along the red carpet, his footsteps light. The soft music of a violin wafted through the air, its melody intertwining with the gentle rustling of leaves, adding a symphony of enchantment to the romantic setting. It was a scene straight out of a fairytale, a vision of romance that took his breath away.

But the magic didn’t end there. As he stood there, awestruck, a distant rumble caught his attention. Looking up, he saw a magnificent mech descending from the night sky, its sleek design gleaming against the stars. With a graceful landing, the mech settled on the rooftop, and the doors slid open.

Out stepped his handsome boyfriend clad in a perfectly tailored black suit. His usually confident demeanour was replaced with nervous excitement, evident in the way his eyes sparkled with anticipation. The moonlight danced on his chiselled features, highlighting the love and effort he had put into this romantic surprise.

Heart pounding, he rushed over to Luo Muchen, his feet barely touching the carpeted floor. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, everything else faded away.

"What’s all this?... I didn’t think you were the romantic type," said Qie Xieling and Luo Muchen Adam’s apple rippled as he tried to control his trembling hands.