After Qie Xieling gave him a stern glare Luo Muchen instantly became obedient. He let him pull back his suit jacket revealing a blood-stained shirt.

Qie Xieling hastily pulled open his shirt his fingers trembling. His gaze fell on the bandaged injury on Luo Muchen’s abdomen. The fabric wrapped tightly around the wound but there were still blood stains on his shirt that hadn’t dried. That was where the dampness was coming from.

A careful examination of Luo Muchen’s dishevelled clothes revealed the signs of a recent altercation. Qie Xieling’s heart ached with worry, and his trembling fingers reached out instinctively.

"Who did you fight with?" His voice quivered, filled with a blend of anger and concern.

Luo Muchen who had been staring at Qie Xieling this entire time caressed his lover’s cheek with his thumb his eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and tenderness. Without uttering a word, he enveloped Qie Xieling in a warm, comforting embrace. Luo Muchen’s head rested on his sweetheart’s shoulder.

"I fought with my uncle... he made you upset so I fought with him," he whispered into Qie Xieling’s ear.

Qie Xieling’s brow knitted trying to make sense of what his boyfriend was saying. From the day they first met, Luo Muchen had never been an emotional person. He was the type that would operate in the shadows and make whoever wronged him pay back tenfold.

But for him, he acted out of the ordinary and picked quarrels with an entire country’s president. It was unbelievable.

"That didn’t mean you should have gone to fight him," he said and Luo Muchen tightened his embrace nuzzling Qie Xieling’s neck while taking that familiar comforting scent.

"I only have you babe... You are my only family," he said and tears welled up in Qie Xieling’s eyes threatening to spill over.

He didn’t only have him. He had a mother that was worried sick of him. She was probably overturning the whole world looking for him. Luo Muchen felt wetness on his cheek and raised his head to find that Qie Xieling was crying. Seeing him actually crying, Luo Muchen didn’t know what to do. He was truly at a loss.

His voice, gentle and soothing caressed Qie Xieling’s ear. "Baby don’t cry... I am sorry I worried you," he murmured, his warm breath dancing against his sweetheart’s skin.

The more he apologised the more the tears came out. Qie Xieling couldn’t understand why he was getting even more worked up. He just couldn’t stop crying. Tears streamed down his face, his heart heavy with sorrow. The weight of his emotions seemed insurmountable.

It was as though a dam had burst within him.

Having run out of options Luo Muchen cupped Qie Xieling’s tear-stained face in his hands. With infinite tenderness, he kissed away the salty droplets that were on his cheeks. The warmth of his lips mingled with the trails of tears, creating a bittersweet sensation on Qie Xieling’s skin.

Luo Muchen’s touch was gentle yet firm as he scooped him into his arms, cradling him as if he were the most fragile treasure in the world. He carried Qie Xieling to the bed, gently laying him down, their bodies intertwined.

He continued to kiss Qie Xieling, his lips moving from his lover’s tear-streaked face to his quivering mouth.

As they kissed, he could feel the remnants of his lover’s tears, still warm against his face. The kiss was gentle yet passionate as he poured his love into each tender touch.

Luo Muchen held Qie Xieling, their bodies pressed together, the rhythm of their breathing becoming synchronized. He kissed him until the tears subsided, replaced by a sense of calm and security.

He gently caressed Qie Xieling’s forehead with his thumb as he gazed into his reddened eyes. Qie Xieling couldn’t help but feel embarrassed for crying so much. He just had been repressing a lot ever since he came into this game and hid all his pain and anxiety behind his smile. When he let his intense emotions slip he found himself breaking down. With the floodgates open he found himself crying uncontrollably.

"War is coming and your proximity to me will implicate you," he said his lips brushing against Qie Xieling’s. Qie Xieling opened his eyes and his tear-stained lashes fluttered.

"Then we will go down together," he said. Luo Muchen pursed his lips the warmth in his heart intense. "But you have to go and change first. You can’t be in my bed with blood-stained clothes," continued Qie Xieling gently pushing him off his body.

"Okay, you also need to change. I stained your pyjamas...," he said getting off the bed. "In fact, I have a better idea. How about we sleep naked."

As soon as he suggested that a pillow came flying his way hitting his face directly. "Babe, you have good aim," he said looking smitten. If he had a tail he would be wagging it.

Almost an hour later the two of them were lying in bed all fresh and clean cuddling in each other’s arms. Luo Muchen placed his leg over Qie Xieling’s pulling him closer only for his lover to push him away a little while asking, "Aren’t you going to hurt yourself if you are hugging me too tight."

Luo Muchen would rather endure the pain than sleep without him in his arms. "It doesn’t hurt. Come closer," he said pulling him back.

"But you are making me hot," complained Qie Xieling their shadows mingled in the darkness.

"Then let me switch on the aircon," he said and Qie Xieling laughed.

"Does it look like there is an aircon in this room? Mr Luo, I am so poor," he said and Luo Muchen shuffled closer before saying,

"But I gave you my bank card. I told you you can get whatever you want. Since you didn’t buy an aircon then you can only be roasted in my arms tonight."

Qie Xieling, "..."

"I take it back. You aren’t considerate at all," he said and Luo Muchen let out a throaty chuckle.

"I love you," he whispered into Qie Xieling’s ear.

Qie Xieling smiled slightly before pressing his lips into a thin line. He refused to say it back.

Luo Muchen patiently waited for him to say it but Qie Xieling played dead like a possum. "Babe, I know you aren’t sleeping... Say it," he said but a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes.

"Thanks," he said and Luo Muchen’s eyes widened.