outside on the street.
si huaixi dismissed the people who had been following him, and raindrops fell on his pale, delicate face as he unfolded a translucent umbrella. his melancholic blue eyes were filled with mist as he stood obediently on the roadside, resembling a lost and fragile puppy.
cars passed by, but he couldnât find the direction he should go.
si huaixi lowered his gaze, caressing the two silver rings on his hand. the luster they once had after these few years had grown dull, just like time itself had faded away.
he took out an old phone with few contacts, and at the top of the list was a personâs name.
â brother pei.
seeing those once-familiar characters after so many years still felt like a merciless knife stabbing into his heart.
the communication records on it dated back several years.
the battery of the phone was still full.
in the messages, brother peiâs familiar tone seemed as if it had never left him.
âexcuse me, sir, where is your destination?â the taxi driver turned back and looked at the handsome man who remained silent since getting into the car. he seemed like a big star.
si huaixi mentioned an address.
the driver was somewhat surprised, looking at this imposing and extraordinary handsome man who actually wanted to go to a relatively remote location. it wasnât exactly remote, but the apartment was located in an ordinary neighborhood, and this man didnât seem like someone who would live in such a place.
the car quickly arrived at the mentioned apartment.
the driver felt a bit helpless as it was raining heavily outside, and the passenger in the back seat remained silent and motionless, as if unaware that the car had stopped.
the driver hesitantly urged, âsir, weâve arrived at your destination. please settle the fare.â
it was only when si huaixi went to pay that he realized he had used the account on the old phone and received a bank notification message.
si huaixiâs gaze paused for a moment, and the phone that had been stagnant for quite a long time seemed to be nudged like the long hand of a clock. his thin lips, pressed tightly until they turned pale, curved into a hint of a bittersweet smile that reached the utmost bitterness.
â he still hadnât received brother peiâs message saying he was safe.
at the hotel on the other side,
âwowâi was so scared just now. why did his majesty suddenly insist on coming? you were almost discovered,â yi chengze exclaimed, still shaken.
pei zhou lowered his eyes and said calmly, âhmm, heâs gone now.â
little soybean seemed to sense that pei zhou wasnât in high spirits. she lay on the bed, lifting her head and asked in a concerned and obedient manner, âdaddy, how are you feeling?â
pei zhou smiled reassuringly and replied, âiâve recovered well, thanks to uncle yi. i believe iâll be able to come and pick up little soybean very soon.â
little soybean clapped her hands happily. she had missed her daddy during these past few days.
but soon, pei zhou received a message that caught him off guard. his eyes showed a trace of surprise and excitement.
he had secretly inserted a small software into the blue ark empireâs government system, which would notify him as soon as si huaixiâs identity information changed.
and he had just received it.
pei zhouâs heart raced intensely for a moment. unconsciously, he held his breath and checked the message. the latest information indicated that si huaixi had paid the taxi fare and arrived at an address, and that familiar address happened to be near the apartment where they had once lived together.
excitement spread through him, causing his fingers to tremble slightly. pei zhaozhouâs pupils contracted, and he suddenly woke up as if from a trance. his golden eyes lit up irresistibly, and he said to yi chengze, who was idle beside him, âdoctor yi, could you take care of little soybean for me? i⦠i have something urgent to attend to.â
yi chengze replied, âsure, iâll look after little soybean for you.â
pei zhaozhou patted little soybeanâs head, gave a few instructions, and then left. at first, he walked slowly, but soon his excitement got the better of him. he couldnât wait to see si huaixi. he burst into a run in the hotelâs long corridor, like a fleeting shadow. his chest was filled with the cold windâs erratic movements, and he ran out of the hotel, dashing into the rain-soaked open air. his anxious gaze pierced through the crowd, fixed in one direction.
â si huaixi would be there, in that direction!
under the gloomy sky, cold raindrops struck pei zhaozhouâs body, which was heated from his vigorous run. he exhaled hot breath, and his heart raced like a blazing fire. raindrops clung to his thick, slightly curled eyelashes. his golden eyes glistened with anticipation, and even his fingertips were ablaze with excitement.
fortunately, pei zhaozhou hadnât lost his wits due to his excitement. he hailed a taxi, urgently providing the address.
the air inside the car was choking, while the rain outside was cold and damp.
pei zhaozhouâs breath was slightly labored, his eyes brimming with anticipation. his nervousness and unease mingled with his excitement, making the back of his hands feel cold while his palms were sweaty.
step by step, he approached that place.
the familiar entrance, and inside, there should be someone he knew well.
pei zhaozhou pressed the doorbell, water dripping from his hair.
it seemed as though his golden eyes trembled at the slightest movement, rainwater soaking his body. his heartbeat thudded in his ears, but the sensation was too intense to discern whether it was due to rain or sweat.
â click.
the door⦠was about to open.
pei zhaozhou lifted his gaze, tears instantly clouding his vision. he looked at si huaixi, with azure eyes staring blankly. his voice choked as he sobbed and laughed at the same time.
âi found you.â
âbrother pei?â
slightly tipsy, his tone carried disbelief and confusion.
si huaixi gazed at the person before him, the familiar aura, the familiar and stern face. it was as if a radiant brother pei had come to find him, yet he was crying. why did it feel like a dream, and another dream within it?
why was even in his dreams, brother pei crying? was it tears of joy?
but no matter, si huaixi was crying tears of joy.
âbrother peiâ¦â si huaixiâs voice trembled. his deep gaze fixed on pei zhaozhou, his eyes reddened. he held pei zhaozhouâs face with trembling fingers, pulling him into a kiss filled with desperation and longing. it was as though he feared that this dream-like brother pei would vanish at any moment like a fleeting bubbleâ¦
until he pried open pei zhaozhouâs lips and passionately invaded, their blood surged as they sucked each otherâs breath. their fervent kisses interwoven, carrying years of waiting, despair, and the long-lost warmth. in this kiss, it seemed a glimmer of hope emerged from the intertwining souls.
hot tears streamed down pei zhaozhouâs cheeksâ¦
his gaze froze, the golden hues of his eyes softening with guilt, like honey trapped within. he embraced all of si huaixiâs uneasiness, sorrow, restlessness, madness, and desire. his hand gently covered si huaixiâs back, as if soothing him with gentle pats.
he had returned; there was no need to be sad and cry any longer.
quietly sensing it all, si huaixiâs palm covered the spot over pei zhaozhouâs heart. his deep, ocean-blue eyes were intensely focused, sensing the vibrant rhythm of the heartâs beat beneath the skin, the touch of life pulsing steadily.
âwhere have you been?â si huaixi, his eyes shimmering, spoke with a seemingly cold and distant tone, yet with a pitiful glint in his teary eyes. he cautiously scolded, as if accusing with a sense of grievance⦠the abandoned look pained pei zhaozhouâs heart, throbbing with guilt, rendering him speechless.
âiâ¦â
âi know, donât say itâ come and see meâeven if you were to disappear, donât tell meâ¦â
si huaixiâs scorching hand delved deep into pei zhaozhouâs chest. pei zhaozhouâs eyelashes trembled nervously, his breathing becoming chaotic and rapid.
then, leaning down, passionate kisses landed on pei zhaozhouâs neck, chest, heart, waistâ¦
si huaixiâs powerful hand slid down his shoulders, irresistibly sealing their connection, imprinting on every inch of his bodyâ¦
raindrops pelted the windowsill.
two figures stood embraced, finding comfort in each otherâs arms.
hello, everyone ã¾(ï¼¾âï¼¾). i hope you enjoyed the story! if youâre feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! check out the link below for early chapters.  (à¹>á´