I don't want to come up with a funny book title anymore.

Although I wanted to run away, why do I keep running away even though I haven't even started?

Pretending not to see it, isn't that because I'm afraid you'll think I'm just being presumptuous?

One of the three great illusions in life is that I think he likes me.

Although Zhongli Zhuo is now capable of doing even **, it's highly unlikely that it's just my imagination.

But Xie Fengnan couldn't say, "What a coincidence, I like you too, let's be together."

He freed his chin from Zhongli Zhuo's grasp, the chains on his ankles clanging crisply, a reminder of his current predicament.

"I don't think now is the time to talk about these things."

"When would that be? When you die in front of me again?"

Zhong Lizhuo once believed that there was no need for them to rush things.

Since Xie Fengnan wants to consider this matter after everything has settled down, then he can wait.

But what did he get in return?

What awaited them was Xie Fengnan's death, followed by endless regret and pain.

Over the past six years, he has thought countless times that if he could do it all over again, he would never be someone who waits in the same place again.

He wanted to get what he wanted as soon as possible.

Although Zhong Lizhuo didn't know how Xie Fengnan did it, he could still survive even though Zhong Lizhuo saw how deep the wound on his neck was and how much blood he had lost.

But now that Xie Fengnan has reappeared before him, Zhongli Zhuo cannot let him go.

“Zhong Lizhuo, it’s impossible between us…” Xie Fengnan tried to persuade him.

There are too many things standing between them.

Even if Xie Fengnan admits that he does have some different feelings for Zhong Lizhuo, it doesn't change anything.

Putting everything else aside, their social status is an insurmountable chasm.

Zhongli Zhuo is of royal blood, while he himself is the young master of the Xie family who overthrew the royal family.

Isn't this plot of falling in love with your enemy a melodramatic trope only found in old-fashioned Mary Sue novels?

"Impossible?" Zhongli Zhuo chuckled.

Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed Xie Fengnan by the back of the head, forcing him closer to her.

Their breaths mingled. "Xie Fengnan, tell me, what is impossible?"

"Is it that you can't accept me, or that you can't admit... that you actually care about me too?"

Xie Fengnan's heart suddenly raced, "I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhong Lizhuo bit his lip hard.

It didn't feel like a kiss; it felt more like revenge.

Xie Fengnan was also annoyed, and the smell of blood spread between their breaths.

As expected, the two engaged in physical combat again, but Xie Fengnan was clearly outmatched and was quickly pinned to the bed by Zhong Lizhuo, unable to move.

"Zhong Lizhuo, have you really gone mad?!" Xie Fengnan said through gritted teeth during a moment of respite.

Zhongli Zhuo said frankly, "Yes, I'm crazy."

"I went crazy the moment you left me."

"Do you know that I dream about you every night for the past few years, dreaming that you walk towards me with a smile?"

"But the next second, you will die in front of me, leaving me alone on the spot. No matter what I do, I can't change the outcome."

"You've driven me crazy long ago..."

Zhong Lizhuo's voice was filled with pain and despair, and his eyes were glistening with tears, yet burning with a mad obsession.

“Revenge has become my only belief.” Zhong Lizhuo’s face was close to Xie Fengnan’s, his breath rapid and hot.

"Now that you're standing right in front of me, do you think... I'd let you leave again?"

Xie Fengnan never imagined that his departure would cause such harm to Zhong Lizhuo.

He looked into Zhongli Zhuo's eyes, which were filled with various negative emotions, and said with helplessness and apology, "I'm sorry."

Zhong Lizhuo froze. "I don't want you to apologize. I want you to stay... stay by my side."

After saying that, he kissed Xie Fengnan again.

This kiss was different from the previous ones; it wasn't aggressive or possessive.

Instead, it was as if they were handling a lost treasure that had been found again, with a sense of utmost care and consideration.

His lips gently touched Xie Fengnan's, trembling slightly, as if he were pouring out his longing and pain over the years.

Xie Fengnan was taken aback at first, and his body tensed up instinctively.

But then he slowly closed his eyes, letting Zhongli Zhuo's aura surround him.

The kiss lasted a long time, so long that the two of them couldn't distinguish each other's breaths.

Zhongli Zhuo stepped back slightly and buried his head in Xie Fengnan's neck, like a wounded wild beast greedily absorbing the other's breath.

It was as if only in this way could they confirm that the person in front of them was real.

His voice held a hint of pleading: "Xie Fengnan, don't push me away... please."

Xie Fengnan's heart skipped a beat; he had never seen Zhong Lizhuo like this before.

Vulnerable and humble, all pride and sharpness are stripped away at this moment, leaving only the most real and defenseless appearance.

What could he do? He was the type who responded best to gentle persuasion but not to force.

"You don't want to?" Zhong Lizhuo didn't look up, his voice muffled.

Xie Fengnan couldn't see his expression, only the slight rise and fall of his hair with his breathing.

Even knowing he was faking it, Xie Fengnan couldn't help but waver—

His fingertips curled slightly, hovering in mid-air, as if he wanted to touch Zhong Lizhuo, but hesitated and withdrew.

"what on earth do you want?"

Hearing the compromise in Xie Fengnan's words, Zhong Lizhuo buried her face even deeper.

"I don't want anything to happen..."

"I just... don't want you to leave."

Xie Fengnan had a headache. "You should know that this is impossible."

Unlike Zhongli Zhuo, he valued family and friendship above all else in his life, and he could not possibly give them up for Zhongli Zhuo.

This is also one of the reasons why Xie Fengnan was unwilling to accept Zhong Lizhuo; he always felt that such an unequal relationship was unfair to Zhong Lizhuo.

"Why is it impossible?" Zhong Lizhuo raised his head and looked at Xie Fengnan. He wanted to know what he had done wrong that led to his death sentence.

Xie Fengnan carefully considered his words: "Because I am not worthy of your affection, you will meet someone better in the future..."

"There is no better, you are the best."

Zhongli Zhuo wasn't just saying it; he genuinely believed it.

From the initial kindness shown by the pair of small ice sculptures when they first met, Xie Fengnan's image was constantly being idealized in his mind.

With this filter applied, his feelings for Xie Fengnan had long surpassed simple liking, transforming into a deep-seated obsession.

Xie Fengnan once said that shining is not the sun's right, and everyone can be the coolest version of themselves.

But Zhong Lizhuo felt that Xie Fengnan was his sun.

He not only wanted to enjoy the sunshine, he wanted to possess it.

“Xie Fengnan, you may not know…” Zhong Lizhuo’s tone was tinged with self-deprecation.

"For me, you have never been an option, but the only answer."

------

After some thought, what if I only wrote side stories for the main characters...

They can write a lot, it's just those little creative ideas...

I shouldn't be writing long pieces; I feel more happy with casual writing. (Laughs)

While writing this chapter, I suddenly wanted to switch to writing about female Alpha and male Omega characters. Hey, the plot of someone pulling out a bigger one feels kind of fun.

Then, as you know, I wrote the beginning of a book with a King of Glory background. Actually, I also thought of a story about fighting against Yan and Yun.

No, what am I doing...?