Don't pretend, everyone knows you're the villain!

"Brother, we have different ideas."

Lu Tiannan gazed at Xi Mingzhu and suddenly smiled.

“My brother doesn’t like me, and he’s been forcing himself to take responsibility for me and for this relationship.”

"It's easy to understand if you think about it for a moment. My brother didn't want to owe me anything, so he went to this lengths."

Xi Mingzhu listened silently to Lu Tiannan finish speaking. For a moment, he couldn't be sure if he had done so much because he wanted to take responsibility and didn't want to be indebted, as Lu Tiannan had said.

Seeing his silence, Lu Tiannan slowly exhaled.

"I really want to know what kind of person my brother would love. It has to be a good person, right? No matter what I do, it's useless."

"The delusions of bad people are useless; God does not save the wicked."

Xi Mingzhu pondered Lu Tiannan's words. He wasn't the kind of person who would force himself to take responsibility. If he couldn't do something, he could find another way to pay it off.

The reason for taking care of Lu Tiannan during this period was primarily because Lu Tiannan needed care. He's like a spoiled child, his thoughts and intentions are all transparent; he simply wants the other person to pity and cherish him.

He was fully aware of Lu Tiannan's feigned innocence and pitifulness, but he was willing to go along with it.

I did it because I was moved.

The closer she got to Lu Tiannan, the more she wanted to understand him, so she was even willing to put in the effort to find out about his background from 0561.

Even kissing was done easily during the supposedly time-consuming process of getting used to it.

His feelings for Lu Tiannan are complicated. Now he unconsciously thinks about Lu Tiannan's feelings and has a unique fondness for him.

Xi Mingzhu knew that if even he didn't favor Lu Tiannan, then the other party would truly have no one to rely on.

Even after all that, he still heard Lu Tiannan's self-deprecation and helplessness. He didn't crave others' approval, forcing himself to be understanding and generous.

It shouldn't be like this.

Having lived such a long life, yet never understanding matters of love and affection, this was Xi Mingzhu's weakness.

"What does it mean to like someone?" Xi Mingzhu asked calmly, parting her lips slightly.

"I want to be close to you, to let you touch me. I don't care about anyone else. If I can't even call it liking you, then what about anyone else?"

"Nan Nan, you are my only exception."

Xi Mingzhu spoke each word with a deep and powerful tone.

Lu Tiannan never expected to receive such an answer. If Xi Mingzhu were to like someone, it could never be anyone else but him.

Because Xi Mingzhu only gave him a chance.

Others don't even have admission tickets.

These words sound too good to be true.

Is she just trying to appease him again?

Brother Mingzhu always indulged and coaxed him. Even when he was initially uncomfortable with being touched, he agreed and endured the stiffness and discomfort in his body.

"Brother is just too kind-hearted, don't pity me. People like me are prone to insatiable greed."

Xi Mingzhu looked at Lu Tiannan, whose eyes were downcast and whose emotions were hard to discern, but this appearance made him feel that Lu Tiannan was sad.

"Nan Nan, how do you want me to prove it?"

As soon as Xi Mingzhu asked the question, he raised his hand to touch Lu Tiannan's neck, tilted his head back, and kissed him.

Lu Tiannan's pupils dilated in surprise as he looked at Xi Mingzhu, who was standing close by.

Xi Mingzhu's kissing skills were terrible, but he still clumsily tried to prove the other person's specialness through kissing.

He thought he could be said to like Lu Tiannan.

If you even keep the other person's future in your heart, and that's not considered liking them... then does risking your life for them count as liking them?

The intimate touch of lips and tongues, the teasing of the palate by Lu Tiannan, turned Xi Mingzhu's initiative into passivity.

Lu Tiannan only let her go after he kissed her until she was breathless.

"Brother, are you alright? I'm so sorry..."

Lu Tiannan noticed that Xi Mingzhu's eyes were moist, with redness at the corners. This masked some of his usual coldness.

Xi Mingzhu caught his breath and stared intently at Lu Tiannan. "Can you prove it?"

This suggests they'll try again if they can't prove it.

Intimacy isn't enough to prove it? Then something even more intimate might.

Lu Tiannan looked helplessly at the person in front of him and sighed softly.

"Brother, don't make things difficult for yourself."

Xi Mingzhu was able to focus on alchemy for many years not only because of his calm mind, but also because of his stubbornness.

What you must accomplish, you must overcome even if you cannot.

“Lu Tiannan, I died twice in the dungeon, and each time it stirred your heart. Therefore, I believe you like me.”

"Before the small hotel was reset, you told me your life was valuable, and that I saved you once, so you should repay me with your body. Does that still count now?"

"..." Lu Tiannan couldn't figure out what Xi Mingzhu was going to say or do, but the other party's resolute attitude frightened him.

"Does being tied to me without any room for maneuver or retreat make you believe in my feelings for you?"

One question after another was posed, and Lu Tiannan already had the answers in his heart, but he simply didn't dare to face them.

Of course it counts.

I would believe it too.

However, all these things have time limits, and promises ultimately come to nothing.

When people are willing, they are overjoyed and have countless wishes. When they are unwilling, they wish they could throw people off the planet and never look at them again.

This applies to adoptive parents, and it applies to former closest teammates.

Abandon him, betray him.

Having suffered, one should learn a lesson.

Lu Tiannan laughed at himself—he was too playful and had deliberately provoked Shen Yi. Then, upon meeting Xi Mingzhu, he shamelessly dragged himself into the mess again.

"Don't force me, brother."

His voice was hoarse and weak.

This time, Xi Mingzhu didn't feel sorry for him; she remained calm and resolute.

"There is another way: the dead don't betray you."

"Kill me, and I will belong to you forever."

"To prove my liking."

Lu Tiannan stared blankly at the other person, then chuckled softly.

"You're really pushing me to my death, Brother Mingzhu."

"I believe you. I've believed you for a long time."

"I just don't believe in myself."

As expected, Xi Mingzhu realized that Lu Tiannan wanted to keep himself in his comfort zone and not take a step forward.

In fact, it was never Xi Mingzhu who couldn't face this feeling squarely. Master Xi may not know how to love, but he learns very quickly. As his Daoist partner, he received more than others.

Lu Tiannan lacked love, so he gave him love.

Lu Tiannan couldn't believe he was loved, so he forced the other person to acknowledge how good he was to them.

Establishing a relationship and engaging in communication left Lu Tiannan with ample room for maneuver.

It could be something you do on a whim and then break up with when you get tired of it.

But that's clearly not enough now. Lu Tiannan is right; those trapped in this situation feel utterly insecure. Especially someone who has been abandoned, whose self-confidence has been shattered, and who's labeled a villain.

“I said before that you are neither good nor evil to me. Now I can tell you that you are good in my eyes, and how others judge you is their business.”

“Lu Tiannan, you know my identity and that I have an unknown origin. In that case, why not think boldly: I came here for you.”

"Xi Mingzhu came for you, Lu Tiannan. Shen Yi is long dead. I came for myself who has lost all hope and for you who have no will to live."

This is a conjecture that Xi Mingzhu has come up with himself over this period of time. It hasn't been verified, but whether it's true or false doesn't matter. If that's what he thinks, then it must be true.

Master Xi refused to engage with the world, and the emotions he lacked were replenished after meeting Lu Tiannan.

Shen Yi's death is a foregone conclusion; the one who survived from beginning to end was Xi Mingzhu. Moreover, all the plot lines that Xi Mingzhu altered are inextricably linked to the villain, Lu Tiannan.

Xi Mingzhu came to change Lu Tiannan's fate.

So it can be understood that he came to save Lu Tiannan.