Chapter 74: Because I Want to Pursue You

Zhou Yili understood better than anyone. Shen Jixing had always wanted to give up—on him.

The navy-blue McLaren screeched to a halt in the underground garage. By the dim light, Zhou Yili glanced at the quiet, cool beauty sleeping in the passenger seat.

He never made promises to himself. So it was only natural that he left without a word, letting himself wander in aimless panic, searching for the moonlight he could no longer touch.

Not every passionate love story has an ending.

Back then, Shen Jixing had been silent for a long time, offering no answer. At last, he slipped the silver ring from their intertwined fingers, returning it to him.

“Zhou Yili, I’m sorry. I hope you understand.”

Shen Jixing chose his future over him.

A future superstar, radiant and untouchable, could not afford a black mark named Zhou Yili. Besides, he never cared for him that much.

Zhou Yili never replied whether he understood or not. He simply let go, allowing the silver ring, never worn on his finger, to slip away.

It landed with a soft clang.

He stood up. “I understand.”

He was not Shen Jixing’s destiny.

Shen Jixing erased him from his life with his own hands.

That reckless, defiant youth paused at the door, not looking back. After a moment’s quiet, Zhou Yili still said, “I hope you get what you want.”

…

A seventeen-year-old’s secret love never saw daylight.

Zhou Yili’s tireless search across the city echoed with no reply.

And now?

Zhou Yili looked at the one sleeping quietly in his car. “You’ve come to find me—are you here to toy with me again?”

Zhou Yili thought he could hide it well.

But the Wolf King crowned him with weapons as a tribute, saying he only loved Christmas Eve.

How was that any different from loving him?

Zhou Yili reached out, turning his face. His pale skin was soft to the touch; Zhou Yili pinched it lightly, leaving faint pink marks.

“Mmm…” Shen Jixing let out an unconscious soft sound.

Zhou Yili almost instantly eased his grip, staring at this delicate, proud superstar. “You sound so gentle, but your heart is ruthless.”

Whether Shen Jixing heard him or not, his brows furrowed slightly, rubbing against the leather seat.

Zhou Yili unfastened his seatbelt, got out, and lifted Shen Jixing from the passenger seat into his arms.

“If you’re going to rub against something, do it against me.”

Holding him tightly, Zhou Yili strode toward the elevator, shielding him naturally with his jacket.

He scoffed lightly. “Let’s see if I bother with you.”

The night wind carried a chill, and as they left the garage, Shen Jixing slowly awoke.

“What do you mean, ‘bother with you’?”

Ah, he’s awake.

Zhou Yili ignored his words, memory already flooding his mind.

He coldly lowered his gaze. “Will you walk yourself, or do you need to be carried?”

Shen Jixing hesitated, glancing at the bright lights outside the garage—he wasn’t comfortable with too much intimacy in public.

“I’ll walk.”

Zhou Yili didn’t move, didn’t put him down. “Then get down.”

Shen Jixing’s thoughts were still sluggish from sleep, dreaming of many things from the past. He hadn’t quite caught up. “Oh… alright.”

Zhou Yili thought he seemed… a little obedient?

Shen Jixing clung to his shoulder, cold eyes half-lidded, lashes casting a pale shadow. They trailed down Zhou Yili’s lean waist as he slid slowly to his feet.

Once steady, he rubbed his aching cheek, not quite sure what had happened.

“Let’s go.”

Zhou Yili stared at him for a few seconds, his throat bobbing involuntarily.

He was the first to step into the elevator.

Shen Jixing’s legs were numb, moving slowly. By the time he reached the elevator, Zhou Yili was already inside and the doors were about to close.

He pushed through the ache and hurried forward.

The next moment, the elevator doors reopened, and Zhou Yili, frowning, pulled him inside.

“You’re really not afraid of getting caught. I’m standing right here—do you think the elevator would close on you?”

His cold voice carried a reprimand. Shen Jixing looked up at him.

Zhou Yili turned away and pressed the floor button.

Leaning against the elevator, Shen Jixing asked quietly, “Why are you so fierce tonight?”

Zhou Yili instinctively relaxed his tense expression.

He scoffed again. “When am I not fierce?”

He never used to be fierce, Shen Jixing thought.

Zhou Yili used to be unbearably adorable, smiling boldly like a mischievous schoolyard king, yet blushing at the slightest tease.

If kissed, even his ears would turn red.

He’d bury his face in Shen Jixing’s shoulder, rubbing against him endlessly.

Shen Jixing couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“What are you laughing at?” came the sharp question from beside him.

Shen Jixing glanced sideways, noting the gem-encrusted golden crown still perched atop Zhou Yili’s unruly blue hair. “Why are you still wearing that?”

Just as Sheng Que said, he really did look like a princess.

Through the elevator’s mirrored walls, Zhou Yili caught sight of it and replied coldly, “Mind your own business.”

Fine.

Princess matters are best left alone.

Shen Jixing didn’t know what was wrong with him tonight—he seemed disinclined to talk.

They walked in silence, the space filled only with Zhou Yili’s scent. Drowsy, Shen Jixing stepped out of the elevator, intending to find a blanket and sleep.

But as soon as he crossed the threshold, he was yanked forcefully to the side.

The man who had barely spoken to him pressed him against the wall and, without warning, bit his neck.

“Ah—”

Pain flooded Shen Jixing’s eyes with tears.

Zhou Yili showed no mercy, determined to make him suffer. His canine teeth broke the pale skin, even tasting the faint tang of blood.

Shen Jixing pressed against the door, head thrown back, pushing against the iron-hard man in resistance. “Get off… that hurts.”

He truly was in pain.

A thin line of blood opened on his skin, and the man, like a lion, claimed his territory.

Shivering in his arms, Shen Jixing’s cool sandalwood scent wafted from his collar, with a sweet undertone.

Zhou Yili’s gaze turned crimson. At last, he eased his grip, tongue gently tracing the wounded skin. His voice was hoarse, almost broken. “Now you see how fierce I am?”

Did Shen Jixing still think he was the same Zhou Yili as before? Someone he could toy with at will, cast aside whenever he pleased?

“I bite.”

The ruggedly handsome man, crowned like royalty, stared at him coldly. “I’m terrifying.”

Shen Jixing glared at him, eyes wet and red, his neck gleaming with moisture and streaks of blood.

Zhou Yili paused.

His throat itched inexplicably. He didn’t understand why he’d once feared Shen Jixing’s tears.

He looked so beautiful when he cried.

“You’re sick,” Shen Jixing said coldly, covering his neck and sidestepping him.

When the little lion was in a bad mood, he’d bite—who knew what was going on in his head.

Zhou Yili circled his waist with one arm, dragging him back against the wall.

“We’re not done talking.”

“Did I say you could leave?”

Shen Jixing’s back bumped against the door, the handle digging into his waist, making him wince.

He never saw himself as delicate, but waking from sleep, he was less rational. He didn’t understand why Zhou Yili kept bullying him.

He coldly lifted his eyes, warning in his usual detached tone.

“Try bullying me again.”

His cold gaze shimmered with tears.

Zhou Yili felt his scalp tingle.

“I…” The tough guy barely lasted a few minutes before stammering, “I—how is this bullying?”

When Shen Jixing bit him, he never reacted, never felt any aversion.

That was far harsher than this.

How could people be so…

“What do you want to talk about?” Shen Jixing’s quiet voice broke his thoughts.

Zhou Yili suspected what Shen Jixing resented wasn’t the pain, but perhaps him.

“Why did you give it to me?”

Zhou Yili pointed to the crown atop his head.

The endless stream of cars seemed to merge with memories running backward. He just couldn’t fathom why Shen Jixing did it.

Wasn’t he always so adept at giving up on him?

Whenever something better came along, Zhou Yili was always the first to be discarded.

He needed to know.

Even a reckless youth, bloodied from running into brick walls, might still hope for a bright road ahead.

“Is it so hard to understand?”

Shen Jixing hadn’t meant to tell him.

He’d always been probing Zhou Yili’s thoughts.

Until today, when the little dove was truly provoked.

“Because if I killed you, you’d be angry.”

Zhou Yili frowned lightly at that answer. “You’re afraid I’d be angry?”

Ah.

Zhou Yili understood—he was afraid he’d be angry and throw him out.

Then Shen Jixing would be a beautiful, unwanted little bird, cast adrift.

Childish. No matter how bad things got, he would never throw Shen Jixing away…

“Yeah.”

Shen Jixing, coldly covering his neck, said in a detached voice, “Because I want to pursue you—I don’t want you to be angry.”

—

This would surely delight Princess Zhou to no end.