“Where are you?”

“I’m here!”

“I don’t see you.”

“I’m right here.”

“I know you’re here, but I’ve searched for so long and still haven’t found you. Where exactly are you hiding?”

…

Two voices came through the rain.

Though the sound of rain was loud, it still couldn’t drown out their voices.

A young man in fine robes could be seen running through the heavy rain from the courtyard to the covered corridor.

His pair of shoes stepped in the rainwater, splashing water everywhere.

Because this rain was truly too heavy, the young man’s clothes were already completely soaked through.

But right now, he completely couldn’t care about the rain on his body. He just casually used his hand to push back his rain-soaked hair, then lifted his long robe and ran through the corridor.

As he ran, he looked around everywhere.

His mouth continuously calling out: “Where exactly are you? How is it that I just can’t see you? You must be deceiving me, you must not be here.”

Facing his shouts, the voice responding to him came from the air: “Can you really not see me? I’m right here.”

“Enough, stop teasing me! I truly can’t see you. Look at me, braving such heavy rain to come find you. Why do you keep hiding from me?”

“You were the one who said that if you came to find me next time, you’d let me hide, and you said no matter where I hid, you’d be able to find me. How is it that now you can’t find me? Look again, you’ll definitely find me. I’m hiding in a place you know.”

“A place I know? But I’ve already searched the entire residence, I even went to the library! I asked Uncle, and Uncle also said you’re here, but it’s as if you’ve disappeared. I just can’t find you.”

The young man was getting a bit anxious!

He looked around everywhere in the corridor.

Looking here, searching there.

But he just couldn’t see the other person’s shadow.

He felt that person was deceiving him, and Uncle was deceiving him too.

As he was anxiously running in circles, the voice that had originally been echoing in the air came from overhead: “A’Jin, how can you be so impatient? If you just search a bit more, you’ll be able to find me.”

Hmm?

A’Jin stopped in place.

Following the earlier voice, he looked up.

There were black tiles and sturdy pillars.

But he couldn’t see anyone!

Not even a shadow.

He mumbled a few times, then very adorably called up to ask: “So Lian Que, are you up there?”

“…”

“Are you? Answer me!” A’Jin stamped his feet in place.

Lian Que didn’t respond to him for a long while.

“If you don’t speak again, I’m leaving! Mother said I can’t leave the palace anymore during this period. Many things have been happening in the palace recently. Father King and Mother have been gloomy and unhappy. I also snuck out to see you today.”

Just as he was about to lose patience—

A head dangled down from above. Those jet-black bright eyes blinked a few times, staring at A’Jin and saying: “I’m here, see?”

A’Jin saw that familiar face.

He immediately broke into a smile.

His feet bounced up: “So you’re on the roof! Lian Que, you’re getting better and better at hiding.”

Lian Que smiled at him. Rainwater beat mercilessly on his body and hair, making his handsome face appear somewhat blurred.

Then he jumped down from above.

Landing beside A’Jin.

Two drowned rats stood facing each other just like that.

But both were incredibly happy.

A’Jin was shorter than him. He quickly crouched down, grabbed his clothes, then desperately wrung them out while saying: “I’ll wring out the water for you, otherwise you’ll catch cold.”

Though he himself was also soaked through.

But—

Lian Que pulled him up with one motion, his face serious, saying: “A’Jin, you can’t.”

Hmm?

A’Jin’s eyes rolled slightly as he asked: “Why can’t I?”

“You just can’t.”

A’Jin didn’t understand. His large eyes were full of confusion as he raised his eyes and asked: “But every time my clothes get wet, Mother wrings out my clothes this way too. Why is it not allowed when it comes to you?”

“Because…”

“Because what?” A’Jin urgently said, “Mother said that only the closest people would do this. You’re my best friend. I just want to do this for you. Is that not allowed?”

Lian Que looked at the small young man before him, opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak…

Finally he said: “Because you are the future King of Huyi. And I’m just a small attendant beside the marquis.”

So—

It couldn’t be between them.

Even more impossible to become friends.

Between king and subject, there was only the relationship of loyalty!

Though young A’Jin hadn’t been exposed to many things, he understood the meaning in Lian Que’s words.

He immediately became a bit unhappy. He forcefully shook his wide sleeves full of rainwater, looking unhappily at the young man several years his senior before him: “I won’t allow you to say that again. Lian Que, you’re not only my friend, you’re also my closest brother. No matter what I become in the future, we’ll still be like we are now, right?”

“No, we can’t.”

“I won’t let you say we can’t.” His small face was full of anger. Lian Que reached out, patted his head, and said very earnestly: “A’Jin, I just want to tell you, no matter what happens in the future, and regardless of what our statuses are, I will always stand on your side. Just one word from you, and I’ll climb mountains of blades and descend into seas of fire for you. Even this life of mine—if you want it, I can give it to you at any time.”

A’Jin stepped back: “I don’t want your life.”

“I know.”

“Even if all the people in the world died for me, I wouldn’t want you to die.” A’Jin’s fists clenched with a powerful force.

He was completely serious! Lian Que’s heart was moved beyond measure, but he knew that no matter how good his relationship with A’Jin was, in the end he was ultimately a subject. Between ruler and subject, there was ultimately a distinction. But it was also as he had said—he could give everything for A’Jin. As long as he wanted it, he could even give up his own life.

Afterward, Lian Que asked him: “You said something happened in the palace. What happened?”

A’Jin hung his head: “I don’t know either. Mother won’t tell me, but I know something must have happened.”

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here!”

“If something really happens, Lian Que, will you come save me?”

Lian Que nodded very earnestly: “Of course, of course I’ll come save you. I said I could even give you my life.”

He was so resolute!

But who could have imagined…

That very day!

A great fire spread throughout the palace.

The sea of flames extended…

Almost surrounding the entire main hall.

The aura of death permeated the entire palace.

Those tragic scenes were too horrible to witness!

So cruel, so terrifying, so bloody… and so heartbreaking.