Who - ?! Chen Wu thought, surprised, because someone dared to sneak attack him, and in their base! Who is it? For him to not notice, it should be either the other party is someone he trusts thus he lowered his guard, or they are stronger than him!
The people he trusts are his brothers, of course, but they are currently sleeping and are in front of him. There are also the Xinfaxian Sect, but they have left earlier! The one left is –
His pupils trembled, since the one left is someone he trusts, and also is stronger than him – Wu Lian! "Argh!" he grunted as he turned his head and bit Wu Lian's hand pulling him back. "What do you want?!" he asked as he glared at him.
Wu Lian stood there in the darkness. His figure is vague. But, Chen Wu knows him very much, even if Wu Lian would turn to ashes, he will recognize him!
"… I came to take you back." Wu Lian answered.
Chen Wu sneered. "Hah. After you humiliated me earlier?" he asked.
"I didn't." Wu Lian said. "It is not my intention." He explained.
"But you did! You humiliated me!" Chen Wu said.
"It is not humiliation!" Wu Lian's voice raised.
Chen Wu was taken aback and he looked at Wu Lian in shock. Wu Lian rarely raises his voice, and he never did towards Chen Wu. This time is the first.
Chen Wu's eyes narrowed as his heart was filled with fury. "It wasn't?! You could have just spoken to me in private but you contradicted me in front of them earlier!" he said.
Wu Lian didn't answer.
Chen Wu's eyes turned cold. "Leave. I will be sleeping with my brothers tonight." He said, then paused. "I will sleep here starting from now." He said and went inside.
But, he had just taken a step when Wu Lian pulled him back again.
"What the hell!" Chen Wu roared, though his voice is low since he is afraid to wake his brothers, as well as the others. what the hell is wrong with Wu Lian tonight?! He thought, feeling irritated. He tried to kick the other, but the other seems to have expected it.
… or just he was too familiar of him, so Wu Lian avoided his kick. "Be good. Let's go back." Wu Lian said as he easily picked Chen Wu up.
Chen Wu's eyes widened in shock and he struggled in Wu Lian's arms. "Let me go!" he said. But, it is as if Wu Lian's hands are iron shackles and thus he can't break free.
"Continue shouting. It is better if everyone hears." Wu Lian said as he carried Chen Wu to their tent.
Chen Wu immediately shut his mouth, but he resumed struggling. But, from beginning to end, Wu Lian's expression didn't change as if Chen Wu's struggles is like that of a child's. Before he realized it, Chen Wu noticed that they have already arrived in their tent. Then, Wu Lian carefully placed him down the bed.
Chen Wu was about to punch Wu Lian, but before he could, Wu Lian suddenly pinned him down the bed!
"You hate me!" Chen Wu finally can't hold it back anymore and his tears fell. His voice sounds aggrieved. "You must have hated me for a long time and now you have found the opportunity to humiliate me!" he said as he glared at Wu Lian.
"No." Wu Lian answered as he looked at Chen Wu beneath him. he raised his hand and wiped Chen Wu's tears with his knuckles.
Chen Wu was stunned with Wu Lian's action. He stared at him, wide-eyed. "Then why are you doing this?" he asked him.
Wu Lian wiped with his thumb the new tears that fell from Chen Wu's eyes after he blinked. "I did that earlier so that everyone would know your intentions." He said.
"What…?" Chen Wu stared at him.
"You are acting as everyone's leader, and mostly decide for us." Wu Lian spoke. "But, earlier, you acted out of the line." He said.
"What?!" Chen Wu exclaimed.
"You should know. Everyone already knows that going out at night in search of magic herbs is dangerous." Wu Lian said. "But, a group already went despite the danger. You know that: they are willing to risk their lives to find the magic herbs so that everyone would have medicine." He told him.
Chen Wu fell silent.
"But, I know… you are just worried about them." Wu Lian said. "The others might also know, but there would be some who don't, and would think ill of your intention of stopping them." he explained.
"Yes. They might look not malicious now, but who knows what happens after?" Wu Lian asked as he stared at Chen Wu. "Chen Wu. We might be striving for immortality, but right now, we are still just humans." He told him. "Everything is borne from a thought, especially malice. So, I want everyone to see and know your intention…" he explained. "Chen Wu. You are good. So good, and I – " he said and took a deep breath.
Chen Wu stared at Wu Lian in a daze. When he saw the other knitted his handsome brows as if he has a dilemma, his hand subconsciously raised to touch his brows. Wu Lian sharply turned and looked at him in shock.
Chen Wu's face suddenly turned red. "Ah, I…" he stammered as his hand froze.
But, who would have thought for Wu Lian to grab his hand and let his hand touch his face? Chen Wu felt his face turned redder, and steam is coming out of his head because of how hot it is in shame.
"You…" he said as he tried to think of a topic. "So, you acted as a villain earlier?" he asked, trying to distract his mind since Wu Lian is guiding his hand to touch his face.
Chen Wu isn't stupid. What they are doing now is very ambiguous, especially their position where Wu Lian is on top of him.
"En." Wu Lian answered. His deep eyes never left Chen Wu's face.
Chen Wu just realized this, and his heart skipped a beat. "T – thank you…" he said and forced a smile. He felt his wrist where Wu Lian is touching is scalding.
"En." Wu Lian nodded and continued to stare at Chen Wu's face.
"W – what is it?" Chen Wu asked.
"You don't need to go see them tomorrow and talk with them." Wu Lian said.
"Why?" Chen Wu was taken aback.
"They are smart. They know what to do." Wu Lian answered as he moved Chen Wu's hand for him to kiss the back of that hand, especially the knuckles.
Chen Wu's breathing hitched and he felt butterflies in his stomach. He felt his heart was tickled when he felt Wu Lian's soft and warm lips bumped against his knuckles. "W – Wu… Wu Lian – " he called.
"En." Wu Lian muttered as he resumed rubbing his lips against Chen Wu's knuckles.
'en' what?! Chen Wu thought, feeling that his whole body is now red.
"I like you." Wu Lian spoke.
Chen Wu's eyes widened. Although he has already expected it, considering Wu Lian's strange behavior tonight, he still feels shocked. "Wu Lian – " he called.
"I love you." Wu Lian said. "I love you, Chen Wu." He said as he stared at Chen Wu's widened eyes.
"… when…?" Chen Wu asked.
"From when I first met you." Wu Lian honestly answered.
Chen Wu was stunned. From their first meeting?! He thought. But, they were only twelve back then! He stared at Wu Lian. Wu Lian has never lied to him, though, so he knows that what Wu Lian is telling him is true. But still, he can't believe it.
"After father and dad took me to the sect, I saw you are laughing with your brothers." Wu Lian spoke.
Indeed, that was what happened. Chen Wu thought when he recalled it.
"I was very envious of you, as well as your brothers." Wu Lian continued. "But, I liked you after that, since you smiled at me. You – " he stared at Chen Wu who is furiously blushing. " – never looked at me with disgust or loathing. Your eyes are pure. I liked you since then. And I was always jealous of Chen Su and Chen Yu." He confessed. "Even until now." He said.
"But they are my brothers!" Chen Wu can't help but say.
"That is why I feel jealous of them." Wu Lian said. "That time, my like for you was still the like one have towards their family, thus I was jealous of your brothers." He explained. "But, now…" he said as he pressed his lips on Chen Wu's hand that he is holding, making Chen Wu gasped loudly.
"Wu Lian…" Chen Wu called.
"I don't care anymore if you wanted to protect your brothers." Wu Lian said.
Chen Wu stared at him.
"But, I want you to let me protect you.." Wu Lian said before he lowered his head and kissed Chen Wu's parted lips.