"So, Zhaoxue, you must protect this delicate and smooth skin of yours!"
Before Xiu Yong's words had even faded, Zhaoxue's pupils constricted sharply.
The barriers he had desperately tried to maintain in his mind crumbled with a roar.
Did Xu Xu only want to peel his skin to give to this rabbit?
In Xu Xu's heart, did he only exist as a piece of skin?
Recalling how Zhu Xu had often gazed at his face in a daze over the past few days, Zhaoxue felt as though he had suddenly plunged into an abyss.
So, all those sweet nothings about liking him were just to deceive him…
If Xu Xu had even a shred of affection for him, he could have torn off his own skin countless times.
But everything Xu Xu did was for this rabbit in front of him.
If that was the case, then no matter how many such rabbits there were, he would kill them all, until Xu Xu's eyes could only see him.
The restraint in his phoenix eyes vanished completely, leaving only a deep, mad aura of destruction.
Zhaoxue released Xiu Yong's wrist, and in the next second, a sharp blade materialized in his hand, forged from spiritual energy, stabbing directly at Xiu Yong.
Xiu Yong choked, then quickly shielded himself with a defensive barrier, surprised that Zhaoxue dared to be so audacious in the human realm.
The blade collided with the protective shield, a powerful surge of spiritual energy causing Xiu Yong's hair and clothes to billow.
Almost without pause, as Zhaoxue's blade touched Xiu Yong's barrier, the azure shield cracked.
Xiu Yong's eyes widened; only at this moment did he truly feel how powerful Zhaoxue was.
Following that, Xiu Yong's protective shield suddenly shattered into pieces.
"Zhaoxue, I've changed," just as Zhaoxue's blade was about to pierce Xiu Yong's forehead, Zhu Xu's voice suddenly called out.
His phoenix eyes flickered, and then the blade halted before Xiu Yong's forehead.
"Huh, Zhaoxue isn't here? Why aren't you talking?"
Zhu Xu murmured in confusion. Zhaoxue could hear Zhu Xu's footsteps growing closer.
With a creak, Zhu Xu opened the door, and at the same time, the soundproofing barrier Xiu Yong had erected dissipated.
"Xiu Yong?" Zhu Xu called out to Xiu Yong, then walked over to Zhaoxue.
Zhu Xu looked surprised at Zhaoxue and Xiu Yong standing opposite each other, not expecting them to be so familiar after meeting only yesterday.
"What's going on?" Zhu Xu observed Zhaoxue's colder-than-usual expression and Xiu Yong's clearly tense demeanor.
Zhu Xu had a vague sense that the atmosphere was a little off, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong. Zhu Xu couldn't imagine what conflict could arise between Zhaoxue and Xiu Yong.
"Did you bully Zhaoxue?" The thought immediately made Zhu Xu shield Zhaoxue.
Xiu Yong, who had always been gentle towards Zhu Xu, now, under dual physical and mental defeat, couldn't help but frown. Then, quickly recovering, he relaxed his expression.
"Xu Xu, how could I bully anyone?" Xiu Yong forced an unnatural smile.
Xiu Yong hadn't said "bully Zhaoxue," but rather "bully anyone," subtly reminding Zhu Xu of his past image as a refined gentleman.
After Xiu Yong spoke, Zhu Xu fell silent.
Even if Xiu Yong had bullied Zhaoxue, there had to be a reason.
She shouldn't have condemned Xiu Yong before understanding the facts.
Concern had made her hasty; Zhu Xu smiled sheepishly at Xiu Yong.
Then, just as Zhu Xu was about to lead Zhaoxue and Xiu Yong out to stroll and ease the atmosphere, a force suddenly pulled her back from behind.
"Zhao…" Zhu Xu was about to speak when Zhaoxue's handsome face suddenly loomed before her.
"Mmm…" Zhu Xu's eyes widened, his crescent eyes filled with shock.
In broad daylight!!!
Xiu Yong instinctively wanted to pull Zhu Xu towards him, but then his almond eyes darkened, and he finally remained where he was.
His phoenix eyes met those crescent eyes for a moment. His lashes trembled, and then he closed his eyes.
A moment later, Zhu Xu came to his senses and instinctively pushed Zhaoxue with the hands that had landed on his shoulders.
Zhaoxue remained unmoved. Zhu Xu could only look at Zhaoxue helplessly and shyly, quietly enduring it.
After an unknown period of time, Zhaoxue pulled Zhu Xu back into the room.
"Zhaoxue, why suddenly…"
Zhu Xu gently held Zhaoxue's wrist, but before he could finish speaking, Zhaoxue interrupted him.
Zhaoxue: "Xu Xu, change your clothes."
Is it not good-looking?
Zhu Xu blinked, looked down at his blue ruqun, and felt a pang of disappointment.
Is it not good-looking?
"Xu Xu, wear this one?" Zhaoxue said, casually picking up a pink ruqun and handing it to Zhu Xu.
"It doesn't look good?" Zhu Xu's tone was dejected.
"This outfit doesn't suit you," Zhaoxue said, his eyes on the bright blue appearing as if they were filled with ice.
Earlier in the hallway, Zhu Xu and that rabbit had both been wearing blue.
They had looked like a match made in heaven, while he was the odd one out.
"Really?"
Zhu Xu was easily appeased. Zhaoxue had only said this much, and Zhu Xu couldn't help but curve his lips, his crescent eyes instantly brightening.
"Xu Xu, hurry and change." The longer Zhaoxue looked at Zhu Xu in that blue, the more pain he felt. He desperately wanted to sever any connection between Zhu Xu and that rabbit.
"Then you go out first." Zhu Xu hugged the clothes, his expression resolute.
Zhaoxue looked at Zhu Xu, then turned around slowly after a moment of silence.
"Xu Xu, I won't look."
Zhu Xu looked at Zhaoxue's back, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, quietly changing his clothes with a blush.
Listening to the rustling sound of clothes being changed behind him, Zhaoxue's index finger and thumb rubbed together, his ears feeling a little warm.
"Zhaoxue, I'm done changing."
A moment later, Zhu Xu leaped from behind Zhaoxue to in front of him.
Zhu Xu's face was wreathed in a smile, his bright, curved eyes as radiant as the warm sun.
"Does it look good or not?" Seeing Zhaoxue's lack of reaction, Zhu Xu grabbed Zhaoxue's sleeve and drawled playfully.
Zhaoxue pulled Zhu Xu into a tight embrace.
He didn't believe a single word that rabbit had said.
Zhaoxue wouldn't seek confirmation from Zhu Xu.
Having basked in such warmth, how could he now accept the chill of winter?
If what that rabbit had said were true, then he would gladly be deceived by Zhu Xu like this until the day he awoke from his dream.
On that day, he would offer his own skin, and he would also confine Xu Xu by his side.