Thinking back to the last time they met, when Feng Wuhen almost desperately confessed his feelings, Shen Molan seemed to understand.
Did he like Shaoqing…?
He couldn’t quite say for sure. Of course, he liked him—Shaoqing was warm and cheerful, like a younger brother, bringing light into his otherwise dull and lifeless existence. Shaoqing had no obsession over him, unlike Feng Wuhen. They had been traveling together for several years now, their personalities aligned perfectly.
He didn’t know why Feng Wuhen stared at him so intently, as if despairingly seeking an answer. Since childhood, Shen Molan had never been able to resist that gaze. Whenever Feng Wuhen looked at him like that, he always caved in.
He realized that Feng Wuhen still had possiveness toward him and seemed to want a negative answer. However, the truth was not so simple. Shen Molan had already grown accustomed to traveling with Shaoqing. It wasn’t possible to cut off contact just like in the past, and besides, they had many tasks and commissions ahead.
Therefore, Shen Molan lowered his gaze slightly without giving a clear response, which, to Feng Wuhen, seemed like silent agreement.
The young man appeared stunned, and Shen Molan could feel him staring at him with wide, amber eyes, as if on the verge of tears. Just as Shen Molan was about to speak, Feng Wuhen suddenly smiled and said, “Molan, I’ll head back to my room first.”
Shen Molan frowned, suppressing the urge he had felt earlier to comfort him.
Feng Wuhen added, “I’m staying right next door. If you two are going out or getting food later, just call for me.” He walked out as if nothing had happened, even giving a playful wink before he left.
As the door closed, Shen Molan listened to Feng Wuhen’s footsteps retreat, which almost sounded as if he was fleeing. His mood suddenly grew heavy, though he didn’t know why. It felt as if Feng Wuhen’s mere presence had thrown everything into disarray.
But for now, the priority was to quickly find a doctor for Shaoqing.
Shen Molan, always efficient, immediately found a well-known doctor in the capital. The doctor came to the inn and took Shaoqing’s pulse, stating that he had no cold or infection, just that he might have been overworked recently, which explained his fatigue. Shen Molan relaxed slightly, silently watching Shaoqing’s sleeping face.
The commotion naturally caught Feng Wuhen’s attention. He followed Shen Molan and the doctor into Shaoqing’s room, silently watching Shen Molan’s every move without saying a word. Shen Molan didn’t think much of it—Feng Wuhen had always watched him closely, though today he seemed unusually quiet. Moreover, Shaoqing’s condition seemed odd. Even though the doctor had said he was fine, Shaoqing, whom Shen Molan knew to be full of energy, shouldn’t have been so exhausted from their recent tasks.
Feng Wuhen followed closely behind, pursing his lips.
“Molan, my parents passed away not long ago… That’s why I was finally able to leave,” Feng Wuhen said after a brief pause. “I… I still hope that we can be like we used to be.”
Shen Molan, deep in thought, was momentarily startled by Feng Wuhen’s words.
He found Feng Wuhen’s words contradictory and confusing.
His parents had passed away… Shen Molan vaguely remembered that his parents had been deeply in love, but they hadn’t cared much for their only child. Therefore, Feng Wuhen wouldn’t have been deeply affected by their deaths. That made sense. But how was this connected to his inability to leave Feng Manor for the past few years? Shen Molan didn’t believe that his parents would have truly kept him from leaving.
Secondly, after all these years, how could they just return to how things used to be? It all seemed like some kind of joke that Feng Wuhen was playing. Shen Molan couldn’t help but laugh at his naivety and the excuses he made.
“Shaoqing and I are going to Xuzhou soon,” Shen Molan said apathetically. “Young Master Feng—no, Feng Manor’s Master now—I think it would be best if you returned to where you belong. We won’t burden you. Your skills aren’t sufficient, and it would only be dangerous for you to come along.” He genuinely meant to keep Feng Wuhen out of the muddy situation in Xuzhou, but there must be something wrong about his words, as he saw those amber eyes darken once again.
Chen Shaoqing woke up that evening.
Despite complaining of headaches, discomfort, and aches, he was still eager to go to Xuzhou. Seeing Shaoqing, pale but full of enthusiasm, Shen Molan couldn’t bring himself to suggest canceling the commission.
It wasn’t just because of Shaoqing.
He wasn’t sure if Feng Wuhen had fully absorbed the conversation they’d had a few hours earlier. After Shen Molan finished speaking, Feng Wuhen had seemed especially dejected. His clear, transparent eyes had stared at him unblinkingly, as if Shen Molan were his only faith, now crumbling before him. Shen Molan even felt that Feng Wuhen was silently accusing him or trying to etch his existence into his memory.
Thus, all Shen Molan could do was quickly avert his gaze, return to his room, and shut the door before Feng Wuhen could say another word.
Nevertheless, those eyes stayed with him, lingering in his mind.
After discussing their plans for Xuzhou, Chen Shaoqing rested peacefully that night. By the afternoon of the next day, he had regained his usual energy. After packing up, he cheerfully went next door to call for Shen Molan, ready to head to Xuzhou. New chapters come out on NovelPing first.
Unexpectedly, Feng Wuhen emerged from the other room before Shen Molan could respond.
The young man looked somewhat anxious. “Young Master Chen, are you two… leaving?”
In high spirits, Chen Shaoqing responded with youthful enthusiasm, “Yes, isn’t Shen-dage inside?”
“…” Feng Wuhen, seemingly hurt by Chen Shaoqing’s casual tone, suddenly forced a smile. “Can I go with you two? I can be of service.”
Chen Shaoqing frowned and gave Feng Wuhen a disdainful once-over. “You? The grand master of Feng Manor, helping us out? I wouldn’t dare… Besides, you don’t have much skill, and I don’t want to have to protect you alongside Shen-dage.”
Feng Wuhen’s smile froze. He had intended to use Chen Shaoqing as a way to join their journey and perhaps separate the two of them, but neither of them gave him the chance.
Shen-dage must be out. Chen Shaoqing thought to himself. Seeing Feng Wuhen’s unwilling expression, he said, “You should go back. We’ve been held back enough—don’t get in the way of me and Shen-dage.”
Chen Shaoqing felt he had been polite enough, given that Feng Wuhen was a friend of Shen-dage’s and because he was in a good mood today. Normally, he had no respect for those who lacked martial skills and would only drag others down. After speaking, he didn’t bother to look at Feng Wuhen’s reaction, heading back to his room without another word.
Feng Wuhen stood frozen in the doorway, looking lost, like a child who didn’t know where to go.
Shen Molan had gone out at noon to buy provisions and medicinal supplies, as the trip to Xuzhou would take several days. When he returned to the inn with everything ready, he found that Feng Wuhen’s room was already empty. Unable to help himself, he asked the innkeeper, who told him that the guest had left that afternoon.
So he’s gone.
Shen Molan was only dazed for a moment before thanking the innkeeper and heading upstairs to find Shaoqing.