Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery ButterflyqEJODfAllOBTvnubPXXxepatkDnFkj

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Due to the geothermal spring, the ground near the water was warm.AMAsgCzIBLdAwLQMqdVUMFucExIsbW

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The air above the water was still filled with a misty fog, and two naked bodies lay by the spring.uROUTVwqipLKmVLHaRIidArQukEZnK

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Xiao Bao lay on his side, playing with Huai En’s wet hair, admiring his lazy posture after their “drunken feast.”ohmabqqfCyPekGlwlUxppdmVohtCnt

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Huai En’s eyes were half-closed, his head tilted slightly, his gaze drifting over Xiao Bao’s face. Those misty eyes, filled with a deep and alluring clarity, seemed endless when one looked into them.cmSrshBiVGSIJAOQIGSRPDVKmZKkUy

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Xiao Bao was often mesmerized by his beauty, and this time was no exception. Though his body was completely exhausted, his eyes were still moving, and he gave Huai En a lustful smile.dGGPxrpzwldZgAoDmvfbllRsjtagTx

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Huai En was amused by his mischievous look, reaching out to pinch his cheek and pull it upwards.ktyhHUdhtgvZPBchhmvkxoMwxRiMhz

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“Ow, that hurts.” Xiao Bao rubbed his cheek, but suddenly everything went dark as Huai En’s body half-covered him.nMdyvOSPhVArMkBzuxxeVnyeLLtUJx

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Xiao Bao nervously pushed him, “We agreed, no more. I really can’t take it.”cTUnfwWoZjhauKrlISezSXDfCbdyIS

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Huai En rested his face against Xiao Bao’s neck, wrapping an arm and a leg around him. “I won’t do anything. Just let me hold you for a while.”iJUlWDlANaqoIlQLqORTcwiMtEAwFo

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Xiao Bao opened his arms and hugged Huai En, rubbing his forehead with his nose, feeling his heart overflow with tenderness and love.rmEQmzbmJzZbzWbGWSiijZHBhAOPwZ

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He gently stroked Huai En’s back without any carnal intent. That feeling…..MgiwlXAMYXvBhWaYCoTOzLZJeuMoXq

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Xiao Bao suddenly sat up, lifting Huai En’s long hair off his back. Huai En, unable to evade, could only watch him silently.gUEZrkYyunjPyruxZsAjViYylkDQDJ

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Xiao Bao’s lips trembled, “This…. why..…”FuMIxqroTNigtmmXlBUVqJvfAwVktV

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Huai En’s not-so-broad back was covered in crisscrossing scars, some deep, some shallow. Although they had healed, they left indelible marks, the sight of which made Xiao Bao’s eyes sting with pain.RBFWiIxzWVleYFDgkbzhnlOKAXvzNg

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“How did you get these? Who beat you? You have so many scars on your body, and you’re still so young. Who did this to you?”PdHTgDfWbzwvwKyEiJblijYMMAlATT

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Huai En, seeing Xiao Bao’s body trembling with agitation, pushed him back down gently, burying his face in Xiao Bao’s neck and holding him tightly. “It’s nothing, it’s from when I was a child.”yKnDRNPqRpSGxtBiygqzwNYWVEctRY

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“When you were a child? How young? Why did they beat you like this?”dQHieOMoEGHJWrCvJcgYTqAbKxXJRB

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After a moment of silence, Huai En spoke with a detached voice as if he were talking about someone else. “My father did. If I didn’t make progress in my training, he would beat me. If I didn’t meet his goals, he would beat me. It’s nothing, just flesh wounds.”jywIJjsyTLALgBEnsENpoZasNbFRdl

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“Just flesh wounds?” Xiao Bao held him sorrowfully, lightly stroking the uneven skin on his back, his nose stinging, eyes hot with unshed tears.puYeToUVQWootgjmhVGXNRcPVXQgEG

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“Xiao Bao…” Huai En seemed lost for a moment as he looked at Xiao Bao’s tears. “Don’t cry. He probably couldn’t even beat me now. In a way, it’s thanks to him.”ArWMFNBcTFcAvlIKbKgxfjQgrtJKzn

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“He’s your father. How could he be so heartless?”RySsJAmKURIKoTKUmWbkfGgfKzxzxG

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Huai En let out a strange laugh. “The relationship between him and me is nothing like the one between you and your father. You wouldn’t understand.”wDjWHoZLywluXjVpLDuAstUhUPwNXL

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Xiao Bao kissed Huai En’s forehead a few times. “I will take good care of you from now on. I won’t let anyone bully you. No one will ever beat you again.”JlJTjZChtTzhUfXtnjVznnREbUtuAD

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Huai En closed his eyes and quietly inhaled the warm, pleasant scent at Xiao Bao’s neck, softly replying, “Okay.”uXrrzNGKxPZmZQjZsmBCUtglUGtBoH

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They held each other tenderly for a while longer. Xiao Bao, stroking Huai En’s hair, suddenly said, “Huai En, let me wash your hair.”LjgaTjeGGKOIpuTLhyXNNUBQlgVOhh

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Huai En was taken aback. “Alright.”exRBvkkMOkEcCgAMdQKptLUGnAUgeT

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Xiao Bao rummaged through his bag and pulled out a small piece of soapberry before jumping into the water.sSVBpmgMBCzdNqffopBkutpYyimSfk

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Huai En looked at him in surprise. “You even brought that?”RVxcACPnHbuqXQsXdDTnVEWslHzHoV

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Xiao Bao chuckled. “I only bring useful things. Come, lie down.”ZjpyttRYwYoWmClNgbSkouleAwPgyw

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Huai En moved closer to the edge of the spring, letting most of his head hang over the stone ledge.dkMPZgBXkFHKOCogxHMAmKmrDYfaGe

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Standing in the water, Xiao Bao lifted Huai En’s long hair and placed it in the water, then scooped up water with his hands to wet Huai En’s scalp.djalBhLwCJQItLqZtfSOGPQzwYgXuD

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This was something Xiao Bao had never done before, so he mimicked the techniques of a maid, gently massaging Huai En’s hair until it was completely wet. Then he applied the soapberry, rubbing it in circles on his hair and massaging his scalp.gzSTcPRDjfwyjrZBOurnUYpZltsQGA

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Softly, he asked in Huai En’s ear, “Does that feel good?”neYjycmZUzCbjLGwNJyISuOJxwzoZi

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Huai En nodded with his eyes closed. “I never knew washing hair could feel this good.”fbVgVbYEalQAPgCVkzevipxelYhrkb

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“Huai En.”TnKiRteAMjzIrwyEqZpEiFPlEKOhGu

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“Hmm?”QUkXZwmLXmxwSQFWMNPVhEAWLSaHSO

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Xiao Bao hesitated for a moment before gathering the courage to say, “I want to wash your hair forever.”MBtewKqYKSysXciJggPsHLZcNNXoAh

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“……”jevcioHmEGkeMOmvZVjvUPhUwgrLeM

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“Do you understand what I mean? I want to be with you forever.”zaEcOpaYUBrTOKIuqZxPovFqSnDkiy

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Huai En opened his eyes and looked up at him, his eyes shimmering and unreadable, making Xiao Bao a little nervous.LySuKeqNTHDIczGMPbmIPLKoOqtGgI

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Maybe he was asking too soon. Perhaps he should wait until they were even closer.CiFsYrpEwNjpqTlFWHGoHeeQwocblf

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Huai En closed his eyes again, his eyelashes trembling slightly, his lips pressed together.ihNbUJBUxeQVYBdrgfdOHbyDfXhSze

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For a moment, only the sound of water remained. Xiao Bao felt a bit sad but not discouraged. There was plenty of time; one day, he would make Huai En truly fall in love with him.yFcdaVWyESnCZFXzNOporAoAdubsjw

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Xiao Bao rinsed the soapberry from Huai En’s hair, and time quietly flowed between them.sUrYxDNStLwbKQzpehSYWpGLDOSTur

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“Are you serious?” Huai En suddenly asked.HqDuLWHfXGZvFVPSnbElcevNNyHhdR

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“Huh?”oXdJjxiKCCZFEtswPywgeoXNGmQRek

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“What you just said.”KOjSlmOUxcDOXPiFWhFVpNqRpqauNn

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“It’s true, of course it’s true.”zdcUPiERPQiuMRNYMZrfsdvnDTcIvD

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“You… if you want to be with me forever, you can’t go back on your word, you can’t have these thoughts about anyone else.”chXinIyBiZxplYdTFntEmRaQgGntpB

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“Of course, I only like you, I only want to be with you,” Xiao Bao declared passionately.vrEOabhXAjXAKRJxncPKAxKhuTSxTO

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“From now on…. no matter what happens, you can’t take those words back.”YMtAPhMfLsvKiCmmvVnZaRxPsSSGmA

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“I won’t, no matter what happens, I won’t change my heart.”SxtpGQHPxQLUZjDsCOVGIoHcuKoWob

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Huai En opened his eyes, turned over, and propped himself up on his elbow, staring directly at Xiao Bao. His voice even trembled slightly. “If you… deceive me…. I won’t forgive you….you mustn’t deceive me.”BNYWNeIYIouWAwHsdIxbFEkBLsGuZe

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“I will never deceive you, I will only love you for my entire life,” Xiao Bao vowed earnestly, looking into his eyes.mfMxpBKJqmfEbqcVTtodWkdsXmizAn

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Huai En reached out and cupped Xiao Bao’s head, pulling him closer, his lips pressing heavily against Xiao Bao’s, his voice still trembling, “I won’t allow you to deceive me, you can’t go back on your word. You, Jin Xiao Bao, will belong to me for the rest of your life.”XDQiCqjzmaHNomSOpHVsXXKwZzhHBj

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“I will belong to you for the rest of my life, and you too, right? Huai En, will you?” Xiao Bao clumsily responded to the kiss, feeling like he was no longer himself. At that moment, a single word from Huai En could lift him to heaven or plunge him into hell.oOxaXuMYUBNolBwlfBeVYKjCQjaJhT

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“I will, I only want you.”YZbOXQxGgESNjSZvJtlVLzWRGirtoy

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Xiao Bao held him tightly, their kisses deep and lingering, as if trying to meld all their promises into their bodies through the sweet contact.ShFUPABIZXuRPnOhFSuVvcDlREyoKL

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After the long kiss, they lay closely together on the stone edge, savoring the peace of a world that now only contained each other.kQMgENMIIVhImUYnIcHOkVpFLFQrcD

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This happiness and contentment felt like a dream, one neither wanted to wake from.ZBDokmgzzcKdTOAGQLqcBHpMOmeWpI

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However, reality always intrudes on the most beautiful dreams.ehcIoaOtJBsFkqEVcxMxuUXbwipeOu

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One moment Xiao Bao was lost in the soft dream, the next he found himself being lifted and carried away by Huai En. After a dizzying moment, he realized they had flown several feet away from the spring. Where they had been lying was now neatly pierced by a row of iron darts, the thin metal blades embedded halfway into the stone. Xiao Bao was terrified.asNCYBFkNsoYTKTIrcFIyCZzvvRXnT

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