Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery ButterflylvbxnHmyCuPBmGhoafhxEsFqGujtDE

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The first thing Xiao Bao saw was a vast expanse of white—the white long robe, the white cloak, and the face of unparalleled beauty, as white as snow.msfQeTJbEquNzYrpXaTNORenzzeuVv

The reunion he had imagined had appeared in every dream, every moment of deep sleep, but when awake, he constantly suppressed his foolish hopes. He knew that he wasn’t afraid of seeing him again, but rather, he feared having expectations—that would be too unforgivable.lpOKYSMWTlMSLbmBRwlSMVmHIFUORI

The surrounding emptiness made Xiao Bao feel an unprecedented helplessness. Just facing him alone exhausted all the courage he had accumulated, and even that was not enough.XxoRbCkxOUKVWGclpfDZnvdZbMuymg

He looked around helplessly, hoping to find something or someone to rely on. He called out the names of everyone he depended on in his heart, but it was of no use. He could only stare with aching eyes as Huai En walked toward him once more.ViDDysywbTDTGiNUICBMkXAeBNMNzV

The storm within Huai En’s heart was no less intense than Xiao Bao’s. The moment he saw Xiao Bao, tears almost began to fall.nHHFKyPgHPFjYfAklhYyfUQetPwzvn

His heart, tormented day and night by fear and longing, was close to breaking upon seeing the now emaciated Xiao Bao. His wounds had not yet healed, but he had hurried day and night to reach Dali. He had tirelessly braved the wind and snow, making arrangements everywhere. After finally diverting Su Yin and his group, he had rushed to see him without a moment’s rest. He was filled with grievances and sorrow, yearning for Xiao Bao’s comfort. He fantasized that the warmth he remembered could soothe all his unease and pain. He longed for a beautiful future where they could walk hand in hand after the dust had settled. But seeing Xiao Bao like this, a Xiao Bao he never imagined, he felt shattered by the sight of the exhausted and bleak Xiao Bao.xwegAiKUzbOpzsjztHfMQFgikYxAAt

That flash of white turned into a fleeting illusion, and before Xiao Bao could react, he was pulled into a cold embrace. The cheek pressed against his neck was cold, the lips resting on his collarbone were cold, only the breath was warm, and the choked voice was warm as well.YKXrkDpYAWJqeCbvJLdpcchceUsSDn

“Xiao Bao… I missed you so much…”gBBPOZSvCSFehYkrkfFBVZtEiHmHUs

Xiao Bao’s entire body shuddered, freezing on the spot.kVovhDJGMFJWxLJyIwOBYJpMCXQHVo

What a simple, touching sentence, as if nothing had happened, as if he had only been on a trip, as if he had only slept in. Then they could still embrace and confide in each other as before.aFNlbLlevZzkqcfNVLrPVKPRjDdHvJ

Xiao Bao’s stiffness and silence caused the unease in Huai En’s heart to grow wildly. Even though he was holding him, he didn’t feel that sense of “having” as before. This only made him tighten his arms further, his lips softly but urgently brushing against the warm skin of Xiao Bao’s neck. “Xiao Bao, I missed you, I missed you. How did you become like this? How did you get so thin? How could you… Mmph!”kKGtKCjCOgRMSKNKoMNIwNIZGVPaGu

A sharp pain suddenly radiated from his shoulder. Even through the fabric, he could feel Xiao Bao’s teeth sinking into his flesh, and they were biting down with true, vengeful force.KVWJthjGmIrHTCDBmeuVxUFDrOHohR

Huai En held him tightly, but his eyes grew wet. He didn’t know how much effort it took to keep the tears from falling. The pain in his shoulder was nothing compared to the heartache of knowing Xiao Bao was willing to hurt him.QgLATAxzBijXfVQfRJProuwbqvoMET

In the moment he was pushed away with force, he saw the look in Xiao Bao’s eyes. It was truly hatred—no chance of luck, no redemption—true hatred.hhAwHvUJIgOJvhIQHQElCADtDvsDgr

Xiao Bao really hated him. Xiao Bao was hating him. The eyes that were once filled with admiration and tenderness were now filled with naked hatred. The face that once bore a flattering smile and an infatuated expression was now full of estrangement and rejection…EvfUIruJMCZhrIQxXjAOEOdtJSBaxm

In his life, Huai En had never been afraid of anything. But if there was one thing that could utterly defeat him with a single blow, it was the thought of Xiao Bao no longer liking him.BKScHRopPZzTQRwdQWfIyAEXfyfIfo

He pressed Xiao Bao’s hand down firmly through the blanket. The indifference and ruthlessness that had been frozen on his face for decades were nowhere to be found. He was only sorrowful, but desperately peering into Xiao Bao’s eyes, hoping for an answer that he was just throwing a tantrum.hLYYkSbeiONBVnPrDLxWfvVpgqkPut

Xiao Bao, with reddened eyes, stared at the face that once made him lose his mind, a face he would have died for willingly. His heart ached so much that he could barely straighten his back. He could only grit his teeth and say, “How dare you show your face in front of me? How dare you say you missed me? Why don’t you just go die!”rFrwADJZgYmndqnpUyBoHFneXLGenZ

Huai En’s deep, dark eyes, once bright and profound like a still pool, instantly lost their luster. He pressed his lips together and spoke with difficulty, “Xiao… Bao… don’t be mad at me…”oBBxHayKxyrVVAkhlDvaLUwnqUxUzo

“Why did you come back? What are you after? Haven’t you already squeezed everything out of the Jin family? If there’s anything left in me, Jin Xiao Bao, that you still want, just take it! Who the hell are you putting on this act for?!”VLuwMWvgEOgGinxXSqJgdgEJzYjfiz

Huai En was momentarily stunned. “Xiao Bao, for what happened before, I… I will make it up to you.”gGRRIdKvyaVisrvbAlicpHlepOeetN

“Make it up to me? Damn your compensation! I may not be smart, but I’m not a fool! You used me when you needed me, and when you were done, you just walked away without a care for my life or death! Now that I have some leftover value for you to squeeze, you come back without missing a beat! Who the hell are you putting on this disgusting act for?! Where are my father and mother? Where are my father and mother?!” Xiao Bao shouted as he grabbed Huai En by the collar, tears streaming down his face.rsasHGBsFtZgeTuPIuNuVgiWKdwlav

Huai En could no longer bear it. Tears rolled down his cheeks, blurring his vision. So this is what it feels like to cry—so bitter and unbearable, it made his heart ache beyond measure.vVEQritwaOCffkXGCyiRcXdmZvSKbx

He could only dryly try to explain, “I wouldn’t hurt them…”LdOMmIWrxmEtxOQRxlPklVxAZIdGMv

Xiao Bao’s eyes widened in fury, and he screamed as he pushed Huai En to the ground, raining down punches on his body and face like a storm, his mouth emitting a beast-like roar, “It really is you! It really is you! Haven’t you done enough?! What does the Jin family owe you?! You’ve ruined us like this and it’s still not enough?! It’s still not enough for you?! Are you even human?! You… you beast…”XMlHqlYAbHtaQdoFuwlCEGieUGKZBu

Huai En looked at the frenzied Xiao Bao, feeling a sudden urge to cry out loud without restraint. He couldn’t empathize with Xiao Bao’s anger and hatred. To him, it was just a loss of wealth—why hate him so much for that? If it was because of his betrayal, hadn’t Xiao Bao not cared even when he treated him worse before? And now that he had willingly lowered his head, why, why did Xiao Bao still hate him so much, with such furious disdain? Always surrounded by gentleness and love, Huai En couldn’t handle this treatment from Xiao Bao. Each punch felt like it landed directly on his heart.iTkXCoLsCsLsUiKSQAcptkRwPTIZUC

He suddenly grabbed Xiao Bao’s wrist, and with a swift motion, flipped Xiao Bao onto the ground, pinning him down with his long legs, securing Xiao Bao’s waist firmly.sXKEMhOUNHJqTGFoHDmwvcxIPuHFCQ

Xiao Bao couldn’t move, and could only glare at him with those bloodshot eyes.MXROVIBtFgsIMyHrLPzhAokUHeJTVB

Huai En felt there was something he couldn’t understand, something he couldn’t grasp about the reason for Xiao Bao’s madness. He could only offer a clumsy explanation based on his own reasoning, “Xiao Bao… don’t be angry anymore… I have my reasons. The losses to the Jin family, I will make up for them, alright? Whatever you had before, you will still have in the future. I will give it all to you, okay? This time, just this last time, let me complete this task, and then I will stay with you forever, okay, Xiao Bao? Believe me…”xoZSrXAiQDUvZBpsSCbWPsJunCvcvW

Xiao Bao glared at him with a look that seemed as if he wanted to devour him alive. He had never hated anyone so much before, hated someone so selfish, so cruel. How had he ever been bewitched by him?RlWfXvrXgVBlYZYPXGGCpDhUcFSlMf

Huai En had never bowed his head to anyone in his life. Even with a knife at his throat, he wouldn’t show the slightest weakness. This explanation was already a plea, enough to make him feel humiliated. But faced with Xiao Bao’s merciless gaze, he felt even more powerless.HccaAQrrvtjstwIVCOzGhvkaLqHdpp

“Xiao Bao, stop making trouble. Let’s make up, okay? From now on, I will treat you well. You… you just need to be like you were before, and I will give you everything you want. You can continue to be your Young Master Jin, and I will treat you well. Let’s make up, alright?”suMcYSmqqiqXvCveePmvpeofnPvmyl

The pain and anguish in Xiao Bao’s heart reached such an extreme that he suddenly felt like laughing. He had never known Huai En could be so naïve.pWJfRIPDazlsuVUGlYxuudLLpGSpeo

Suddenly, he found himself drained of all strength. Even though the mansion was warm, and lying on the thick carpet was not cold, the chill that Huai En brought in from outside slowly seeped into his body. He wondered if the Nuan Xin Jing could fend off this cold, otherwise, he would soon succumb to the poison.VWdatOVFglMOcQhVkqfrhPgVMusULU

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