Long time no see, indeed.
The last time they spoke to each other, Liu Wenyuan sabotaged Xie Jianyu’s costume in a clear attempt to embarrass him during the Winter Solstice celebration.
Xie Jianyu unwittingly tightened his grip around Wangshu’s reins.
On the other hand, Xie Jianyu had also been spending too much time by Zhang Fengxi’s side. As Zhang Fengxi’s betrothed partner, it was normal for Liu Wenyuan to perceive Xie Jianyu as a threat.
What with the rumor about Zhang Fengxi liking fellow alphas spreading around...
Liu Wenyuan lowered his gaze to the ground. Minding the gap of status between them, he performed a curtsy before Xie Jianyu.
"I have yet to personally thank Your Majesty for rescuing me from the First Demon King’s lair."
"No need to thank me," Xie Jianyu answered briskly. "It was a task given to me by the Heavenly Emperor."
Liu Wenyuan’s lips were pulled to a little smile. That was ironic. Did Xie Jianyu just say that he only rescued Liu Wenyuan out of obligation?
Well.
At least they were starting to be honest with each other here. He appreciated that.
"I understand that there are a lot of unspoken concerns between Your Majesty and me."
"There are."
"Would Your Majesty care to talk about them, once and for all? I don’t want to drag this burden with me for much longer."
Xie Jianyu paused in deliberation. And then he started to look around, apparently in search of something. Or someone.
When he did not find what or whom he was looking for, he asked Liu Wenyuan directly.
"Why are you out alone? Where is your chaperone?"
Xie Jianyu was an omega, so he posed no harm to Liu Wenyuan. Then again, he was currently assuming the identity of an alpha. It was not appropriate for an alpha and an omega to talk alone. A chaperone must be there to testify that nothing improper happened between them.
This was done mainly to protect the reputation of the omega. Interestingly, Liu Wenyuan did not care much about it.
"I asked my chaperone to leave so that we could talk alone. Crown Prince, do you not feel comfortable being left alone with me?"
"Isn’t that supposed to be my line?"
"Is it?"
The air between them was filled with gunpowder. A single spark might just cause an explosion.
The poor fruit vendor who remained silent during this exchange kept looking at the two omegas alternately.
Wangshu, the hungry horse, was oblivious to everything but the apples. While his master was not paying attention, he stole all the apples from Xie Jianyu’s paper bag. Afterward, he continued eating from the stall.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!"
The fruit vendor cried bloody murder when he saw the half-bitten apples in front of him. Wangshu continued eating happily despite the fruit vendor’s attempt to stop him.
"Young Master! Your horse! My apples!"
"Wangshu!"
Xie Jianyu flicked Wangshu’s forehead in reprimand before he took out an entire string full of silver coins and handed it to the fruit vendor.
"I am so sorry. Let me pay for the rest of the apples."
The fruit vendor packed up the remaining apples in sacks full of gratitude and gave them to Xie Jianyu.
"Many thanks, Young Master! Please come again!"
"Crown Prince, your horse seems to be starving. What about this? Let us go to a tea house over there. They receive travelers from out of town regularly, so they also provide fresh food for horses."
Liu Wenyuan pointed toward a tea house just around the corner. Many carriages with horses were parked in front of the tea house, obstructing the traffic greatly.
Xie Jianyu furrowed his brows in disapproval.
"Wangshu only eats certain kinds of food," Xie Jianyu said in reply.
"Ah, does he only eat apples?"
"Not only apples, but he is quite picky."
Liu Wenyuan smiled.
"Crown Prince, are you just looking for excuses to not talk to me?"
"..."
Xie Jianyu sighed. He hoisted the sack of apples on top of Wangshu’s body and then caressed his long neck.
"Wangshu, you already ate your fill. Don’t eat anymore, I will be done here soon."
And then, he nodded at Liu Wenyuan.
"Please lead the way then, Prince Liu Wenyuan."
The tea house did not permit free-running horses, so Xie Jianyu reluctantly tied Wangshu to a tree before he entered the tea house. Wangshu neighed after his owner. He kept stomping the ground in displeasure, but Xie Jianyu’s mind was currently elsewhere.
The tea house was bustling with visitors. There were no private chambers for them to talk at, but it suited the two young men just fine. After all, no one knew them and no one would know what they were talking about.
A tea house attendant came to bring them some tea on a tray. After she left, Liu Wenyuan poured them both a cup of tea.
"I heard about what happened at Rainbell Town," Liu Wenyuan said as he sipped from his cup of tea. "Prince Zhang Fengxi has explained everything."
Ah. That saved them a lot of time. Xie Jianyu was glad that Liu Wenyuan decided to talk about the issue directly.
"Crown Prince, do you have anything to add?" Liu Wenyuan asked. His gaze pierced into Xie Jianyu’s form.
"Maybe not only to this incident but to many others?"
Xie Jianyu arched his brow at Liu Wenyuan. He hated to repeat Zhang Fengxi’s words, but it was necessary to do so.
"It was just a kiss. It meant nothing."
"I see. And how about that time at Great Sage Valley?"
"..."
Xie Jianyu curled the fingers above his thighs as he recalled the event of his first heat. When did Liu Wenyuan find out? What exactly did he find out?
Liu Wenyuan chuckled.
"Are you going to deny it? I saw your inner robe."
Xie Jianyu relaxed his grip in response.
"Nothing happened," Xie Jianyu replied. "You drew hasty conclusions just because we switched inner robes."
Liu Wenyuan laughed.
Xie Jianyu did not know what was so funny about what he said.
"I would have accepted that explanation if it happened between two alphas. But Crown Prince, you are actually an omega, aren’t you?"