It was a somewhat familiar, alluring scent. It was the same enticing scent that had lingered around Xiang Yu before.
Suddenly, overwhelmed by a mixture of reactions, Han Xin took a step back, his eyes widening slightly. Xiang Yu’s brows shot up in surprise.
He stood there, confusion swirling inside him like a storm. Han Xin’s behaviour baffled him. One moment, he was inviting him to come closer, and the next, he was stepping back as if repulsed by something.
Xiang Yu had never felt such hurt from being rejected by Han Xin before, and it stung deeper than he thought possible.
This was precisely why he had dreaded taking on that stinky job. He had known this would happen. The thought spiralled in his mind. If he didn’t find a sufficient water source soon, he worried he would not get laid in this world.
"Did you need me for something?" Xiang Yu asked, trying to mask his hurt. "If not, then I will go back."
Han Xin opened his mouth about to say, "Go back to do what? Hang out with that Da Hei kid?" But the words got stuck in his throat, swallowed by an unexpected annoyance at himself. What was wrong with him? Why did those thoughts even cross his mind? It felt as if he were losing his grip on rationality.
Xiang Yu noticed the silence stretching between them and turned to leave. Just as he did, Han Xin called out, "Wait."
Xiang Yu stopped and turned around and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Han Xin suddenly said, "Follow me." Without another word, Xiang Yu fell into step behind him, maintaining a careful distance of at least five feet. They walked toward the supply warehouse near the canteen.
Han Xin’s tall figure was imposing and authoritative, exuding a quiet strength, while Xiang Yu trailed behind him like a little tail.
As they passed by, people greeted Han Xin respectfully, but their eyes turned to Xiang Yu with disdain. He could feel their glares, the hostility radiating off them like a palpable heat.
Xiang Yu met their gazes head-on, but he knew that while they wanted to rush over and beat him up, they wouldn’t. They knew he wasn’t a soft persimmon. The memory of the big man he threw in the manure pile was still fresh in their minds. Anyone wanting to pick a fight with him would have to deal with the consequences.
Arriving at the warehouse, Han Xin greeted the manager with a curt nod before stepping inside.
Xiang Yu stepped forward, eager to follow Han Xin into the warehouse, but he was abruptly halted by the warehouse manager, a stern woman with a no-nonsense demeanour. "No, you can’t enter," she said firmly, her eyes narrowing at him.
She was fully aware that Xiang Yu was still regarded as the enemy, and there were certain areas considered sensitive, like the warehouse. It held everything from clothes to weapons. Allowing him in would be foolish, risking their security.
"Stay there," Han Xin instructed, his voice low and commanding, turning to face Xiang Yu.
The warehouse manager felt a swell of smug satisfaction having Han Xin back her up. She closed the door with a decisive clang, leaving Xiang Yu standing outside, feeling a wave of annoyance crash over him.
Impatience bubbled within him. He wanted Han Xin to fall for him quickly. The thought of witnessing the astonished faces of Han Xin’s people as their leader doted on him was almost too tempting to bear. "Father-in-law," Xiang Yu called in his mind mischievously, a grin forming at the corners of his mouth.
Inside his mind, the Divine Emperor exhaled in exasperation. "What do you need?" he asked, his patience already wearing thin.
Xiang Yu’s smile widened, radiant with mischief. "It’s good to know you accept me as your son!"
The Divine Emperor corrected him, his tone dry. "Son-in-law."
"Tomato, tomahto," Xiang Yu replied dismissively. "I need resources to give to my husband as dowry. I can’t just show up empty-handed at my husband’s home!"
The Divine Emperor fell silent, contemplating his next move. For the sake of his sanity, he was now seriously considered hiring someone to speak to Xiang Yu in his place and pass on the messages.
"I will send you locations to get what you need. Anything else?" the Divine Emperor finally replied, wanting to draw this conversation to a close.
Xiang Yu rubbed the tip of his nose, feigning innocence. "Yes, can I call you Dad?"
The Divine Emperor immediately shot back, "No."
"Please?" Xiang Yu’s tone turned sorrowful as if he were genuinely hurt. "My father didn’t want me, nor did my mother. You are like a father to me. If only I could have a father like you, my life would be so much better..."
The Divine Emperor could see through the facade. "Will you stop selling misery?" he interjected, trying to put an end to Xiang Yu’s dramatic pitch.
Xiang Yu, caught but still amused, chuckled softly. "Really? I thought I sounded very pitiful."
With a resigned sigh, the Divine Emperor chose not to respond further. Xiang Yu was still chuckling to himself, lost in his thoughts, unaware that the door had swung open behind him. Han Xin stood in the doorway, watching him intently. The sight of Xiang Yu standing there, confident and smiling, sent an unexpected jolt through Han Xin’s chest.
Xiang Yu’s lips curled up, revealing even white teeth, while the subtle motion of the small mole on his cheek only added to the effect. There was an undeniable spark within Han Xin, mixed with irritation that he couldn’t quite place. His heart made a pronounced "badum," as though it had skipped a beat.
Xiang Yu’s skin glistened under the scorching sun, nearly flawless and vibrant, a stark contrast to the weariness that seemed to inhabit Han Xin’s own soul. He felt a strange mix of annoyance at how relaxed this person appeared, especially while staying in his territory.
Irritable and frustrated, Han Xin clenched his fist, feeling a tightness in his chest that was both foreign and unwelcome. "What are you smiling at?" he snapped, his voice sharp enough to slice through the tension in the air.
Xiang Yu turned, his amusement dancing in his eyes, pairing curiosity with a hint of mockery. "Why, my Lord," he replied, his tone laced with feigned innocence, "I am smiling at you, of course."