Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]

"Why must we wait by the carriage while Bai Huiqi has—what is it that you call?—parting good-byes with the Heavenly Demon?"

Hu Lijing raised an eyebrow, judgement dripping in every word he spoke, arms crossed on his chest, leaning lazily against the carriage wheel.

"There are some things that should be allowed, Lijing. Let Huiqi have that at the very least." Li Xinyuan exhaled forcefully through his nose, head tilted back and eyes closed. "They will be apart for a time after this."

As if he was giving a prayer to the heavens for patience. Which—fair enough, the surgeon did need more patience with Hu Lijing around.

After he spoke those words, a profound silence fell between them. Contemplative and slightly bitter.

This was to be expected, neither of them were bound—by conventional definition—with anyone, much less a lover. That is, if the surgeon's betrothal was not put in consideration.

Breaking the silence, with a scrunch of his nose, the nine-tailed fox spirit hummed. "Why make an exception for him?"

"Why not?"

"Is it because he is with us? Or because you like him better?"

Li Xinyuan's eyes twitched at the question, and a beat later, he spoke breezily. "... Yes."

"What sort of an answer is that?" Hu Lijing could feel his jaw twitch in annoyance.

"Hu Lijing," Li Xinyuan turned to him, leaning casually against the carriage wheel. "Why not be mindful of our own matters instead?"

Hu Lijing leveled him with a cold sidelong glance. "By all means." With a brief pause, he added as an after thought. "Why not wait for him while we sit inside?"

Li Xinyuan paused to consider, fingers drumming under his chin. "Well, I suppose it would do no harm."

With that out of the way, the two of them swiftly climbed into the carriage and took seat across from each other, exhaling as the awkwardness of awaiting Bai Huiqi dissipated in the slightest.

And the wait began once more.

But this time, with Liu Mingyun's letter clutched in the surgeon's hands and the memories of Long ZhenHai replaying behind the fox spirit's eyes.

A few moments came to pass in the silence before Hu Lijing could take it no more and spoke again.

"However long is it taking him?"

Li Xinyuan threw him an unimpressed glance, shrugging. "We are in no rush. Why do you appear so impatient?" Leaning forward, he cupped his chin against the heel of his palm. "Worried?"

Hu Lijing rolled his eyes heavenward, face drawn in a grimace. "Ridiculous."

In response, the doctor merely huffed and returned to ignoring the older man, occupying himself with reading Liu Mingyun's letter again. Even after reading it for the nth time, the surgeon could barely restrain his smile.

At this moment, he could scarcely wait for Liu Mingyun's reply to the letter he had written in response.

…

Meanwhile, Bai Huiqi was frozen stiff, unsure of what to do with himself, owing to the tight embrace Cheon Yerin had trapped him in.

At a distance from them, rather than freeing him from his plight stood the Heavenly Demon. He seemed to be amused, watching his daughter cling to the man who had a part in saving her life.

Unexpected as it had been, over the course of Li Xinyuan and his entourage's stay in the Cult, Bai Huiqi had become quite amicable with the Heavenly Demon's daughter.

Sometimes even accompanying her for a short stroll when Cheon WuHui could not.

That would explain the little girl's fondness for her donor.

"Must you leave?" In a soft voice, she asked, looking up at the four-tailed fox spirit with wide, beseeching eyes. As if hoping he would stay behind. "Can you really not stay?"

Bai Huiqi was rendered speechless, his brain forced to a halt, compelling him to helplessly stare down at her, flustered.

Finally, Cheon WuHui seemed to have taken pity on the poor fox spirit in a fix, he smoothly pulled his daughter away from the latter and wryly smiled down at her.

"Let Young Master Bai go, Yerin." His voice was steady, much like his hold on her shoulders. "He must go." His carmine gaze met Bai Huiqi's, he did not smile—but it was a close thing.

"Why, Cult Leader?"

"Because," he began, head to the side in a thoughtful tilt as he gazed down at Bai Huiqi, "everyone has their own purpose. Their own fates that they must follow before doing what they desire. Isn't that right, Young Master Bai?"

Bai Huiqi's body was no longer stiff. He was silently watching the father-daughter pair interact, hands folded tightly behind his back.

Somehow the formality in Cheon WuHui's address to him stung more than he thought it would. The distance came as abruptly as rain in the summer.

But that was to be expected.

He had been the one to reject the Heavenly Demon's offer to stay behind, after all. Although the thought did not make accepting the glaring distance any easier. It felt as if a wide chasm had split open between them.

"Certainly, Cult Leader." He swallowed, throat feeling tight.

The formal address from his own lips suddenly felt foreign. And from the faltered expression of realisation on Cheon WuHui's face, it did not seem to sit right with him either.

That caused the Heavenly Demon's face to soften once more, the closed off coldness just a few seconds prior vanishing slightly as he pursed his lips.

Bai Huiqi's breath hitched, watching the subtle shift was fascinating.

"Yerin." The Heavenly Demon called his daughter's name, scarlet gaze shifting to her small form, still recovering, still weak. "Why not return to your room and rest?"

Cheon Yerin looked between her father and her donor before nodding, a little confused but understanding nonetheless.

"Yes, Cult Leader."

Once the child was gone, and with her all the servants, the Heavenly Demon stepped closer to the four-tailed fox spirit. His eyes bore into Bai Huiqi's.

There was no kindness on his face, nor a speck of gentleness he had shown that night. But it lacked the prior stone cold indifference either.

It was something in between. Something unsure.

"You've made your decision." He observed matter of factly, eyes sweeping up and down Bai Huiqi's person. "We shall respect it, as is proper."

He folded his hands behind his back, one hand clasping the wrist of the other. He did not stop in front of Bai Huiqi, but walked to stand beside him. There Cheon WuHui stood by him—not looking at him, not showing anything at all.

"However," the Heavenly Demon's body leaned closer, twisting towards Bai Huiqi's. The ghost of his warm breath, fluttered against the latter's flesh, burrowing deep inside. "Could We expect your presence in a few months time after your return, Huiqi?"

An electrifying sensation shot down the four-tailed fox's spine, goosebumps rising all over his body. He suppressed a shudder and drew in a deep breath.

"If you'll have me."

"... We shall always have you. Thus, this is rather preposterous."

"..."

"But since We feel somewhat benevolent today, We shall accept it as is."

Before he could respond to the statement laced in teasing arrogance, the fox spirit felt the crimson-haired man's calloused fingers brush his hair behind his ear, curling loosely against his earlobe.

He stiffened again.

Then, Cheon WuHui chuckled, a baritone, rumbling sound buried deep in his chest.

"Leave before We are tempted to make you stay, Young Master Bai."

And so, Bai Huiqi ran without looking back, throat parched, ears blazing red, and heart thundering in his chest like a treacherous rabbit.

But before he left, against his better judgement, he looked back. If only for a moment, Bai Huiqi gave into that ache in his chest.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Author has something to say:

Liu Mingyuan (smiling, ready to throw hands): A certain insect has forgotten her fucking male lead.

YunYun (smiling, seething silently): Apparently everyone but me, the damn main character gets romance!

Yuanyun (together): Let us run away together.

Bamboo: No, wait— I can explai— come back ;;;;

WuHui (casually strolls in, Huiqi asleep in his arms): What a misfortune, to be you~~

(Somewhere in the middle of nowhere)

Lijing (hugging ZhenHai's urn): My name is lonely~