Fu Jing’s eyes snapped open. “What?!”

He stared at Xuan Qi in utter disbelief.

Despite his sharp and arrogant features, the demon’s handsome face was uncharacteristically soft, his expression laden with meaning Fu Jing didn’t want to comprehend.

Could it be that the demon was drunk as well? That would be the only plausible explanation for his absurd behaviour.

“I just said no,” Fu Jing said.

Xuan Qi flashed another grin at him. “Consider it.”

“Have you lost your mind?!”

Xuan Qi only smirked. Then, he rubbed his neck where Fu Jing had bitten him, the skin still slick with saliva.

“Hah, I’m not bleeding this time,” he remarked in amusement.

“Well, I’m not entirely sober, so…”

Another moment of silence. Xuan Qi tilted his head. “Don’t you want to get off?”

Fu Jing instantly paled. Flustered, he scrambled off Xuan Qi’s lap so fast he nearly fell over. His face was burning.

Xuan Qi laughed out loud before fetching a basin of water and a towel and handing them to Fu Jing. “Here. Clean yourself.”

Neither of them talked for a while. After wiping the blood and sweat off his face, Fu Jing spoke again. “Xuan Qi.”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you keeping me alive?”

Xuan Qi turned his head slightly. “Do you want to die?”

Fu Jing shook his head, his expression earnest. “No…”

Xuan Qi grinned. “Then I won’t let you.”

“But why?” Fu Jing pressed. “What’s your gain? You’re a demon—whether I live or die shouldn’t matter to you. It just doesn’t make any sense.” He paused, then his lips twisted into a mocking sneer. “Don’t tell me… have you caught feelings for me?”

Xuan Qi opened his mouth, but Fu Jing cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Forget it. I know you don’t really care about me.”

He strode toward the moon gate with the intention to leave.

“You’re wrong,” Xuan Qi suddenly said, his voice calm and steady. Fu Jing froze mid-step, his back still facing the demon.

“I…,” Xuan Qi sighed, “I don’t know if I’m capable of what you humans call love, but when you’re not with me, I worry. Constantly.”

Fu Jing whirled around. “About me?”

“Of course. After all the time and energy and… blood I’ve invested in you, I don’t want it to go to waste.”

Fu Jing scoffed. “Your blood has gone to waste alright.” He shook his head. “Still doesn’t explain why you bother.”

Xuan Qi stepped closer and took Fu Jing’s hands in his own. The touch startled Fu Jing, but he didn’t pull away. The demon exhaled slowly.

“At first, I just felt a little responsible. But now… I don’t even know anymore,” he admitted. “All I know is that I’ve never cared like this before.”

Fu Jing stared at him, searching his face for mockery, but for once, Xuan Qi wasn’t smirking or joking around. His expression was calm. Almost… sincere.

A strange warmth bloomed in Fu Jing’s chest, catching him completely off guard.

Part of him was willing to believe it, to take the words at face value, but another part reminded him that Xuan Qi was a lying, manipulative bastard.

Just what was going on in that demon’s head? What was he playing at? Did he have any ulterior motives?

As Fu Jing sank deeper into his thoughts, Xuan Qi raised a hand and gently brushed a thumb across his cheek.

“What are you crying for?” he asked with a teasing lilt. “Did my words touch you that deeply?”

Shocked, Fu Jing promptly retracted his hands to rub his own eyes. There indeed were tears.

“Shut up…” he muttered.

Something about the demon’s words had stirred a shift deep inside him. He didn’t know what it was, and he sure as hell didn’t want to find out.

Before Xuan Qi could say anything else, Fu Jing bolted, leaping off the balcony and gracefully landing on the street below.

Whatever was brewing in his chest, his mind pushed back hard. His body may have betrayed him, but his determination wasn’t so easily swayed.

As he hurried back to Xiao Song, his heart pounded for reasons he didn’t dare think about. Naming them might make them real.

And he wasn’t ready for that.