Chapter 72

Chapter 72

After discovering the pregnancy, Huo Sicheng took Zhong Xi to Mount Canaan. It was said that there was a sacred tree there, and Huo Sicheng expressed his desire to pray for his beloved's health, safety, and a trouble-free life.

Unbeknownst to Huo Sicheng, Zhong Xi was thinking at that moment, he hoped the wish could be transferred.

Huo Sicheng was the one who truly deserved a smooth and carefree life.

In fact, the pregnancy was unexpected.

One day, Zhong Xi was forced to attend an unavoidable banquet. During a break, he hid in a quiet corner, leaving Huo Sicheng alone in the center of the banquet, handling the social interactions. He accidentally overheard two people discussing him and Huo Sicheng.

Many people talked about him and Huo Sicheng.

Zhong Xi was used to it; he had heard all kinds of evaluations, nearly indifferent.

But this time, it was a bit different. One of them mentioned that Huo Sicheng had once talked about his ideal type, saying that he wanted to find someone gentle, submissive, and obedient.

The other person was surprised: From what I can tell, this Mr. Zhong doesn't seem to fit the gentle and docile type.

The first person gossiped: Here's the thing, actually, the Chairman chose this beta just to defy his father's arranged marriage. The omega his father wanted to introduce to him, the grandson of General Lin, was truly soft-spoken, with a family, education, and temperament that this beta couldn't hold a candle to. That person was very suitable for the Chairman, but the Chairman had resentment towards his father, so he deliberately didn't choose him.

The other person sighed: I see.

The first person confidently said: I’m certain, their relationship won't last. Once the Chairman gets bored, this Mr. Zhong won't be so proud. Why waste a level 10 alpha on a beta?

Zhong Xi caught these harsh comments and was upset.

Gentle, submissive, and obedient.

These words didn't fit Zhong Xi at all. His classmates described him as reserved, quiet, and odd.

He had resentment towards his father, so he deliberately didn't choose.

Do I even want this? It was he who provoked me, a pitiful mess during his rut. I don't want it.

He picked up a glass of wine from the waiter's tray, without caring what kind of wine it was, and chugged it.

Then another.

And then he was drunk.

After returning, he let out his frustration in Huo Sicheng's arms, grabbing Huo Sicheng's collar and demanding: "Am I gentle?"

Huo Sicheng was puzzled, carrying him to the bathroom. After some thought, he chose what he thought was the standard answer: "Darling, no matter if you're gentle or not, I love you the most."

There was nothing wrong with this statement.

But Zhong Xi was still unhappy, and increasingly so. Sitting in the bathtub, he continued to ask: "Huo Sicheng, have you really never liked anyone else before? Do you really like me?"

Before Huo Sicheng could answer, he was embraced by the drunken Zhong Xi. The shower room was filled with steam, and Huo Sicheng was momentarily stunned. Zhong Xi had never been so proactive before.

"I hate you, Huo Sicheng."

"I don't like you either."

Zhong Xi said "I hate you" countless times, and Huo Sicheng always thought it was just a twisted version of "I like you."

Zhong Xi was incredibly coquettish, something others didn't know.

Huo Sicheng scooped Zhong Xi up in his arms, putting the shower plans on hold. He pressed the tipsy Zhong Xi onto the bed, leaned down to kiss him, and as their passion intensified, he reached for something on the bedside, but Zhong Xi wrapped his arms around his neck. He whispered hoarsely, "Be good, wait for me."

For some reason, Zhong Xi got upset.

He bit Huo Sicheng's lips, his chin, his shoulders, just not letting Huo Sicheng get the condom.

Huo Sicheng was utterly captivated by this.

He struggled to stay composed, picked up the small box on the bedside, and just as he was about to open it, Zhong Xi grabbed it and threw it to the corner of the wall.

Huo Sicheng was stunned, but Zhong Xi was sobbing and throwing a fit, saying, "I hate you so much, Huo Sicheng." His crying had nearly undone all the buttons on his clothes, revealing a large area of smooth, fair skin, and Huo Sicheng felt his throat tighten.

Betas rarely get pregnant, their gestational sacs are not fully developed. For the first time, Huo Sicheng threw caution to the wind and took a chance.

And then... it happened.

Huo Sicheng was filled with guilt. He never wanted Zhong Xi to be tied down at home raising a child so young. He wasn’t ready to give up their time alone, and he didn't really like children that much.

Zhong Xi seemed fine, so Huo Sicheng suggested he take the pill.

He thought about it, but didn't take it.

Perhaps the hormonal shifts were affecting his emotions, but he, who never liked children, actually felt a bit of anticipation.

Huo Sicheng pressed him about what had happened the night before. Zhong Xi's cheeks turned red, and he only said: I was drunk.

In truth, he remembered most of it.

He remembered Huo Sicheng kissing him and saying he loved him.

By then, he was completely drunk, slurring his words, but Huo Sicheng still responded to every sentence, repeatedly saying he loved him.

Zhong Xi thought: This must be love.

Huo Sicheng's love was sealed in that moment.

As they flew toward Canaan Snow Mountain, he touched his belly and suddenly felt eager for the arrival of this little one.

At that time, neither he nor Huo Sicheng liked children, and they had no idea how this little one would burst into their lives in eight months, taking up half of their lives.

Four years later, heading to Canaan Snow Mountain again.

Aide Wen accompanied Huo Sicheng onto the plane.

The view outside the window slowly shifted from bustling cities and lush forests to cold, white, and vast snow mountains.

Huo Sicheng put on his coat and got off the plane.

The security team had already secured the area beforehand. It would take more than two hours to walk from the foot of the snow mountain to the sacred tree. The security team had already arranged a car. Huo Sicheng asked, "Did Mr. Zhong walk up?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll walk up too."

In September, the snow mountain had already started to show signs of being covered in silver. The higher they went, the fewer the exposed black rocks, and the path gradually became harder to walk, but he saw a string of lonely footprints.

Probably Zhong Xi's.

After walking for two and a half hours, the temperature was so cold that their breath turned white. A guard handed him a long down jacket.

Huo Sicheng took it but didn’t wear it.

The cold didn’t bother him.

The sacred tree was right in front of him, and he saw Zhong Xi under it.

Zhong Xi had grown up seemingly overnight, matured, with eyes that tilted upward and a confident air about him.

He wore a black coat that accentuated his slim, tall frame, adding a touch of sophistication.

Huo Sicheng still remembered that snowy mountain photo—Zhong Xi in a baggy white ski suit, goggles hiding half his face, cradled in Huo Sicheng’s arms like a child.

When Zhong Xi first turned around, he smiled at Huo Sicheng, but as he got closer, the smile faded, leaving Zhong Xi just gazing at him quietly.

Huo Sicheng draped the puffer jacket over Zhong Xi’s shoulders.

The guards stepped back, giving them space. Huo Sicheng cupped Zhong Xi's face and said softly, "I found you."

"If you hadn’t found me, you’d be in trouble."

"I feel the same. If I couldn’t find Xi Xi, life wouldn’t be worth living."

Zhong Xi glanced at him, then turned to look at the sacred tree.

The tree stood at over 4,000 meters on Canaan Snow Mountain, solitary within a hundred-meter radius, enduring through the seasons for a century.

Behind it loomed the majestic snow-capped mountain.

Huo Sicheng wrapped his arms around Zhong Xi's waist from behind and asked, "What did you wish for just now?"

Zhong Xi shook his head, "Nothing. Today, I’m here to fulfill a vow."

Zhong Xi closed his eyes, clasped his hands, and stayed silent for a long while.

Huo Sicheng didn’t know what vow Zhong Xi had fulfilled, but he mirrored his gesture, bowing his head slightly. He thought: Let me meet Zhong Xi again in my next life. I’ll come into his life in a better way, without letting him shed a single tear.

But then he heard Zhong Xi say, "Don’t wish for things in the next life."

"Why?" Huo Sicheng sounded hurt, hugging Zhong Xi and leaning on his shoulder. "Xi Xi, don’t you want to be with me in the next life?"

Zhong Xi smiled at him, "No."

As soon as the words left his lips, Huo Sicheng quickly covered his mouth.

"Don’t say things like that."

In front of the sacred tree, Huo Sicheng couldn’t stand to hear those words.

Zhong Xi seemed unfazed.

Huo Sicheng leaned down and touched his nose to Zhong Xi's, "How can you say something so heartless, Xi Xi? You’re going to make me really sad."

Truthfully, Zhong Xi never saw Huo Sicheng as the weaker one in their relationship, but he did enjoy playing the vulnerable role.

Playing the pity card, fishing for sympathy, and then pushing his luck.

It was Huo Sicheng’s go-to move.

Zhong Xi pushed Huo Sicheng’s hand away, only to be swept up and spun around by him. They both tumbled to the ground, just like before, with Huo Sicheng hitting the ground first, cushioning Zhong Xi’s fall.

Zhong Xi rolled over and nestled beside him.

The sky was blue, the clouds white, and the sun bathed the golden mountain in light.

"Stay with me in the next life too, my Xi Xi," Huo Sicheng turned his gaze to meet Zhong Xi’s.

Zhong Xi gently pushed his head away.

"Cut the sweet talk, Viceroy Huo, you're such a smooth talker."

Though he teased, Zhong Xi's eyes sparkled with amusement. Huo Sicheng leaned in, unable to resist brushing a kiss on Zhong Xi’s cheek. Zhong Xi inquired, "Where’s Xiao Bao?"

"He’s at my parents’ place."

"Did he cry?"

"No."

"What did you tell him?"

"I said, Daddy is going to a faraway place to bring Mommy home, and then we can go to the amusement park together."

Zhong Xi's lips curved into a smile.

Thinking of Huo Xiaobao, both of them felt their hearts soften.

Actually, less than two kilometers from the sacred tree, there is a Lovers' Valley. Legend tells of star-crossed lovers who, a century ago, leaped together into this unfathomable valley. Four years ago, Huo Sicheng took Zhong Xi's hand and went there. At that time, Huo Sicheng said, "If Xi Xi jumps, I’ll follow without a second thought—I won’t live without you."

At that time, Zhong Xi just laughed, "I’m not jumping. Who’d want to die with you? Keep dreaming."

Now, they are even less likely to jump.

Because now they have Huo Xiaobao.

Having a child, they increasingly realize the preciousness of life, wishing they could live a hundred more years.

"I once served as the Chairman of the Blue Rock Base. The three bases had conflicting interests, and I, young and brash, was obsessed with outdoing the other two and staying on top. During border conflicts, I was eager to lead the charge myself, even considering annexing the Ochre Base during my tenure. Now, as the Viceroy of the Alliance, I see how foolish I was. I was selfish and immature, focused solely on winning, making enemies, and hurting everyone, including myself and those close to me."

Huo Sicheng confessed under the tree, "Only now do I grasp my mother’s words: ‘It’s okay to lose sometimes.’"

He looked at Zhong Xi, "With you, even if I lose every time, it’s worth it. I’d gladly lose."

"Do you truly mean that?"

"Yes."

Zhong Xi placed his hand on Huo Sicheng's chest and asked again, "Do you truly mean that?"

"Yes, I swear I’ll never give you reason to worry again."

Huo Sicheng looked into Zhong Xi's eyes, their gazes met, and Zhong Xi saw the determination in Huo Sicheng's eyes, just like before. He was still the bold, fearless Huo Sicheng who’d faced gunfire, but Zhong Xi knew they’d both grown.

The future held only brighter days.

"Alright," Zhong Xi withdrew his hand, he said, "I forgive you."

Forgive your boldness, your recklessness, the pain you brought when your memory failed.

Forgive the wild, untamed seven years we’ve shared.

All is forgiven.

Starting fresh.

The wind picked up, scattering snowflakes. Zhong Xi reached out to catch them.

Huo Sicheng seized the moment to present the ring.

The rare metal gleamed with a silvery-blue hue, and the initials on the inner band were still clear.

This time, Zhong Xi accepted.

The ring glided onto his ring finger. Huo Sicheng turned and hugged him gently, yet the embrace was profound.

Zhong Xi was his reclaimed treasure.

"That day..." Zhong Xi suddenly spoke.

Huo Sicheng listened, holding his breath. Zhong Xi said, "That day, there was a listener. She had just divorced, stuck between letting go and returning. She asked me how to cope. At first, I didn’t know how to answer."

"Sometimes, I wonder why I should cling on. Those who lose me, lose me forever. There are so many people in the world, it’s not like you’re the only one. Breaking up is just that—no big deal."

"But after some thought, I told her."

Zhong Xi rolled over and lay atop Huo Sicheng, burying his face in Huo Sicheng’s neck. Huo Sicheng adjusted his down jacket, enveloping Zhong Xi completely.

Huo Sicheng caressed Zhong Xi’s back through the jacket. The scars on Zhong Xi’s back had faded but would never fully heal. Those scars were etched into Huo Sicheng’s heart.

The more Zhong Xi seemed indifferent, the more it pained him.

He asked, "What did you say to her?"

Zhong Xi said, "I told her, how does one discern love? Love is compromise, dependence, and heartache. It’s weighing the odds and still choosing the gamble of marriage."

Zhong Xi kissed Huo Sicheng’s Adam’s apple.

He whispered, "It’s clear-eyed folly. It’s my fear of not meeting you in the next life, so in this life, even if I have to endure some grievances, I still want to be with you."

The embrace suddenly tightened.

The next second, a passionate kiss came crashing down. Zhong Xi’s breath was taken away, his lips and tongue were conquered. A tear slid down his cheek and fell onto Huo Sicheng’s face.

Zhong Xi said, "Let’s remarry tomorrow, husband."

The kiss nearly consumed Zhong Xi.

The flight back to the alliance from Jianan Snow Mountain took three hours. Huo Sicheng made ginger tea for Zhong Xi, fearing he might catch a cold. Zhong Xi closed his eyes and dozed lightly, feeling Huo Sicheng hold his hand.

His heart grew even more at ease.

After getting off the plane, they didn’t return to the alliance but went straight to the Swan Bay community in Blue Rock Base to pick up Huo Xiaobao, who had been missing his parents so much that he couldn’t even eat dinner.

Huo Xiaobao had been clinging to the window, looking down. He waited for a long time, and finally, he saw the familiar long black car drive into the community and stop downstairs at his grandmother’s house.

He quickly ran out to the balcony and told Zhou Fei, "Grandma, grandma, my mom and dad are here!"

Zhou Fei helped him put on his little coat and shoes.

He flailed his short legs and quickly ran downstairs, startling Zhou Fei and Zhong Yide, who followed behind, exclaiming, "Oh dear, oh dear!"

When they reached the ground floor, Huo Sicheng and Zhong Xi had just stepped out of the car.

Huo Xiaobao smiled so much that his eyes narrowed into little crescents.

He shouted, "Mom!"

He was wearing the new astronaut costume that Yu Keyu had bought for him, with silver sleeves and pants. At first, he tried to play it cool, but as soon as Zhong Xi waved at him, he showed his true, adorable self, dashing into Zhong Xi's arms and saying pitifully, "Mom, I missed you so much."

Though they had only been apart for a day.

Zhong Xi scooped him up, and Huo Sicheng leaned down to kiss him on the cheek, causing Huo Xiaobao to grin widely.

The warm sunlight fell on Huo Xiaobao's face, accentuating his faint dimples and the soft fuzz on his cheeks.

"Let's go home," Zhong Xi said.

Huo Xiaobao thrust out his little fist, striking a pose like an astronaut, and said to Zhou Fei, "Grandma, Xiao Bao is going back to Xiao Bao's planet!"

Zhong Xi asked, "Where is Xiao Bao's planet?"

Huo Xiaobao replied, "It's right next to Mom's house, so Xiao Bao can stay with Mom."

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If you want to create a bond with someone, you must be prepared to risk shedding tears.—Movie version of "The Little Prince"

We can cry, but it has to be worth it.

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