Chapter 45 It Just Happens to Be Me Now

Chapter 45: It’s Just That, Right Now, It’s Me

Su Zheng lowered his gaze to his own wrist, his tone indifferent: "Let go."

Luo Yunchen’s fingers, which had been loosely holding Su Zheng’s wrist, suddenly tightened, gripping it tightly, refusing to let go.

His eyes were locked on Su Zheng, full of stubbornness and obstinacy.

Su Zheng lifted his eyes to meet Luo Yunchen’s, his face blank, his voice firmer: "I said, let go."

The flicker of hope in Luo Yunchen’s eyes slowly faded.

Before it died out completely, Luo Yunchen lowered his gaze, hiding the storm brewing in his eyes.

He slowly let go, his fingers sliding off Su Zheng’s wrist and dropping to his side.

Su Zheng let go of him and crouched down in front of him, saying calmly: "Didn’t you ask me to help you take off your clothes? Spread your arms."

Luo Yunchen snapped his head up, a spark of hope lighting up his eyes as he looked at Su Zheng, confirming: "Brother, you’re helping me?"

Su Zheng bent down to undo the sash on his robe, replying: "I’m not angry, and I never planned to abandon you. Earlier, I had Guard Xu help you out of the carriage. Just now, when you came up, I got out to give you room to change in the carriage."

And he definitely wasn’t planning to ignore Luo Yunchen.

For Su Zheng, the mission came first. The mission required him to treat Luo Yunchen well, so he would only spoil and indulge him.

As for Luo Yunchen’s issues with him, ignoring him wasn’t the answer.

He’d been quiet the whole way, thinking about how to communicate with Luo Yunchen and resolve this matter.

Luo Yunchen was like a kid who’d been hurt and finally saw someone who cared, letting all his hurt and frustration pour out: "But you ignored me, Brother. No matter how much I called, you wouldn’t even look at me, and you just left me behind."

"You know why I ignored you, don’t you?"

Luo Yunchen pursed his lips: "I know. I lost control."

He paused, then looked straight at Su Zheng, continuing: "But I don’t regret it. I like you, Brother. I want to do all those things with you, to get closer to you, and even more..."

"Stop! Luo Yunchen, this is just a phase. You only have me around, you rely on me, you’re close to me, so you think you like me by mistake. If there were someone else..."

"There won’t be anyone else!" Luo Yunchen cut him off sharply. "I just like you, Brother. Only you!

The books say you only want to kiss someone you like, to be close to them, to have them all to yourself.

I only want you, Brother. I only want to be as close as possible to you. I only want you to be mine too!"

No, you’ve just been alone too long, and now that you’ve got someone to lean on, you’re scared of being left again.

That someone could be me, or it could be someone else.

It’s just that, right now, it’s me.

Su Zheng didn’t say much, just: "When we get back to the palace, I’ll send more people to look after you and keep you company. You’ll slowly realize how silly your thoughts are."

Luo Yunchen stared at Su Zheng for a long moment, then suddenly smiled: "Brother, are you planning to pawn me off on someone else and stop caring about me?"

"What do you mean, pawn you off? You’re still my Chen Di. You’ll still be in charge of the Eastern Palace. I’ll still protect you. It’s just that more people will be around to care for you."

"Can I still eat with you?"

"Yes."

"Can I still go to class with you?"

"Yes."

"Can I still practice writing with you?"

"Yes."

"Can I still go to the training field with you?"

"Yes."

"Can I still share a hall with you?"

Su Zheng thought about it, then shook his head: "No, that won’t work. Someone will be assigned to take care of your daily needs. If you share a hall with me, it’ll be awkward for certain things."

Luo Yunchen caught the hint in Su Zheng’s words and smiled knowingly, nodding: "Alright, then I’ll do as you say, Brother, and move to another hall for half a month. After half a month—"

"What?"

"If I do what you say, Brother, and in the end I still only want to be close to you, will you allow me to move back and share the hall with you?"

Su Zheng looked at Luo Yunchen’s hopeful, confident face, momentarily doubting his earlier judgment. He couldn’t bring himself to make a promise and could only say: "We’ll talk about it after half a month."

Back at the Eastern Palace.

The two bundles of steamed buns were distributed by Xu Mo to the palace guards and servants.

Su Zheng called for someone and ordered a separate hall to be prepared for Heir Luo, with all supplies taken from the storeroom and using only the best.

Luo Yunchen said nothing, only glanced at Su Zheng before leaving the bedchamber.

By the time Su Zheng finished arranging everything, Luo Yunchen was nowhere to be seen.

Su Zheng: "System, where did the male lead go?"

"He went to the kitchen."

Su Zheng: "...What’s he doing there? Hungry?"

"He seems to be... cooking!"

When dinner was served, Su Zheng immediately spotted two very familiar dishes—the ones he had just tasted at the restaurant today.

Su Zheng looked at Luo Yunchen: "What’s this?"

"Today at the restaurant, I noticed you liked these two dishes the most, Brother, so I asked the owner for the recipes. Try them, Brother. How do they taste? Are they good?"

Su Zheng glanced at him, picked up some of each dish, and tasted them.

Luo Yunchen asked cautiously and expectantly: "How is it? Is it not good?"

Su Zheng shook his head: "No, it’s delicious. I really like it."

Luo Yunchen beamed with joy: "Great! Then eat more, Brother. Whenever you want to eat it next time, just tell me, and I’ll make it for you again."

He then focused intently on Su Zheng, removing the bones and picking out the fish bones, carefully arranging the dishes.

After they finished the meal and practiced calligraphy, Luo Yunchen remained very restrained and polite.

His expression and tone were no different from before, still obedient and affectionate.

But the subtle, lingering touches and intimate gestures from before were gone.

In the end, he obediently went to the separate hall that Su Zheng had arranged for him.

Su Zheng said, "Go ahead. If you need anything or feel uncomfortable, let me know. I'll arrange for someone to help you tomorrow."

"Alright, then, Crown Prince Brother, rest early."

After saying this, Luo Yunchen stood there, not moving to leave.

Seeing his hesitant expression, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself, Su Zheng asked, "Is there something else?"

"I... Crown Prince Brother, can I hug you? Just once! I've gotten used to sleeping in the same hall as you all this time, and I'm afraid—afraid that suddenly moving to a strange place will make it hard for me to sleep well. If I hug you, I won't be scared anymore!"

Su Zheng: "..."

In the end, Su Zheng couldn't resist his pitiful look. He opened his arms and said, "Come here."

Luo Yunchen broke into a smile, wrapping one arm around Su Zheng's waist and the other around the back of his head, pulling him into his embrace.

Their necks intertwined, Luo Yunchen nuzzled him like a spoiled child, burying his head into the nape of Su Zheng's neck, taking an imperceptible breath.

As if he wanted to soak himself, inside and out, in Su Zheng's scent.