Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 105: Crimson Spider Lily — X

"Why? How did it happen?" In a low voice, Li Xinyuan simply echoed the questions asked to him by Hu Lijing as he hugged his knees tighter and raised his head, facing heavenward as his lips fell open ever so slightly, a quiet sigh escaping them. "I asked myself that question too."

Hu Lijing remained silent, letting the surgeon continue.

"You know what conclusion I came to?" Li Xinyuan asked in a blank tone, casting a flat look towards Hu Lijing.

"What conclusion?" Hu Lijing asked cooperatively.

"It was my fault." Li Xinyuan chuckled, a lone tear falling down his cheek. "Yes, ultimately it had been my fault that he lost his life."

...

Real world.

A decade before that day Li Xinyuan died to the kidnapping.

It was a normal day. Or at least as normal as it could be for a teenage prodigious boy who was about to graduate from the best University of the country.

A sixteen year old boy in the throes of people he had been adults for a few years. A genius who was studying to be a surgeon and in two fields simultaneously at that.

Li Xinyuan honestly had no inclination as to how his head had yet to explode with how much studying he was doing every single fucking day.

Like a freaking maniac.

He was a goddamn maniac who deserved to suffer like that because it was a suffering he had voluntarily chosen. Who the hell told him to study to immensely difficult fields of medical science at rab same fucking time?

Why did no one dissuade him from doing so? Just because he was a genius???

Why had he been in such a great rush to become the cousin every child’s parents compared them to?

It was a suffering he had willingly chosen, now he had to suffer as was common.

Li Xinyuan massaged his forehead, a sigh on his lips as he held onto the strap of his backpack whilst nursing a terrible headache and striding towards the gate.

He needed a coffee. And he needed to very urgently. Or else he was more than sure he was going to drop dead right at the gate of the university.

If it happened... The teenager shuddered at the mere thought. His family was going to give the management a lot of grief, that was certain.

Li Xinyuan shook his head, forcing his mind to dispel the thought as he quickly strode towards the gate. He had only taken a single step out of the gate when a loud and incredibly familiar voice called out to him from behind.

"Xinyuan! Wait for me, let’s go together."

Promptly, Li Xinyuan stopped in his tracks and turned around slightly, a pleasant smile blooming on his lips as he raised his hand in greeting while looking at the young adult who was running towards him.

His best friend.

"—◼◼◼◼! Let’s go grab a coffee." Li Xinyuan managed a grin despite the splitting headache. "It’s on me this time."

His best friend quickly caught up to him, nearly bouncing on his heels with a big grin on his face. "Thankfully! I have no money on me. I’m dirt poor right now."

Li Xinyuan rolled his eyes, turning around to step out of the campus as he let out a snort. "Stop exaggerating, man. You of all people are hardly ever dirt poor."

"Yeah, right." His best friend replied dryly, returning Li Xinyuan’s eye roll in kind. "I’m not dirt poor. I’m piss poor."

Before Li Xinyuan could control himself, he let out a laugh, feeling incredulous as he reached his other hand to swat at the young man’s shoulder. "Bullshit!" He exclaimed only to let out a wince as his headache worsened. "Aw, fuck. That hurts so bad. I didn’t know freaking headaches could be this painful."

His best friend let out a scoff as he stuck his tongue out in a teasing manner. "Some doctor you are. It’s not a simple headache. It’s a migraine, you dumbass."

"I wouldn’t know. I don’t endorse self-diagnosis." Li Xinyuan retorted with a grimace.

"Then believe my diagnosis, ah."

"Fuck off, man. You haven’t even graduated yet."

"Why are you so freakin’ mean to me!"

"Because I can and I like it."

The young man rolled his eyes, walking beside him in large strides as he held his backpack, looking around every so often before he looked back at Li Xinyuan who was still massaging his forehead.

"Hey, is your ’headache’ any better?" He asked, consciously taking the side towards the road.

Li Xinyuan shook his head. "What does it look like to you?"

◼◼◼◼ pursed his lips and shook head with a smirk. "So prickly. I bet you didn’t catch sleep last night?"

"You bet." The teenager winced in pain. "Pulled an all-nighter. I’d rather maintain good grades. Unlike you."

"You are talking as if I’m failing. I’m drifting by with average grades. Don’t wanna stress, unlike you I prefer not losing my hair."

"Shut up, ◼◼◼◼." Li Xinyuan squeezed his eyes open just to shoot his best friend a harsh glare. "I am not losing any hair."

The young man doubled back in laughter as he slung his arm around Li Xinyuan’s shoulders and squeezed him to his side. "Come on, come on, I’m joking, ah. You still have to pay for my coffee and maybe a slice of cake or something, I don’t know."

"Treat me like your personal wallet, why don’t you?"

His best friend snorted in amusement. "I’m taking advantage of having a rich friend. And I’m piss poor right now, but that’s beside the point. I will pay you back when I have money on me. I don’t freeload without paying back, you know me." He teased, leaning towards the side of Li Xinyuan’s face with a shit eating grin on his face.

The younger male rolled his eyes once more and shoved the other’s face away. "Personal space there, brother."

The older man let himself be pushed away with a huff. "Of course, of course." He nodded and continued walking with his arm around the younger’s shoulder as they all but skipped down the street to the nearest cafe.

"I want an espresso." ◼◼◼◼ mused aloud, knowing that Li Xinyuan would let him by that. "And you?"

"Ice Americano or iced Americano, I can’t be arsed to say the correct name." The latter grumbled. "This migraine is giving me hell."

"Then let’s get our coffee and quickly go back so you can rest for the day." The young adult urged as their strides quickened while cars zoomed past them on the road. Whistling lightly, he commented in an idle manner. "With a speed like that, no wonder people end up in ERs every other day."

･༓☽ ☾༓·━━━·༓☾ ☽༓･

Author has something to say:

Author [smiling slightly]: I cannot keep things serious for the life of me, can I? [/Helpless.jpg/]

YuanYuan (gnashing his teeth, barely holding back): Wanna try that again, you bug with a stupid lantern?

Author (gasp): That’s a personal attack! (He’s about to get trauma for character development and backstory, ong)

YuanYuan (held back by YunYun): I’ll show you personal attacks, let me go my liege!

YunYun (smile and wave, smile and wave): Calm down, Xin’er.