Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 147: Fluttering Poppies — VIII

Bai Huiqi stopped. Rooted to that place, he stood silent and dumbfounded, feeling all at once as he took in the sight, warm, joyous, and loud. It drowned his senses, occupied his sight, hearing, and even invaded his very lungs, filling them with the scent of life, of vitality.

All of a sudden, he could see everything yet nothing, he could hear everything yet nothing. He could breathe in the life around him, relish in the aroma of joy, of delight, yet he felt suffocated. It was all too much, yet too little simultaneously.

He could say nothing, do nothing but stand there; stunned and trapped in his body. There was something so breathtaking in this moment—the crowd, the life, and the sheer number of people around them. He felt one and the same with them, yet so far removed.

There was no word he could think of, much less use, to describe the turbid storm of emotions and feelings that raged in his heart and reigned on his mind. There was a deafening clamour, too loud, too tangible and existing; just in the back of his mind. And all the same, a desolation, an empty disconnection rang in the muted silence of that very place.

The fox spirit stood still, his sapphire eyes flickering from one place to another. His eyes never rested on the same place twice. It was as if he was trying to take it all in at once.

Cheon WuHui could clearly see the turmoil hidden behind the blank, gem-like eyes. He could see that vexation, that perplexity, clawing at the confines of the four-tailed fox spirit’s mind. It was intriguing to see that.

There was something so undeniably attractive in Bai Huiqi. Maybe it was the reservation, or maybe it was the partial naivete. The fox spirit was not quite naive in the same way a child would be, ignorant of the world. His ignorance and naivete of the world did not stem from his lack of knowledge.

No. Rather, that distinct ignorance was the result of a prolonged unfamiliarity with the world around him. It was as if he was a foreigner in the world that he lived in, as if the very air he breathed, the ground he walked on, was all too alien to him.

It was equally as intriguing as it was tragic in its own way.

"Young Master Bai," Brazenly, he said leaning close to have his whisper heard, eliminating the distance between them. His warm breath ghosted on the fox spirit’s skin, the ghost of it danced against him and sent a shudder down his spine.

Seeing the barest shadow of reaction, Cheon WuHui grew curious and gently wrapped his fingers around Bai Huiqi’s wrist. "Where have We lost you?"

At the warm touch that seared against his cold skin like a blazing brand, Bai Huiqi all but flinched, and snatched his hand out of the Heavenly Demon’s loose grip. His breath heaved slightly as he rubbed his wrist in the place Cheon WuHui had been holding.

Somehow, his voice trembled and sapphire eyes wandered swiftly as he murmured in a choked voice. "Pl... Please don’t touch me." His words were barely a dying whisper. "Cult Leader."

The reaction, rather visceral in nature, made Cheon WuHui frown. His expression remained unchanged—if a bit cold now—as he silently gazed down at his fingers, feeling the lingering icy coldness of the fox spirit’s flesh. Pursing his lips, he nodded curtly. "Very well."

Bai Huiqi swallowed, feeling heat crawl on his face, colouring his cheeks in a warm pink hue. He lowered his head, the embarrassment of his overreaction carved itself in his person.

Biting his lip tightly, he clenched his hands into fists under his sleeves. He should not have reacted so strongly. Cheon WuHui had merely held his wrist. He had done nothing worthy of that reaction.

Yet before he could leash himself and think, his body had reacted, and his tongue had spoken.

True to his words, for the rest of the night, Cheon WuHui did not try to touch Bai Huiqi and spoke only when necessary or while introducing him to things he might be unfamiliar with. Further, he made sure to keep at least half an arm’s length of distance from the fox spirit.

Eventually, even with all the chatter of the people around them, Bai Huiqi could no longer ignore the tension that was thick between them. Maybe he should apologize after all? Hadn’t he been the one to overreact?

Fervently, the fox spirit stole a cautious glance at the side of Cheon WuHui’s face. This was an unfamiliar face, neither chiseled nor sharp in a manner that thrummed with undercurrents of menace.

Gone were the chiseled features, the lips, nose, and eyes carved with care; the carmine irises, the plush lips perpetually set in a tight line; and the strong jaw and the flowing waves of crimson hair. In place of that familiar face was a stranger he did not know.

Instead of crimson waves and carmine eyes was raven hairs and black irises. But even so, even in that glaring absence, strangely enough, Bai Huiqi did not find himself feeling out of place with Cheon WuHui.

Perhaps, it wasn’t the handsome face or the crimson eyes that made Cheon WuHui, well, himself to Bai Huiqi. It was his presence, his very being.

Against his better judgement, Bai Huiqi was confident—as long as the Heavenly Demon was the same—his face nor his stature would make a difference.

Pressing his lips into a thin line, Bai Huiqi drew in a deep, bracing breath, willing himself to speak.

Unfortunately, in his quest to prepare himself to apologise, the fox spirit failed to take notice of who or what he might be running into in the crowd. His attention was, after all, fully stolen by the tall man by his side—and, by all means, his anxiety.

"Cul—" Before he could complete even a single word, Bai Huiqi felt his body lurch towards Cheon WuHui. He felt an abrupt and strong pull at his elbow towards the latter. Unable to find his balance, he fell to the man with a choked gasp.

Cheon WuHui smoothly shifted his hand from around the fox spirit to wrap his arm around his waist as he stepped aside, evading the crowd of people who would have otherwise rammed into the latter.

Carefully, he pulled Bai Huiqi to himself, feeling his own breath lighten at the action as the white-haired man crashed into his chest.

"Careful." He warned, giving him a soft murmured apology afterwards. "We should not be touching you." He bent his neck, looking down at the crown of Bai Huiqi’s head. "But without that, you would have collided with the people." He whispered into his ear once more.

Against him, Bai Huiqi gave no reply, perhaps too stunned to speak. Cheon WuHui did not think to hold it against him and prepared to let go.

"... I am sorry." He heard the fox spirit say and froze in surprise, forgetting even to raise his head. "I should not have snapped at you the way I did." He could hear the slightest of tremor in his voice. "Forgive me"— Bai Huiqi raised his head, looking up to face Cheon WuHui with an genuinely apologetic expression on his beautiful face—"Cult Leader. I do not—well—do not dislike you touching me."

Cheon WuHui stared.

And stared at him for a few long moments, unable to find his words.

"You need not apologize." He shook his head, arm tightening minutely around the fox spirit’s waist. "Especially not for acting for your comfort. Or setting your boundaries." He said reassuringly.

Bai Huiqi looked up at him. He felt like he was seeing—really seeing—this man for the first time. As if he was seeing Cheon WuHui for who he was. Not the Heavenly Demon or the Cult Leader, but Cheon WuHui himself.

Somehow, the mysterious pull drew him even more. Even without exchanging any more words, Bai Huiqi’s heart thudded strongly and noisily against his chest. He was sure Cheon WuHui could feel just how rapidly his heart was beating.

"Uh... Oh." After a long time, he choked out, quickly pushing himself away from Cheon WuHui’s chest. "Doctor Li also told me something similar." He coughed out awkwardly. He took a step back.

Oddly, Cheon WuHui let him step back, even loosened his arm around Bai Huiqi’s waist, but made no move to let go.

Seeing this, Bai Huiqi bit his lips, feeling his ears warm up behind his hair. Feigning a cough into his fist, he mumbled softly.

"Cult Leader, are you not going to let go?"

That seemed to snap the man right out of whatever trance he had fallen into as he nodded sharply and let his arm fall away from Bai Huiqi’s person.

"Certainly." He replied in a low voice and turned his face away from the fox spirit, busying himself with looking at the trinkets the vendor beside him was selling. "Would you like to buy something?"

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