Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 37: Budding Lotus — VIII

"Just because something does not hurt does not mean it is fine, Xin’er." He said, the baritone timbre of his voice sending a wave of something unknown down Li Xinyuan’s body. He was saying those words as a retort but to the surgeon it sounded like a reprimand. freeweɓnovel.cøm

For a moment, Li Xinyuan felt embarrassment set in. After living in this world for years, his perception of ’hurt’ had undergone significant changes. Though none of them applied to other people’s well-being, they did apply to Li Xinyuan himself.

Like the hypocrite he was.

Li Xinyuan licked his lips, wetting the soft flesh as he curled his injured hand into a fist and tried to pull it out of the protagonist’s grasp.

"Who told My Liege that?" He asked instead, curious. Last time he checked, Liu Mingyun didn’t seem like the person to make sense of things like that.

Liu Mingyun frowned harder when he felt Li Xinyuan’s attempt at pulling his hand away. Not giving in, he gave the surgeon’s wrist a light squeeze and replied, head canted ever so slightly.

"Lord Father." He said, succinctly whilst pulling Li Xinyuan’s fist towards himself. "Why does Xin’er ask?" He wondered aloud, gentle, elegant fingers working to pry the younger male’s hand open. "Don’t clench your hand. It will hurt more."

Instinctively, Li Xinyuan wanted to obey, promptly wanting to loosen his fist. But Li Xinyuan was a stubborn man, not to mention the (secret) adult between them.

Even if Liu Mingyun was right, he wanted to contest the Crown Prince’s command.

With a soft huff leaving his lips, the surgeon pulled his hand away. "It really doesn’t hurt, My Liege. Do not fret."

Upon his actions, Liu Mingyun’s face became coloured in displeasure as his eyes darkened for a moment before he shook his head, lips pursed, he asked.

"Is Xin’er upset with This Prince for giving him no warning?" He leaned in close, back straight and head tilted to look down at Li Xinyuan.

Li Xinyuan shook his head, lips curling down into a slight frown as he replied. "No, My Liege..."

Of course, he was not upset with Liu Mingyun over such a small matter. He was not that childish nor was he petty enough to spite the protagonist at his own expense.

Definitely not.

"Then, Xin’er... Please?" Liu Mingyun bowed his head, bending forward so that their faces were closer, just a few measly inches apart. "Allow me to heal you? Or better yet, do it yourself." He requested, magnetic voice dipping a few octaves as he spoke, the sound of his words barely above a whisper.

Damn it. How could Li Xinyuan say no to a voice like that? Paired with those words and a handsome face... Yeah, he was going to heal the living daylight out of his wounded palm.

With a repressed sigh, Li Xinyuan pressed his lips into a thin line and slowly brought his clenched fist up, opening it so that his palm could face the ceiling.

Then, under the Crown Prince’s watchful eyes, the surgeon channelled a bout of healing Qi towards his open hand and watched the blistered flesh heal at the speed visible on naked eyes.

Warm, light blue Qi engulfed the surgeon’s hand as the energy worked its magic, systematically healing all the damaged cells until finally the burn disappeared completely, leaving behind only the scars as a reminder of the injury.

"Satisfied?" He huffed, pouting slightly before his face went back to a gentle, neutral expression.

Liu Mingyun looked up from his healed palm and blinked at him, taking a step closer, further closing the distance between them, the Protagonist gently grasped his hand once again and ran his thumb over the white scarring on his previously unmarred hand.

"Yes..." he nodded, a troubled frown resting on his face as he gave a slight squeeze to his hand. Oh how Li Xinyuan wanted to reached forward and smooth over the crease in his brows. He refrained. "And no. There are scars."

The Crown Prince’s answer caught him by surprise, for a moment Li Xinyuan blinked, forgetting his voice as his mind blanked.

"Huh?" He said, like a true intellectual. "Pardon, My Liege. This lowly servant cannot understand your meaning." He tired, carefully.

Liu Mingyun’s thumb didn’t stop, the calloused pad of the appendage ran on his scars, retracing the path they had created. For a second, he said nothing and just let out a sigh, the heavy hearted exhale tumbling off his lips.

Then, as Li Xinyuan found his voice again, he couldn’t help but speak in a teasing manner. His head drew closer to Liu Mingyun’s, palm curling around his thumb as he whispered, soft, kind yet mirthful.

"This lowly one didn’t know Your Highness preferred him flawless." His eyes turned into crescents as he smiled, slightly.

Liu Mingyun took the quip in a good humour and chuckled deeply, shaking his head, the protagonist held Li Xinyuan hand in both of his hands and sighed, still smiling.

"It’s not that I prefer you flawless, Xin’er." He looked away, pupils quivering ever so slightly as he stared at the swords. "You are beautiful, handsome. There is no flaw that will wan the beauty of your flesh, much less soul." He paused, looking back at Li Xinyuan with something profound in his eyes.

Li Xinyuan swallowed, holding his gaze as he felt his heart race, a shiver went down his spine as he blinked, golden eyes staring intently.

"I mean every words I spoke, Xin’er." Liu Mingyun’s hands moved to cup the surgeon’s face, the touch was... Indescribable.

Li Xinyuan didn’t know what to make of it. Subconsciously, he leaned into the tender touch, a trembling sigh poised on his lips.

"But this scar—" Liu Mingyun’s fingers traced shapeless lines on his fair, smooth cheeks. "This scar that is on your hand, on your person... It will remind me of the first time I’ve failed you. I apologise for not warning you." He whispered, the ghost of his breath caressing the surgeon’s handsome visage as the Crown Prince pressed their foreheads together, exhaling as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Li Xinyuan trembled, everything was so unbelievably tender. Never in either of his lives had he experienced something like this. A touch like this, it gave him a happy illusion of them being lovers.

Though they were anything but that. Anything but lovers.

At least for now.