Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 173: ... Do you... feel anything for me?"

The warm spring bubbled gently as wisps of steam rose into the air, creating an ethereal atmosphere. With a heart full of curiosity, Qie Xieling found himself immersed in the waters of the tranquil oasis. From where he stood, he could see King Luo’s back, his powerful presence impossible to ignore.

He was undoubtedly mesmerised by the strength and grace it exuded. King Luo deliberately kept his distance as though wary of any connection. The ripples on the surface of the spring mirrored the conflicted emotions swirling within Qie Xieling’s heart.

His mind kept going back to the love quiz and that spring dream that he had. He was running away from thinking deeply about the love quiz results but at the same time, he wanted to explore these feelings.

Since Luo Muchen didn’t remember anything and they were in a game, he decided to give it a go. If he fails, then there wouldn’t be any real-world consequences.

He was drawn to King Luo’s enigmatic nature. His mind slowly began to wander to inexplicable thoughts, fantasies that seemed to defy reason. Yet, he swallowed them down, unsure of how to process these newfound desires.

Summoning his courage, Qie Xieling drifted closer to him, the water gently caressing his form. King Luo’s back remained resolute, a symbol of his guarded nature. Qie Xieling cleared his throat, breaking the tense atmosphere between them. His elbows resting on the rock, he glanced at King Luo.

Qie Xieling inched closer, his heart pounding in his chest. The warm water embraced him, its soothing touch providing a semblance of courage. He found himself unable to tear his eyes away from King Luo, his admiration mingling with a growing yearning.

King Luo’s back seemed to tense slightly, his muscles rippling beneath his skin. He remained silent for a moment before finally asking, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "What?"

"You and Yunning. Are you really together? You seem rather distant," asked Qie Xieling.

From his eyes, it seemed King Luo wasn’t expecting to be asked this. His heart skipped a beat as he glanced at him. His emotions towards the matter were a complex mix of duty, obligation and nothing more.

Suppressing the conflicted emotions that welled up within him, King Luo looked directly into Eling’s eyes. "Yes, we are otherwise why would I marry her? You should really mind your business," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of irritation.

Qie Xieling studied King Luo’s face for a moment, seemingly taken aback by his raw response. "I... I thought," he stammered, clearly caught off guard.

"You thought what?... That I like you instead?" King Luo’s anger, which had momentarily consumed him, began to subside. At that moment, he realised that while he may have lashed out impulsively, it was not Eling’s fault that his own heart was at odds with his engagement and he was developing possessive feelings towards him.

Qie Xieling stood there frozen for a while. Underneath the water, in a place King Luo couldn’t see, he was rubbing his thumb and index finger together, his entire body locked. It was as though his thoughts had been exposed and not only that but he had been thinking too much.

He took a step back as he said, "You are right. I should mind my own business," with a self-deprecating smile. He immediately turned to leave only for King Luo to reach out and tightly latch onto his wrist.

Panic flashed in Qie Xieling’s eyes as he glanced down at the grip that held him firmly in place. Attempting to free himself, Qie Xieling’s struggles were met with resistance. King Luo’s strength was overpowering, causing his movements to become futile.

With beads of sweat forming on his forehead, King Luo’s voice softened, thick with vulnerability. "Eling, look at me. Do you... feel anything for me?"

Qie Xieling remained silent, his body going rigid in response to the intense confrontation. When he asked that question, he had no idea that this conversation would spiral out of control in this direction. He subconsciously took another step back, suddenly desperate to leave.

Driven by a mix of desire and possessiveness, King Luo pulled Eling closer, his fingers gently brushing against the soft skin of his neck. His eyes showed both longing and a possessive determination that sent shivers all over Qie Xieling’s body.

"You betrayed me for Yana... my worst enemy and robbed me of everything. Do you know how painful it was?... I have been very lenient with you but don’t mistake leniency for weakness," he said before forcing Eling to look up. He lowered his head, his lips almost brushing against Eling’s skin.

"Don’t tempt me, Eling," he whispered, his breath grazing Eling’s ear. "You have no idea what it does to me."

Qie Xieling’s eyes widened with a combination of surprise and alarm, his heart racing from the intensity of King Luo’s touch and words. Feeling overwhelmed by his possessive grip and the fire within him, Qie Xieling finally managed to wriggle free. He stormed off, his emotions in turmoil.

Left alone in the warm spring, King Luo watched Eling disappear into the distance. Regret washed over him, realising the consequences of his actions. He had lashed out, unable to control his emotions. With a heavy heart, he sank deeper into the spring, the warm water offering him a metaphorical comfort for his troubled heart.

***

Qie Xieling barely managed to put on his clothes properly. He didn’t even bother to put on his shoes as he stormed away. When he reached the campsite, he looked like a disaster. In fact, he looked like a poodle after falling into the pool.

Yunning couldn’t help but giggle while Boran was a little concerned. "What? Were you attacked by a hurricane in the forest?" asked Boran and Qie Xieling flipped the both of them off.

When he entered the tent, Jolie opened her eyes and asked, "What happened?"

Qie Xieling didn’t want to talk about it, so he said, "Not now. I don’t want to talk about it."

Jolie wasn’t going to force it. She just closed her eyes and pretended not to care. The only way to get Qie Xieling talking was pretending to be disinterested. Qie Xieling angrily took things out of his holding bag while mumbling something angrily.

Seeing that Jolie wasn’t asking him anymore, he straightened his back and asked, "Don’t you care?" before slumping down on the ground.

Jolie smiled as she got up to sit next to him. She massaged his shoulders while saying, "Tell me. What did Mu Mu do?"

"Don’t say his name. I can’t even hear it right now. It only makes me angrier."