After a rather vigorous workout, Xing Han fell into an exhaustive sleep.

Nitocris looked at his beloved puppy breathing as he lay there, naked on the bed. Nitocris got up and with a wet cloth, gently and slowly, wiped his puppy clean.

Xing Han was so deep in sleep that he didn't even stir, let alone do his normal octopus act.

Nitocris's eyes landed on Xing Han's suitcase and he clenched his fists. He wanted nothing more than to empty that suitcase and tie Xing Han down, preventing him from leaving.

He didn't know why, but he had this rather ominous feeling about it.

Nitocris turned to look back at his puppy, kissed him on the forehead and whispered, his voice hitching a bit, "Don't leave me."

Xing Han's face frowned, as if he heard him but he didn't wake up.

With a sigh, Nitocris got up and limped to the bathroom to take a shower. He rubbed his sore back and butt, thinking that his puppy became a completely different person in bed.

From a cute little beagle, into a wolf.

He hadn't been prepared to be the bottom this time, but didn't have the heart - or desire - to resist his puppy today.

It was actually even sexier seeing his normally adorable puppy be so aggressive.

Nitocris gave one last look at his puppy before he entered the bathroom.

It was a good thing that he had this connecting bathroom built when he and Xing Han become an item. Made some things more fun, too.

He sighed again, thinking how much he didn't like his puppy going, but he couldn't stop him. He prayed his fears were groundless.

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It had been three days since Xing Han returned home.

Yet, he had not managed to catch hold of his father for that talk. He didn't have breakfast, for he left early in the morning. He came home late at night, so Xing Han couldn't bother him then either.

It was frustrating.

His eyes widened when he saw the familiar figure of his father actually entering the dining room and sit down at the table.

Not wanting to miss an opportunity, Xing Han immediately asked, "Father, can I see you later? There is something important I need to talk to you about."

His father, Zhènlín, looked at his watch then said gruffly before getting up, "In my study. 10 minutes."

"Now?" Xing Han exclaimed in surprise.

"What? You said it was important," Zhènlín said.

"Yes, but you should at least eat first," Xing Han said, feeling guilty.

Zhènlín shook his head, "I've already eaten. I came because I wanted to spend some time with you."

"Oh," Xing Han said, feeling re-assured, then put down his chopsticks. He had already finished and was simply munching in nervousness, "Okay."

In the study, Zhènlín sat at the sofa and asked, "So, what is this important thing you needed to talk about?"

Xing Han gulped, and sat nervously on the sofa across from his father. Taking a deep breath, Xing Han looked at his father and said while clenching his hands tightly together, "Father, I am sorry but I can't marry Xuelin. I am in love with someone else."

Zhènlín glared at him, "What nonsense are you spouting? You know we have no objections to you having mistresses. That has nothing to do with marrying Xuelin."

"Are you saying she refuses to be a mistress and demands to be the wife?" Zhènlín asked angrily, "The audacity of her. You should know better!"

Xing Han shook his head.

"No, that is not it," Xing Han said, "I am the one who cannot marry someone I don't love, and have the one I do, be relegated to the position of a 'mistress'."

"Ridiculous," Zhènlín scoffed, "She's the one that must have put the idea in your head and you are stupid enough to think it was all your idea. This is why we have this rule. Otherwise, we would have been destroyed long ago."

Xing Han gritted his teeth, "This is my idea and he doesn't know I am here talking about it. He never even raised the subject at all."

Zhènlín sat up straight suddenly, banging his fist on the table, "Say. That. Again!!"

Xing Han flinched a bit but stood his ground, "This is entirely my idea. My desire."

"It's not that, and you know it," Zhènlín hissed, "You said 'he'."

"Yes, I did," Xing Han replied.

Zhènlín got up and towered over Xing Han, who then got up to face his father.

"Are you telling me that you are throwing away everything this family had been working for, for another man?!" Zhènlín roared.

"A man I love," Xing Han said firmly.

Xing Han's head whipped to the side, turning at the force of the slap his father gave him. It had been so strong that his head was reeling a bit and he tasted blood inside his mouth.

He turned to face his father again, and said, "I am serious, Father. I cannot do this anymore."

Zhènlín slapped Xing Han again, this time on the other cheek as he said, "No son of mine is gay. No son of mine is going to break the tradition that has been in place for generations. I will not allow this!"

Xing Han felt a huge stone in his throat with each word that his father uttered. He knew that his father would have trouble accepting this, but he had … at least … hoped that he would have been willing to listen.

To be a bit more open-minded.

"I'm sorry, Father," Xing Han said, lowering his head, "I just can't do this anymore."

"Yes, you can," Zhènlín said, as he put his hands on Xing Han's shoulders, "I will help you get over this. We'll cure you."

Xing Han stared at his father, tears in his eyes, "I'm not sick, Father. I'm just deeply in love."