"... Huh? It's morning already?"

Feeling the sunlight hitting his face, Shao Cheng tired eyes squinted while dazedly turning his head around to see that outside was already early in the morning causing him to become eerily silent for a few seconds before a deep sigh escape his lip.

Did he just think and immerses himself in negative emotions about his current problem the entire night?

This is not good… and here Shao Cheng speculated that he has finally stopped his bad habit of staying all night from worrying, thinking, planning and strategizing from especially hard circumstances that he found himself with.

It always leads him extremely tired and fatigued in the previous life and as he thinks about it now, Chang Pei and Huan Ya have only worried about his health when there was a time that he has fainted from overworking himself from before.

Which they usually look after him during their early situation of struggling to survive yet somehow they have stop caring a bit when they are just a few steps away from winning the fight for the throne and that should have been a piece of evidence enough that something has changed in their relationship right?

Shao Cheng was truly blind to the people he especially cared for and loved that a frustrated and tired sigh escape his lip while rubbing his forehead.

"All this thinking is more tiring and frustrating… I prefer to just remove people than worrying about this kind of stuff… urgh…"

At least, Shao Cheng would have preferred just annihilating people than remembering all about his failures while worrying about how to handle and interact with Ren Yuan, it was far easier that way, especially when he can feel the familiar headache every single time he wants to deal with Ren Yuan in the previous life.

Although it completely different kinds of headache now but it still felt the same pain.

However, for now, though, Shao Cheng has decided to go cook some delicious food for Ren Yuan to eat, because aside from all the numerous planned that has run on his mind the entire night, Shao Cheng can see about how much the man loves the food that he cooks, which is something that he will utilize to get some good point to Ren Yuan.

Yeah… Shao Cheng should just go please, coax and whatever tenderness that he can muster to treat the older man nicely for now, which as for long as he could since there will always be a time that he will treat others unfairly, which he prefer not to act it out to Ren Yuan.

And from what Shao Cheng has been able to observe so far, and for whatever reason, the man seemed to certainly like it when he becomes extremely obedient and docile… so Shao Cheng decided to just act that way for now.

Really, the thing Shao Cheng does for him...

So with all those thoughts running on his mind, Shao Cheng went out of Ren Yuan's room in order to first take a quick bath and change his clothes before going to the kitchen.

However, a rather loud voice that grated his tired and sleepy mind has quickly reached his ears, in which he has almost coldly lashed out on his irritation and has managed to control himself only when it registered on his mind that it was Ren Yuan that currently being noisy so early in the morning.

He isn't prepared to face the man yet, can someone give him just a little bit more time?

"What the... Whitey! Why do you look so haggard? What is with that pale face? Is that an eye bags under your eyes? I left you alone so you can take proper rest and not so you can stay awake all night probably being moody and gloomy the entire time!"

Like always, its just Ren Yuan being his annoying and irritating self although Shao Cheng couldn't help but stare at the older man with a confused and doubtful expression that has cause Ren Yuan to finally stop speaking.

While somewhere in his sleepy, tired and exhausted mind he couldn't help but glance at the currently Little Chen Yu peacefully sleeping on top of Ren Yuan's head, while blankly staring at the rather infuriating Purple that was sharing the same spot as the Little wolf cub.

Is that mutated heaven aura really angry and fighting over the right to stay on top of Ren Yuan's head right now?

In that split second, Shao Cheng has decided to just stop caring about wherever and whatever Purple was doing and going while turning his attention back at the currently astonished Ren Yuan before him.

In which Shao Cheng also didn't forget to secretly observe Ren Yuan's expression, trying to see the genuine one rather than the lies, fake and deceit that Ren Yuan definitely was openly showing all the time.

Although it was a hopeless action in the end because Shao Cheng will forever wonder and guess what Ren Yuan is really thinking in that confusing, unpredictable and difficult mind of his.

"Whitey, why are you looking at me like that?"

Seeing those worried and concerned peach blossom grey eyes, Shao Cheng couldn't help but wonder… should he try to be honest with Ren Yuan once in a while?

And should he start trying right now?

After all, he doesn't want a repeat of what occurred last night to happen once again, so should he take the first step of honesty between them?

What did they call that again? Yeah, should Shao Cheng take a leap of faith right now?

Because Shao Cheng couldn't continue being so close off, having too many secrets and lies will further complicate their relationships if he continues on about what he has been doing the entire time, and god forbid, it might lead them to become enemies once again in this lifetime.

Even though this new life, Shao Cheng has decided and refuses to become Ren Yuan enemy because frankly, it's really tiring and difficult in the previous life since most of the trouble he has faced was far more annoying and vexatious when he started dealing with the older man soon after.

And from the never-ending of lies and deceit that he performs and acts, what he was doing this time might push Ren Yuan to become his enemies one again, so Shao Cheng better be more open to Ren Yuan and just stop being a hypocritical person.

It's going to be hard, still, if he wants their friendship to work out well then, Shao Cheng needs to be the one to take the first move, so with a deep breath, Shao Cheng sapphire eyes met the peach blossom grey eyes of Ren Yuan that has some unknown emotion hidden deep within it.

Maybe wondering why he was being silent and not answering for a while now?

At this instant, Shao Cheng has frankly face the person before him, and for the first time in his new life, has slowly opened up his guarded heart as he becomes straight and honest, without hidden meaning with every action he does and every word he spoke off.

"... why are you not outraged and offended right now?"

"Huh?"

With a raised eyebrow Ren Yuan wanted to answer in a playful manner but forcefully stopping himself when he met the serious sapphire eyes that burned fiercely with earnestness and honesty.

As Ren Yuan gazes upon the Whitey before him, it felt like he is currently witnessing a miracle, which no one else has been able to manage to behold and only him alone, which frankly has made Ren Yuan felt downright extremely special.

It was notably weird, that his heart brim with delight and joy right now.

However, it didn't stop Ren Yuan from answering in a much more subdued voice, filled with softness and seriousness, which doesn't have the usual playful, joking and merry way he usually acts because somehow, in the deepest part of his soul, a whisper of answering back equally serious flash on his mind.

And just like always, Ren Yuan always follow his instinct, and if he needed to show a serious genuine part of him right now then so be it.

"Whitey… I am not angry with you." He might have felt hurt a bit, but never angry maybe annoyed and irritated, but furious at him? Somehow, Ren Yuan couldn't remain angry for a long time.

Strangely, Ren Yuan was far more worried and concern about what is going on with the young man aside from anything else, especially when there is the idea of the young man somehow being one of the few people that have unusual power that live in their land.

In which he was still trying to figure out if it's somehow related to being like by animals? Didn't Whitey speak about it before that he strangely has a close relationship with most of the animals for a long time now?

It is still weird though, Whitey who has cold expression all the time being love by animals... maybe because the young man has a rather soft and pure heart? Pfft... Ren Yuan should probably stop thinking about it now before he lost it.

Peering up at the silent Ren Yuan, Shao Cheng chest felt lightened after speaking about his worried while inwardly astonished and made over the fact that just letting it out will make it easier, at least, there isn't the heavy pressure anymore, while the disturbing ideas on his mind slowly disappeared.

"Why is that? I have been nasty and acted badly. You were just worried about my health but I unfairly lashed out and treated you poorly. I was even prepared to hear you speak about not wanting to be acquaintance with me anymore. That… Big Brother Yu Yu don't want to be my friend and would ask me to leave you alone…"

Ren Yuan that has gone back to listening and observing the man seriously couldn't help but cut the young man off, before walking closer and grabbing Whitey shoulder, peach blossom grey eyes becoming hard and firm.

Hearing those words being spouted from Whitey mouth, has cause Ren Yuan's heart to beat in disturbance because there is seriously something wrong with how the young man's mind works, is there something wrong with Whitey mental health?

Ren Yuan has tucked that issue in the corner of his mind, he should probably watch out about that problem later on but for now, there is a need to shake and wake the person before him.

"Whitey, what are you talking about? Yes, you lashed out to me. Yes, you were definitely being a bad friend. But isn't that obvious enough that I won't fault you during that kind of circumstance? Whitey... I am not that bad enough to suddenly and easily cut off our friendship alright?"

Well, I am, but unfortunately… it felt uncomfortable whenever I thought about not being friends with you anymore… so unless you truly betray my trust… our relationship will never change.

Hearing the last sentence of Ren Yuan, Shao Cheng is having a hard time believing that claims, after all, the man is well known to decisively break off his relationship with the people he deemed not needed and necessity on his life and even part of his group in the previous life.

Surely, the present Ren Yuan isn't that much different right?

However, trust… Shao Cheng needed to trust this man… needed to stop comparing him to the Ren Yuan in the previous life… and if it took all of his power to stop the shake of his hands, then Shao Cheng will just painfully accept the fact that he truly cares about what this man thinks about him now.

Oh, how different he is in this new life… how considerate he now treated the person before him, however, Shao Cheng swallows hard before showing an insecure smile, full of unease and hesitant as he took a leap of faith.

It's extremely hard… but a step… he needs to take a courageous first step… so that there is a higher chance for a better future… so that there are less mistake, blunder, and errors in this new life.

I'm opening my self up to you… don't disappoint me alright? Or more precisely don't be disappointed after you learn about what kind of a person I truly am ok?

"So… are we still friends?"

Ren Yuan has been silent and calm, patiently waiting for the next words to come out from the young man lip because even he could tell about how Whitey is currently trying to open up more toward, that continue to truly delight him so much.

Somehow Ren Yuan peach blossom grey eyes flash with indescribable emotion as he gazes upon the person before him.

"Yes, we are still friends. You won't be getting rid of me so easily Whitey."

"Cheng…"

"Um?"

Blinking his eyes at the sudden word of Whitey, his peach blossom grey eyes instantly widen when a rather breathtakingly beautiful smile appears on the young man features along with shining and soft sapphire eyes, the coldness upon it has completely melted, showing such an overwhelming gentle light that has effectively warmth his heart.

"My name… you can call me Cheng."

"Oh…"

With a completely stunned gaze, Ren Yuan can only dazedly utter an oh, his mind was far too amazed and dumbfounded to even think about a more proper word, while his breath seemed to have been taken away in that instant.