Draft

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After Su Jingyang was informed of the old Emperor's death, he began to worry about Ling Li. Although Ling Li didn't clearly express his attitude when he first came to Rongcheng, Su Jingyang vaguely realized that Ling Li was reluctant to get involved with the Imperial Palace.

He believed so, so when he learned that Ling Li has the intention to bring Ah-Xuan into the palace, his whole person froze in place for a long time without reaction.

Su Jingyang still couldn't believe it, and was busy asking Rong Ci: "Ah-Li said this himself?"

Rong Ci nodded and said, "Rong Hua went to talk to him after hearing the news. He told him himself." Rong Ci pondered for a moment and said to Su Jingyang: "You can also wait for him to finish and ask him about it personally."

Rong Ci was a little puzzled at Ling Li's thoughts. He and Rong Hua knew very well what Ling Li had done when he first came to Rongcheng. Ling Li's was very sober and decisive at the time, if he really wanted to enter the Palace, why did he make such a move? Now he seemed to have changed his mind and was very determined.

There's a reason why he's doing this.

Rong Hua couldn't ask for this reason, but Su Jingyang could definitely do it.

If even Su Jingyang can't know, then probably no one in this world will be able to know why Ling Li did this.

Rong Ci hoped that Ling Li would stay, and he would help if Ling Li wanted to stay. He knew that Su Jingyang and Lingl Li had a special bond. If the two were separated, Su Jingyang would be devastated.

Rong Ci told Su Jingyang to ask, and Su Jingyang naturally thought so too. When Ling Li came over that afternoon, Su Jingyang rushed to the door like a gust of wind, eagerly pulling him in and closing the door afterwards. He faced him energetically and opened his mouth to ask: "Ah-Li, I heard what happened... "

Ling Li smiled softly, his expression looked peaceful, "You also know."

Su Jingyang nodded and wanted to speak again when a child's cry rang out in the room- it was a whine, and its volume shouldn't be underestimated. Ling Li went to follow the sound inside, "Is Ah-Yu (T/N: The older twin, Su Dafan) calling?"

Su Jingyang followed and said, "Who else is there beside him, crying out every day."

"Ah-Yu's like you, with a lively temper." Ling Li walked to the small bed and sat down, looking at the two children with a gentle expression.

Su Dafan was kicking his legs and practising his throat, calling out twice from time to time. Su Xiaofan was asleep, and seemingly coincidentally, his little fist was covering up his ear, as if he was detested his brother's noises.

Ling Li couldn't help laughing. He reached out and touched Su Dafan's feet. After sighing quietly, he said to Su Jingyang with a little regret: "I still haven't properly hugged these two little guys since they were born."

Su Jingyang felt a little undecided when he heard him say this, his mood was chaotic. He sat next to Ling Li, pulling his shoulders, and asking him to look at him.

Su Jingyang had a solemn expression: "Ah-Li, be honest with me, are you entering the Palace voluntarily? If you don't want to go back, Rong Ci will be able to help you, and..."

Ling Li quickly answered, his face wasn't suspicious in the slightest. "It's voluntary."

Su Jingyang stared at him for a moment, remembering his drunkenness the day before, an uncontrollable uneasiness spread in his heart. While carefully examining the expression on Ling Li's face, he cautiously probed: " Ah-Li, what did I tell you that day when I got drunk..."

"Jingyang, you don't have to worry too much. Actually, I've been thinking about this for a long time." Ling Li held Su Jingyang's wrist with his backhand and interrupted his words smoothly. His eyes were full of gentle power, as it has always been, "I just didn't tell you at the time, His Royal Highness promised me the position of Royal concubine."

Su Jingyang was very surprised. He didn't know about this, Royal concubine? Ming Zhan didn't seem like someone who liked to coax others with words. If he said that, then he has the intention.

Ling Li went on to say, "He values me so much, how could I not be tempted? But at the same time, I have some worries. After all, I have no identity... but then I thought, people go to high places and water flows to low places. I've been given such a good opportunity, why not fight for myself and Ah-Xuan? Ah-Xuan's no different from a normal child now, and he wants to stay with his father. His Royal Highness has feelings for me, and if he becomes the Emperor in the future, he would abide by his promises and honour me a place in the harem. He won't treat me and my son badly."

Su Jingyang stared intently at Ling Li, feeling a little confused in his heart. He felt that these shouldn't be coming out of Ling Li's mouth but he really couldn't find a flaw.

"Ah-Li, are these your true thoughts? You must tell the truth! Please don't hide anything from me."

"I didn't hide anything from you, they're e thoughts." Seeing that Su Jingyang still didn't quite believe it, Ling Li lowered his eyes and sighed silently, "I've already said it, Jingyang, don't think that I'm simple and beautiful, I'm not so innocent... I've stayed in this world for a long time, I want to go to greener and broader pastures. I also yearn for the kind of life the rich and powerful have."

Su Jingyang's thoughts were sluggish for a moment, "But Ah-Li, it's not that simple surviving in the Palace, have you really thought about it?"

Ling Li said: "Of course, I've been thinking carefully these days I've stayed in Rongcheng, and I'm not a child. I know what kind of place the Palace is... but in the end, this is the decision I made."

Ling Li's red slowly became red, he pulled at Su Jingyang's hand and held it tightly. His lips trembled and his expression reflected his extreme discomfort, as if his calmness just now was just a disguise, his voice suddenly choked badly. "I just can't bear... I can't bear it... I'm about to be separated from you. I suddenly realized that our time together was so short. Jingyang, you... no matter where you are in the future, even if... even if you go home, don't forget me, alright? Promise me."

"What stupid thing to say; of course I won't forget you." Su Jingyang felt extremely sad when he thought of their upcoming parting. His eyes were wet and he whispered to Ling Li, "Even if we're not together, we'll worry about each other, how can we forget? Ah-Li won't forget me, right?"

Ling Li nodded vigorously, his face was covered with tears, now silent.

Su Jingyang also held back his tears, he rubbed his hand against the corners of his wet eyes and said softly: "Besides, the Prince is just about to take the throne. There'll be a lot of things to do, and there should be some time until arrangements are made, we won't be parting soon. And, even if you go to Jincheng, I can still visit you if I have the chance in the future..."

Chance... Ling Li reluctantly bent the corner of his mouth, he nodded again and said softly to Su Jingyang: "Alright."

After staying with Su Jingyang for almost the whole day, Ling Li seemed to deeply cherish the moments left with him and said a lot.

In the evening, Ling Li got up and left. Su Jingyang's heart was bothered because of that interrupted sentence. He thought about it, and caught up with Ling Li who had just walked outside the sleeping hall to ask: "Ah-Li, that day while I was drunk... did I really say nothing to you?"

Ling Li squinted his eyes slightly, as if he was trying to remember, he said: "You said... something vague, a few words about going home. "

Su Jingyang's scalp tightened at once, he quickly asked: "Then what?!"

Ling Li calmly watched his nervous appearance, his tone was very ordinary: "Then? Then you went back to crying and sleeping until Rong Ci came back."

Su Jingyang watched Ling Li silently for a long time without speaking. Ling Li looked back at him with an incomprehensible look in his eyes, "What's wrong with you, Jingyang? You were drunk and cried in front of me, why do you care so much? Was there anything you're afraid to say? ? "

Su Jingyang scratched his head and smiled, "Nothing, I just asked."

Ling Li said: "Then I should go back, I still have to urge Ah-Xuan to study. I'll see you tomorrow."

Su Jingyang replied "Alright" and loosened his hand.

Ling Li walked outside. The moment he turned, the faint smile on his face almost instantly fragmented. He speeded up his pace and didn't dare to stay any longer. He narrowed his eyes slightly, he covered his eyes and no longer restrained himself. With endless thoughts rushing through his head, he left in a hurry.

Sure enough, it was a delusional dream trying to make Su Dafan and Su Xiaofan obediently lie in bed and fall asleep.

Su Jingyang walked around with the baby beside the bed that night, his legs were almost broken when he put the two small ancestors to sleep. Su Jingyang lay on the bed exhausted and had no strength to take a bath, but if he didn't wash away the sweat on his body, he'd feel uncomfortable.

After beating over it for a long time, the idea of ​​not getting up finally won. He continued to stand still and wanted to just lie down like this.

Finally, Rong Ci brought water to the bed and wiped his face and hands, serving him personally.

Su Jingyang blinked sleepily and stared at Rong Ci who was carefully wiping his hands. He couldn't help but recall the dream he had. Fortunately, although the two children didn't let Rong Ci touch them for too long, he still did his best to share the burden. Before going to bed, he often massaged his legs and shoulders. He could be said t be very considerate.

If he really did have no conscience like in the dream, not doing anything except warming pillows with his butt, and obnoxiously ordering him around here and there, Su Jingyang would unhesitatingly pick up a knife and cut him when he's irritable!

After Rong Ci wiped Su Jingyang's fingers, his black eyes glanced at him twice. His eyes flashed slightly, and he suddenly leaned down to kiss him hard, his nose pressed against his as he interrogated him in a low voice: "There was a murderous look in your eyes just now. Say, what were you thinking about?"

The breath from his words touched upon Su Jingyang's lips. It was itchy, and Su Jingyang couldn't help but laugh a little from the contact, pushing his face away.

Rong Ci grabbed his hand, bowed his head, and kissed him for a while before letting go.

Su Jingyang watched Rong Ci take off his shirt, he found that he had taken off the jade pendant and put it on the pillow. He couldn't help humming, "A piece of broken jade pendant, why do you still wear it every day."

Rong Ci laid down, he then said, "You gave it to me. Of course, I'll wear it every day; I'll wear it for the rest of my life. What is it for otherwise?"

Su Jingyang couldn't help but mutter, "At the beginning, you obviously disliked it and wanted nothing to do with it. Now you pick it up and throw around such boasts."

Rong Ci's lips curled up, he said, "You just love to listen to it, I just need to say a few words to coax you."

"...Goodbye."

Su Jingyang turned his back, Rong Ci immediately reached out to hug him. He seemed to have thought of something and turned around to hug Rong Ci, burying his head in his arms.

Rong Ci touched his hair and said softly, "Sleep at ease. I'll listen to the child's movement. I'll call you if I can't figure it out."

Su Jingyang hummed vaguely, he waited until he was certain Rong Ci was asleep. He slowly opened his eyes again, his eyes filled with indelible contemplation.

After Ling Li left, Su Jingyang had been thinking, if Ling Li and His Royal Highness were the protagonists the system was talking about, and if the two of them got together like the original plot, he would have no contribution whatsoever. Could he still collect that 90% energy at once?

System no. 1 didn't come out, and he had no one to ask. But he roughly guessed that it was probably possible. After all, once the protagonists got together, then it's of the greatest significance for this world.

If the energy could be collected, he could then fill up the remaining progress bar. He'll finally be able to get rid of that dog system and go home.

Go home.

This demon had lingered in his heart for so long, such simple but such profound two words; is it about to be realized?

Su Jingyang imagined such a possibility, for a moment, he was in a daze and couldn't believe it, but he didn't want to uncontrollable jump in excitement as he had imagined.

After going home, there'll be Rong Ci, no children, no Ah-Li, Ah-Xuan or Rong Hua.

He could return to his normal life, play games every day at and off work without being fettered by the system. There'll be no more entangled in feelings, no need to take care of the children and suffer from a serious lack of sleep every day.

Such a life should've never been robbed from him.

He slowly raised his eyes, just in time to see Rong Ci's chin and the curvature of the corners of his mouth. He raised his hand subconsciously to touch it, but his heart suddenly clenched, and his hand stopped midair.

After leaving this world, he won't have this warm embrace that he had grown so accustomed to, and even a little attached.

He won't have this anymore.

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