"Mn..." ShuFang groaned. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was...

All the blood drained from ShuFang's face, leaving it a ghastly pale color.

It couldn't be. If he really killed YiWang, his entire family will be at risk, especially his father who's currently still in the army. He must help them escape to another country before the emperor finds out-

He quickly sat up and stumbled off the bed. He made his way to the door, but only managed a few steps before he bumped into a sturdy figure.

ShuFang quickly drew a hidden blade out of his sleeves and plunged it towards the man. Because of his panic and unsettled mind, he did not sense who the man was beforehand. He believed that YiWang had captured him after he had fainted.

"Woah!" Jun Weixiang chuckled as he gripped ShuFang's thin wrist, stopping the blade in mid-air.

"It's me." The words flowed into ShuFang's mind, halting his struggle.

"Jun Weixiang?" He asked, already knowing the answer from smelling the figure's distinct scent.

"Mhm," Jun Weixiang hummed, his low voice sending small pangs of excitement into ShuFang's heart as he led him back to the bed.

"B-but how?" ShuFang tilted his face up, his eyebrows scrunching in confusion.

"After you fainted, I carried you back." Jun Weixiang said. He hesitated before adding, "You don't need to go back there."

"But what if he--" Shufang tightened his grip around Jun Weixiang's sleeves.

"Then know that no harm shall come to you with my protection. He can't do anything to you with me here." Jun Weixiang said firmly. Seeing ShuFang open his mouth in objection, Jun Weixiang quickly changed the subject.

"I heard the spring festival is near." He said while examining Shufang's expression.

"Oh!" ShuFang exclaimed pleasantly. He knew Jun Weixiang was trying to change the subject to protect his mind from over-stimulation again. That fool. That utterly stupid, yet sweet fool.

Speaking of the spring festival, it was one of his favorite celebrations of the year, but he hasn't been to one since his last life since he was too busy recruiting the Shadow Corps...

"Would.." Jun Weixiang started to say. He nervously tightened his hold on ShuFang's shoulder before continuing, "Would you like to go with me?"

Jun Weixiang quickly held his breath in anticipation. He waited for Shufang's answer, but didn't receive one, so he was discouraged and started to lower his eyes in disappointment...

Of course, ShuFang, who was extremely close to Jun Weixiang in proximity, could perceive the dejection surrounding Jun Weixiang. He felt that this side of the 5th prince was a bit cute, so he said,

"I would love to."

-------

"Try this." Jun Weixiang paid the merchant some coins and handed the glistening tanghulu to ShuFang.

[A/N: This is tanghulu. It's typically candied hawthorn and tastes sweet on the outside, and sour on the inside. There are many variations of tanghulu, such as candied strawberries, candied kiwi, etc. It's extremely cheap in China, but make sure that you're buying it from a clean and well-reputed store. Some street-sellers use unhygienic equipment to make this, so be careful.]

Shufang held the stick between his fingers and stuck his tongue out to have a quick taste. He was extremely satisfied with the sweetness permeating his taste buds, and his pink tongue started to lap at the sweet treat.

"Un.." Jun Weixiang watched the somewhat erotic display and felt a sudden thirst for water. He coughed and said, "Shufang, if you keep licking it like this, you're going to be left with only the sour part."

"En." ShuFang nodded obediently. He withdrew his tongue, causing Jun Weixiang to feel a sense of regret, but his next action soon caused Jun Weixiang to choke.

"What, what are you doing?" Jun Weixiang questioned as he quickly used his long sleeves to block the public's view of Shufang.

"Eh? I'm eating my tanghulu." ShuFang replied, confused. He slotted the tanghulu back into his mouth and hummed appreciatively.

"I.." Jun Weixiang blushed as he stared intensely at ShuFang's mouth. He didn't know why, but he felt a fire being lit in his abdomen when he saw the stick of tanghulu slide in and out of Shufang's small mouth...

"Do you want some?" The corners of Shufang's mouth twitched. The burning gaze was making him a bit uncomfortable.

"C-can I?" Jun Weixiang slowly reached his hands towards the tanghulu that ShuFang was sucking on. He bent down and slowly opened his lips to have a taste of the tanghulu hanging right before Shufang's cherry red lips...

"Of course!" Shufang quickly turned around and walked back to the street merchant that sold tanghulu, giving Jun Weixiang a mouthful of air and disappointment.

Jun Weixiang growled as he stared frustratedly at Shufang's figure.

Little did he know, ShuFang was currently walking to the merchant with flushed cheeks. He had felt Jun Weixiang's lips approaching his, so he quickly avoided them and ran away.

'Did that actually happen?' The red on Shufang's face deepened. 'I-I...can probably trust him...right?'

He turned his head back, but he couldn't see, so he didn't know what expression Jun Weixiang currently had. It was just a reflex that he had kept from his last life.

"Where are you facing?" A deep voice sounded beside him as a hand softly caressed his cheek and turned it towards the front. "The tanghulu is here."

"O-oh. I know." Shufang huffed and bought a tangulu.

"Here." He shoved it towards Jun Weixiang.

"Thanks." Jun Weixiang swiftly bit into the tanghulu that Shufang was holding towards him. "Mnn, very sweet." he chuckled, licking his lips as he ogled at Shufang's crimson cheeks.

"Y-you hold it yourself!" Shufang said, his cheeks puffing up in anger, making him look extremely adorable. Why did Jun Weixiang bite it like that! Couldn't he hold the tanghulu himself? He nearly dropped the treat because of how shocked he had been!

"Okay, okay." Jun Weixiang patted his back. "Don't be angry." He gently took the bitten tanghulu from Shufang's hand, not forgetting to slip in a quick caress before bringing his hand away. He hummed contently, feeling that the tanghulu was especially sweet today.

'Alright. This lord can forgive you today.' Shufang harrumphed pridefully. A familiar scent caught his nose and caused his taste buds to shake in excitement.

"They're selling twisted cookies!" Shufang tugged on Jun Weixiang's sleeve excitedly.

"Let's go. I'll buy you some." Jun Weixiang couldn't help but rub the top Shufang's head fondly.

"Mnn!" Shufang's expression brightened up even more as he took off, pulling Jun Weixiang behind him.

Jun Weixiang stared at the slender figure that was currently pulling his hand forward and realized that he didn't simply Shufang, he was in love with Shufang.

'As soon as we met, I knew you were the one.

The one I would spend my days thinking of,

And the one I would spend my nights dreaming about.

The one who would hold me when I cried,

And the one who would laugh with me when times are rough.

The one whom I would share my life with,

And the one who would always receive my love.

-----------

This chapter is a little gift for bearing with all of my torturing~~ I hope y'all satisfied coz this won't happen again anytime soon hehe

P.s. I learned all my torturing techniques from Marvel. Thank you, Marvel-sensei, for teaching me how to completely devastate my audience.

P.p.s Rest In Peace, Stan Lee *cries* Thank you for keeping millions of dreams alive