Chapter 228 -

An Yu froze. His back hit the wooden banister as Fu Teng’s words filled the quiet hallway.

Fu Teng was breathing heavily, his eyes full of deep, long-hidden pain. The cold, quiet face he always wore was completely gone.

“You think this started at the pavilion?” Fu Teng’s voice shook, low and hurt. “You think we met for the first time in these barren lands?”

An Yu stared at him, his mouth slightly open. The arrogant smile was gone from his face.

“Back in the capital, when I was just fourteen, I snuck out of my house,” Fu Teng said, taking a step closer to An Yu. “I went to a grand party. Everyone was wearing costumes and heavy makeup. You couldn’t even tell who was a man or a woman. I was dressed as a woman that night.”

Fu Teng let out a painful, bitter laugh, looking straight into An Yu’s eyes.

“And you… you were a playboy then, just like you are now,” Fu Teng continued, his voice breaking. “You talked to me and flirted with me the whole night. I fell for you right then, An Yu. And since that night, my heart has never beat for anyone else.”

The hallway became completely silent.

An Yu stood frozen. The playboy act and his teasing attitude were completely gone, replaced by pure shock. The old memory came rushing back into his mind.

“That girl at the party…” An Yu whispered, his dark eyes wide with disbelief as he looked at Fu Teng. “That was… you?”

“Yes, it was me!” Fu Teng said softly, his voice full of emotion as he wiped his face. “So don’t stand there and ask me why I am angry! Don’t act like I don’t care about you!”

An Yu stepped closer, but he was no longer angry. His hands shook slightly as he reached out and gently touched Fu Teng’s cheek.

Fu Teng tried to look away, but An Yu held his face gently, making Fu Teng look at him.

“If that was you…” An Yu whispered, his voice soft and desperate, “…why didn’t you ever tell me when we met again?”

“Because we lost everything, An Yu!” Fu Teng whispered, tears filling his eyes. “My family is living in the dirt. We are trapped in these lands, and now we both have marriages forced on us. What was I supposed to say?”

An Yu looked deep into his eyes, his thumb gently wiping away a tear on Fu Teng’s cheek.

“I looked for that face for years,” An Yu whispered, holding Fu Teng close. “I never knew the person was standing right in front of me the whole time.”

An Yu stood completely still. His hand stayed frozen in the air where he had just touched Fu Teng’s face. He wanted to speak, but he was too shocked to find any words.

Fu Teng looked at An Yu’s wide, shocked eyes and let out a sad, quiet laugh. To him, An Yu’s silence felt like an answer.

“If you want to get married…” Fu Teng said softly, his voice full of pain, “…then I support you.”

Before An Yu could say anything, Fu Teng pushed past his shoulder and walked away. He hurried down the wooden stairs and left the pavilion without looking back.

Outside, the cold night air rushed over Fu Teng’s face. The streets were pitch-black, with only a few dim lanterns burning in the distance. Almost no one was outside at this late hour, and the dirt roads were totally empty.

Fu Teng walked blindly down the dark street, his hands squeezed into tight fists inside his sleeves. He didn’t know where he was going. He just wanted to get far away from An Yu.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of wooden wheels on the dirt road. A carriage stopped right next to him.

The window curtain was pulled back, showing Hanfuji’s surprised face. Seeing Fu Teng walking alone in the dark, Hanfuji looked at him in total shock.

“Fu Teng?” Hanfuji called out, looking worried. “What are you doing out here so late? Come in!”

Fu Teng let out a quiet sigh of relief and climbed up into the warmth of the carriage, letting the thick curtain fall closed behind him.

Hanfuji looked him over, his brows still furrowed in concern. “Why are you leaving work so late?” he asked, watching Fu Teng lean his head back against the wooden wall. “The streets aren’t safe at this hour.”

Fu Teng brushed the question off with a weak wave of his hand, not wanting to touch the open wound in his chest. “Just… extra accounts at the pavilion. It took longer than expected.” He quickly turned the focus away from himself, looking at Hanfuji. “What about you? Why are you heading back so late?”

“Had some work to clear up,” Hanfuji replied simply, keeping his tone light as the carriage rocked gently back onto the dark road.

Hanfuji rested back against the cushions, his dark eyes fixed on Fu Teng. Earlier that morning, Bai Ming had mentioned Fu Teng’s sexuality to him. At first, Hanfuji could hardly believe it. He had heard rumors of men who loved other men before, but this was the first time someone so close to him was one of them.

He coughed slightly to break the heavy silence in the carriage, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious under Fu Teng’s quiet gaze.

Before Hanfuji could say anything, Fu Teng looked at him directly and asked a calm, unexpected question.

“Hanfuji… if Bai Ming were a man, would you still love her? Would you still want to be with her?”

Hanfuji rested back against the cushions, his dark eyes fixed on Fu Teng. Earlier that morning, Bai Ming had mentioned Fu Teng’s sexuality to him. At first, Hanfuji could hardly believe it. He had heard rumors of men who loved other men before, but this was the first time someone so close to him was one of them.

He coughed slightly to break the heavy silence in the carriage, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious under Fu Teng’s quiet gaze.

Before Hanfuji could say anything, Fu Teng looked at him directly and asked a calm, unexpected question.

“Hanfuji… if Bai Ming were a man, would you still love her? Would you still want to be with her?”