Young Prime Minister, a Hermit

Chapter 40

"What do you want?!" I yelled uncontrollably, loud enough to attract anyone's attention.

Shao Jun gave a cold laugh, a mixture of amusement, ruthlessness, and sinister intent in his eyes: "Jialan, don't you know? I want to pursue you!"

I glared at him angrily, turned around, and left!

Shao Junyi's leisurely voice rang out from behind: "Remember, don't even think about tipping off Xu Lie. Otherwise, your friend will be in big trouble."

I immediately covered my ears and rushed out.

Chapter 28 Silent Love

Chapter 28 Silent Love

With red and swollen eyes, I awkwardly pushed open the door to Xu Lie's office. The room was bright and clean, fully furnished with sofas, desks, chairs, and computers.

Xu Lie stood by the window, smoking; I could only see his back. Since waking up, I had never seen him smoke. Now, his back, shrouded in smoke, looked exceptionally lonely and desolate.

“Xu Lie…” I called him softly.

He remained standing by the window, not turning around. I walked around to him step by step, looked up at his expressionless face, and choked out, "Xu Lie, please don't ignore me. If... even you ignore me, I can't go on living."

Xu Lie lowered his eyelids, looked at me, and sneered: "Can't go on living? Don't you find it funny to say that? These past two days, you've been avoiding me during the day and avoiding me at night, and you've been having affairs with other people at the company. And you dare to say you can't go on living?"

“I didn’t…” I grabbed his clothes and cried, “I didn’t, you know I didn’t! You know it was Shao Jun who stirred up trouble…”

Seeing my tears, his expression softened, but then he disgustedly pushed me away and growled, "So tell me what you're thinking? You won't sleep with me at night, and when I want to talk to you or take you out during the day, you just go to sleep!"

He pinched my chin with his middle and index fingers, and said coldly and fiercely, "Am I someone who annoys you? Or am I just a toy to you? You fight tooth and nail for me when you can't have me, and once you get tired of me, you choose another toy."

"I didn't!!" I screamed, shaking my head desperately, tears streaming down my face. "Is that how you see me? Xu Lie, I love you! I really, really love you!"

Xu Lie shuddered, looking at me with a complicated expression. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "Prove it to me."

I stared at him blankly, my eyes brimming with tears.

He stepped forward, his gaze fixed on me: "You said you love me, prove it to me."

There was a long silence, until the swirling smoke almost choked me. I tremblingly reached out and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my cold lips to his, and felt his body stiffen noticeably.

The half-burnt cigarette butt fell onto the carpet, burning a hole before going out. Suddenly, he wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, locking me in his embrace. His kisses, fierce and intense, almost stole my breath.

He suddenly leaned over and pinned me down on the sofa, grabbed the remote control, and with a click, the door in front of me locked... Then, a flurry of kisses rained down on my entire body.

I slumped limply on the sofa, my head spinning. I felt Xu Lie gently wiping my entire body with a cloth, then carefully dressing me. He then covered me with a thin fleece blanket, and, still feeling uneasy, laid his own suit jacket on top of me.

“Galan…” His hand touched my forehead, his voice filled with regret and self-reproach, “You have a fever. I’ll take you to the hospital…”

I shook my head weakly, took his hand, pressed it against my cheek, and murmured, "It's okay, I'll just take some medicine when we get home. Xu Lie, I'm so tired..."

"I'm sorry, I was just..." He let me take his hand, then sat down beside me and gently pulled me into his arms, whispering, "You should rest well. I'll take you home later."

I nodded, then suddenly startled, grabbed his hand tightly, and forced my blurry eyes open, saying, "Xu Lie, wake me up before dark."

Seeing his puzzled look, I hurriedly repeated, "You must wake me up. I must wake up before dark and before the moon comes out."

Xu Lie took my hand in return, smiled helplessly, brushed away the stray hairs that were still damp with sweat on my forehead, and said softly, "I really don't know what you're thinking. Okay! Sleep peacefully, I'll wake you up."

I smiled at him, dazed and confused, unsure whether the smile was one of sorrow or joy, of infatuation or madness, before slowly closing my eyes. In the darkness, I could still see Xu Lie's doting smile, his warm embrace, and that... figure in a blue robe, silver hair, and crimson blood...

Even today, long after all these years, I often think back to this: if Xu Lie had really woken me up that night, if there hadn't been a moon that night, if I hadn't returned to that boundless, hellish desert, then perhaps everything would have been different. It's not about good or bad, right or wrong, just different.

The Sky a Thousand Years Later

Yellow woven into heartache

The sandstorm blocked out time and space.

My whole body ached—a mix of pains: fine, widespread, burning, parched—tormenting my body and mind. I groaned softly, a few drops of blood seeping from my cracked lips, mingling with the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

"Young Master!"

I heard someone calling me. What was he calling me?

"Young Master...Young Master!"

Young master? Who... is calling me young master? How could I be a young master? My name is...

"Young master..." A pair of hands helped me up, and then something was brought to my lips. It was the instinct of a thirsty person, the instinct to touch water. I slowly swallowed from the spout, thinking to myself: This water tastes terrible, but I still couldn't stop.

Obliterated, obliterated

Our dream

"Young Master... how are you feeling?" It was that voice calling me again, clear, faint, and cool, which eased the burning sensation throughout my body, and the warm, concerned voice made me forget the pain. But why was she calling me Young Master? My name is...

By the way, what's my name? Is it Garan...Lin Garan? Or...?

"Young Master?" A pair of hands embraced me, trembling slightly, and gently placed me on the ground. The ground was so warm, and I snuggled closer into his arms, where there was a watery scent.

"Lin Jialan! How long are you going to play dead?!"

Who? Who is cursing me? Cursing so fiercely, so heartbrokenly. But, is my name Galan? Is my name Lin Galan? Or... Lin Yu, Qin Lin Yu?

If our meeting was a dream

I buried it in the desert a thousand years ago.

Along with your gentle face