TPATTHU Chapter 46
by VolareChapter 46: Where the Heart Finds Peace, So It Is
The morning light was faint, and there weren’t many pedestrians on the road, but Xiao Zhinian, dressed in disheveled clothes, running wildly through the streets, attracted a lot of strange looks, people thinking he was crazy, all keeping their distance.
Xiao Zhinian was single-mindedly focused on seeing Shen Zhejiang, and didn’t notice any of these people at all.
The Zhao family’s incident was no accident.
Although he didn’t know why the man in black was tailing Zhao Jianji, even kidnapping Zhao Xiaosi, it was enough to see that the Zhao family was not a safe place, and Shen Zhejiang was in great danger there.
More and more blood seeped from the wound, almost soaking his entire shoulder.
Xiao Zhinian’s face grew paler, but he still rushed all the way to the Zhao residence without stopping, as if he felt no pain.
Because the fire that night was too great, more than half of the Zhao family’s courtyard was burned.
The entrance was also unlike its former glory, and the guards who were supposed to be watching the place had been sent out by Zhao Jianji to search the city for Zhao Xiaosi, so no one was to be seen, making it seem incomparably desolate and deserted.
Xiao Zhinian was not sure if Shen Zhejiang was here or not, but as soon as he stepped inside, he saw only broken wood and ruins everywhere, the ashes yet to be cleaned up, only the steward was arranging for the servants to work.
The steward finally saw him and quickly ordered someone to go and inform Master Zhao, while apologetically and respectfully saying, “This humble one failed to greet you properly. I didn’t know that Lord Xiao had come. The mansion suffered a terrible fire five days ago, and our young master is also missing. The old master is despondent…”
“I’m here to find someone.”
Xiao Zhinian was anxious and agitated, pushing him away and searching the Zhao family’s courtyard.
How could the steward allow him to cause trouble in the Zhao family? He immediately stopped him, “Who is Lord Xiao looking for?”
Xiao Zhinian said anxiously, “My affairs are none of your concern, go do your job.”
“Hey! Lord Xiao! The mansion is already in chaos, please don’t add to it.”
Xiao Zhinian was too lazy to waste any more words with him, and was about to search again when he suddenly heard a clear, stream-like voice behind him.
“Xiao Zhinian.”
The rising sun, a swath of crimson sunlight spreading across the clouds at the edge of the sky, Shen Zhejiang standing proudly within it, dressed in a cyan robe, looking like a green pine and bamboo, his face slightly stern due to the heavy expression.
Where the heart finds peace, so it is.
Xiao Zhinian walked quickly to Shen Zhejiang’s side, before he could speak, Shen Zhejiang raised his hand to tidy up his collar, while whispering a lecture.
“How can one’s appearance be unkempt? How many times have I told you? To walk around on the street with your chest exposed, what kind of decorum is that,” he paused, feeling that Xiao Zhinian was likely annoyed by these repetitive words, so he changed his tone, “Besides, Luo City has strong winds, you can easily get sick like this. Where have you been running off to these past few days? You told me last time that you were investigating something, but I haven’t seen a trace of you. For five whole days, do you know how worried I’ve been?”
Xiao Zhinian suddenly smiled.
Shen Zhejiang was originally looking down, smoothing out the wrinkles on his collar, when he heard Xiao Zhinian’s laughter, annoyed that he dared not take his words to heart.
Just as he was about to reprimand him, he was pulled into Xiao Zhinian’s embrace, the strength in his arms gradually tightening.
“Shen Zhejiang, don’t be angry, I know I was wrong,” Xiao Zhinian raised his hand, gently rubbed the top of Shen Zhejiang’s head, kissing him, his eyes a little wet, with a hint of pleading, “I don’t know what to do, don’t hate me, okay? I’m very scared, I really don’t know what to do…”
He couldn’t tell whether the Shen Zhejiang in his dream hated him, or whether the person he was holding now also held some resentment towards him, he didn’t know.
Shen Zhejiang was so intelligent and perceptive, although he didn’t know where things started, he immediately understood Xiao Zhinian’s almost collapsing emotions, reaching out and gently patting his back twice.
Silence speaks louder than words.
After a moment, Xiao Zhinian released him, solemnly cupping his face, touching his nose to Shen Zhejiang’s, very close.
“I had a nightmare, in the dream you were very cold, the lives of more than a hundred people, I don’t know how to make up for it, Shen Zhejiang, tell me.”
So that’s what it was.
Shen Zhejiang said softly, “The past is the past, the dreams are all fake, hmm?”
This sentence was very soft, but it easily fell into Xiao Zhinian’s ears, but he didn’t dare to respond, he was afraid that this was also a dream, and when he woke up, Shen Zhejiang would still be the Shen Zhejiang who would say “I hate you.”
Who is real, who is fake.
Xiao Zhinian couldn’t tell.
Seeing that he was unmoved, Shen Zhejiang pursed his thin lips, even though there were so many people behind him, he still closed his eyes and kissed him.
At this moment, nothing could compare to a sincere, lingering, passionate kiss.
Their lips and teeth exchanged with each other, not fiercely, but endlessly, as if only the other person remained between heaven and earth.
In such a kiss, Xiao Zhinian finally gradually calmed down, Shen Zhejiang’s breathing becoming more feverish as he separated from him, accidentally brushing against Xiao Zhinian’s shoulder.
“Mmm…”
A muffled sound.
Shen Zhejiang was shocked, “You’re injured?”
Xiao Zhinian calmed his mind, waiting for the pain to slowly subside, not wanting to worry Shen Zhejiang, so he relaxed his tone and said, “A small injury, I’ll truthfully explain it to you later when I have time, without hiding a single word.”
Shen Zhejiang said half-believingly, “Where exactly have you been these past few days?”
If he directly said that he spent the night at Han Weiwei’s house, would Shen Zhejiang beat him half to death, and never pay attention to him again?
Xiao Zhinian was hesitating how to answer when a savior appeared.
“Your Honor, you must stand up for this humble citizen!!”