Was it truly destined to shatter here?

He had never cared about those things in the first place, but Kevin’s safety was something he had to protect. If, because of him, Kevin were dragged into danger, he would never forgive himself.

As he looked at Kevin’s sleeping face, a sentence suddenly rose in his heart: he would gladly trade the years of his own life for ten years of that innocent smile. Calling them friends, he had only brought Kevin endless harm.

It was the first time he had ever felt so utterly powerless before a matter. When he opened his eyes and saw what had happened, he was overcome by an unprecedented dizziness. Leaving aside the fact that he himself had been drugged, there was still the matter of him laying a hand on Kevin.

Silently, he looked at Kevin’s sleeping countenance. In slumber, he seemed so gentle. Entirely unlike his usual self, he now appeared so fragile, as though the slightest movement would turn him into a wisp of smoke.

He lifted a hand, but did not dare touch him again. Shangguan Han was afraid Kevin would disappear from his sight forever because of this. That sense of panic was the same as the one he had once felt when Xiao fell into the lake and nearly drowned.

That heart-wrenching pain came surging back again. And Kevin’s reaction was just like Xiao’s back then: no matter how deeply he had hurt them before, they had always brushed it aside with a smile, without the slightest complaint.

The more they were like this, the more Shangguan Han felt ashamed. He whispered, “I’m sorry,” then stood up and left the room, gently drawing the door shut behind him.

The moment he closed the door, Kevin, who had been asleep, slowly opened his eyes. There was no trace of drowsiness in them; it was hard to believe this was the same person who had just been sleeping so soundly.

His eyes were full of sorrow. After what had happened yesterday, they were doomed never again to be as they had been before. He got out of bed and, with a body covered in injuries, slowly made his way to the window. Looking down, he saw Shangguan Han’s car slowly driving away from the bar.

He lowered his gaze in desolation, thinking that perhaps he would never return. His body slid helplessly downward until he was leaning against the window, head bowed between his knees, sitting there with no strength left in him.

He did not want to think about anything now, but the moment he closed his eyes, Shangguan Han’s figure would appear before him. No matter what he did, he could not keep himself from thinking of Shangguan Han. What was he to do? Was it wrong to love someone?

Why was his love destined never to be returned? Why?

He lifted his head, trying to force back the tears that threatened to spill over, taking deep breaths and slowly exhaling. Yet his heart only felt more blocked, as if the blood had begun to run backward.

His breathing gradually became difficult, and his head felt as though it were about to split open. He pressed a hand to his chest. If his heart still knew pain, then it meant he still loved Shangguan Han deeply. The deeper the love, the more painful the wound.

And yet he felt not the slightest regret. So long as Shangguan Han was willing, he could pretend nothing had happened and continue to be with him as he had before. Tears slipped down without warning as he wrapped his arms tightly around himself.

A sense of helplessness swept over him. Curling up like that, he sat by the window. Crying until he was exhausted, he simply sat there and fell asleep.

After leaving, Shangguan Han went straight home.

Before he even reached the door, the butler came hurrying toward him. Looking anxious, he said, “Young master, you’re finally back! Something terrible has happened!”

Shangguan Han’s face darkened. His brows locked together as he asked, in a rare fit of irritation, “Speak properly. What happened?”

The sunlight made Shangguan Han’s heart restless. Now and then, a breeze drifted past, lifting the hem of his clothes ever so slightly.