[The chances of love between Ruan Wanhe and the protagonist have dropped to 0%. The seventh soul flag has been removed. Congratulations, host, please keep up the effort.]
Ye Zhizhou paused in the midst of dressing, glancing at his lover.
"What's wrong?" Shayo helped him tie his hair, giving him a once-over and nodding in satisfaction. "Anything you wear looks good, Xiao Zhou."
Even in his cross-dressed appearance, he still looks good… Ye Zhizhou tugged at the corner of his mouth, adjusting his belt with a lowered head. "Ruan Wanhe's flag was taken down."
"Well done, faster than I expected." Shayo extended his arms, pulling Ye Zhizhou into an embrace, gently swaying. "What's wrong? Upset? Don't worry, I've arranged things with Yu Shuang. The reply for Xia Yanyun should arrive in a day or two, and Mu Yan's flag is nearly ready too."
"Not upset." Ye Zhizhou hugged him back, sighing internally, then buried his face in Shayo's chest, rubbing against it forcefully. "Just feeling useless. It's supposed to be my mission, but it's all you taking care of."
"What separation between you and me?" Shayo adored the way Ye Zhizhou clung to him, tightened his arms, and asked, "What do you want to do after completing the mission? Stay in this world, move to the next, or return to your own?"
He hadn't really thought about it. Previously, after completing a task, they'd peacefully spend their lives together until old age… Ye Zhizhou grabbed his clothes tightly, hesitated after a pause, and then, reluctantly, started, "Dongfang…"
"Hmm?"
"You…" Words surged to his lips, remembering how unstoppable his beloved could be when set on something, but he silently swallowed them, shook his head, and continued, "Never mind. Let's focus on the task first. We'll consider where to go after it's done."
Shayo's smile faded as he slowly released Ye Zhizhou, meeting his gaze. "Xiao Zhou, you're troubled."
Unable to maintain eye contact, he turned his head slightly, realizing that this action would make his sensitive lover speculate more. His body stiffened for a moment, then he slumped in defeat. He did have worries… and now, those worries were becoming significant.
"Xiao Zhou."
The tone was gentle, but he tugged at the clothes.
Seeing his partner's red eyes, Ye Zhizhou raised his head, fiercely asking, "Every life, you have these headaches. Before finding you, I worried you weren't living well. After finding you, I started worrying about nurturing your spiritual strength enough before we grow old and die together. In the third life, you became a kid who'd often cough up blood, and I didn't mind. In the fourth, you tried infecting yourself with the zombie virus, and I still didn't mind. In the fifth, you were finally more normal, but in the sixth, you directly turned into a dog…"
"It's not a dog, it's the Demon Emperor."
"I said it's a dog!" Ye Zhizhou glared at him with reddened eyes. "And you dare to argue!"
Shayo fell silent, attempting to placate him with a touch, but was pushed away. He tried to maintain a stern expression, but in his partner's intensely red eyes, he gave in. Eventually, he tentatively extended his spiritual power to approach him. "Xiao Zhou, I'm sorry…"
"Apologies are useless if you're acting like this!" Ye Zhizhou angrily cut in, entering an irrational mode, swiftly concealing his spiritual power. "The first time we met in this world, you kept my spiritual power away! Oh, now you want to please me. Am I a dog that you can summon at your will? Don't touch me! Withdraw your spiritual power, or else, or else I'll immediately ask Tongtian for a memory-wiping pill and forget about you, you domineering and unreasonable tyrant!"
"I won't allow it!" Shayo's expression darkened.
"You dare to be harsh with me?" Ye Zhizhou stared at him in disbelief.
"Xiao Zhou…" Shayo softened his expression, trying to calm things down, approaching cautiously. "Xiao Zhou, I wasn't being harsh, I was just…"
"Dongfang." Ye Zhizhou interrupted him mercilessly again, rubbing his reddened eyes and lowering his voice. "Ten lives, over a thousand years together, but you don't believe in my feelings for you…"
"I didn't…"
"You did." He cut in again, gazing seriously at Shayo. "The drinks at the Flower Boat, the rituals at the Bright Moon Palace, the frequent banquets in the palace, the few other male leads kept away in the capital, and all the tasks you monopolized… Dongfang, what are you worried about? Why go to such lengths to keep me isolated from the outside world?"
Shayo's eyes gradually deepened, then he turned and said, "Xiao Zhou, you're tired."
"I'm not tired." Ye Zhizhou cupped his face, forcing him to meet his gaze. "It's because you don't trust my feelings, because you're afraid I'll leave you. Have I not been good enough? Why do you lack this sense of security?"
They locked eyes, tension palpable, but no words were exchanged.
"I understand." Ye Zhizhou released his grip, rubbed his eyes, and turned away to hide his uncharacteristic tears, murmuring softly, "I'm afraid too, afraid that one day you'll get tired of me or completely forget about me, no longer following me through different worlds. Each task world is so vast; if you don't follow, where do I find you? Can I find you? I can't even be sure if you don't want me anymore or if chasing me consumes your soul until you vanish from this world… I don't know your true identity, your origin. In every life, you lack memories of the past. If your dedication to me fades, how do I cope with those memories?"
Seeing his partner's red-rimmed eyes and hearing his words filled with uncertainty, Shayo suddenly felt intense pain in his heart. It seemed he had always focused on what he wanted, neglecting the feelings of the other. Reflecting now, from the confession in the first life, his feelings for Ye Zhizhou had been forceful, unyielding, and if not for this person's continuous understanding, this affection, maintained over ten lives, might have long been destroyed by his domineering and selfish nature.
"I'm sorry." He wiped the corner of Ye Zhizhou's eyes with his hand, guilt and heartache evident in his gaze. Wanting to approach but hesitating, he could only slightly lean forward, looking at him with a soft voice, "You're wonderful; it's me who's not good enough. I'm sorry."
The eye drops were too effective; a mere blink and tears cascaded uncontrollably. Ye Zhizhou turned awkwardly, wiping his face with his sleeve, mumbled, "You just don't believe me… You even wanted to treat me
like a canary. I'm a man too, you can't treat me like that."
"You're right; I indeed love you the most." Shayo embraced him from behind, and seeing no resistance, he couldn't help but tighten his hold, closing his eyes with a sigh. "I'm afraid, afraid that what you liked before was the incomplete me, and now that I've regained my memories, you might not like the real me… Plus, you're too good, and I can't help but want to keep you hidden."
"I'm not as good as you think…" Ye Zhizhou's guarded heart gradually softened, turning around to hug him back, then affectionately nuzzled against his shoulder. "Regardless of whether my soul is complete or not, it's still me. I only like you. Although I occasionally fear that one day you might suddenly not want me anymore, I've never thought of hiding you. I'll only love you more and make you love me more, so you won't leave me."
Shayo tightened his arms, holding him in silence.
"In the future, let's speak our minds directly. Relationships need communication; keeping things to yourself easily leads to misunderstanding," Ye Zhizhou said softly, running his hand through Shayo's hair, petting him. "We're meant to be together for a very, very long time. We need to trust each other. Let's not do this again, alright?"
"Xiao Zhou."
Ye Zhizhou's tone grew even softer. "What is it?"
"Why do you smell like eye drops?"
"Well…" Ye Zhizhou glanced cautiously, edging away. "Just… half true and half fake. You should always remember that I'm the one you love the most! You can't be abusive!"
"You're right, I do love you the most." Shayo raised a hand to loosen his belt, his expression turning blank again. "But right now, I really want to see you cry for real."
"I won't—Wait a minute! Mu Yan's flag was removed, and you—Hmm—you scoundrel…"
"[Detecting plot change. Host, please accept the new plot.]"
"[Soul flag fluctuation detected… The sixth, seventh, and eighth flags have been removed and transferred to the souls of Cold Ya, Cold Xue, and Cold Yan. Host, be cautious! Host, be cautious!]"
Ye Zhizhou was stunned, his body involuntarily stiffening.
Shayo grunted, then leaned in, kissing him tenderly. "Xiao Zhou, I liked your enthusiasm today…"
"Enthusiasm my foot!" Ye Zhizhou snapped out of it, gripping the bedsheets, bewildered. "Why have the protagonist's soul flags transferred to all the princesses? And why is my name inside?!"
Shayo paused, his earlier passion cooling down rapidly, fading away.