Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Chapter 37

Huan En took Xiaobao out of the Jin residence, indeed exerting a lot of effort. He had Zuo Ying and You Ying hold off the secret guards placed by Su Yin. After leaving the residence, they rode their horses wildly for over thirty miles before they finally escaped the Jin family's sphere of influence.

As the sky began to brighten, Xiaobao, who hadn't slept all night, struggled to keep his eyes open.

Seeing his condition, Huan En felt helpless but decided to lead their horses off the official road into the depths of a forest, looking for a dilapidated temple to rest in.

Upon seeing the temple that was barely standing and letting the wind through from all sides, Xiaobao's face fell. "Didn't we pass an inn on our way here? It would only take a moment to return; why rest in such a place? This is hardly fit for people."

Huan En glared at him. "If you want comfort everywhere, you might as well go back and ask Zhao Cai and Jin Bao to prepare a carriage and soft couch for you. You can be comfortable however you want."

Dissatisfied, Xiaobao muttered, "That doesn't mean we have to sleep in such a place. It's creepy here. Who knows what kind of unclean things might be around."

"If that's how you feel, we'll continue on our way. But we can only stay in places like this; otherwise, it won't be two days before your family finds us."

Xiaobao looked utterly miserable standing in the deserted temple, surrounded by broken statues and furniture, a thick layer of dust on the ground marking his every step, and spider webs filling the beams above, with the wind whistling through gaps in the structure.

How was he supposed to sleep like this?

He had always had the best of everything since he was young, never having to endure hardship. If the person before him wasn't Huan En, he would have lost his temper long ago. Only in front of Huan En did he not dare to act willfully.

While hesitating, he saw that Huan En had already placed a plank on the ground, took out two pieces of clothing from his pack to lay on top, and lay down himself, signaling with a look.

Xiaobao braced himself and walked over, feeling like he really couldn't lie down.

Huan En, growing impatient, yanked him down. The plank was quite wide, large enough for two people to lie on, although their legs had to stretch out. Unfortunately, Huan En hadn't considered controlling his strength, and Xiaobao's knees directly hit the ground covered in thick dust and pebbles, causing him pain that made him involuntarily cry out.

Huan En, frowning, pulled him up to sit on the plank, looking at him with discomfort, "How can you be so useless, unable to endure even a little pain?"

Being scolded like this on top of having to stay in such a dilapidated temple was already infuriating for Xiaobao, and now he felt even more wronged. He had always been afraid of pain, and the injuries he had suffered since growing up were nothing compared to those after meeting Huan En. Unfortunately, in Huan En's world, there seemed to be only himself. Even if Xiaobao tried to explain that people are different, Huan En would likely just think him useless, without feeling any remorse for accidentally hurting him.

Xiaobao didn't dare talk back, afraid that Huan En would just leave in a huff, so he quietly lay down beside him.

This was the first time Xiaobao lay with his back to Huan En. Normally, no matter how hot it was, he would cling to him if possible, desperately leaning against him. But now, turning his back, Huan En suddenly couldn't stand it, finding it intolerable.

He forcefully turned Xiaobao around, wanting to question him but unable to ask, and lay down with a furious face, holding him tightly in his arms, the grip so strong that Xiaobao felt somewhat in pain.