Ming Yu and Dai Junjie was talking to each other. Ming Yu smiled brightly while talking. When the first time Chen Shihong saw Ming Yu at the birthday party, this boy had the tenderness that can melt anyone heart and made them felt comfortable. However, the smile he displayed now made the hairs on his neck stood up straight.
Chen Shihong could not hear what they were talking about. He was thinking whether to greet them when the two finally realized him.
"This humble one pay respect to second prince," Ming Yu said softly.
Chen Shihong still had suspiciousness left at the side of his heart, remembering that Dai Junjie was also someone his imperial brother suspect. However, he did not show what he thought on his face and only smiled faintly. "What are you two doing here?"
"We accidentally met here, so we talked a bit," explain Dai Junjie casually.
'Accidentally? In this remote area that is far from your dwelling?'
"I see. I have to meet my parents so I will excuse myself first." Everyone in the palace knew about his parents condition, so Chen Shihong did not try to keep it secret. He then walked away with a deep frowned, full of contemplation ….
*****
After getting a tray consist of a glass and teapot, Shao Chen was chased out from the kitchen. The kitchen crew still buried deep hatred towards Shao Chen because after Shao Chen made trouble for them, they got scolded and had to cook the meal from the beginning again.
Feng Meifeng who was waiting outside could only sigh. Shao Chen had raised a lot of hatred. In addition to the gossip, Shao Chen had a very awkward position inside the palace.
"Then, I will go back. You have to be carefull, ok? Don't make The Emperor mad anymore!"
Shao Chen nodded in silent. However, he did not know whether he could keep the promise. As long as he remembered, the emperor always got angry at him.
After escorting Shao Chen to the path he familiar with, they separated as Shao Chen went back to the imperial office.
Inside the office, Chen Liqin had been drown in his work.
Without paying respect or saying something, Shao Chen placed the tray on Chen Liqin's desk then went back to sort the documents. He worked quickly so that he could get The Emperor told him the next plot of the story.
Chen Liqin who realized that Shao Chen had back also did not said anything, only sipped on his tea. His brain had created a brilliant plan. He could not wait to implement it! Once in a while, a big smile will appear on Chen Liqin's face.
When Shao Chen had done his work, the sky had already given off its orange tinge. He carried the documents and put them back on the shelf according to Chen Liqin's direction.
He then get the worn out book on Chen Liqin's desk, sat beside The Emperor, then stab Chen Liqin's shoulder with his index finger. "Thi … f Emperor, I h … d done m … job (Thief Emperor, I had done my job)," he said while handing the book impatiently. His voice had became slightly better. Seemed like, the medicine worked very well, only had a slower effect.
'I am not thief emperor!' Chen Liqin felt his ears itch every time he heard that call.
He pulled the book from Shao Chen's hand roughly. He opened the first page.
"You j … st read. Don't h … ve to te … ch me how to read (You just read. Don't have to teach me how to read)."
Chen Liqin raised his eyebrows in wonder. He even had planned to teach Shao Chen a wrong way to read. 'It's good! This makes my job easier!'
"R … ad the r … venge p … rt (Read the revenge part)," Shao Chen urged The Emperor impatiently.
Even though he did not like Shao Chen ordering him, but Chen Liqin decided to not make a fuss. He searched for the page where the main character had started her revenge plan then read it to Shao Chen. It was the first revenge that had been implemented by Shao Chen before in vain.
Shao Chen did not realize that and started to memorize it several times.
"???" After nth time, he finally felt something was wrong.
"Ah! N … t that one! I want th … n … xt one! (Not that one! I want the next one!)"
Chen Liqin almost laughing out loud but he restrained himself, tried to maintain his cool and calm face. Then, he pretended to flip through the pages, seemed try to search for the one Shao Chen requested, but actually he did not read anything.
Until Shao Chen almost urged him again that Chen Liqin stopped at one page then said, "Hmm … that girl was making the sweet tea that the man hated the most. Every day, she would prepare three teapot for morning, afternoon, and evening time. The man drank until he got nauseous only by seeing the teapot."
Shao Chen blinked several times before started murmuring. He memorized it without any suspicion.
Chen Liqin lowered his face, hiding his smile. He tried to hold his laugh until his shoulders were moving up and down.
If Yan Mei was here, she would immediately know that her son had spontaneously made up a plot that was not in the book. Chen Liqin even sneakily put what he like in the story.
He loved sweet. However, his mother never permitted him to consume lots of sugar. His tea was always bitter. Sometimes, he could not help to sneak a bottle of sugar into his office so that he could put a bit of sugar in relieve the bitterness. So, by this chance, he wanted to use Shao Chen to provide him with his favorite sweet tea.
Seeing Shao Chen's response, the last bit of uncertainty in Chen Liqin's heart disappeared. He started to imagine his future and could not help smiling bigger and bigger.
"Thi … f Emp … ror!" Shao Chen suddenly called, pulled Chen Liqin out of his reverie.
"W-what?" Chen Liqin was a bit flustered. He thought that Shao Chen finally realized there was something wrong with the story.
But, what Shao Chen asked after that made Chen Liqin relaxed. "Do y … u hate sw … t tea? (Do you hate sweet tea?)"
Chen Liqin coughed then act innocently. A statement of 'I don't know that you want to get revenge on me' plastered clearly on his face. "Of course I don't like it!"
Shao Chen pondering for a second before nodding.
'Perfect!' Chen Liqin exclaimed, full of satisfaction. If there was someone who can see aura, they would see a flower-shaped aura fluttering around the emperor.
"Th … n, I w … ll go now. Go … d night, Thi …f Emperor. (Then, I will go now. Good night, Thief Emperor.)" Shao Chen excused himself after put the worn-out book inside his skirt's pocket.
Until Shao Chen's figure could not be seen anymore, Chen Liqin jumped excitedly like a 5 year old child. "Yeay!!" He exclaimed while raising his hand.
He almost twirking if a soft laugh did not catch by his ear. At the same time, his met Ming Yu's beautiful eyes.
"..."
Seeing his dumbfounded boyfriend, Ming Yu laughing louder.
"Wh—Why are you here?" Chen Liqin tried to smile naturally liked nothing had happened. However, his skin was not thick enough to hide the red blush.
Ming Yu stopped laughing. He puffed his cheek angrily. "Is it weird for your lover who is missing you very much to come and see you?" He turned his head away with a 'humph!'
Realizing Ming Yu's meaning, Chen Liqin's heart thump in delight. He was jubilant because his lover felt the same with him and even could not help to sneak into his office to see his face.
"Oh, I am really sorry Ming Yu." Chen Liqin embraced his lover from behind tightly, trying to coax him. He kissed Ming Yu's head then down to the cheek then deeply on his neck. "I miss you too, really miss you." Chen Liqin buried his face on Ming Yu's neck, took a deep breath on Ming Yu's unique body scent.
However, Ming Yu squirm away. His face darken. "You don't have to lie to me. I know you had a beauty accompanied you these days!"
'A beauty?'
Chen Liqin was really confused. "When did I have a beauty accompany me besides you, Ming Yu?" He was sincere but Ming Yu's face became really ugly.
"You! Are you playing innocent? Of course that harem girl!" Ming Yu pointed at the office door, the one where Shao Chen go out before Ming Yu go inside the office. "You even jumped excitedly. You really like that girl now? You did not want me anymore? That was why you did not come to see me these days?" Tears started trickling down his eyes.
Chen Liqin shook his head hard. "What a nonsense! Phei! That girl is a bad luck. How can you call her a beauty and even imagine me with her? You know my sexual orientation very well. That girl is only here because my parents asked her to take responsibility for the accident with Liang Hu by being my assistant during Liang Hu's absence." He did not explain about the reason behind his jumping action because he want to be a cool man in front of Ming Yu. To show his sincerity, Chen Liqin seized Ming Yu's hand again and buried his lover inside a warm embrace.
Ming Yu could not restrain the sadness anymore and started sobbing. "I am afraid you will abandon me. Your … your parents seems to like her very much."
Chen Liqin patted his head dearly. His heart felt like being pierced with hundreds of arrows when seeing his lover's crying face.
"No. You are wrong. I love you and my parents love you too, ok?" He lifted Ming Yu's chin, looking at a pair of wet eyes full of love. Two lips came together, tangled deeply, full of passion. The emperor could felt a bit of salt from his lover's lips ….