Present Day
Yuan Bojing went to meet with the Empress before he headed to the DragonHead club.
He hated how he had to keep the knowledge of what Long Xia wanted to know from her. But he was not allowed to talk about his family secrets; he was not allowed to be in a romantic relationship with another competitor; he was not allowed to form any attachments with any of the selected.
But in due time, Long Xia would know. She'd know everything. And then he would be free from the burden of secrets that kept them apart.
The time they weren't together was hell—pure hell. But it was the only way. The only way.
There was more to them than just keeping secrets. If it were only secrets, he'd damn it all just to be with her, but there was more, so much more that she could never understand until the inevitable happens and then she'll know. She'll know, and hopefully then, she will forgive him.
