"Why are you risking your life?"
A few days had passed since Mire's visit. Ever since, He Shun had practically dedicated himself to finding Luan Xie's bracelet. It was not what Luan Xie had expected to witness. He Shun spent his days in front of a computer, trying to find out something about the mafia.
Even a stranger could tell that, at first, He Shun was not interested at all. Luan Xie knew it perfectly, and that was why he had threatened the actor. Upon the news of the bracelet being with the mafia, Luan Xie thought that He Shun would back out, but he did not do so, and it bothered Luan Xie because he did not know why.
"I want you to get your bracelet back," He Shun said as he took a sip from his cup of coffee. He did not look anxious or fed up. He was more likely nonchalant about the whole situation.
Luan Xie sat on the couch across He Shun, his gaze piercing through the actor's soul, wanting to know more. "Why? You did not want to help me at first."
"You said it was your mother's bracelet that she gave to you before she passed away. It is precious, even for someone who does not know your mother. I want to bring back that memorandum of your mother," He Shun said.
For a split second, Luan Xie's eyes widened, nearly softening. He quickly regained his composure. He muttered a 'thank you' and walked away to the bedroom. Luan Xie did not know what was happening to him. He often caught himself repeatedly glancing at the actor whenever the latter was not looking. Luan Xie was never this interested in someone before. He could not figure out why he was interested in He Shun. Was it because the latter helped him? Was it because he never saw someone like He Shun—someone from the modern world? Why?
The more Luan Xie thought about it, the more conflicted he felt, and the more he felt the need to look at He Shun.
It was infuriating.
Luan Xie buried his face into the soft pillow as he spread his body out on the bed. He was confused. He should not be confused. He had never been confused in his life. Luan Xie was decisive. When he saw the throne and the power it came along with, he did not hesitate to make a move. Even if it could not belong to him in the end, Luan Xie did not care. When he wanted something, he got it. When he did not want something, he still got it because he did not want others to have it.
In short, he knew his choices and the reasons behind.
So, what changed now?
KNOCK KNOCK
"Luan Xie, I am coming in," He Shun did not even give time to Luan Xie to answer, and he swung the door open, coming face to face to the so-called villain who was going through an existential crisis.
Luan Xie sat up properly on the bed, trying to cover his embarrassment by maintaining a straight face. He knew he could not rebuke He Shun for coming in hastily because it was his room to begin with, but Luan Xie was still angry.
"You should wait for 'Yes, come in' before entering a room. Knocking is not the sole criteria," Luan Xie said.
He Shun decided to ignore that part. It was his fault but something was more important than this.
"I came here for a reason," He Shun said, "We need to do some shopping."
Luan Xie looked at He Shun baffled. "Shopping?"
"As in, we must buy some stuff before we go to The Vice next week," He Shun explained. He walked to the wardrobe and pulled out something decent for Luan Xie to wear.
Luan Xie grabbed the outfit from He Shun. He stared at it for a while before he asked, "What sort of stuff?"
"Well, clothes for you."
"Why?"
He Shun sat down at his desk, resting his legs on the footrest. "Because you can't rely on my clothes all the time. If we need to go to The Vice, you need some good clothes. Even if you wear mine, I don't have enough for both of us."
Before Luan Xie could say anything, He Shun continued, "Go change now. I'm doing what is best for both of us."
Luan Xie sighed in defeat. He went to the bathroom with the outfit to change while He Shun waited in the room with his thoughts.
Recently, Luan Xie had been easier to deal with. Unlike what the book said, Luan Xie proved to be nearly the opposite of that. Sure, there were some moments where He Shun saw the villainous side, but other than that, Luan Xie had been nothing but...
human.
"I am ready."
He Shun broke out from his thoughts when Luan Xie came out of the bathroom, dressed. "Right, okay, then let's leave."
"How are we going?"
He Shun grabbed his keys. "By car. How else do you expect us to go?" Indeed, there were moments when He Shun completely forgot that Luan Xie did not belong here.
"Car?"
He Shun did not know how to explain a car now. "Well, it is a... medium of modern transport now, just like a plane."
Luan Xie saw a plane flying over He Shun's house once, and he freaked out. He thought it was some sort of dark magic that he did not learn of. He did not say anything at first, not wanting to embarrass himself. However, while He Shun was watching the television, an advertisement of plane tickets showed up. Curious, Luan Xie couldn't stop himself from asking.
That was how he learned about the new ways of life.
Luan Xie silently walked behind He Shun to the car. When Luan Xie saw the car, his eyes nearly popped out. He frowned, not willing to come close to the car. Even when He Shun opened the door for him, Luan Xie did not budge from his place.
"What's wrong?"
Luan Xie sighed. "This is so small and looks very uncomfortable. I do not want to step in such a thing. I travel in carriages, and they are way bigger than this—this—this thing," he said in disgust.
He Shun sighed in despair. "How spoil can you be?" He muttered under his breath.
Luan Xie raised an eyebrow. He mastered cultivation throughout his childhood to adulthood. He had sharp hearing due to that. "Excuse me?"
He Shun ignored him and sat in the driver's seat. "This is what you will get here. Just get in," He said.
"You are very rude."
"And you are spoilt."
"I am not."
"You are."
In the end, Luan Xie did get in.