𝐉𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫

“The reason you’re like this… is because I erased your memories.” He forces the words out at last, unable to look at Michael in the eyes.

Realization finally dawns, sharp and heavy.

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵…

His chest tightens with guilt. This was his doing. He’s the one who caused Michael pain.

He glances at the fallen carving, muttering, “I’m sorry, Jialei… It’s because of me you’re like this…”

𝐿𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒽

I see Xiao-Yu is very busy hanging around Satan these days…

— he reaches out to pour for them both.

“Don’t worry about Xie Bi’an. Once he’s calmed down, he’ll come around. Trust me.”

When they arrive at the pavilion, he gestures for Yichen to sit first before taking the seat opposite him.

“Try to cheer up, Yichen.” With a wave of his hand, a bottle of wine and two cups appear on the table, and —

He lowers himself to sit beside Michael, resting his hand on his back.

“…Has it ever happened to you before?”

He gently takes him by the wrist. “Come with me,” he says, leading him into the back garden and toward the pavilion by the riverside.

“Yichen, even I find Lucifer difficult to handle. So don’t blame yourself for what you did.”

He rests a hand on Yichen’s shoulder, giving a reassuring squeeze.

“As for Xie Bi’an… he may be dramatic, but his pride runs deeper than any of that. He would never tell to Yanluo if someone hurt him.“

—

— but I only made things difficult for you and your family.”

He can’t help but let out a quiet sigh.

He feels genuinely sorry for Yichen. If he had known things would turn out like this, he would never have erased himself from Michael’s memories.

“Yichen… I’m sorry for what I did to your Xiao-Di. I thought erasing myself from his life would be better… —

Yu Huang had no idea the little wooden figure was what caused this.

“Jialei…” he finally rests his hand on Michael’s shoulder, gently pushing him down. “Sit down. Breathe. Tell me exactly what you’re feeling…”

He won’t let anything happen to him.

Looks at him with a frown.

“Yichen, is everything alright with you?“

He immediately rises to his feet, worry flashing across his face as he steps closer to Michael.

“Jialei, what’s wrong?” His hand hovers near his shoulder, hesitant to touch.

He glances at Michael, then holds up the wooden figure to show him.

“It’s you.” A warm smile spreads across his face.

He stares at the finished wooden figure of Michael, his gaze tracing every carved line in silence.

— shavings. “Even as wood, you refuse to leave my thoughts.”

He lowers his gaze and quietly continues to carve.

A small block of wood rests in his palm as he carves, slowly shaping its edges smooth.

It’s only a rough figure of Michael for now, but the moment his features begin to emerge, his hand stills.

“…You really are stubborn,” he murmurs to the half-finished face, thumb brushing away a curl of —

For a long moment, he simply stands in front of the throne, fingers curling and uncurling at his side, as if the weight in his chest is heavier than the crown on his head.

He halts his steps, but doesn’t turn around.

“Jialei, you are doing something. Your heart is moving, even if your mind doesn’t remember me.”

A brief silence.

“If I pour every answer into your hands now, they’ll only sit there like borrowed words.” He then resumes his walk.

He lets his hand fall back to his side.

“…Then don’t explain it,” he murmurs, a faint, aching smile touching his lips. “Let your heart remember at its own pace. I won’t force an answer from you.”

With that, he turns and heads back toward the throne room.

His fingers curl slightly against Michael’s chest, feeling the frantic rhythm beneath his palm, and leans in just a fraction closer.

“Jialei… you might not know me, but then why is your heart beating so hard right now?”

ㅤ

﹠． ┈─  TO   𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏   THE   GODS.⠀   ON   MY   SIDE  ，  THEY   𝑫𝑬𝑴𝑨𝑵𝑫   A   SACRIFICE.⠀   . . .  ˖ ་ 

ㅤ

“I can’t do that.”

“Tell me how?”

⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 龙女神
𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬

⠀

⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 黑蛇
𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓

⠀

My brother’s subordinate is very loud.

“And how exactly am I supposed to distract him?”