AERHABDAW 35

Chapter 35: Underlying Currents

Shaole Yan could no longer listen to Fu Xingchen’s self-reproaching words and interjected:

“I understand your intentions, but you really don’t need to blame yourself. I eat properly, and not gaining weight is purely just my metabolism.

Besides, having an extra meal every month—doesn’t that feel a bit extravagant? Don’t turn me into some special case; it will just draw envy.”

Shaole Yan spoke indignantly, genuinely afraid of becoming a target in the eyes of the city’s residents. Her little face flushed with urgency as she spoke.

Fu Xingchen glanced at her earnest expression, lowered his head slightly, and the corners of his lips curved in a subtle smile. His emotion was unreadable, and he didn’t immediately respond.

Fu Xingyan quietly lifted his eyes to glance at Shaole Yan, who was pouting in displeasure, her cheeks puffed out. His mind recalled the chubby hamster he once raised. In his eyes, her face overlapped with that of the hamster—so similar that his gaze softened, revealing an unacknowledged fondness and delight.

In that moment of being moved, he completely disregarded his own elder brother, treating this as a private moment between him and Shaole Yan.

His tone was gentle, with a hint of coaxing:

“Are you afraid people will gossip about you? Don’t worry. In this dungeon, no one has dared to spread any rumors about you yet.”

The words carried clear favoritism and superiority.

With the city lord as her boyfriend, even Fu Xingyan would give her some leniency.

Normally, having such a powerful protector should have made her happy, but hearing this strong and boastful remark made her chest feel tight and her breath catch.

She was fully aware of Fu Xingchen’s abilities and influence. Even though she was confined to the dungeon, she had received enough information about the outside world from Le’an.

There was no one in this world capable of absolute control. No matter how powerful or resourceful the Fu brothers were, they could not dominate everything.

Shaole Yan smiled faintly and asked casually, “I’m not worried about living a comfortable life and making others jealous. It’s just that Xingchen, as the dungeon lord, has always been strict with himself and lenient with others. A sudden change in his usual behavior is bound to raise doubts.

Besides, this isn’t the only human base here. Even the central city doesn’t see eye to eye with us. If you make special arrangements for me, wouldn’t they use it as an opportunity to make a fuss?”

As soon as she spoke, the two young men’s expressions stiffened, and they exchanged a look. Their nearly identical faces in front of Shaole Yan resembled a mirror.

Even their slight frowns of confusion and surprise were indistinguishable.

The two brothers not only looked alike but shared an unspoken, tacit understanding.

Shaole Yan could not understand the unspoken messages exchanged in their glance. But her instincts told her she had said something both were wary of.

The extra meal day was originally Fu Xingchen’s decision, made under pressure for her sake. Now, her insistence on refusing—even politely—was a rejection of his kindness.

A justified sense of guilt gripped her heart like a heavy hand.

Shaole Yan looked at Fu Xingchen, who had suddenly lowered his head in thought. When she spoke again, her tone carried a hint of grievance and a careful compromise.

“I’m sorry, I…”

Before she could finish, a warm, soft touch enveloped the back of her hand.

Fu Xingchen’s handsome, godlike face suddenly appeared in her worried gaze, completely absent was his usual inscrutable coldness. His smile was gentle, unguarded, and unreserved.

It was as if she were his most treasured possession—so precious he feared she might melt in his mouth or slip from his pocket.

Fu Xingchen watched Shaole Yan’s shy, surprised, and touched expression with satisfaction, tightening his grip slightly without causing her pain.

It was as if he fully understood her tentative retreat and fear, holding her firmly so she could not pull away.

“Don’t apologize,” Fu Xingchen said, lowering his head to meet her eyes, speaking carefully and reassuringly. “It’s my lack of consideration that made things difficult for you. I apologize.”

Shaole Yan’s eyes widened in shock, her rosy lips slightly parted, revealing her soft, blushing tongue.

Fu Xingchen’s gaze unconsciously drifted from her bright, gentle eyes to that soft, striking feature, and his Adam’s apple rolled slightly.

Fu Xingyan did not miss a single tender, ambiguous moment between his brother and their “test subject,” as if they were the perfect, predestined couple.

They shared the same eyes, yet the elder brother’s held only Shaole Yan’s flushed face and radiant smile. Fu Xingyan’s were deep, dark, and unfathomable, filled with a familiar, bitter, and tingling ache.

The handle of the fork in his hand seemed to sprout thorns, pain radiating through his fingers, making it hard to breathe. He identified the feeling as jealousy.

No matter how Fu Xingyan struggled, the atmosphere between the two remained undisturbed; no one noticed him.

Shaole Yan blinked, staring at Fu Xingchen’s increasingly obscure black pupils, recalling the intimate closeness she had shared with him and blushing as she lowered her head.

She wanted to explain that it wasn’t what he thought, that he didn’t need to apologize—but Fu Xingchen’s tender demeanor, laced with unwavering insistence, made it impossible to speak. She simply pressed her lips together in silence.

Fu Xingchen gave her no chance to argue and, in a slightly hoarse voice, said:

“But you don’t need to worry so much. You won’t be happy or free that way. You have to know I’m always with you—you only need to trust me and rely on me completely…”

Before he could finish this heartfelt confession, a sudden, ruthless laugh, full of mockery and sarcasm, interrupted them.

Fu Xingchen’s tender gaze almost faltered. He instinctively furrowed his brow and glanced at Fu Xingyan, who was sitting beside them, eating casually as if nothing had happened, not even acknowledging his brother’s affectionate confession.

The romantic pink bubble instantly burst. Shaole Yan snapped back to reality, glancing at Fu Xingyan in surprise, her palms already sweaty from gripping his hand.

What was Fu Xingyan doing? Did he have no sense at all? Did he not understand that his brother and Shaole Yan needed private time together?

Shaole Yan was grateful that Fu Xingchen was only holding her hand, so he didn’t notice her anxiety.

Seeing Fu Xingchen about to confront Fu Xingyan’s behavior, she quickly reversed her grip on his hand, drawing his full attention.

“I’m full. Let’s go back.”

Fu Xingchen suppressed his irritation, casting a warning glance at Fu Xingyan. Turning back to Shaole Yan, he wore a smile:

“Alright, I’m full too. Let’s go back.”