Chapter 53 - Bojing’s Reason (2)

Yuan Bojing felt like he couldn't breathe.

"Unless…" his grandfather continued.​​

"Unless what?" Yuan Bojing demanded.

"Unless there is a stronger warrior candidate that can even beat a Long," he said. "If such a person exists, then I suppose that poor soul would meet their demise on the eve of the competition. But I fear it would be that girl, Long Xiatian." He chuckled. "I always imagined it would have been Long Yat-sen that would want to win the title back for his family. Who knew it would have been the fourth? But it's sad since I quite like that girl, but alas, she's the strongest."

Yuan Bojing felt as if he had been robbed of air. "Not before I kill them!"

His grandfather glanced at him warily. "You cannot interfere with this, my boy. You're not in the competition."

He gritted his teeth. "There must be something I can do!" He stood up, pacing back and forth. "I have to do something. I can't let them kill her before the final competition even begins."

"Unless you plan to beat her in everything so they can target you as the strongest candidate, giving her a chance to fight with the other six, then don't be foolish and calm down. Your mother would not want you in the competition!"

Yuan Bojing froze, and then he began to laugh. "Ah. This all has to be some twisted joke, right?"

His grandfather was serious. "History tends to repeat itself."

Yuan Bojing clenched his fists, and he swallowed hard. He then waved his arms. "All right then, I'm joining the competition. If there is a planned assassination, I want the attempt to be on my life. If there is no assassination, then Long Xia is going to have to kill me."

"Have you gone insane?" his grandfather countered.

Yuan Bojing smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. "Sorry, but yes."

At that, Yuan Bojing had turned and left. He planned to see Long Xia that night since they shared a bed the night before. He had finally tasted her and wanted to return to her side so badly, but it was impossible now.

It was forbidden for competitors to be together. Even if Long Xia wanted him, he would ruin her chances. He was going to join the selection. He was most likely going to die. Long Xia will hate him, but when she wears the crown on her head after he's gone, it would be worth it. It was what she always wanted, and he'd be damned if he let her suffer a brutal and cold death and be prevented from achieving her dreams.

After he joined the selection, many were stalking Long Xia, watching her every move. They knew she was strong. They knew she was unbeatable. But what they didn't know was that Yuan Bojing would work hard to make them look at him.

'Watch me. Fight me. Target me.' He thought.

…

Long Xia shifted in Yuan Bojing's arms.

She opened her eyes, her piercing blue gaze looking around the room, and then it landed on him.

She looked startled but not surprised. They had spent the last 48 hours together in sexual ecstasy, and it was not something one could forget or be unaware of. She looked at him with a neutral expression, which cracked something in his heart.

"Where are my clothes?" she questioned.

Yuan Bojing glanced around. Her underwear was in the car. Her dress was tossed somewhere down the stairs, and each of her heels was on opposite sides of her room. "Everywhere," he answered.

Long Xia sighed as she leaned back on the pillows. "How did we even get like this?"

Yuan Bojing grinned at her. "I recall you were touching my cock, and I couldn't turn away."

Long Xia propped herself on her elbow. "And I recalled you being hard. Is it that easy for you to get turned on?" she teased.

Yuan Bojing chuckled.

Long Xia sighed again. "I'm engaged, and here I am in bed with another man. I feel like a whore."

"I seduced you," Yuan Bojing responded. "Perhaps I'm the whore."

Long Xia laughed, and Yuan Bojing wished he could capture and preserve that sound. It had been a long time since he last heard it, and he longed to hear it again.

Long Xia's expression faltered, and it was empty once more.

Did she really care for that fiancé of hers? He thought. Yuan Bojing felt as if his heart was about to shatter. "If you are feeling guilty, don't. You are not married to him yet, and no one can hold this against you," he said.

Long Xia faced him with tears stinging her eyes.

Was it something he said? Yuan Bojing wondered. Was being with him that terrible for her?

"Xia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause you to hurt. I'll do what I can to make it up to you,"

Long Xia gave him a small, sad smile. She then leaned over him, kissing him on the mouth, deep and gentle. He could taste the salt of her tears from her lips. She met his gaze. "Goodbye, Bojing," she whispered in his mouth.

Goodbye…?

Why did it feel like she was saying "goodbye" as in forever?

Long Xia slipped out of bed naked and stalked out into the hall, ditching her heels. Yuan Bojing watched as her lithe figure disappeared. He put his fingers to his lips, the heat of her mouth still lingering. What did she mean by that?

He then shifted from the bed and ran down the stairs and into the hall, hoping to catch up to her, but Long Xia was already gone.

He went back inside his apartment, slamming the door shut, hitting the wall with his fist, creating a dent.

"I can't fucking take this anymore!" he shouted. "I don't want to die. I want to be with Xia, but I can't. I can't. She doesn't love me, and I can't be with her anyway," he said to no one, dropping to his knees. He wanted this suffering to end.