Chapter 69 - The Dispute

The next morning, the huge fur cocoon moved slowly. And a cute little head popped out of it.

The sun was out, and it was getting hot, so he removed all the coats on his body.

Xia Che yawned and stretched.

A warm hand touched his forehead. "The fever has broken," Long whispered and hugged his lover close. "How are you feeling now?"

"A little tired, but I can manage," Xia said.

Long Aotian softly kissed his forehead. "I should have noticed. I... I'm sorry Xia I should not have been so distracted," he whispered in a hoarse voice.

Xia gazed at him in confusion. "Why? You did nothing wrong,"

"i.. I should not have been so immersed in my own jealousy," he whispered close to his ears.

The little crayfish cupped his face and gave him a kiss. "I only think of her as my fri..."

"Guys I hunted venison for breakfast," Felia shouted. Her small body emerged from the foliage of the forest. She was carrying a heavy-looking deer on her shoulders.

Xia che's eyes shimmered at this. "Wow, i always wanted to try venison meat," he exclaimed.

Long watched his lover run up to the woman and chat cheerfully. He felt a small pang in his heart. It was as if someone took a sword and plunged it through his heart.

'Xia, doo you like her?' he thought, gazing at them.

"Long, it's a sky dear. They are just normal animals, but they are super rare around here," Xia exclaimed in joy.

Long smiled at his lover and said nothing.

He watched them skin it and cook it.

He watched as Xia laughed at the woman's jokes.

He watched as his lover walk ahead of him with her.

He watched.

His heart felt heavy and his eyes started tearing up. He knew that his lover was naive and does not know anything about relationship. But still. His heart refused to see him getting so intimate with someone else.

He wiped his tears subtly and followed behind them silently.

The princess maid saw this and sighed.

"I don't think he loves her," she whispered.

Long's head snapped at her. "What,..... What do you mean?"

"I don't think Xia loved my princess like that," she said.

Long sniffed softly. "But they are always close."

"Aren't you his lover? Instead of crying and sniffing, go talk to him. Maybe you will get the clarity you need," The maid said and walked ahead of him.

Long thought about it as well. But he was hesitant to. 'What if he asked him and Xia told that he indeed loved her? What if he does not like me anymore? What if..... what if,' he thought

So many what if's filled his head.

'No, I need to ask. Otherwise I would not know,' he concluded.

By lunch, they set up camp in the forest and started their meal.

So Long carefully approached Xia and whispered, "can we talk?"

Xia gazed up at him with a piece of meat in his mouth. "Hmm," he nodded his head.

He led them to a waterfall next to them.

Xia gazed at him with curiosity. "So what do want to talk about?"

Long glanced at him and stood silently. He did not know how to safely approach the topic. 'What if he asked him and Xia hated him for doubting his love? No, no, that would be bad. What if I ask him about that woman? Yes I think I should start there,' he thought, biting his fingernail.

"Xia, what.... what do you think of that princess?" he whispered, gazing deeply into his eyes.

"Hmm, she is a good human," Xia said with a grin.

"No, No what do you think of her in your heart," Long whispered.

"Eh, she is a sweet woman?" Xia said with a confused look.

Long sighed and cupped his face. "What do you think about marrying a woman?"

Xia che's heart almost stopped at this question. "I don't know, maybe. My mother always told I have to get married to a nice woman and have many little crayfishes," he said.

"What do you think about marrying a man," Long questioned.

Xia che bit his lips.

'Why is he asking me this? Does he not like me anymore? Does he want me to marry a woman? Even after everything we did,' Xia thought.

He had never thought about marriage before. Let alone thinking about marrying a man. Little Long's question threw him off guard.

'Men getting married, huh? Do they go through a ceremony? Who will take the oath in the woman's place? How do they have children? Do they adopt?' he thought, holding his chin.

Deep in thought, he gazed up at the little snake.

Something fell into his eyes and made it water. So he softly blinked.

Long Aotian also gazed down at him. His lover's eyes were tearing up. 'He had never once thought about marrying me. Does he not love me? Does he know what love is?' he thought, holding his forehead.

His heart hurt thinking about Xia leaving him. 'I was the one who forced Xia into this relationship in the first place. So I should be the one to let go.' He thought.

Xia che still gazed up at him without an answer.

'He doesn't love me anymore. He doesn't even want to marry me,' Long thought.

With a sad smile, Long softly kissed his lips.

"Maybe... maybe you... love her." he whispered and walked away.