Chapter 561, The Space Beside Him
Xu Hongyi didn’t say a word.
She merely bit her lip slightly, her lively eyes shimmering like flames, wet and sparkling as they looked at Young Master Sang.
Her eyes were filled with confusion.
Disappointment.
Unease.
Frustration.
All the kinds of feelings that could easily tug at one’s heartstrings.
Even Young Master Sang swallowed back the words that had reached the tip of his tongue.
“Did I… do something wrong?” She looked at Young Master Sang, her voice so sad it felt like she might cry.
“Uh, no, not at all…”
Facing Xu Hongyi, who seemed like a child wronged at this moment, Young Master Sang felt a bit flustered and could only whisper, “Well, I was just saying I’m thinking about things right now; it’s not like any of it has happened yet.”
“Don’t be anxious; we can negotiate what positions you want. If it comes down to it, I can give you a better deal—delegate some actual power to you—”
“I just want to stay by your side.” Xu Hongyi cast her eyes down, looking dejected.
Young Master Sang was suddenly choked on his words.
Li Shanyan glanced between the two, suddenly bursting into laughter: “Ah, I just remembered I have unfinished work, so I’ll be going ahead.”
“You two, take your time chatting, don’t mind me.”
With that, he left behind a smirk and dashed away.
In the office, only Young Master Sang and Xu Hongyi remained.
After a long silence, he finally said, “Do you still think this way?”
“I’ve always thought this way.”
Xu Hongyi fiddled with her fingers in dismay: “I just don’t understand what I did wrong, why you won’t let me stay by your side now.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, it’s just me being too unsettled.”
Young Master Sang sighed: “Forgive me; I really can’t believe the love of a Primordial Deity comes without reason.”
“If you have ulterior motives, maybe we can try to be clearer with each other. No need to be so gentle about it.”
Xu Hongyi looked at him with disappointment.
That gaze made Young Master Sang feel a pang of pity, and he whispered, “I’m… sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me.”
Xu Hongyi murmured: “I’ve never blamed you. I’m disappointed in myself.”
It’s as if.
… I can never become the person you like.
Young Master Sang frowned slightly, but Xu Hongyi shook her head: “Maybe I still don’t understand why I can’t have the process of getting to know each other.”
“I thought if I managed that, I could fall in love with you.”
“But it seems, it’s not like that.”
After the cooking competition, Xu Hongyi discovered something.
No matter which contestant it was.
Whether it was the noisy Si Jingzhu and Hua Jianglian, the jealous Gu Yingmian and Huo Ningxue, not to mention Tang Yubbing and Bai Ming.
Apart from herself, Young Master Sang looked at everyone else with the same softness in his eyes.
That distinction, once upon a time, she couldn’t even tell apart. They were all human eyes; how could they be different?
But now, she understood.
When he looked at her, his eyes held none of that warmth.
She felt not even a shred of softness, even his gentle tone felt like it was separated by a thick, cold barrier.
“It’s not about the process, is it?”
“The problem is me, isn’t it?” Xu Hongyi asked cautiously, “It’s just me who can’t, right?”
Young Master Sang didn’t answer.
He had no idea how to respond.
Not to mention, you still haven’t told me why you like me!
There has to be a reason, right?
It can’t just be because my name as a Succubus has spread beyond the realms, right?
Even if that’s the case, it’s not unconditional love; wanting me for my body counts as a reason, doesn’t it?
Even though Young Master Sang looked at the pitiful girl in front of him, on the verge of tears, he couldn’t convince himself that a great Primordial Deity would come looking for a nameless little nobody like himself as a partner.
It’s not how luck works!
For this old monster, the notion that she was putting on an act seemed far more plausible.
“I still think you should look for something you enjoy to do, like other Deities and Demons.”
Young Master Sang said, “It’s a rare trip to the Abyss Realm; why not treat it like a vacation and enjoy yourself?”
“Why must you be tied up with me? I’m just a lowly mortal; I can’t possibly catch your eye.”
Xu Hongyi still bit her lip, gazing at him.
After a long time, she finally revealed a bitter expression in silence.
“Then… can you not push me too far away?”
“If you’re really annoyed with me, I can try not to show up every day. Even two or three days… a week… no, half a month, just let me come see you once in half a month…”
“No, no, no, that’s too exaggerated, making me sound like a cold-hearted ex-husband…” Young Master Sang was now in a cold sweat.
“You’re free; if you really want to see me, I won’t stop you. I just mean to say, you came all this way, don’t you have any will of your own?”
Xu Hongyi didn’t reply, just blinked her wet eyes at him.
… Fine. Young Master Sang sighed silently.
At least in terms of communication difficulties, she really resembles a Primordial Deity.
“Forget it, forget it, if you truly don’t want to change, then fine.”
In the end, the frustrated Young Master Sang scratched his head and waved his hand: “Just go on being my little secretary. I’m not kicking you out.”
A fleeting smile of delight crossed Xu Hongyi’s face, quickly replaced by nervousness as she whispered, “I’ll try my best not to make you angry this time…”
“I’m not angry… sigh, never mind.”
Young Master Sang gave up trying to explain, waving his hand: “Alright, go to work.”
Xu Hongyi obediently nodded and turned to leave.
After she was gone, Young Master Sang sighed worriedly: “What is wrong with her? Her temperament is like a child’s, isn’t Little Ying You or Little Lonely more mature than her?”
And outside the door, Xu Hongyi didn’t leave at all.
She leaned against the door, head hanging low.
Desperately gnawing on her fingernails. Her gaze was as hollow as an abyss.
… Why.
Everything I do feels wrong.
Doing nothing feels wrong too.
What should I do to make you look at me?
Is it because a good child gets no candy?
Is it because a noisy child is annoying?
Women who are quieter than me are at his side.
Women who are noisier than me are also at his side.
Why, out of everyone, is there no place for me?
… Or is it.
Has the space beside him truly been filled?
“He said I should have my own will…” Xu Hongyi murmured, “I should seek what I want.”
Indeed.
Since the moment I was born, everything I desired has been something I could get just by wanting it.
Maybe being beside him is no different.
“If I want a place beside him…” Her beautiful eyes gleamed with an eerie red.
“I’ll just snatch one…”
“He won’t be angry, right?”
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