Li Jie acknowledged the shift in the conversation’s tone, a tacit understanding settling over the trio. As they approached the sanctum of the crown prince, he opted to redirect the conversation, steering clear of any potential whispers regarding his private affairs.
“Have you never contemplated seeking a lover for yourselves?” Li Jie inquired of the Huang siblings in an attempt to divert attention away from his own chaotic life.
Huang Yiming displayed a momentary surprise and a hint of wounded sensitivity at Li Jie’s words. The crown prince, however, struggled to fathom the cause behind his friend’s reaction, or perhaps he did understand but clung to the hope that circumstances would naturally evolve.
Ignorance had become his favored stance, and by the time realization dawned, it was too late—a habit ingrained in his nature.
“Not particularly,” sighed Huang Baozhai, her radiant and sincere smile maintaining its usual presence. “I’m still uncertain about my preferences.”
“I assumed we shared similar sentiments,” Li Jie remarked, their exchange adopting a more subdued tone as they neared the crown prince’s residence.
“Honestly, I’m still figuring it out,” Huang Baozhai shrugged. “I once thought I exclusively liked girls, then leaned towards boys, and then girls again. Now, I find myself contemplating settling down with someone and having children…”
“We can delve into this matter further within the chamber,” Li Jie suggested, gesturing toward both companions. Huang Baozhai, unlike him, couldn’t afford to take the same risks. Her waters were still below her head. “If you want, that is.”
In the realm of the crown prince, every maid appeared eager to unearth the minutest details of his life, yearning to be entwined with it in some manner. This curiosity had also extended to the crown prince’s companions.
Throughout the remainder of the way, the trio maintained a thoughtful silence until they reached the crown prince’s inner sanctum. During their traverse, Li Jie keenly felt the scrutinizing gazes of every palace maid fixated upon him. Were he alone, he might have succumbed to the pressure—striding too swiftly or lingering too long—endeavoring to appear nonchalant. Yet, flanked by his two confidantes, a comforting ease settled upon him amid the watchful eyes.
“Good day, Your Highness,” a maid greeted with a deep blush coloring her cheeks, her smile radiating warmth as she acknowledged Li Jie.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Li Jie reciprocated the smile with a nod, entering his chamber, trailed by Huang Yiming and Huang Baozhai.
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“I never said I wasn’t,” Huang Baozhai retorted, her tone playfully defensive. Li Jie sensed he had caught her off guard, yet he refrained from pressing the matter too insistently. He then redirected his attention to Huang Yiming.
“Yiming-ge,” Li Jie’s eyes sparkled with feigned curiosity. “Don’t try to evade the conversation. Do you have someone you like?”
…I shouldn’t have opened my mouth.
Huang Yiming paused momentarily, his response coming in the form of a counter-question. “What about you, Your Highness? You keep insisting that you don’t like anyone.”
“I don’t.” Li Jie sprawled on the floor, stretching out his limbs. In yet another attempt to shift the discussion, he inquired, “Has anyone ever confessed their love to you?”
“Plenty,” Baozhai smirked, while Yiming simply replied, “No one.”
Baozhai shot her brother a knowing look. “Really? Not even one person? Have you never noticed someone looking at you that way? Sometimes people can be oblivious when it comes to matters of the heart.”
“No,” Huang Yiming responded curtly. “I would know if someone were looking at me like that.”
Huang Baozhai arched an eyebrow, smirking mischievously at Li Jie. “And what about you, my sweet Highness the crown prince? Any romantic entanglements?”
Li Jie maintained a nonchalant demeanor, concealing a subtle understanding in his eyes. “I believe I would notice if someone had feelings for me too,” he replied, attempting to strike a balance between revealing and withholding.
He wasn’t playing the role of a perfect friend, and he was well aware of it, but the right response eluded him in this situation.
Huang Yiming, lifting his gaze briefly from the floor, locked eyes with Li Jie. “Do you suspect anyone of having feelings for you?”
“I don’t think so,” Li Jie shrugged. “And honestly, it’d be better not to, with everything that’s going on…”
Huang Yiming sighed, allowing his head to fall onto the table before them, betraying a hidden truth.
“I lied. I do have feelings for someone,” Huang Yiming confessed.
Huang Baozhai’s excitement overflowed. “Oh, spill it, spill it! Who’s the lucky person? Tell me now or face my wrath!”
Huang Yiming, tempted for a moment to tease his sister with a whimsical response, swiftly changed his mind, mindful of Li Jie’s recent revelation.
“Never mind,” Huang Yiming shrugged. “Just wanted to see your reaction.”
“Boring~.”
Beneath Huang Yiming’s stoic exterior, Huang Baozhai couldn’t shake the sense that something was amiss. Yet, Huang Yiming remained reserved and guarded, leaving her uncertain about the accuracy of her instincts.
To shift the focus from the potentially sensitive topic, Huang Baozhai, grinning at Li Jie, deftly changed the subject. “I recall you wanting to be my comforter earlier. Has my cherished one already overlooked our pact? My dear, you’ve matured into quite the heartbreaker!”
Li Jie, pretending to ponder, gazed out the window with a small smile on his lips. “Your problem… I seem to have forgotten…”
Huang Baozhai sprawled on the ground, mirroring Li Jie’s actions. “Are you telling me that my favorite person in the world doesn’t remember my problem?”
Huang Yiming shook his head, subtly mocking their playful banter. As for his own vulnerability when alone with Li Jie, he chose not to acknowledge it. He joined them on the ground, feigning ignorance and embracing their lightheartedness. They continued their conversation, with some pretending to be oblivious to the unspoken tension.
“I think you’re just afraid of the things that you have the right to fear the most,” Li Jie remarked, gesturing towards the ceiling, his gaze following his hands absentmindedly. “And you just don’t want to acknowledge that.”
“If it’s about heirs…” Li Jie empathized, understanding the weight of expectations. “You can always adopt with your partner.”
“And if you truly have an inclination towards men, embrace it. It could be a passing interest in women anyway, but I highly doubt it. It could also be both, you know that, right?”
“If something is meant to happen, let it unfold naturally. If you find yourself falling for someone, allow it and make an effort to win them over.
“Besides, love knows no gender. If anyone dares to say otherwise, come and vent to me.”
Li Jie grinned at Huang Yiming and Huang Baozhai. “It’s not like anyone can say anything to the homosexual prince.”
No one. No one can say anything to the homosexual prince.
And that realization stung.
