Chapter 193: Yan x Xia Extra [Part 2]
Upon hearing Yan Xi Nian’s question, Xia Huo Qu’s first response was to turn and look at him.
They were close enough and had been through enough together that anyone observing them might blur the lines of their relationship. Even Xia Huo Qu’s younger brother, who lived under the same roof, held suspicions about them.
But both of them knew they hadn’t crossed that line.
Yan Xi Nian was clearly nervous. Xia Huo Qu hadn’t seen him this tense in years.
Looking at this familiar yet distant face, Xia Huo Qu felt an unexpected mix of emotions and found himself frozen.
Yan Xi Nian watched him intently. When Xia Huo Qu didn’t answer, he nudged his shoulder lightly and asked softly, “Well? What do you think?”
Xia Huo Qu snapped out of his thoughts, meeting Yan’s gaze directly. “I’ve never thought about this,” he replied.
Yan Xi Nian felt a small pang at that, something like a dull ache in his heart. He had thought about this for so many years that he couldn’t remember exactly when it had started.
Seeing him speechless, Xia Huo Qu added, “I’ll think about it seriously.”
His expression was as sincere as ever when he spoke to Yan Xi Nian.
In that moment, Yan Xi Nian’s eyes almost teared up. He plopped down on the sofa, turning his head slightly and muttering, “Don’t say things like that with so much tension; you almost gave me a heart attack.”
Xia Huo Qu lifted his chin slightly, “Who told you to pick this moment? I’m going to sleep.”
“Go ahead.” Yan Xi Nian waved his hand. “I’ll…calm down a bit.”
He could feel his heart pounding fiercely, each beat sending a dull ache through his chest. Covering his eyes with his arm, he let out a long, soft sigh.
It seemed Xia Huo Qu heard it; he turned around just before entering his room and glanced back. Yan Xi Nian’s face was partially hidden in shadow, his expression twisted with barely restrained emotions.
Seeing this, Xia Huo Qu felt a pang himself.
In that moment, Xia Huo Qu realized something crystal clear.
No one else’s emotions would ever affect him this intensely.
Not even a brother could stir up feelings this deep and powerful.
He instinctively touched his chest. Through the thin barrier of bone, his heart seemed to ache, too.
From that day on, their relationship quietly shifted. In the shadows, where no one could see, they began to change.
Xia Huo Qu first agreed to consider it, then agreed to try, and eventually, almost seamlessly, they ended up together. The year hadn’t even reached winter before that happened.
They shared meals, came and went together, and even slept in the same quarters.
To everyone else, they acted no differently than before. Yet between the two of them, a single look was enough to convey volumes.
Xia Lu Nong, being rather oblivious, noticed nothing unusual. Kong Zhi, however, sometimes looked at them with a thoughtful expression.
Xia Huo Qu never discussed their relationship openly around the younger ones, leaving Kong Zhi to speculate.
At first, Yan Xi Nian was content just to be with Xia Huo Qu. But once they were together, he began to long for their relationship to be known and accepted. Xia Huo Qu, however, was resolute about keeping it quiet.
Winter turned to spring, then summer, and even after Kong Zhi proposed to Xia Lu Nong and their wedding was planned, Xia Huo Qu and Yan Xi Nian still hadn’t made their relationship official.
“We’re in a normal relationship; it’d be nice to make it public. Then people would stop guessing,” Yan Xi Nian murmured as they lay together one night, feeling envious of the open and honest relationship Kong Zhi and Xia Lu Nong shared.
Xia Huo Qu, ever steadfast, replied, “Let’s wait until we’ve been together for three years. If we’re still going strong then, we’ll make it public.”
Yan Xi Nian scoffed, “You underestimate me. Three years is nothing; we’re in this for at least three hundred years.” Lying on his side, he looked at Xia Huo Qu’s handsome face and continued, “But it’s annoying that I can’t tell anyone we’re together. There are so many people after you, and I can’t openly claim my spot. It’s really irritating.”
Xia Huo Qu gave him a light kick under the blanket, his tone calm. “You’re imagining things. Who’s after me?”
“Plenty of people! Security guys like Xiao Wu, Xiao Wang, and Xiao Ma, or Bai Lou’s Xiao Zhang, Xiao Xie, and Xiao Yan. And there’s Captain Lin from the Fire Seed Base,” Yan Xi Nian listed, sounding thoroughly annoyed. “There are so many, and every time you step out in the morning, they can’t stop staring at you.”
The idea was absurd.
Xia Huo Qu found it amusing, yet he also felt a pang of sadness.
Turning to him, Xia Huo Qu’s bright eyes met his. “Are you that insecure?”
Yan Xi Nian nodded without hesitation. “With someone as amazing as you, who wouldn’t feel insecure?”
Xia Huo Qu sighed slightly. “You know perfectly well that without you, I’d be a lifelong bachelor. I wouldn’t be with anyone else.”
“I know that logically, but it still makes me feel jealous,” Yan Xi Nian muttered, grabbing Xia Huo Qu’s hand and playing with it as he tried to convince him. “Look at how open Xia Lu Nong and Kong Zhi are. If we were open about us, then in case anything ever happened, you’d legally inherit all my assets.”
Xia Huo Qu responded to Yan Xi Nian’s words with another light kick. “Stop talking nonsense.”
The two of them sat in silence in the dark for a moment.
After a while, Xia Huo Qu said, “Let’s give it a few more years. Once we’re completely stable, we’ll make it public.”
“We’re stable now. No need to wait any longer,” Yan Xi Nian said, watching him intently. “Are you still worried my orientation will cause problems for me?”
Xia Huo Qu didn’t answer, which Yan Xi Nian took as an implicit agreement. Turning to face him, Yan Xi Nian continued, “You worry too much. The New Seed Base was built by us; it won’t fall into anyone else’s hands, regardless of our orientation. And other forces won’t ally or break with us based on that alone. Besides, even without the base, we’d do just fine. Let’s just make it official.”
Xia Huo Qu said, “Going public won’t change the fact that we’re together. Why bring it out in the open?”
“It’s different,” Yan Xi Nian replied. “If we made it public, I’d be really happy.”
Xia Huo Qu was silent for a moment, looking at him. “If that’s truly how you feel, then let’s go public.”
Yan Xi Nian hadn’t expected him to agree so quickly and was briefly stunned. He shuffled closer, eyes shining. “Then I’ll start dropping hints.”
Xia Huo Qu, skeptical of his definition of ‘subtle,’ warned, “Take it easy.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t go around shouting it with a megaphone.”
“…You actually considered a megaphone?”
Yan Xi Nian kept his promise not to broadcast it, but his habit of sharing their “relationship tidbits” with anyone who would listen meant the news spread like wildfire through New Seed Base. In just two days, everyone—young and old—had heard about Captain Yan and Vice Captain Xia’s romance. Even Xia Lu Nong, caught in the gossip wave, began to question if his suspicions had been right and Yan Xi Nian had indeed won his brother’s heart.
One day, as Xia Lu Nong was sneaking a glance his way, Xia Huo Qu turned to him with a stern expression. “Why are you sneaking around?”
“Nothing!” Startled, Xia Lu Nong stepped back defensively. “I wasn’t doing anything.”
Xia Huo Qu lifted an eyebrow, eyeing him with mild suspicion.
Finally, curiosity got the better of Xia Lu Nong. “Brother, what’s really going on with you and Brother Xi Nian?”
“What do you think? Haven’t you already been guessing that we’re together?” Xia Huo Qu replied calmly. “Just like you and Kong Zhi. So from now on, consider him another brother of yours.”
“I already think of him that way,” Xia Lu Nong muttered, glancing at his brother and adding in a low voice, “But he’ll always be second to you.”
Xia Huo Qu clapped him on the shoulder.
After reaffirming his loyalty, Xia Lu Nong leaned in eagerly. “When did you two get together? Even Xia Yueji didn’t know; you two did a great job keeping it secret!”
“Last year.”
“Last year?!” Xia Lu Nong’s eyes widened. “Kong Zhi mentioned it, but I didn’t believe it! So you two were already together then?”
Xia Huo Qu, uninterested in further discussion, gave no reply.
Still curious, Xia Lu Nong looked around to ensure they were alone, then leaned in closer and whispered, “I have one more question. So, between the two of you…should I call Brother Xi Nian ‘brother-in-law’ or…?”
Xia Huo Qu’s grip tightened on his shoulder. “You’re way too nosy.”
Xia Lu Nong yelped, “Ow, ow! Okay, I get it!”
Clearly, he should be calling him “brother-in-law!”
The realization dawned on Xia Lu Nong, earning him another swat from his brother.
Not wanting to further annoy Xia Huo Qu, Xia Lu Nong quickly shifted the conversation.
After a few more words, Xia Lu Nong looked at his brother’s profile, saying suddenly, “You know, this is really good.”
“Hmm?”
“I used to worry about you being alone with no one to look after you. Now I feel relieved.” Xia Lu Nong’s tone grew serious. “Brother Xi Nian may act all playful, but he’s reliable.”
Xia Huo Qu’s face softened. “I know.”
After a pause, he added, “Don’t worry. We’re serious. With our personalities, we’ll still be together at eighty.”
“Don’t jinx it!” Xia Lu Nong exclaimed, grabbing his brother’s arm. “It’s not just about reaching eighty! You’re going to grow old together and live happily ever after! Lifespans are so long now, eighty isn’t nearly enough!”
Xia Huo Qu looked at him, bemused. “You’re so superstitious.”
“It’s not superstition; it’s a good wish for the future,” Xia Lu Nong said. “I hope that when we’re all old, the four of us will still be as close as we are now.”
Xia Huo Qu replied offhandedly, “Xi Nian and I will be fine. If Kong Zhi gives you trouble, we’ll help you beat him into shape.”
“Same here!” Xia Lu Nong declared without hesitation. “If Xi Nian ever crosses you, we’ll back you up!”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about. No need for hypotheticals.”
