Chapter 80

80 DARKNESS WITHOUT THE MOON

No one would feel well when they faced a farewell, and no one would feel good about goodbye. Bai Chen didn’t even know why it was called farewell and goodbye even if there was no ‘well’ and ‘good’ in farewell and goodbye.

And when Bai Chen unnecessarily thought about those two terms, he was also confused by the discomfort in his heart that had arisen from the separation.

Bai Chen knew that Zhu Ge would only be leaving his palace for about two weeks due to the full moon night, but for some reason, he felt heavy as the man prepared to leave his palace today.

Ma Qiao told him that the four cultivators in the human empire would start setting up a barrier between the two empires tonight, and that was why Zhu Ge would leave this morning before he got trapped inside the werewolf empire and became a delicacy for the wild wolves.

Last night, Bai Chen didn’t even agree verbally when the black-haired man voiced his request. Who would have thought that Zhu Ge’s level of courage would be that high? Bai Chen had always known that Zhu Ge was very brave, but he didn’t expect that the man would ask his permission to call him by his real name.

It was indeed a bold request, but strangely, Bai Chen did not feel offended even after he heard the man make such a request. Instead, he simply smiled to himself before bringing his feet to Jing Pavilion to rest.

He didn’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ nor did Zhu Ge force him to give a verbal answer. Zhu Ge let him go, and that man didn’t know that Bai Chen was still bothered by his request.

In this world, there were only three people who called him by his name, and the identities of those people were Bai Lang, Bai Guowei, and Bai Renshu.

Bai Lang wasn’t even human, but the little wolf did call him by name even if he held the title of Prince in the empire. Even if it was only a little wolf that could speak, Bai Chen knew that the white wolf had great authority in this world, and that was why he never protested against the wolf’s disrespectful attitude.

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The second and third people were Bai Guowei and Bai Renshu, and it was normal for them to directly address him by name since they were the Emperor and the Crown Prince who had a higher position than him in the empire.

The three people did call him by his name, but he didn’t feel that they were all affectionate with the way they called him. Bai Lang called his name often, but that was only when the little wolf scolded him. And as for the Emperor and the Crown Prince, did you think that they could dote on Bai Chen when they hated the young man to the core?

No, they all didn’t sound affectionate when they called him by his name, and it was different from when Zhu Ge said his name last night. The man didn’t even call him directly, but Bai Chen was happy to hear how Zhu Ge’s tongue said his name.

Zhu Ge’s voice was deep, but when he said Bai Chen’s name last night, his voice sounded softer and gentler. Bai Chen even felt a tingling sensation in his stomach when he heard it, and he also felt his face turn warm when he heard it.

It might sound helpless, but Bai Chen did think that the way Zhu Ge called his name was quite affectionate. He liked how the man called him by his name, and even if he didn’t verbally allow him to do so, Bai Chen hoped that the man would continue to call him by his name-

“I will take my leave now, Your Highness.”

Bai Chen’s hopes were dashed when Zhu Ge opened his mouth to speak to him. They were standing opposite each other in front of Jing Pavilion, and apart from the two of them, there was also Ma Qiao standing beside Bai Chen.

Zhu Ge used ‘Your Highness’ again, and Bai Chen couldn’t help but think that the man chose to use that word again because he didn’t verbally answer the man’s question last night.

A hint of regret slipped into Bai Chen’s heart, but he could only bite his lower lip because he couldn’t even bring himself to beg Zhu Ge to call him by his name. He still had high pride, and he couldn’t just lower himself to plead with a taller man.

“Mhm,” replied the Prince with a nod. “After you are done with the matters in the human empire, you should immediately return to my palace.”

Bai Chen was still a man with high self-esteem, but he still lowered his pride a little when he said the order.

It sounded like he was a wife who was reluctant to part with his husband, and perhaps Zhu Ge thought so too because he suddenly smiled before leaning forward and whispering into Bai Chen’s ear, “Will you miss me when I’m gone, Bai Chen?”

It seemed that Bai Chen’s brain stopped functioning when he heard how Zhu Ge spoke his name so softly, and he even forgot to breathe because his brain didn’t tell him to do so.

Maybe his brain could only command his heart to beat fast because he could feel his heartbeat getting faster at this time.

Bai Chen froze, and he even forgot to blink his blue eyes. He only blinked when a palm suddenly covered his eyes before another whisper came to him, “I am like the moon shining brightly above the garden pavilion. When I hide behind the clouds, the pavilion will be in darkness. I am like the moon shining brightly in front of you. When I leave, you will only see darkness. Am I, Bai Chen?”

Zhu Ge still covered the pair of blue eyes with his big hand, but his lips were still near Bai Chen’s ear, and those sinful lips once again whispered next to the ear.

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Bai Chen had goosebumps all over his body when he heard that whisper, and he also felt his heart pounding because of it.

Zhu Ge’s palm was still covering his eyes, but Bai Chen suddenly closed his blue eyes that were hiding behind the palm. Maybe Zhu Ge sounded like a narcissist with his words just now, but for some reason, Bai Chen agreed that his life would be shrouded in darkness in that man’s absence.

It was indeed only darkness that he could see, and even after Zhu Ge lifted his hand from his eyes, he still only saw darkness because he still had his eyes closed.

Zhu Ge no longer leaned forward, and he stood straight in front of the brunette. He frowned when he saw how the Prince was still closing his eyes, but then he smiled before bringing his face closer to the Prince, and he landed his sinful lips on Bai Chen’s forehead.

Right at that moment, Ma Qiao gasped, and Bai Chen’s eyes opened.

Bai Chen could feel the warmth on his forehead, and even after he opened his eyes, Zhu Ge was still kissing his forehead.

Bai Chen’s heart almost exploded because of what Zhu Ge did. Even just a whisper and a touch in his eyes were enough to kill his rationality, and Bai Chen couldn’t think at all when those hot lips were on his forehead.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, Zhu Ge immediately straightened up, bringing his lips away from Bai Chen’s forehead. Bai Chen indeed didn’t know whether he felt lucky or unlucky after the parting.

“I am indeed like the moon, and I will always be with you wherever you go. Even if you cannot see me, remember that I will always be with you, Your Highness.”

Zhu Ge once again used ‘Your Highness,’ and Bai Chen finally understood the man’s intent. He now knew that Zhu Ge would only address him by name in private, and when that man needed to speak in front of other people, he would still address him formally.

Bai Chen didn’t know the reason, but he still felt happy after knowing the facts. And he also felt happy because of what Zhu Ge had just said to him. Those words sounded very lame and full of nonsense, but Bai Chen didn’t feel too lonely after hearing those words.

“I will go now,” Zhu Ge said to the Prince before turning to the older servant. “Lao Ma, please take care of Prince Bai Chen while I’m away. If I see a single scratch on his body when I return, I will make you pay with ten scratches.”

It was not the first time that Zhu Ge had dared to speak rudely to the older servant, but for some reason, Bai Chen thought that the man was serious this time.

‘It seems that Zhu Ge really hates Ma Qiao. But why? What’s the real problem between them?’ The Prince wondered in his heart.