A simple "sorry" instantly seemed to create a gulf between Long Mo and him. Although Shu Yue had been cold to him before, at least there had been some room between them.
Now, Shu Yue was like a millennium - old iceberg to him. No matter how tenderly he spoke or how full of deep affection he was, he could no longer melt that ice.
Then, he heard that extremely cold voice faintly echoing: "You can go. I don't want to see you anymore."
Shu Yue took out the dragon scale from his bosom and expressionlessly held it out in front of Long Mo. "Returning it to its rightful owner. I, Shu Yue, can't afford such a precious thing."
The cold tone and look shattered Long Mo's heart once again. He raised his slightly trembling hand, glanced at those cold eyes, but his fingers never dared to touch the dragon scale.
Because he knew that once he did, it would be difficult for him to see Shu Yue again...
He was unwilling and couldn't bear a single moment without seeing Shu Yue in the future!
Seeing Long Mo hesitating, Shu Yue seemed a bit impatient. The coldness between his eyebrows deepened. He directly stuffed the dragon scale into the man's hand and left with the decisive words: "Never to meet again."
Long Mo naturally understood that "never to meet again" meant there would be no more returns!
He watched as that tall figure turned his back on him. They were only half an arm's length apart, yet it felt as if a Milky Way separated them.
"Take care..." Long Mo's voice was hoarse and choking. He didn't know how much courage it took him to say these three words.
After saying that, he left with a heavy and desolate back.
Only then did Shu Yue cast a fleeting glance outside the tree - house. Although he seemed heartless, he never forgot for a moment how Long Mo had once protected him at all costs, including always being there unconditionally.
However, compared to his father, all these things seemed so insignificant.
He felt ridiculous. If he had known this would happen, he shouldn't have gotten entangled with that man in the first place, and he wouldn't have hurt him so mercilessly.
Everything happened suddenly and disappeared silently. Throughout it all, Shu Yao remained calm as if nothing had happened.
But the more silent he was, the more it made Shu Yue tremble. He stared at that slender figure in the kitchen and leaned against the door, not knowing how to break the awkward and heavy atmosphere.
Then, he stepped forward, stretched out his arms, and hugged that slender waist from behind. He pressed his chin against Shu Yao's neck, and the strength of his arms tightened with the uneasiness in his heart.
Shu Yao's movement of boiling the medicine suddenly stopped. The hard chest pressing against his back was still as warm and broad as ever, but it just lacked the usual sense of safety and steadiness.
After a while, he felt warm breath in his ear. The deep voice was full of pleading and helplessness: "Father, don't ignore me, okay? What you saw just now was really a misunderstanding. Don't think too much about it."
Shu Yue kept whispering softly, hoping to melt Shu Yao's coldness. He rubbed against Shu Yao's shoulder and neck like a child and lingered for a while.
"Shu Yue, let go first." Shu Yao avoided the rubbing on his cheek and calmly uttered a few words.
From behind came a firm and decisive voice: "I won't let go!"
"Don't act like a child. You're already an adult." He returned to the role of a father earnestly, but in Shu Yue's ears, it was an artificial estrangement.
Shu Yue let go and then forcefully turned Shu Yao's shoulder. The force was so great that it almost crushed it. He shouted angrily: "Father, what on earth do you want me to do for you to believe me!"
"I've already said that I won't interfere in your feelings, so there's no question of whether I believe you or not."
After these words, Shu Yue was stunned for a few seconds. After pondering over them repeatedly, he laughed sarcastically and realized that from the very beginning, Shu Yao had only regarded him as a child.
He thought he had entered Shu Yao's world and could become the most important part of his life.
Moreover, they had done so many things that defied ethics. Clearly, they had been close to each other, but now, they were so distant.
His eyes darkened a bit, covering the sadness with coldness. He said, "What do you mean you won't interfere in my feelings? Shu Yao, you know I like you. Why do you still say such things!?"
He was already questioning, disregarding the father - son relationship and only seeing Shu Yao as the person he loved.
"I'm your father. Who allowed you to call me by my name?" Shu Yao was stern for the first time and extremely serious. "It's your business that you like me. Whether I like you or not is up to me. No one has the right to force me."
He concealed the loneliness and helplessness in his eyes and swallowed all the bitterness. He used these cruel words to disguise his true feelings.
Yes, what he ultimately cared about was his identity. Even if he had a passionate heart, he couldn't escape the different fates of demons and humans.
Shu Yue's lips twitched pale. The hand on Shu Yao's shoulder finally trembled and dropped. He took a step back, and his body swayed unsteadily.
So, in order to avoid him, his father could be so cold and give him no chance at all...
The pain in his back suddenly intensified, spreading to his bones, piercing his nerves, and overwhelming every part of his body.
He swayed for a while and instinctively supported himself on the edge of the stove. Shu Yao only showed a flicker of worry in his eyes, and the hand that wanted to reach out to support him finally retracted weakly into his sleeve.
Concealing his coldness a bit, he finally opened his mouth, avoiding that desolate face, and said calmly, "Go lie down first. The medicine will be ready soon."
Although his back was injured, Shu Yue covered his heart and indifferently uttered a few words. This time, he didn't even glance at Shu Yao. "Don't bother, Father. I'll be fine after a rest."
"Where are you going?" Shu Yao stopped his movement to leave.
"Going out for some fresh air. Father, don't worry about me."
"Your injury..." Before he could finish, he watched that stubborn but lonely back fading away palely.
Although he said so, Shu Yue's injury didn't allow him to act recklessly. What if he encountered danger outside? What if someone bothered him? What if...
Too many "what - ifs" instantly flooded Shu Yao's mind. The next moment, he rushed out. He wanted to stop Shu Yue but found the tree - house empty.
"Damn it!" Worried about Shu Yue's safety, he immediately ran out to look for him.
At this moment, due to his injury, Shu Yue couldn't move as nimbly as usual. Although he tried his best to endure the excruciating pain and wanted to go down the mountain quickly, the sharp pain in his back didn't allow him to pretend to be strong anymore.
Sure enough, after walking for a while, he felt extremely exhausted both physically and mentally. Cold sweat unconsciously covered his forehead densely, and the wound on his back started to hurt like fire again.
He wanted to take a rest, but he was afraid that Shu Yao would catch up from behind. Unwilling to face Shu Yao, he could only brace himself and continue walking step by step with great difficulty.
But after walking only a short distance, he faintly heard a roar with strong penetrating power echoing in the forest...