Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 317: "Yeah, he is not single...

Chapter 317: "Yeah, he is not single...

"Yeah, he is not single. Now back off," Lian added, her voice equally resolute. Not satisfied, she stood up and squeezed herself between Celeste and Xiang Yu, making him laugh. Lian and Mei were like little seatholders, ensuring no one took Han Xin’s place.

Celeste’s disappointment was evident, but she leaned forward again, her eyes fixed on Xiang Yu. "Oh, then if Your Highness is ever single, I am a candidate," she said, her voice sweet but determined. There was nothing wrong with advertising herself, after all.

Lian blocked her view, her expression fierce. "No, he won’t be single ever."

In Xiang Yu’s mind, Hex chimed in excitedly, "It’s not your turn, little vixen. Join the line."

Xiang Yu sighed internally. "Hex, you and I are not possible, so give up."

Hex stuttered defensively, "You... you, Yu Yu, you are thinking too highly of yourself. I have a boyfriend."

Xiang Yu could sense the lie from a mile away. It was the classic "my boyfriend is in another galaxy" excuse. "What’s your boyfriend’s name?" he asked, amused.

Hex froze before blurting out, "He is called Circu-it-ex." It was clearly making it up but refused to admit it. "Yes, Circuitex," it said confidently.

Xiang Yu’s amusement grew. "You made that up, didn’t you?"

Caught red-handed, Hex went offline. A notice popped up on Xiang Yu’s communicator: "Your AI assistant is currently updating." Xiang Yu couldn’t help but chuckle, drawing everyone’s attention.

Lian and Mei had "stop flirting" written all over their faces, while Celeste looked utterly bewitched. If she didn’t give up, she would undoubtedly become a troublesome love rival for their beloved Han Xin.

***

Xiang Yu walked briskly towards the training arena, flanked by Lian and Mei. The twins, ever vigilant, kept pace with him, their expressions a mix of determination and protectiveness. Xiang Yu broke the silence, his tone light but firm. "You two are overprotective. Do you actually think I would just take Celeste up on her offer like that?"

Mei shook her head, her voice tinged with exasperation. "No, but it was hard to watch those big eyes batting at you."

Lian chimed in, her voice carrying a hint of disdain. "Yeah, she looked at you like you were fish on a chopping block. She isn’t worthy of you, Master."

Xiang Yu chuckled as the door to the training arena slid open with a whoosh. "If I could be stolen that easily, I wouldn’t have been single for so long."

Lian smirked. "Sure, sure, until that ugly bastard came along and swept you off your feet."

Mei elbowed Lian, her voice a sharp whisper. "Shh, don’t call him that."

Lian defended herself, her tone unapologetic. "Master’s words, not mine."

Xiang Yu laughed recalling when they first met. "He was ugly back then... Go change so you can show me what you can really do in the training arena."

"Okay!" Lian and Mei responded in unison, and their competitive spirits ignited. Mei shouted, "The last one out is ugly!"

Lian retorted, "The hell, we look alike!"

Mei grinned mischievously. "Not anymore, because you will be uglier than me after you lose."

Xiang Yu watched them run off with a doting look in his eyes, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. He turned to head towards the changing room designated for male alphas, only to meet the gaze of Han Xin.

Xiang Yu’s heart, long hardened by disappointment, felt a sudden surge of sweetness that was hard to suppress. He wanted nothing more than to walk over and hug Han Xin, to feel the warmth of his embrace. But he knew he couldn’t.

A simple hug was too much to ask for now. He smiled slightly, nodding in acknowledgement before walking away, his back straight and his steps measured.

Han Xin watched him go, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. He wasn’t mistaken. He had seen a look of affection in Xiang Yu’s eyes that hadn’t diminished even after the twins left. No, he was wrong. When Xiang Yu looked at him, it wasn’t just affection. There was also longing and sadness, a depth of emotion that Han Xin couldn’t ignore.

For a moment, Han Xin thought Xiang Yu would run over and embrace him. But in the end, Xiang Yu walked away, his expression betraying no hint of the yearning that had been there just moments before. Xiang Yu was successfully keeping his distance, moving on with his life as if he hadn’t lived the same past life as Han Xin.

Han Xin couldn’t help but wonder if Xiang Yu was reborn, why wasn’t he afraid of what he might do to him in the future? How could he continue to live peacefully, knowing what was coming? A sneer curled Han Xin’s lips as he headed for the training arena, already dressed in his training gear.

Meanwhile, Xiang Yu was in a private room, changing out of his uniform. Just as he was slipping on his training jacket, there was a knock at the door. Without a second thought, Xiang Yu opened it, the lapel of his jacket still undone showing his firm chest and toned abs. "What’s up?" he asked, his hand resting on the door.

Standing before him was Maurice, one of those lackeys desperate to be in Xiang Yu’s good graces. Maurice was the illegitimate son of a noble family, treated as a spare alpha and a scourge by his father’s household. The original Xiang Yu had offered him protection, and in return, Maurice served as his eyes and ears within the academy.

Maurice stared at Xiang Yu, seemingly in a trance. Xiang Yu smiled a hint of amusement in his eyes. "My eyes are up here," he said gently.

Maurice snapped out of his daze, his face flushing with embarrassment. "I am so, so sorry, Your Highness. I... I just..."

Xiang Yu felt a pang of sympathy for the young man. "You don’t have to be so timid. I won’t eat you."

Maurice’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Ye-yes."

Xiang Yu’s expression softened. "Did your mother get the treatment to wash away the mark?"

Maurice’s head shot up, surprise evident in his eyes. "Yo-you remembered?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The original Xiang Yu had always remembered the people he helped, but he never showed it openly, leading many to believe he was evil through and through. Maurice stammered, "Sh-she did, but she still needs to do it again."

Xiang Yu’s expression softened. "I will get her into a better hospital that doesn’t require multiple procedures. The pain must be excruciating."