Chapter 41 - Parallel Lines

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Chapter 41

 

 

Because of the uncontrolled force he used, the splinters had embedded deeply into his flesh. Though not much blood flowed, Taotie's fingers and the back of his hand were already swollen.

 

Shuai Zhaomin often got injured too. Staring at the wound, Serg couldn't help but sigh at his own instinctive comparison.

 

He guided Taotie to the table, urging him to sit down, and then fetched the first aid kit. Despite how painful the wound should have been, Taotie remained unfazed, even flexing his injured fingers with a hint of boredom.

 

"Doesn't it hurt?" Serg wiped the tweezers with alcohol, then gently cradled Taotie's large hand, carefully extracting the wood fragments from the flesh.

 

"I'm sorry for scaring you." Taotie apologized again, his tone soft. Serg shook his head.

 

"Can I ask why?" Vito was still outside, unlike before when he would immediately return to Taotie's side. Though Serg felt he might be overstepping, he couldn't help but ask.

 

"Vito broke his promise to me." Taotie always answered questions directly. His tone was flat, devoid of emotion, but the hand cradled in Serg's suddenly clenched tight.

 

A splinter, just partially removed, sank back into the wound as his muscles tensed.

 

"Could you relax a bit?" Serg quickly pulled the tweezers back, wary of causing more pain. "Mr. Taotie, do you not like Fitch?"

 

"I don't dislike him." Taotie relaxed his grip, but his deeper-than-usual voice radiated a suffocating pressure.

 

Serg sighed, understanding this meant Taotie truly did not like Fitch. "If Vito has fallen for him, there's nothing to be done, is there?"

 

Just as Serg couldn't help loving Shuai Zhaomin, even knowing his feelings would never be returned. Despite his rejection, despite knowing there was no way back, a small part of him still held onto a sliver of hope.

 

True love could never be ruled by reason.

 

"I understand, but he shouldn't have lied to me." Taotie's shoulders tensed again, and Serg could hear the muted pain beneath his seemingly indifferent words.

 

"Master!" Vito finally burst in through the back door. His usually bright demeanor had dulled, and his ever-smiling lips were now pressed into a tight, serious line.

 

"Vito, do not call me 'Master' anymore. That was your promise."

 

"Master! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to break my promise, I just..." Vitto's voice rose, desperate, but he dared not move closer to Taotie.

 

"Vito. If you couldn't keep it, you should never have made it." Another fist slammed down onto the table, Taotie's composed face contorting ever so slightly. "I asked you if you could refrain from laying a hand on Fitch, if you could remain calm before him. You promised me you could."

 

"Master, I..." Vito's head hung low, his chestnut hair trembling along with his body. "I just like Fitch so much, Master, you know I do."

 

"I know. That's why I asked you to promise." Taotie finally turned to him, his gray eyes wandering over Vito. "You know full well that Fitch belongs to Tengshe. He is Tengshe's, and he could never be yours."

 

"Even just a little... I don't ask to own him." Vito lifted his head, meeting Taotie's gaze. His sky-blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears. He bit down hard on his bottom lip. "Master, please forgive me."

 

"Vito, I believed you would keep your word. I have always trusted you." Taotie's voice came out as a faint sigh.

 

"Yes, I understand." Vito took a few hesitant steps forward but stopped at a respectful distance, not daring to get too close. "Master, I'm truly sorry for breaking my promise."

 

"I trusted you." Those three simple words hung heavy with sorrow. Serg didn't dare look at Taotie's expression. Vito's body was taut, as if he might break into sobs at any moment.

 

"Master..."

 

"Vito, stop calling me 'Master.' You have betrayed my trust." Taotie pulled his hand away from Serg's grasp and stood, hesitating before fully turning to face Vito. "Without trust, we cannot continue our bond. This is not your fault—it is mine."

 

"Master! Please don't say that! Please, don't abandon me!" Vito's eyes widened in horror. His knees hit the ground with a heavy thud, his voice raw with desperation.

 

"Vito, this is not me abandoning you. I'm setting you free." Taotie's voice remained eerily calm, devoid of any emotion, as if he were merely stating, "The weather is nice today."

 

"Master! Give me another chance! I won't disappoint you again!" Vito seemed to be crying. His forehead struck the floor, his slender frame shaking violently.

 

"No." Taotie slowly shook his head, drawing a deep breath. "This isn't the first time, Vito. Fitch is a plague bearer."

 

"Master..." Vito lay flat on the ground, his lips ceaselessly mouthing apologies.

 

"Since I cannot bind your heart with this title of 'Master,' I can only set you free." Taotie hesitated, his gaze flickering briefly to Serg. The void in his gray eyes seemed bottomless.

 

Serg looked back and forth between Vito and Taotie, then gently took Taotie's uninjured hand into his own. "Mr. Taotie, perhaps it would be better to decide after calming down."

 

But Taotie only shook his head.

 

His returning grip was firm—painfully so—but Serg didn't pull away. He merely let Taotie hold onto him, staying still in quiet acceptance.

 

Everything had happened too suddenly. It felt like the fragmented pieces of a dream—something witnessed in sleep, only to fade into nothing upon waking.

 

Taotie would come to the kitchen at regular hours, searching for food. He would lean close, licking Serg's cheek, his fingers, his palm, even the curve of his neck. Vito would burst in unexpectedly, laughing and teasing, only to start bickering with Taotie over who got the bigger share of dessert.

 

"Mr. Serg, I deeply apologize, but our deal must be canceled."

 

Even with his injuries still unhealed, Taotie's hand reached out, fingers brushing over the strands of Serg's hair that rested against his shoulder. The tenderness of the motion made Serg flush red—even in such an inappropriate moment.

 

"I don't understand… you promised me…"

 

The words stuck in his throat.

 

Taotie's strong fingers ghosted over his lips, as though wiping something away, before he brought them to his own lips and licked them clean.

 

"Cherry wine."

 

Oh—right. Earlier, after washing a mountain of vegetables, he had felt a bit chilled, so he'd taken a small sip of cherry wine to warm up. Was the taste really that noticeable?

 

"Mr. Taotie, you promised me—"

 

Serg turned away from the topic altogether, unsure how to continue discussing cherry wine under such circumstances.

 

"Mm. I will find a way to ensure your friend is safely freed from Tengshe and Sara's captivity. I can also guarantee his safety in the future."

 

Taotie leaned in closer and closer. The situation was dire, the conversation serious, and yet—Serg felt the faintest trace of embarrassment creeping in.

 

Taotie hadn't had any dessert yet. Was he the kind of person who ate more when in a bad mood?

 

"What about Vito…?"

 

Serg couldn't meet Taotie's gray eyes directly. His gaze drifted past his broad shoulders, falling on Vito, who had already stood up.

 

Taotie's movements halted abruptly.

 

His brows twitched almost imperceptibly, then he pulled away, retreating behind the table. He sat down, pulled a plate of biscuits toward him, and began eating in silence.

 

"Vito, do you want something to eat as well?"

 

The air had turned cold, and Taotie had closed himself off, his demeanor rejecting any further discussion.

 

Vito stood near the door, head hanging low in a daze.

 

Only when he heard Serg's voice did he slowly lift his head.

 

The bruise from earlier was still visible on his forehead, and his blue eyes were dull, devoid of light.

 

"I'm sorry, Master… I didn't mean to break my promise… I just… I really, really love Fitch."

 

Taotie slowly chewed his biscuit, his gray eyes wandering toward the ceiling.

 

After a long moment, he finally spoke.

 

"I know you love him."

 

"Please believe me, Master! I won't make the same mistake again—I swear!"

 

Vito's blue eyes regained some of their brilliance, as if he were using every ounce of strength to convince him.

 

"No. Because you love Fitch."

 

Taotie shook his head firmly.

 

Then, stuffing two large biscuits into his mouth at once, he chewed with exaggerated sluggishness—almost comically so.

 

Vito covered his face, trying to muffle his sobs, but he couldn't hold them back. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor once more.

 

"I'm sorry… Master… I'm so sorry…"

 

"Vito."

 

Taotie swallowed his food and let out a sigh.

 

"Stop calling me 'Master.'"

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