Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1115 Withering 0

But his mind had already flown away to the sky. The white piece at his fingertips seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and every move he made was chaotic. He watched Xie Linzhou's black pieces move carefully on the chessboard, and watched his own white pieces retreat step by step, but he had no power to fight back. In just half a cup of tea, the situation on the chessboard was completely clear. Xie Linzhou's black pieces were like a dark cloud, surrounding the white pieces. Only a few scattered open spaces were left, and there was no way to turn the tide. Shen Yanqiu put down the white piece in his hand and whispered, "I lost." Xie Linzhou smiled and put away the chess pieces. The sound of the black piece falling into the chess pot was crisp and pleasant. "Brother Shen, thank you for giving in." His tone was still gentle, but Shen Yanqiu did not dare to look into his eyes, for fear of seeing a trace of pity or a trace of awareness in them. Qingzhu walked in with a cup of freshly brewed tea. Seeing the chessboard had been put away, she smiled and said, "Since the two gentlemen seem to be getting along, I've specially brewed this year's Rain-Previous Longjing tea." Xie Linzhou took the teacup, his fingertips touching the warm wall. He looked up at Shen Yanqiu, and seeing that he still had his head bowed, he smiled and said, "The weather is nice today. Why don't you go for a walk in the garden? I heard the chrysanthemums at the Shen Mansion are in bloom, it's time to enjoy them." Shen Yanqiu's heart tightened, and he subconsciously wanted to refuse. He was afraid to be alone with Xie Linzhou, afraid that he would lose control of his emotions, but looking at the other's expectant eyes, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. He could only nod, his voice as low as a mosquito's hum, "Okay." The two walked out of the study side by side, the autumn sun falling on them with a warm warmth. The chrysanthemums in the garden were indeed in full bloom, yellow, white, and purple, clustered together in clusters, competing for beauty. The wind blew, and the petals swayed gently, carrying a faint fragrance. Xie Linzhou walked in front, occasionally stopping, pointing to a particularly gorgeous black chrysanthemum and said with a smile: "This flower is rare, it looks very much like the stars in the night." Shen Yanqiu followed behind, but his eyes fell involuntarily on Xie Linzhou's back. He was wearing a stone-blue brocade robe, a jade belt around his waist, and walked slowly. The sunlight shone on him through the gaps in the leaves, outlining a soft outline. At that moment, Shen Yanqiu suddenly felt that if he could keep walking like this, even if it was just watching from a distance, it would be good. But as soon as this thought came up, he suppressed it fiercely. He closed his eyes tightly, and when he opened them again, there was only a clear restraint in his eyes. "Brother Shen, why don't you leave?" Xie Linzhou turned his head and looked at him puzzledly. Shen Yanqiu gathered himself together and hurried to catch up, trying to put on a calm expression: "Nothing, I just saw how beautiful the flowers were, so I looked at them a few more times." Xie Linzhou looked at him and suddenly smiled. There seemed to be some deep meaning hidden in that smile, but it was fleeting. "Yes, no matter how beautiful the flowers are, they will eventually wither." He said softly, "But the human heart, if it hides too many things, it will probably get tired." Shen Yanqiu's heart sank suddenly, as if it was stabbed hard by these words. He raised his head and met Xie Linzhou's gaze. There was no inquiry in it, only a faint gentleness, as if he was talking about something insignificant. But he inexplicably felt that Xie Linzhou might know everything. This thought made him feel cold all over, and even the warm autumn sun could not dispel the chill. He hurriedly looked away, his voice trembling: "Brother Xie, you are joking." Xie Linzhou did not say anything else, just turned around and continued walking forward. The atmosphere between the two of them suddenly became a little subtle. The harmonious atmosphere just now seemed to be broken by something, leaving only silence and an inexplicable tension. Shen Yanqiu followed behind, feeling that every step was extremely difficult. He knew that his feelings for Xie Linzhou had long gone beyond ordinary friendship. The love hidden in his heart grew wildly like a vine, and had already entangled his internal organs, making it difficult for him to breathe. But this feeling is destined to be hidden from the public. Just like the chrysanthemums blooming in the shade in the garden, they can only bloom quietly in a corner where no one can see them. Once they are exposed to direct sunlight, they will wither and die. He looked at Xie Linzhou's back, and his heart seemed to be blocked by something, sour and bitter. He didn't know how long such days could last, nor did he know how long he could pretend. He only knew that he was like walking on the edge of a cliff. If he took a wrong step, he would fall into the abyss. The sun set, and the golden afterglow filled the entire garden. When Xie Linzhou said goodbye and left, he looked back at him at the door and said softly, "Brother Shen, don't be too hard on yourself." Shen Yanqiu stood on the steps, watching Xie Linzhou's figure disappear at the alley entrance. He didn't lower his head until the stone-blue color was completely out of sight. He then clenched his hands hidden in his sleeves. His palms were already covered with cold sweat without him noticing. The night wind blew, bringing a hint of coolness. The chrysanthemums in the garden swayed gently in the twilight, as if sighing silently. Shen Yanqiu knew that some things could never be returned. The undercurrent hidden in his heart would sooner or later surge out and drag him into an unknown fate. He could only try to act as naturally as possible and not let anyone see his abnormality. The night was getting darker and darker, and the candlelight in the study flickered, stretching Shen Yanqiu's shadow very long, reflecting on the wall, making him look particularly lonely. He sat at his desk, looking at the painting over and over again until the candlelight burned out and the sky was turning pale. Only then, exhausted, did he return to his inner room to rest. He took a deep breath, picked up the wolf-hair brush, and the tip of the brush touched the rice paper, leaving a faint trace of ink. He knew that no matter how uneasy he felt, he would have to face tomorrow. Xie Linzhou sighed softly, a sigh so light, yet like a feather landing on the tip of Shen Yanqiu's heart, carrying an indescribable feeling. "If you have any difficulties, please speak up." His tone was sincere, with a subtle hint of caution. "Perhaps I can help." Shen Yanqiu's heart trembled, and a warm current surged from the depths of his heart, instantly spreading throughout his limbs. In this world where everyone only cared about his status and his future, this was the first time someone had said this to him, willing to listen to his difficulties and help him. He almost couldn't control himself, wanting to tell Xie Linzhou everything that was on his mind, wanting to share his hidden joys and fears. But when the words came to his lips, they were blocked by the deep-rooted fear. He had seen an actor being chased and beaten in the alley, just because it was rumored that he had an affair with a certain young man; he had also heard of a young man in the countryside being put into a pig cage, just because he was too close to a man from the same village. Those bloody examples were like alarm bells, ringing in his ears again and again. He couldn't say it, and he didn't dare to say it. Shen Yanqiu pinched his palm hard, using the pain to calm himself down. He shook his head, forced himself to look up, and forced a stiff smile on his face: "It's really nothing, brother Xie, you worry too much." His voice was still a little tense,