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24.64% To Rise Again in the Apocalypse [BL] / Chapter 28: Chapter 11.3 - Even if I'm wrong, I am unwilling to lose him.

Chapter 28: Chapter 11.3 - Even if I'm wrong, I am unwilling to lose him.

His victorious smile suddenly replaced with confused anger and agitation. In his agitation, he tried to look for the source of the counterbid from the ground level of the auction hall. Suspecting the man he outbid earlier, Li XinWen searched for the man in the dark navy suit. But the moment he found the man, Li XinWen noticed that the man was just as surprised as everyone else in the hall.

'It wasn't him! Who dares…' Li XinWen thought as he clenched his fists tighter.

The auctioneer gasped but recovered instantaneously. 'I shouldn't let this good fortune slip from my fingers! Oh just imagine the commission!' he thought before acknowledging the latest bid.

"Ten million from the gentleman on the second level box number 3! Does anyone else wish to bid against this offer?" he asked, itching to strike the gavel against the block. He waited for a couple of minutes to observe proper decorum then proceeded to close the sale.

Upon hearing the auctioneer's acknowledgement, he finally realized who put forth the ten million bid. "Ten million going once! Ten million going twice! Sold for ten million yuan!" and he struck the gavel twice on the sound block, and looked up as if to thank the heavens.

Li XinWen, still distraught over the loss of the cauldron, suddenly heard a chuckle. He turned to face the source and realized that Xue Rui now stood beside him, arms crossed looking amused. Xue Rui faced Li XinWen smiling at the same time his gaze piercing and laced with seduction.

"I can't let you have all the fun XinWen," he teased as he stepped towards Li XinWen to close the remaining distance between them and continued to say, "XinWen when I told you not to hold back, I didn't mean for you to spend your own money. You should have just told me and I would make sure that you get whatever item you want from the auction. So even if you try again, all I have to do is just raise my counterbid and you won't be able to outbid me. So don't bother trying," he said as he caressed Li XinWen's cheek.

"You bastard!" Li XinWen responded while holding himself back from grabbing Xue Rui to wipe the smug expression on his face. He slapped Xue Rui's hand gently away from his face and looked away.

"How feisty XinWen!" Xue Rui teased further, sounding amused.

"The cauldron… will you really give it to me?" Li XinWen asked still looking away from Xue Rui.

'How cute… just like a child. My XinWen…' Xue Rui thought as he continued to observe Li XinWen's reaction.

"Of course. You know that I'll give you anything you want." as he reached for Li XinWen's face and turned his head so that they faced each other. "After all, that is the sole reason why we are here," he said gently, as if pacifying a lover's tantrum. He gazed into Li XinWen's eyes and leaned in to plant a soft kiss on Li XinWen's lips.

He let out a small chuckle as he saw the surprise in Li XinWen's eyes. 'I better step back before Li XinWen decides to punch the daylights out of me,' he thought amused. "You are too precious XinWen… my dearest XinWen you make me so happy," he stated still chuckling.

Everything seemed to be happening too fast that Li XinWen was unable to react. His face a mix of embarrassment, anger, and helplessness. Li XinWen let out a sigh as heavy as Mt. Tai. 'This bastard! Why does he like kissing me every chance he gets!? Precious?! What a load of bull… just you wait Xue Rui… just you wait! For now, I'll just give you a piece of my mind. Damn it all!' Li XinWen thought. Anger bubbling inside him. He looked down, closed his eyes and composed himself before saying.

"You really are a bastard Rui-ge… but fine… I'll let you off this time."

Li XinWen looked at Xue Rui squarely and said, "Come to think of it I've allowed you to have your way with me for a while now. I believe it is about time we put an end to this," Li XinWen expressed. He took a deep breath and shook his head. Li XinWen looked down as if a wave of exhaustion washed over him. "I am no longer going to stand for this… After all, you are Hua-jie's fiancé. This play has gone on long enough."

Xue Rui's eyes widened upon hearing Li XinWen's statement. His heart felt like as if someone was squeezing his heart and he felt his throat constricting. His eyes suddenly felt warm as if he would tear up any second now.

'No… no… this can't be happening. I resorted to blackmail just to have you stay beside me XinWen, even though I knew it was wrong…that was the only way I could think of. If you only knew…I have been in love with you since the beginning…it has always been you. It is only due to a misunderstanding that we are standing here like this… One day, I'll make you understand...I'll make you understand…' Xue Rui thought to himself. However, instead of coming clean and making a proper confession, his cunning nature took over instead.

Xue Rui took a step towards Li XinWen, his face wearing a hurt expression and his eyes teary. He placed a hand on Li XinWen's chest, leaned in close and whispered into Li XinWen's ear. "Please do not forget why you 'let me have my way with you'." Xue Rui's voice broke but he managed to mask the regret that came with his statement.

'I have no plans of letting you slip by XinWen… not this time. Oh god, please… I don't want to lose him,' Xue Rui thought desperately.

Xue Rui's statement was enough to push Li XinWen to the edge. Li XinWen's expression turned dark and the anger that had been bubbling inside him overflowed as if something inside him snapped. He took a step back and shook his head.

"To what end Xue Rui? Does it make you happy playing with people's feelings? All this lying and pretending in front of JingHua! Until when do you actually plan to drag out this situation for? You really are a bastard!" Li XinWen said in response as he glared at Xue Rui.

'I'm sorry XinWen… oh god why is this happening now!?! This was supposed to be a date. This was supposed to bring us closer not pulls us farther apart!' Xue Rui thought as he saw Li XinWen's expression - a mix of anger and deep hurt. But more than that, the glare that Xue Rui received from Li XinWen sent chills down his spine. It was as if Li XinWen was capable of hurting him at that very moment.

'No... Please don't hate me XinWen… I need to do something... I can't lose him,' Xue Rui's mind raced to come up with something to clear the air and ease the tension that was starting to suffocate him. As if unable to breathe, Xue Rui loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.

Li XinWen shook his head and returned to his seat. The muscles on his face were tense and he struggled to calm himself down. Considering his age as an immortal from Long Xing, Li XinWen was technically so much older than Xue Rui. To have a 'junior' three centuries younger than himself play him at the palm of his hand, Li XinWen felt that he just lost face.

'Now I've done it! This is all that fool's fault. I was in the right. It's time to put an end to all the shenanigans between Xue Rui and Li XinWen. Right… That's it.' Li XinWen thought, and oddly enough, this actually helped him calm himself. He hunched forward in his seat and rubbed his eyes. He let out a heavy sigh and looked ahead.

Xue Rui followed Li XinWen and carefully sat beside him. Cautiously, Xue Rui started to say, "If you must know XinWen…" but Xue Rui did not get to finish his statement when he heard Li XinWen let out a chuckle.

'It's a good thing that we're on the second level and the box affords us some privacy. The argument we just had would have resulted to a scandal if we were out there with the crowd of regular bidders. I can just imagine the tabloid headlines,' this last thought made him chuckle and just like that his anger dissipated.

"What are you laughing at XinWen?" Xue Rui asked, intrigued and confused.

"It's a good thing we're at the second level Rui-ge and that we have this private box all to ourselves," Li XinWen said, gesturing to the entire box. "Can you imagine? If we were seated with everyone else and they heard our argument, we'd be making headlines by tomorrow. Oh, I guess that's the price you pay for fame. As show business is an unforgiving industry and the media would have a field day!" he responded. Li XinWen's laughter filled their booth and rescued the mood.

"Yes, you're right in that aspect. I can imagine how the media would pounce at the argument we just had and blow it out of proportion," Xue Rui agreed and joined in Li XinWen's laughter. 'I want to hold him and let him know just how much I treasure him… Thank you XinWen for not hating me,' Xue Rui thought to himself as he took in every bit of that very moment.


Chapter 29: Chapter 12.1 - I will never commit myself to someone who is promised to someone else

The two men spent the next couple of minutes laughing and building scenarios of how the media would create their 'scandal'. Taking advantage of the lightened atmosphere between them, Xue Rui remarked: "Anyway, since the item we just purchased is already ten million, we just need to purchase one more and we can be on our way. We'll just pick up the jian you wanted before we leave. Or would you like to stay longer until the auction ends?"

Li XinWen glanced at his wristwatch and saw that it was 4:20 in the afternoon. "We still have time. Let's see what else they have. Who knows, there might be something else that I might like," he responded, sounding indifferent.

Li XinWen's indifferent response alarmed Xue Rui and prompted him to ask "XinWen, are you still angry?" he asked.

"Hn. Perhaps. Honestly Rui-ge, I don't know how I feel right at this moment…" came Li XinWen's answer, not even bothering to look at Xue Rui, his eyes focused on the auction stage.

Panic crept through the pit of Xue Rui's stomach. His heart started to race and once again, he felt a desperation in his heart, and what he did next came as a surprise even to himself.

"XinWen, Ah'Wen… please forgive me. I know I have gone overboard with all the teasing and stealing kisses. I'll admit my wrongs..." Xue Rui stopped there and looked down on the carpeted flooring of their second-level box. He was afraid of continuing and baring everything. He was afraid that if he admitted to resorting to blackmail, his greatest fear would come to life - that Li XinWen would hate him even more.

'I'm sorry XinWen, but that's all that I can admit to at this time… allow me to be a coward for the time being until I have enough courage to come clean and confess to you properly.'

Li XinWen was surprised by what he just heard from Xue Rui. Based on the original's memories, Xue Rui was not the type to apologize and admit to any of his wrongdoings. 'I wonder what's changed... this is a first,' he thought to himself. Li XinWen turned his head and looked over at Xue Rui to study his expression. Unfortunately, Xue Rui was looking down and Li XinWen was unable to see his face clearly. Although he did not see Xue Rui's face, somehow, he felt that the apology was sincere and this made him smile.

'Maybe I'll tease him just a little,' Li XinWen thought.

"Pfft… Is that really you Xue Rui? I never thought the day would come when I would hear the great young master Xue Rui apologize!" Li XinWen remarked with a laugh, and that laughter was music to Xue Rui's ears, and the teasing even tugged at his heart.

'My XinWen… my precious XinWen…' Xue Rui thought. A great sense of relief washed over Xue Rui and he held his tears and his urge to hold Li XinWen right at that moment. And as if enlightened by the heavens, Xue Rui mustered the courage and said: "Ah'Wen, forgive me, ah! I was wrong to use your sister to blackmail you. But I really like you. No… I love you. More than anything or anyone and I want to pursue you. These are my sincerest feelings. Is there really no possibility for you to give me a chance? I know that we started off on the wrong foot but I know it's not too late for things to change between us and I am willing to do anything for you so you can forgive me and give me a chance."

Li XinWen's face turned a pale crimson after hearing Xue Rui's confession. 'When is this going to end? Xue Rui is a lovelorn fool through and through! Even saying that he's willing to do anything! Bah!' He faced Xue Rui and saw the desperation on his face, but instead of being convinced, it only amused Li XinWen.

"You know Rui-ge, you might just come to regret ever fancying someone like me," Li XinWen said in response.

"It seems that you don't know me that well XinWen… and don't worry, I've prepared myself for anything and everything when it comes to you. I have no plans of letting you slip by…" Xue Rui countered.

"Haha… I guess we'll see who gives in before long," Li XinWen responded and went on to say, "You said you'd do anything, right Rui-ge?" To which Xue Rui nodded in response.

'He's like a dog wagging his tail as if being offered a treat,' Li XinWen thought before stating, "Then for starters, no more stealing kisses, no more playing around, and if you ever make Hua-jie cry, you will let me skin you alive. Do you promise?"

Xue Rui paled at the thought of being skinned alive but felt that the proposal sounded fair. If by agreeing to this proposal meant getting closer to his goal of winning Li XinWen's love then there was no need to think twice about his answer. He nodded his head enthusiastically in agreement.

"Since I've agreed, does this mean you'll give me a chance?" Xue Rui asked.

"Hahaha… Rui-ge it seems that you have misunderstood. I never said I'd give you a chance if you actually agree to my conditions," Li XinWen stated as he let out an amused laugh.

"But…" was all Xue Rui managed to say.

"Let me say this Rui-ge. In spite of all the shenanigans that has happened between us, I will never commit myself to someone who is promised to someone else," Li XinWen stated.

Though Li XinWen said this in a firm tone, Xue Rui felt that Li XinWen's statement was a hint of some sort. 'Then, if I break it off with JingHua, will I have a chance? Well we've already agreed to call off the engagement, so in that sense, the promise no longer stands,' Xue Rui thought and immediately felt victorious. A smile spread across Xue Rui's lips.

Li XinWen narrowed his eyes at Xue Rui after noticing him smiling. "Don't you dare Rui-ge! I know exactly what you're thinking. You promised that if you make Hua-jie cry, you'll let me skin you alive, remember?" Li XinWen warned.

"Don't worry XinWen, I clearly remember the agreement. I promise I won't make her cry," Xue Rui answered in amusement.

"Good," Li XinWen heaved a sigh of relief before he returned his focus towards the auction. 'Dealing with this fool is really tiring… I'd rather face heavenly tribulation everyday than having to deal with this every day.'

* * *

Mini Theatre 4:

Young Man: Five Million!! I must have that cauldron!

Li XinWen: No! That treasure belongs to me! Six Million!

Young Man: 6.5 million!

Li XinWen: Seven million!! Please don't outbid me, please don't outbid me...

Auctioneer: No one? No one? Then seven million, so--

Li XinWen smiled brightly when the auctioneer raised the gavel. But his hope was shattered when he heard a voice beside him.

Xue Rui: Ten million. You think I'll let you spend money on our date?

Li XinWen: Why must you outbid me?! I want that item!

Xue Rui: It's alright. I will give it to you.

Li XinWen: Really?

Xue Rui: Of course! Since I will be marrying into your family, it can be your dowry.

Li XinWen: Again with the marriage?!

Xue Rui: Until you finally say yes.

Li XinWen: ^#!$&*#*$^@!

Author's note: To this day, Li XinWen is still unable to win an argument with Xue Rui...


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