"No."
Zhang Fengxi put his hands over Xie Jianyu's, shielding the latter's hands like tiny flowers in a thunderstorm. "Did the Emperor ask you to investigate his disappearance?"
"En."
Xie Jianyu scanned Zhang Fengxi's face, looking for any sign of betrayal. Anything at all. If he had to suffer from one last disappointment, then better sooner than later. And yet, Zhang Fengxi's body language did not indicate anything amiss.
Instead, he appeared like a gentle and doting lover. The kind that Xie Jianyu did not even encounter in his wildest dreams.
"Are you allowed to take help?"
"... En."
"Let me come with you, then."
Zhang Fengxi took Xie Jianyu's hands and showered his knuckles with kisses.
"I promise that I will not be an obstacle."
Xie Jianyu's heart fluttered at Zhang Fengxi's words.
He offered to help. The question was rather -- who was he trying to help, Xie Jianyu or Liu Wenyuan?
