Chapter 318: Chapter 318 - Hated by him
The trip back to the palace gave Jian the first real chance to sit with his grandfather without danger hanging directly over them.
The injured soldiers had been moved onto the larger rescue craft, and the investigation team remained behind to secure the wreckage. Xing Yu had already ordered them not to disturb anything until the cause of the crash could be properly examined. The soldier’s warning that it hadn’t been an accident was troubling, but for now, getting the survivors somewhere safe came first.
Jian sat beside Grandpa Rue with one hand wrapped around the old man’s arm.
He knew he was holding on too tightly. He also had no intention of letting go.
Grandpa Rue glanced down at his hand. "You know I’m sitting right here, don’t you?"
"I know."
"Then why are you holding me like I’m about to disappear?"
Jian’s smile faded slightly. "Because you did."
That silenced the old man.
Jian looked down at their joined arms. He hadn’t meant to make the moment serious, but the fear he’d carried for so long hadn’t vanished simply because Grandpa Rue was sitting beside him now. Some part of him still expected to wake up and discover that none of this had happened.
Grandpa Rue seemed to understand. He placed his weathered hand over Jian’s and gave it a firm squeeze.
"Well, I’m here now."
Jian leaned against his shoulder.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
For a while, that was enough.
The little girl sat across from them, watching the two with a smile while Jian endured Grandpa Rue’s inspection of everything that had changed about him. His grandfather still seemed particularly fascinated by his blond hair and the glowing gem between his brows.
"You really look different."
"So I’ve been told."
Grandpa Rue caught a strand of his hair between his fingers. "I still remember cutting your hair when you were little because you wouldn’t sit still long enough for anyone else to do it."
Jian immediately looked suspicious. "You made it crooked."
"You moved."
"You cut one side above my ear."
The little girl giggled.
Grandpa Rue looked completely unapologetic. "You survived."
Jian smiled despite himself.
It felt strange how easily they fell back into this. Years had passed. Jian had discovered another family, another world, another identity. His appearance had changed so much that a stranger might never have connected him to the young man Grandpa Rue had raised.
Yet sitting beside him now, Jian felt as if something missing from his life had quietly returned to its proper place.
Grandpa Rue was studying the gem on his forehead when his attention suddenly shifted past Jian.
His expression changed.
Jian followed his gaze.
Xing Yu sat farther down the craft speaking quietly with one of the officers. There was still dried blood on his sleeve from the fight, and his sword rested within reach beside him. As if sensing the attention, he looked up.
Grandpa Rue stared at him.
Xing Yu met his gaze politely.
Neither looked away.
Jian’s stomach sank.
He had completely forgotten one very important detail.
Grandpa Rue turned toward him. "Who is that?"
"Xing Yu."
"I know his name. The soldiers have been calling him General Xing since we left the forest." Grandpa Rue looked at him pointedly. "I’m asking who he is to you."
Jian froze.
The little girl glanced between them with immediate interest.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because he’s been looking over here every few minutes."
Jian felt heat climb into his face.
That was apparently enough of an answer for Grandpa Rue’s eyes to narrow.
"Jian."
"He’s my boyfriend."
There. Done.
Grandpa Rue stared at him.
Then he slowly turned his head toward Xing Yu.
Jian watched his grandfather’s gaze travel over the general from head to toe. Xing Yu was tall, broad-shouldered, battle-scarred, and carried himself with the unmistakable confidence of a man who had spent years commanding armies.
Unfortunately, Grandpa Rue appeared to notice all of those things too.
His expression darkened.
Jian sighed. "Don’t."
"How old is he?"
"Grandpa."
"How old?"
"I’m an adult."
"To me, you’re still a kid."
"That doesn’t mean I actually am one."
Grandpa Rue ignored that entirely.
Xing Yu seemed to realize he had become the subject of discussion. After a brief hesitation, he rose and approached them.
Jian almost wanted to warn him to turn around.
"Mr. Rue."
At least Xing Yu was clever enough not to start with Grandfather.
Grandpa Rue regarded him coolly. "General."
Xing Yu stopped beside Jian’s seat. "I’m glad you weren’t seriously injured."
"Thank you."
The response was polite enough, but Grandpa Rue’s expression remained guarded.
Xing Yu glanced at Jian before continuing. "He was extremely worried about you."
"I know my grandson."
Something in the emphasis made Jian close his eyes.
This was going badly.
Grandpa Rue studied Xing Yu for another moment. "How long have you two been together?"
Jian immediately cut in before the conversation could become an interrogation. "Grandpa, you can question him after you’ve been checked by a healer."
"I asked one question."
"And I know you. One question becomes twenty."
Grandpa Rue gave him an offended look, but Jian refused to back down.
Xing Yu, however, answered calmly. "I care deeply for Jian."
Grandpa Rue’s eyes narrowed.
Jian looked at Xing Yu.
Why would you say that now?
Xing Yu apparently understood the mistake a second too late.
To Grandpa Rue, Jian might have become taller, stronger, and powerful enough to cross space itself, but none of that mattered. This was still the child he’d raised. The boy whose scraped knees he’d cleaned and whose hair he’d badly cut. Now, after years apart, he had finally gotten his grandson back only to discover that some grown man with a sword and an intimidating amount of muscle was already looking at him as if he were the most precious thing in the world.
Grandpa Rue did not seem remotely prepared to appreciate the romance of the situation.
For the remainder of the journey, he watched Xing Yu.
Not openly all the time.
Just enough.
Whenever Xing Yu glanced at Jian, Grandpa Rue noticed. When Xing Yu came over to quietly check the small cut across Jian’s hand, Grandpa Rue watched that too.
Jian eventually leaned closer to his grandfather.
"Will you stop glaring at him?"
"I’m not glaring."
"You absolutely are."
"I’m observing."
"That sounds worse."
Grandpa Rue merely folded his arms.
Across from them, the little girl covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Jian decided there was no point arguing.
By the time the palace finally appeared below them, Xing Yu had fought creatures in the Veyr Forest, dealt with a sabotaged royal transport, and coordinated an emergency rescue operation.
Somehow, Grandpa Rue had exhausted him more than all three.
The craft landed in the palace courtyard, where healers and guards were already waiting.
Jian immediately helped Grandpa Rue down.
"I can walk."
"You survived a transport crash."
"My legs survived too."
"You’re still getting examined."
Grandpa Rue grumbled but allowed Jian to guide him toward the waiting healers. The little girl hurried beside them, staring openly at the enormous palace and the Farian guards lining the courtyard.
Jian had taken only a few steps when he realized Xing Yu was no longer beside him.
He looked back.
Xing Yu stood near the craft.
For a man who rarely allowed his emotions to show openly, he looked surprisingly dejected.
Jian stopped.
Grandpa Rue continued walking with the healers, apparently satisfied that his grandson was safe inside the palace grounds. Jian waited until he was a little farther away before returning to Xing Yu.
"You’re upset."
Xing Yu looked toward Grandpa Rue’s retreating figure. "He doesn’t like me."
Jian nearly smiled.
This was a man who could stand before hostile generals without showing fear, yet one disapproving old human had managed to thoroughly ruin his mood.
"He just met you."
"He glared at me for most of the journey."
"He’s protective."
Xing Yu was quiet for a moment. "I wanted him to like me."
The simple admission softened Jian immediately.
Of course he did.
Grandpa Rue wasn’t simply another relative whose opinion could be ignored. He had raised Jian. He was the closest thing Jian had known to a father for most of his life, and Xing Yu understood exactly how much he meant to him.
Jian stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Xing Yu.
The tension in Xing Yu’s shoulders eased almost immediately.
"I still love you regardless," Jian murmured.
Xing Yu looked down at him.
Jian smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"And I’m still marrying you."
That finally brought a small change to Xing Yu’s expression.
Jian kissed his other cheek for good measure. "He’ll come to accept you. Just give him some time."
"You’re certain?"
"Yes."
Jian pulled away before Xing Yu could hold him there any longer.
Ahead, Grandpa Rue had noticed his absence and was already turning around.
"Jian!"
"Coming!"
Jian started after him, then glanced back once.
"Don’t look so miserable. You’re still my boyfriend."
With that, he hurried across the courtyard and caught up with his grandfather, slipping an arm around the old man’s shoulders despite his immediate complaints.
Xing Yu remained beside the craft, watching them disappear into the palace.
He had survived battles, assassination attempts, political enemies, and years of war.
Apparently, his next challenge was convincing one stubborn old man that he was worthy of his grandson.