[To Become a River of Stars] Dong Xiange - Chapter 85
Shiliu’s ears burned fiercely. She lowered her head, rubbing her chest without saying a word.
Just then, faint shouts came from the distance.
“Shiliu! Shiliu!”
It was He Chong and Jin Zhan, leading government firefighters and patrol officers as they rushed over. Only then did Shiliu notice that it wasn’t just their inn on fire—many places along the street were also ablaze. The entire city was faintly illuminated by towering flames, staining the dark night with patches of lurid color.
Soon, the firefighters set up water pumps and began directing streams into the inferno. For the higher burning areas, soldiers with formidable strength hurled water bags and pouches, while others used mud-soaked mops to smother the flames.
He Chong and Jin Zhan had desperately raced to the government offices to summon help. Now, seeing the two of them safe, they could finally relax, though for a long moment, they could only gasp for breath like overworked oxen, unable to speak.
He Chong swallowed down the smoky ache in his throat and finally managed to ask, “Shi… Shiliu, are you… hurt?”
Shiliu quickly moved to support her senior brother, but Li Xuanci, who was just then calling Jin Zhan over to report, happened to block her path.
Remembering the injury on his shoulder, Shiliu didn’t push past him. Instead, she stood on tiptoe, speaking with some difficulty across the gap between them.
“Senior Brother, I’m fine, don’t worry. I was just thinking earlier that you must have escaped, but I couldn’t find you. So, you went to get help ?”
If someone else had said this, it might have carried a hint of resentful probing. But when Shiliu said it, she truly meant it exactly as it sounded.
A fire was no joke—if it spread, it wouldn’t just be her life at risk. It was right for her senior brother to seek help first; that was also a way of saving her.
But He Chong felt a pang of guilt and said, “Shiliu, earlier, I—”
He had only gotten halfway through when Li Xuanci coldly instructed Jin Zhan, “Go get some burn ointment.”
Interrupted, He Chong’s attention shifted immediately. “Are you injured? Is it serious?” he asked urgently.
Shiliu hurriedly reassured him, and so the two men set off to buy medicine from a city pharmacy.
He Chong, feeling both guilty and anxious, charged ahead first. Jin Zhan, lagging behind, turned back thoughtfully for a glance.
Against the backdrop of raging flames and swirling smoke, the Prince stood with his hands behind his back, showing no sign of injury. Shiliu hovered beside him, occasionally stealing glances at him before quickly lowering her head.
But she didn’t notice that whenever she looked down, Li Xuanci also glanced at her, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips.
Jin Zhan didn’t dare look longer. He withdrew his gaze, looked at He Chong’s hurried back ahead, and shook his head inwardly.
Who says I’m a blockhead? I’m starting to get a sense of what’s going on here.
When the fire first broke out, He Chong had immediately wanted to go find Shiliu, but the Prince had firmly ordered both of them to notify the authorities immediately, while he himself would search for her.
Considering that if the fire spread, it could mean destroyed homes and lost lives, He Chong had followed the order and rushed with him to the government office.
But just now, the Prince had deliberately or not interrupted He Chong’s explanation.
He might be a bit clumsy with words, but these eyes of mine see clearly and work just fine.
However, a good subordinate knows that what the master doesn’t want done, the subordinate shouldn’t do. So, Jin Zhan said nothing and quietly hurried to catch up.
Though, it seems the title of ‘blockhead’ is going to change hands now, Jin Zhan thought with a rare touch of sly amusement.
In front of the inn, with the firefighters joining the effort, the blaze was finally brought somewhat under control.
Even in such a chaotic and frantic situation, Li Xuanci had missed nothing with that sidelong glance earlier.
He Chong’s anxious, guilty expression. Jin Zhan’s sneaking look back.
And Shiliu, stealing glances at him.
Li Xuanci shifted his gaze back. The mournful wind whistled through the roaring flames, and the charred wood emitted desolate cracking sounds within the firelight. His features were tinted with a fiercer beauty, his brows and eyes appearing more intense and sharp.
His brilliantly bright pupils reflected the swaying, unrestrained colors of the flames. He curved his lips in an almost imperceptible smile, too swift for even the night wind to catch.
The wildness and wickedness concealed by the firelight in his eyes showed a trace in that instant.
He had done it on purpose.
Purposely sent He Chong and the other away. Purposely interrupted him. Purposely let Shiliu believe her senior brother was someone who could easily abandon her in the face of danger.
So what?
That pea-sized brain of Tang Shiliu’s was destined not to hold too many people. So, if he acted to drive some out, it was natural, it was right.
Who could do anything about it?
As the flames dyed half the dark sky a deep red, accompanied by the scattered cries of the surrounding crowd, the excessive, obsessive possessiveness hidden within Li Xuanci’s instincts burned recklessly alongside the devastating fire.
With considerable effort, he briefly detached himself from the desires flowing wantonly through his veins. He glanced down discreetly at Shiliu, saw her ears still red as if roasted by fire, and felt another surge of satisfaction.
She was his.
His alone.