The Fake Son Wants to Live [BL]

Chapter 180: Chapter 180 - Guilty

Jian left the room, and walked right Back to his grandpa’s room

As he approached the familiar room, he slowed, but his steps came to an abrupt halt when he saw someone already inside.

Xing Yu.

He was sitting opposite his grandfather, head slightly lowered, speaking in hushed tones.

The moment Jian stepped into the room, both heads turned toward him. Xing Yu straightened instantly, his eyes locking on Jian’s with a flicker of unreadable emotion. Jian’s grandfather, however, didn’t hide his irritation.

”You get out!” the old man barked, gesturing harshly at Xing Yu.

Xing Yu stood up without protest. He bowed deeply, respectfully—too respectfully—and turned to leave, his gaze lingering on Jian for a second too long. Jian frowned slightly, eyes narrowing, but didn’t say a word as the man walked past him.

He watching the man stand pitifully outside the door

”What did he talk to you about, Grandpa?” Jian asked immediately, stepping closer.

”Nothing...” the old man muttered, glaring at the closed door like he wanted to throw something at it.

Jian glanced back too, noticing the faint outline of Xing Yu still standing outside the door, unmoving.

”Close the door when you come in,” his grandfather grumbled.

”I did,” Jian muttered, casting one last look at the door before turning back to face him fully. He didn’t sit, not yet. ”He didn’t look like he was saying ’nothing’ to you.”

”He was just rambling nonsense,” his grandfather said, rubbing his temple as if the whole interaction had given him a headache.

”And?” Jian pressed.

”And he is so annoying!,” the old man said flatly. ”Doesn’t matter how pretty his face is he is so freaking annoying! How dare he!”

Jian didn’t respond immediately. He couldn’t understand what was going on but he sided with his grandpa. Patting his stiff back he gently comforted him. ”ignore him if he is annoying.”

The old man huffed and puffed glaring at the door mumbling how he was not worth it.

Outside the door, Xing Yu stood silently for a while. His fingers twitched at his sides, and he kept his gaze down, as if waiting—hoping—for it to open again. It didn’t. A long, slow breath escaped his lips, and he let out a sigh loud enough that it echoed down the empty corridor.

He turned away.

The sterile halls didn’t offer any comfort. He walked with heavy steps back toward the main hangar of the mother ship, his boots making soft thuds against the smooth metallic floor. By the time he reached the open platform, Eren and Varon had already boarded. They spotted him immediately.

”There you are!” Eren beamed, running up with Varon in tow. ”We were just about to—”

They both stopped when they saw his face.

His normally sharp, unreadable expression was twisted into something soft and utterly defeated. His eyes held a faint pout, and the light usually glinting off his forehead crystal looked dimmer than usual.

”What happened, General?” Eren asked softly, stepping closer.

Xing Yu didn’t answer right away. His shoulders slumped, and he let out another sigh as he folded his arms across his chest.

”I asked for his hand in marriage,” he mumbled, lips pulling downward.

Varon blinked. Eren’s jaw dropped.

”And I was rejected.”

”You... what?” Eren sputtered.

Xing Yu turned his head toward him, utterly confused by the reaction. ”I asked for Jian’s hand. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”

”General...” Eren ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. ”You’ve progressed so fast... You need to take time with these kinds of things!”

Xing Yu frowned, tilting his head. ”Why? He is my mate. We are bound to get married sooner or later.”

”That’s not how it works!” Eren sighed, rubbing his temples like this was giving him a headache. ”You still don’t understand emotions very well, do you?”

”I understand enough.”

”No, you don’t,” Eren said with a groan. ”If you want to marry your beloved, you have to woo him first. Make him fall in love with you. Then, then you can ask for his hand. Otherwise, you’ll get rejected every time.”

Xing Yu’s brows furrowed deeply as he absorbed the new information. ”So I have to... woo Jian’s grandfather? Make him fall in love with me?”

Silence.

Both Eren and Varon froze, staring at him in stunned silence.

”...General,” Varon said, voice tight. ”Who exactly did you ask permission from?”

Xing Yu blinked, as if the question confused him. ”Jian’s grandfather, of course. Without his parents’ consent, how can I mate with Jian?”

Eren looked like he was about to fall over. ”That’s... not how any of this works. At all.”

Xing Yu stood there thoughtfully, clearly still trying to figure it all out. His serious face made the situation unintentionally even more ridiculous.

Varon leaned closer to Eren and whispered, ”We really need to give him a crash course in romance before he tries to ask Jian’s father next.”

Eren nodded solemnly. Their general had a lot to learn.

Xing Yu felt his eye twitch as both Eren and Valor looked like they were holding back laughter. They were trying to be respectful, but the slight smirk in Eren’s lips and the tight corners of Varon’s mouth were enough to make Xing Yu feel deeply... mocked.

He glared at them—sharp, cold, full of warning.

Without a word, he turned on his heel and left.

He clenched his fists and made his way toward the communications room with a growing weight in his chest.

He stepped inside and quickly began disconnecting the systems. His fingers moved with precision, shutting down external links and resetting the security firewall. But just as he was about to seal off the last connection, his eyes narrowed.

There was one line still open.

It was a private channel.

The name flickered on the screen: PRINCE CEALUS.

Before he could even react, the air shimmered—and the prince’s projection appeared in full clarity right in front of him.

The older Farian stood tall and unblinking. His expression was unreadable at first, but the judgment in his eyes was hard to miss.

”General Xing,” Cealus said, his voice cold and sharp. ”You were sent to find and protect my brother. But you’ve failed your duty.”

The words hit harder than a punch.

Xing Yu stiffened.

Failed. That one word felt like a knife.

He opened his mouth, but no words came. The prince’s voice continued, cutting into him without mercy.

”My brother was hurt by mere humans. And you let it happen.”

Xing Yu felt his breath hitch.

That... guilt. It had never really left him.

He remembered when he’d first seen Jian. Alone, working at a construction site. There had been bruises on his arms, dark smudges on his skin that didn’t look like simple work injuries. He remembered the wary way Jian flinched at sudden movements, the way he tried to pretend nothing was wrong while clearly dreading going back home.

The signs had all been there.

He had seen them. And he had ignored them.

He’d told himself it wasn’t his place. That interfering in human family matters would cause more harm than good. But deep down, he had known. Known that Jian had been suffering. And he’d looked the other way.

Now, that shame—so carefully buried—rose like a tide inside him.

He lowered his gaze, biting his lip. ”I have failed.”

The admission tasted bitter.

Cealus’s eyes narrowed. ”Is that all you can say?”

Xing Yu said nothing.

”Go,” Cealus ordered. His voice no longer held fury, just an icy authority that left no room for argument. ”Take care of those pesky humans. Anyone who hurt my brother shall face the wrath of the Farians. Do you understand?”

Xing Yu bowed his head deeper. ”Yes, Your Highness.”

With a sharp flicker of light, Cealus disappeared.

Xing Yu remained standing in the communications room, shoulders tense, jaw tight, guilt like a weight on his chest. The screen in front of him went dark, but the words still echoed in his mind.

He had failed.

And now... he had to make it right.