Qiu Ling looked at his lover with some pity. Most people wouldn’t be this torn up about a decision like this. Whether they found their parent unreasonable and decided not to listen to them or trusted in their parent’s ability to tell good from bad more than their own view of their lover, they could choose one side over the other with minimal issue.

Yes, losing their partner would hurt and so would losing their family if that person couldn’t accept their decision but they still wouldn’t be like Jing He and hesitate for so long. No matter how hard it was, they would make their choice after some consideration because they knew that in the long run, it was better that way. If they didn’t, then everybody would be hurt continuously so it was better to make a clean cut.

Jing He couldn’t do this though. He had barely made any progress in this specific instance and his general decisiveness wasn’t high either. Looking at the future to see what would happen and make his choice based on that was only a crutch. It would allow him to get past this issue and find a way ahead, even if it couldn’t fix the underlying problem. Since this was the case, his current worry wasn’t unreasonable.

Qiu Ling sighed faintly. “That might indeed happen. But what is the alternative? If you don’t dare to do this, you can only slowly figure out what you want on your own. It … would be possible, I presume, but it’ll take a while. Do you … want to give that a try?”

To be honest, he would love to see Jing He doing so. Even though he was suffering every day they were separated and wanted nothing more than to spend any minute he had with him … that was only his greatest wish when he took a selfish perspective. Overall, thinking of what was best for Jing He, he felt that it might be better if Jing He took his time and figured everything out.

It would do him good. Not just because he could return to being a trueborn god but because it would help him in the future. He wouldn’t need to be worried as much, anxiously pondering what every person he met thought about him or what he might have done wrong now.

Such a future … it would be great. He was just afraid that Jing He didn’t want to take the time since he was intent on recovering as soon as possible. He knew Jing He and it didn’t take much to figure out just how much he hated his current status. He would do anything to get rid of it sooner. So how could he be willing to take the time to solve his issues step by step?

Jing He indeed shook his head. “I believe it is better to try this. I … I suppose I will have to take the risk.” He was a bit reluctant to do so but it was better than being trapped in the High Heavens with his current identity for much longer.

Qiu Ling nodded, not surprised at all. “Then you should do it. Anyway, it’s just a possibility that things might go wrong. Maybe everything will be fine. And … if it does trouble you, you can still take the time to slowly think about it. You don’t have to make your decision as soon as you have seen the future.”

Jing He gave a faint hum. “You are right.” Although then again, he would prefer being able to do that. He had already taken a lot of time. By now … “Are my parents very worried?”

Qiu Ling’s expression turned subtle. “Well, I am telling your mother everything I know so it’s about the same as me. Your father …” He wondered how to put this politely but, in the end, he could only sigh again. “You know how he is. Even if I tried, he wouldn’t believe it. In fact, if he knew that I have seen you since the time you originally vanished, he’d only make more of a fuss.”

“I see.” Yes, this was indeed not too surprising. He had read in Qiu Ling’s previous letters that his father wasn’t treating him any better and he had seen the same earlier as well. It seemed like no matter what Qiu Ling did, his father would never accept him.

He lowered his head and sighed before looking back up, his gaze only containing a glimmer of hope. “Say, after these weeks … do you believe there is any chance for my father to … soften his stance even just a little?”

Qiu Ling looked into his eyes and hesitated. The honest answer was that no, that wasn’t something he thought would happen. The Heavenly Emperor wanted to decide for Jing He who he would be with so a man he hadn’t chosen was unacceptable to him in general. Then, he seemed to dislike the dragons so one of them was even less likely to be tolerated as a potential partner. As for him … well, he apparently had a special dislike for him so it was downright impossible.

Seeing the faint trace of hope in Jing He’s eyes though, he couldn’t quite bring himself to say so. His beloved didn’t have many people in his life. Even though he desired a lover who would share his life with him unconditionally, he still hoped for that person to get along with his parents as well and for them to like him. To not get that … that thought was difficult for him to bear.

“That …” Qiu Ling didn’t know what to do for a moment but finally, he could only shake his head. No matter what, he wouldn’t be doing Jing He any favors if he pretended that things were better than they actually looked. “It doesn’t seem like it right now. I suppose I can try a few other things but … I am running out of ideas. No matter what I do, he doesn’t seem to appreciate it.”