Jing He stared at Qiu Ling in a daze but the longer he looked, the faster his own heart thumped as he tried to imagine such a future. Yes, to say that Tian had taken him away was not a lie and neither was saying that he wanted him to have his child. Even if it might sound far-fetched at first, this was indeed the truth and he could explain all of it in detail because it had happened, after all. So even if his father was doubtful at first, he could make him believe it by giving more details. And when he did …

Jing He gulped, feeling both apprehensive but also vaguely excited at the possibility of maybe having seen a way out of this predicament. What he needed was more time and to say that Tian expected him to have his child sometime later would give him precisely that: A valid excuse to not get married to somebody else in an attempt to keep Qiu Ling away from him.

Before, he hadn’t thought that there was any hope. Now that he saw the slightest possibility, he naturally clung to it. Even if this didn’t lead to being with Qiu Ling in the end, just not having to marry somebody else was already very good. In his situation, he didn’t think that he should expect too much. Just not having to live out the worst option was a gift he might not even deserve.

“This … might indeed work.” He hardly dared to speak that thought out loud. Even though nothing of what he would say would be wrong, by leaving out half of it, he’d still feel as if he was lying to his father and that … didn’t seem right either. But he had already done so much wrong in the past, it didn’t seem like adding one more thing would affect much. Anyway, as long as the consequences weren’t bad, he’d be able to live with it.

Jing He lowered his head and thought of what he had promised Tian. To be honest … it might not be impossible to have Qiu Ling be the father of that child. As long as his own father wasn’t aware of it, it didn’t matter, did it? Especially if the child was later taken away from them.

Anyway, even if the child returned to the Nine Heavens later to take over the throne that should be theirs by right, nobody would dare to question them who was the reincarnation of Tian’s child, the true Son of Heaven. Not even his father should have the guts to do so and by then, his fury would have no impact on the alliance between the gods and the dragons. Not to mention … it wasn’t clear if one would be able to see at a glance just who this child’s father was.

Jing He quietly thought up new possibilities, the faint hope he had hidden in his heart growing further and further. Maybe even though he was forced to make this decision now, it indeed wouldn’t mean the end of everything. There was still a chance for them. He just had to believe in it and take things step by step.

Having made up his mind, Jing He looked up at Qiu Ling. He struggled a little, motioning for him to set him down.

Qiu Ling raised his brows but still did as Jing He asked and carefully set him down on the ground.

Jing He leaned down and put An Xin to the side, patting its furry head and telling it to stay in place before straightening up and looking at Qiu Ling. He examined the familiar face, his gaze tracing all the lines he had come to recognize by heart. Finally, he reached up, his fingertips trailing the path his eyes had just taken.

Qiu Ling hummed and leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. “What’s the matter, my love?”

“I … I think you might be right. Maybe my father … can be convinced to wait until he tries to marry me off. Maybe … by making him wait, there is still a chance. I hope that there is.” He slightly furrowed his brows, worrying about how uncertain all of this was. But he’d rather pin all of his hopes on an uncertain chance than give up altogether and accept this fate that he loathed.

Qiu Ling gave another hum. “There might very well be. Either way, I am willing to try. I won’t leave anything unattempted. So … if you have an idea, just tell me. I will do whatever it takes to be with you in the end.”

Jing He cupped Qiu Ling’s cheeks and nodded. “I haven’t thought about it closely. I think for now, after I return, I should just try to make him wait with any further actions regarding my future. That way, we will have more time and can come up with something specific. There has to be some way … right?”

“Yes.” Qiu Ling bridged the last gap and their lips met.

Jing He knew he shouldn’t, especially not with how uncertain everything was. But … who knew when they would see each other again? And who knew whether his father could be convinced or not? Since none of it was certain, he should not hold back now.

He moved and wrapped his arms around Qiu Ling’s neck, his hands lowering and traveling over that broad back. He had always felt safe at his side and even now that everything was certain, he felt the same security in his arms as he usually did. It was as if, no matter what would happen in the future, he could trust that as long as he stayed under Qiu Ling’s watch, everything would somehow turn out well in the end.

As he clung to the man he loved, Qiu Ling wrapped an arm around his waist, his other hand moving up and snaking into his hair, making him tilt his head, the kiss turning more frantic.

The two of them had been separated for so long. At this moment, all the fear and uncertainty seemed to burst out and be channeled into a desperation that could not be stopped.