Living on My Archenemy

Mu Zhao had a very cold older brother living next door.

He didn't like to talk or smile, and came and went at all hours, as if nothing in the world could make him stop.

Mu Zhao refused to believe that was all there was to him.

He often wanted to visit his brother, but his left leg had been disabled from birth. When it hurt too much to walk, he would sit pitifully on the doorstep and wait for the man to pass by.

At first, Shi Ye would only look down at him and ask, "What is it this time?"

Mu Zhao would reach out to him. "My leg hurts. I can't walk."

Shi Ye would fall silent for a moment, but in the end, he would crouch down in front of him.

After that, Mu Zhao often called out to him like that.

At first, Shi Ye only frowned. Later, whenever Mu Zhao called him "Brother," Shi Ye would answer.

Even when they shared a bed, if Mu Zhao woke from the pain of an old injury and tried to turn over without a sound, the person beside him would react faster.

He wouldn't ask questions. He would simply hold Mu Zhao's cold lower leg and gently massage the pain away.

Mu Zhao asked softly, "Did I wake you?"

"No."

Mu Zhao asked again, "Will you always stay with me?"

Shi Ye tucked his cloak around him and murmured, "I will."

Everyone thought they would end up together sooner or later.

Mu Zhao thought so too. Until, on the eve of their wedding, he suddenly remembered everything. All he had experienced was nothing but an illusion.

And the man before him, who carried him home, massaged his leg, and bent down to kiss him at night, had once held a sword with its tip pointed at his throat, showing him no tenderness at all.

Mu Zhao sat awake all night.

He thought that if the dream had to end, he shouldn't wait until Shi Ye remembered too, only to watch him regret it with his own eyes.

But he had barely left when he encountered Shi Ye at the edge of the illusion.

The hem of the man's robe whipped in the wind, and his expression was frighteningly cold.

Mu Zhao instinctively took a step back. Shi Ye had already come up to him and seized his wrist.

"Where are you going?"

Standing in the wind, Shi Ye finally understood why Mu Zhao had wanted to leave.

He remembered. In the real world, Mu Zhao was a guardian of the Wu Clan, while he was a Celestial Lord of the Heavenly Realm, ordered to exterminate them.

They were not lovers, but enemies for many years.

When they met, the words he said most often weren't, "I'll stay with you."

They were:

"Mu Zhao, prepare to die."

Please add my upcoming novel, He Courted Me Into Marriage After Losing His Memory, to your reading list.

After Ming Tang lost his memory, he forgot his past.

All he remembered was that he seemed to have a fiance.

But Xie Linxiao, who was taking care of him, told him, "We've been married for two years."

The marriage certificate Xie Linxiao showed him was written in his own hand.

The betrothal gifts had all been prepared in the style he liked.

Even the little habits he himself had forgotten, Xie Linxiao knew by heart.

So Ming Tang believed in their marriage and began earnestly learning how to be a good wife.

Whenever he showed Xie Linxiao concern, Xie Linxiao was delighted. Even a simple bowl of soup would earn him the most sincere praise.

Ming Tang felt happy.

Seeing that his husband was busy with business every day, he wanted to help ease his burden. He began learning how to manage the household and thinking about ways to make money.

Watching his little wife grow busier and busier, Xie Linxiao felt nothing but concern. "We have plenty of money at home. You don't need to work so hard."

Ming Tang shook his head earnestly. "But I care about you too."

He would wait for Xie Linxiao to come home every day, worry about whether he had eaten properly, and more and more naturally curl up in his arms, softly admitting, "I really depend on you."

Xie Linxiao's arm around him paused for a moment.

A little later, he lowered his head and held him even tighter. "My little Tang must always depend on me."

With Xie Linxiao's birthday approaching, Ming Tang decided to redecorate his study and surprise his husband. But in the deepest corner of the bookcase, he found a wooden box.

Curious, he opened it and found it full of secret letters.

Ming Tang picked up the letter on top at random. It contained only a few words:

"Shen Zhuo's whereabouts are confirmed. When should we eliminate him? Awaiting your orders."

Ming Tang froze.

He vaguely remembered that name. Shen Zhuo seemed to be this year's third-place winner in the palace examinations. Not long ago, his missing fiancee had caused quite a stir in the capital.

But why would Xie Linxiao want to kill him? His husband was the kindest and most generous man.

As Ming Tang was lost in thought, a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Xiao Tang."

His hand trembled, and he turned around abruptly.

Xie Linxiao was standing behind him. Ming Tang had no idea when he had arrived. He was looking at him quietly, his usually smiling eyes utterly devoid of warmth.

Theme: Growing together, hand in hand.