The playful scuffle between the brothers eventually wound down, leaving them both breathless and disheveled. Lucas, still grinning from their roughhousing, glanced across the yard and noticed Yetao standing alone. Yetao's expression had turned pensive, his gaze distant as though looking at something far beyond the dark.
Curious, Lucas disentangled himself from Oscar's loosened grip and made his way towards Yetao.
"Taotao, what's wrong?" Lucas asked, his voice gentler than it had been moments before.
Yetao startled slightly, pulled from his reverie. He shook his head and offered a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Nothing. I'm alright," he replied, though the slight furrow between his brows suggested otherwise.
From several paces away, Oscar watched the exchange with growing irritation. The casual familiarity between Lucas and Yetao scratched at something raw inside him.
"Taotao?" Oscar asked, unable to mask the jealousy coloring his tone. "Why are you calling him that already?" His eyes narrowed as he approached them, hands still clenched at his sides from the earlier chase.
Yetao, sensing the tension rising like a tide between the brothers, quickly intervened. He reached out and grabbed Lucas by the wrist, his touch light but insistent.
"Jeff gege," Yetao called over his shoulder, already pulling Lucas toward the opposite direction, "I'll take him to the guest palace."
Jeff, who had been observing the unfolding drama, straightened at the sudden announcement.
"Do you know which room?" he shouted after them, concern evident in his voice.
Without breaking stride, Yetao turned and flashed a confident thumbs-up, his smile now more genuine as he led Lucas away from the potentially volatile situation.
Oscar stood rooted to the spot, watching their retreating figures with a mixture of confusion and annoyance etched across his features. The ease with which they moved together, the casual way Yetao had taken charge—it all seemed oddly familiar for two people who should have just met.
"Why are they acting like they've known each other for a long time?" Oscar thought, suspicion blooming in his chest like an unwelcome flower. He crossed his arms, mind racing through possibilities, each more concerning than the last.
Jeff approached Oscar cautiously, recognizing the storm brewing in Oscar's expression.
"They just seem to get along well" Jeff said, placing his hands over Oscar's shoulder's neutrally and returned.
Oscar merely grunted in response, his eyes still fixed on the path Yetao and Lucas had taken, long after they had disappeared from view.
Yetao ushered Lucas through the corridors of the guest palace, his movements quick and purposeful. After several turns, they arrived at Yetao's chambers. Yetao guided Lucas inside, then swiftly closed the doors behind them. He paused, listening intently for any footsteps, and peered through a small gap to ensure they hadn't been followed.
Lucas observed this cautious behavior with growing concern. "Taotao, you look like you're worried about something," he said.
Yetao turned to face him, shoulders tense beneath his robes. He drew in a deep breath, as if gathering courage before speaking.
"Lu, when you arrived here, did you see a screen with a mission?" Yetao asked, his voice barely above a whisper despite the privacy of the room.
"Screen?" Lucas's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Like a game screen," Yetao explained, gesturing vaguely with his hands, trying to illustrate something floating in the air.
Lucas thought carefully, searching his memory of his arrival in this strange world. After a moment, he shook his head. "No, nothing like that."
A shadow of disappointment crossed Yetao's face. He began pacing the room, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve.
"I saw it, Lucas," he said finally, stopping to look directly at Lucas. "It said I need to acquire a demon's heart..."
Yetao's words poured forth like a dam breaking. He recounted everything—his bewildering arrival in this unfamiliar world, the translucent screen that had appeared before him with instructions, his confusion and fear. He described how he'd discovered that the hearts of powerful demons seemed to be key to... something. Perhaps a way home.
"I've acquired two hearts already," he continued, his voice growing more animated. "The first was from Jeff gege. He's the black dragon and the second one is from the white dragon. You know him too, he's Xu minghao from seventeen" Yetao said.
Lu was shocked to hear the name of another celebrity but was fixated on Yetao's story.
Yetao described the strange visions that had accompanied each acquisition—glimpses of the black and white tails, the phoenix and the faceless man he held in his arms crying.
"I couldn't see the man clearly in my vision," Yetao said, his voice dropping. "Oscar is connected to the next heart somehow. I don't know if it will end with this or continue..." He trailed off, unwilling to voice his darker suspicions.
Lucas listened attentively; his expression thoughtful as he processed all the information. He was silent for several moments after Yetao finished speaking.
"So long story short, you need to level up by acquiring demon hearts. Is that it?" Lucas finally said, framing the situation in terms he could understand.
Yetao tilted his head, considering this interpretation. "I don't know. You can put it that way too," he nodded slowly.
Yetao slumped onto the edge of his bed, the tension visible in the tight line of his shoulders.
"So what's the way to acquire his heart scale?" Lucas inquired, sitting on the bed.
Yetao sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. Black dragons are different from phoenix and no one knows about the way." He placed a hand against his forehead, pressing as if to ward off a headache. "Only Oscar knows."
Lucas straightened, his expression brightening with the simplicity of the solution. "Then let's ask Oscar itself. He knows right?"
The suggestion only seemed to increase Yetao's distress. "That's the problem, Lucas. I was sure I could get information from him but..." His voice trailed off, reluctance evident in his hesitation.
"But what?" Lucas pressed, confusion written across his features.
"He's..." Yetao began, then stopped abruptly. His eyes darted away from Lucas's inquiring gaze. Something unspoken hung in the air between them.
"Well, asking him directly is a lost cause now. We should think of another way," Yetao said finally, clearly steering the conversation in a different direction.
Lucas narrowed his eyes, sensing the deliberate evasion. "Taotao, what is troubling you? Are you still thinking about the past?"
Yetao shook his head firmly. "It's not that, Lu. He's..." He paused, then seemed to decide that honesty was necessary. "He proposed to me today," he blurted out, his face contorting slightly at the memory.
Lucas's jaw dropped. "What?" The single word carried his complete astonishment.
Yetao nodded grimly, confirming the unbelievable statement.
A flash of annoyance crossed Lucas's face as he processed this information. The expression was subtle but unmistakable.
"Oscar in both the worlds are just trouble. Did he sway Taotao again?", Lucas thought bitterly, though he kept the observation to himself.
"So, did you accept it?" Lucas asked after a moment, a slight nervousness underlying his casual tone.
"Of course no," Yetao responded immediately, his denial forceful and emphatic. "Why would I accept? I know better."
The vehemence of Yetao's rejection seemed to ease something in Lucas. His shoulders relaxed visibly, and relief washed over his expression, softening the lines of concern that had formed there.
"You chose better Taotao. Since he's my brother here, I'll try to find the information from him myself. Just relax, ok?" Lucas said softly, reaching out to ruffle Yetao's hair in a gesture of reassurance. His fingers gently brushed through the dark strands, the casual touch lingering just long enough to convey his support.
Yetao allowed himself to lean slightly into the comforting gesture, some of the tension visibly draining from his shoulders. For a brief moment, the weight of his impossible quest seemed lighter, shared between them.
The moment shattered as the door burst open without warning.
Bambam stood in the doorway, his tall frame casting a long shadow into the room. His eyes took in the scene before him—Lucas's hand still resting on Yetao's head, their close proximity, the intimate atmosphere of their conversation—and his expression darkened considerably.
Yetao flinched at the sudden intrusion.
Lucas slowly withdrew his hand and rose to his full height, meeting Bambam's gaze with a challenging glare of his own.
"To what do we owe your arrival, elder?, Lucas asked. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as the two men silently assessed each other.
After a tense moment, Bambam's lips curved into what could technically be called a smile, though it held no warmth. It was the kind of smile that served as thin camouflage for the hostility beneath.
"I believe you're in the wrong room, wolf lord," Bambam said, his voice deceptively pleasant despite the steel underlying his words. He maintained his position at the doorway, making no move to step aside, his intention clear—Lucas was not welcome here.
"We're just catching up to what we missed in this world being separated," Lucas replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Despite his casual tone, irritation bubbled beneath his calm exterior.
Bambam's smile stretched wider, the gesture empty of warmth. "I know you have reunited after a long time. But the palace have ears and eyes. The servants are already suspicious about how close you two are. We can't feed them with this, can we?" His eyes widened dramatically as he spoke, sarcasm dripping from every syllable.
Lucas met Bambam's gaze steadily, refusing to be intimidated. "What's the problem with that? We're both men after all and we used to share a room in our world too," he shrugged nonchalantly.
An angry laugh escaped Bambam's lips, the sound sharp and bitter. "You shared a room? Everyday?" He turned to Yetao, disbelief and something dark flickering across his features.
Yetao couldn't meet his eyes. He looked away, the silent confirmation more damning than any words could have been.
"Yes, we were roommates," Lucas answered, emphasizing each word with quiet satisfaction. The corner of his mouth curled into a knowing smile that suggested a history deeper than mere cohabitation.
Bambam's jaw tightened, teeth grinding together audibly as he struggled to maintain his composure. The vein at his temple pulsed visibly, betraying the rage he fought to contain.
"I'm sorry. But we have separate rooms for everyone in this world. Please forgive me wolf lord," Bambam finally managed, his politeness brittle and forced. Without waiting for a response, he strode forward and grasped Lucas's arm firmly.
With surprising strength, he pulled Lucas and steered him toward the door. His grip was just tight enough to convey his fury without crossing into outright aggression—a calculated show of dominance disguised as protocol.
As Bambam escorted Lucas from the room, Yetao remained seated, conflict evident in his expression. He opened his mouth as if to protest, then closed it again, watching helplessly as the two men disappeared through the doorway.
Yetao sat alone in his room, staring at the now-closed door. "Now he says two men can't share a room? Didn't he say the opposite of that a while back" he muttered with a pout, crossing his arms over his chest. Despite his indignation, a faint blush colored his cheeks as he thought of Bambam's confession again.
"Ahhh! This stupid brain needs some cobweb cleaning. I have a lot of other things to take care of. You're not a teenage kid, Hu Yetao", Yetao slapped his own cheeks to keep him into reality and went to sleep immediately.
Meanwhile, Bambam marched Lucas down the long corridor, maintaining a stiff silence as they passed several doorways. Finally, he stopped before a room at the far end of the hall—pointedly distant from Yetao's quarters.
"Enjoy your stay here wolf lord," Bambam announced, pushing the door open with exaggerated courtesy. "Whatever you need to speak, you can postpone it for tomorrow morning." He offered a tight smile and turned to leave, his duty apparently discharged.
Before he could take a step, Lucas moved swiftly to block his path, his stance casual but unmistakably deliberate.
"You like Yetao, don't you," Lucas stated bluntly, watching Bambam's face for reaction.
The direct question caused Bambam to flinch, his composure slipping for a fraction of a second before he regained control.
"I heard your heart felt confession over the bridge," Lucas continued, finally revealing what he knew. His eyes never left Bambam's face, challenging and measuring simultaneously.
A slow, dangerous smirk spread across Bambam's features. The pretense of politeness vanished, replaced by raw honesty.
"Yes, I do. You got a problem with that?" Bambam's eyes narrowed, meeting Lucas's gaze with equal intensity.
"I've liked him for 7 years," Lucas declared, the revelation hanging in the air between them.
Bambam's eyes widened fractionally, genuine shock momentarily displacing his hostility. He hadn't expected such a direct admission, nor the depth of history it implied.
"I know him better than you," Lucas pressed his advantage, voice low and confident. "I hope you don't cross your limits, Grandpa." The nickname was deliberately provocative, a clear declaration of war.
Bambam stood motionless, speechless for several heartbeats. Behind his eyes, calculations raced—anger warred with strategy, pride with practicality. He knew lashing out would only drive Yetao further away, yet allowing this newcomer to stake such a claim unchallenged was unthinkable.
"We'll see about that," he finally replied, the three simple words carrying the weight of accepted challenge. His voice was remarkably controlled despite the storm raging within.
With a curt nod that passed for courtesy only in the most technical sense, Bambam turned and strode away, his footsteps measured and deliberate as they echoed down the corridor.
"He's dangerous" Left alone in his assigned room, Lucas gazed out the window at the unfamiliar landscape, wondering if he had just complicated their already impossible mission beyond salvaging. But when Yetao's face appeared in his mind, he couldn't bring himself to regret a single word.