For the first time, Hong Chen regretted not prying into his friend’s business sooner. If he had known from the start what Qing Xue was going through, he never would have allowed matters to get to this state.
This time, he didn’t waste time trying to wrap his head around the words he’d heard. Whatever it was Qing Xue meant by “it,” he simply gave an immediate response.
“No.”
“Hong Chen—”
“Brother of my heart, no. Please… calm down and listen to me. I know this isn’t what you want either.”
Perhaps the words Hong Chen used to address him had an effect. For a time, Qing Xue continued to struggle inside himself, but in the end, he decided to stand down instead of trying to convince his friend to change his mind.
His defenses crumbling, Qing Xue hoarsely confessed, “I can’t do it, Hong Che
