Perhaps it was because Shen Muzhi's voice was too gentle, or perhaps the almost humble emotion in his eyes was reassuring.
In any case, despite the fact that they were now alone in a room, in a very dangerous situation, hearing Shen Muzhi's words, You Siqi couldn't help but soften.
After hesitating for a long time, he cleared his throat and said, "It's not that I don't believe you, I'm just a little scared after seeing their situation. I have no experience in this area, and if it really takes that long, I'm afraid I'll die. So..."
As he spoke, You Siqi himself felt the topic was extremely awkward. So after hesitating for a long time, he didn't continue.
However, stopping there was enough.
Shen Muzhi smiled at him, patted his head as if to comfort him as usual, then pulled him to sit down. He picked up the dual cultivation manual Lu Wuming had just given him and asked, "The manual is in my hands now, and we don't have to follow it strictly. But since this is something between us, why don't you look at it with me while I study it? Is that okay?"
At first glance, this request seemed reasonable.
After all, it was indeed something between the two of them, and studying together didn't seem wrong.
But the problem was that the manual itself was too explicit.
You Siqi blinked.
He felt like he was back in middle school, when he was first developing crushes and was rebellious, secretly watching adult films with his close friends in the back of the classroom.
No, it was different from then.
Back then, if they got aroused, they would awkwardly tease each other. After all, they were all straight guys, and even if they watched something risqué together, there wouldn't be too many repercussions.
But now, it was completely different.
The person next to him was gay.
And he himself didn't seem as straight as he thought.
Moreover, they were both interested in each other, and it was a time of ambiguity. If they were to look at these things together, wouldn't it be like dry firewood and raging flames, leading to some unspeakable events?
Thinking of this, You Siqi immediately intended to refuse.
But before he could speak, he turned to look at Shen Muzhi's eyes and saw deep despair and sadness within them.
Shen Muzhi sniffled, as if he was about to cry. He said, "Didn't you agree to try? Besides this, I really can't think of any other way for you to start cultivating. I can wait for you, and we can try slowly. But if you're not even willing to give me a chance, why should you make me hopeful?"
He spoke with such sadness that his voice trembled slightly.
Listening to him, You Siqi felt so heartbroken that he wanted to slap himself.
He was the one who had given Shen Muzhi hope, and the other party wasn't forcing him. Why, at the critical moment, did he suddenly want to go back on his word?
How beastly!
So inhuman!
Moreover, Shen Muzhi was the protagonist of this world, a figure of high status. Look at him now, so humble that he was almost kneeling. If he was still going to be so melodramatic at this point, was he really going to make Shen Muzhi beg him on his knees!?
You Siqi pinched his thigh hard.
Taking advantage of the momentary daze caused by the pain, he snatched the manual from Shen Muzhi's hand. He spread it open between them and said, "Fine, let's read it. It's just a manual. I learn things very quickly, with photographic memory. You read it carefully too, don't slow down my learning speed."
Shen Muzhi was stunned.
He had only intended to put on a show, to test if You Siqi would feel sorry for him.
But the effect was too good, wasn't it?
Unable to suppress the smile that crept onto his lips, Shen Muzhi quickly took a step back, sat behind You Siqi, and pulled him into his embrace. Resting his chin on You Siqi's shoulder, he finally couldn't control himself and revealed a hint of a smile. He said, "It's more convenient to read it like this. It's too tiring for you to hold it. I'll turn the pages, and you can just lean on me and read."