Chapter 222 The Twenty-Fourth Day of Entering a Rebirth Novel

Chapter 222: The Twenty-Fourth Day of Transmigrating into a Rebirth Novel

Huo Huai, as always, stayed till the end.

He stood still, watching that dark-robed figure bending slightly to straighten the scattered scrolls and charcoal pens on the low table.

His gaze uncontrollably fell once again on that deep blue ring.

It moved nimbly on his finger as he organized the items, its blue glow flowing quietly in the dimly lit hall.

An Yi seemed to sense the overly intense, almost burning stare behind him.

He paused in his movements, turned his head, lifted his eyes, and looked at Huo Huai, who was standing not far away.

Those clear, lucid eyes still held their usual gentle warmth that put people at ease, but they also clearly reflected a hint of questioning.

Huo Huai knew he had lost his composure.

He lowered his eyes, trying to hide the turmoil beneath, an involuntary blush spreading across his cold, handsome face.

An Yi: ...

He blushes so easily, but his scholarship is outstanding.

Huo Huai initially intended to bow and take his leave, burying that inappropriate curiosity deep inside.

But a powerful, almost instinctive urge gripped his throat, forcing him to defy reason and croak out words.

"Master..." He paused, feeling his throat dry and sore. He steeled himself, then blurted, not daring to meet An Yi's eyes, just staring at the hem of his sleeve: "The ring on your hand... is very special."

Huo Huai: ...

What is he doing?! This is too abrupt! Too presumptuous!

What right does he have to inquire about such a personal item of his master's?

But... his intuition told him he should ask.

An Yi looked momentarily taken aback, like he hadn't expected Huo Huai to ask such a question.

He looked down at the ring with its flowing blue luster on the ring finger of his left hand, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cool surface, the gesture familiar and tender.

He raised his eyes again to look at Huo Huai, the gentle smile still lingering on his lips, but Huo Huai, who had been watching him closely, keenly noticed a hint of... nostalgia? behind that gentleness.

The emotion flickered and was gone, so fast it made one wonder if it was just his imagination.

"This?" An Yi's voice was calm, even softer than usual, but Huo Huai oddly detected a hint of quiet happiness within it, as if recalling something that warmed him: "It was a gift from my late beloved."

Late?

Beloved?!

Those four simple words hit Huo Huai's ears, making his eyes widen!

Beloved!

The Imperial Advisor... An Yi... he had a beloved!

Someone who could make him accept such an intimate token, and whom he had treasured, worn on his person, never removing even after the beloved passed away!

Huo Huai felt a fire burning in his heart, wildly sweeping through his limbs and bones!

That was jealousy! An unbearable, poisonous insect gnawing at his lungs and heart!

At the same time, a crushing sense of loss struck him hard, leaving him breathless, his vision darkening.

He had always thought An Yi was detached, aloof, and proud, a being above worldly love, untainted by mundane dust.

He was like a snow-carved god, perfect but emotionless.

But... beloved?

Those two words instantly brought that ice-and-snow deity back to the mortal world.

An Yi was not a passionless, desireless immortal.

He also had a vivid past, someone who could stir his heart, got him to accept and wear their keepsake.

He could also yearn, and love!

That realization sparked a shameful, secret joy amid his bitterness!

Since... since the Imperial Advisor was not absolutely unreachable, since he once had a beloved who could walk into his life and leave such a deep mark, and that person had passed away...

Then wasn't Huo Huai even a tiny possibility?

This thought wildly took root and spread, drowning reason, self-consciousness, and jealousy towards that late beloved.

A surge of hope violently clashed within his chest!

He clenched his fists so hard at his sides that his knuckles emitted slight cracking sounds from the excessive pressure, veins standing out on his hands.

He lowered his head, a few strands of ink-black hair obscuring the fierce fire in his eyes.

The expression on his face was almost ferocious.

An Yi watched his suddenly tensed body and his head almost buried into his chest, raising an eyebrow imperceptibly.

He raised his hand again, his fingertips gently stroking the ring on his ring finger. The cool touch transmitted, and the corner of his mouth bent upwards just barely, a knowing, complicated smile.

Huo Huai used sheer willpower to barely suppress the bitter taste climbing his throat. "Thank you for enlightening me, Master."

An Yi, seeing him forcibly restraining himself, smiled gently. "It's nothing serious. If you have no other matters, go back early and rest. The snow's slippery, watch your step."

Huo Huai's throat went dry. "...Yes."

He turned stiffly around and walked out into the falling snow.

At this moment, back in the main hall, An Yi had already packed up the items on the table.

He stood alone in the center of the hall, raising his left hand slightly, looking at the ring on his ring finger, still faintly glowing with that serene blue light.

That light was constant and deep, as if carrying memories that crossed time and space.

His gaze was gentle. The dead are gone, the world is always fresh.

The sound of comments from the chat came through, and An Yi paused. The perspective just switched to him?

"I thought the State Preceptor was the male lead, but he already had a lover?"

"Not only that, but there's a guy crushing on him?"

"Where did he get a lover? The earlier text had no mention at all—he's always been alone!"

"An Yi is a transmigrator, right?"

"Lover from before the transmigration!"

"How is he holding the ring his pre-transmigration lover gave him?"

"He's already cultivating immortality—it's not too much to bring a little from his past life!"

"Obviously the State Preceptor isn't the male lead—he has no interaction with the female lead, and she's about to marry the Seventh Prince..."

"But the Seventh Prince is an idiot—will the marriage succeed later?"

"If he's an idiot, that makes it even more certain! A prince pretending to be crazy and dumb as the male lead—haven't you seen 'sao' of that? I bet he's that masked guy from earlier!"

"@above, it's 'shao' (few), not 'sao' (pervy)."

"Sorry, I typed the wrong character—it was a habit. (embarrassed)"

"What kind of stuff do you usually type?"

"So the State Preceptor and this guy named Huo Huai are a side couple? Does this novel also have danmei (BL)?"

"Awesome! It's got romance, danmei, rebirth, time travel, palace intrigue, family drama, political schemes, xianxia... This novel has a really wild mix!" "..."