CHAPTER 171

The success of John's leg suturing operation was not a unique thing in the Desinian territory, it happened more or less in every city.

The success of a suturing operation was just an example, and may not attract much attention.

But news of the successful operation slowly spread in various cities, which meant that the treatment method proposed by Lord Desinia was really feasible.

All these things were published in newspapers, which were then distributed and sold everywhere.

While everyone was talking eagerly about the suture surgery, Xia Zuoyi first found Orville in the castle, hoping to talk to him.

The two of them sat alone in the study, facing each other.

"Ao."

Rice Cake was held in Orville's arms. The little snow fox's petite body allowed it to curl up on the Duke's lap and be comfortably brushed along the snow-white hair.

However, when Rice Cake saw Xia Zuoyi sitting on another sofa, his dark eyes lit up and he tried to stand up and jump out of Orville's arms.

His legs and feet moved but when he came to his senses, he was still hugged tightly.

Xia Zuoyi saw Rice Cake's four short legs dangling in Orville's arms, kicking them in place...

Pfft.

He couldn't help but laugh.

"cough……"

Xia Zuoyi then cleared his throat, looked at Orville seriously and said, "Can I ask you a question?"

When Orville heard this, his expression rarely softened: "Of course, as long as it is a question you ask, I will definitely answer it."

He kept stroking the big tail of the rice cake.

Xia Zuoyi: “I hope you answer this question.”

"If you were asked to choose between me and a group of fluffy beasts, you can only choose one of them. If you choose me, you won't be able to touch the fluffy beasts. If you choose the fluffy beasts, you won't have me. …”

"Orville, what would you choose?"

Orville's hand touching Rice Cake's tail paused.

His light gray eyes looked at Xia Zuoyi very quietly, and after a while he said: "Do I have to choose?"

Can't I have both?

Xia Zuoyi understood what he meant, shook his head and said: "Having everything will also have its shortcomings, you can't keep everything by your side..."

"You couldn't stay either."

Orville lowered his eyes in silence, just in time to meet Rice Cake's curious eyes.

"Woo?"

"Is it really impossible..." Orville murmured.

Xia Zuoyi: "Do you really understand your feelings for me?"

"I like you and I want to stay with you."

"Whether it is in the Desinian territory or the Achiayoli territory, as long as you are willing, I can agree and compromise for you." Orville looked serious.

Xia Zuoyi sighed and said: "Then you make a choice, Orville."

"In your heart, can you choose me without hesitation? Am I more important than the plush ones?"

Orville did not answer because he had no choice.

In his heart, he would hesitate and hesitate about choosing Xia Zuoyi but abandoning the fluffy beasts... He couldn't choose any of the answers.

But...why can't we have both?

In his opinion, little Zuoyi and the fluffy animals are one, and he and his beasts will never be separated.

Xia Zuoyi saw his hesitation.

Orville already understood before he could answer immediately.

He said: "Orville, I need a lover who treats me wholeheartedly. He must focus on me and put me first."

"Instead of being hesitant when I asked the question."

"You may like me, but this feeling is not love."

Orville said softly: "What is love... I don't understand, you could teach me."

Xia Zuoyi: "No, Orville, I can't teach you this matter, because I…"

He thought of His Excellency the Pope, and his expression softened unconsciously: "Because my liking and love have decided to be given to another person."

"...is it the Pope?" Orville whispered.

His light gray eyes seemed to be immersed in a layer of confused mist, and they looked a little pitiful.

Although Xia Zuoyi couldn't bear it, he still wanted him to recognize the cruel reality.

"Orville, you have to know that when a person's heart belongs to someone, he can no longer accept other people unless that person changes his mind."

"But I will not change my mind. Even if you stay here for a month, a year, or even three or five years, I will never agree to be with you."

Xia Zuoyi said: "Between friends, I will not have any unnecessary feelings for you, and it is impossible for me to return to the Achiayoli territory with you."

"Besides, why do you think you like me?"

Orville: "You are very nice. We have known each other for so long. I am happiest when I am with you. I don't have many friends, but you are the most important one."

Xia Zuoyi: “Then let me be your friend for life.”

"Friendship is something more precious than love to a certain extent..."

He used poisonous chicken soup for the soul to boil Archduke Orville, who was still "innocent" in a certain aspect, so that he would no longer be obsessed with this matter.

No need, there really was no need.

Since he likes fluffy things more, he could touch them even if he didn’t become his lover.

Orville was silent for a while and then said: “Little Zuoyi, I have a request.”

"What, you can say."

"Can you give the Briquette to..."

"Impossible."

"Snow Ball would do, too."

"Impossible."

"Green Dumpling? Brown Sugar? Ice Cream? Rice cake? Gungun..."

"...Wake up, it's still daytime."

Fortunately, Grand Duke Orville was still very sensible. He knew that no matter how much he waits, little Zuoyi's decision will not change.

If that's the case, why would he force a fruitless relationship?

However, Orville was still a little sad after all, so he slept in the fluffy animals' room that night, with Rice Cake in his arms and Gungun beside him.

After Xia Zuoyi persuaded the Grand Duke to change his mind, he immediately went to find Archibald.

"You want to reject me, right?"

As soon as he entered the study, Archibald said: "Orville can't recognize emotions, but I can."

"Are you going to tell me your reasons for persuading him again?"

Xia Zuoyi: “Archie, do you think it’s useful?”

Archibald had already answered this question with his expression.

Xia Zuoyi: "Since it has no effect at all, I won't talk nonsense anymore."

"But you must also understand that it is better to let go of this kind of thing earlier, because it is impossible for me to accept you, Archie. We should be friends and partners."

Xia Zuoyi decided to talk to Archie a little tougher than he did with Orville.

After all... short-term pain is better than long-term pain.

Some things just need to be rejected earnestly.

Archibald: "Do you think we can still be friends?"

"If you never want to be friends with me again... Archie, I just hope we won't be enemies." Xia Zuoyi said after a moment of silence.

Archibald's green eyes dimmed for a moment, and he smiled bitterly: "Don't you even want to save it..."

Xia Zuoyi: "I don't want to force you. If the relationship between friends will make you sad... then it's better to be strangers who are familiar with each other."

After he finished speaking, the air seemed to be silent.

Archibald's eyes seemed to have raindrops falling on the clear lake, and then splashing ripples drop by drop, just like the lake water under the rain curtain, always a little deep and sad.

"Archie..." Xia Zuoyi's lips moved, but he didn't say any more.

But he thought that the period of time since they returned to the Desinian territory from the Saint Airo Empire should have been enough for Archibald to clearly see his see attitude towards this matter.

His non-response was the best answer.

For the sake of knowing each other since childhood and being best friends and partners, he actually didn't want to say anything too harsh... In the end, he might not even...

"Aside from responding to your feelings, I respect your decision and attitude in other matters." Xia Zuoyi said.

His caramel-colored eyes looked at Archibald seriously, lively and sincere.

How sad was this.

Archibald thought, how late was he? He was really unwilling.

He closed his eyes and hid what seemed to be revealed inside. When he opened them again, his beautiful emerald lake-green eyes had returned to normal.

Archibald: "Can I give you a hug?"

Xia Zuoyi opened his arms hesitantly.

Archibald stepped forward and hugged him.

He buried his head in Xia Zuoyi's neck, holding back the trembling sigh that was about to be let out, and said in a slightly weak tone: "Little Zuoyi, we will be... friends and partners forever."

"Don't alienate me, okay."

"Good."

Xia Zuoyi raised his hand and planned to pat his back to comfort him, but finally put it down.

…………

Archibald never showed any attitude or behavior toward him beyond friendship, and they seemed to have returned to the way they used to get along.

Within a few days, they even talked about cooperation on new crops.

"It's time for me to go back."

Before Orville planned to leave the Desinian territory, Archibald said: "The matter of new crops is very important, and I have to go back to Anas Kingdom to make arrangements."

“Little Zuoyi, you always surprise me.”

Xia Zuoyi: "I hope I can continue to give in the future."

Archibald heard this and smiled at him.

Xia Zuoyi went to the port to see Archibald off in person. Watching the fleet belonging to the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce gradually go away, he sighed softly.

But things finally worked out.

Time will slowly heal everything.

Xia Zuoyi thought that there would be a period of calm next, but who knew that when they passed by Fort Comoy, the soldiers guarding the city gate stopped the team and said they had something to report.

Udit got off the carriage and went over to ask what happened.

The soldier said that a black leopard appeared in the city. It seemed to be the beast of the lord, but it was followed by a strange young man and a silver-haired girl whom he had never seen before.

Udit immediately explained the matter to Xia Zuoyi.

Xia Zuoyi: “…………”

Who else can lead the Black Panther...

——One of the male supporting characters in the original book, Bradely, the leader of the Kadi tribe.

As for the silver-haired girl... he could guess who she is.

Xia Zuoyi couldn't help but have a headache. When would it be all over? !

The author has something to say: 

Xia Xia: My head hurts, my head hurts, why did they come to the Desinian territory? Can't they just go back to the Kadi tribe? !

Pope: Hug, actually you can wait for me to take action, whether it is those two people or this woman, I will...

Xia Xia: Covers mouth.jpg, forget it, let me do it, it’s not appropriate to see blood.

Pope: ^^