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Huisang sags in Jiang Cheng's arms like a puppet whose strings have been cut. His hands go limp in his lap and he just rests his head against the other man's shoulder. He blinks once, his eyes blurring with unshed tears, his lips starting to tremble. When he's being held so close like this, Huaisang can almost pretend that nothing's change. That neither of their worlds had ended and it was just the two of them, alone, like it'd been those nights back at the Cloud Recesses.

It's wrong, especially after his words about breaking things off between them completely, but Huaisang can't help it. He's coming apart at the seams and Jiang Cheng's offering his help, if only for the night. Huaisang lifts his hand after a while to skim his fingertips lightly across his lover's jawline.

It's not fair. He still loves him. They still love each other.

"A-Cheng, I -"

Huaisang's voice cracks again, followed by a strangled sob. He wants him. He wants him so much.

And he can't have him ever again. He won't dishonor his ancestors, his brother. Nie Mingjue entrusted their sect's future to him by making Huaisang his heir. He can't, he won't betray that trust.

The Qinghe Nie Sect will not suffer another betrayal again. Not as long as Nie Huaisang leads it.

His jaw sets.

"I do," he murmurs, pained. "I intend to marry someday. It's my duty now."