55 Day 54: The Scum Is A Tutor (2/2)

Gao Yin gritted his teeth, pained, but he continued. ”Yes! You are the emperor's son, that's why I took you in. Fed you, taught you... yes! All these just so I could curry a favor from the emperor once I'd present you to him!” he said, referring to the emperor searching for his missing elder son.

The second but legitimate prince is two years younger from Ci Sheng.

”I taught you everything I know so that you could be a scholar and gain entry to the palace and make the emperor recognize you and realize you are his missing son. But now you have to ruin it by saying you wanted to stay with me?!” he asked and scoffed at the crying Ci Sheng. ”You wanted to trade your bright future as the ruler of the empire for a life with this crazy, old and broken man?! Hah!” he said and hysterically laughed. ”You're the one that's crazy! And you'll be the ruler of the empire? This empire will be finished!” he said and laughed, a crazy laugh, playing his part as a crazed man. ”Much to my delight! This empire will be finished!” he said and held his stomach that's hurting, not from laughing, but from a detestable pain because of lying to this pure child. ”Go. You'll do me a favor if you'll ruin this empire.” He told Ci Sheng and looked at him blankly. ”Let me tell you. It was the queen mother who murdered my family because I once rejected her in the past. Now that she became a queen mother, she took revenge at me. Now you know the reason why I want this empire to be finished?” he asked and looked at Ci Sheng coldly.

Ci Sheng sobbed, his face red from crying. ”I understand...” he said and looked at Gao Yin, his eyes full of pain, reflecting Gao Yin's eyes that's full of pain, too.

Unfortunately, Ci Sheng isn't at the right age to read someone's eyes.

- An excerpt from The Empire's Consort.

Gao Yin, though his face is looking blankly at Ci Sheng, but he's mentally sweating and grimaced.

This is the best yet most pissing part of the story. He thought. The moment of truth and the fake villain's award – winning speech to break the protagonist.

But... he thought as he looked at Ci Sheng's innocent face. Can I do it? he asked as a sweat broke in his face.

First, he's wondering if he could do that award – winning speech of the original. Second, he just can't break this innocent Ci Sheng's heart.

His heart can't take it. He gulped. ”Ci Sheng – ” he called.

”'Sheng'.” Ci Sheng corrected.

Gao Yin gulped. ”... mn. Sheng.” He called as he took a deep breath. Might as well do him a favor of saying his name since this'll be the last time we'll see each other.

The thought hurt Gao Yin's fragile heart. Yes. This is the part where he and Ci Sheng will last see each other.

Ci Sheng, after entering the palace as a scholar, up to when he finally became the emperor, never met with Gao Yin again since he really thought Gao Yin is a bad person and took advantage of him as the emperor's heir.

My heart is already breaking before I could do the speech. Gao Yin thought as he looked at Ci Sheng, his eyes full of pain. I already became attached to this kid, huh...? He thought and smiled, a sad smile.

”Sheng.” He called as he closed his eyes and lowered his head. ”You're the emperor's son.” He told him. ”That's why I took you. To take revenge in the emperor. No... to the queen mother.” He said and looked at Ci Sheng.

But, he can't clearly see Ci Sheng's face since his tears are blurring his eyes.

”She killed my family just because I rejected her in the past. Yes. That's the reason why she wanted to be the queen mother. She wanted to take revenge on me.” he said and smiled bitterly. ”That's why I fed you, took care of you. Tuck you in bed and lulled you to sleep... taught you.” He said and lowered his head. ”I did all of that just to curry the emperor's favor once I take you to him to present you as his missing son.” He finished. He didn't dare raise his head since he's afraid of Ci Sheng's reaction.

Of course it'd be hurt, shocked, and feel betrayed. He thought. I already read the novel –

Before he could continue his thoughts, Ci Sheng spoke. ”Gao Yin.” he called, his voice low Gao Yin can't tell what he's feeling right now.

”Yes?” Gao Yin said, not daring to raise his head. Please, protagonist. Don't kill me when you became an emperor. Just forget me like what you did to the original Gao Yin! he thought, a sweat fell from his forehead.

”... you're such a terrible liar.” Ci Sheng thought.

”Huh?” Gao Yin said. Finally, he raised his head. His eyes went wide when he saw Ci Sheng standing in front of him, so close to him. ”Sheng - ?” he called.

But before he could ask, Ci Sheng tiptoed and gave him a chaste kiss. Gao Yin's eyes went wide, shocked, as he stared at Ci Sheng.

Ci Sheng smiled, then nodded. ”I understand.” He said and looked at Gao Yin. ”If that is your wish...” he said and respectfully bowed to Gao Yin who is still shocked.

Ci Sheng's bright blue robe that Gao Yin bought for him now the robe that fits him perfectly became his favorite. It fluttered as he silently walked out of the door.

”Wh... what...” Gao Yin said, still shocked. He felt his knees weakened and he grabbed the chair next to him to support him. ”I... I – ” he said and touched his lips where he felt those softer than cotton lips of Ci Sheng – the story's protagonist.

Black lines covered his flushed face, don't know to feel depressed or what. He chose the first to calm himself.

”T – that was...” he said, still shocked. He's not naïve, much less an ignorant person not to know that was a 'kiss', and that Ci Sheng, the protagonist, kissed him! ”Oh, my god... why is this – ”

”'happening'?” the voice he never thought he could hear again after thinking it disappeared, after giving him a mission to this world, would appear.

Gao Yin's eyes went wide and he fell on the floor. ”S – s – system?!” he said, shocked.

”... why are you shocked?” the voice of the system asked.

”I – I thought... I thought you'd never appear – ” he answered as he stood up.

”... I'm just always here.” The voice answered.

Gao Yin fell on the floor again.

Imperial Palace.

Ci Sheng looked at the bright, blue sky. As bright as what he's feeling right now.

”Aia...” he muttered, then smiled as he looked at the palace in front of him. ”If that's what he wants...” he said, referring to Gao Yin wanting the empire to fall.

”The Imperial exams are about to start!” the eunuch said. ”Those who want to take the exam, then hurry up - !”

Ci Sheng's smile went wider as he walked along with the other aspiring scholars. He really doesn't care what will happen to the empire, much less to this world.

Yes. This is the fifth world he'd been in. But, since he met an interesting person enough for Ci Sheng to kiss him...

Of course he'd do everything just to grant that person's wish.

Gao Mansion.

After Gao Yin calmed himself, he talked to the system. ”What the freaking hell happened to the protagonist?” he asked, gritting his teeth.

He's about to snap again. He doesn't need to tell the system of what happened, since he fully knows the system must know it because the system appeared before him again.

”... I also don't know – ” the voice answered.

A vein popped in Gao Yin's forehead. ”Freaking come clean now or else – !” he told it, mad.

”...” the voice didn't answer.

A long silence fell.

He took a deep breath. ”Alright.” He said, as calm as he could. ”What's gonna happen now?” he asked instead.

”... as long as the ending of the story is the same as the original – ” the voice said.

He felt his head exploded. ”So you only care for the endings now?!” he asked.

”... yes.” The voice answered.

His face went from mad to blank. ”... you're so honest.” He told it.

”... thank you.” The voice answered.

Dark lines covered Gao Yin's face.

The author (and Gao Yin) has something to say:

Gao Yin: *pissed

Gray Dragon: I wonder if I should ask him this...?

Gao Yin: what?

Gray Dragon: ...

Gao Yin: speak up.

Gray Dragon: ... *takes a deep breath. Basing from this chap... are you still the ML?

Gao Yin: ... it could've been better if you didn't speak up –

Gray Dragon: it's you who told me to speak.

Gao Yin: ... shouldn't you ask yourself of that? *referring to the author's question.

Gray Dragon: ... I'm thinking on how to survive from this question (problem), too.

Gao Yin: ... you should stop writing –

Gray Dragon: I'll survive!

Gao Yin: ...