Yushi started walking away from Xueye's home. As he went he could still sense that he was being watched. Much to his relief that Jinse was after him and not Xueye. It would be much easier to draw him out. He wandered a ways away from Xueye's place and stopped on a narrow empty path.
"Are you just going to stalk me all night?" Yushi grumbled as he turned around. He was surprised to see Jinse was directly behind him.
"Your senses are quite sharp," Jinse snickered. "When did you notice?"
"I could feel you staring not long after we left my place," Yushi scowled at him. "What do you want, Jinse?" Yushi grumbled, narrowing his eyes at Jinse.
"I'm just curious," Jinse crossed his arms with a sly grin on his face. However it was as though the air in the alley grew awfully cold, even for the spring nights. "Shujing!"
"About?" Yushi narrowed his eyes.
"You," Jinse tapped his arm, almost impatiently. "You see, I've been looking into you ever since Xueye told me about you. The name Shujing has only circulated more recently among the society's elite and merchants. The furthest back I can find anyone that knows about 'Shujing' is about eight or nine years or so. Why is that?"
Yushi didn't flinch but the fact that Jinse knew that much was too much for him. He couldn't let Jinse goad any information out of him that wasn't already planned for his cover. Riluo always expected for someone to look into "Shujing" one day, once he finally agreed to help Yushi establish a secret normal life they were quite thorough.
"You doubt I am Shujing?" Yushi asked calmly but something about Jinse was still unsettling him. He was good at hiding it but those prying golden eyes were certainly looking for any weakness. Yushi felt like he was prey in this situation.
"I said nothing of the sort," Jinse smirked. "Answering a question with a question is usually quite incriminating in my experience."
"I'm sure it is," Yushi scoffed. "You do that yourself don't you?"
"Only when it's funny," Jinse snickered. His amusement vanished just as quickly as it appeared. His smile was eerie and eyes were quite cold. "However I'm in no mood for humor right now. What do you want with my Xueye?"
"Your Xueye?!" Yushi almost growled.
"Answer!" Jinse took a step forward.
Yushi had to restrain the urge to take a step back. He took a deep breath. If he let Jinse get under his skin again then it would be just another repeat of the incident of the emissaries. He had to maintain his cool and not put Xueye in danger by exposing the young man as his own weakness.
"It's just business," Yushi stated with his arms crossed.
"Elaborate," Jinse demanded.
"I provide him beneficial information," Yushi smirked. "You looked into my background, you should know that."
"Now if that were all, you wouldn't let him stay with you," Jinse took another step forward, Yushi still didn't budge. "In a house that has only been around as long as that name you go by, no less." Another step and Yushi was starting to feel cornered as Jinse got closer and closer. "So, I'll ask you again. What do you want with my Xueye?"
"I want him to be happy," Yushi stated, his brows furrowing in worry. It was clear Jinse wouldn't accept anything but the truth so at the very least Yushi knew he had to give at least part of it to try and get Jinse off his case for now. "He's been through too much. I know I don't even know the half of it but I used to have the same look he does sometimes."
"Reminds you of bitter times, hmm? How selfish a reason," Jinse clicked his tongue bitterly but he couldn't deny the genuine look of compassion that flickered across Yushi's otherwise neutral expression until those words.
"If caring for his well-being is selfish then I'll be the most selfish man in the world," Yushi couldn't help but laugh a bit.
"Pretty sure I have you beat on that front," Jinse's intense demeanor eased up a bit. He seemed less intent on cornering Yushi anyways.
"Just what is he to you?" Yushi narrowed his eyes.
"He's everything to me," Jinse flashed a smug smile. "I've been close to him for quite some time. I'll do anything to keep him safe."
"I see…" Yushi felt a pang of jealousy but he also understood. Yushi could tell Jinse cared, else he wouldn't have come on so strongly about Yushi's intentions.
"I don't trust you with him," Jinse said with a serious expression. "Even if you mean well, you're dangerous."
"I won't hurt him!" Yushi said quickly.
"You already did!" Jinse scowled.
"I-!" Yushi's face fell. He couldn't deny it, he still felt horribly guilty over it. Even if Xueye said it didn't matter, it wouldn't change the fear he felt over losing control over himself. "I didn't mean to…"
"If it happens again, I won't hesitate to destroy you," Jinse grumbled. He hated how hard it was to stay mad at Yushi when the man looked so pathetic over the matter.
"I think I'd beat you to it," Yushi flashed a pained smile.
"You still haven't told me why your existence only seems to go back less than a decade," Jinse had a much more casual air now. At this point he simply wanted to satiate his curiosity as to Yushi's answer as he had long since guessed why.
"Persistant," Yushi sighed but he did have an answer already. Feeling less pressured by Jinse in that moment he felt like he could deliver it in a believable manner. "I came from much humbler origins in a different town. I took up residence here when I came into an inheritance."
"Hmm…" Jinse was amused by such an excuse. He wondered if he could poke holes into Yushi's cover but figured with how long Yushi's used it there would be little else to find, especially if he pried too much now. Instead after the uncomfortably long silence Jinse just clapped and smiled, "You pass! For now anyways. I don't trust you but since he enjoys being around you, I'll allow it."
"I don't need permission from the likes of you," Yushi crossed his arms in a pout.
"You will if you want to live," Jinse said with a grin.
"You're threatening me?" Yushi scoffed.
"Be it emperor or god, I'd kill even anyone to protect him," Jinse stated with a shadowed flickering behind those golden eyes. The lingering pain of a past failure haunting him.
"Bold claim," Yushi crossed his arms. The "emperor" jab wasn't lost on him but the gods just seemed like a joke. How could a mortal even compete?
"Perhaps," Jinse narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying you wouldn't?"
"A ridiculous notion," Yushi scoffed. The idea of opposing gods seemed impossible. However, his expression cooled quickly, "I don't know if I could. If I had to, I wouldn't stop until I found a way to keep him safe."
Yushi looked unflinching at Jinse's studious gaze. Jinse saw the unwavering determination there. A fire that was unmistakable. It was one thing to boast about it when it was just a concept. Many in the face of such an impossible task would fold. There was something about that determination that Jinse saw that made him wonder if that was the same expression Yushi made when conquering the empire. At the very least he could understand why the majority of the upper court would follow him on a seemingly impossible endeavor.
"Best pray you won't have to," Jinse smirked. He turned and waved as he started to leave, "See you soon, Shujing!"
"Wai-!" Yushi was baffled that he just left so suddenly. He shook his head, not going to bother calling him back. Yushi needed to return to the palace and attempt to rest, though he knew he wouldn't for some time given all he was left to ruminate over.