The room fell silent.
Xing Luoguang's expression stiffened. His throat felt dry.
"If we fall for someone like that," Xing Luoye continued, his voice low and trembling with anger, "what about the promise we made to him? I will never allow it."
He shook his head firmly.
Xing Luoguang's heart sank.
He knew his brother had always been cold toward females. But when he was near Yue Yue… something deep inside him stirred.
It was not just liking.
It was not just curiosity.
It felt… instinctive.
Like a pull he could not resist.
Like she was meant to stand beside him.
Like she was his mate.
The words almost slipped out of his mouth.
But when he saw Xing Luoye's hard expression, his tongue felt tied. He could not say it.
He swallowed the truth.
"You're right," Xing Luoguang said quietly. "We promised Father that we would never fall for the tricks of females from the empires."
Xing Luoye's expression softened a little when he saw the sadness on Xing Luoguang's face.
