The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

"Why do you have needle pricks?"

Magnolia's voice sounded anxious, and her hands were trembling.

Meanwhile, Barack paused for a moment and remained silent.

"Say something! Barack, can't you treat me the same as before? Are you not going to talk to me?"

Magnolia's voice suddenly became louder and shrill. If Mango were here, she would be very shocked to see how Magnolia was acting. After all, in everyone's eyes, Magnolia was an elegant woman. Thus, she didn't even frown or react, even when her enemies were hunting her down. However, when she was facing Barack, she was like a raging beast that was on the verge of exploding at any time.

On the other hand, Barack knew Magnolia well. She used to be gentle and could stay calm in any situation. But Magnolia's impatient behaviour now showed him how incapable he was. He had forced Magnolia to become like this. But how was he supposed to tell her?

Could he tell her that the pricks were made by the king's men? Or perhaps could he tell her that he had a huge amount of poison inside him tormenting his body, and he could die anytime? Alas! How could he tell her that he had been living a life that was even more painful than death all these years?

No matter what he said, it would only make Magnolia feel even more guilty and sad. She could even burst into tears, so what else could he say? After all, the last thing he wanted to do was to upset her. When Magnolia saw that Barack was still silent, she threw the electric trimmer aside and crouched in front of Barack. She then used both her hands to cup Barack's face tightly, and she forced him to look straight into her eyes.

"Barack, are you going to hide from me forever? Wait, are you trying to blame me? Are you accusing me of not keeping myself for you and surrendering myself to fate?" "No, I'm not!"

Barack didn't want to say anything, but when he saw Magnolia's beautiful face covered in tears, he couldn't help but open his mouth.

"No? Would you treat me like this if you weren't trying to blame me? Would you have kept ignoring me? Do you think that I'm an embarrassment and eyesore just became I'm standing in front of you? Just say the word, and I'll disappear from your sight immediately! I'll never even appear in front of you again, alright?"

Magnolia was at the brink of breaking down as she said these words.

After all, Barack was the only person she had ever loved, and he was also the only person she still loved. How could he not know about that?

On the other hand, Barack saw the determination in Magnolia's eyes. Then, he sighed and whispered, "You know I didn't mean to do so."

"Then what are you trying to tell me?"

Magnolia was no longer a mature woman. On the contrary, she was like an unreasonable child that was making a fuss. However, Barack looked at her dotingly.

He patted Magnolia's long hair and said softly, "I just don't know what to say to you."

"I want to know everything. Alas! I have been looking for you for so many years, so I want to know what you've been through! How did the king treat you? Also, how did you persist all these years?" "What's the point of it? What can you do even if you know about all that? We can't turn back time, and we can't go against the king. Besides, it's all in the past now! The more you know, the more miserable both you and I will be! After all, I will have to experience the entire ordeal again. Is that what you want?"

Barack's calm voice rendered Magnolia speechless.

She never thought that Barack would have to go through the painful ordeal again. In fact, she didn't want that to happen, but if he didn't tell her anything, how would she know the truth?

The king had never been a kind person. Alas! She could only imagine how cruel the king was to Barack, so she wanted to confirm it. However, after hearing Barack's words, Magnolia fell silent.

They could no longer return to the past when they could tell each other everything as they pleased. There was a wall between them, and both of them were afraid that they would hurt each other if they told each other what they had gone through these past few years.

Magnolia bit her lower lip as thoughts flashed through her mind. In the end, she decided to yield to Barack.

Then, she slowly got up before picking up the trimmer again and continued with Barack's haircut.

On the other hand, Barack didn't resist and was very cooperative. No matter what Magnolia did, he didn't seem to care. After all, this was the first time he had felt this peaceful and calm throughout the years. Finally, they could spend some peaceful times together, just like when they had first fallen in love with each other. Even if both of them never said anything throughout the whole haircut, they still felt blissful because they were standing near each out.

In the end, Magnolia gave Barack a buzz cut. When she saw how similar Barack looked as before, tears started welling up in her eyes again.

After all, ais face was so pale, so she was heartbroken when she saw this.

"You can sleep here tonight."

Magnolia knew that it was inappropriate, but why would she care?

She had waited for and searched for Barack for a lifetime! Now that she finally found him and even knew that he had been living a life worse than death, how could she let him go? Barack wanted to leave because he knew that it was inappropriate for him to be together with Magnolia with her current status. But when he saw Magnolia's expectant gaze, he couldn't refuse. Thus, he followed Magnolia's arrangements and lay on her bed.

As there was Magnolia's scent on the bed, memories flashed through his mind.

He still remembered when they first slept with each other, they were full of curiosity and excitement, but they still had a passionate night. However...

A trace of pain flashed through Barack's eyes at this thought.

He could never be a man anymore!

When Barack thought about what the king had done to him, cruelty and anger flashed through in his eyes. However, those emotions disappeared quickly as well.

Then, he turned around with his back to Magnolia.

What was he going to tell her?

Should he tell her he couldn't get an erection now?

At Magnolia's current age, how could she tolerate a eunuch like himself?

They had once loved each other deeply, and know that so many years had passed, what could he do with his broken body?

Alas! Barack had felt as miserable as he was now. He was so embarrassed that he wanted to leave this place immediately. But he couldn't so do, so he could only lie on the bed lifelessly. Meanwhile, Magnolia looked at Barack. He was the man that she used to think about all day and night, but he was finally in front of her! She then climbed onto the bed and hugged Barack from behind. Suddenly, Barack's nose was filled with a warm and familiar scent. He felt extremely sad and whispered, "Don't be like this, Magnolia."

"No, I want you! I want to give myself to you! Barack, we belong together. I know you think that I have been unfaithful, but I don't care. I only want you. After all these years, I could feel a woman's bliss only when I'm with you. Do you know that?"

Magnolia hugged Barack tightly as she said these words.

On the other hand, Barack felt heartbroken after hearing what she said, and he felt as if he was suffocating because of the pain!

Alas! How could he not know that feeling?

Magnolia was the only woman he had ever slept with, and the passion they shared was engraved in his body. He could never forget the passionate night that they had together, but it was a pity...

At this thought, Barack closed his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm tired and want to sleep. If you continue like this, I'll have to request to change my room."

His words were very ruthless, but now one knew how heartbroken and helpless he felt right now.

After hearing what he had said, Magnolia's body stiffened slightly as tears welled up in her eyes again.

In the end, he was still disgusted by her, wasn't he?

Then, Magnolia suppressed her tears and said in a low voice, "I won't touch you, but could I hug you like this? I have been thinking about hugging you like this for so many years. Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep. Could you take pity on me and fulfil my wish? Let me hug you gently like this."

What else could Barack say to Magnolia when she looked so pitiful?

So, he sighed and closed his eyes.

After that, Magnolia turned off the lights, so they could only hear each other's breaths and heartbeats. When the sounds intertwined, they only felt at peace.

Barack thought he couldn't fall asleep as he was in another place, but as the warm breath behind him enveloped him, he fell asleep unknowingly.

Meanwhile, Magnolia wanted to turn on the lights after hearing his steady breathing. However, she was afraid that the lights would be too bright and would disturb Barack's sleep. Thus, she could only watch him in the dark as she outlined his silhouette with her finger.

Only at this moment did Magnolia realize that Barack had aged.

His skin was flabby, and his face was not as firm either. Although his eyes and brows were still the same as before, there was a trace of despair and uncertainty in his eyes. Alas! He was no longer the high- spirited teenager she used to know.

Well, in fact, Magnolia hated how he looked right now.

At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to rip the king into shreds!

But she knew that she had to endure it. For so many years, she had been trying to escape from the control of the king, but unfortunately, she had not succeeded. But, at this moment, she had a crazy idea. Even if both of them died, or even if she had to sacrifice everything, she would still avenge Barack.

In the end, Magnolia fell asleep in Barack's arms.

The both of them slept through the night peacefully.

The next day, Barack opened his eyes when the sunlight shone into the room.

The warm and bright sunshine made him feel like he was in a different world. For a moment, he didn't know where he was or what day was it. However, he regained his senses when he heard a familiar voice coming from behind him.

"Are you awake?"

It was early in the morning, so Magnolia sounded lazy and drowsy. Thus, Barack's entire body turned stiff, but he didn't know what to do. "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you."

Magnolia checked the time and found that it was only six o'clock. Hence, she knew that there was still room for her to cook in the kitchen.

Although she was one of the king's multiple wives, she had never cooked for any man besides Barack.

On the other hand, Barack didn't know how to reply. He wanted to tell Magnolia that this wasn't necessary, but he didn't know if it would make Magnolia sad if he said this now. Thus, he decided to remain silent Well, Magnolia wasn't even really asking for Barack's opinion as she said immediately, "How about I make you some scrambled eggs? I remember you like eating that."

Scrambled eggs?

It was a long time since Barack last had eaten that. As he remembered how the dish tasted like, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

When Magnolia noticed that, she smiled immediately.

Her smile was so bright and beautiful. Hence, Barack was stunned when he saw her, and he immediately forgot that he had to restain himself right now.