Chapter 276 - Rushed decision
Jai finally started to calm down, though his breath still hitched every now and then. His fists had stopped hitting, but he didn’t let go of Shao. His tear-streaked face tilted upward, brows knitting in confusion.
"...What... what anesthesia?" he whispered, voice small and disbelieving.
Shao looked at him with a tired expression. He gently pried Jai’s arms away from his waist and stepped back, giving them both a little breathing room. Jai let him go, but reluctantly—his hands curled at his sides like they didn’t know what else to do.
"I wanted Qiu Yue to knock me out," Shao said simply, his voice low and matter-of-fact. "Maybe if I’m unconscious... this rut will pass on its own. Peacefully. Without anyone getting hurt."
He rubbed at the back of his neck, eyes flickering toward Yunfeng. "But Yunfeng said it’s not a good way."
Jai blinked slowly, trying to process that.
He turned toward his best friend, still sniffling slightly. "Is that true?" he asked, his voice uncertain.
Yunfeng shifted on his feet, his mouth pulled into a small, serious frown.
"Technically... no one’s ever used anesthesia to get through a rut," Yunfeng admitted, scratching at his temple. "So I’m not sure how effective it would be. Or safe."
Jai looked at him, then at Shao, then back at Yunfeng again. He pouted slightly, still emotional but no longer furious. The edge of his anger had dulled into something vulnerable and uncertain.
He reached out and gently grabbed the front of Shao’s shirt again, tugging it like a child trying to keep someone from leaving. Shao instinctively pulled away, but Jai tugged harder, refusing to let go.