Chapter 92: A New Relationship

Could it be that Viktor had actually known Qiu Tailang?

No, but Qiu Tailang had supposedly lived an incredibly long time ago.

"Don’t tell me... Have you actually met Qiu Tailang before, Viktor?"

"When I was young. Only briefly."

No way!

Seriously, just how old is Viktor!?

"However, I did not realize that the man was Qiu Tailang until I was much older. He never told me anything about himself. No, even if he had, I probably would not have understood. I was simply too young back then."

Viktor lowered his eyes. His expression looked as though he were enduring something painful, and Qiu Nuoya felt an uneasy stir in his chest.

"Do I really look that much like Qiu Tailang?"

"Qiu Tailang was considerably older than you, so I would not say that you look exactly alike. But I do think you resemble him. Your hair and eye colors are the same. More than anything, your atmosphere and the way you speak are remarkably similar."

"Could it be that you were in love with Qiu Tailang?"

"What...?"

"Was he perhaps your first love?" Once again, Viktor fell silent.

That pretty much confirmed it, didn’t it? Yet hearing that somehow made many things suddenly fall into place for Qiu Nuoya. He had always found it strange. Why was Viktor so obsessed with him?

After all, Qiu Nuoya was nothing more than an ordinary child who had only recently appeared in this world and happened to be somewhat more talented at magic than most people. It had always seemed strange that a grown man would seriously confess his feelings and whisper words of love to someone like him.

Well, Qiu Nuoya had certainly taken advantage of Viktor’s affection and shamelessly relied on him whenever he could.

"I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I really have absolutely nothing to do with Qiu Tailang. For starters, even this appearance is something I only gained after coming to this world. It isn’t what I originally looked like."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. When I came to this world, God made me ridiculously handsome, so I ended up looking like this. In my previous life, I looked so completely ordinary that it was almost laughable. Maybe this appearance is simply God’s personal preference."

Viktor had previously told Qiu Nuoya that Qiu Tailang had also been someone from another world. If that was true, then Qiu Nuoya’s theory actually seemed fairly convincing.

Still, so that was it... Viktor had been seeing Qiu Tailang in him. Well, that made sense.

Qiu Nuoya had never been popular in his entire life. There was no way someone as handsome as Viktor would simply fall for him without any reason.

Thinking otherwise had been nothing more than Qiu Nuoya getting ahead of himself.

"Haha... Are you disappointed now that you know I’m completely unrelated to Qiu Tailang?"

"No, it’s not like that..." Viktor denied it with his words, but Qiu Nuoya could still sense the disappointment on his face.

First loves tended to become idealized over time. Qiu Nuoya’s own first love had been his kindergarten teacher, so he could understand the feeling to some extent.

"What kind of person was Qiu Tailang?"

"He was very beautiful, and he always carried himself with dignity. But what left the strongest impression on me were the fleeting almost fragile expressions he occasionally showed."

Could Qiu Nuoya really resemble Qiu Tailang that much? Once he grew up, Qiu Nuoya was sure he would indeed become quite handsome, but the idea of him looking fragile or delicate felt completely different. With his personality being what it was, he was about as far from fragile as one could get.

Viktor was simply projecting too many expectations onto Qiu Nuoya because of their similar appearances.

If Viktor continued to see Qiu Tailang’s image in him, Qiu Nuoya would only grow further and further away from that ideal as he matured. Eventually, Viktor was bound to become disappointed.

It was a good thing Qiu Nuoya had realized this early.

Even if he genuinely returned Viktor’s feelings, the moment he grew into someone completely different from Viktor’s idealized image of Qiu Tailang, their relationship would probably end in heartbreak.

Or perhaps he could look at it from another perspective.

If Qiu Nuoya simply left things alone, Viktor would eventually realize on his own that his feelings for Qiu Nuoya were based on a misunderstanding. Viktor had said he was willing to wait until Qiu Nuoya grew up, but by then, perhaps the two of them would naturally have settled into an ordinary friendship.

If that was the case, Qiu Nuoya no longer needed to worry so much about it.

"Even if I grow up, I won’t become Qiu Tailang."

"!" Viktor immediately reacted. "I am not thinking anything like that!"

"Really?"

"If I have offended you, Nuoya, then I am truly sorry. But I have never thought of you that way..."

Viktor hesitated before he could even finish saying the word "never."

Qiu Nuoya could not help thinking that Viktor really was an honest person when it came to things like this.

"I’m not offended. If anything, this actually helped me understand a lot of things. So don’t worry. Let’s continue getting along." Qiu Nuoya smiled warmly as if to tell Viktor not to worry.

Viktor still wore a complicated expression. But now Qiu Nuoya understood. He had been spoiled and indulged so much by Viktor because he resembled Qiu Tailang.

If that was the case, then relying too heavily on Viktor’s kindness could become a serious problem for him in the future.

Qiu Nuoya had always thought that he needed to become more independent, yet he had continued allowing himself to be spoiled whenever Viktor offered.

Now he really needed to start looking for a way to stand on his own.

"I’ll keep working hard so I can become a fully fledged mage as soon as possible. Please continue guiding me from now on, Master!"

"Uh... Of course. Yes."

Qiu Nuoya had been wondering what kind of relationship he should have with Viktor from now on, but he felt as though he had finally found a direction.