Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming walked side by side on the bustling street, heading towards the school, their shoulders almost touching, a silent testament to their rekindled bond. He looked at Deming, a soft, tender smile playing on his lips, a rare sight. "Where do you want to go?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Deming's response was immediate and heartfelt, his gaze unwavering from Zhiqiang's. "With you, Zhiqiang, anywhere is fine with me. As long as I'm with you."
Guozhao Zhiqiang raised his left hand, and Deming instinctively, without a moment's hesitation, placed his right hand into Guozhao Zhiqiang's palm. Hand in hand, their fingers intertwined, they walked down the street, a public display of their affection. Some people stared, their eyes wide with curiosity, others paid them no mind, absorbed in their own lives. It was then that Deming realized everyone in Cloud City knew Guozhao Zhiqiang, the legendary Black Hunter. He started to pull his hand away, a flicker of embarrassment touching him, a sudden self-consciousness, but Guozhao Zhiqiang only held his hand tighter, a firm, possessive grip.
"Are you embarrassed for holding my hand and walking down the street in front of others, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, a hint of amusement, a playful challenge, in his voice.
Deming hesitated, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Everyone knows you here, Zhiqiang; we shouldn't be so open in front of everyone. It might cause talk."
"So?" Guozhao Zhiqiang prompted, his gaze unwavering, challenging Deming's concern.
"So, I don't want other people to speak ill of you, Zhiqiang," Deming explained, a touch of genuine concern in his voice. "You have a reputation to uphold."
Guozhao Zhiqiang's smile deepened, his eyes filled with profound sincerity. "No matter where we are, Deming, here or elsewhere, there will always be people who support us, people who oppose us, and people who don't care about us. You shouldn't care too much about what other people will think of us. Their opinions don't matter."
"I just don't want to ruin your reputation, Zhiqiang," Deming insisted, his voice earnest.
"Reputation can be rebuilt, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang said, his voice imbued with profound sincerity, a deep, unwavering conviction, "but there is only one of you in the world. If I lose you, I will lose you forever. Therefore, I care what you think, not others. Only your opinion matters to me."
Deming looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a sudden rush of anger mixed with overwhelming happiness swirling within him, a tumultuous blend of emotions. "No matter what I try to persuade you, you will not change, will you, Zhiqiang? You're so stubborn!"
"Why should I change, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang countered gently, his thumb stroking Deming's hand. "I have nothing to hide. My relationship with you has not caused any harm to anyone. It is pure."
Deming sighed, a soft sound of resignation, but also a hint of affection. "You don't care, do you? About what others think."
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming, his eyes full of warmth, a deep, abiding love. "I don't care. Not when it comes to you." He stopped, turning fully to face Deming, his gaze intense. "I want you to know that I'm happy to have you by my side now... truly happy."
Deming smiled back, his heart swelling with a joy so profound it almost hurt. "Me too. More than words can say." He tightened his grasp on Guozhao Zhiqiang's hand, intertwining their fingers.
When the couple arrived at the school, the two juniors were still at the door, their faces tired but alert, greeting Guozhao Zhiqiang with respectful bows. The two couples entered the school and headed toward the students' dormitory, the sounds of the festival fading behind them.
Deming and Guozhao Zhiqiang stood on the crosswalk, the quiet of the school grounds a stark contrast to the bustling street. Deming said, "I'm going back to my room now."
"I'll take you to your room," Guozhao Zhiqiang offered, his voice soft.
Deming smiled, a shy, happy smile. "Mm. Thank you."
When Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming reached Deming's room, Deming opened the door and stepped inside, turning to bid him farewell.
Deming smiled at Guozhao Zhiqiang, his eyes shining. "Thank you for sending me back. See you tomorrow."
Guozhao Zhiqiang quickly said, his voice a low murmur, "Deming..."
"What?" Deming asked, turning back, a question in his eyes.
Guozhao Zhiqiang stretched his head through the door frame, his eyes locking with Deming's, and kissed Deming deeply, passionately, right there on the lips.
Deming's arms instinctively wrapped around Guozhao Zhiqiang's neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.
Guozhao Zhiqiang stepped inside, closing the door behind him with one hand, a soft click echoing in the quiet room. He swept Deming off the floor, lifting him effortlessly, and carried him onto the bed, their tongues already entwined, lost in the intoxicating embrace. He settled on the bed, Deming on his lap, their kiss deepening, lost in each other, in the rediscovered passion.
Neither man knew how long they had kissed, how many minutes or hours had passed, until their mouths began to dry, signaling a gentle end to the passionate embrace.
Guozhao Zhiqiang wrapped his arms around Deming's waist, holding him close, and rested his head on Deming's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Deming hugged Guozhao Zhiqiang's head, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead, his fingers tangling in Guozhao Zhiqiang's hair.
Guozhao Zhiqiang's voice was soft, heavy with regret, a lingering shadow of past pain. "I'm sorry. I should have been with you, always. I shouldn't have let you go."
"Zhiqiang, I'm back in your arms again," Deming whispered, kissing Guozhao Zhiqiang's left cheek, his voice filled with profound peace. "Please let the wound in your heart heal. Let go of the past. Thank you for always loving me, for never giving up."
The two lay on the bed, Guozhao Zhiqiang holding Deming close, their bodies intertwined, their hearts finally at peace.
Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, his voice low, "Are you afraid of waking up in someone else's body again, Deming? Of losing yourself?"
"I was," Deming admitted, his voice soft, "but then I realized I got a second chance at life. I spent three years learning how to read and write, learning guzheng skills, building a new life."
"Why didn't you come to me when you first woke up, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang inquired, a lingering question in his mind.
Deming looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, his gaze tender. "I wanted to, Zhiqiang, more than anything, but I didn't know where you were. I didn't have the money to travel, and I didn't have the ability to protect myself from danger. I was weak." He rested his head on Guozhao Zhiqiang's chest, his voice muffled. "I don't want to die anymore. I don't know how many chances I have to be summoned back into someone else's body. This time, I want to make it right, so I decided that I would stay in Guzheng Sector and never leave Haven Mountain. I would live a quiet life."
"If you were doing well there, why did you leave Haven Mountain, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang questioned, a hint of curiosity.
"Because with the passage of time, I slowly couldn't remember your face and I was afraid that one day I would forget your face completely," Deming confessed, his voice filled with a heartbreaking honesty. "I used the principle of Guozhao as an excuse to leave Guzheng Sector and come to find you. On the side of the road, I was very happy to see you, until your good junior offered you food, which you gladly accepted. So, I decided not to reveal my identity, to watch you from afar. When I knew you were fully moving on, then I would leave Cloud City and return to Haven Mountain after my study ended, to disappear from your life."
"Are you going to leave Cloud City now, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, a hint of concern, a flicker of fear, in his voice.
"No," Deming replied, a bright, radiant smile on his face, his eyes shining with pure happiness. "I'll stay by your side, Zhiqiang. Don't complain that I'm too clingy to you in the future, because I will be!"
Guozhao Zhiqiang kissed Deming's forehead, a tender, possessive gesture. "I will teach you how to summon me, Deming, so that you will never forget my face, and I will always be there for you."
Deming's expression grew serious, a shadow passing over his face. "I haven't told anyone yet, Zhiqiang, but the last thing I heard before dying was Huang Wei shouting 'revenge for us' angrily. I woke up confused. I thought and thought: if he wants to take revenge, should he summon his own soul? Why me? Why was it my soul?"
Guozhao Zhiqiang explained, his voice calm and reassuring, "To summon a soul to take possession of another person's body, that person must sacrifice his own soul, Deming. The only body without internal and external damage was Dong Enlai's. He drowned. His body was intact, a perfect vessel. If I were Huang Wei, I would do the same. Don't worry, we've killed the assassin, Deming. The one who killed you."
"You only killed one, Zhiqiang," Deming corrected, his voice tinged with lingering sadness, a memory of the past. "There were two. The one who killed Dong Enlai and me, and the one who killed Huang Wei."
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming, noticing his profound sadness, his lingering pain. "What's wrong, Deming?" he asked gently, stroking his hair.
"Zhiqiang, I want you to answer me truthfully," Deming said, his voice trembling, a crucial question.
"What's the matter, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, his gaze unwavering.
Deming's gaze searched his, seeking the truth. "If one day, I have to face Hu Dingxiang or kill him, will you stop me and protect him?"
"It depends on why you want to kill him, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, his tone neutral, a careful consideration.
Deming's face fell, disappointment coloring his features, a familiar ache returning. He turned to face the wall, murmuring to himself, "I knew you wanted to protect him. Why do I even bother asking? I should have known."
Guozhao Zhiqiang chuckled softly, pulling him tighter, pressing a kiss to his hair. "If you hate him and want to kill him, Deming, I will stop you, because I don't want you to be the number one enemy of Snow Sector. That would put you in danger."
Deming turned back, anger flaring, his eyes blazing. "What if I want to kill him to compensate for locking me up, Zhiqiang? What if I want to kill him for killing Dong Enlai, Huang Wei, and me? For all the pain he caused?"
"Then I will kill him, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang stated, his voice firm and unwavering, a promise of absolute protection. "I will do it for you."
Deming, a mischievous glint in his eye, teased, "Are you sure you're able to stab him or slit his throat, Zhiqiang? He was your first love, after all."
"If you can forgive him, Deming, that's the best," Guozhao Zhiqiang offered, his voice gentle, a path to peace.
"Why?" Deming asked, curious about his reasoning.
Guozhao Zhiqiang explained, his voice soft, "My Shimu said that forgiveness is the greatest reward to give to others and yourself. Many years ago, my Shimu was also stabbed. If not for my first master's great medical skill, she would have died. She chose forgiveness, and found peace. I promise from now on, Deming, if he harms you in any way, if he ever touches you, I won't forgive him. I will protect you."
With his back still facing Guozhao Zhiqiang, Deming smiled, a wave of profound joy washing over him, a sense of ultimate safety. He whispered, "Zhiqiang, I haven't seen City in the Cloud yet? The one you promised to show me?"
"Someday, if the weather is good, I will show you, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang promised, kissing his hair.
"Why someday?" Deming pressed, a playful pout.
"You're going to live here with me, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang said, a tender amusement in his voice. "You'll see it sooner or later. Every day."
"Oh, how come you never say so much to your juniors?" Deming teased, turning to face him, his eyes sparkling.
Guozhao Zhiqiang sighed, a faint smile. "I don't know. I don't think I have anything to say to them."
"Then why are you so talkative with me?" Deming playfully inquired, tracing a finger along Zhiqiang's jawline.
"Because I have a lot to say to you," Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, his voice husky, his eyes filled with adoration.
"Are you going to cheer for the younger juniors tomorrow?" Deming asked, changing the subject slightly, a comfortable intimacy in their banter.
"Mm," Guozhao Zhiqiang hummed, kissing Deming on the head, his hand tracing a path down Deming's back. "You know what I want now, Deming?"
Deming quickly turned his head to look at the ceiling, a flush rising to his cheeks, a delicious shyness. "What do you want?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"Now, all I want is you." With that, Guozhao Zhiqiang shifted, pressing Deming onto the bed and sealing his lips with his own, a deep, consuming kiss. His right hand undid Deming's belt, a silent, eager invitation.
Deming quickly reached out to hold Guozhao Zhiqiang's hand, a soft gasp escaping him. He murmured, his voice breathless, "Zhiqiang, the wall is very thin. Someone might hear us."
Guozhao Zhiqiang breathed heavily in Deming's ear, his voice a low rumble. "Then don't be too loud, my love." He kissed Deming's neck, gently sucking, leaving a heated trail, a mark of his passion.
Deming moaned, a soft, involuntary sound, and quickly covered his mouth, a blush spreading across his chest.
Guozhao Zhiqiang whispered, his voice laced with playful warning, "Shh... the wall is very thin." His hand ventured further, slipping down Deming's pants, the night now filled with unspoken promises and the intoxicating scent of desire.