chapter 34

Chapter 34

Ning Qiuyan didn’t trouble Lu Qianque to pick him up, because Uncle Ping would always be waiting at the pier early in the morning, and he didn’t want to break their arrangement.

When Lu Qianque heard the reason, he smiled and sighed, “Xiao Ning, you can’t go on like this.”

Ning Qiuyan was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“You can’t make everyone in the world like you, nor can you make everyone satisfied with you,” Lu Qianque said. “So you should do what you want, and be a little bolder.”

Lu Qianque’s words left Ning Qiuyan momentarily stunned.

It seemed that was exactly what he’d been thinking.

He didn’t know when it started, but it was as if… he really was trying to please everyone, perhaps because he’d been too willful and self-centered in the past, and now unconsciously tried to make up for it elsewhere.

Things he hadn’t even realized about himself were pointed out by Lu Qianque in an instant.

Still, this time Ning Qiuyan didn’t accept Lu Qianque’s invitation to take the helicopter, and chose instead to go to Du Island Pier and take Uncle Ping’s boat.

He set out from home at dawn, walked to the bus stop, waited a long time in the chilly air, then took the bus to the terminal. At the terminal, he transferred to the same weekly coach, got off near the pier, crossed the deserted forest along the coastline, and arrived at the pier piled with old graffiti-covered boats.

It was a somewhat troublesome process, requiring many transfers before he could board the boat to Du Island.

For Ning Qiuyan, it felt more like a sacred ritual leading him to offer himself.

Each time he went, there was one less time left.

When he circled the date on his calendar with a red pen, he was startled to realize this was already his fifth trip to Du Island.

And also the second-to-last.

The time he could spend with Guan Heng could be counted on one hand.

Everything that had happened in these past few months had a dreamlike quality, but Ning Qiuyan allowed himself to sink into it.

Because he knew very clearly that everything had an expiration date.

So he was almost sober in his indulgence.

Uncle Ping was still waiting at the pier, and again didn’t say much to Ning Qiuyan. But this time, Ning Qiuyan saw other boats on the sea. Those boats weren’t heading to Du Island, but to nearby islands that had been developed as tourist attractions, with routes that overlapped slightly. The arrival of spring had revived the tourism industry, and the Wutong government had invested heavily this year-promotional materials for the scenic areas were everywhere.

The temperature was about twelve or thirteen degrees, and the weather was fine.

The sea, usually a gray-blue, was clear under the sunlight, and the boats left sparkling trails as they passed.

The people of Du Island seemed livelier too.

As the boat docked, those waiting to unload cargo at the pier were chatting and laughing, full of vitality.

Spring had officially arrived on Du Island.

The car sent to pick up Ning Qiuyan was parked as usual on the winding road, with Uncle Kang standing by the car in a new gray coat, smiling and waving to Ning Qiuyan as he jumped off the boat.

The car drove through lush fir forests, across meadows sprouting new grass, over hills where the snow was melting. Along the way, they saw deer shedding their old coats for new ones. Uncle Kang told Ning Qiuyan that as the weather warmed, these deer with dull fur would soon be dressed anew.

When they arrived at the mansion, Ning Qiuyan found that the fountain in front had been cleaned and was spraying water again. Birds perched by the fountain pool, chirping and pecking at food, unafraid of people. The lawn was sprouting green, the wooden walkway had been freshly painted-everything looked renewed.

When Ning Qiuyan returned to his room to put away his things, he saw, through the window, people playing by the distant lakeshore.

“Young Master Lu arrived last night. Now the Servant has taken the children there to fish,” Uncle Kang told Ning Qiuyan. “The little one loves excitement and has already asked several times when you’d arrive.”

Uncle Kang said the child was named Gu Yu, just twelve years old, and very lively.

Ning Qiuyan had already felt his enthusiasm over the phone. After putting his things down, he prepared to go out and find him.

Passing through the hall, he saw Lu Qianque talking with Granny Bai.

It was a rare sight.

Lu Qianque didn’t come to Du Island often, and even less so during the day. Even when the whole mansion was shuttered, letting in no light, Ning Qiuyan still found it unusual.

Let alone Granny Bai, who almost never appeared in the hall.

The two seemed to be discussing something. Lu Qianque held a tablet, speaking and taking notes, and Ning Qiuyan didn’t want to interrupt, but he vaguely heard the names of dishes.

But Lu Qianque, like Guan Heng, had excellent hearing. As soon as Ning Qiuyan’s footsteps sounded, he quietly turned his head, and from such a distance, nodded gently to Ning Qiuyan, very elegantly.

Ning Qiuyan nodded back.

At the lakeside, Gu Yu spotted Ning Qiuyan at once and greeted him familiarly, “Brother Xiao Ning!”

Ning Qiuyan, eighteen, introverted, at the age when warmth is scarce, was slender and pale, hands in his hoodie pockets, his temperament like the firs of Du Island in spring. He said to the child, “Hello.”
As he approached, he came up with another line: “Caught any fish?”

-This was already the most enthusiastic greeting Ning Qiuyan could muster.

Gu Yu, with his round, robust face, didn’t look like someone spoiled by luxury. He said angrily, “No! I’ve been here for an hour and haven’t caught a single fish! They even tricked me, saying the weather’s warmer and the fish are dumb, easy to catch.”

The Servant protested, “You’re always too impatient, constantly tugging at the bait.”

Gu Yu was at a loss for words, then turned to the Servant and said, “It’s not your fault, I’m lucky you’re willing to keep me company. I’m talking about that liar, Lu Qianque.”

The Servant: “…”

Gu Yu, though young, was bold, and called Lu Qianque by name.

Ning Qiuyan hadn’t interacted much with children; Wu Jingye’s younger cousins weren’t close to him, so he didn’t know if kids these days were all like this.

“I’m done fishing.” Gu Yu put down his rod and pulled Ning Qiuyan toward the main house. “Brother Xiao Ning, you’re finally here. Let’s go to the game room and play. Lu Qianque said you’re good at lots of games.”

Ning Qiuyan didn’t even know there was a game room in the house-Gu Yu was more familiar with the place than he was.

And he hadn’t realized that even Lu Qianque seemed to know all about his life. He wondered if Guan Heng had instructed him, or if Guan Heng had told Lu Qianque himself.

Since he was already here, Ning Qiuyan didn’t insist on staying in his room. He wasn’t a proactive person, but he’d always been the type to go with the flow. Playing games with a kid wasn’t difficult for him.

Gu Yu rummaged through the cartridges, asking Ning Qiuyan which ones were fun.

Ning Qiuyan considered age, graphics, and violence level, picking them out one by one, and noticed many of the cartridges were new, some released just last year or even this year.

Ning Qiuyan asked, “Did you bring all these?”

“No, Lu Qianque never lets me play, so he wouldn’t buy these for me,” Gu Yu replied. “They must belong to the gentleman.”

Ning Qiuyan was surprised-Guan Heng’s?

Does Guan Heng play games too?

He quickly realized, of course, Guan Heng needed ways to pass the time; otherwise, why would there be a dedicated game room here?

A soft spot in his heart was gently touched.

He regretted not listening to Uncle Kang’s advice earlier, to wander through these rooms-maybe he could have learned more about Guan Heng.

Gu Yu asked, “Have you ever played games with the gentleman?”

Ning Qiuyan shook his head.

Gu Yu said, “Me neither, but when I was little, I saw him playing here. He seemed really good.”

Ning Qiuyan: “When you were little?”

Twelve-year-old Gu Yu said, “When I was four or five.”

Ning Qiuyan looked at Gu Yu, who in his eyes was still “little”: “…”

He thought, maybe in Guan Heng and Lu Qianque’s eyes, they were all the same.

Apart from being lively and outgoing, Gu Yu didn’t talk nonsense. Even after an afternoon of playing, Ning Qiuyan still hadn’t figured out the relationship between Gu Yu and Lu Qianque. Perhaps children raised in such families naturally knew their boundaries.

To Gu Yu, Ning Qiuyan was probably just a novel playmate.

After hearing that Ning Qiuyan wouldn’t be staying long on Du Island, Gu Yu was only a little disappointed, then said, “When Brother Xiao Ning leaves in a few days, who will I play with?”

Ning Qiuyan thought of someone: “There’s also Guan Ziming.”

Gu Yu: “Guan Ziming?”

“He’s about my age and works at the farm near the Lighthouse,” Ning Qiuyan said. “There are lots of animals there. If you want to go, you can go in the morning with the farm’s driver.”

Gu Yu seemed to consider it seriously, as if he really might go find this Guan Ziming. It seemed he lacked playmates and was quite lonely.

Ning Qiuyan, holding the controller, asked, “Don’t you go to school?”

“I’m on leave,” Gu Yu looked at Ning Qiuyan, knowing he was unaware, and explained, “We’ll be staying here for another week.”

Ning Qiuyan could guess there was some arrangement on Du Island next week, but it wasn’t his concern, so he didn’t ask further.

It was nearly dark when the games finally ended.

The Servant knocked on the door, calling them to the dining room for lunch.

Ning Qiuyan’s eyes were sore; rubbing them, he drowsily followed the Servant to the dining room. Guan Heng was already seated at the head of the table, talking with Lu Qianque. Just as Lu Qianque had been when Ning Qiuyan arrived, Guan Heng was busy, only glancing at him lightly, nodding slightly, then continuing his conversation with Lu Qianque.

That glance made Ning Qiuyan’s heart thump heavily, clearing his mind. He sat down opposite Guan Heng.

They were seated rather far apart.

So Ning Qiuyan felt a distinct sense of distance.

When the food was served, he focused on eating, chewing quietly, and only when drinking water did he sneak a glance at Guan Heng.

Guan Heng and Lu Qianque’s conversation had ended as the meal began.

In front of each was a tall glass filled with red liquid. Lu Qianque sat upright, while Guan Heng held the stem lightly with his pale, slender fingers, brows furrowed as if pondering a difficult problem.
Ning Qiuyan lowered his eyelashes, trying to regain his focus, but Guan Heng’s presence was too strong, making him want to look up and glance over again and again.

He thought that after a month of “idle chats” and getting to know each other, this time coming to Du Island, they would be more familiar with each other.

But it didn’t seem so.

He poked at the food on his plate, when suddenly Gu Yu, sitting next to him, asked, “Brother Xiao Ning, there’s a little heart behind your ear. It’s pink.”

Because they’d been facing different directions while playing games that afternoon, Gu Yu only noticed it now.

At Gu Yu’s question, Ning Qiuyan realized both Guan Heng and Lu Qianque were looking at him, and his face grew a little warm. “Mm, it’s a tattoo.”

“A tattoo?” Gu Yu seemed to think it was cool and asked again, “Did you get it for your girlfriend?”

Ning Qiuyan knew Guan Heng was watching him, so he tried to answer calmly and naturally, “No. I just got it randomly, it doesn’t mean anything special.”

“Speaking of which, I’m curious too.” Lu Qianque chimed in mischievously, but didn’t ask Ning Qiuyan directly. “Sir, has Xiao Ning ever had a girlfriend?”

Guan Heng didn’t answer.

Ning Qiuyan couldn’t help but look up, and his gaze met Guan Heng’s.

For some reason, Ning Qiuyan immediately answered the question, firmly: “No.”

His reaction seemed a bit much.

Ning Qiuyan felt annoyed with himself.

But fortunately, the table soon returned to quiet.

After everyone finished eating, Gu Yu asked Ning Qiuyan what he was doing that evening, probably wanting to play with him some more.

Ning Qiuyan had planned to go to the puzzle room, but when asked, he hesitated, unsure how to refuse Gu Yu.

Guan Heng spoke up at just the right moment, calling Ning Qiuyan’s name in a calm tone: “Have you practiced the piece for the exam?”

Ning Qiuyan nodded.

He had already sent Guan Heng a video and passed the test.

Guan Heng, in a tone of assessment, said, “Come upstairs with me.”

Ning Qiuyan was taken aback, but agreed, “Okay.”

The child was persistent, still asking how long the practice would take, until Lu Qianque, with a stern face, half lecturing and half threatening, finally led him away.

Ning Qiuyan followed Guan Heng to the third floor, but instead of the music room, they went straight into the puzzle room. Guan Heng found an empty spot and sat down, showing no intention of testing him, and even said, “Aren’t you going to thank me?”

Ning Qiuyan was confused. “For what?”

Guan Heng casually picked up a small box for sorting puzzle pieces and tossed it onto the carpet in front of Ning Qiuyan, raising his phoenix eyes to ask, “Do you want peace and quiet, or do you want to keep a troublesome child company?”

Ning Qiuyan immediately understood-Guan Heng had called him upstairs to rescue him.

He hadn’t expected this side of Guan Heng, and Ning Qiuyan almost wanted to laugh. His heart instantly felt lighter, and he answered honestly, “I want peace and quiet.”

“Mm.” Guan Heng wasn’t surprised. “Come here, let’s start from here today.”

Ning Qiuyan obediently moved closer, sitting near Guan Heng.

After a month apart, now, sitting together, everything felt just like before, as if the night they last did puzzles hadn’t ended.

Ning Qiuyan sat cross-legged, searching through the puzzle pieces, and ventured, “So you don’t like children.”

“Of course.” Guan Heng picked up a puzzle piece between his fingers. “They’re even noisier than you.”

Ning Qiuyan: “…”

Guan Heng laughed softly, his brows relaxing, as if he’d become the version Ning Qiuyan had imagined when they chatted on the phone-powerful, mysterious, but not unreachable.

“I still have a question I didn’t ask today.” Ning Qiuyan knew Guan Heng was teasing him, so he got back to the point. “Can I ask you now?”

Guan Heng: “Ask.”

Ning Qiuyan had already decided, so he asked quickly, “Mr. Lu said you don’t take boats. Why?”

Guan Heng placed a puzzle piece and asked in return, “Why not just ask Lu Qianque?”

Ning Qiuyan was a little nervous. “I want to ask you.”

This question was different from the ones Ning Qiuyan had asked before; it seemed to touch on something crucial.

But Guan Heng didn’t make things difficult for Ning Qiuyan.

“If one day you want to kill a Vampire, push him into the deep sea, or into a large lake.”

Guan Heng instructed Ning Qiuyan.

He was speaking of a secret that concerned life and death, yet he made it sound trivial.

“Of course, you can’t truly kill him. Large bodies of water will make a Vampire feel weak, dizzy, and unable to move. He’ll be alive, but as if dead.”

Du Island is surrounded by water, located in the sea.

Ning Qiuyan was startled, sitting there in a daze.

Guan Heng’s skin had a cold jade-like quality, his brows and eyes as dark as ink. He said carelessly, “That’s why I really like Du Island.”