chapter 44

Chapter 44

Accept arrangements, comply with requirements.

Ning Qiuyan had already experienced Guan Heng’s desire for control over people and things; Guan Heng had brought it up directly during their first official meeting, and this became the foundation of their relationship over the following months.

In fact, it wasn’t just about Ning Qiuyan-everyone and everything on Du Island abided by this principle. After a century of consistent discipline, the island had become quiet, peaceful, and orderly.

Rules and constraints are the cornerstone of proper operation; Ning Qiuyan understood Guan Heng’s thinking.

However, what Lu Qianque mentioned about pleasing always reminded Ning Qiuyan of that moment in the puzzle room, when Guan Heng reached out and gently touched his head.

Such moments were rare, only two or three times.

Those were the few times Ning Qiuyan felt that Guan Heng was satisfied with him.

The closer it got to the last time he would set foot on the island, the more restless Ning Qiuyan became. Su Jianzhou saw this as a kind of liberation, even calling him to say, “When you get back, I’ll take some time off, and we’ll invite a few friends to go camping together. It’ll be a celebration for you finally finishing your blood bag mission!”

It was almost over.

Ning Qiuyan knew that, in a certain sense, this really was a kind of release. As a human, he should live like an ordinary person, not be involved with Predators who lurked in the shadows of the night.

In the future, perhaps he would live as unconsciously and obliviously as Lu Qianque’s “designated blood bag.” Yet this “designated” blood supply relationship also made him wonder, “If one day, Guan Heng still needs someone, would it only ever be me?”

This made the ending feel less abrupt and threatening.

The weather in May was already quite warm.

When Ning Qiuyan arrived at Du Island Pier by coach, Uncle Ping was standing on the deck as usual, wearing only a single shirt with his sleeves rolled up, revealing arms that were dry and tanned from years at sea.

“What’s that?” Uncle Ping asked.

Ning Qiuyan walked onto the deck, about to enter the cabin, carrying a red clay flowerpot in his arms. Inside was a dark green, broad-leaved plant, looking lush and full of life.

“Hydrangea,” Ning Qiuyan said. “I noticed there didn’t seem to be any on the island.”

Uncle Ping chuckled, not understanding the young people’s thoughts. “Why bring all these odds and ends? If anyone on the island wants something, just tell me. There’s nothing we can’t get.”

Ning Qiuyan was used to Uncle Ping’s way of talking, so he didn’t respond, simply placing the plant by his feet.

After the boat set off, Uncle Ping left for a while. When he returned to the cabin, he handed Ning Qiuyan a bottle of drink. “Try this. Guan Ziming specifically asked for it-he says it’s really good.”

Ning Qiuyan was taken aback, his hair tousled by the wind blowing in through the porthole, his dark eyes still as pure as ever.

He accepted the drink. “Thank you, Uncle Ping.”

Uncle Ping waved his hand and turned to leave.

The label was in a foreign language Ning Qiuyan couldn’t read, but from the picture, he could tell it was some kind of peach soda.

The sea was a deep blue, reflecting the sky and clouds above.

Although he’d traveled this route many times, it was the first time Ning Qiuyan had seen such a bright and beautiful day. Looking into the distance, he couldn’t tell where the sky ended and the sea began.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and Ning Qiuyan was still a little dazed when called to disembark.

Uncle Kang was already waiting for him, and the people who handled the cargo at the pier appeared right on schedule. Everything ran like clockwork.

“You’re here, Xiao Ning,” Uncle Kang said with a smile. “The weather is wonderful today.”

“Grandpa Kang,” Ning Qiuyan greeted obediently.

The temperature on Du Island was a bit lower, so everyone still wore jackets, but the wind was no longer icy cold.

Uncle Kang had the driver open the trunk to help Ning Qiuyan with his things, then patted his shoulder with concern. “Did you bring clothes? It’ll get chilly at night.”

Uncle Kang had reminded him last time, so Ning Qiuyan nodded. “I brought them.”

Compared to his last visit, Du Island’s scenery had changed again. The lingering snow had completely disappeared, replaced everywhere by lush greenery, full of vitality. Though not as mysterious and majestic as in winter, it carried a unique gentleness and subtlety that made anyone present quiet down involuntarily.

This scenery would last until autumn, and it was said that autumn brought another kind of beauty, though Ning Qiuyan probably wouldn’t get to see it.

Lu Qianque had arrived a day before Ning Qiuyan. He wouldn’t stay long this time, so he hadn’t brought Gu Yu.

It was still daytime, so Ning Qiuyan didn’t see Lu Qianque, only knowing he was still staying on the second floor.

Ning Qiuyan entered the mansion, passing through the dim hallway, the chandelier-lit parlor and corridor, and returned to the bright bedroom. The curtains were still open, sunlight pouring onto the pale blue lake in the distance, but the little white boat that usually floated there was gone.

The bedding had been changed to fresher colors, and the vase on the bedside table no longer held delicate little bouquets, but instead a few dark green ferns, heralding the coming of summer.

Ning Qiuyan only stayed in the room for a short while, putting down his things before heading straight to the third floor.

This time, he didn’t wait until evening.

His puzzle was still unfinished, and Guan Heng allowed him to go up to the third floor at any time.

The third floor was as quiet as ever. The double doors on one side of the corridor were tightly shut. Ning Qiuyan walked up to them and saw his own blurry reflection on the brass handle. He didn’t knock, just placed the plant at the door.
The red clay flowerpot touched the soft carpet with only a faint, muffled thud; so light it was almost inaudible.

Afterward, Ning Qiuyan went to the puzzle room.

Everything in the puzzle room was just as before, exactly as he had left it last time, with half of the puzzle still blank and unfinished.

Ning Qiuyan quietly worked on the puzzle for three hours, until his neck was sore and his eyes ached.

He checked the time on his phone, then went downstairs to look for Dr. Ling.

As expected, Dr. Ling was already waiting. They usually drew blood for tests or did simple physical evaluations at this time, and without Guan Heng’s permission, Dr. Ling was not allowed on the third floor.

Ning Qiuyan rolled up his sleeve skillfully, watching Dr. Ling disinfect the area. The needle pierced his skin, and blood flowed into the thin tube.

Dr. Ling said, “When I first met you, I thought you were quite rebellious.”

Ning Qiuyan glanced at the Latin tattoo on the inside of his arm and asked, “Because of this?”

“Maybe,” Dr. Ling replied with a smile. “I didn’t expect this would be the last time so soon.”

Ning Qiuyan responded with a quiet “Mm.”

Dr. Ling said, “You’re still so young. Your body is fairly healthy, but you’re a bit malnourished. When you go back, don’t forget the meal plan I set for you. Eat well, exercise more, and you might still grow a bit taller.”

Ning Qiuyan said, “Okay,” and added, “I will.”

Dr. Ling seemed as if he wanted to pat his head, but in the end, he just smiled at him.

After the tests were done and Dr. Ling had left, a servant soon came to knock on the door, saying Granny Bai was looking for him. Ning Qiuyan thought she needed help, so he went straight to the kitchen.

But when Granny Bai saw him, she scolded, “Why didn’t you eat lunch? You stayed on the third floor, and they didn’t dare call you.”

Ning Qiuyan hadn’t thought of that and hurried to explain, “I was upstairs working on the puzzle.”

“You still need to eat,” Granny Bai said, deftly fishing out ingredients from the pot. “I told them to let me know when you came downstairs, but it’s so late now, there’s no time to make anything fancy.”

Outside the kitchen’s floor-to-ceiling windows, the fir trees stood tall and straight. Light fell across the old woman’s scarred profile as steam rose from the pot.

She nagged at him like an elder who had watched him grow up, kind and affectionate.

Ning Qiuyan didn’t dare-and didn’t want-to talk back, so he obediently sat at a wooden counter in the kitchen to wait.

In just a few minutes, Granny Bai brought out a bowl of chicken noodle soup with mushrooms, the broth clear and bright, dotted with a few pieces of scallion, the aroma mouthwatering.

She wiped her hands on her apron. “Eat up. After you’re done, you can do whatever you like. These mountain mushrooms were the ones you picked out yourself last time. Try them and see how they taste.”

Ning Qiuyan responded quietly, lowering his head to finish the bowl of noodles, soup and all.

After he finished, he wanted to clean up after himself, but Granny Bai shooed him out again. “This is my territory, no need for you to do anything. Besides, I have to start preparing dinner. Don’t get in the way.”

Ning Qiuyan stood dumbly in the corridor for a few minutes before heading upstairs.

But when he passed the third-floor corridor again, he saw that the double doors were already open, and the plant that had been on the floor was gone. His heart skipped a beat, and when he entered the puzzle room, he saw Guan Heng as expected.

He exclaimed in surprise, “Mr. Guan…”

This time, Guan Heng was not wearing his usual black robe, but a shirt of cotton and linen, as if to suit the early summer. The pale fabric made him look even fairer, his fingertips holding a puzzle piece almost translucent, and his phoenix eyes even darker and more unreadable.

“Did I wake you?” Ning Qiuyan asked, a little embarrassed.

“A little,” Guan Heng replied offhandedly. “What’s with the plant you left at the door?”

Ning Qiuyan walked over to Guan Heng, habitually kneeling beside him but not too close. “That’s a hydrangea. I brought it to the island.”

Guan Heng said, “I know. There aren’t any on the island.”

He waited for Ning Qiuyan’s explanation.

Ning Qiuyan explained why he brought it: “Hydrangeas like humid places and don’t need strong sunlight. It’s very suitable for growing here, and the flowers will be beautiful. You won’t need to take much care of it-just fertilize it twice a year.”

Guan Heng asked, “So, it’s a gift for me?”

“Mm,” Ning Qiuyan replied. “You don’t really want to go outside, right? So I bought it online-the seedling is from a southern nursery. I even dug up some soil from under the tree downstairs at my place.” He paused. “It’s Wutong soil.”

This way, Guan Heng could have something truly from the outside world.

Something alive, that could keep growing, and wouldn’t be used up.

Guan Heng looked at him for a few seconds and asked, “Why this gift?”

“Last time, Grandpa Kang said that Du Island doesn’t really have a summer. Even at its hottest, the temperature is only about the same as now.”

Ning Qiuyan knew his reason was a bit childish, but he said it all the same.

“This kind of hydrangea is called ‘Endless Summer.’ It blooms all summer long.”

“I hope that through it, you can see what the outside world and summer look like.”