chapter 45

Chapter 45

“Thank you.”

Guan Heng said.

A potted plant meant nothing to Guan Heng. As Uncle Ping had said, there was nothing people on the island couldn’t get if they wanted it. But Guan Heng accepted it gladly, and didn’t make Ning Qiuyan feel childish, using a rather serious tone.

Ning Qiuyan felt very happy. “You’re welcome.”

The words he had prepared before coming seemed easier to say now, and it seemed more likely that Guan Heng would agree.

But in the next second, Guan Heng continued, “I’ll tell them to take good care of it.”

Ning Qiuyan was puzzled and turned to look at Guan Heng.

Perhaps because his sleep had been disturbed, Guan Heng, awake during the day, looked a bit languid. He was sitting, his shoulders and back broad, resting his elbows on his knees as he always did. It was hard to take one’s eyes off him.

“Things are almost over,” Guan Heng said. “This time, when they come to the island, they’ll sign a new agreement with me, removing Du Island from the development zone-at least for the next few decades.”

This was undoubtedly good news, and Ning Qiuyan felt relieved. “Is it finally resolved?”

Guan Heng said, “More or less. There are still some issues with the sea routes to handle. They’ll have to remove Du Island from the tourist routes as well. It’s not a big problem. Lu Qianque will take over; I won’t need to be involved anymore.”

It sounded like Guan Heng had other plans. Ning Qiuyan hesitated. “Then you…”

“Rest,” Guan Heng said calmly. “This is a good place to sleep.”

This time, Ning Qiuyan was completely stunned. It took him a while to speak. “Are you going to sleep again?”

Guan Heng said, “Yes, after this is over. It’s been too long; I can’t always stay awake.”

Guan Heng had once told Ning Qiuyan that the longest he’d slept was over a hundred years. He had also told Ning Qiuyan that he liked Du Island very much, even though it was surrounded by water on all sides, like a natural prison, which could make him feel weak, dizzy, and unable to move.

But thinking about it now, it seemed Guan Heng had deliberately chosen such an island for sleeping, to pass the endless time.

Perhaps this time he woke up because he’d slept enough last time, or perhaps there was a reason. So, after handling things, it was only natural for him to sleep again. After all, everything that happened during this period was just a small interlude.

And Ning Qiuyan was merely a passerby who got involved by accident.

No wonder everyone seemed to be saying goodbye this time on the island.

Because no one knew when Guan Heng would wake up next, and they probably wouldn’t see each other again.

Ning Qiuyan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.

The puzzle room returned to silence, but his heart was already in turmoil, blaming himself for his naive thoughts and unconscious hopes. Although he had never expected any response from Guan Heng, only wishing to see him occasionally, now it seemed he didn’t even have the right to say it aloud.

“Oh.”

In the end, Ning Qiuyan made this monosyllabic sound.

He lowered his head to look at the puzzle, feeling a weight at the back of his head-Guan Heng had patted him, perhaps satisfied with his reaction.

He guessed right.

Guan Heng said to him gently and elegantly, “You helped a lot. You did very well.”

Ning Qiuyan provided the blood, Guan Heng solved the problem, and did his best to repay him.

Everything went smoothly.

Ning Qiuyan didn’t know what he replied.

He only felt part of that large hand touch his neck, cool to the touch, and then it was gone.

“Go on.”

He picked up a puzzle piece and heard Guan Heng say.

*

This time, the guests were scheduled to arrive on the island on Monday, so Ning Qiuyan’s blood donation was also postponed. He had originally brought some other flower seeds, planning to give them to Guan Ziming and take another stroll around the island, but he changed his mind and handed all the seeds to Uncle Kang, asking him to pass them on, while he spent day and night in the puzzle room, completely absorbed in the puzzle.

But the puzzle was simply too big-33,600 pieces. Even with Guan Heng’s help the previous times, there was still nearly half left unfinished. The easier color blocks had all been done first, and now only the most complicated patterns remained, which couldn’t be completed in just two or three days.

Yet Ning Qiuyan seemed possessed, determined not to stop until it was done.

He only went downstairs for meals, and hurried back to his spot as soon as he finished eating.

When his body got stiff from one position, he changed to another-kneeling, lying down, standing-his eyes never leaving the puzzle.

Uncle Kang tried to persuade him once, but Ning Qiuyan didn’t listen, pulling an all-nighter on his first night back on the island.

The next day, he couldn’t hold out any longer and went downstairs to sleep, but after only three hours, he got up and returned to the puzzle room.

Lu Qianque came upstairs in the evening to discuss matters with Guan Heng. Hearing that Ning Qiuyan was racing against time, he walked into the puzzle room to greet him. “Xiao Ning, do you want my help?”

Ning Qiuyan, dizzy and bleary-eyed, looked up at Lu Qianque, first shaking his head, then nodding.

Lu Qianque approached, squatted in front of him, and said, “You have serious dark circles.”

“I’ll sleep when I finish,” Ning Qiuyan said. “There’s not much left.”

“You call this ‘not much’?” Lu Qianque was helpless. “You’re really optimistic.”

Ning Qiuyan had no time to chat with him.

Seeing this, Lu Qianque had no choice but to keep his word and stay to help.

Two hours later, the puzzle had progressed a bit more, but the remaining area was still daunting. Even Lu Qianque said, “I really don’t know if Mr. Guan’s goal is to help you calm your mind, or just to mess with you.”
Lu Qianque was always busy; after answering several phone calls in a row, he had no choice but to leave Ning Qiuyan alone to continue.

Before leaving, he said to Ning Qiuyan, “You don’t have to rush like this. If you really like this puzzle, or if you have a compulsion to finish it, you can take it with you. It was a gift from Mr. Guan to you.”

“No,” Ning Qiuyan replied without looking up. “I want to finish it and leave it here.”

Piece by piece, the fragments were assembled.

They fit together seamlessly into the pattern, and more and more blocks of color appeared.

Ning Qiuyan’s neck and waist were so stiff they no longer felt like his own. His body was exhausted, but his mind remained alert. He didn’t know how much time had passed when Uncle Kang came upstairs, gently reminding him that it was already ten o’clock at night.

Ning Qiuyan responded absentmindedly.

When he sensed someone beside him again, he spoke, “Grandpa Kang, you don’t need to worry about me.”

“Ning Qiuyan.”

A familiar tone and voice.

It was Guan Heng.

Ning Qiuyan had to stop what he was doing and look up. “Mr. Guan?”

Guan Heng, with his keen hearing, naturally knew that Ning Qiuyan had been staying in the puzzle room these past two days, but he seemed to tacitly allow it, giving Ning Qiuyan plenty of time and never once coming in.

Ning Qiuyan couldn’t see what he looked like now; he only noticed that Guan Heng had changed into another thin shirt, his long hair draped behind him, his features handsome and sharp, like a silent mountain spirit.

Guan Heng lowered his eyes to look at him, calling his name again: “Ning Qiuyan.” His tone was not very pleasant. “Your eyes are very red.”

Ning Qiuyan reflexively rubbed his eyes, feeling the dryness and soreness. “It’s fine, it’ll be better tomorrow!”

He then bowed his head to continue.

Guan Heng said, “You won’t be able to finish it.”

Ning Qiuyan didn’t listen at all. “I can finish it.”

Guan Heng pointed out, “You won’t be able to.”

“I can!” Ning Qiuyan’s voice rose a little. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m very quiet, I won’t disturb you, I can definitely finish it!”

“Sleep first, then continue,” Guan Heng squatted down and said to Ning Qiuyan. “There’s still time.”

“No.” Ning Qiuyan became stubborn, turning over puzzle pieces in his hand. “I have to finish it before I leave. There’s only one day left, I don’t have any more time… There won’t be another chance. You gave it to me, you must want me to finish it too. I don’t want to give up halfway!”

By the end, his voice was trembling.

He truly wanted to speed up, but no matter how he searched the box, he couldn’t find the right piece. The more anxious he became, the more mistakes he made; whichever piece he picked up, it didn’t fit the gap.

Suddenly, a weight pressed down on him, and Ning Qiuyan tilted uncontrollably.

It was Guan Heng who reached out and pulled him close, his large hand cradling the back of Ning Qiuyan’s head, soothing him just like yesterday: “That’s enough.”

Ning Qiuyan’s whole body trembled.

“Go to sleep,” Guan Heng sounded not at all angry, his voice even carrying an almost imperceptible gentleness. “You’ve completed far more than I expected. I believe you have the determination to finish it.”

Hearing this, Ning Qiuyan slowly put down the puzzle box in his hands. “…I can finish it.”

“Mm, I know you can,” Guan Heng’s voice sounded above him. “But we’re not going to work on it now.”

Ning Qiuyan finally relaxed. “…”

Guan Heng released the hand holding the back of his head.

Just as Ning Qiuyan thought Guan Heng would walk away, his body suddenly felt light-Guan Heng had slipped his arm under Ning Qiuyan’s knees and lifted him up. Ning Qiuyan was startled, his sleepiness nearly gone, and instinctively wanted to jump down.

But when he met Guan Heng’s deep, unfathomable phoenix eyes, he instantly had a strong intuition-Guan Heng knew everything.

He knew why Ning Qiuyan was so determined to finish the puzzle, why he had brought Endless Summer, and why he always hesitated to speak.

His thoughts, his heart… that unspeakable longing deep inside-Guan Heng knew it all.

Because he knew, he silently indulged him, and stopped him without leaving a trace.

Ning Qiuyan was like someone struck by acupuncture, unable to move.

Guan Heng adjusted his posture, holding him more comfortably.

It wasn’t the first time Ning Qiuyan had been carried like this.

When he was frightened and weak, or suffering from a toxin reaction, Guan Heng had carried him this way before. But this was the first time Guan Heng had picked him up while he was completely awake.

Ning Qiuyan’s face burned red, but Guan Heng’s actions were not at all ambiguous. The young human boy was thin and light, almost weightless; Guan Heng was going to carry him back to the bedroom downstairs just like this.

In the early hours, the mansion was brightly lit and utterly silent.

Ning Qiuyan could clearly hear his own rapid heartbeat.

Guan Heng walked down the stairs step by step, not encountering a single Servant along the way.

Ning Qiuyan still felt embarrassed, but couldn’t bear to leave Guan Heng’s arms. He even boldly grabbed the front of Guan Heng’s shirt and buried his head in Guan Heng’s shoulder.

Obedience and dependence seemed to truly please Guan Heng.

Noticing Ning Qiuyan’s little gesture, Guan Heng’s tone grew even gentler, and he said to him, “Didn’t you say you’ve never seen such a beautiful sunrise? Get a good night’s sleep, and when you wake up, I’ll take you to see it.”

After a long silence, Ning Qiuyan finally replied, his eyes moist, “Okay. You’ll take me to see it.”

After all, there won’t be another chance.