Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Even after he was seated beside the airplane window, gazing out at the clouds beyond the glass, the chill that had crawled up his spine after running into Wagner Jones still had not fully faded.

Ning Qiuyan kept remembering that Underground Banquet-the Vampires lying in wait in the shadows, all dressed in fine clothes, seizing the chance to throw a party while pretending at elegance. Once their false masks were torn away, they had reveled to their hearts’ content, biting and feeding.

Fortunately, after the plane landed, the joy of seeing the familiar streets of his hometown and breathing in its familiar air gradually washed that feeling away.

Wutong was buried beneath a heavy snow, wrapped in silver and white.

Before coming back here, Ning Qiuyan had never imagined he would miss it this much.

He had witnessed every change this little city had undergone, knew where to find the most authentic street food, and was familiar with every street and every corner. That sense of belonging was something bustling Sujing could never compare to.

It felt even better once he got home, and his mood finally brightened again.

The heating in the apartment was more than adequate. Su Jianzhou had helped him take care of everything; every corner was clean.

Ning Qiuyan did not rest. Instead, he opened the windows to air the place out, gave it a quick cleaning, and only then began unpacking his luggage.

Lying in the middle of the suitcase was that small black leather case.

Because of its metal fittings, he feared he would never forget the meaningful look the airport security officer had given him after scanning it.

Ning Qiuyan collapsed onto the bed and curled up.

He had clearly been looking forward to going to Du Island. Even being delayed by a few days had made him feel miserable; he had been desperate to see Guan Heng.

Yet now that he was so close, a trace of timidity rose in him instead. He found himself hoping he could go to the island a little later.

But that was impossible.

The next day, Lu Qianque called him. As before, he told Ning Qiuyan that Uncle Ping would arrive at the dock at the same time and hoped Ning Qiuyan would not be late.

“You go have fun for a few days first,” Lu Qianque said. “We’ll come over next weekend.”

Ning Qiuyan asked, “You and Gu Yu are coming to the island for New Year too?”

“Of course. It’s been like this these past few years. It’s practically a tradition now.” Lu Qianque laughed. “For New Year, it’s just us and the people on the island. After New Year, some of Sir’s friends and old acquaintances will come as well. The island is always pretty lively during the holiday.”

“Okay.” Ning Qiuyan found himself looking forward to it too. “See you then.”

The hug pillow Lu Qianque had given Ning Qiuyan last year, the one with two long arms, was still around. Ning Qiuyan had not prepared anything then, so this year he had prepared gifts for both Lu Qianque and Gu Yu. Since he still had time, he went out to buy a few more things and packed them all into his suitcase.

Another day passed. Ning Qiuyan dragged his suitcase out of the apartment, took the bus to the terminal stop, and transferred to a coach.

“Oh, it’s you.”

Fate was a strange thing. The driver on shift was actually the same uncle from before, and he still remembered him. He asked, “Going to collect marine trash again?”

“Yes,” Ning Qiuyan said with a smile.

The coach drove forward along the coastline. Ning Qiuyan’s mood on the journey felt similar to before, yet also completely different.

Traveling again along a route he had once thought he would never set foot on made him feel as if he had returned to that despairing summer day when he had gone to the dock alone, only to give up on renting a boat to Du Island in the end.

After getting off, he stepped over a road covered in snow and dead leaves, passed through the woods, and set foot on the beach where the boats were moored.

The clouds hung low in the sky. There was no wind over the sea.

Du Island’s large white boat rested quietly by the shore. Before he had taken more than a few steps, Uncle Ping emerged from the cabin and came out onto the deck.

From afar, Ning Qiuyan waved at Uncle Ping.

When Ning Qiuyan boarded, Uncle Ping helped him carry his suitcase. Having unloaded cargo year-round, he was very strong. He still looked hale and energetic, and he remained just as taciturn as ever. But faced with Ning Qiuyan’s smiling face and dark, bright eyes, when Ning Qiuyan said to him, “Uncle Ping, long time no see,” he gave a polite nod, his expression softening in a rare display of warmth.

“Long time no see,” Uncle Ping said. “Go on inside. It’s warmer there. We’ll be setting off soon.”

“Okay.” Ning Qiuyan slipped into the cabin and went to the seat he used to sit in.

The first snow season had already passed, and no more snow fell over the sea.

The waters were calm and still. They soon arrived at Du Island. As he watched the island grow closer and closer in his field of vision, every cell in Ning Qiuyan’s body seemed to stir uncontrollably, and even his heartbeat quickened.

Seabirds cried overhead. Uncle Kang stood quietly beside the car, smiling as he waved to Ning Qiuyan.

“Uncle Kang!”

As soon as Ning Qiuyan got off the boat, he dragged his suitcase and jogged over.

The old man gave Ning Qiuyan a hug and patted his shoulder kindly. “Has Xiao Ning gotten taller?”

Ning Qiuyan quickly said, “No, I haven’t grown.”

“Then you must have gotten thinner,” Uncle Kang said. “Stay on the island for a while and let Granny Bai fatten you back up.”

They got into the car. The driver was still the same one as before, and Ning Qiuyan politely greeted him as well.

No one found it strange that Ning Qiuyan had come back, and no one asked why. They simply welcomed him in the most natural way. In this joyful, peaceful atmosphere, the car passed through the sea of trees and began climbing over the hills.

Du Island in winter was even more beautiful than it had been last year.

Ning Qiuyan watched the scenery along the way without blinking, feeling that every mountain and lake, every blade of grass and every tree here seemed to fit Guan Heng perfectly.

After everything that had happened in Sujing, Ning Qiuyan finally understood, as he looked at Du Island now, why Guan Heng liked it so much despite being so ill-suited to large expanses of water.
To Guan Heng, Du Island was his world.

The places beyond it were the true isolated islands.

Uncle Kang told him about some of the things that had happened on the island recently.

He said Guan Ziming had delivered a calf for the first time. The membrane hadn’t broken, and in a fluster, Guan Ziming had helped tear it open and lifted the steaming, dripping-wet calf out. He said the workers on the island had been building a forest ranger’s hut when they unexpectedly discovered a new rare plant. He also said Granny Bai, in a rare culinary Waterloo, had managed to blast sauce all the way up onto the ceiling while experimenting with a new dish.

He said Guan Heng rarely spent entire nights on the third floor now. He had found something new that interested him, and had even converted one room into a home theater, where he sometimes watched movies.

These were all things Ning Qiuyan hadn’t taken part in and hadn’t known about. Uncle Kang told him all of it as if he wasn’t a guest, but someone coming home-as if he had always been part of the island.

At last, the car drove onto the manor grounds and stopped in the open space beside the fountain.

The people who came out of the manor were familiar faces too, and they warmly helped Ning Qiuyan carry his luggage.

They chatted and laughed as they crossed the snow-covered lawn and wooden walkway. Ning Qiuyan was in such a good mood he felt like he might float away. He couldn’t help looking up at the white building. Every window was shut, with heavy curtains drawn across them, which meant the master of the manor was awake and had not entered his long dormant period.

Inside, the house was still dark. At the foyer, Ning Qiuyan took off his coat and scarf. When they reached the fork between the staircase and the corridor, Uncle Kang and the person carrying the luggage stopped at the same time.

“Sir asked me to ask you,” Uncle Kang said kindly. “Would you like to stay in your old room, or go up to the third floor?”

For a split second, Ning Qiuyan felt disoriented. Once he understood, his face immediately went red.

Did everyone here know?

Seeing Ning Qiuyan’s reaction, Uncle Kang smiled and said, “It’s all right. If you’re not used to it, we’ll have you stay in your old room for now. But Sir also said that you may go upstairs at any time.”

Ning Qiuyan instinctively lifted his head and looked upstairs.

It was very quiet above. A beautiful chandelier glowed in the middle of the corridor.

“He knew you were coming back today,” Uncle Kang said. “Sir is still waiting for you.”
Ning Qiuyan only stayed in his old room for a short while.

The furnishings were exactly as they had been before. A bunch of small yellow flowers stood in the vase at the head of the bed. The curtains were open, and from the window, he could see the pale blue lake in the distance.

Ning Qiuyan went into the bathroom and washed his face. Looking at himself in the mirror, unable to hide the excitement on his face, he splashed another handful of cold water over it in frustration.

Then he left the room and walked upstairs.

The manor was silent. Footsteps made almost no sound on the thick carpet. He followed the winding staircase upward, his hand sliding along the heavy wooden banister until the friction warmed his palm again.

At last, he arrived before the double doors. He looked down at the brass handle and at his own reflection in it.

Longing poured down like torrential rain.

Ning Qiuyan reached out toward the handle, but before he could turn it, the handle suddenly moved on its own.

After rotating a full circle, the door opened.

Guan Heng stood inside in a black robe, his skin dazzlingly pale as he looked down at him from above.

Those phoenix eyes were very black, very deep. Ning Qiuyan met his gaze, his heart pounding so hard he could barely stand. The dozens of days and nights they had spent apart surged over him in that instant, drowning him so completely he almost wanted to sink beneath it.

“Sir…” he said hoarsely.

Guan Heng did not speak, but he raised his hand and touched Ning Qiuyan’s burning face.

The faintly cool sensation made Ning Qiuyan’s eyes flicker, a trace of moisture showing in them.

Then, somehow, Ning Qiuyan was lifted into his arms just like that.

It was as if their positions had been reversed. Ning Qiuyan instinctively wrapped his arms around Guan Heng’s neck and lowered his head to look into Guan Heng’s eyes, where a hint of red lingered.

The door clicked shut behind them. Only belatedly did Ning Qiuyan realize that Guan Heng was carrying a person as large as him with just one arm. It showed just how vast the difference in strength between them truly was.

The room was very dark, lit only by a single floor lamp. There was the familiar scent of incense, but Ning Qiuyan had never felt that scent to be so intimate, so unbearably suggestive. His breathing began to quicken, while Guan Heng remained as calm and composed as ever. He even brushed a finger over Ning Qiuyan’s earring.

As if inspecting the mark he had left behind-or assessing his loyalty-Guan Heng asked, “Have you ever taken it off?”

Ning Qiuyan shook his head. “No.” Then he added, “Only when cleaning and caring for it.”

He had traveled all this way back, taken the initiative to come upstairs, and even said on the phone, “I miss you so much.” Like this, Ning Qiuyan was simply too obedient.

The red in Guan Heng’s eyes deepened, spreading toward the edges of his pupils, yet he seemed calmer than ever.

“Good boy.”

Guan Heng praised him in a low voice, seeming very satisfied.

“Do you want a reward?”

Ning Qiuyan’s hands tightened unconsciously, his fingertips pressing against the soft, smooth fabric of the robe and sinking slightly into the muscles beneath.

“I want a reward,” he answered shyly.

“Mm,” Guan Heng said. “What do you want?”

Ning Qiuyan had washed his face, and the ends of his hair were still a little damp. He smelled very clean and fresh, so guileless he could be seen through at a glance.

His face was already so red it was almost unbearable to look at, yet he still boldly said the reward he wanted aloud.

In a small voice, he said to Guan Heng, “I want a kiss.”