Chapter 98: 第 98 章

In the brief span, past scenes played through his mind like a revolving lantern—high school to now, every detail, every word—as though He Wei alone were watching some unprecedented grand lantern show.

'You're the one who looks like he's acting.' Chi Jiahán said it slowly. 'As one of Lu Heyang's best friends, you still need me to point this out to you before you see it—even a fool couldn't act as convincingly as you.'

He Wei collapsed. 'Don't tell me Gu Yunchi knew all along too.'

'Probably. His eyes and his brain both look like they work better than yours.'

'I don't believe it.' He Wei's hands shook as he fished out his mobile phone and dialed Gu Yunchi.

'What.' Gu Yunchi's tone was, as ever, deeply impatient.

He Wei held the phone as though it were a life buoy. 'Heyang and Xu Ze were together in high school—did you know that?'

'Every leader at the Union Supreme Police Bureau bears responsibility for letting someone like you become a Senior Inspector.'

'Aaaaa—!' He Wei hung up with a sharp click and continued his frenzy with Chi Jiahán. 'But those two really don't look like they're gay!'

'It has nothing to do with orientation and everything to do with the person.' Chi Jiahán said. 'Forget it—how would you ever understand.'

He Wei fell suddenly quiet, pulling a single thread of reason from the chaos, and answered: 'I understand.'

'Just like—even if you were an Alpha, I'd still fall in love with you, baby.'

Chi Jiahán was silent for a few seconds. 'Get lost.'

Back at Lu Heyang's quarters, Xu Ze found his sleepwear and prepared to shower. He stood at the bathroom door for a while, but Lu Heyang still did not come into the room.

After some hesitation, Xu Ze stepped out and saw Lu Heyang at the dining table, reading messages on his communicator, a glass of water in his other hand.

He waited until Lu Heyang stopped scrolling through messages and took a sip of water, then said: 'I'm going to shower.'

Lu Heyang lifted his eyes toward him, gave only an 'mm,' and left it at that. Xu Ze figured his hint hadn't been obvious enough, so he took a page from Lu Heyang's book and made it explicit: 'Want to join me?'

The dining area was unlit; Xu Ze couldn't quite make out Lu Heyang's expression, only sensed that he might have smiled.

'Thank you for the invitation, Dr. Xu, but I already showered before I came to pick you up.'

Only then did Xu Ze notice that what Lu Heyang was wearing now was different from what he'd worn when he left the quarters at noon—he had even caught the scent of body wash in the car just now—and still he hadn't managed to register that Lu Heyang had already showered.

His brain really was deteriorating—perhaps because of this wasted vacation, perhaps from sleeping it stupid. It sounded exaggerated, but these past few days he and Lu Heyang had reached a point where they could hardly meet each other's eyes; the moment they did, their thoughts ran wild, and in the end there was only one thing left to do.

'Okay.' Xu Ze retreated to the room with his embarrassment.

Before he could turn around, Lu Heyang added: 'I could shower again, if you insist.'

Something in that sentence gave Xu Ze a faint grasp of the principle. He paused, smoothly extracted the keyword: 'I insist.'

This time he saw it clearly—Lu Heyang was indeed smiling. He set down the glass and said: 'Copy that.'

Lu Heyang was on the phone in the living room. Xu Ze curled up under the covers; though tired, he still picked up his mobile phone, composed the appropriate wording, and applied to Huang Liling for two more days of leave.

Huang Liling would never doubt his good student—he approved Xu Ze's request without asking anything, but Xu Ze felt deeply guilty and sank into profound self-reproach.

That guilt, however, was cast from his mind the moment Lu Heyang came into the room.

'Thought you were asleep.' Lu Heyang stood at the bedside, leaned down, and touched Xu Ze's cheek. 'Want some water?'

Xu Ze shook his head. Lu Heyang dimmed the bedside lamp and got into bed.

They had shared a bed for several days now, yet still slept quite independently—there was no question of any embrace. The way Xu Ze expressed closeness to Lu Heyang was to lie on his side facing him once Lu Heyang was in bed, and then watch Lu Heyang's profile without moving.

'When are you going back to the Research Institute?' Lu Heyang turned his head to ask.

Once he turned his face, Xu Ze dropped his gaze. 'I asked my teacher for two more days.'

'Mm. Tomorrow afternoon, pack your things. In the evening—'

Xu Ze listened quietly, thinking Lu Heyang was about to say, 'In the evening I'll have someone send you out of the Base.' If that were the case, the extra day of leave would be useless; he could just go straight back to the Research Institute tomorrow night.

'In the evening, let's go out.' Lu Heyang said.

Not what he'd imagined. Xu Ze was startled, then suddenly recalled that occasion from long ago, and felt a flicker of unease. He couldn't help asking: 'Where?'

'Somewhere a little far.'

A strange feeling rose in his chest, not quite comfortable. Xu Ze lay flat again, adjusting his sleeping posture to ease the discomfort. He looked at the dim outline of the curtain beside him, and after a while asked again: 'And then?'

Getting to the bottom of things was not something Xu Ze would normally do. Lu Heyang propped himself up on one arm, looked down at him, and called: 'Xu Ze.'

Xu Ze slowly moved his gaze to Lu Heyang's face. 'Mm.'

Lu Heyang half-reclined against the pillow and backrest, and said to him: 'Come here.'

Once Xu Ze had settled into the most comfortable position lying atop him, Lu Heyang spoke: 'I was afraid you'd get bored cooped up in the Base, so I thought I'd take you out for a walk.'

'Not bored.' Xu Ze said.

'Then don't you want to go out and play.' Lu Heyang's hand pressed against Xu Ze's back. 'With me.'

'...I do.' Xu Ze finally asked anyway. 'After that, what happens?'

'After that, you go back to the Research Institute, I go back to the Base. If I have time, I'll come find you. If you're free, remember to come back to the Capital City to find me. And remember to call me every day.'

The strange feeling vanished; Xu Ze's whole body relaxed. He nodded. 'Okay.'

The mobile phone rang. Lu Heyang reached over to get it for Xu Ze, glanced at the caller. 'He Wei.'

Fearing something had happened to Chi Jiahán, Xu Ze immediately took the phone and answered.

'Heard you're back in the Capital City.' He Wei got straight to the point. 'Where's your apartment? I'll come find you.'

'Is something the matter? I'm not at the apartment these few days.'

'Then where are you?'

Lu Heyang, head lowered, was idly playing with Xu Ze's hand. Xu Ze thought for a moment, then answered: 'At a friend's house.'

'Which friend?'

Xu Ze reflected, then said: 'A friend.'

'Lovely.' He Wei let out a strange little laugh. 'Our little Xu Ze, answering every question so smoothly. Goodnight.'

Ending the brief and inexplicable call, Xu Ze set down the phone and asked Lu Heyang, somewhat at a loss: 'What does Officer He mean?'

'Not sure.' Lu Heyang smiled. 'Maybe he just wanted to compliment you.'

In only a few seconds, the call with He Wei flew through Xu Ze's mind and left no trace. He returned to his conversation with Lu Heyang, and realized he had many questions today, while Lu Heyang was busy during the day and might not have a chance to answer tomorrow.

'What do you want to say?' Lu Heyang borrowed He Wei's tone. 'Our little Xu Ze.'

Xu Ze pressed his lips together. 'The medal—are you giving it to me?'

'What medal.'

'The one you gave me before. The Air Force Honor Medal.' Xu Ze described it in detail. 'Your name and rank are on the back.'

Lu Heyang looked as though he'd been enlightened. 'Ah, I remember now.'

'Will you give it to me?' Xu Ze asked again, with great courage.

'That one isn't precious enough anymore.'

'How could that be,' Xu Ze said earnestly. 'It's very precious.'

'Is it.' Lu Heyang smiled. 'Alright, I'll give it to you tomorrow.'

The next evening, Xu Ze and Lu Heyang set off for the Airport. They slept nearly seven hours on the plane and landed in another city.

After a breakfast on the ground, Lu Heyang went to pick up the car. Meeting the fire-red dawn, the car passed through the City District and headed out toward the open countryside.

Xu Ze did not ask where they were going—just as, on his birthday many years ago, that sunset elopement, Xu Ze had not asked then either.

Only this time, Lu Heyang had promised him a peaceful ending, and would not say to him, 'It's fine if you don't wait.'

The sun rose gradually. Xu Ze lowered the window, and wind carrying the green scent of grass and trees poured into the car, tousling their hair and shirts. Xu Ze turned his head and saw the smile at the corner of Lu Heyang's mouth—unchanged from when they were seven, unchanged from eighteen.

Because he was so happy, Xu Ze smiled too.

A few hours later, Xu Ze could no longer smile.

The yacht slowed as it neared the shore. Xu Ze took in the Coastal Town, a style entirely unlike that of any bustling metropolis. Until Lu Heyang raised a hand and waved toward the Wharf, Xu Ze followed his gaze—and froze.

In the bright sunlight, he saw Lin Yumian, saw Lu Qingmo, and the pretty little Omega in Lu Qingmo's arms.

The waves kept the boat rocking, but Xu Ze stood stock-still, so tense his shoulders and back had gone rigid. At last he asked Lu Heyang: 'Didn't you say we were going out to play?'

'Yes.' The yacht reached the shore. Lu Heyang took Xu Ze's hand and led him onto the Wharf. 'To play at my sister's house.'