The thunder boomed in the distance as lightning struck, momentarily illuminating the scene inside the inn where the two former classmates were taking shelter. After the worst of the thunderstorm passed, the rain continued its heavy downpour, wind driving the drops against the closed window. Rao Zhengsheng and Dong Lanying sat down to have their dinner.
Dong Lanying remarked, looking at the downpour, "Fortunately, we arrived before the rain. I'm wondering if the pier will be flooded."
Rao Zhengsheng smiled faintly. "Every time it rained, we would go swimming."
Dong Lanying conceded, "We did, but in the end, you and Horan always disappeared."
Rao Zhengsheng explained, "I was teaching him how to hold his breath underwater. None of you wanted to learn. Horan was the only one who volunteered."
Dong Lanying sighed fondly. "Horan is the only person crazy enough to listen to everything you say and do. Do you remember when we were young, and you wanted to take us to catch fireflies at night?"
Rao Zhengsheng chuckled, a sad memory surfacing. "Ah Nui was lost. We spent the entire night looking for him." He laughed softly. "Then we decided to tell Shifu and Shimu, but it turned out he had left us halfway and gone home. He was sleeping soundly under a warm blanket in his room when we found him."
Dong Lanying chuckled softly as well. "You were so angry with him and called him a traitor. For a whole week, we couldn't persuade you not to call him a traitor." She sighed. "I really miss them. I'm wondering if one day we can go back in time and be as carefree as we were when we were young."
Rao Zhengsheng's expression grew serious. "Lanying, leave this revenge to me. I will avenge our two families. I would rather you live a carefree life than be overwhelmed by hatred."
Dong Lanying looked at him knowingly. "I know you will. You told me a long time ago. We should all live carefree, not just me."
Rao Zhengsheng admitted, "I also miss them, too. I miss Ah Nui, Ah Nuo, Ah Rou, Shifu, and Shimu."
Dong Lanying prompted, "You forgot to mention the most important name."
Rao Zhengsheng hesitated. "Horan... I don't miss him."
Dong Lanying was puzzled. "Why? You two were inseparable. You say you don't miss him; I don't believe it."
Rao Zhengsheng looked out at the rain, his voice low with emotion. "He is in my mind every day; I can hardly miss him." Just then, the thunder burst loudly across the rainy night sky. Rao Zhengsheng sighed deeply. "Horan hates the sound of thunder the most."
Rao Zhengsheng and Dong Lanying immediately quieted their conversation as twelve people walked inside the inn. The two former classmates sat still, quietly observing the new group.
Cao Yanmei spoke first. "Ge, let's rest here tonight and continue tomorrow." She turned to the waiter, demanding, "We want twelve rooms."
The waiter apologized nervously. "I'm sorry, we don't have twelve rooms available."
Cao Yanmei scowled. "Then you make room for us!"
Cao Wenyan intervened, remaining calm. "How many rooms do you have?"
The waiter replied, "Six."
Cao Wenyan nodded. "Let's take those six rooms. Bring us something to eat."
"Yes, sir." The waiter quickly left.
Cao Yanmei turned to her brother, complaining. "Ge, you just have to kick those people out."
Cao Wenyan smiled, chastising her lightly. "You left a bad impression on behalf of our sect. Don't be so reckless, or you will never get married."
Cao Yanmei smiled coyly. "Well, I am not as talented as the young master of the Beixing Sect, who is loved by every man and woman. Am I?"
Cao Wenyan dismissed her with affection. "Silly girl."
Two waiters returned quickly with their ordered dishes, carefully setting the food on the table.
Cao Wenyan said, trying to smooth things over. "Don't be angry, let's bear with it for two more days."
Cao Yanmei muttered, full of resentment. "I hate going back to that ship."
From across the room, Rao Zhengsheng was gritting his teeth, his eyes fixed on Cao Wenyan and Cao Yanmei. He recognized the children of the man who had ordered the destruction of his family.
He turned to Dong Lanying, his voice low and cold with sudden resolve. "Lanying, let's drown their ship."
Dong Lanying nodded, her expression equally determined.
Inside the fabric mill, when the thunder boomed across the night sky, Xue Horan reacted instantly. He quickly turned his face to Yongzheng's waist and curled into a fetal position. Xue Horan hugged Yongzheng's waist with his right hand and clutched Yongzheng's pants tightly with his left.
Xue Horan murmured, shivering, "Zheng ge ge... Zheng ge ge... I am very scared." He buried his face against Yongzheng's waist.
Yongzheng gently corrected him. "I'm not Zheng ge ge." He touched Xue Horan's forehead and realized the young man was developing a fever. He began to rub the back of Xue Horan's head soothingly. "I'm here, don't be afraid."
Xue Horan murmured in his sleep again, "Zheng ge ge, where are you? I miss you so much."
Yongzheng felt Xue Horan's tears soak his pants. He stretched out his left hand and tenderly wiped Xue Horan's tears away. He whispered, "Horan, I am here." He continued to rub Xue Horan's head until he felt the young man's breathing finally deepen into sleep.
Yongzheng looked to the other side of the loft and saw Miao Mingzhu sitting there, staring intently at him. He stopped rubbing Xue Horan's head.
Miao Mingzhu smiled cruelly. "Ah... I was almost moved by this action. Earlier, you stared at me so rigidly when I undressed in front of you, but for him... you show a little too much affection." She giggled.
Yongzheng simply replied, "Miao guniang, he is sick."
Miao Mingzhu pressed on. "Sick and muttering in his sleep. What is he muttering?"
Yongzheng answered truthfully, his expression stoic. "He misses his Zheng ge ge."
Miao Mingzhu frowned sarcastically. "Aw... it's a pity that you are holding him, but his heart is missing others." Miao Mingzhu stared at Xue Horan. "When you think about it, he really looks a bit like Mu Dishi."
When Xue Horan woke up early the next morning, he realized he was asleep on Yongzheng's lap. He quickly got up and adjusted himself, looking at Yongzheng shyly.
Xue Horan asked, "Did I sleep on your lap all night?"
Yongzheng nodded. "It's alright." Xue Horan looked around the loft, noticing Miao Mingzhu and Wang Biming were gone. "What happened to those two people last night?"
Yongzheng replied, "They left early today." He looked at Xue Horan. "This is a good place for you to rest. The rain hasn't stopped."
Xue Horan asked, "What about the Lao Shushu?"
Yongzheng explained, "His grandson came to take him home early this morning. He said that if we want, we can use this place for a few days. They also left us some food."
Xue Horan tried to twist his ankle but winced; it hurt too much. He desperately wanted to leave and head straight to Tianshan, but his injury prevented him. He sighed. "I think we can only wait here for my ankles to get better."
Yongzheng said, "I'll cook something for you."
Xue Horan smiled brightly. "Thank you, da ge."
Yongzheng slowly climbed down the bamboo ladder and walked outside. The morning sun was hidden away by dark clouds, and the ground was sodden. As he started cooking in the small, open kitchen, a small carriage stopped in front of the fabric mill. Yongzheng looked up and recognized the man and the woman; he remembered seeing them in Tianshan a few years ago.
Yuan Xiurong smiled at the man beside her, Rao Zhengsheng, and said, "Go and ask if you can stay here and wait for Lanying."
Rao Zhengsheng and Yuan Xiurong walked toward Yongzheng. Rao Zhengsheng asked, "Can we stay here overnight?"
Yongzheng replied, "This is not my house. The owner said I can stay for a few days, so as long as you don't break anything, I don't mind. You two can sit over there. I am making breakfast."
Xue Horan slowly limped from the house to the doorway, inhaling deeply. He looked at Yongzheng, who was cooking, then to his right, where a man and a woman were sitting at a table. The man sat with his back facing Xue Horan.
Yongzheng saw Xue Horan standing at the door. He quickly put down the plate and rushed toward Xue Horan, grabbing his left arm to support him. He asked, "Why did you come down? I was about to bring you some food."
Xue Horan replied, "I just wanted to breathe some fresh air."
Rao Zhengsheng thought he had heard wrong. The voice of that person sounded exactly like Xue Horan. He murmured, "Horan..." As soon as he turned around, he saw Xue Horan smiling at Yongzheng. He stood up and shouted happily. "Horan!"
Xue Horan instantly turned to the right and saw Rao Zhengsheng rushing toward him. He let go of Yongzheng's hand and limped toward Rao Zhengsheng.
Rao Zhengsheng held Xue Horan tightly in his arms. After a while, Zhengsheng put his forehead against Xue Horan's forehead. He lowered his head and leaned in to kiss Xue Horan, but Xue Horan quickly pulled away.
Xue Horan said shyly, "Zheng ge ge, there are people around."
Rao Zhengsheng chuckled. "I miss you so much, I forgot."
Xue Horan said shyly, "I miss you too."
Rao Zhengsheng then noticed the limp. "Are you injured?"
Xue Horan nodded innocently and replied, "I sprained my ankle."
Rao Zhengsheng asked, "Hurt?"
Xue Horan's eyes clouded with worry. "Yes, I was afraid that I might not make it to Tianshan."
Rao Zhengsheng's smile was comforting. "Silly, I'm here. Don't be afraid." Rao Zhengsheng smiled and picked up Xue Horan, carrying him to the table.