The morning sun beamed down with a warmth that mirrored what Xue Horan was feeling inside at that exact moment, his hand gently wrapped around Rao Zhengsheng's neck. He was placed gently on a wooden bench nearby, and Rao Zhengsheng sat beside him.
As if the world now only belonged to them, Rao Zhengsheng reached down to grab Xue Horan's feet to check his injury.
Xue Horan shyly pulled his feet back. "Zhen Ge, we are going to eat, your hands will be dirty."
Rao Zhengsheng insisted playfully. "I can wash my hands."
Xue Horan shook his head. "You can take a look after eating."
Rao Zhengsheng acquiesced. "Oh, I forgot to introduce her to you." He turned to Yuan Xiurong. "Xiurong, this is my Shidi, Xue Horan."
Yuan Xiurong smiled warmly. "Xue gongzi, it's nice to meet you."
Rao Zhengsheng continued the introduction. "Horan, this is Yuan Xiurong, Yuan Zixin's daughter."
Xue Horan recognized the name. "The person that helped you and Shijie..."
Rao Zhengsheng confirmed it. "Yes..."
Xue Horan asked, "Where is Dong Shijie?"
Rao Zhengsheng replied, "She will be here later tonight."
Xue Horan simply said, "Oh..."
Yongzheng brought the finished dishes and placed them on the table. Rao Zhengsheng immediately picked up a piece of meat and put it into Yuan Xiurong's bowl.
Yuan Xiurong smiled at Rao Zhengsheng. "Thank you, Rao gege."
After eating, Rao Zhengsheng grabbed a wooden basin full of water and walked to where Xue Horan was sitting. He began to take off Xue Horan's shoes and socks. Rao Zhengsheng checked Xue Horan's left ankle; the swelling had subsided a bit.
Rao Zhengsheng began to wash Xue Horan's feet. He asked, a tone of serious concern in his voice, "Horan, why are you here? You should be on Butterfly Island." Just as Xue Horan was about to answer him, he raised his head and saw Xue Horan's sad face. "What happened?"
Xue Horan looked at Rao Zhengsheng, his voice hurt. "Zhen Ge, you have changed."
Rao Zhengsheng was puzzled. "I changed? How did I change?"
Xue Horan explained the betrayal. "Before, the first piece of food you picked up was for me."
Rao Zhengsheng chuckled lightly, understanding immediately. "I didn't expect that the innocent Horan can also get jealous."
Xue Horan stared intently at Rao Zhengsheng. No one knew Rao Zhengsheng better than Xue Horan. At first glance, Xue Horan knew that Rao Zhengsheng held a strong, affectionate opinion of Yuan Xiurong; otherwise, he would never allow her the intimate familiarity of calling him "Rao gege."
Xue Horan asked directly, his voice quiet with genuine pain, "Do you like her?"
Rao Zhengsheng stopped washing Xue Horan's feet and looked up at him, his own expression suddenly guarded. He stood up and positioned himself directly in front of Xue Horan. "Why are you asking this?" he countered.
Xue Horan pressed him gently. "Zhen ge, when it comes to you, I know you better than you know yourself."
Rao Zhengsheng shifted his weight. "'Like'? It depends on what type of 'like' you are referring to?"
Xue Horan's gaze held steady, demanding honesty. "That kind of like."
Rao Zhengsheng made his choice, ending the interrogation with a forceful display of affection. He grabbed Xue Horan by the back of his head and pulled him close against his waist. Xue Horan's arms immediately wrapped tightly around Rao Zhengsheng's waist, clinging to him instantly.
Xue Horan murmured into his robe, his voice muffled by the cloth, "Zhen Ge, if you ever change to like another person, can you tell me directly?"
Rao Zhengsheng smiled, the tenderness returning to his voice. "Dummy, there is no second person in this world who I will like more than you." He patted Xue Horan on the back of his head reassuringly. "Do you remember the promise we made?"
Xue Horan's voice was firm, though still muffled. "I will never forget."
Rao Zhengsheng hugged Xue Horan tightly, his promise a solemn vow to counteract the fear and jealousy. "No matter what happens to us in the future, I will marry you." He held the embrace fiercely. "I will keep my promise."
Xue Horan's words, demanding assurance of his love, cut deep into Rao Zhengsheng's heart. He knew that his love for Xue Horan was immense and unchanging, no matter how much time had passed. Yet, there was another painful truth he faced: in this lifetime, his heart might no longer belong only to Xue Horan. He sighed, overwhelmed by memories of the past that suddenly rushed through him.
When Rao Zhengsheng was nine years old, he was sent to Northern Island to study literature with Teacher Sun. After school, he often went fishing in the back mountain with his classmates. Northern Island was the biggest of the seven islands and home to many martial artists. Rao Zhengsheng knew his Shifu was the most powerful martial artist around, but because his Shifu never liked to show off his skills, few people outside their circle knew of his strength.
Rao Zhengsheng's favorite pastime was watching the ferry arrive at Northern Island. He loved seeing his classmates rush into their parents' arms, crying and saying how much they missed each other. Since starting his studies there, Xue Longwei had visited him only once, four months ago. He watched the last person get off the ferryboat with her child.
Rao Zhengsheng sighed, a lonely ache in his chest, and got up to leave the dock, but he was stopped by a small, excited voice.
Xue Horan shouted, his tiny, high-pitched voice piercing the air, "Zhen Ge!"
As soon as Rao Zhengsheng turned around, he saw the little four-year-old waving at him enthusiastically. Overcome with surprise and joy, he rushed to Xue Horan's side and scooped him up in a hug. He immediately asked, concern laced in his voice, "Where is Shifu or Shimu?"
Xue Horan's face was bright. "They are not coming."
Rao Zhengsheng was stunned. "You came alone?"
Xue Horan confirmed it. "Yes. I paid the boatman and I came to see you. I miss you. Ah Nui is not good to me." He buried his face into Zhengsheng's shoulder and began to cry, his little body shaking.
Rao Zhengsheng held him tighter, soothing him. "Don't cry. Let's go see Teacher Sun."
Xue Horan's tears instantly dried, replaced by a wide smile. "Okay!"
Rao Zhengsheng took Xue Horan's hand and went to find Teacher Sun. Teacher Sun, however, told them that Xue Horan must leave the very next day. Unfortunately, it began to rain non-stop and continued to rain heavily for the next two days. Teacher Sun was not a heartless man; he agreed to let Xue Horan stay until the next ferryboat could safely leave Northern Island.
On the third day of class after Xue Horan arrived, Rao Zhengsheng took him and a few other classmates to go fishing in the back mountain.
As soon as they arrived, one of the boys objected, "Zhengsheng, what are you doing with a girl?"
Another boy chimed in, "This is only for boys."
Xue Horan, small and sensitive, instantly retreated to stand right behind Rao Zhengsheng.
Rao Zhengsheng stood firm. "He is not a girl. He is a boy. He is my Shidi."
The eldest of the four boys was aggressive. "Are you sure? He looks like a girl. Look at his long eyelashes and fair skin. Only girls have this skin. If you tell me she is a boy, I don't believe it." The big boy pushed Rao Zhengsheng aside and grabbed Xue Horan's hand. "You take off your clothes and see if you are a real boy!" The big boy reached for Xue Horan's robe.
Rao Zhengsheng sprinted forward, slamming his fist into the back of the big boy's head, knocking the bully to the ground. Rao Zhengsheng stood directly in front of Xue Horan, glaring at the other three boys with madness in his eyes.
Rao Zhengsheng shouted fiercely, "No one can undress him except me!"
Boy one mocked, "His skin is too smooth and soft like a girl. No one will marry him when he grows up!"
Boy three taunted, "Yes, he looks as fragile as a little girl!"
The second boy jeered, "I have never seen a boy look so much like a girl!"
Xue Horan, overwhelmed by the cruelty, hugged Rao Zhengsheng's robe tightly before he started crying in earnest.
"I am not a girl." Xue Horan sobbed at the boys' cruel words. "I am not a girl..."
Rao Zhengsheng shouted back at the three boys, the vow tearing from his chest, "I want to marry him!" He immediately turned around and gently wiped the tears from Xue Horan's eyes. "Don't be afraid, I am here. I will marry you when we grow up!"
Xue Horan, through his tears, asked, "Really?"
Rao Zhengsheng's voice was full of conviction. "Really, because I like you very much." He squatted down. "Horan, climb on my back."
Xue Horan climbed onto Rao Zhengsheng's back, wrapping his legs around his waist, and they began to walk away from the four stunned boys. Xue Horan asked softly, "Zhen Ge, are you not catching fish with your friends anymore?"
Rao Zhengsheng's voice was firm with a new resolution. "Horan, I hate such people. I never want to be friends with them. I just need Horan to be my only friend."
Xue Horan smiled and wrapped his arms around Rao Zhengsheng's neck. "Zhen Ge, I will marry you when I am older."
Rao Zhengsheng chuckled, his heart swelling. "Well, that means you can only love me."
Xue Horan smiled happily. "Okay."
As the memories of their childhood slowly faded from him, Rao Zhengsheng pulled Xue Horan slightly away. "Horan, there may be many people who have come into my life. People I know, those people are very important to me, but I want you to know that you are my most important person." Rao Zhengsheng gently wiped Xue Horan's feet, then raised Xue Horan's left foot and lowered his head to kiss it tenderly. "A kiss, to help it heal faster." He raised his head, smiling sweetly at Xue Horan.
Xue Horan blushed, embarrassed but pleased. "Zhen Ge, I am not a kid anymore."
Rao Zhengsheng's smile widened. "It has always worked."
Standing at the front door, Yuan Xiurong watched Rao Zhengsheng take such special, intimate care of Xue Horan. She had never known that someone could be so special to him. They had known each other for many years, but Rao Zhengsheng had never spoken to her like he did to Xue Horan today. She watched Rao Zhengsheng pick up Xue Horan and walk toward her. She sighed deeply, composing herself, and offered a brittle smile to both Rao Zhengsheng and Xue Horan.
Rao Zhengsheng walked into the fabric mill. He looked toward the ceiling. "Where did you sleep?"
Xue Horan pointed upward. "Up there."
Rao Zhengsheng frowned slightly. "That loft is too high for you now. Is there a bed down here?"
Yongzheng walked out from the other side of the building, his expression helpful but remote. "There is a bed here. I have already made it."
That night, Yuan Xiurong couldn't sleep. The quiet intimacy between the two men had left her deeply unsettled. She went outside and sat alone at the kitchen table.
Rao Zhengsheng found her there and sat beside her. "What's the matter?"
Yuan Xiurong turned to him, her voice low with envy. "Rao Gege, I really envy your Shidi."
Rao Zhengsheng asked, genuinely puzzled, "Why?"
Yuan Xiurong explained, pouring out her confusion. "As soon as he appears, you concentrate on him. You smile freely. You are yourself. He must be a very special person to you, for you to act freely in front of him." She turned to face Rao Zhengsheng directly. "Rao gege, if you have been close to me for so many years just to get my father to help you get revenge, then you don't have to pretend. You just have to tell me the truth."
Rao Zhengsheng immediately pulled Yuan Xiurong into his arms. "Xiurong, my feelings for you are not a lie. I really like you."
Yuan Xiurong acknowledged the complexity. "But you like him too. I know he came first, but..."
Rao Zhengsheng stopped her, presenting his shocking, flawed solution. "Xiurong, even if I marry him in the future, you will also be the real daughter-in-law of the Rao family, because you have the responsibility of being my children's mother." He kissed Yuan Xiurong's forehead. "Go to sleep, it's cold out here."
Xue Horan, who had been peering at Rao Zhengsheng and Yuan Xiurong through the window, witnessed the entire exchange. The kiss and the vow to Yuan Xiurong's future broke the promise just made to him. He slowly limped back to the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed and began to cry silently. When he heard Rao Zhengsheng and Yuan Xiurong walk in, he quickly wiped away his tears and pretended to be asleep.
Rao Zhengsheng walked to the bed and gently pulled the quilt over Xue Horan. He lowered his head, leaned to Xue Horan's left ear, and whispered softly, "May your dream be filled with happiness." He kissed Xue Horan's left temple.
Yuan Xiurong asked, her voice hushed, "How is he?"
Rao Zhengsheng replied, "He has fallen asleep."
Immediately afterward, the front door of the fabric mill was forced open with a heavy crash, and Dong Lanying fell to the ground, vomiting a mouthful of blood.
Cao Yanmei stood in the doorway with the Five Color Mice crawling over her shoulder. Cao Yanmei sneered coldly. "You bitch; how dare you try to sneak inside one of our sector branches." She looked past the prone Dong Lanying to Rao Zhengsheng, her eyes blazing with malice. "Kill them."