I finally understood why An Pu had told me to come to Tongjiang Miao Village first.
Shen Jianqing was here.
“I thought I’d have to go into the Shidi mountains to find you. I was ready for that,” I whispered.
Shen Jianqing smiled enigmatically.
He guided me upward, through the commercial district of Tongjiang Miao Village, following a narrow path. The higher we went, the weaker the commercial feel and the stronger the authentic ethnic atmosphere.
We passed the grain-drying terraces and arrived at a stilted wooden house. Along the way, people occasionally glanced at us, and others greeted Shen Jianqing. He responded cheerfully, deliberately showing the hand tightly holding mine for everyone to see.
Among these people, several faces looked familiar. Most were young men. After thinking for a moment, I recalled that when Shen Jianqing had led people out of the insect forest and fallen, it had been them carrying him back, barely conscious.
Shen Jianqing opened the door, and I realized this was his home. The stilted house was somewhat old, with only two small rooms—not comparable to his place in Shidi Mountain—but it was clean, neatly organized, and full of the feeling of everyday life.
I opened my mouth to speak, questions filling me, but suddenly, a firm grip lifted me from beside him.
Caught off guard, my heart jolted. The next moment, his other hand cupped my face, hot breath falling across me.
The bamboo door slammed with a “bang.” Shen Jianqing pressed against me, pinning me in the narrow space between him and the door, and eagerly pressed his lips to mine.
The familiar scent enveloped me.
His lips were warm and soft. I placed my hands on his waist and tilted my neck to respond.
I heard a delighted, muffled laugh, and couldn’t resist gently biting the corner of his lips.
Our breathing grew heavy. Finally, Shen Jianqing reluctantly pulled back, forehead resting against mine, each word brushing lightly across my cheek, sending shivers through me.
“Brother Yuze, you chose me, didn’t you? You won’t let me go, will you?”
Sunlight streamed into the room, brightening everything. I looked straight into Shen Jianqing’s eyes and solemnly gave my answer.
“Yes, Shen Jianqing. It’s you for life!”
In that instant, his expression was a mixture of disbelief and astonishment. Then, slowly, it shifted into the joy of someone winning a grand prize, as he dove into my embrace.
“You can’t back out!”
I pressed my face against his head and shook it.
“It’s too late to regret. I only gave you one chance to choose,” Shen Jianqing said fiercely. “If you dare regret it, I’ll… I’ll—” He trailed off.
I smiled lightly, unconcerned.
I suddenly realized that returning here had been absolutely the right decision. It was the first decision in my twenty-one years that left me feeling so completely satisfied.
We stayed silent, pressed together, for a long time. I suddenly asked, “How did you end up here? What exactly happened?”
Shen Jianqing rose from my chest, guiding me to sit down, and said, “I led part of our people out of the Shidi Miao Village.”
I froze. “Was it because of me?”
Shen Jianqing’s lips curved into a sly smile. “No, not entirely.”
He paused, teasing me, before continuing: “Brother Yuze, I’ve always felt lucky to have met you. You made me realize the world isn’t just the Miao Village. There’s so much out there worth seeing—schools, flowers I’ve never seen, tall buildings… On the way to find you, I’ve walked so many paths and seen things I couldn’t even have imagined in my dreams.”
“After seeing these things, I looked back at the Shidi Miao Village and realized all the struggles for leadership were meaningless. Our ancestors once retreated into the mountains to survive, choosing to live alongside the gu insects and endure their troubles every year. But now, I think our people don’t have to live isolated in the mountains forever. They shouldn’t be trapped there for their entire lives.”
This path must not have been easy. Seeing the light in Shen Jianqing’s eyes, I suddenly realized he now carried a trace of the responsibility expected of a leader.
I asked, “What about Wan Ying and your grandfather?”
Shen Jianqing snorted coldly. “They’ve never seen the outside world; they neither trust it nor want it. Fortunately, some of our people were willing to follow me, so I led them out.”
I understood.
I thought for a moment and asked again, “How did you end up in Tongjiang Miao Village?”
Shen Jianqing explained, “Tongjiang Miao Village was originally an offshoot of the Shidi Miao Village. Long ago, a young leader led people out of the mountains and established it.”
I nodded, realizing everything.
No wonder An Pu and Ali knew about Shidi Village.
If Ali hadn’t accidentally revealed it, we never would have known about Shidi Mountain.
I hadn’t paid attention to those details before, but now everything made sense.
So, not only had Shen Jianqing changed me, but perhaps I had changed him too?
The thought filled me with an inexplicable sense of joy and accomplishment.
I asked, “Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you were still in Shidi Mountain.”
Shen Jianqing looked straight into my eyes and asked in return, “Brother Yuze, you chose to come back, believing I was still in Shidi Mountain. Was it because of me—and not for any other reason?”
I nodded solemnly.
A triumphant smile spread across Shen Jianqing’s face; the red mole on his eyelid seemed to sparkle. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted every decision you made to be yours alone—not out of pity, gratitude, or any other feeling. I don’t need your pity or admiration. I just want your love.”
With every word he spoke, my heart softened, melting like spring water.
“I want you to choose me firmly, simply because you love me.”
I couldn’t help but hug him, tears welling up in my eyes again.
“And if I hadn’t come back?” I choked out.
Shen Jianqing wrapped his arms around my waist, voice close to my ear. “I might have felt a little sorry then, but I never thought about it. At least now, I bet right, didn’t I?”
I heard his heartbeat merge with mine, resonating in perfect harmony.
Without hesitation, I gave him the answer he wanted.
“Shen Jianqing, I love you. Only you. Always you.”