By ten o’clock, Gong Yingxian still hadn’t woken up, so Ren Yi had no choice but to go and wake him.
“Yingxian, get up and eat something. Then take your medicine.”
Gong Yingxian gave a muffled groan and turned over, burying his face in the blanket.
Ren Yi turned him back by the shoulder and kissed his face twice.
“Come on, get up. Be good. I’ve already made breakfast. You can go back to sleep after you eat.”
Gong Yingxian shook his head and poked one closed eye out from beneath the blanket. It was hidden behind his disheveled hair, but his long, thick eyelashes were still clearly visible.
Ren Yi continued kissing and coaxing him.
“How are you supposed to bring your fever down if you don’t take your medicine? I’ll count to three. If you don’t get up by then, I’ll carry you out of bed myself.”
Before Ren Yi could do anything, Gong Yingxian grabbed his arm and pulled him onto the bed, wrapping both his arms and legs around him to keep him there.
Ren Yi said helplessly, “What are you doing?”
“I don’t want to get up.” Gong Yingxian buried his face in the crook of Ren Yi’s neck, sniffing and rubbing against him with the tip of his nose. “You smell good.”
“If you keep pressing yourself against me like this, what if you infect me?”
“It’s not a viral cold. I just caught a chill.” Gong Yingxian thought for a moment. “If you catch it, you can take leave too. Isn’t that good?”
“No, it isn’t. Come on, get up.”
“I don’t want to get up. I don’t want to eat. I don’t want to take medicine. I just want to hold you like this.”
Gong Yingxian raised his head and found himself looking straight at Ren Yi’s full, rosy lips. He wasn’t feeling well, so he wasn’t really in the mood for romance. Still, instinctively, he ran his tongue over his lips. They looked so delicious that he felt as though taking a bite might relieve all the discomfort in his body.
Ren Yi smiled at him.
“You look pretty energetic to me. Why can’t you get up and eat?”
“I just don’t want to.”
Sure enough, Gong Yingxian took a bite of his lip.
“Your lips are especially red today. Why?”
“Oh, I was just kissing someone.”
Gong Yingxian’s watery, misty eyes suddenly widened. He was practically wide awake in an instant.
Ren Yi burst out laughing.
Gong Yingxian said indignantly, “Don’t make jokes like that. It’s not funny.”
Ren Yi teased him. “You’re awake now, aren’t you?”
Gong Yingxian slowly sat up, then suddenly turned around and forcefully pushed Ren Yi, who was trying to get out of bed, back down onto the mattress. He seized his lips and kissed him hard, grinding their lips together. The passionate kiss sent a tingling current through their entire bodies as their tongues and teeth intertwined.
It was easy for things to get out of hand first thing in the morning. During the brief moment when Gong Yingxian kindly allowed him to catch his breath, Ren Yi hurriedly begged for mercy.
“Okay, okay! I was wrong!”
Only then did Gong Yingxian release him, though he still looked rather displeased.
“Daring to lie to a police officer.”
“When did I lie?” Ren Yi pouted. “Look, they’re red because you kissed them.”
That shameless expression made Gong Yingxian’s heart itch. He looked as though he was about to kiss him again.
Ren Yi slipped neatly out from beneath him and scrambled to his feet.
“Getting you out of bed is such a hassle. If you were in my fire brigade, I’d have kicked you right down the stairs by now. Come on, get up!”
Gong Yingxian reluctantly got out of bed. Under Ren Yi’s supervision, he ate his meal and took his fever medicine.
Seeing Ren Yi packing his books, Gong Yingxian asked, “Are you going to school this afternoon too?”
“Of course. I already skipped my morning classes. I have to go this afternoon.”
“I’m sick, and you still won’t stay with me?”
“But I’ve been with you all morning. I only have one class this afternoon, and it’ll be over a little after four. I’ll come home early. What do you want for dinner tonight?”
“Anything is fine. I’ll pick you up this afternoon.”
Ren Yi walked over and checked Gong Yingxian’s forehead.
“Why would you pick me up? Stay home and rest this afternoon.”
“I haven’t picked you up in a long time.” Gong Yingxian caught Ren Yi’s hand and rubbed his face against his warm, dry palm. “Or you could stay here with me. Then neither of us would have to go anywhere.”
Ren Yi bent down and planted a kiss on his forehead.
“Sweetheart, I’m leaving.”
Gong Yingxian reluctantly let go of his hand.
“Keep Friday free. I have something planned.”
“Huh? I have classes that day too.”
“Take the day off. It’s something important. I’ve already arranged to take leave as well.”
“What is it?”
Gong Yingxian’s eyes dimmed slightly.
“I’ll tell you this afternoon.”
Ren Yi spent the entire afternoon distracted during class. He was a little worried about Gong Yingxian’s health, but he was also curious about what they would be doing on Friday.
As soon as class ended, Ren Yi hurried downstairs and headed for the school gate. From a distance, he could already see the understated black Jeep Wrangler parked by the roadside.
The car door opened, and a long leg stepped out first.
Gong Yingxian was wearing a hoodie and jeans, with his bangs casually falling over his forehead. This outfit, together with his slightly listless expression, softened his usual stern and aloof demeanor. He looked just like an ordinary university student walking around campus.
His appearance drew frequent glances from the people around them. Ren Yi couldn’t help feeling rather pleased with himself.
What a gorgeous man. And he’s mine.
“How long have you been waiting?” Ren Yi walked over and touched his forehead. “Looks like your fever’s gone.”
“It’s gone. I’m fine.”
Gong Yingxian cautiously glanced around.
“Where’s that female classmate of yours? Didn’t she come with you this time?”
Ren Yi laughed and scolded him affectionately.
“You little jealous thing. She only comes to me about legitimate matters. It doesn’t necessarily mean she’s interested in me.”
“Are you really that stupid, or are you pretending? Why does everyone have to ask you about everything? Are you Google or something?”
Gong Yingxian urged him, “Get in the car.”
“Hello.”
A timid voice came from behind them.
Ren Yi turned around and saw a young girl who looked like a student.
Gong Yingxian narrowed his eyes.
The girl was extremely nervous.
“Are you… Ren… Ren… Ren…”
Ren Yi grinned.
“Of course I’m a person. What else could I be, a dog?”
The girl burst into laughter, which eased her awkwardness considerably.
“Are you… Captain Ren Yi?”
“I am. Do you need something?”
Gong Yingxian’s hand discreetly moved to Ren Yi’s waist. Ren Yi slapped it away.
“I’m… a family member of one of the victims of last autumn’s fire at Youth Apartment. You were the one who rescued my father at the time. I don’t know if you still remember.”
“I remember, I remember. How is your father?”
Ren Yi found the question difficult to ask. He remembered that the girl’s father had suffered severe burns. If he was still alive, that alone was a blessing. There was no way he could have fully recovered.
Yet the girl was still smiling, with the kind of understanding that came from surviving a catastrophe.
“He’s already had two skin graft operations. Now he can go to the bathroom by himself.”
“That’s wonderful. That’s a huge improvement. What about you? Are you studying here?”
“Mm. I was just admitted this year. I owe it all to you.”
“To me?”
“I received financial assistance from the Ren Xiangrong Foundation. My father’s medical expenses and my tuition fees have both been taken care of.”
The girl’s eyes grew red.
“Captain Ren, thank you so much. You saved our entire family.”
Ren Yi felt warmth spread through his heart.
“I’m really happy for you, but you don’t need to thank me. Actually…”
He glanced at Gong Yingxian, only to see him shake his head. Gong Yingxian had never liked unnecessary communication or contact with strangers.
“Helping others was something my father wanted to do all his life.”
“Thank you. And thank your father too.”
The girl’s gratitude was evident in every word.
On the way home, Ren Yi fiddled with a small good-luck charm. It was a gift from the girl.
Gong Yingxian glanced at it.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to carry that around?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“You’re not allowed to carry things other people give you.” Gong Yingxian pointed at the rearview mirror. “Hang it there.”
“You really are something.”
Ren Yi hung it up.
“Acting like a little kid.”
“You’re the one who attracts little kids,” Gong Yingxian muttered.
“What?”
“Let’s stop at the fresh food supermarket. I feel like eating something light today. How about making a mushroom soup?”
“Whatever you say.”
Ren Yi curled his lips into a smile.
“Yingxian, thank you.”
“Hm?”
“The foundation. If my father knows about it from heaven, he’d definitely be happy. He spent his life saving people, and even after he’s gone, he can still save people. There are so many people who will remember his name and the good things he did. That’s the best way to honor his memory.”
“This is also the only thing I can do for our former captain.”
Ren Yi blinked.
“Who says that’s all you can do? You can also treat his only son well.”
Gong Yingxian stopped the car, leaned over, and kissed him. He used that kiss as his answer.
After dinner, Gong Yingxian sat in front of his laptop, studying a case.
Ren Yi finished washing the dishes, then quietly approached him from behind and slipped his cold hands inside Gong Yingxian’s collar.
Gong Yingxian shuddered and shot him a sideways glance.
“Are you warm now?”
Ren Yi leaned against his back and teasingly licked the edge of his ear.
“No. I want to touch something warmer.”
“I have work to do. Stop fooling around.” Gong Yingxian’s voice immediately dropped a few degrees.
Ren Yi giggled.
“What are you thinking about? I meant your stomach.”
Gong Yingxian grabbed his hand and bit it.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ren Yi sat down on Gong Yingxian’s lap, blocking the laptop.
“Stop looking at that for a while. You haven’t even fully recovered from being sick. Can’t you just rest properly?”
“I feel fine now.”
Gong Yingxian wrapped his arms around Ren Yi’s waist and looked at him with deep affection.
“By the way, what exactly is this important thing we’re doing on Friday?”
“I want to take you somewhere to meet some people.”
“Who?”
“My parents and my older sister.”
Ren Yi froze for a moment, suddenly unsure what expression he should make.
“Friday is their death anniversary. My sister’s is actually a few days later, but… I always pay my respects to all of them together.”
Ren Yi cupped Gong Yingxian’s face and gently kissed him.
“Okay. I’ll go with you.”
“I don’t dream about them very often anymore.” Gong Yingxian sighed softly. “Maybe they’ve finally found peace and can rest.”
“They know you’re doing well now. That’s why they can rest easy.”
“With you here, of course they’re at ease.”
Gong Yingxian tightened his arms around him.
“I wish I could keep you in my pocket every day, so I could see you whenever and wherever I wanted.”
Ren Yi chuckled and rubbed the pocket on his chest.
“Which pocket? This one, or…”
His hand moved lower, toward Gong Yingxian’s pants.
“This one?”
Gong Yingxian glared at Ren Yi in mock anger, feeling his blood rush. He picked Ren Yi up and pressed him down onto the desk…
Early in the morning, the sky was a smoky blue, with a light drizzle falling. The cemetery was cold and quiet. The two men walked slowly along an old stone path, sharing a black umbrella. Raindrops soaked their shoulders, but neither of them noticed.
When they reached a family tomb, Gong Yingxian stopped. He slowly crouched down and placed the bouquet of white lilies in his hand before the gravestone.
He looked at the faded inscriptions carved into the stone. His eyes were quiet and heavy, as though they too were silently shedding rain.
Ren Yi gently took his hand.
Gong Yingxian spoke.
“Dad, Mom, Sis, I’ve come to visit you. I brought someone with me today. His name is Ren Yi. He’s my boyfriend, my partner, and the most important person in my life.”
Ren Yi felt the strength of Gong Yingxian’s grip as he squeezed his hand in return. It was tight enough to hurt a little, but it also made Ren Yi feel secure.
“He’s a particularly wonderful person. The best person in the whole world. From now on, I have someone to accompany me. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”
Ren Yi looked at the cold gravestone before them and imagined what Gong Yingxian might have been like if none of the tragedies had ever happened. If he had grown up normally, surrounded by his family’s love and care, perhaps he would have become a cheerful, sunny person.
His chest felt heavy.
In a quiet voice, he said, “Uncle, Auntie, Sis, you can leave Yingxian in my care. I’ll treat him well for the rest of my life.”
Gong Yingxian continued speaking in fits and starts. He told them many things about his daily life, his work, and their relatives and friends. It was just like chatting with his family, except that he would never receive a response.
Finally, Gong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi and said gently, “There’s something I want to give you.”
“What?”
He took a small black brocade box out of his pocket.
Ren Yi’s heart suddenly began beating faster.
Gong Yingxian opened the box. Inside lay two simple platinum wedding bands.
His eyes flickered as he spoke softly.
“I… I was thinking… I haven’t used my annual leave yet. After you finish your training, we could go to the United States. Same-sex couples can… get married there. Although it might not have legal effect back home, there would still be a certificate, and then…”
Ren Yi held back the sting in his nose and laughed.
“Are you proposing to me? Who proposes in a cemetery?”
Gong Yingxian’s face turned red.
“It’s not exactly a formal proposal. I just… wanted my family to witness it.”
Ren Yi held up his long, strong fingers.
“Then hurry up and put it on me.”
The corners of Gong Yingxian’s mouth kept curling upward. He took one ring from the box and slipped it onto Ren Yi’s ring finger.
Ren Yi picked up the other one and put it on Gong Yingxian’s finger.
Looking at the little band encircling his finger, the ring that would bind him for the rest of his life, Ren Yi said with a straight face, “Well, ‘One Heart, One Gecko’ is certainly a creative choice.”
Gong Yingxian flushed with embarrassment and annoyance.
“Don’t think I don’t know you’re making fun of me.”
“I’m not making fun of you. I like ‘One Heart, One Gecko,’ and I like this too.”
Ren Yi supported the back of Gong Yingxian’s head and pressed a solemn kiss to his lips.
“I accept your proposal. Once I finish my training and you’ve taken your annual leave, we’ll go to the United States and get married.”
Gong Yingxian held Ren Yi’s ring-bearing hand and intertwined their fingers.
He felt a faint dampness gathering on his eyelashes.
Dad, Mom, Sis, can you see? I’m happy now. My happiness is right here, with this person.