After the banquet, the clamor faded into the distance.
Gu Qing turned his head to Milton, his voice soft, almost a whisper: “I want to take you somewhere.”
They boarded a hovercar, gliding through the night, past city lights and starlit streets. Outside the window, the scenery drifted by, and the quiet made time feel almost tangible, softening around them. The car stopped in front of the tranquil Celestial River Hotel. Gu Qing took Milton’s hand, warmth radiating through their joined palms, steady and real. He led Milton through winding corridors, past quiet chambers, until they arrived at a hidden garden behind the hotel.
The garden was bathed in gentle light, as if the stars themselves had spilled across the space. Clusters of silver flowers bloomed around them, petals shimmering softly, casting a dreamy glow, like walking in an endless sea of stars. In the center stood a tall tree, covered in cherry-pink blossoms. Petals drifted slowly down, like snow or rain, swirling across the air. Under the night sky and the silver blooms, the scene seemed almost otherworldly.
Milton stood amid the silver light and falling petals, eyes wide in awe, reflecting starlight and floral shadows. When he looked back at Gu Qing, his mouth curved involuntarily in a smile, eyes filled with wonder: “Is… this a surprise?”
Gu Qing didn’t answer immediately. He simply gazed at Milton, as if no one else existed in the world. Silver flowers and pink petals swirled around them, his fingertips trembling ever so slightly. He drew a deep breath, suppressing the waves of emotion within, his voice low and irresistibly gentle: “Yes. I prepared it for you.”
He reached out, gently caressing Milton’s cheek, and whispered:
“‘Qing’—my parents gave me this name with a hope in mind. They said it meant enduring mountains and flowing waters.
They wished that, no matter how difficult my path, I could live as resiliently as those mountains and rivers. I’ve walked through fire and blade, endured loneliness and darkness, thinking that as long as I held my sword, I could face anything without fear.”
Gu Qing’s eyes deepened, emotions surfacing: “Until I met you, I finally understood—the difference between merely ‘living’ and being truly ‘loved.’
You showed me I could take off my armor, that I don’t have to always be the unbreakable swordmaster. I can be vulnerable, I can be lost—because you will wait, guide, and protect me.”
“You are the only place I wish to stop after wandering across countless worlds. I have walked alone through innumerable realms, but now I only want to stand by your side, to witness every sunrise and every long night. You make me fight not just to survive, but for us—for the first time, I truly want to live for ‘us.’
You are the warmth I never dared hope for, and the future I will never let go of.”
With that, he drew a slender velvet box from his chest. Opening it, a necklace gleamed inside—meticulously forged from silver-gold metal, set with a sparkling stellar zircon. At its core, a faint, flickering light glimmered—a fragment of Gu Qing’s soul.
His tone was solemn, brimming with emotion: “This Eternal Star Necklace is not only a token of our bond. It contains a fragment of my soul—my spirit embedded in the zircon. I forged it with my own hands, embedding all my faith and resolve. Even if the stars fade, this light will protect you, protect our future.”
He looked at Milton, eyes filled with the universe’s depth and longing. Even after traversing trials alone and crossing worlds, his hands trembled slightly now.
Slowly, he knelt on one knee, the silver-gold necklace glowing softly in his palm, catching the starlight and falling petals—a promise made eternal.
Gu Qing gazed into Milton’s eyes, voice low but unwavering:
“Milton Collins, with the cosmos as witness—will you marry me?
If you agree, let me place this necklace on you, and walk beside you for the rest of our lives.”
Petals danced, silver light shimmered, and the night remained silent, save for their shared heartbeats and breaths.
Milton stared at the golden glow, voice trembling: “You… really embedded your soul into it?”
Gu Qing smiled, gentle yet resolute: “I don’t do things with just words or a simple gift. You are my only partner. I want to give you a part of myself. From now on, no boundaries—whether through war, oceans, or stars, wherever you are, that is my home.”
In that moment, tears welled in Milton’s eyes. He remembered the barren, cold fragments of his past, and yet this man before him, with utmost tenderness and unwavering resolve, had pieced him back together.
“…I will,” he whispered, voice quivering with love and joy. He stepped forward, grasping Gu Qing’s hand tightly: “I will. Gu Qing… you’ve taught me how to love, and shown me… I am worthy of being loved too.”
Gu Qing’s eyes glimmered, fingers gently lifting the necklace. “Close your eyes. I will put it on you.”
Milton obeyed, silver hair cascading, neck graceful and pale, surrendering entirely to him.
As the clasp closed, a subtle, profound resonance rippled between them—the mingling of soulfire and spiritual energy. This was the gaze of two worlds, the echo of destiny across time, the culmination of a long journey, and the moment they entrusted their souls to each other.
Milton pressed into his embrace, lifting his head with tears still wet, softly and tremblingly kissing Gu Qing. Foreheads touched, Milton whispered his long-held love, while Gu Qing returned the kiss with strength and devotion, fingers threading through the moonlit silver hair.
Stars sparkled, silver petals danced. This secluded garden held their vow, bearing witness to two worlds entwined forever.
From now on, they were no longer two lone stars passing each other in the cold void—they were twin stars, inseparably linked. They would illuminate each other’s endless paths, walking side by side to the farthest reaches of the universe.
At that moment, the secret garden’s gate slowly opened. Accompanied by a burst of voices and hurried footsteps—
Il dashed in first, clutching a carefully prepared bouquet, excitement barely contained: “Oh my gosh! The proposal worked? I knew this plan would succeed!”
Philip and Veli followed, Veli grinning, teasing: “Finally, it’s settled. Gu Qing spent so long preparing this star necklace all by himself.”
Rain and Navien entered together; Rain whistled sharply, and Navien smiled warmly, eyes full of heartfelt congratulations.
Loes and Ace walked up slowly; Loes’ usually neutral face bore a rare smile, while Ace wiped his eyes, clearly moved.
Finally, the little team “whoosh-ed” out, landing on Milton’s head, squealing excitedly: “Wow wow wow! Proposal success! We knew you two were the best match~ No backing out!”
Gu Qing remained composed, calmly holding Milton’s hand, their eyes meeting in a shared smile before they turned to everyone else.
Amid the friends’ cheers, Milton felt an unprecedented sense of security and peace. He was no longer a lone commander; he had his beloved by his side and comrades behind him.
The star necklace around his neck shimmered softly, as if locking all the gentleness and light of the galaxy into their shared gaze, transforming it into an eternal vow.