Chapter Text
Ruan Nanzhu knows that he shouldn't be doing this. But a selfish part of him wants to relish every minute they got together. And what moment is better than this. The setting is similar to the first time they both danced together.
He could still remember the rush it gave him. At that time he wanted answers. He wanted to see the light in Jiushi up close. To see why it stirred unknown emotions in a person - no, in an AI that shouldn't be able to have emotions in the first place. He did things that was not planned because of Jiushi. He changed his decisions because of Jiushi.
Jiushi is the first person who made Nanzhu feel. Feel that he is a human, feel that he has a heart, feel the things he never understood before and Nanzhu... Nanzhu will do anything in his power to make sure the light in Jiushi live on forever.
Even though their little dance left Nanzhu's questions unsolved, it gave him more reason to protect Jiushi. His kind heart and soft eyes are enough to make Nanzhu melt into a puddle. His brilliant brain and bright smile makes Nanzhu hope for a better future. And even if he scourges the whole world there wouldn't be a person like Ling Jiushi.
That was a memorable day for Ruan Nanzhu. It was the first time he realised he actually has a heart. And all it took was Ling Jiushi to adorably play along to his antics. The painting filled walls and tall windows, the rain filled atmosphere did something to him.
But Jiushi changed after Li Dongyaun's death. It was apparent in the way he held himself. He changed the way he dressed and styled. He became more confident, unafraid to take the lead - no longer the Jiushi who he was before. This did nothing but fueled Nanzhu's desire to be next to him, closer to him, because no matter how much Jiushi changed the light in him remained the same, glowing with a burning intensity after it got dimmed by the death of his friends. Nanzhu can't help but blame himself. His decisions cost lives and caused pain. But it was all for him in the end. Everything was for his sake.
That's why now he bore the pangs his hunger caused from being unsated for two days. He could bare this, all for Ling Jiushi of course.
Right now they both were going down to the lobby to publically uncover the identity of the mole. Cheng Qialin and Yixie went to called everyone else for the meeting.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Jiushi.
I shook my head and turned to look at him. Some sort of spark lit up in Nanzhu when their gazes met. Bolden by the moment, Nanzhu extended his left hand and Jiushi, as trusting as ever, accepted it, smiling. Well... Nanzhu got the unexplainable urge to never let go, so he lead Jiushi down the stairs, holding his hand as if Jiushi was royalty.
Jiushi, in uncontrollable half concealed laughter, asked, "Zhu Meng... What are we doing?"
His laughter was contagious and Nanzhu's facial muscles got the best of him as he said, "I don't know".
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Jiushi turned to him. This time he was the one with a small bow and an extended arm and asked Nanzhu , "May I have this dance?", all while looking at him with eyes that he can't refuse, he breathed out a small unregistered 'Yes' as Jiushi whisked him away from the staircase to the middle of the lounge. Nanzhu's skin prickled in excitement and his spine tingled in anticipation.
Jiushi led him into a dance like last time, but unlike last time their roles reversed. Now, Jiushi is leading and Nanzhu is the one being led, not that he minds but... Didn't he say last time that he didn't have ' A Single Rhythmically Movable Muscle in his body '.
Jiushi's newfound confidence left Nanzhu breathless as he struggled to keep calm. His heart jumped to his throat when Jiushi asked him, merely a inches in between them, making Nanzhu's brain over heat, "Zhu Meng... Are you okay?"
Nanzhu just nodded his head and encouraged him forward.
Ling Jiushi, originally a clumsy dancer, became a bit more graceful this time. He took Nanzhu by the waist and the rest needn't be told as Nanzhu followed Jiushi like its second nature to him.
This time they held each other in an embrace that seems to never end. The plush red carpet underneath them muffling the sound of their steps. The low lighting of the lounge brightened his simple simile making Nanzhu's heart skip a beat. Their bodies impossibly close, in perfect sync. Jiushi definitely learnt something but still, it isn't perfect but who is Nanzhu to care when all of Jiushi's attention is on him.
Their eyes never lifted off the other. Each time they parted, they came back together faster than before. Their pace became intense as they swirled around the other. Hands always in contact. Until Nanzhu circled then around Jiushi's neck nearly closing the distance between them. Jiushi placed his hands over his waist in a semi-hug. The pace slowed down until the two of them are just lightly swaying to an invisible orcastra.
Eons can pass and yet nothing can move them out their soft embrace.
"Lingling?"
"Hmm..?"
"Where did you learn all this?"
"I didn't. I just thought of what you would want."
Nanzhu smiled and the light caught his eyes and... At that moment Jiushi understood why Nanzhu had said about the light in him. Cause now he can see the light in Ruan Nanzhu. And Jiushi will never forget this. Nanzhu is wearing a similar outfit like the one in the Rain Lady's door. The belt hugged his waist far too tight to lessen his hunger. He could only sigh in Nanzhu's selflessness. His beauty enchanting Jiushi. 'Could there ever be a person like Ruan Nanzhu'.
He is gorgeous, kind, caring, a good leader, intelligent, skillful, fast, with a strong willpower and dramatic, but that just makes him more alluring. There is an aura around him that Jiushi can't explain. His tear drop moles beneath his right eye a stark contrast against his skin. And all Jiushi wants to do is be beside him for an eternity, though that's impossible.
They stay locked in between their arms, happily in the other's company as the world around them faded to nothing.
But everything has an end. And when he heard people coming down he told this this to Nanzhu. They broke apart albeit
reluctantly but his hand was still in Nanzhu's.
"Zhu Meng...?"
Nanzhu's eyes are locked on his as he slightly bowed and brought Jiushi's hand to his lips and placed a soft delicate kiss on his knuckles. Ling Jiushi felt his breath leaving him as his heart beat became erratic and a blush crept up into his cheeks.
Nanzhu, like the gentleman he is, gave Jiushi a small and elegant bow that Jiushi mirror back at him, but with less dramatics.
Ling Jiushi thought, for the second time, 'Wouldn't it be nice to be in his embrace forever'.
Just as he thought, people came down and assembled. They newbies quivered in fear and the experienced players waited in anticipation. Cheng Qialin came over to him and asked, "Lingling... did something good happen?"
The ever patient Ling Jiushi just nodded and said, "You could say that" as he smiled softly at Nanzhu.
Unbeknownst to him, his happiness wouldn't last long as that very night Jiushi lamented over the loss of Ruan Nanzhu.