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Seeing Xiaoge dazzlingly comes to his aid is probably more satisfying than getting a gulp of water down his parching throat. Not that Wu Xie would say no to a gulp of water, but Xiaoge somehow can make him misplace his priority.
How can he not misplace his priority when Xiaoge calmly strides, looking all dashing and gallant in his black suit with the barest hint of smile grazing on his handsome face. If Wu Xie wasn’t feeling faint from his thirst, he might’ve swooned by his gorgeous savior. Well, he does swoon immediately after that, though mainly caused by his dehydration.
It’s truly unfortunate that he blacks out for a while because he misses an even more breathtaking view of Xiaoge saving him. How he jumps and uses his sword to cut the chain off and how he gently scoops and carries Wu Xie down with only one arm, looking very much like a prince saving his imprisoned princess.
When he regains his consciousness, it is to Xiaoge’s face only a few inches away from him. Wu Xie’s breath hitches, countless emotions welling up in his chest. Using what’s left of his strength, he calls out for the person he has been wanting to see after their separation at the underwater tomb.
“Xiaoge…”
Xiaoge’s eyes scan Wu Xie’s face, noting the dry, slightly cracked lips and the clammy skin on his face. He’s panting, and Xiaoge can feel his rapid heartbeat from the hand supporting Wu Xie’s neck. With his free hand, Xiaoge unscrews the cap of a small bottle of water he carried around. He helps Wu Xie swallows several small gulps of water, careful not to give him too much water at one go.
Wu Xie sighs in appreciation, relief floods his mind as his throat is no longer parched. He’s also grateful for Xiaoge, seeing how he barely has any energy left to move. Wu Xie smiles sweetly at Xiaoge, both as thanks for his help and as a simple expression of happiness from being able to meet Xiaoge again. He observes another tug of a smile on Xiaoge’s lips, almost invisible if not for Wu Xie’s familiarity over the latter.
They exchange glances and smiles for a few moments. If anyone else saw this, they could see the little sparkles in Wu Xie’s eyes, conveying the pent-up emotions and affection he was unable to express. Wu Xie is genuinely smitten with Xiaoge. At this time, he doesn’t care if Pangzi or Wu Sanxing called him a damsel in distress anymore. If being a damsel in distress means he can get Xiaoge’s attention on him, he’d happily do it again.
“Well?” Xiaoge inquiries, the smile still doesn’t leave his face. “Can you move now?”
He’s not sure. The water has given him some energy, yet he’s not completely sure he has enough energy to walk back by himself. Still, he nods at Xiaoge, letting himself being hoisted and supported by Xiaoge’s body. Wu Xie’s vision wavers a bit, but he quickly composes himself.
(He misses another moment of Xiaoge staring at his side profile, his expression unreadable.)
Wu Xie turns his head, glancing around their surroundings as well as getting a good look at Xiaoge’s sharp jaw and beautiful nose. He has to assure himself several times that this is real, Xiaoge is here, and he’s not dreaming. The solid warmth pressed against his side is real. The hand supporting his back is real.
They walk together—more like Xiaoge leading him—towards a place Wu Xie assumed is where Pangzi and Xiao Hua are.
At first, Wu Xie still can support himself through their slow walk. However, not even halfway there, Wu Xie’s legs wobble and he stumbles upon his foot, caught by Xiaoge’s strong arms else he’ll faceplant to the ground.
“Wu Xie!” Xiaoge’s voice is sharp, slightly worried. He supports Wu Xie to the nearest patch of bushes then eases him to the ground, all while keeping both of his hands on Wu Xie’s shoulders to steady him.
“Sorry, Xiaoge. I lost my footing.” Wu Xie chuckles dryly, half-leaning against Xiaoge’s firm body. “Let me rest for a while, and I’ll be good to go.”
Xiaoge crouches beside Wu Xie, paying close attention to their surrounding area. He made a good choice with hiding behind the bushes as Wu Xie rests, as it can act as their cover. Both of them know they can’t afford to stay here for too long. They’re still in the enemy’s territory, and even though Xiaoge already knocked them on his way, they can’t expect them to not notice. Xiaoge came stealthily, and they must escape as soon as possible without alerting A-Ning’s group. Considering the numbers, they’d be at an extreme disadvantage if they’re discovered.
It’s not even two minutes yet and Xiaoge already hoists Wu Xie up to his feet.
“We must go.”
The surprise and slight disappointment must have been reflected clearly on Wu Xie’s face—despite the nod he gives Xiaoge immediately after that—because there is a tiny frown on Xiaoge’s forehead as if he was considering another option. Wu Xie doesn’t want to burden Xiaoge even more after he went to great lengths to save him, so he pats on his thighs and smiles reassuringly at Xiaoge.
“I’m fine now, Xiaoge. Let’s go before they find—huh?”
Wu Xie can only blink in confusion when Xiaoge shoves his sword at him, but he still takes it and holds it with both hands.
“Xiaoge, why are you—waah!” A startled yelp tore from Wu Xie’s throat as he finds himself being lifted off the ground, his hands clutching the sword tightly.
“Shh.” Xiaoge shushes him and strengthens his grip on both Wu Xie’s back and underneath his legs.
Honestly, Wu Xie somehow had expected Xiaoge would decide to carry him, whether by giving Wu Xie a piggyback ride or even simply throwing Wu Xie over one shoulder like a potato sack. Supporting Wu Xie like before would take too long, and carrying Wu Xie can be a faster way to escape.
What Wu Xie didn’t expect at all is to be carried in Xiaoge’s arms, princess style.
“Don’t move. Hold on to me.” Wu Xie uses one hand to cradle Xiaoge’s sword to his chest, and his other hand is wrapped around Xiaoge’s neck to clutch at his shoulder. It was the last thing Xiaoge said to him before the latter starts running.
Wu Xie instinctively closes his eyes and clutches harder at Xiaoge’s shoulder. It’s not like he’s afraid of height or something. There are scarier things than height inside the tombs he had gone into. But, being carried like this while the carrier is running and leaping through the roofs as quietly as possible is quite frightening. Mostly because he has no control over his own body and has to fully rely on Xiaoge, even though he trusts the other man wouldn’t let him fall.
Slowly, Wu Xie opens his eyes and directs his focus to the stunning view of the man carrying him. If Wu Xie had at least one hand free, he’d be tempted to run his fingers on that defined, smooth jawline. He’d been wanting to touch Xiaoge’s lips from the first time they met, to see if they felt as soft as they looked. Wu Xie wants to touch his cheeks, to squeeze and play with them. It’d be great if Xiaoge had squishy, soft cheeks.
Sighing dreamily, Wu Xie leans into Xiaoge’s neck, the tip of his nose brushing against Xiaoge's Adam’s apple. It’s so comfortable like this. Xiaoge is strong and warm, and most importantly, Wu Xie feels safe around him. As long as Xiaoge is here, Wu Xie doesn’t have to worry too much.
“Xiaoge,” Wu Xie calls out to him. “You don’t know how glad I am knowing you’re safe. I was extremely worried when you didn’t come up after killing the Forbidden Maiden. I thought you’re drowning and I dived back to look for you, but I couldn’t find you.”
Xiaoge doesn’t say anything, although Wu Xie just knows Xiaoge is listening to him.
“Nevertheless, I knew you’d be alright. Pangzi said the same too. So, I’m really happy that we can meet again.” Wu Xie smiles, rubbing his nose and forehead on the warm skin.
They fall into another comfortable silence as Xiaoge navigates through the area. Wu Xie, on the other hand, feels like there’s something he had forgotten, yet he can’t remember what is it that he’s supposed to say or do. It must be something crucial, so why can’ he remember…?
Whatever, he supposes he will remember it sooner or later. For now, he’s too busy basking in Xiaoge’s warmth and presence.
All good things come to an end. Sooner enough, they manage to escape from the area. Xiaoge comes to a stop, and Wu Xie thinks they already arrived at their destination, except that he can’t see anyone there. He looks at Xiaoge questioningly, but Xiaoge says nothing, only lowering Wu Xie to the ground.
“Are we here? Where are Pangzi and Xiao Hua?”
“Close.” Xiaoge holds his hand out for his sword, and Wu Xie regretfully returns the sword to him.
Xiaoge might no longer carry Wu Xie, but at least he still supports Wu Xie like before. Understandable, since they're no longer in a dire situation that needs them to move swiftly. There’s no need for Xiaoge to continue carrying Wu Xie.
While Wu Xie laments the lack of warmth and closeness with Xiaoge, a part of him is glad Xiaoge didn’t keep carrying him back to the others. Wu Xie definitely can’t handle the embarrassment. Pangzi for sure would never let him live it down, and Wu Xie can already imagine the mischievous look on Xiao Hua’s face.
Meeting with Pangzi, Xiao Hua, and Xiuxiu again brings a wave of relief to Wu Xie. They’re safe from A-Ning’s men, and he’s with them. Now they should get out from here and escape.
“Let’s go together, Xiaoge.” He turns around to call him…
…and sees no one there where Xiaoge had been standing.
Wu Xie’s smile disappears from his face, and his heart instantly beats faster. He looks around, desperately wishing he could see the trails left behind by Xiaoge, so he could follow them and catch up with Xiaoge. There’s nothing.
“Xiaoge?”
No, not again.
“Xiaoge!”
Still nothing.
No, please, not again.
Don’t leave him again, please. He doesn’t want Xiaoge to leave him after every time he saved him.
The expression on his face is so lost, so painful that Pangzi has to intervene.
“It’s good that he left. Come on, we need to go to. Hurry up.” It sounds a bit harsh, but it’s necessary to remind Wu Xie of their priority. No matter how much Pangzi wants to comfort Wu Xie. Otherwise, Wu Xie wouldn’t stop shouting Xiaoge’s name and searching for him.
Xiao Hua approaches Wu Xie with a sympathetic look on his face.
“Wu Xie,” His tone is calm, comforting. “You know how Xiaoge is. Let’s go. He’ll be fine.” Xiao Hua pats Wu Xie’s back lightly before he heads to their car.
Only after that Wu Xie manages to keep his emotions in check and returns to the car, dejection clear on both his face and gestures.
‘Get a grip on yourself, Wu Xie! Xiao Hua is right, Xiaoge will be fine. He’s invincible. Us, on the other hand, won’t be able to escape unscathed if we dawdled.’
Wu Xie sighs and leans his head on the window, wishing it was Xiaoge’s warm skin instead of the cold window.
‘Just you wait, Xiaoge. One day I’ll make you stay with me.’
---OooOooO---
Despite Pangzi’s attempt to lighten the atmosphere, their escape from A-Ning’s men, and Wu Xie’s meeting with his uncle, a certain somberness is still emanating from Wu Xie’s entire being. Even as he lies there on the hotel bed, Pangzi on the other side, there almost seems to be a permanent frown plastered on his face. If any, Wu Xie’s frown only deepens after meeting Wu Sanxing.
The heaviness settling in his heart doesn’t only come from Xiaoge, but also his uncle. His uncle’s stories, his uncle’s words, his uncle’s wishes for him… they all weigh his heart down, forcing him to think harder about a lot of things recently happening in his life.
“What’s got you frowning like that, huh?” Pangzi sits on the bed across Wu Xie, offering him a piece of candy which Wu Xie declines with a shake of his head.
“Is it Yaba Zhang again?” He guesses and continues before Wu Xie can even answer. “I’m not going to repeat what I said to you before, but don’t stress yourself out because of one person.”
Wu Xie grunts and buries his face on the pillow, wanting to just sleep and forget everything else. Pangzi is not exactly wrong, Wu Xie is troubled by Xiaoge again. But it’s not only Xiaoge. It’s also his Uncle, A-Ning, and Qiu De Kao. Pangzi doesn’t need to know about it, of course.
“Besides, if Yaba Zhang still left after what you said to him—y’know, the whole ‘don’t leave me alone’ or ‘you disappearing makes me hurt’ thing...” He pauses for a while to pop a piece of candy into his mouth. “…then he must have his own reasons. Don’t think too much about it.”
Pangzi’s words trigger something within Wu Xie’s memories. He lifts his head from the pillow and turns to face Pangzi.
“What did you just say?”
“Yaba Zhang has his own reasons?”
“No, not that one. Before that.”
“Ah, you did say it to Xiaoge, didn’t you? The thing I told you to tell Xiaoge if you met him again?”
“…what?” Wu Xie seems dumbfounded, head tilting in one direction and mouth slightly agape as he tries to process what Pangzi said to him.
“I told you to tell Xiaoge about how you felt if Xiaoge left you without saying anything, didn’t I? I told you to tell him about your grievances and to make him understand your feelings. Since you already met him again, I thought you already told him.”
Realization dawns upon him, and Wu Xie’s face pales instantly. He remembers now. That was the thing he was meant and supposed to say to Xiaoge before, and he completely forgot about them. Instead, he was busy ogling Xiaoge’s face and enjoying being carried by him.
“…ah.” In the end, it’s the only thing that comes out of Wu Xie’s mouth.
Now it’s Pangzi’s mouth that gapes open. “Tianzhen,” He says slowly, accusatorily. “Don’t tell me you didn’t say anything to him.”
“…I forgot.”
They exchange glances, Pangzi’s full of accusation and disbelief, while Wu Xie’s full of regret.
Then Pangzi explodes.
“Tianzhen you dummy! You’re even dumber than Yaba Zhang!” He shoves his pointer finger at Wu Xie. “You could remember the things that happened several thousand years ago, but you can't even remember to say something so simple to him?!”
Wu Xie flinches, using the pillow to cover his ears from Pangzi’s thunderous voice.
“I can’t help it!” He tries to defend himself. “I was distracted, okay?”
Pangzi pokes Wu Xie’s forehead repeatedly. “Oh, I’m sure you are! I bet you’re distracted over Xiaoge looking delectable in his black suit!”
Rolling away from Pangzi’s attack, Wu Xie uses the pillow as a shield. “Wha—how did you know?!”
“Are you kidding me—oh Heaven…” Pangzi rolls his eyes, pouncing forward to grab a hold of Wu Xie’s cheeks, squeezing and pinching them until Wu Xie looks like a koi fish. “No wonder Xiaoge left again! You didn’t say what you’re supposed to say! If you had said anything to him, the outcome probably would be different!”
Wu Xie wants to defend himself, but he understands why Pangzi is angry at him. At the same time, he’d like Pangzi to stop playing with his cheeks so he wriggles and tries to wrestle away from him, to no avail. Pangzi is just too heavy and Wu Xie is exhausted.
Thankfully, a savior named Xiao Hua comes to his rescue.
“It’s late, why are you two being so loud? I can even hear you from outside.”
Pangzi lets Wu Xie go and moves away, sitting next to him with an angry huff. Wu Xie pouts at him, rubbing on his reddening cheeks with the soft pillow.
“Why are you here, Xiao Hua?” Wu Xie hugs the pillow to his chest, resting his chin on it.
Xiao Hua throws two tickets on the bed. “To deliver your tickets. We will return early tomorrow, so don’t be late.” Instead of leaving, though, he drags a chair to sit across them. “So, what’s got you two arguing like children?”
“Tianzhen is being dumb.” Pangzi answers first.
At Pangzi’s answer, Xiao Hua thinks for a while then his mouth opens in understanding, followed by a nod. Something sparkles in his eyes.
“Ah… I see. I assume Wu Xie is so smitten at Xiaoge that he did something stupid, am I right?”
Wu Xie’s face morphs into a shocked expression, while Pangzi just nods in displeasure.
“How…?”
Xiao Hua laughs. “I thought it’s so obvious? When I said I’ve known Xiaoge for a long time, you looked like you’re going to murder me alive.”
“Yes, yes, that’s what I meant by telling you not to be jealous of him," Pangzi adds. “It’s good that a stare couldn’t kill, or else poor Xiao Hua would’ve been dead by now.”
Ah. Wu Xie wants to disappear from this world. He wants to dig a deep hole and bury himself inside for a hundred years. How is it that everyone seems to know that he likes Xiaoge? Wu Xie never told anyone about it, and yet everyone already knew without him saying a single word. First Wu Sanxing, then Pan Zi, then Pangzi, now it’s Xiao Hua. Was he being so obvious with them?
Face blank and impassive, Wu Xie crawls underneath the blanket and curls into a small ball. Both Pangzi and Xiao Hua stare at the Wu Xie-shaped bundle with amusement in their eyes.
“What are you doing, eh, Tianzhen?” Pangzi pokes at the bundle, and it squirms away as far as possible.
“I’m sleeping. I’m asleep. I hear nothing.”
The two other men in the hotel room burst out into a synchronized laugh, then Wu Xie feels a hand patting his back.
“Alright, then. Get some rest, don’t be late tomorrow.”
Pangzi waves at him with a cheerful ‘night!’ and leans on the Wu Xie bundle. “Now, don’t be like that. More people knowing means more people will support and cheer for you. Me and Xiao Hua will definitely help you hook up with Xiaoge in the future!”
His only answer is a low growl coming from somewhere beneath the bundle. He laughs again, patting the Wu Xie bundle several times before heading to the bathroom. Oh, but he’s not going to leave just like that, not without making fun of Wu Xie one more time.
“Good night, Tianzhen. I hope you can have a spring dream about your beloved Yaba Zhang in the black suit!"
Pangzi manages to evade a pillow thrown at him and runs to the bathroom, laughing loud enough to wake the dead.