Work Text:
"I can't do this anymore," Zhao Yunlan grumbled with the cigarette between his lips, as he dropped the file folder on the desk.
"What's wrong, Yunlan?" Wu Xie didn't take his eyes off the folder he had been leafing through for a while. Sitting on a chair next to Zhao Yunlan's desk, each paper with a new clue he found, he placed it on the pile of 'things to read' next to his boyfriend.
"If I read even one more file, I'll lose my sanity," Zhao Yunlan said dramatically.
"What sanity?" Wu Xie took out another sheet of paper from the file and placed it on top of the pile.
"You love me and you should support me through this, you know? The other one who should love and support me is ungrateful. Where is my cat?" Zhao Yunlan got up and walked to the door.
"You already know the answer. Why do you waste time?" Wu Xie continued his work.
Zhao Yunlan went out and reached the general office. With the recent cases, all the more experienced members (at SID or previous 'jobs') were on the night shift. This meant that the office was filled with 'Zhao Yunlan's people' and 'Wu Xie's people' (or the badge-wearing mobsters, it depended on who you asked).
Lin Jing was nowhere to be seen, but Zhao Yunlan was completely sure that the monk was in the basement with Liu Sang and technological paraphernalia. Pangzi and Lao Chu were in the old file room, looking for folders of past cases similar to the most recent problems. Zhu Hong and Wang Zheng checked the internet for recent news or gossip on social media that could lead to real clues.
On the desk closest to the door of his office, Zhao Yunlan had already found what he was looking for. Curled up on Xiaoge's pile of files, Da Qing was taking a nap, while the man leafed through a book.
"Did you finish your reports?" Zhao Yunlan didn't expect a different answer this time. He had already left his office five times to look for the cat that day alone. And Da Qing remained in the same place.
But the answer was different, "I finished my reports within an hour of arriving here."
"Then why didn't you take them to my office hours ago?"
“Deputy Chief claimed them,” Xiaoge pointed to the dozing cat.
Zhao Yunlan stared in disbelief. That situation was getting more and more out of control every day. This was exactly the person he had previously believed would be the least of the problems in the entire department.
Da Qing uncurled himself, stretched his legs too short for his large round size and then sat on the pile of files, swinging his tail like a pendulum, showing his displeasure.
"Lao Zhao, if you're not going to let me finish my nap properly, this isn't going to work. Furthermore, I as Deputy Chief can sign official department documents.”
"And how are you supposed to sign the documents, Fat Fuck?!"
"I stamped my distinct paw after thoroughly reading the reports."
"You don't even read the instructions on your bag of cat food! I'm going to-” Before Zhao Yunlan finished losing his temper, he felt the brush of fingertips on the low curve of his back.
"Come, Zhao-chu, let's go to the kitchen. I'll make you some coffee," Wu Xie's voice was too silky for Zhao Yunlan to refuse.
"That's bribery." And proceeded to follow his boyfriend into the kitchen.
Da Qing turned to Xiaoge, "Do you think Wu Xie adopted my master?"
Xiaoge nodded.
“What problem does Wu Xie have in his head?”
"Many."
In the kitchen, Zhao Yunlan leaned against the edge of the counter as he watched Wu Xie gather all the things he needed to prepare fresh coffee.
"This department is going to drive me crazy one day…”
"You'll be fine, Yunlan. If only all the problems in the world were Xiaoge's immense appreciation for cats," Wu Xie said amusedly.
"One day Da Qing will announce that he is moving to Xiaoge's house, you'll see. That traitor."
"Don't worry, this will probably happen when you're moving into my house..." Before Zhao Yunlan could respond to those words, Wu Xie pushed a bowl with a lid towards him. "Here, my sweetie heard that Pangzi would be too busy to spend time in the kitchen today and made us dumplings."
Zhao Yunlan removed the lid of the bowl somewhat cautiously, trying to understand exactly what Wu Xie had meant by "us". The pleasant smell of fresh dumplings invaded him, it was possible to taste the flavor without even putting them in his mouth. “Why?”
“Why what?”
"You said Shen Wei did this for us . Why?"
"In case you haven't noticed yet, he cares about you a lot. I know it seems contradictory because he doesn't want to get to know you right now, he just thinks it's too soon and that you and I should establish our rhythm first. But that doesn't mean that he won't take care of us like a mother hen with her chicks." The smell of coffee being brewed began to waft through the kitchen. Combined with the smell of the dumplings, it made Zhao Yunlan's stomach growl.
When Wu Xie sat at the counter and poured coffee, Zhao Yunlan finally took out a dumpling from the bowl and tried it with a generous bite. Wu Xie watched with interest as Yunlan's face softened and grew in delight.
He didn't speak until he finished the first dumpling. "Is everything he cooks always this delicious?"
"Absolutely."
"Tell him I'll marry him tomorrow."
Wu Xie took out his cell phone from his pocket and started typing.
"What are you doing?"
"Telling him. What else would it be?"
“Wu Xie, no!”
"Too late."
"You didn't do that..." Zhao Yunlan rubbed his forehead, ‘Shen Wei’ was a person and subject that made him strangely anxious. Not in a bad way, he just feared being too intense about a person he hadn't yet met face to face
The buzz on Wu Xie's cell phone made Zhao Yunlan almost tense .
"He said he's not opposed to the idea of marrying you, but not tomorrow, because he has lectures at the University tomorrow."
“Don’t joke about such things!”
Wu Xie didn't respond, just turned the cell phone screen so that Zhao Yunlan could see what was written in the open chat. As Zhao Yunlan confirmed what he had told him, a new message appeared on the screen:
*Remember to make him eat properly while I can't marry him. There are sweets filled with jelly in the other bowl. I should have sent soup and homemade bread. It must be cold in the Department.*
Zhao Yunlan reread those messages and ended up sighing, "He's so adorable..."
"I know, right," Wu Xie smiled fondly, not even realizing that there were more messages to be read.
The small, almost romantic meal didn't last long, Chu Shuzhi and Pangzi burst into the kitchen.
"Zhao-chu, the past case you wanted, we found it!" Pangzi announced, as Chu Shuzhi placed the folder on the counter in front of the Chief.
"It seems you were correct, Lao Zhao. We are talking about the same creature from years ago," Chu Shuzhi said.
Zhao Yunlan immediately opened the folder and flipped through the file, while still chewing on a dumpling.
"What is this, exactly?" Wu Xie went around the counter to see the file as well.
"Something that doesn't look like a corrupted human soul. This is another type of creature. We haven't caught it before. We don't know what it is." Yunlan explained. "Vicious and extremely violent. It resembles a hungry ghost, but an actual hungry ghost even Lin Jing can take down.”
"Amitabha, a monk should have no ego, therefore the ego cannot be hurt... but sometimes forgive me for taking offense." Everyone heard Lin Jing say from the kitchen door, having just arrived with Liu Sang.
"Who called you here?" Zhao Yunlan scolded, before turning back to the file. "Here, a-Xie. There are no images of this creature, just the descriptions provided by those who worked on the case and came out alive from an encounter with it.”
"Twice the size of a man,” Wu Xie read aloud the commonalities in the descriptions provided in the file. “Disproportionately long arms. Sharp claws and teeth. Can walk on two legs or run on four legs. Driven by the scent of blood. Has no soul. Neither alive nor dead."
“Ghost Tribe?” Xiaoge asked, crowded with the others at the door.
“Hm.” This time it was Wu Xie who nodded.
“Xiazi would work for free on that.”
"Wait, what?" Zhao Yunlan looked confused for a moment, observing how Chu Shuzhi and Lin Jing seemed to feel the same as him, while the rest didn't necessarily look surprised. "Eh, since when did the kitchen become a meeting room? Everyone out! Back to the general office." He and Wu Xie followed the other members to the general office, and gathered around the table in the center. "It seems your years of raiding tombs have given you some knowledge about this thing here..." He shook the folder before tossing it onto the table.
Wu Xie was silent. If he were the one speaking, he would go to the origins of the Ghost Tribe and that would be far beyond what he could reveal at the moment.
"We found these guys in tombs a few times," Pangzi was the one to speak. "Xiaoge killed a few. Tianzhen and I just ran. They're very fast, so it's hard to run away. After Sang Bei'er joined us, he identified their movement pattern and we were able to dodge and hide if no one was bleeding."
"They don't have a heartbeat," Liu Sang reported. "But their movement causes a peculiar seismic reaction."
"You guys killed a few. How easy are they to kill?" Zhao Yunlan asked.
“Not easy at all,” Xiaoge answered.
Zhao Yunlan reflected for a moment. This was the person who lived in tombs from a very early age, surviving traps and all kinds of monsters and ghosts - for more than a hundred years. "But what exactly are they?”
"They are ancient creatures, born of the Profane Lands. Soulless, they feed on the flesh and souls of other creatures, but also prey on their own very commonly. They don't stop. There is nothing to be done but kill them." Wu Xie tried to be as succinct as possible, aware that even when he said otherwise, Shen Wei still believed he was part of that filth. You are not like them, my love. Not even when you were born wild and hungry, you were never like them.
"Where did you learn about them?"
"Apparently, one of the reasons you hired me is because I can read things that few people in the world can read anymore.”
Zhao Yunlan wondered if he was interpreting it correctly, because Wu Xie seemed a little... defensive. “Fine. How do we track this?”
"Would it be possible to track it by the type of pressure their presence causes in the spiritual world?" Zhu Hong had heard enough from her Si-shu to remember that each of the tribes caused a different reaction in the environment, but she had never heard of that tribe.
"If we already had prior data on them, certainly, Hong-jie," Lin Jing replied. “But we don’t have it.”
Those in the department who came from Wu Xie's side avoided looking at him.
He didn't want to bring Shen Wei to face this. So that he would have to compare himself to that kind of beast again. But without powers, he couldn't protect Shen Wei from the world, could he? "His Honor. He certainly knows something about this." Wu Xie wasn’t happy about having to say that.
"His Honor only comes when there is someone to be judged." There were exceptions, but for four years, the Ghost Slayer did not appear, many things had accumulated, many things had to be resolved in a much more complicated way directly in the Underworld and only recently had he returned. Zhao Yunlan was still trying to figure out what that meant.
"If more deaths happen, deaths that could have been prevented if we consulted him, what kind of work are we doing here?"
Zhao Yunlan knew from the day Wu Xie first appeared at the SID that he would question everything he could and put a lot of things in check. Having him on the team would be a challenge in itself. And he knew that, above all, he would position himself against the Chief if necessary. Boyfriend or not.
He was becoming invaluable to the Guardian Order for this. The new name was a mere formality. The ancient and respectable Guardian Order would act as it needed to, not just punish. Zhao Yunlan had not forgotten the reasons why the department existed.
He gave in, "It will soon be midnight. If he's in range, one incense should suffice for him to answer us."
…
The cold air gradually took over the office quickly. The windows became fogged, white, and ice crystals formed in their panes. The lights started failing, the air conditioning that kept the office warm turning off completely. With the lights continuing to fail until they went out completely, the candles placed throughout the office lit up all at once.
Most of the department thought the candles were his or Zhao Yunlan's work, although no one had seen him using talismans or magic.
Wu Xie's friends watched him discreetly, standing beside Zhao Yunlan, waiting.
In the next instant, Lao Wu, Wang Zheng and Chu Shuzhi were the first to feel the impact of the approaching presence. And then Lin Jing and Zhu Hong.
It never failed to be terrifying. Even though he wasn't there for any of them.
In the frozen environment, light footsteps were heard echoing through the hallway.
Light and smooth, just like Wu Xie was used to.
Lao Wu hurried to open the door, bowing his head even before the guest approached and not daring to look up when he passed.
The long black robes, tied meticulously to his slender waist, flowed around his body, and black smoke covered his face like a mask that succeeded in hiding his features but failed to hide his deep, dark eyes.
Wu Xie felt the discomfort of having to see him like that, covered in smoke, as if he was a disgrace to the world he protected. His sweet and gentle Professor. His innocent and loving child.
Not long ago, his presence would always have the same effect on everyone present. Except for Zhao Yunlan.
In that room, Zhao Yunlan was not the only one who didn’t feel the inherent terror in the Ghost Slayer's presence. Pangzi looked up briefly, observing Liu Sang and Xiaoge, who were as calm as him. Respectful, as the occasion required, but calm nonetheless. Covered in black, bringing cold and mystery or whatever, it didn't change anything for them. This was the Shen Wei they knew in everyday life, talking passionately with Wu Xie, cooking with Pangzi, sword training with Xiaoge, learning how to better use a cell phone with Liu Sang… The Shen Wei they had found suffering and bleeding, who they had seen embarrassed and timid many times; who they had seen fight with unparalleled ferocity and savagery to protect them, just as they were accustomed to seeing the sweetest and most innocent smile on his face. The Shen Wei who wore masks in front of everyone, in the world of men or in the Underworld, but stripped himself of any artifice in front of them. If they were supposed to inevitably feel the same way everyone felt about what Shen Wei was, then perhaps the effect of that would have been broken by them knowing who he was. Shen Wei was their friend.
In the familiar smell of everlasting snow and dying flowers that came from him, Zhao Yunlan noticed that something had changed, from the past and the recent times he had met him until now. The scent of everlasting snow had mingled with the scent of a sweet flower in full bloom. Zhao Yunlan had smelled that flower mixed with incense several times in the past few months, although he wasn't sure where it came from. He was still trying to identify what flower it was, he was sure it was a flower from his world, he had already felt it before. A living flower.
Such a scent wasn’t from the Underworld, he was sure of that. Something that was once decadent had been restored.
With his hands clasped in front of him, the Ghost Slayer bowed in a respectful traditional greeting.
In the dim candlelight, the scene looked like something out of an ancient tale or a mural painted in lost palaces.
Before, he bowed like this and received a bow of the head in return from those who had dared to raise their heads in his presence. Now, however, that had changed since the new staff members were there.
The first to clasp his hands and bow back, in the same respectful gesture that was no longer commonly seen in today's world, had been Xiaoge - because he was used to the formality of bowing to start and end training with that person.
The second had been Wu Xie, who considered the return of respect dignified and the minimum acceptable way to treat someone in Shen Wei's position. Pangzi and Liu Sang had accompanied them, because they understood their friends' reasons and considered them correct. With the exception of the Chief, now the rest of the department felt compelled to do the same.
It was the first time that Shen Wei, in the position of Ghost Slayer, had a room full of people bowing in return and respect to his presence.
“Zhanhun-shi. My apologies for the inconvenience.” This time, it was Zhao Yunlan who anticipated it, before the always polite Ghost Slayer apologized for being there at a time when he had been duly requested.
"There's no need for an apology. It's my duty to be here when I'm needed," his way of speaking was soft, cordial and impersonal.
"Please have a seat and share a cup of warm tea." Unlike what Zhao Yunlan usually did, using a talisman to send the cup of tea into the Ghost Slayer's hands, he just sat facing him and watched. He knew what would follow. And he well knew that Wu Xie was perfectly aware of the etiquette when dealing with the Ghost Slayer, but from his second visit, Wu Xie had chosen to ignore it.
The tea set on the table was no longer an 'expensive and beautiful set' chosen from the internet to Wang Zheng's good taste. Well, expensive might be an applicable word, if money could pay for priceless cultural and historical value. That was one of Emperor Wu of Jin's court tea sets, and had survived until then for about eighteen hundred years. It wasn't the oldest and most beautiful tea set that Wu Xie and Xiao Hua had obtained - the most beautiful ones were in Shen Wei's cupboard, protected behind glass and a touch of magic.
But that was the thing: ever since Wu Xie had come to work there, the tea had been offered to the Ghost Slayer in a literal treasure .
Zhao Yunlan observed the care with which Wu Xie served the tea, taking one of the cups in his hands and bringing it to the Ghost Slayer, now sitting in front of the SID Chief.
No one in that department ever dared touch the Ghost Slayer. Not even to hand him a cup of tea. This was the reason for the talisman.
This was the second time Wu Xie offered him the cup straight from his hands. The first time, the Ghost Slayer had seemed surprised by the gesture and no one could have known if he had only accepted it out of politeness because Wu Xie was new to this job. This time, however, there was no surprise or hesitation. He raised his hand and his pale, icy fingers briefly brushed Wu Xie's as he took the cup. He took a sip while still under Wu Xie's gaze, knowing that Wu Xie could see through the mist.
“Thank you. This tea is really good.”
Only Wu Xie could see the soft curve of lips on that beautiful face. And he was hurt by that. For the beautiful and loving face that Zhao Yunlan couldn't see, for the wonderful person that Zhao Yunlan couldn't know existed there. It hurt Wu Xie that Shen Wei had to cover up and hide, instead of being appreciated and loved for who he was. It hurt him that Kunlun couldn't remember their Xiao Wei, much more than it hurt him that he couldn't remember him. That Kunlun couldn't know how much he had once loved that person before him, who he hadn't even dared to touch.
Wu Xie stepped aside, letting the Chief get to the business that had made them call the Ghost Slayer there.
"Lord Guardian, the urgent matter I was called for... apparently is not a private matter." The Ghost Slayer briefly looked at the rest of the department members, not focusing on anyone.
"That's correct. It's a matter that concerns the entire department. A recent case we've been working on. We ended up finding connections to some past cases. The killer from the past cases was never caught, we couldn't figure out what it was, about four years ago.” When you disappeared. "This time, the newer team members know what it is, but no one knows enough about it so that a plan on how to capture it can be hatched." It's started to kill again now that you've reappeared.
"And what would that be?" To avoid the unpleasant surprise, Wu Xie had warned his husband beforehand. Although texting wasn't the way he thought was appropriate to let him know about this, it was the safest way he'd found. Shen Wei had to be prepared to maintain a mask of calm even when it came to this .
“It seems our killer is a beast from the Ghost Tribe.”
"I see the reason for your concern, Lord Guardian. I was usually assigned to only judge those you captured here, but I was not part of any investigation. When it comes to the Ghost Tribe, however, the situation is different.”
"What does that mean?"
“As the Lord Guardian knows, I am not a subordinate of the Underworld. I work in accordance with the laws that govern the world of the living and the dead, so that balance is maintained. The Ghost Tribe is not part of the Underworld's jurisdiction. Since they do not possess souls, it is not up to the Underworld to make decisions or dictate sentences. Likewise, they entirely disrupt the balance between the world of the living and the dead. So it's entirely my responsibility whether they cause problems again."
“Your Honor is saying you are taking part in this investigation?”
"Actively, yes."
The entire department would have been agitated if that news wasn't being delivered by the Ghost Slayer himself.
"We need information to be able to track them. There is absolutely nothing in the database about this tribe. There is nothing in the books either.”
"I can provide any information needed on how to track them, how to contain them, and how to kill them. Sparing any of these creatures is an immense risk. They are not part of the cycle of reincarnation.”
“I see. Regardless of jurisdiction, should the Underworld be warned?”
"Of course," Shen Wei didn't want the lies to start so soon, but revealing that the Underworld had tried to kill him wasn't the wisest thing to do at that time, while the relationship between the Underworld and the Guardian Order was essential to the good of many. "I'll take care of this myself.”
"I thank you in advance for saving us the bureaucracy." Zhao Yunlan didn't know if it was the candlelight flickering in the now freezing room without the air conditioning, but the shadows on the Ghost Slayer's face seemed even darker, not a mist, but an impenetrable darkness, like a starless night sky.
Wu Xie was unhappy with that result. Until then, he had not wanted his powers back for anything other than to be able to nullify the curse of the deal with Shennong and make Shen Wei able to approach Zhao Yunlan without fear of hurting him. However, under the circumstances, that desire appeared for the first time. If he had his old powers back, even half as much, he wouldn't need to have let Shen Wei get involved in something that clearly hurt him. He wouldn't need to have let Shen Wei fail with the truth any more than he himself was already failing.
…
At two in the morning, Zhao Yunlan and Wu Xie were back in the kitchen, finally alone after the long meeting. Wu Xie prepared another hot and fresh coffee for them, in silence for a while, while Zhao Yunlan looked for the bowls of food that Shen Wei had sent for them - if anyone had touched it, murders within the department would have been inevitable.
They were still by candlelight and with coats wrapped tightly. Luckily the stove didn't need electricity.
"Darling, you've been grumpy as hell. What's wrong?" Zhao Yunlan expected an explanation for this, even though he wasn't sure what he was suspecting.
"A lot of things. I'm not sure. Bad feeling. And feeling useless when I'm here trying to protect the ones I love.” Wu Xie handed the piping hot mug of coffee to Zhao Yunlan, sitting down next to him. "Come here, you haven't eaten for hours."
“You’re not useless…” He’s not only grumpy… he’s sad . He doesn't feel afraid in the Ghost Slayer's presence, but that wounded look on him… Is that what he feels? It feels like a wound to the soul. I don't know what I was looking for, but I ended up finding this thing that looks like pain. “A-Xie, it's okay. You're tired, we've been working on this for days. I'm sorry if I pushed you about anything.”
"You didn't. You're the Chief and I'm not subtle about questioning you in public."
"You are experienced and competent. I knew from the beginning that we would conflict a little. But this gives good results. I'm glad you didn't put your opinions aside just because we're dating."
Wu Xie reached for Zhao Yunlan's hand across the counter, the first curve of a smile appearing on his face in hours. “Thank you.”
"Will you let me drive you home?"
"I'd love to. But you're naughty and I'm sleepy." Wu Xie sipped his coffee.
"I just want to kiss you for five minutes. Kissing your boyfriend relieves work stress, you know?" he said it as if revealing a great scientific fact.
"Five minutes? How cheap, not worth it,” Wu Xie sneered, laughing.
"For me it would be half an hour, but you want to sleep..." All it took was for you to smile to make me stop overthinking. When the things I still don't understand come to light, will you still be by my side? I hope so.
"Okay, five minutes, you win. Finish eating and take me home."
…
It was already past three in the morning when Wu Xie entered his house. It hadn't been five minutes. He needed to remember that Zhao Yunlan's promises about just kissing a little in the car at dawn weren't worth a holey sock.
He turned on the dim lamp in the corridor, not even wondering if Shen Wei was sleeping, because the answer was obvious. As soon as he took off his coat and shoes, Shen Wei came to meet him, pale blue robe over his pajamas, his hair tied in a low, loose ponytail, his expression more serene than Wu Xie thought he would find.
Wu Xie only enjoyed the sight for a moment before Shen Wei wrapped the arms around his neck.
"Hi, sweetie. You look beautiful in that robe. Why do you have to wear black to work? Isn't there something pretty in blue too? Sorry, I'm talking too much. Are you okay?" Wu Xie buried his face in the crook of his husband's neck, enjoying the soft after-bath scent.
“Thank you for letting me know about the matter beforehand. I am fine. Worried, for sure, but I'm fine. You're the one who hasn't looked good all the time.” Shen Wei was not ignoring any of the dire implications about the Ghost Tribe appearing like this, but at that moment, the priority was to take care of his partner.
"Ah, Yunlan said the same thing. Do I look that bad?"
"For those who only know 'Wu Xie', I think you seem upset. For one who has known you longer... you are holding back sorrow and anger.”
“Sorrow and anger… This is because of what you have to go through,” Wu Xie blurted out, and then just proceeded to dredge up all those feelings, “To be a shadow. Be feared. Never be seen. That's what became of you once Kunlun and I were no longer there. When my friend dreamed of this world, I don't think he wanted it for any of the creatures that would be born here…”
"It wasn't just your friend. It was you. Isn’t that why you loved what others considered unlovable?”
“I loved you because you were mine ,” he was utterly emphatic about that. “There is nothing alive in the world that I can say belongs to me. Nothing but you. The very earth we walk on is part of me, but things are born on it and not from it. You, however, were born from the earth itself, from where Kunlun's soulfire touched my blood. When other beings at that time said that even though you were a king, you were dirty and unworthy, I took offense on your behalf. You were born perfect, flawless. But the others couldn't see you. They said you didn't have a soul, but you weren't meant to exist like other beings. They inflicted on you their own beliefs of what was good and bad, what was right and wrong, creating only pain.”
Once more, Shen Wei tried to absorb those words and find their true meaning, but they still sound like a mystery to him. “I never understand what you’re trying to say with these things…”
Wu Xie pulled his face away a little, looking Shen Wei in the eyes, holding him by the arms, keeping him there, where perhaps he could see through the man of the present and the god of the past and beyond. “I’m saying you don’t belong in the Ghost Tribe. I’m saying you’re not one of them. And I’m saying you were always mine, you’re still mine. And I apologize for what I can’t explain clearly, but… please. Please, believe me. I know I’m asking you to believe in me blindly, against what you think you know for your whole existence. But I’m sick of all of it. Of the way others can’t see you, just because they can’t feel you correctly. Are you really used to all of this? Can’t you believe me?”
Shen Wei wanted to comfort his husband, but the response he had to all that, keeping his promise to never lie to him, was perhaps just a little more to add to that grief, "I would always believe you. But when it comes down to it, it doesn't just require that I believe you, but that I stop believing everything I always thought I knew about myself. What I always felt. I struggle to make what you say about me make sense, but it's hard.”
"You are not theirs and not like them. You are mine. That's what I'm saying." Wu Xie pulled Shen Wei back into his embrace, kissing his face and hair.
“I always belonged to you… that’s what you’re saying?...” One day, he would ask what that meant in a more complex way, but not now. Zhurong-jun had always repeated that and it seemed much more serious than just words from a possessive partner. Although Shen Wei would love it even if it was just that.
“Yes. Always mine.”
“This is something I already believe for long. Deeply.”
…