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It was after the Ji family's banquet ended that Yuanqi decide to get drunk. His encounter with his old 'friend', the Prince of Nantang himself that he has the sudden urge to get loose. No, he is not usually letting his guard down and drink way too much like this because of his responsibility. However, for some reason, meeting Hua-shizi again makes him desperate, unlocking all the almost forgotten, hidden feeling that he has been holding for the past five years.
Ah, Yuanqi still remember his face at the banquet. His eyes are still as bright as he remembers, and his skin somehow looks more radiant than it used to be. There are several scars under his loose robe, but oh, does he care about such a thing? Not at all. His porcelain colored skin, his pink rose cheeks, and his long, luscious hair are way more distracting than those minor scars. They can't conceal the beauty of Hua-shizi, not even 10% of it, at least in Yuanqi's eyes.
Yuanqi once again gulp down his alcohol from the bottle in his hand, staring at the moon as he leans on the balcony. Ah, the moon is beautiful tonight, he thought to himself. Must be nice if he is not alone now and say those words to the prince that he yearns the most. His older brother once warned him about his status, that the Ji family's legacy must continue and Yuanqi hate, despise even, the implications of it.
Being the head of the Ji family is not easy, Yuanqi knows that very well even before he was awaken from his dream. Leading his people, being responsible to the nation because apparently he is also part of the government. Ah, so much to do, yet, so little time that he has which left him nothing to be himself and enjoy even one minute of peaceful day. Unfair, yes, but does he have the chance to argue? Unfortunately no.
Him, and only him that can lead the Ji family and prevent it from the decline. His grandfather trusted him, he can't let him down. No room for another selfish choice, and the duty on his shoulders can't be avoided by jumping and leaping through the walls and trees just like how he did before when he skipped class at Mingyong Academy.
However, can't he dreamed about something for himself for once? He has always sacrifice himself for others. From the search of Ji Yuanhong, to his willingness to lead the Ji family. Every single decisions that he made were all for others. The newly appointed head of the Ji family doesn't know the word 'rest' until today.
But then, what about him? What about Ji Yuanqi?
What about the young man who he has been sealed deep inside his heart that was begging to be freed?
While he is lost in his thought, Ji Yuanqi smiles bitterly as he raises his head to feel the gentle breeze of the night wind. Ah, fate is cruel, isn't it? Nobody can fight it even it one is stubbornly trying to deny it. Ji Yuanqi starts to get dizzy, and it only fuels his nostalgic feelings when he spent his days in Mingyong with Hua-shizi and others. The smile, the joke, the laughter, all of them, he still remembers it vividly. A sudden realization then hits him hard like a carriage when he noticed that he needs that man in his life.
He needs Hua-shizi to come and save him from this pitch black darkness of misery.
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳, he thought to himself. When he encountered Hua-shizi earlier, he looked perfectly fine, still as strong and independence as he used to be. Human's interaction and dependency is interesting, isn't it? How can one lived their life so easily while the other yearns for them and basically hanging their life by a thread? Ah, Yuanqi hates the fact that even in this very moment, he couldn't bring himself to reach out to Hua-shizi.
Because, he doesn't want to be selfish.
Tears almost drop from his eyes when he suddenly feel a gentle tap on his shoulder. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down despite the effect of the alcohol that makes his face red and his legs wobbly. He look at the person behind him who was disturbing his peaceful moment, already preparing himself for another duty that he might need to fulfill.
However, his eyes lights up immediately when he sees the figure in front of him. It was Hua-shizi himself, smiling so beautifully under the moonlight in his red hanfu. His hands tremble, his lips twitch, he couldn't believe that someone he long the most is is standing in front of him.
"I thought that it would be nice to have a chat with the head of Ji family before I return to Nantang. I hope my presence didn't distu-."
Hua-shizi's words was immediately cut of by how tight Yuanqi hugs him in his embrace. The so-called head of the Ji family is crying, sobbing like a mess while putting his head on his shoulder. Hua-shizi doesn't move, instead, he smiles and pat his head just like how he used to do during their school days.
"You should have told me earlier that you missed me this much, Master Ji."
Yuanqi doesn't return his sarcastic remarks, too scared that if he lost focus or let go, the person in his arms will also disappear by the moonlight. His arms are still trembling, he legs can't even support his weight anymore that Hua-shizi needs to lend him a hand by holding him with the same tightness to keep both of them from falling. After what it feels like an eternity, Yuanqi finally take the liberty to raise his head, to see his most beloved's face more clearly with his own eyes.
"You... Are here, you are finally here."
Yuanqi reaches out to cups Hua-shizi's face in his hands, trying to examine his beauty as if this will be his last time seeing him. His eyes are locking in him, checking his eyes down to his lips before he squeezes his cheeks to make sure that the figure that he is holding is real. Hua-shizi laughs, not protesting at all even though his face has turned into a squishy for Yuanqi.
"Come on, my face is not a toy for you to play with."
Though, Yuanqi doesn't listen. He is way too mesmerized by Hua-shizi's laugh and smile as if his earlier tears and sadness were forgotten. Ah, again, human interaction and dependency is such a wonder, isn't it? Someone's presence can easily wash away all the pain and sorrow that someone has endured for years. At this point, Yuanqi is no longer denying his dependency to Hua-shizi.
He needs him, and oh, even though Hua-shizi used to teased Yuanqi about how much he loved to play as a hero, the role has reversed so badly. Hell, even Yuanqi dares to say that he was never a hero, but Hua-shizi? He is the true savior all along. Now, he begin to realize that maybe the reason why he was so stubborn in protecting him was because of his own selfish reason.
That he was afraid to lost his savior.
Yuanqi's eyes then darts to the red ribbon that Hua-shizi wears as a hair tie. The memory of his dream that day immediately flood his head, because it turns out that his judgement was not wrong. Hua-shizi indeed looks good in any color, but red is truly his strongest element, and the fact that he wears the matching hanfu with his ribbon make Yuanqi couldn't help but wonder if it's intentional.
"Does the red ribbon looks good on me?"
Hua-shizi smiles, and that is more than enough for Yuanqi to make this his new reason to continue to go on. The mood then slowly brighten along with the moonlight, and Yuanqi leans his forehead towards Hua-shizi's as a form of silent promise that he made for both of them, that Yuanqi won't let his hesitation consume him and separate him from Hua-shizi.
All of his worries are now being washed away, leaving only his determination to be with his beloved. Oh, as if he was just getting reborn, Yuanqi swore to himself that Hua-shizi will be the only thing that he won't let people take out of his life no matter what it cost. This sweet feeling is something that he wouldn't want to let go ever again.
"Yes, you look beautiful," Yuanqi said with affectionate tone.
"I was talking about the ribbon though, not myself," Hua-shizi chimmed in with a soft laugh.
"You know what I meant."
A soft, chaste kiss then lands on Hua-shizi's lips, transferring the warmth and the longing feeling from the head of the Ji family. Yuanqi knows that he should have asked for permission, but looking at how red Hua-shizi's face right after he kissed him, he knows very well that he wanted this too.
"Stay a bit longer tonight, will you?" Yuanqi asked with a smile on his face.
Hua-shizi once again chuckles and nods, "Sure, let's make out the time that we have wasted."