Translator: Moonlit
Editor: Aiya-ge
The sunlight pierced through his eyelids, awakening his dormant will.
Li ZouXing struggled to open his eyes, and the blurry objects gradually became clearer. Someone was calling him, and warm water touched his lips, quenching his parched throat.
A strange sensation came suddenly and naturally. Li ZouXing grasped the person’s hand with all his strength, his grip so strong that his fingers began to tremble.
This feeling told him he had come back.
The person before him was Gu WenCheng.
He couldn’t speak until his throat was moistened by the water. He spoke hoarsely, “Dear.”
Even before his eyes saw the person, the words of endearment had already slipped out naturally.
Gu WenCheng’s wrist was held tightly, turning it red.
His voice was unsteady, “Yes, Dear.”
Even though he had drunk enough water, his lips were still dry. Gu WenCheng kissed him, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.
His heart exploded with various emotions. The moment he could finally feel Li ZouXing’s real body, Gu WenCheng’s eyes had already turned red.
He hadn’t cried in his youth, and he hadn’t cried as an adult either, but now, after returning to a lifetime, he couldn’t hold back the tears.
Li ZouXing’s eyes were dry, and he kissed Gu WenCheng’s lips. Gu WenCheng, in turn, kissed him back. That sense of urgency, as if the other would disappear in the next moment, tormented their hearts like a blunt knife.
Being able to touch your beloved.
How could he not be happy?
A glass of water vanished between their lips and tongues. Gu WenCheng cradled Li ZouXing’s face. After an hour, both their faces were wet.
Li ZouXing’s eyelashes were covered in the dew Gu WenCheng had shed, and their wet faces couldn’t tell whose tears they were.
Skin against skin, sticky, the sense of security returned bit by bit, and their hearts, suspended in mid-air, slowly descended.
Gu WenCheng said in a hoarse voice, “I’ll get you a towel.”
But Li ZouXing held onto him, insisting on getting out of bed with him. “No need for a towel. Let’s take a bath together.”
No need for questions, no need for words.
As long as they were together, visible to each other, nothing else mattered anymore.
The two of them entered the bathroom, and hot water showered down.
The warm water washed away nightmares, darkness, and unease.
Gu WenCheng was pressed against the wall by Li ZouXing as they kissed, but as they continued to kiss, Li ZouXing released his lips.
He held Gu WenCheng tightly around the waist, and bowed his head against his shoulder, remaining silent.
The warmth of the water was soothing, and Gu WenCheng gently but firmly lifted Li ZouXing’s head, embracing his beloved, who had undergone a transformation. He used kisses even hotter than the water to melt his icy resolve.
With tender love, he reignited the radiant light within his Xing Xing.
The feeling of witnessing the other world’s Gu WenCheng crumbling before his own eyes was etched into the memory of the observing Gu WenCheng.
Throughout the entire night, he watched helplessly as Li ZouXing’s eyes gradually dimmed, slowly becoming colder.
For a long time, Gu WenCheng had thought about how nice it would be if he didn’t exist in this world. Then Li ZouXing wouldn’t have fallen in love with him, and he wouldn’t have to feel the pain of it.
As the hot water made them both feel warmer, Li ZouXing suddenly opened his eyes and stopped him. “…Don’t do this.”
“Dear,” Gu WenCheng couldn’t refuse, then he mumbled, “…I’ve missed you so much.”
In reality, they had lost track of time, but it had been nth days since Li ZouXing had experienced anything like this. His face turned slightly red as he looked down at Gu WenCheng, who was smiling with starry eyes.
Both of them were still wearing clothes, only soaked in water, and this youthful urgency couldn’t withstand any more waiting, separating them from the world.
It was hot and warm.
Li ZouXing’s gaze painted a blush on Gu WenCheng’s cheek.
It was the long-lost lover.
The lover had returned.
…
They didn’t go too far; they just wanted to prove their presence by each other’s side. After showering, Li ZouXing was pinned down by Gu WenCheng, who went to the kitchen to prepare food.
But when Gu WenCheng returned with the hot meal, he saw Li ZouXing standing stubbornly by the door, looking in his direction, as if he would disappear in the next moment if he didn’t watch him.
The big guy’s nose tingled, and he almost embarrassed himself in the public area.
He walked over with a forced smile and asked, “Why aren’t you sleeping?”
The scent on him was full of Li ZouXing’s fragrance as if Li ZouXing had marked him, making it unmistakably his, and no one could take that away.
Li ZouXing clung to him, urgently muttering, “Just watching you.”
Gu WenCheng smiled and replied, “Then I’ll let you watch me forever.”
Hand in hand, the two of them returned to their room.
The meal was prepared by Gu WenCheng. The familiar aroma of the food filled the air, whetting their appetites. Li ZouXing took a bite, then glanced at Gu WenCheng. Gu WenCheng put down his own meal, letting his boyfriend eat from his plate, and then feeding him a bite.
After the meal, they returned the dishes together. In the kitchen, they ran into Ji Yu, who looked delighted. “ZouXing, you and Ling Nian are finally awake.”
Li ZouXing glanced at him, then immediately turned to look at Gu WenCheng and hummed, “Hmm.”
Gu WenCheng added, “Let Ling Nian have a good rest and meal today; we can talk more tomorrow.”
They returned to their room, lying on the only large bed, covered with a blanket, and whispered their secrets to each other.
Face to face, Li ZouXing finally immersed himself in Gu WenCheng’s embrace, like a little baby returned to his mother’s arms, and peacefully fell asleep.
His warm breath, and a little something still in his mouth. Gu WenCheng didn’t dare to move, only greedily gazing at him.
He scanned from his eyebrows to his lips, then down to the stubble on his jaw.
He was so handsome that Gu WenCheng’s heart raced.
Sometimes, when he accidentally moved a pomegranate seed aside, Li ZouXing would instinctively close his eyes to catch it, and then he would lick his lips, a few licks that felt like an electric shock.
Embraced, watching each other’s peaceful sleeping faces, cocooned in warmth and the scent of freshly washed bodies, Gu WenCheng looked at him, and as he looked, he too fell asleep.
He hadn’t slept for two days and nights.
…
When he woke up, there was a feeling of having crossed worlds.
Li ZouXing blinked. One eye on his lover and the other thinking about his dream.
He had seen the author again.
…
The sleazy man still looked aggrieved and on the verge of tears as he continued, “Is it easy for me? You guys wanted to see some bromance, so I kept writing, trying to make it touching. Who knew it would end up like this!”
Li ZouXing watched him in silence.
Under his gaze, the author shrank back a bit and mumbled, “Gu WenCheng’s character was supposed to be consistent in your world!”
Because the protagonist’s characterization had gone awry, the more the story progressed, the worse it got, and he couldn’t overturn it, so he had to grit his teeth and keep writing.
The dissonance became more pronounced, and the intimate descriptions in the text remained superficial.
“If it weren’t for me,” Li ZouXing began slowly, “what would he become?”
…
Gu WenCheng was still sleeping peacefully beside him. Having Li ZouXing by his side made him sleep soundly, and his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Handsome people looked good even in their sleep. Li ZouXing sighed and leaned in to plant a kiss on his lips.
His thoughts returned to the dream.
…
“He has become more and more different from what I wrote,” the author lamented, clutching his head. “And he even turned gay!”
He repeated in shock several times, “My main character turned gay! He actually turned gay!”
The author had a lot of trust in Gu WenCheng. He trusted him so much that even though he knew Li ZouXing was gay, he confidently gave him a plot device to increase the antagonist’s likability.
The logic behind it was quite reasonable. Firstly, Gu WenCheng wasn’t gay. Secondly, despite having an antagonist role, he was still the protagonist!
With all these preparations in place, the somewhat timid author had even added a full-blown gay relationship throughout the story, just to be completely prepared.
But despite all these preparations, Gu WenCheng still turned out gay, and he embraced it wholeheartedly.
Li ZouXing stubbornly asked again, “What would he become without me?”
The author put down his hands, a plain-looking man who appeared strangely sad, “Even if I write as perfectly as possible, in the real world, this can never happen.”
“He would live a lonely life.”
…
Gu WenCheng dreamed of the first time he saw the man who claimed to be the author.
That man was very afraid of him, his voice trembling as he answered Gu WenCheng’s questions. Originally, he had intended to question Gu WenCheng about why he had turned gay so easily, but with a single glance from Gu WenCheng, the author cowered in fear.
Gu WenCheng, who hadn’t spoken for two days and two nights, looked at the author with a pair of bloodshot eyes, “Where is he?”
“He went… he went to save the world…” the author said with a tearful tone.
Gu WenCheng didn’t ask what world needed saving, who this person was, or who Li ZouXing was. He simply said three simple words, “Take me there.”
Where Li ZouXing was, that was Gu WenCheng’s destination.
…
He woke up.
Li ZouXing was up to some mischief. When their eyes met, that mischief turned into something openly displayed.
Gu WenCheng grinned, “Can you escape my hypnosis?”
“You can try,” Li ZouXing replied.
“In that case, I’m going to hypnotize you,” Gu WenCheng said, closing the gap between them, locking eyes, and whispered, “Dear, drive me crazy.”
Rolling, sweaty, and rising body temperature.
It’s only in such passion that they truly feel they own each other.
…
The author was truly afraid of Gu WenCheng.
But he also said, “One world can’t accommodate two Gu WenChengs.”
What needed to change was Gu WenCheng himself. How could they send this Gu WenCheng over again? The author was desperate and trying whatever he could to see if Li ZouXing could change this dire situation.
It couldn’t get any worse than it was now.
However, Gu WenCheng had become transparent, and the author was worried.
Being alone in another world that was both similar yet different, how could Li ZouXing bear it?
So he requested from the author that Ling Nian must accompany Li ZouXing.
Among their teammates, Ling Nian ranked high in terms of calmness and rationality.
…
There were many secrets they both knew, no need to mention them.
No matter what those were, as long as they could be together with their loved ones, some unimportant details could be overlooked.
It wasn’t until the evening that the two of them left the room.
The Dream Team’s school building was arranged with a cozy and warm atmosphere, with plants, cushions, and everyone’s belongings scattered around, creating a harmonious environment.
Ling Nian and the teammates were gathered around a screen, laughing heartily, while hot tea emitted a gentle steam from the table.
The teammates heard their voices and turned to them, wearing radiant smiles.
Ling Nian approached, and Li ZouXing opened his arms, and the two of them embraced tightly.
Gu WenCheng watched with a smile and subtly reminded, “The princess brought many precious elixirs, you know.”
Ling Nian rolled his eyes and, as requested, let go of Li ZouXing.
Celebrating the recovery of their comrades, as long as they were exceptionally healthy, the teammates were already content.
Dinner was lavish and lively, with people bustling about in the living room and kitchen.
Li ZouXing attentively washed fruits and vegetables, and after a while, someone approached him from the side, their hands joining his, helping him clean the ingredients.
Everything was spotless, and with each item they washed, Gu WenCheng would quietly whisper to Li ZouXing, “I love you so much.”
He repeated it over and over, and each time, Li ZouXing’s spirits brightened a little.
“Love you lots and lots,” Gu WenCheng added, putting in more effort and trying to think of even more romantic words. “Love you to the point of dying.”
Li ZouXing couldn’t help but burst into laughter, leaning on the sink, thoroughly amused.
Gu WenCheng seemed like a young boy who had finally managed to make his crush laugh. Even though he didn’t know what was so funny, he joined in with a silly laugh.
He had no intention of telling Li ZouXing that he had also entered that world.
The pain his beloved had gone through would always be considered a hundred times more painful than what he himself had experienced.
When Li ZouXing mentioned that he was doing well in that world, Gu WenCheng would just smile and say, “Really? I’m so envious.”
If his partner didn’t want him to worry, then he would pretend not to know anything.
He couldn’t bear to let Li ZouXing go through such pain again.
After the meal, everyone was covered in sweat.
The room felt a bit hot, but the lively atmosphere made it especially comfortable.
Li ZouXing raised his glass with great gusto and said, “Cheers!”
The clinking of glasses filled the air, and everyone dug into the delicious food on the table.
Gu WenCheng took a sip of his drink and looked at Li ZouXing once again.
His little sun had regained its radiance.
Gu WenCheng smiled, content.
…
In the parallel world.
Gu WenCheng had once asked the other Gu WenCheng.
He asked, “Do you like stars?”
The stars outside the window were scattered across the sky. This question had also been asked by Li ZouXing to the Gu WenCheng of this world.
The other Gu WenCheng lay in bed, silent.
But his spine was tense, as if on the edge of a precipice.
So when Gu WenCheng returned to his own world and met the author, he said a sentence.
Regardless of which Gu WenCheng, let’s assume for himself.
The feeling of losing Li ZouXing, the feeling of losing the light, was a constant suffocating pain.
…
Li ZouXing bid a complete farewell to the author.
This acquaintance and friend cried with a face full of snot, “My protagonist!”
It was either break or bend.
There was simply no third option.
When the author was about to leave forever, Li ZouXing stopped him.
“It’s better to bend than to break,” he licked his lips, somewhat nervous, “don’t you think so?”
The author suddenly smiled, “Before, Gu WenCheng also said a sentence to me, do you know what it was?”
“What?” Li ZouXing asked.
“Everyone has the right to pursue happiness,” the author said, “If the book truly becomes a living world, and if the protagonist has their own will, they should follow their hearts and have the opportunity to find happiness.”
Li ZouXing didn’t fully understand, so he patiently asked, “So?”
“So,” the author sighed, his voice gradually fading away, “I hope that in the parallel world, after Gu WenCheng is reborn, when he meets the book-wearing Li ZouXing, he can hold on a little longer and not bend so quickly.”
Even though there were many readers leaving comments on his work every day, saying that the protagonist and the brotherhood were so sweet, he had always been confident about Gu WenCheng.
However, he sighed.
The author finally said to Li ZouXing, “Goodbye, my friend.”
Wishing you happiness, and hoping that the path you choose will always be bright and joyful.
…
The next morning, Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng opened their eyes together.
They exchanged a glance and then smiled at each other.
“Good morning,” Li ZouXing said.
“I love you,” Gu WenCheng replied.
Translator’s Corner
Moonlit: Hmmmmm… It was somewhat confusing, with the changing scenes and all. I don’t know if it’s the problem with the raws I got or maybe the author really wrote it that way…
