Chapter 35 His Heart's True Home

Deming woke up with a pounding headache, his head spinning. He sat on the bed, dizzy and disoriented, then groaned and lay back down, the room swaying. After a while, as the fog cleared, he realized he wasn't in his own bedroom at the school but in someone else's room, a strange, unfamiliar space. The last thing he remembered was resting his head on the table at Dragon Inn, utterly drunk, then someone, a strong presence, carrying him.

The door opened softly, and Guozhao Zhiqiang walked in with a tray holding two steaming bowls. He set the tray gently on the low table, the aroma of tea filling the air.

"Are you feeling better, Dong Enlai?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked Deming, his voice calm.

"I will never drink this much again," Deming complained, his voice a hoarse whisper. "You drank too, right? Why aren't you suffering like me?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang nodded, a faint smirk on his lips.

"Then why aren't you like me?" Deming asked, genuinely puzzled by Zhiqiang's lack of hangover.

"Don't drink again in the future, Dong Enlai," Guozhao Zhiqiang advised, his voice firm.

"Why?" Deming questioned, still confused.

"Your alcohol intolerance isn't good," Guozhao Zhiqiang stated, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You get drunk too easily."

Deming looked around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. "Where am I?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

"You don't remember?" Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, his gaze steady.

"I remember lowering my head at the inn, and then someone helped me up," Deming said, trying to recall the hazy events. He looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a dawning realization. "Don't tell me, you're the one who brought me back here? You carried me?"

"Mm..." Guozhao Zhiqiang affirmed, a soft, knowing sound.

"I'm still dizzy. I want to sleep more," Deming complained, pulling the blanket higher.

Guozhao Zhiqiang grabbed one of the bowls from the tray and walked towards the bed. "Drink some green tea, Dong Enlai, it will help with your dizziness. It's a good remedy."

Deming took the bowl, drank the tea, its warmth soothing, and returned the empty bowl to Guozhao Zhiqiang.

"Do you want some congee?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, gesturing to the other bowl.

Deming shook his head and lay back on the bed, pulling the blanket up. Then he adjusted his body to face Guozhao Zhiqiang, his gaze curious. "Is this your house, Senior Brother Guozhao?" Deming asked, a hint of longing in his voice.

Guozhao Zhiqiang nodded. "Mm..."

"Thank you for letting me stay for one-night, Senior Brother Guozhao. If you're okay, I want to sleep a little longer," Deming said, still feeling the effects of the wine.

Guozhao Zhiqiang walked to the bedside and gently pulled the blanket up to Deming's chest, a tender, protective gesture. Then he said, his voice soft, "You can stay as long as you want, Deming. This is your home now."

Later in the evening, Deming woke up from a hangover, the last vestiges of the wine fading. He still had some headaches, a dull throb, but he felt much better. He walked out of the room and onto the porch, stepping into the cool evening air. Peach blossoms were everywhere, their delicate petals fluttering in the gentle breeze. He looked at the flower petals, like pink snow, fluttering in the wind, and every time the wind blew past him, he could smell the sweet fragrance of the flowers, a heavenly scent. He looked down at the town below, nestled in the valley. The lanterns outside the houses looked like hundreds of fireflies below, twinkling jewels in the twilight.

"So, this is the city in the cloud?" Deming murmured quietly, a profound sense of wonder washing over him.

"Are you hungry, Dong Enlai?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, his voice startling Deming, who hadn't heard him approach.

Deming turned around, a faint blush on his cheeks, and replied, "A little bit, Senior Brother Guozhao."

"Come eat, dinner is ready," Guozhao Zhiqiang said, gesturing towards the open kitchenette.

Deming followed Guozhao Zhiqiang into an open space. On the left was the kitchenette, which had only three walls and a roof, open to the elements. On the right were two rooms. Further ahead was a winding road with wildflowers of different colors, leading deeper into the valley. He heard the gentle sound of water running downstream, a peaceful murmur. He sat at the table.

Guozhao Zhiqiang brought two bowls of noodle soup and put them on the table. Deming started to eat; the noodle soup was tasteless, bland. He had just woken up from a long sleep, and his sense of taste was a little off, but even though the food was tasteless, he still thought the noodles were particularly delicious because Guozhao Zhiqiang made it for him, a labor of love.

Deming looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a faint smile on his lips, then asked, "Do you often cook, Senior Brother Guozhao?"

"No," Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, his voice flat.

"Why not? Is it too much trouble?" Deming asked.

"I'm not a good cook," Guozhao Zhiqiang admitted, a slight shrug. "As you can taste."

"Who usually cooks for you, then?" Deming asked, a subtle probe.

"Junior Chuntao," Guozhao Zhiqiang said, his voice neutral.

Deming looked annoyed, a sudden wave of irritation washing over him, and mocked Guozhao Zhiqiang, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Humph... I guess she also cooks, cleans, and does laundry for you? Am I right?" He tried his best to smile, a forced, brittle expression. "Senior Sister Yang is such a good housewife. If one day I want to get married... I will marry someone like her without hesitation. She's perfect for a man like you." He started eating without looking at Guozhao Zhiqiang, his jaw tight. He didn't understand why he felt so irritated and annoyed every time Yang Chuntao's name was mentioned, a bitter jealousy he couldn't control.

"Are you angry?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked with a smile, a knowing glint in his eyes.

Deming coughed and cleared his throat, feigning innocence. "No... I am not, Senior Brother Guozhao. Why would I be?"

"Your tone has suddenly changed, and your breathing has also changed," Guozhao Zhiqiang observed, his gaze piercing. "You're agitated."

Deming looked up at Guozhao Zhiqiang, his face flushing. "No, it didn't change, Senior Brother. You're imagining things."

"You don't want others to clean and cook for me, do you?" Guozhao Zhiqiang stated, his voice soft, a gentle challenge. "Then you have to learn to do those things yourself."

Deming sneered, his voice sharp. "Why am I wasting my time to learn those things, Senior Brother Guozhao? I'm here to learn principles!" He gripped the chopsticks tightly, his knuckles white.

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming's hand, then met his gaze. "Because I'm not very good at cooking. If you let me cook, it's just as tasteless as this soup. So, in the future, you must be the one who cooks for us." He picked up the bowl and drank the soup, his eyes never leaving Deming's.

Deming looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, his face suddenly hot, a deep blush spreading. He wondered, with a sudden panic, if he had said something last night that he shouldn't have, something that revealed his true identity. He looked down at the clear soup in the bowl, avoiding Guozhao Zhiqiang's gaze, and said, his voice low, "I'm not interested in spending my future with you here, Senior Brother Guozhao. I'm just a student. Once my study is over, I will leave to Guzheng Sector."

Guozhao Zhiqiang smirked, a triumphant glint in his eyes. "Your mouth can deny it, but what I value most is what is in your heart. And your heart tells a different story."

Deming gritted his teeth shyly, a mixture of embarrassment and exasperation. "You... you're impossible!"

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming, his smile widening. "Don't poke my eyes with those chopsticks."

"What?" Deming looked up at Guozhao Zhiqiang, confused.

"You said that yesterday, in the inn," Guozhao Zhiqiang said, his voice filled with amusement.

"That's wine talk, Senior Brother! I was drunk!" Deming protested, his face burning. He drank the noodle soup quickly and put the empty bowl on the table. "By the way, where did the rushing water come from? I can hear it."

"It is the water of the underground stream on the mountainside," Guozhao Zhiqiang explained, his voice softening.

Deming's face was full of excitement, his previous irritation forgotten. "Wow! Can we go take a look, Senior Brother Guozhao? Please?"

"Mm..." Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, a gentle hum of agreement.

The two walked along the flower beds road towards the rushing water, the scent of blossoms filling the air. As they got closer, the rushing water became louder and louder, a powerful roar. The waterfall emerged from the mountainside to form a small, clear pond, and then the stream flowed down the mountain to form a second small waterfall, a beautiful cascade.

"Wow, so beautiful, Senior Brother Guozhao," Deming smiled at Guozhao Zhiqiang, his eyes wide with wonder. He approached the pond, his steps light. "Are there any fish here?"

"No," Guozhao Zhiqiang said.

Deming crouched down and touched the cool surface of the water. He continued, "You should really consider raising fish here, Senior Brother Guozhao. It would be lovely." Deming saw his own reflection in the pond, the face of Dong Enlai, and realized, with a profound sense of acceptance, that he no longer had Deming's old face. He didn't mind spending a lifetime here with Guozhao Zhiqiang, but does Guozhao Zhiqiang want to same as his face was no longer the face that Guozhao Zhiqiang love. He picked up a small stone and threw it into the water, watching the ripples spread. "Time goes by and everything is different," he murmured sadly, a bittersweet thought.

Guozhao Zhiqiang stood behind him, his presence warm and comforting. "Would you like to take a bath in the pond, Deming?" he asked, his voice soft.

Deming looked up at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a faint blush rising to his cheeks. "I did not bring any clothes, Zhiqiang. I only have what I'm wearing."

Guozhao Zhiqiang glanced at Deming, a knowing look in his eyes. "The old clothes are still at home, Deming. Your clothes."

"Fine," Deming agreed, his heart pounding. He took off the outer layer of his robe, revealing his undergarments. He went into the pond, the cool water a shock to his skin. Then he turned to look at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a challenge in his eyes. "Are you going to take a bath too, Senior Brother Guozhao?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang then took off his clothes, completely stripping naked, and walked into the pond, his body strong and unashamed. "Are you shy to take off your clothes in front of me?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, a playful smirk on his face.

Deming quickly said, his face burning, "It's not like you haven't seen me..." He just realized, with a horrifying jolt, that he had said something wrong, something that revealed too much. He quickly recovered, trying to backtrack. "Even though we are both men, I don't like to be naked... in front of others." He turned around quickly, his back to Guozhao Zhiqiang.

Guozhao Zhiqiang had stripped naked, and Deming saw Guozhao Zhiqiang's strong chest, his muscular arms, and his defined abdominal muscles. His eyes were drawn to Guozhao Zhiqiang's body, lingering. He slowly stared down at Guozhao Zhiqiang's body, and when his eyes approached the pubic hair, he turned around quickly, his heart pounding wildly. "Why are you naked, Senior Brother Guozhao?!"

Guozhao Zhiqiang sneered, a playful, knowing smirk. "Yes, we are both men. I don't mind being naked in front of you." He looked at Deming's back. "Sit here, I'll wash your hair."

Deming refused, his voice a little strained, and walked towards the middle of the pond, trying to create distance. "I can wash it myself, Senior Brother Guozhao," he said.

Guozhao Zhiqiang walked to Deming's side and wrapped his arms around Deming's body from behind, pulling him close. Then he kissed Deming gently on the back of Deming's head, a tender, loving touch.

Deming felt that Guozhao Zhiqiang's big, warm body embracing him from behind warmed his entire body, melting away his resistance. He felt Guozhao Zhiqiang's warmth permeating his whole body, a profound sense of comfort and belonging. The joy in his heart was like fireworks shooting in all directions, exploding with happiness.

"Senior Brother Guozhao, please let go of your arms," Deming softly said, his voice trembling, a last attempt at denial.

Guozhao Zhiqiang refused to let go of his arms, holding him tighter. "I'm sorry. I wasn't by your side that day, when you needed me most."

Deming knew exactly what Guozhao Zhiqiang was talking about, the day he died, but he pretended to be puzzled, playing ignorant. "What? What are you talking about, Senior Brother Guozhao?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang repeated, his voice filled with profound regret, "I'm sorry I wasn't by your side that day. I should have been there." He turned Deming around and faced him, his eyes filled with tears. He raised Deming's face with the fingers of his right hand, his gaze searching. "I should have taught you the summoning spell. You could have saved yourself."

"Senior Brother Guozhao, I think you are confusing me with others," Deming said, his voice strained, still trying to maintain the facade. He pushed Guozhao Zhiqiang away, his heart aching, and walked quickly to his clothes, desperate to escape the painful truth.

"Deming!" Guozhao Zhiqiang shouted, his eyes wet with tears, his voice raw with a desperate plea.

Deming wanted to turn around and run back to Guozhao Zhiqiang's embrace, to tell him everything, but Guozhao Zhiqiang's words from the inn – 'I'll ask my girlfriend to make another one for me' – were deeply imprinted in his heart, a bitter wound, and he continued to walk away from Guozhao Zhiqiang, unable to forgive the perceived betrayal.

Guozhao Zhiqiang shouted vigorously, his voice filled with desperation, "Deming!" Deming stopped, his body trembling. "You once promised me that you would be by my side as long as I wanted you! I always wanted you to be by my side and be my shadow until my hair turned white and my skin wrinkled, and even then, I still wanted you to be by my side, always!"

With tears in his eyes, Deming was deeply touched by Guozhao Zhiqiang's words, his heart swelling with love, but he found that Deming's old body no longer existed. The body that Guozhao Zhiqiang loves is Deming, his original form, not this new body, Dong Enlai. He felt unworthy.

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, his voice thick with emotion, "Your red string and silver bell has always been yours, Deming. If you don't want it, just keep walking and don't look back. Walk away from me forever."

Deming took two steps forward, his heart tearing.

Guozhao Zhiqiang's lips trembled slightly, his voice a raw, desperate whisper, "However, if you still want it, turn around and return to the chest that has always been longing for you, the heart that has always been yours."