Chapter 68 Engagement Ring

Chapter 68: The Engagement Ring

The days in the Thirteenth District seemed to pass particularly slowly.

Gu Zhen did not believe that Zhu Shinian was willing to stay, nor did he believe that he had stopped trying to kill himself.

At night, Gu Zhen would still chain his hands, and during the day, he would have Xiao Zhou bring him meals and watch him.

Gu Zhen installed a projector in Zhu Shinian's room so that he could watch TV there.

But Zhu Shinian wasn't really into watching TV. Only when Gu Zhen came to see him did time seem to pass a little faster.

Gu Zhen wouldn't follow him around everywhere like Xiao Zhou did. He would bring Zhu Shinian new movies or game cartridges, fresh bouquets of flowers every time he visited, and take him out to the yard to sunbathe.

Though, truth be told, these movies and games weren't all that interesting.

Just like the TV dramas currently airing, most of them used biased language to paint the rebels as despicable and the Imperial army as heroic, stirring up people's hatred for the rebels.

The media was completely under the government's thumb. They held the power to set the media's agenda, making sure the public only heard what the government wanted.

Entertainment became dull, and the people lost their voices.

Only a few reruns of those cheesy old soap operas from past years were still somewhat watchable.

Zhu Shinian couldn't stand being idle. Sometimes he would help Gu Zhen wash their dirty clothes. Gu Zhen didn't stop him, but after he hung them out, Gu Zhen would mix up the order and rehang them.

Sometimes Zhu Shinian couldn't figure out what was going on in Gu Zhen's head. It took a few times like this before it dawned on him that Gu Zhen probably thought he was using the clothes on the balcony to send signals to the outside.

A short top, long pants—that really could convey simple information.

Zhu Shinian knew Gu Zhen was paranoid, and even if he explained, Gu Zhen wouldn't believe him, so he simply stopped doing it.

Other than that, Gu Zhen was incredibly accommodating, basically giving him whatever he wanted.

If he wanted to eat something, Gu Zhen would quickly buy it and cook it for him.

If he wanted to listen to the radio, Gu Zhen would get it for him, even the rebel broadcast programs could be picked up.

The rebels' radio programs weren't really a secret; they were basically the official news from the rebel-held areas, but the radio channels were always blocked by the Empire.

The programs reported front-line battle updates and occasionally had leaders come on to encourage the people in the rebel zones.

The rebel leadership was a bit more honest than the Empire—they shared real data and information with the public, simply avoiding topics that weren't fit for the public, rarely painting every outcome as a great victory the way the Empire did.

From this, Zhu Shinian could roughly infer the situation at the front.

During the time he was locked up by Gu Zhen, the rebels' advance had slowed down, no longer sweeping through like a hot knife through butter.

But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The rebels themselves didn't have many munitions factories or supply depots, and a reckless offensive could invite a terrifying Imperial counterattack.

For the rebels, preserving their fighting strength was far more important than gaining any territory.

From the rebel broadcasts, he heard the voices of many people he knew. One of the regular female hosts was his former subordinate, Lin Zhiyu.

He had no idea Lin Zhiyu could do things like broadcasting and hosting. Back in the A2 team, she had been ordinary and introverted, doing basic clerical work, almost always overlooked.

Zhu Shinian was genuinely happy for Lin Zhiyu.

Lin Zhiyu and the others had given up their stable jobs and lives in the capital to come with him to the rebel zones, with their uncertain future. If they were doing well, Zhu Shinian could feel at ease.

He also heard Tao Juan on the broadcast. His voice sounded just the same, unchanged since they parted.

His injuries should have healed.

The wounds Zhu Shinian sustained during the last raid had also fully healed. Compared to when he was in the rebel zones, Gu Zhen had even managed to fatten him up a little.

Day after day passed like this: eating, soaking up the sun, and being chained up by Gu Zhen to sleep.

At night, Zhu Shinian sometimes dreamed about when he first met Gu Zhen, about becoming his lover.

One night, he dreamed of that Discipline Committee Director, Huo. When he woke up, he realized that guy was already dead.

He died in the first battle between the rebels and the Empire. He wasn't as lucky as the Crown Prince. When the bodies were being counted, Zhu Shinian recognized him.

That night, Zhu Shinian dreamed of being forced to go see Gu Zhen—embarrassed, humiliated, and incoherent.

In the dream, Zhu Shinian was just a pair of eyes, as if attached to a crabapple tree by the road, watching his younger self walk toward Gu Zhen.

Even he felt completely despicable, like a whore soliciting customers.

He could imagine the disappointed, contemptuous look Gu Zhen would give him.

A decent, proper alpha, yet shamelessly wanting to become his lover, to climb up the social ladder like a gold digger.

Luckily, the dream ended before Gu Zhen could react.

On the seventeenth day of being held by Gu Zhen, Gu Zhen took him out for the first time.

Early in the morning, just after Zhu Shinian woke up, Gu Zhen dressed him up like a doll—pulling a thick hat and scarf on him, leaving only his chestnut eyes visible—then stuffed him into the black SUV.

The car drove for a very long time, from dawn until the sky darkened and the sun set.

There were lots of tunnels, the light flickering between bright and dark, and sometimes the road wound through mountain passes, making him dizzy. He could only vaguely sense that they were heading north.

From the Thirteenth District all the way north: the Twelfth District, the Tenth District, and then the Ninth District.

The Twelfth and Eleventh Districts were where the eastern front line between the Empire and the rebels currently lay.

As the scenery whizzed by outside, he could already faintly hear the rumble of artillery from the front.

Zhu Shinian's heartbeat began to quicken, the pounding clearly audible in the cramped SUV.

Deep down, of course, he wanted to go.

How could he not want to go back to the rebel zones, where his loved ones and friends were?

How could he not want to go back to the free rebel zones where he could realize his ideals and ambitions?

He had gone through hell to escape the Empire.

But… if Gu Zhen let him go just like that, would he… have to go through that lashing again?

Zhu Shinian never thought Tao Juan's assessment of him was right. What the rebel zones needed was a decisive, tough, and resolute leader—like Tao Juan himself.

And Zhu Shinian was weak, hesitant, and indecisive—the exact opposite of what a leader should be.

He knew he should return to the rebel zones, yet he couldn't stand by and watch Gu Zhen suffer that lashing again because of him.

He couldn't leave everything behind in the Resistance Zone, nor could he... just leave Gu Zhen without looking back, without caring about anything.

If only, after running away, he could have taken Gu Zhen's punishment for him.

Zhu Shinian lowered his eyes, hating himself for being so indecisive.

The scenery outside the window continued to whistle past, and the car left the Eleventh District.

The sky had completely darkened, like a black curtain, and the car finally stopped in a wilderness area on the outskirts of the Ninth District.

"Didn't I tell you to get some more sleep in the back seat? Why aren't you sleeping like I told you? Are you a little carsick?" Gu Zhen got out of the driver's seat and opened the door for him.

Zhu Shinian shook his head. "It's okay. Just a little."

"Come out and get some fresh air." Gu Zhen straightened the collar of his coat for him, winding the cashmere scarf around his neck, loop by loop, finally tying a loose knot under his chin.

The khaki scarf made Zhu Shinian's skin look even paler. The wind blew from the distance, carrying the bitter chill of the snowfields.

Zhu Shinian took a deep breath of the cold air. The cold air rushed through his nose and into his lungs, clearing his head a bit, and easing his mild carsickness.

Gu Zhen stood beside him in silence, so Zhu Shinian didn't ask what he was doing in the Ninth District.

Even if he asked, he'd hardly get an answer, so he just didn't bother.

The two stood there, gazing at the distant, hazy gray horizon.

Then, the edge of the sky suddenly lit up.

At first, it was just a faint line of green light, as if someone had gently brushed a stroke across the night sky.

Then the light grew brighter and wider, spreading from green to purple, from purple to blue, as a massive ribbon of light slowly drifted across the sky.

It was the aurora borealis.

The Ninth District, in the Empire's northern reaches, was famous as the best spot to view the Northern Lights.

...Many romantic young couples came here to get married.

In the face of such a rare aurora, anyone who respects natural wonders should feel nothing but pure awe and admiration.

But unfortunately, Zhu Shinian didn't feel that way.

What came to his mind was that Gu Zhen had once promised him—after his 22nd birthday, he'd take him to the Ninth District to get married.

The brilliant ribbon of light stretched and swayed, illuminating Zhu Shinian's eyes.

"Here, this is for you."

At that moment, Gu Zhen suddenly took a small box out of his coat pocket.

Black velvet, plain and elegant, even a little unremarkable.

He opened the box, revealing a ring. The gemstone shimmered with dazzling brilliance, reflecting points of green or blue light as the colors of the aurora shifted.

He handed the box to Zhu Shinian. "Keep it if you like it. If not, it should fetch some money."

Zhu Shinian looked down at the ring for a long time.

The gem sparkled with an intense fire, clearly worth a fortune. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and Zhu Shinian knew that such jewelry usually required ordering well in advance—at least three months for the design and gem sourcing to have the final piece ready now.

The silver band was tinged with a faint green hue under the aurora's glow. Its surface was smooth, reflecting the flowing light of the sky.

"Gu Zhen," Zhu Shinian asked softly, "didn't you promise to marry me?"

Gu Zhen's body tensed slightly.

Zhu Shinian looked up, his gaze meeting Gu Zhen's eyes directly.

"So... is this an engagement ring?"

Gu Zhen was stunned and didn't answer immediately.

The silence stretched on so long that the aurora dimmed for a moment then brightened again.

"If you're willing," he finally said, his voice a little lower than before.

"And what about the registration?" Zhu Shinian asked again.

"You also promised to come to the Ninth District with me to get married."

Author's note:

Zhu Shinian: My hubby's tired from work every day—I'll wash his clothes for him.

Gu Zhen: It must be a way to lull me into a false sense of security. What kind of code is this?