Chapter 45: Troubles - It's getting hot, and holding you feels comfortable.

Lou Dong Zang: "Do you feel nauseated?"

He Guan hesitated momentarily, pondered, then said, "...Actually, no."

Lou Dong Zang withdrew his hand, smiled radiantly, and remarked, "That's good then."

His inquiry brought back He Guan's memory of the retching.

Apart from Lou Jun Duo's own ambitions, what repulsed He Guan even more was the avarice in Lou Jun Duo's eyes. Even well-hidden, its intensity shone through like radioactive material.

But with Lou Dong Zang...

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

He Guan: "Don't you have something else to do instead of blocking my path?"

Lou Dong Zang shook his head earnestly, "I'm not sure which direction to turn. I'm waiting for you to guide me."

He Guan: "...Alright, then turn."

Lou Dong Zang: "This way?"

He Guan: "You overshot it, turn back a bit."

Lou Dong Zang turned slightly.

He Guan: "Too far, come back a little."

Lou Dong Zang adjusted as directed.

He Guan suggested, "Still not right. How about you place your hand on my shoulder and walk forward?"

Lou Dong Zang: "Alright."

He Guan circled around him, standing in front, noticing the well-prepared soil in the flower bed. He inquired, "Who prepared this soil?"

Lou Dong Zang: "I did it this morning."

He Guan remarked, "Planning to plant flowers? Caring for begonia bulbs is a bit tricky. They attract pests, and when planted in the ground at home, if one gets infested, the rest might follow..."

Lou Dong Zang: "Understood."

Without posing further questions, after waiting for a couple of seconds, the blind man behind him gently placed his hand on He Guan's shoulder, indicating, "I'm ready."

He Guan: "Hmm, let's go."

He led Lou Dongzang into the house, reminding him to step up as they approached the stairs. However, as if anticipating He Guan's words, Lou Dongzang had already ascended one step.

He Guan paused at the entrance, sighing, "You can navigate just fine on your own."

Lou Dongzang retracted his hand, "Just because I said I wouldn't take advantage doesn't mean I won't do anything at all."

He Guan: "..."

Lou Dongzang: "Do you dislike it?"

It wasn’t exactly distaste, but to be honest, He Guan found it hard to adjust to such behavior.

Before, He Guan could console himself, thinking it was due to Lou Dongzang’s blindness, making him more reliant.

But after their candid conversation yesterday, Lou Dongzang now navigates this home, or more precisely this two-story building, with relative ease.

Unlike many who lose their sight and gradually their spatial awareness, Lou Dongzang has increasingly adapted to his blindness as time progresses.

He Guan: "It's not that extreme, but... I'm not used to it."

Lou Dongzang withdrew his hand: "Alright, I won't do it then."

He Guan: "What are you doing at home today?"

Lou Dongzang: "Continuing my gardening, planting all the crabapple bulb flowers I bought."

He Guan: "A new hobby?"

After pondering for a moment, Lou Dongzang moved past him to find Uncle Yue: "Yes. It's getting late, and if neither of us plants them, the seedlings will die."

He Guan: "Alright, I'm off to sleep then."

Lou Dongzang: "Alright."

Most of their previous conversations began with He Guan expressing concern for Lou Dongzang. Now, after Lou Dongzang clearly indicated that He Guan needn't be overly concerned, their exchanges have become more subdued.

It's like they've entered the... small talk phase after beginning to understand each other better.

Having applied some gel in the morning, He Guan washed his hair upon returning.

After drying his hair and changing clothes, he drew the curtains and climbed into bed. He took a deep inhale of his blanket, preparing to drift into sleep.

This was his typical bedtime routine.

Today, however, He Guan furrowed his brows.

His blanket had a different scent.

What kind of scent?

It wasn't foul, but a faint fragrance He Guan hadn't encountered before. It was subtle, indefinable, yet refreshing and soothing.

Apart from Lou Dongzang, no one else could have touched his blanket in this room.

He Guan hadn't noticed this during previous sleeps.

He usually fell asleep swiftly. Rare were the times, like today, when he felt sleep-deprived from the previous night and sought to catch up on rest.

Now aware of Lou Dongzang's subtle touch, and the distinct fragrance, He Guan pushed the blanket slightly away, a hint of vexation evident on his face.

He lay on his back, eyes shut.

Five minutes later, he still hadn't drifted off.

Though the curtains blocked out the light, He Guan couldn't fathom why he remained awake.

He resisted the urge, refraining from grabbing the quilt.

But as the thoughts in his mind became increasingly animated, the dull headache from his lack of sleep slowly crept in, leading He Guan in frustration to pull over the quilt, covering his face.

Just as he had settled under the quilt, there was a sound outside; someone was turning his door handle.

The person carried with them a fresh earthy scent, mingling with the familiar fragrance from inside the quilt, as they sat by He Guan's bed.

He Guan spoke bluntly: "I can't sleep with you here."

Lou Dong Cang retorted, "Your deception skills have improved; you usually fall asleep so quickly."

He Guan: "…?"

How could someone be so presumptuous to think that He Guan would automatically sleep upon their arrival?

Lou Dong Cang smiled, "I won't make a sound, I just want to be near you."

He Guan: "… Can you even see me?"

Lou Dong Cang: "No, I can't. It's not about seeing; just knowing you're here and sitting by your side is enough."

He Guan: "…"

Lou Dong Cang: "Whether you believe me or not, you can't ask me to leave; my gardening gloves are covered in mud. If you kick me out, you won't get a good night's sleep. Besides, you've just washed your hair."

He Guan: "…"

What an audacious spirit!

Annoyed, He Guan turned over, hugging his quilt tightly.

Lou Dong Cang: "Can you sleep on your side?"

He Guan: "Why wouldn't I? Didn't I sleep on my side last night?"

Lou Dong Cang: "But last night, I was holding you."

He Guan: "The way you say it, it's as if I can only sleep on my side when you hold me. Have you no shame, Lou Dong Cang?"

Lou Dong Cang: "When pursuing my beloved, I can afford to lose some face."

He Guan felt a lump in his throat.

Quickly, he retorted: "… Haven't we settled last night's matter? Didn't you promise to stay under your own blanket and not come over?"

Lou Dong Cang, feigning innocence with a smile, said, "Oops."

He Guan: "… Tsk."

Perhaps it was his audacious response or perhaps it was the tenderness in his tone; whatever it was, He Guan found himself both frustrated and amused. He scoffed, turned back, and obediently lay flat to sleep.

This position was better for him to drift off; sleeping on his side proved a bit challenging. The only reason he had turned was to escape Lou Dong Cang's gaze.

By turning his back, he felt as though he could shield himself from that gaze, almost pretending that Lou wasn't there.

Regrettably, with Lou's acute senses, He Guan's wishes weren't granted.

Soon, He Guan slipped into a drowsy slumber.

Just before drifting off, there was a faint soft-cool sensation on his forehead, almost like a kiss.

Instinctively, He Guan wanted to frown, but a hand gently pressed against his brow, smoothing it out.

"Mud…"

"I was teasing. I didn't have the gloves on, and I've washed my hands."

With that, He Guan's brow relaxed, and he fell into a deeper sleep.

*

He Guan woke refreshed from his nap, finding the sun already descending. The peak heat of the afternoon had passed; it was now a little past five.

He rose groggily, taking a moment to orient himself.

The blackout curtains enveloped the room in darkness, making it feel as if he'd slept till the end of the world. Even the sound of another person's breathing was…

Wait, why was there another person's breathing?!

He Guan quickly snapped on the bedside lamp.

"Awake?"

Someone sat by his bed, calmly reading a book. Noticing He Guan's movement, they spoke.

For the first time, He Guan laid eyes on a Braille book.

Each page was slightly larger than A4, and when unfolded, even more so.

The paper was textured with various raised dots – that must be the Braille.

Lou Dong Cang sat with his back against the bed's edge, his fingers tracing the Braille, moving slowly from one side to the other.

Compared to the rest of the day, he was notably serene now.

Holding onto his quilt, He Guan sat up. Once Lou had finished the current line, He Guan inquired, "What are you reading?"

Lou Dong Cang, pausing from his Braille reading, recited, "But thy eternal summer shall not fade."

"Your endless summer shall never wither."

He Guan: "Can't you read aloud?"

Lou Dong Cang: "You were sleeping."

He Guan paused for a moment and got out of bed.

Lou Dong Cang: "Where are you going?"

He Guan: "To brush my teeth. I'll be back shortly..."

Lou Dong Cang: "Join me."

Refreshed from his nap, He Guan stepped outside, instinctively drawn to the stunning warm orange hues of the sunset.

The color of the lake in the mountains deepened, and weary birds traced neat arcs across the sky, disappearing uniformly into the dark tree shadows, their sounds fading, the world growing quieter.

Brushing his teeth and observing the birds outside, He Guan remarked, "Do you think any of the sparrows you feed are out there? So many birds have returned; they'll probably come to the windowsill looking for you soon."

Lou Dong Cang: "I'm not sure."

He Guan: "After all this time, you still can't recognize any of them?"

Lou Dong Cang: "I can only distinguish them by their calls."

He Guan: "That makes sense."

He Guan continued brushing.

After a brief pause, Lou Dong Cang added, "Besides, I haven't fed them these past couple of days."

He Guan: "What??"

Spitting out a mouthful of water, he turned to the man at the door, "Has the sun risen in the west, or am I still groggy? You, neglecting the sparrows you've been feeding?"

Standing at the doorway and sensing He Guan's astonishment, Lou Dong Cang chuckled, "I asked Uncle Yue for help. I had something more important to attend to."

He Guan's thoughts naturally veered in a particular direction, "Oh, gardening?"

Lou Dong Cang smiled faintly, "No."

The sound of He Guan's brushing gradually softened.

Even if He Guan was a tad oblivious at times, by now, he should realize what Lou Dong Cang was implying.

The more pressing matter at hand was... wooing him.

He Guan put down his cup, "I'll go see what delicious thing Uncle Yue is preparing—"

Lou Dong Cang raised his hand to rest on the opposite door frame, saying, "Don't run."

He Guan looked frustratedly beneath Lou Dong Cang's arm, contemplating his escape route.

If all else fails, perhaps squeeze through?

It seems that's not an option...

Lou Dong Cang: "He Guan, you can keep avoiding me, but if you continue to, don't blame me for blocking your path."

He Guan: "..."

Lou Dong Cang: "I don't regret confessing my feelings to you. I can give you all the time you need to understand your feelings towards me. But for now, can you at least say you don't despise me?"

He Guan, with a deadpan retort: "Currently, I'm pretty annoyed."

Lou Dong Cang shook his head and chuckled, "Even if you say that, it won't upset me."

He Guan: "Enough of this. Let me go..."

Lou Dong Cang stepped closer, "Do you know what else I did today besides planting flowers?"

He Guan, slightly distracted and unaware of the proximity: "How would I know? I was asleep. Can I be in two places at once?"

Lou Dong Cang: "I also buried a flower."

He Guan: "...?"

Suddenly, it dawned on He Guan.

It was that one... the 'Tales of a Faraway Land.'

Lou Dong Cang released his grip and moved a step closer, "It couldn't be propagated; too fragile to survive. And since I can't see, I took the liberty of burying it."

"It was shattered beyond recognition in my hands that day. Since it was a gift from you, would you like me to purchase another or replace it with something else?"

"Or offer something as compensation?"

Lou Dong Cang, feigning deep thought, asked.

"Would sleeping with you suffice?"

"The weather is warming up, and I find it comforting to hold you."

Author's Note:

When pushed to the wall, the dagger is revealed (metaphorical).