Reverse Domestication chapter 41
I want you to be with me forever
Qi Yanbai had never heard anyone say such words to him before.
He had a thin family connection, and although his biological parents were still in their prime, neither of them could be relied upon. They didn’t offer him warmth, nor had they fulfilled their parental responsibilities in front of him.
But, just as people don’t care about things they’ve never received, Qi Yanbai had long grown used to living in such a cold and distant environment. He had no expectations for emotions, family ties, or even the concept of a family.
However, at this moment, Lu Ye’s casually spoken words had stirred up a completely unfamiliar expectation within him.
Qi Yanbai’s thoughts even drifted a bit further as he imagined what a family with Lu Ye would be like.
Qi Yanbai was an artist with an extraordinary imagination and creativity. His thoughts had only wandered for an instant before he sketched out an entirely new scene in his mind.
Lu Ye was a very homely man. Once their relationship was confirmed, he almost canceled all his social gatherings and private parties, sticking to a strict schedule. After finishing work at the police station, he would come to pick Qi Yanbai up on his way home.
He was diligent and self-reliant, capable of doing everything. When Qi Yanbai cooked at home, he was never idle and would help out.
Qi Yanbai had once cherished the moments of solitude after work because during that time, he and Lu Ye were rarely disturbed by anyone or anything. They could quietly shut themselves in and enjoy some private time together.
The door of their home would be tightly closed, the central air conditioning blowing warm and dry air. Qi Yanbai would paint in the living room, while Lu Ye would rest on the sofa nearby, dozing off. The warm light in the kitchen mixed with the rich aroma of cooking, casting a hazy and dreamy glow, subtly falling on his shoulders and behind his ears.
That cramped and intimate space always satisfied Qi Yanbai’s sense of security in a mysterious way. His eyelashes fluttered, adding a vivid touch of color to this scene in his mind.
It was strange, Qi Yanbai suddenly thought. In his works, there had never been such extensive warm colors, nor had he used such mundane and simple materials. But when he sketched out this scene in his mind, he felt more satisfied than with any of his previous artworks.
His empty heart seemed to be gradually filled with something warm and gentle, and that warmth slowly spread through his heart, nurturing the hidden seed within him.
He couldn’t help but have even more concealed desires drawn out by Lu Ye. So, Qi Yanbai blinked and softly said, “Alright.”
Setting down what he held in his hand, Qi Yanbai took a few steps forward. He then reached out and encircled Lu Ye’s neck, tilting his head slightly and lightly kissing his lips.
“Will you always be this good to me?” Qi Yanbai’s voice was as soft as a sigh, as if he was asking Lu Ye and speaking to himself at the same time.
The assistant teacher had already left for the day. The lights in the classrooms on the second floor had long been turned off, leaving only two bright emergency lights in the corridor.
Lu Ye, in his current posture, held Qi Yanbai’s waist and lowered his head to give him a series of gentle and fleeting kisses, then assured him in the intervals, “As long as there are no issues of principle, I will.”
“Issues of principles?” Qi Yanbai suddenly chuckled. His tone light and carefree, he tossed the question back, “Like what?”
Lu Ye raised an eyebrow and was about to speak, but Qi Yanbai had changed his mind. He suddenly tightened his arms and once again kissed him firmly, interrupting whatever Lu Ye had wanted to say.
“No need to say it,” Qi Yanbai mumbled vaguely. “I trust you.”
Between the interplay of their lips and teeth, he managed to sneak in half a sentence. With his tongue, he lightly teased Lu Ye’s tongue, as if to ensure something, and softly said, “Lu Ye, I want you to be with me forever.”
The word “forever” sounded distant, illusory, and impractical, like an empty promise that looked good on the surface but signified nothing. But at the same time, it carried a weight as if, once agreed upon, it would leave a clear imprint on the soul. Even if there were regrets later on, that mark would serve as a symbol of breaking one’s word, forever etched in memory, impossible to erase.
Lu Ye was a man of his word, and he shouldn’t have easily agreed to such a boundless promise. But as he looked into Qi Yanbai’s eyes, he inexplicably responded with a quiet “okay.”
In the next moment, Qi Yanbai’s gaze visibly changed. His eyes curved at the corners, and an unmistakable joy lit up in them. The bright lights fell upon his eyes, as if a glimmer had descended.
Lu Ye reached out to wipe his eye corner and, as if drawn by the light in his eyes, lowered his head to kiss his eyes gently.
Qi Yanbai instinctively closed his eyes, and in response, he heard Lu Ye’s muffled laughter in his ear.
“Are we still going shopping?” Lu Ye smiled and asked, “If not, I’ll have to call and cancel our dinner reservation.”
Qi Yanbai suddenly felt like he was walking on air and, after being enveloped by Lu Ye’s presence, he finally pulled away from that soft warmth. His ears turned slightly red.
“…Let’s go,” Qi Yanbai said after a while, then reached out sneakily to hold Lu Ye’s hand, fingers interlocking. “Shall we?.”
In the last week of the year, the commercial district was bustling with activity, crowded with people.
Large supermarkets set up outdoor New Year’s goods festivals, outdoor heaters lined the streets, and snack stalls and carnivals blended together, with the cheerful sound of music everywhere.
Lu Ye and Qi Yanbai weren’t interested in the crowded event, so they avoided the crowd and tried to enter the mall through a side road.
When they reached the entrance, they noticed that a jewelry store was conducting an event. Fragments of golden eggs were scattered all over the place, and cheers erupted intermittently from the crowd.
Lu Ye’s professional instincts took over, and he subconsciously turned to look in the direction of the commotion. Not seeing anything unusual, he happened to glance at a poster displayed on a large high-definition screen at the bottom.
It seemed to be that year’s new jewelry collection, from earrings to necklaces, the full range. Lu Ye hadn’t paid much attention at first, but as he scanned it briefly, he unexpectedly spotted a pair of silver-shining engagement rings at the bottom.
Most jewelry store engagement rings were either classic solitaires or six-prong settings, but this engagement ring’s design was exceptionally unique. It didn’t feature any dazzling diamonds on the ring itself; instead, it had an irregular, openwork pattern for the ring.
The lines on both sides of the openwork were simple and clean, with only a few of them. Yet, they formed an exceptionally beautiful pattern. Lu Ye took a closer look and had the feeling that the pattern resembled a bird, but it also looked like a cluster of wild thorns.
The host on the activity stage was still loudly promoting that year’s water-drop diamond platinum necklace, but Lu Ye’s gaze couldn’t help but be drawn to those rings. He subtly pinched Qi Yanbai’s hand and gave him a smile.
“Yanbai,” Lu Ye said, “you go inside and wait for me for a moment. I’ll be back.”