“Hey, that kid is here.”
Gui Yin glanced up from his computer as Erlang walked in. A bright smile rested against his face as he set the drink carriers down and distributed everyone’s preferred drink. A moment later, he appeared beside Gui Yin’s table and set down a pinkish drink.
“Rose tea with boba pearls. You were craving it this morning, right?” Erlang asked as he pulled up a stool.
“What an attentive boyfriend,” the man sighed, raising a brow.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Gui Yin said, accepting the drink.
“Not your boyfriend? You two could have fooled me,” the woman across from Gui Yin giggled. She glanced between them. “Then, are you two just good friends?”
“Yin-ge said it’s too early for us to date,” Erlang said with a small pout.
“When did I say that?”
“You said so with your actions,” Erlang sighed.
“Stop saying nonsense,” Gui Yin scolded. He took a small sip of the drink. “I’m almost done, so just hang tight.”
Erlang hummed and obediently turned to his phone.
Three weeks ago, this kid started showing up by Gui Yin’s side. Gui Yin, although friendly on the surface, despised when people clung to him. But whenever this kid showed up, it was like his whole demeanor would change. If he had to communicate with a coworker, he would speak softer. If something was frustrating him, he would still keep his posture upright. And the kid seemed to know how to coax him. A soft word here and a bright smile there and Gui Yin’s mood would calm back down.
Being told that they weren’t dating was the most shocking news anyone in the office had heard. Weren’t dating? Then, why were they always attached at the hip?
“I thought you didn’t work here at night,” Gui Yin said as he packed his things.
“I had to cover a shift,” Erlang explained, his hand already holding Gui Yin’s drink. “I thought I’d give you a surprise.”
“Mm, but I have plans today.”
“For what?”
“To meet up with my mother and her husband,” Gui Yin said. He absentmindedly said goodnight to the office and headed for the elevator. “Do you want to go to my apartment to wait? It shouldn’t be more than an hour. And you know my passcode.”
“Can’t I come with you?”
Gui Yin pressed the button for the bottom floor and looked at Erlang quizzically. “We’re not in that kind of relationship.”
“I know,” Erlang said.
Gui Yin looked Erlang up and down. “I’ll just buy dinner for you.”
“I want you beside me. I don’t want dinner or any of that,” Erlang sighed.
“Your words can be taken out of context,” Gui Yin said.
The elevator dinged and the two men stepped out.
“What if I want it to be?”
“Then, you ought to be careful,” Gui Yin said. “I don’t stay with my one-night stands.”
“We can make it a regular thing,” Erlang said. He smiled when Gui Yin looked at him. “Friends with benefits.”
Gui Yin gave him a sarcastic laugh. “You don’t know how many people have suggested that to me.”
“And then?”
“They fell for me,” Gui Yin wrinkled his nose.
“I promise I won’t fall for you until you fall for me.”
“That feels a bit backwards,” Gui Yin hummed.
“Then, I’ll fall for you and wait for you to fall for me?”
“How about we don’t sleep together and neither of us fall for each other?” Gui Yin said.
“That won’t do. How will I keep you by my side then?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Xel Tlc gbiifv tlr fsfr lc jwerfwfca. “Tbe’gf jmaejiis mgjhs.”
“P atlcx sbe’gf delaf clmf abb. Vb, klii sbe ifa wf mbwf jibcu?”
“Qts vb sbe kjca ab mbwf?” Xel Tlc jrxfv, aegclcu ab Sgijcu jr tf mjiifv obg j ajzl.
Sgijcu rwlifv.
“Df tbcfra,” Xel Tlc rjlv.
“I want to see the drama.”
Gui Yin rolled his eyes. Once he hung up the call, he sighed. “Fine, come along.”
“Thank you, gege.”
They arrived at the restaurant in an hour. Erlang scoffed as Gui Yin paid for the taxi.
“Why is it all the way out here? Couldn’t they have been more considerate?”
“Do you want to know something worse?”
“What?”
Gui Yin pointed at the apartment building across the street. “That’s where they live. But just wait—they won’t even be there yet.”
Erlang frowned. “What time are you supposed to meet with them?”
“An hour ago,” Gui Yin said. “We’ll have time to finish our meal and when they say whatever they want, we can leave.”
Erlang followed Gui Yin silently until they were inside the restaurant. “Is your mother that bad?”
“She got worse after she remarried,” Gui Yin said. He handed Erlang the menu. “She always says that she’s busy watching her kids. Her youngest is eighteen now, so I don’t know why she still uses the same excuse.”
“Some people are just uncreative,” Erlang said, scanning the menu. “Can we order alcohol?”
“We have beer at my apartment,” Gui Yin said.
“But you’re more fun with a little alcohol in your system,” Erlang said.
“You really do want to watch drama, don’t you?” Gui Yin glanced at Erlang.
Erlang grinned. He peered over the top of the menu and whispered, “I love when you get angry.”
“Keep it in your pants,” Gui Yin said, pulling the menu away from him. “What do you want to eat? I’ll pay.”
“Mm, something salty.”
“I’ll get you a salad.”
Erlang nearly laughed. “Then, something with fish.”
“Alright,” Gui Yin hummed.
He flagged down the waiter and placed his order.
It took their order almost half an hour to arrive. At that time, Gui Yin’s mother and her husband had yet to show. Erlang scoffed as he rubbed his chopsticks together and began to eat.
“What a phenomenal woman.”
“Isn’t she? I’m sure she’s forgotten about me,” Gui Yin glanced at his phone. “We can finish eating and then I’ll text her.”
“Aren’t you glad I came with you?”
“Even if you didn’t, I would be doing the same thing,” Gui Yin said.
Erlang glanced at him as he ate. “You really do hold back for the worst reasons.”
“What?”
“You have a very contradictory personality, you know that?”
“Are we doing this again?”
“We’ll talk about it more after a few shots.”
“What, are you getting vodka on the way back?”
“I was thinking about it.”
Gui Yin rolled his eyes but said nothing to oppose him.
As Gui Yin predicted, his so-called mother had forgotten. Erlang watched as Gui Yin nonchalantly sent a text while sipping the remnants of his soda. Not more than twenty minutes later, a frazzled looking woman and a disgruntled man walked through the door.
The man looked over the empty table and frowned. “You ate already?”
“Don’t say it as if you hadn’t had dinner already too, Mr. Chen,” Gui Yin said. “Not to mention, do you really expect me to sit here for two hours and not eat anything?”
“Don’t fight, don’t fight,” Gui Yin’s mother said. “It was our fault completely. It was A-Su’s recital today and it ran a little later than expected.”
Erlang frowned slightly. He drank his water and said nothing.
The woman looked at Erlang and her eyes lit up. Gui Yin didn’t need to ask to know what this woman was thinking. She was probably excited that Gui Yin was finally willing to introduce her to one of his partners. “A-Yin, is this—”
“We’re only friends,” Gui Yin said, cutting her delusion short. “What was it you wanted to tell me?”
The woman’s face fell, but the man was still frowning at Erlang. “Just a friend? So, why’s your friend here during a family dinner?”
“Because he didn’t want me to eat alone. Isn’t he kind?” Gui Yin said.
The man’s face shifted from pale to green to red. He glared at Gui Yin. “Listen, boy, your mother already apologized. You should learn some respect before you—”
“Respect isn’t given, it’s earned,” Gui Yin said. He looked at his mother again. “What do you want to tell me?”
“We…we’re going to be moving to another city. A-Lin is going to college over there and she didn’t want to go alone so we—”
“Alright,” Gui Yin stood.
“Alright?”
Gui Yin hummed. “Is that all?”
“That’s…yes, that’s all.”
“Erlang, let’s go.”
Erlang stood. He balled up his napkin and tossed onto the table. When he stood, he towered over Gui Yin’s stepfather. With one look the man stumbled back a step. Erlang raised a brow and frowned slightly.
“My gege’s life here sure is hard. He has to deal with irrelevant people like you,” Erlang mumbled.
“What’d you say!?”
Gui Yin glanced over. He swiftly walked back after he paid and tugged Erlang behind him. “It’s fine if you raise your voice at me and threaten me, but you can’t do such a thing to my friend.”
“You—do you know what this brat said?!”
“Do I look like I care?” Gui Yin asked. He turned to his mother. “After you move, please don’t contact me anymore.”
“But—”
“It’s not like you actually consider me your son anyway. You’re just staying in contact with me out of obligation, isn’t that right?” Gui Yin said. He coldly looked her in the eyes. “You’ve always enjoyed competing with that man.”
The woman’s mouth opened and closed, but no excuse could be churned out. Gui Yin laughed mirthlessly but, miraculously, he didn’t feel the same sinking disappointment he usually felt. He grabbed Erlang by the hand and pulled him out of the restaurant.
He didn’t release Erlang until they were in the taxi and heading off to his apartment, an hour and a half away.
Erlang glanced at him. “How do you feel?”
Gui Yin met Erlang’s gaze. “How do you think I feel?”
“Good.”
Gui Yin slowly smiled. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I just broke off relations with my mother and you think I feel good?”
“If you felt bad, you would have yelled at me by now,” Erlang pointed out.
“I’m not that unreasonable.”
“I think you are.”
When they made it to Gui Yin’s apartment, Erlang ran off to the nearest convenience store and came back with a bottle of vodka. Under Gui Yin’s disapproving gaze, he skipped into the building, waving the bottle as he urged Gui Yin to follow him into the elevator.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“But you didn’t stop me,” Erlang pointed out.
The television was turned on and the glasses were set out.
After seven shots of vodka, Gui Yin was already dozing off. Erlang glanced at him and shifted slightly to allow Gui Yin’s head to lean against his shoulder. He poured himself another shot and downed it without a second thought.
He clicked his tongue.
The alcohol in this world had little effect on him.
His eyes drifted over to Gui Yin. A hand came up to softly touch his head. “Lord Immortal, when are you going to remember everything?”
Gui Yin’s brows furrowed as he shifted against Erlang.
“You have to remember,” Erlang whispered. “Even if I bring you back now, your primordial spirit will be out of place if you can’t acknowledge your true self.”
His hand brushed aside Gui Yin’s fringe. “You clearly don’t like it here. If you remember everything, we can head back sooner.”
Gui Yin’s lips pouted. He shifted and groaned slightly.
“Your disciples are all waiting for you. I’ve kept them alive,” Erlang said. “They miss you so much. You have friends who actually care about you. The world may be petty and find you unlikable, but so what? You’re at the top. You’re Lord Immortal Ninglan, Quanjing Continent’s War God.”
Seeing Gui Yin still asleep against his chest, Erlang sighed. He pulled his hand through his short hair and clicked his tongue. Even the appearance of the people here was unsavory. And the clothes—why did everything look so disgusting? Even when he dressed with what was “in fashion” he felt like he was wearing a trash bag.
“This dimension is horrible. Let’s hurry and go back, alright?” Erlang murmured. “Why are you forcing yourself to endure such punishment?”
A while later, Erlang picked Gui Yin up and carried him to his bed. He pulled back the blankets and slowly lowered Gui Yin. The moment his head touched the pillow, his eyes opened.
Erlang smiled. “Gege, you—”
A pair of soft lips touched his own. Erlang stilled and didn’t move. He stood there numbly as the other party softly nibbled on his lips as if tempting him to bite back. A low chuckle left his throat and he leaned down, but when Gui Yin’s back was pressed to the mattress, Erlang pulled his arms from his neck and pulled the blanket over him.
“At least you can get drunk here,” Erlang said, patting Gui Yin’s chest. “Unfortunately, I can’t.”
He pressed Gui Yin down and held a hand over Gui Yin’s eyes. Only when the man had stopped moving did he release him.
“Hurry and remember. After experiencing so many years here, I’m starting to understand why people lean into alcoholism.”
Erlang turned to leave, but his hand was caught. He frowned and looked at Gui Yin.
The pair of eyes that looked back at him were dazed, but that wasn’t what was odd. Gui Yin should be asleep. Erlang had clearly put him to sleep, but how was he still awake?
In his moment of distraction, Gui Yin managed to pull him onto the bed. Erlang sat up but was pushed back down. The strength didn’t belong to a regular human. Erlang’s eyes brightened in excitement.”
“Gui-xiong, you—”
His words were again interrupted by a soft kiss. Gui Yin was persistent. His hands wandered Erlang’s chest until he reached the edge of his shirt, but his hand was promptly caught and pulled away. A soft whine left his lips. Erlang chuckled lowly and watched as Gui Yin wiggled against him.
“Ninglan, even in this dimension your beauty is tempting, but I don’t take advantage of the disadvantaged,” Erlang said with a pitying sigh.
Still, he remained where he was and watched Gui Yin struggle for a moment longer. His face was flushed red from the alcohol and his own promiscuous thoughts. He was subtly rubbing against Erlang with a dissatisfied expression. His fingers curled into Erlang’s t-shirt, but nothing he did made Erlang move forward.
“Tell you what?” Erlang sat up, his hand resting against Gui Yin’s waist. “If you still want me to top you when we return, then I’ll do it.”
Gui Yin stared at him in confusion. It was clear that he could not understand a word that was being said to him.
Erlang cupped his cheek and shook his head. “If I want you, I would want you in your most complete form. Not with this innocent piece of your soul.”
He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Gui Yin’s lips. Gui Yin’s eyes widened as something cold slid down his throat. He coughed as Erlang gently laid him back down on the bed. His eyelids grew heavier, but he held onto Erlang.
“I’ll bring you home soon,” Erlang whispered. “But you need to cooperate with me. Just one memory is enough.”
Aaaahhhhh!!!!
it’s happeniinnngggggg thanks for reading!!!
Thanks for the chapter💕
Erlang is so cute (๑˃ᴗ˂)
also his reactions to modern era is so fun alxbskdh tho i’m curious: he said years, how long exactly has he been there? is it like a whole life situation rather than dropped in at a certain age? mm… i will also be delighted by an answer to “will we get the details later?” eheheh
i love this story and this chapter was so !!!!! esp with all that in the end and okie now i’m rambling, i’m gonna follow Gui Yin’s example and sleep uvu
Telling you what erlang would never tell gui yin would ruin the experience of reading the story, so I will keep my mouth shut……..i think i go over bits of erlang’s small journeys in my um…paywalled writer’s diaries LMAO so you’ll have to wait until those come out–
HAVE A NICE SLEEP and thanks for readinggggg
Gui Yin? Gui Yin? Time to wake.. wake up…wake up! Hahahaha…