DS Extra 19

Reunion When the New Bell Chimes (1)

“Jiang, I need to discuss something with you.”

Ryann paused, emphasizing his tone. “It’s something very important.”

Jiang Jianming looked up, and a snowflake happened to land on the dark red scarf his lover had just wrapped around him.

So he curved his black eyes and smiled at the Crown Prince walking beside him. “Mm, go ahead?”

It was deep winter, December, and tomorrow would be the New Year festival. The festive atmosphere in the Aslan imperial capital had already climbed to its peak. West Galaxy Street was strung with colorful lights, the shops on both sides were playing upbeat little songs on loop, and couples holding hands could be seen everywhere along the way.

Ryann had actually squeezed out an entire day to spend with him. Jiang Jianming was quite worried that this person had skipped some meeting again, but since it was the holidays after all, he turned a blind eye.

They had indeed played very happily that day. They bought steaming hot street food, went into an arcade, and after coming out, listened to music while watching the snow, window shopping while chatting meaninglessly… Since his father left, it had been a very long time since Jiang Jianming had experienced such pure and ordinary happiness.

But Ryann had something on his mind. This was obvious—the signs had persisted all day. Those emerald-like eyes of the Crown Prince had stolen glances at Jiang Jianming countless times, but he never actually said anything.

Now it was time to part ways. Jiang Jianming had been thinking that if they walked to the next intersection and Ryann still couldn’t muster the courage to speak up, he would just ask directly. It seemed His Highness the Crown Prince had a bit more backbone than he’d imagined.

Ryann’s eyes flickered, his ears and nose tip a bit red—whether from the cold or nervousness was unclear.

“It’s not really anything too serious.” The corner of his lips tightened, and he suddenly stopped, reaching out to gently grasp Jiang Jianming’s wrist. “I…”

This posture was almost like a marriage proposal, or at least like he was about to steal a kiss.

Jiang Jianming couldn’t help but laugh. White mist puffed from his pale pink lips, blurring his refined features.

“Oh my, Your Highness, don’t do that,” he said warmly, his right hand taking the initiative to climb onto Ryann’s shoulder and pat it. “We’re still on the street.”

Ryann: “…You asked me to speak.”

Jiang Jianming: “But I didn’t give you permission to get handsy.”

So Ryann’s wrist was grabbed, the disabled person’s strength neither light nor heavy. Jiang Jianming led Ryann toward a deserted street corner and found a public bench.

“Here, it’s quite clean and there’s no one around.” Jiang Jianming bent down to brush away the accumulated snow on the chair, looking up gently. “Little Highness, please continue?”

…He’s really beautiful, Ryann thought in a daze.

That inexplicable sense of unreality appeared again. A few months ago, in the library during a refreshing early morning, driven by some moment of divine intervention, he had lowered his head and kissed Jiang. The military academy student hadn’t panicked or resisted, but had quietly reciprocated the kiss.

This had been too great a shock for the Little Highness. It wasn’t until several days later that Ryann finally pieced together the scene from his chaotic memories, then fell into boundless bewilderment.

Well, though it sounded strange and perhaps a bit masochistic, Ryann subconsciously really did think—

Someone like Jiang Jianming, who exuded an air of “emerging from mud unstained,” shouldn’t have so easily entered into a romantic relationship with another person.

Even if that person was himself.

He seemed to be jealous of himself—good Lord, how could anyone be jealous of themselves?

But that was precisely the case. What he’d obtained now came too easily, so easily that it made the Crown Prince uncomfortable.

Ryann thought, when he’d impulsively offended the other person, what he should have received was a slap, not a gentle response.

And then? He would naturally have apologized for his rudeness, then launched into tireless pursuit, offering abundant love to please the person he adored.

But the result? None of this had time to be implemented before Jiang was simply lured away by him. What a loss!

Now they were lovers. The leaves by that window had first been tinged with the red of autumn, then quietly withered—

The Crown Prince’s heart still often felt bewildered: How could he have so easily lured Jiang Jianming away!

This wasn’t solemn at all!

“Little Highness?” Jiang Jianming tilted his head and called out, his gaze carrying a hint of urging.

…No no no, this is too strange, can’t keep thinking about it. For the umpteenth time, Ryann expelled this bizarre delusion from his mind.

“This New Year…”

He cleared his throat and put on a serious expression again. “Come spend it with me at the White Jade Palace, all right?”

As soon as these words came out, Jiang Jianming was obviously stunned. He straightened up to speak, but Ryann quickly covered his mouth with his hand.

“Don’t refuse me, Jiang.”

Ryann looked at him earnestly and said rapidly, “Look, we’re already lovers now, so I’ll have to bring you to the palace sooner or later. The White Jade Palace will be your residence in the future, you’ll have to come eventually… If not this year, then next year—so why can’t it be this year?”

“Besides, the way we’re interacting now, we can’t keep the relationship hidden for long. The Emperor will come to inquire sooner or later, and then we’ll be very passive. Better to be honest with her during the New Year… If you’re worried, I can tell her for now that we’re just close friends, or that I greatly appreciate your talents. That way when we’re together often in the future, there’ll be a legitimate reason…”

“We’ll wait until evening, until after those annoying social obligations and banquets are over before going in. You won’t encounter any trouble. And even if you do run into people, with me there, no one would dare bully you.”

“Mmph…” Jiang Jianming’s eyes widened. Ryann’s fingers were roguishly fastened over his mouth, and he had to forcefully pull at Ryann’s arm with both hands to pry that paw away.

“Little Highness, I… mm…!”

“Not listening,” Ryann directly pressed his upper body forward to kiss him. “Don’t refuse me… Jiang, come to my palace. From every angle of analysis, this is the best timing.”

The night shrouded this pair of young lovers in an ambiguous veil. Warm mist formed between their lips.

Ryann kissed him repeatedly, the pressure going from butterfly-light to gradually heavier, his tone containing a plea. “Is it okay, Jiang? Give me a New Year’s gift…”

“Mmph…”

Jiang Jianming was kissed breathless. Both amused and exasperated, he lightly bumped Ryann with his knee, and in the next moment his leg was pinned down. This young prince had already been to the battlefield, so his reaction speed was naturally fast.

Creak. After the two had been entangled for a while, Jiang Jianming finally lost his strength, his upper body losing balance and tilting backward, his elbow propping against the bench.

“Jiang!” Afraid he’d hit himself, Ryann quickly reached out to support the back of his head. “Careful.”

Jiang Jianming finally escaped his restraints. His hair and scarf were both disheveled, and he lay tilted on the bench laughing continuously. After gasping for two more breaths, he helplessly reached up to pat Ryann’s cheek and said, “All right.”

Ryann was busy wrapping the scarf back around him and didn’t even react.

Jiang Jianming had to repeat. “I agree.”

Ryann’s fingers loosened. “…What?”

Jiang Jianming said, “About going to the palace for New Year’s.”

“…?”

Jiang Jianming sighed and tossed the scarf back himself. “What’s this? Just now you were so anxious. Now that I’ve agreed, Little Highness isn’t happy?”

“You,” Ryann looked at him in confusion, “you agreed?”

Jiang Jianming: “Mm, I think what you said makes sense. It’s inevitable anyway.”

Ryann said in astonishment, “You’re really willing?”

“What kind of talk is that?” Jiang Jianming said helplessly. “For a commoner to enter the palace is clearly the highest honor. In your heart, am I really so ignorant of what’s good for me?”

Ryann: “…”

But you’ve always refused to let me give you these kinds of “honors” before.

He conveyed this grievance with his eyes.

“Heh… Before was because we weren’t in this kind of relationship yet, so we had to be somewhat cautious.”

Jiang Jianming smiled and shook his head. “Now that things have changed, if I don’t make adjustments, how can I live up to your affection?”

“However, Your Highness the Crown Prince,” he reached out to pinch Ryann’s cheek, narrowing his eyes meaningfully, “did you assume I would refuse before even asking? Is that really okay?”

Ryann was utterly flustered. “No, I didn’t…”

Jiang Jianming couldn’t suppress his smile. He suddenly reached out to clasp the back of Ryann’s neck and took the initiative to kiss the young man’s brow.

The noble young man trembled all over.

Amidst the falling fine snow, Ryann pressed his lips together, feeling his heartbeat thundering louder than war drums.

…Can he hear my heart beating so fast?

That sense of unreality surged back. Ryann endured the burning sensation rushing from his whole body to his face and buried the lower half of his face sulkily into Jiang Jianming’s scarf.