Chapter 84: Reunion. Don't worry, I love you.

He Gu observed the surroundings in silence, not responding to the sentiment expressed.

It's more appropriate to refer to this place as a region rather than a town or village.

The urban planning of this area appears more mature and concise than other cities, possibly due to its smaller size, making it easier to plan. Thus, the roads are well-laid and everything is orderly.

The tactile paving is particularly noticeable, made of luminescent material, emitting a prominent green glow at night. It stretches out, flanked by green trees on either side, reaching as far as the eye can see.

At the entrance stood several guards, both men and women, each holding onto a dog. The majority of the dogs were Labradors.

As they saw Lou Yingjie approach, they nearly exclaimed in unison, "Mr. Lou, welcome home."

Lou Yingjie greeted each of them by name in response.

The fact that he remembered everyone's name here showed how familiar he was with this place.

The dogs they held did not bark at the sight of a stranger, showing remarkable obedience. They didn't seem like guard dogs but resembled the guide dogs He Guan had seen at a training center.

"Can I ride this?" He Guan inquired upon spotting an electric scooter at the entrance.

Besides electric scooters, there were electric wheelchairs. There weren't any regular cars, but there were all-terrain vehicles. Bicycles were few and far between, yet everything was neatly arranged.

He Guan also noticed two cabinets, as tall as a person, behind the guards. They were illuminated with bright LED strips, making it clear what was inside even at night: walking sticks, crutches, white canes, hearing aids, and almost every kind of emergency equipment and medicine, all neatly packed.

"Of course you can ride," Lou Yingjie handed him a prepared black wristband, in high spirits, "Swipe this; it works everywhere."

He Guan examined it. The wristband's screen had a backlit e-ink display showing a large number and a unique code. The code didn't resemble any QR or barcode he had seen before, a fact he didn't comprehend.

He had seen this wristband before on Lou Yingjie, but never activated. He Guan had assumed it was just a regular fitness tracker.

He Guan brought the wristband close to the small square display on the scooter. With a beep, the code was scanned successfully, and a small number was deducted from the displayed value. It functioned similarly to a QR payment method.

At the right moment, Lou Yingjie said, "Take me with you."

"Of course," having anticipated this when choosing the vehicle, He Guan picked a larger scooter and motioned for Lou Yingjie to step on. "Get on from this side."

They mounted the scooter, and He Guan led the way with the elder.

"Drive slowly," Lou Yingjie specifically instructed.

It took He Guan over two hours to truly understand the meaning of "slowly."

Most residents here were disabled, with a minority being able-bodied. This able-bodied minority was responsible for more physically demanding tasks such as standing guard and security.

What surprised He Guan was not just that, but the fact that everyone here recognized and was familiar with Lou Yingjie. Everyone seemed to share a few words with him.

The residents were all well-acquainted and exceptionally warm to one another. In the evening, many came out for a stroll, carrying fruits or toys to share.

It felt like one big family.

Midway through their journey, someone stopped them beneath a tree.

The large, unidentified tree had leaves different from any He Guan had seen before. As the leaves brushed his head, tickling him, a tall young boy beside him reached up to shield him, intending to keep the leaves at bay.

Beneath the tree was a bench meant for resting. He Guan declined an offer to sit, but the boy simply pointed to his ears, shaking his head with a smile.

He was deaf.

"Mr. Lou, it's been a while. You've been away for quite some time, haven't you?"

"Well, there were many business matters unresolved outside, so I stayed for quite a while."

"Mr. Lou, it's been a while since you brought back a young man. Who's this?"

"He's my godson. What do you think of him?"

"Really? He does look impressive. It's the season for wax apples; let me share some with you."

"Grandpa Lou, do you have a basket? I just wove one! I'd like to gift you one."

"Ah, young lady, one won't be enough. Give me another."

The people here spoke at a leisurely pace, exuding a relaxed ambiance during their conversations. Occasionally, children would burst into excited play, but their energy would quickly subside.

At night, the streetlights weren't glaring but emitted a warm glow.

Beneath their light, hushed conversations and murmurs converged.

Only when He Guan mounted the scooter, ready to lead Lou Yingjie forward, did the boy who shielded him from the leaves withdraw his hand. He waved them goodbye and then began to massage his shoulder.

The pair made frequent stops. Covering nearly ten kilometers from the entrance, the journey took them two hours and thirty-five minutes.

Apart from the two of them, the scooter was now laden with various foods: fruits, snacks, tea leaves. Even the baskets used to carry the items were gifts from others.

Lou Yingjie accepted every gift without offering thanks, as if gratitude would put a distance between them.

He Gu parked the car, assisting Lou Yingjie out of it.

The man, once aided out, gave his leg a little shake, steadied his cane, and remarked, "Growing old, I must admit it."

"You've got many good years ahead," said He Gu as he shut down the electric car, "Is this where you live?"

The place where Lou Yingjie had him stop was a two-story building.

Within these high walls, few structures soared above two stories. Most were modest two-story houses, and the one in front of them was exceptionally unpretentious. Its beige facade and slightly deep roof contrasted with the surprisingly lush greenery on the window sills.

The neighboring houses were currently unoccupied. He Gu, carrying two baskets of goods, preceded Lou Yingjie by a few steps, climbing the accessible steps. A warm amber sensor light illuminated the doorway automatically.

He checked the plant pots and found the soil still damp.

However, with the windows and doors tightly shut and darkness within, He Gu deduced no one was home.

Lou Yingjie, lagging a couple of steps behind, approached and seeing He Gu step aside for him to unlock the door, said, "This is where the fourth brother recently moved. You can go in; I live next door and won't be joining you."

"Don't you want to chat for a bit?" He Gu subconsciously asked, "I've brought food for you; I'll take it to your place."

Lou Yingjie replied, "It's alright. How much can an old man like me eat? You keep it. I must go."

With that said, he briskly walked away, stubbornly leaning on his cane.

Left behind, He Gu stood holding the two baskets of food, debating whether to knock on the door with his forehead or knee.

But the decision was made for him as the door suddenly swung open from the inside.

The interior was pitch black, but abruptly, two pale arms reached out, startling He Gu.

Before he could fully react, a familiar warmth washed over him. The scent of a long-lost memory enveloped him, and he was then firmly embraced.

Caught off guard, He Gu's grip loosened, and the two baskets slipped from his hands.

Tea leaves scattered, apples, wax apples, and durians tumbled everywhere.

Yet no one cared.

The sensor light, seemingly heat-activated, continued to shine its soft yellow glow diligently as long as there were people around.

With a hand gripping his waist, He Gu was gradually pulled into the unlit building, swallowed by the encompassing darkness.

The door shut.

Fingers first slipped under the loose hem of his shirt, followed by another hand that caressed his ear, jaw, and neck. Breath, ever so intimate and close, was like an oncoming tide.

How their lips met was a blur, perhaps too swift for He Gu to recall. The person, eager to kiss him, brushed noses with him accidentally.

He Gu couldn't help but chuckle.

What began as a kiss full of longing and closeness soon dissipated amidst his uncontrollable laughter, leaving behind only joy, happiness, and a flood of indescribable emotions.

What kind of emotion might that be, the feeling of reuniting with a loved one?

He couldn't put it into words.

But he was immensely, profoundly elated.

The one attempting to kiss him paused, resting a forehead on his shoulder, patiently asking, "Why are you laughing?"

He Gu didn't answer, he just laughed, laughing so hard that he began sliding down the door.

The person holding him couldn’t stop his descent, and in truth, didn’t seem to have a strong desire to do so. He ended up joining He Gu on the floor, held by the arm.

"Nothing," He Gu found a comfortable posture and said, "I'm just really happy."

As he settled, his immediate instinct was to find Lou Dongcang's hand, latching onto his fingers.

Lou Dongcang curled his fingers, securely interlocking with He Gu’s.

It was summer, and even at night, two ordinary people huddled together would find it warm. However, one of them had a peculiar constitution. So instead of feeling too warm, He Gu found it quite pleasant.

He Gu didn't speak much, refraining from asking questions that naturally came to mind. Like why was Lou Dongcang alright now, what had transpired at the mall before, why he had gone to Lou Jun's store, or why Lou Yingjie was under police surveillance.

He knew it was a good opportunity to inquire, but the timing for those questions wasn’t as crucial as this moment they shared.

So, he just caressed him.

Throughout the process, Lou Dongcang held onto his wrist, intertwining their fingers and nestling close.

Eyebrows, nose bridge, lips, Adam’s apple, chest. He Gu touched him deliberately, with varying pressures, like sentences spoken with different intonations, seeking to understand Lou Dongcang’s state.

The caressed individual lowered their head, pressing against his forehead, responding in a tranquil manner.

I'm fine, I'm doing well.

Don't worry, I love you.

He Gu, in the end, placed his hand over his eyes, feeling the fragile eyelids.

In doing so, he could sense the movement of the eyeballs beneath.

"Dad said you were kept in confinement. Is this where he locked you up?"

"Yes," Lou Dongcang replied, eyes closed, allowing him to touch anywhere.

He Gu remarked, a hint of wonder in his voice, "How can a confinement cell be so luxurious?"

"Perhaps because it could lure you here."

"Such confidence," He Gu teased, poking him playfully.

Lou Dongcang teased him, "Just brushed your teeth, didn't you taste it?"

"Oh, cut it out." He Guan gently nudged him, signaling him to get up.

After some idle chat, one pulled the other out of the darkness. They turned on the lights, opened the door, and began tidying up the mess outside.

He Guan picked up a half-pack of tea leaves, looking at the portion that had fallen on the ground, wondering, "Can we still drink this if it has touched the ground? It should be fine, right? A little dirt won't harm."

"I'll brew it for you," Lou Dongcang picked up an apple that had rolled to the steps, "Washing the tea beforehand should rinse off any dust. It'll be alright."

"Okay."

After cleaning up, He Guan sat on the couch on the first floor, taking a cushion and reclining. His gaze followed Lou Dongcang, who was placing the fruits in the fridge.

Lou Dongcang looked back at him, continuing his task of storing the fruits. Without being too meticulous about their arrangement or whether they might fall, he just shut the door.

His deep blue eyes shone brilliantly, reminiscent of miniature oceans. When they turned to He Guan, they emitted an unusual warmth beneath a seemingly distant exterior.

He Guan stared unwaveringly into his eyes, questioning even though he already knew the answer.

"Why didn't you arrange them properly? What's the rush?"

Lou Dongcang quickly approached, without responding, he easily pushed He Guan onto the couch, leaned over him, and lowered his head to kiss him.

It was almost as if he was biting him.

And also kissing him.