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Yang Jinghua was still not used to the situation that he was in. He was just a normal adult doing his best to get by. But thanks to some careless truck driver he was now living his life as a Spirit Shadow for the world's most stuffiest man Duanmu Xi. This man was an enemy to all men, being the perfect human being all round. That was what he thought at first at least, but the more he stayed by this man’s side; he came to see the man underneath all the perfection. Under it all, there was just a regular 17 year old boy who wanted to be loved.
Right now, Yang Jinghua was sitting on the bed and staring at Duanmu Xi’s sleeping figure. This man either slept or ate and nothing in between. But seeing how draining doing even one ceremony is, he could understand the need for recuperation.
“Duanmu Xi, how much longer are you going to sleep; I'm bored.”
“Ugh, let me rest a bit more.”
“More! You’ve been resting for almost a whole week. I’ve been holed up in this room with you for almost a week. It’s time to get up and stretch those legs.”
“Ugh.”
Yang Jinghua lowered his head closer to Duanmu Xi’s, he was contemplating whether to yell right into his ear or just leave him be. But his thoughts were interrupted when Duanmu Xi opened his eyes, staring right into his own. A hand came out of the cover and landed on his cheek.
“So pretty” Duanmu Xi muttered
Yang Jinghua couldn’t help but look away and blush at the comment.
“What are you saying? Don’t talk nonsense.”
These types of comments have been happening more often, and each time it still takes Yang Jinghua by surprise.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy with these comments, it was just strange for them to being coming out of the man in front of him.
He looked at the man in front of him, the latter was just staring back.
“...”
The silence made Yang Jinghua curious, it made him wonder what was on the other person's mind.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Yang Jinghua once again leaned closer to the latter.
“Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“ … You.”
“Me? Why are you thinking about me?”
“I’m always thinking about you, you are the only important person that I need.”
“...”
Yang Jinghua didn’t know what to say, he never thought a day would come that someone would say something like that to him.
“You’re an important person to me too, without you I would already be on my way to becoming an evil spirit.”
“I would never allow that to happen. You are the most pure spirit that I have ever met. The only one that doesn’t want something from me.”
Duanmu Xi grabbed his hand, and placed it onto his heart.
“I don’t need anything else, so promise me that you will never leave me.”
His eyes showed a look of desperation, a look that would never be found outside these quarters.
“I promise,” Yang Jinghua says, leaning his forehead onto Duanmu Xi’s.
“Besides, it’s not like I can actually leave you. We’re soul bound, we will never be separated.”
A light smile washes across Duanmu Xi’s face, and just as quickly as it came it quickly faded away.
“Jinghua?”
“Hm?”
Duanmu Xi’s expression grew solemn. Slowly, carefully, he pushed himself up in bed, never once letting go of Yang Jinghua’s hand.
“I want to make another vow.”
“What kind of vow?” Yang Jinghua’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Not just with my soul. This time… I vow with my heart.”
“Duanmu Xi…”
“Yang Jinghua,” he began, his voice low but clear, “years ago, from the very moment I first met you, I felt it—a thread tying my life to yours. We drifted apart, time passed… but fate has woven us back together. And now that you’re here, sitting beside me…” He paused, his thumb gently stroking Yang Jinghua’s knuckles. “I finally understand. I cannot imagine a world without you in it.”
Yang Jinghua’s face flushed a deep crimson. He lifted his free hand to cover his eyes, but a tremor ran through him. No words came.
“There is still so much I want to learn about you,” Duanmu Xi continued, his gaze unwavering. “So much life I want to share with you. But here and now, I give you my heart—completely. I give you my trust—eternally. I vow that in this life, and in every life that may follow, no matter how our paths may wind… I will find you. So promise me… promise you’ll stay by my side until my time is up in this world.”
“...”
“Jinghua?”
Duanmu Xi looked over and his own breath caught. Silent tears were tracing paths down Yang Jinghua’s cheeks, catching the light.
“Why are you crying?” Duanmu Xi asked softly, his own voice thick with emotion.
“Because…” Yang Jinghua choked out, finally lowering his hand to reveal eyes glistening with tears, “no one has ever… said anything like that to me. I never dreamed it would be you saying them. But I am so… so grateful.” He drew a shaky breath, intertwining his fingers tightly with Duanmu Xi’s. “Meeting you… becoming someone precious to you… it is my greatest fortune. I promise you—I swear it. For as long as you live, I will be at your side. I will protect you. Always.”
He let out a watery laugh, wiping his cheek with his shoulder.
“You know,” Yang Jinghua whispered, a tearful laugh catching in his throat, “it sounds a bit like a… a proposal. Duanmu Xi, are you proposing to me?”
A faint, rosy hue coloured Duanmu Xi’s cheeks, a sight so endearing that Yang Jinghua couldn’t help but laugh, the sound soft and brimming with affection.
“You didn’t have to say all that,” Yang Jinghua murmured, his voice thick with emotion as he leaned forward, closing the space between them. He wrapped his arms around Duanmu Xi, holding him as if he were the most precious thing in the world. “You didn’t have to, because I have always been yours.”
He buried his face in the crook of Duanmu Xi’s neck, his next words a warm, fervent breath against his skin.
“I love you.”
The confession settled in the space between them, profound and quiet. Duanmu Xi stiffened for a heartbeat, utterly surprised, before his entire being seemed to melt into the embrace. His arms came up to hold Yang Jinghua just as tightly.
A long, peaceful moment passed before he found his voice, the words a soft, unwavering vow against Yang Jinghua’s hair.
“...I love you too, Jinghua.”
They drew back just enough to look into each other’s eyes. No more words were needed. In that shared gaze was an entire conversation—a lifetime of promises understood, a future acknowledged, and a love, finally, spoken into existence.