16 1.16 FATED LOVE: Wait for me
warning: suicide
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"I'm not going to take the university entrance exam," Mo Yinan admits to him one day. It's summer, and they choose to watch people mill the streets from a quaint little cafe. "I want to study abroad instead."
"Oh," Liu Lianyu responds stupidly and he pretends the knife of bitterness wasn't there in his heart. He smiles, "I see."
Liu Lianyu won't be able to follow him. So he tries to change the topic, he doesn't really know how to deal with the news yet. "I have a few interviews lined up next week."
"That's good, I don't want you working under Principal Hui anymore," Mo Yinan snarls. But his expression softens, he brings the conversation back. "Gege, you'll wait for me, right?"
Liu Lianyu clicks his tongue and looks away, "What kind of question is that?" He stares out the window and the sun is beaming brightly, the decorative trees that line the streets sway softly to the wind. The roads are rowdy, cars, bikes and people go about their day. It's a colorful sight. But it does nothing to draw Liu Lianyu's attention.
"You have to wait for me," Mo Yinan insists. He reaches over to take Liu Lianyu's hand in his own.
"I'll try," Liu Lianyu says, even when his heart is blaring. Truthfully, he'd wait an eternity and more.
The hand draws away and Liu Lianyu does not reach for it, his fingers curl into a fist instead.
His thoughts are drowned out. Liu Lianyu knows he's being melodramatic so he's doing his best to keep his breathing steady, to calm down—
There's rustling in front of him and Liu Lianyu panics a little when he can hear the chair scraping against the ground.
"What are you doing?" He snaps and is horrified when Mo Yinan gets down on one knee.
Whispers unfold around them, eyes turn to them and Liu Lianyu is mortified when Mo Yinan pulls out the box. A sparkling diamond ring sits within, plucked from the most cliche scene in a soap opera.
He's all earnest, those sharp eyes that pierce Liu Lianyu's soul but despite his calm countenance his hands shake, it's almost cute.
"Will you marry me?"
Too bad public proposals aren't a part of Liu Lianyu's bucket list. He's more terrified than charmed. "You imbecile!"
It still doesn't stop him from saying yes.
…
Lin Jiaen's wedding takes place in the spring of the following year. Mo Yinan manages to make it just before his flight overseas.
It's grand and extravagant and Liu Lianyu hasn't slept for at least three nights to help her out.
The distance between himself and Tao Zhen is steep, some differences are hard to settle.
But Liu Lianyu will make his sacrifices because Lin Jiaen does so as well. You don't need to always see eye to eye to be best friends. You don't even always need to be great to each other.
That's the beauty of it.
Lin Jiaen's wedding is a monument in history, white roses follow her every step. The playlists are all finely curated and so are the dishes served. There is not a single detail out of place. Liu Lianyu drinks in the laughter and the song.
"So this is your baby alpha," Lin Jiaen's eyes dazzle with interest. It dawns on Liu Lianyu it's the first time she's meeting him.
"Uh. Hello Ms Lin," Mo Yinan greets awkwardly, like he's trying to impress Liu Lianyu's mom or something.
He rolls his eyes and gives Mo Yinan a playful nudge. "I'm raising him to become a sugar daddy, just you wait. Give me a few years and you'll be drowning in envy."
Lin Jiaen laughs at him then. They all do. Even when Liu Lianyu's words ring true in several year's time.
But they're not there yet. It's okay to take the time to drink in bliss.
It's okay to be happy. To take the risks.
…
When Mo Yinan flies out and Liu Lianyu is left behind, his heart freezes over to weather the long winter. It's summer again but Liu Lianyu feels cold, the engagement ring on his finger is heavy.
There's nothing left for him in the city (untrue) so he contemplates moving back to his hometown.
Lin Jiaen wails at the possibilities because she fears losing her line of support. Barely a year in and the married life is already taking the toll on her.
"It'll only be for a few years," Liu Lianyu assures her, as though a few years doesn't mean much at all. "Until Yinan returns."
The words have promise because he knows that Mo Yinan would never settle down in a quaint countryside, working the farmlands along with Liu Lianyu's poor parents. It's a good opportunity to see his old man and his old lady, there are times that Liu Lianyu misses home, after all.
Though Lin Jiaen is reluctant, she folds and sees him off with baskets of gifts for her own parents. "Make sure you hang out with my mom for me! She's lonely without my old man."
He smiles, readily agreeing and gives her a long hug. Her beta scent is comforting. With a final farewell, he's on the train. He's forgotten how fresh the air tastes outside the city. His parents' faces are refreshing, even in their old age. They welcome him at the train station despite the late hours.
…
Life outside the city is tranquil. It's not long before Liu Lianyu settles into a routine. His responsibilities aren't much; his teaching job at the local middle school takes on a leisurely pace. One year goes by, and then another and more. Time is slow, but it also flies.
Liu Lianyu lives life leisurely in the countryside. He takes care of his parents and takes his time to write. He doesn't always fit in with the rural landscape though and people often ogle at him from afar; with his ironed dress shirt and notebook that he always carries around. His things are sprawled on a bench inside the communal yard, notes and pen and laptop too. The light is fast fading and since the mother of one of his students had gifted him generously, he doesn't feel the need to do groceries.
"Xiao Yu!" The auntie from next door calls. Liu Lianyu raises his gaze and sees her waving at him by the edge of the yard, right by the wide dirt road. "Someone is here to see you."
There's someone next to her, tall, in long sleeves and jeans. He wears a black cap and a mask. He belongs to the city. There's a suitcase beside him and—
Liu Lianyu flies off the bench. The excitement in his heart races as he leaps into Mo Yinan's arms. Familiar laughter is in his ear and even though Mo Yinan is broader now, lifts Liu Lianyu up without effort, he's still boyish in his sunny smile.
They kiss and Liu Lianyu keens, his fingers find their place in Mo Yinan's hair, the hat has long gone flying but neither of them care.
"I missed you, dammit," Liu Lianyu confesses through a hiccup. There are tears in his eyes and he's grinning too wide.
Mo Yinan kisses his lips and his cheeks. He kisses the tears away too. "I know. I missed you too."
…
It's summer when the two of them get married.
They take their honeymoon abroad and don't return. Mo Yinan starts a company that turns into an empire. Liu Lianyu gives up his day job for writing.
He gets pregnant in his late thirties, complications are aplenty but he doesn't regret giving birth to the most darling alpha girl. They name her Mo Jinchun.
He brings his parents over to live out their senior years. The big city overseas is jarring compared to the tranquil countryside but they find ways to make things work.
But at age 70, Liu Lianyu's health wanes, due to complications from his late pregnancy. He battles through them like a warrior and cherishes each and every day. Mo Jinchun is his pride and joy and he gets to watch her become a star athlete, a talented dancer, a successful businesswoman and even a mother.
He gets to live through the ups and downs with Mo Yinan at his side, see his parents off after a long peaceful life so he's not fussed when it's his time.
Because Liu Lianyu did not settle for contentment and chased after happiness instead.
Fate has its ways and he, for one, took the risks and found happiness.
Mo Yinan does not cry at his late-husband's funeral. Compared to Liu Lianyu, who's buried at age 74, Mo Yinan isn't too old, especially for an alpha. There are already talks in his company about the potential of their CEO remarrying.
Of course, Mo Yinan has no such plans.
He finds a peaceful night to visit his late husband's grave. He bought a whole mausoleum for his Yu-gege and precisely because he wants to have this moment of peace when the time comes.
Mo Yinan smiles, the age-old wrinkles in his face concentrate around his eyes and lips. It's easy to tell that he's lived a life smiling more often than frowning.
"Wait for me, Gege," he says. His voice is barely above a whisper. "I'll be there soon."
There's no sadness, no hesitation.
Mo Yinan puts a gun to his head.
Ouros: Wait, you fool. You can still get some left-over points if you complete—
He doesn't listen.
Bam.
And the world darkens.
[ World ########'s FATE has been concluded. ]
