Always Want to be Here

The melodic wailing of the two-stringed fiddle took over every sound in the room. However, its heartstring-tugging cries couldn't compete with a singing voice reciting the ode to fallen heroes. The maiden had a hood over her head, hiding most of her face aside from the lower half of her beautiful face. However, occasionally, her light hair fringe would peek from the hood. Her heavenly light-blue eyes would also be seen.

She was donned in a light-green palace dress, but she was not performing in the palace lobby. She was only sitting in the middle of a straw-mat floor, playing her fiddle, and singing of heroics. Her slender fingers weren't candle-like as they were hardened by practice, and yet they still attracted gazes and hands to hold them.

A man was lying next to her. His head was on her lap, enjoying the song played for him alone. His eyes remained closed as he listened, keeping himself from being distracted by how close the bow was to his face. No one knew how long they had been staying like this, but there was no exhaustion in the voice and movements of the woman.

Like every song, her performance had to end. With the last note, she kept her lips pursed... soon curling into a flirtatious smile. Her blue eyes descended from her fingers to the handsome face on her lap. She brought the fiddle down at her other side and reached out to stroke at the man's face.

"...Lord Dao, didn't you say you'd eat after that song?" The maiden's voice continued to be melodic as she spoke, but its low pitch was noticeable. Her fingers began playing with the man's hair. "Didn't you promise we'll walk around in the morning?"

"I haven't forgotten." He laughed out before opening his eyes which were like yellow gems that attract everyone that met his gaze. The man got up and spun while seated to face the female. He then stroked at her cheek. "Would you care to join me, princess?"

Snap. Like a movie reel that snapped in the middle, the scene quickly disappeared into the darkness. Just like that, consciousness had crawled back into Xu Rouguang's system. His eyes began to open again as he heard a noise that started to grow louder and louder. It was already morning, and it was an alarm that was trying to wake them up. Xu Rouguang's eyes flickered to clear the blurriness before he decided to sit up.

However, he noticed that Lai Mingjie's arms were sprawled over him as well as his leg. He turned to the side and saw the softly-snoring man. He was even murmuring, probably words from his golden days. Xu Rouguang had a bitter smile curl his lips before he removed the arms on him. For some reasons, he envied Lai Mingjie. He had his memories intact despite how long he had been human.

Right, he remembered something Lai Mingjie mentioned last night. Didn't he say he was only allowed to live a life for thirty years? Was that the truth? If it was, then he must have quite a huge collection of memories. Then again, he still hadn't forgotten his days as a demon king.

Xu Rouguang slowly reached out to clear the stray locks on his boss' face. If they were alive at the same time, then he must have a lot of memories, too. Where did they all go? Why couldn't he recall anything? Why did he lose them in the first place?

Memories? The general hummed softly as he somewhat recalled the dream he had. If he looked closely, the man in his dream resembled Lai Mingjie a little. He didn't have those vicious yet intriguing yellow eyes, but the shape of their faces and the contours that defined their features were similar.

The slowest of movements were employed to make sure Xu Rouguang could roll to his side without waking up the other. He then smiled warmly as he stared at Lai Mingjie's sleeping face. The demon king's lips were pulled into a victorious smile as if he was having a very nice dream. Xu Rouguang continued to envy him as he had memories to dream about... past glory to remember.

"Jie, you said we were enemies... but why do I feel like... I...?" His fingertip traced down the other's nose before his hand cupped the other's face. He then rubbed it like he was holding something very dear to him. "Being near you... makes me feel so warm inside. I always want to be here..."

The smile on Lai Mingjie's face started to subside, and his eyes began to move. His lashes shook and fluttered rapidly as he was gaining consciousness. To his surprise, he ended up seeing Xu Rouguang's dreaming face as soon as he woke up. Instead of anything warm, Lai Mingjie glared at the man before him. "What are you doing?"

"Don't misunderstand, Jie." Xu Rouguang slowly removed his hand to avoid getting Lai Mingjie's attention. "You were the one clinging at me. I was just..."

"You should have woken me up... instead of staring at my face. What? Did you find what you're looking for?" He gritted his teeth even though he could feel that warmth that burned his cheeks.

As the day came into full bloom, the two were already in their office and working while completing the load for the day. Liu Qiu was wearing all smiles as she was somewhat stress-free the entire time she had to walk Xu Rouguang through their operations. His first day had been delayed by Duan Sheng's passing, but it was completely understandable.

Liu Qiu also had to familiarize Xu Rouguang with the various departments and committees that would report and communicate with them if necessary. Also, she was tasked to making sure Xu Rouguang was aware of loads of company policies and regulations. It was too much for one day, but she was surprised to see how good Xu Rouguang was handling everything and keeping everything in mind.

Alas, noontime came, and Lai Mingjie crawled out of his office, not wanting to spend another minute in there. Liu Qiu only chuckled as she kept count of all the calls that had to be received by him on that day. To be honest, only the other directors could have a very leisurely time in JT. Lai Mingjie, unfortunately, was not one of them.

"Auntie, Rouguang, lunch." Lai Mingjie managed to straighten his back as he walked to the stand and took his coat. He didn't need to do so if he wasn't planning to have a lunch-out.

"Rouguang, let's go. We're having lunch." Liu Qiu only nodded to Xu Rouguang before she immediately packed up to take her lunch. Xu Rouguang also packed up for now before leaving with his superiors.

"Uhh, Jie, are you okay?" Xu Rouguang flickered his eyes as he stared at Lai Mingjie while they were waiting for the private elevator to come down. His boss looked drained, and he was not happy seeing him that way. Weren't demons supposed to have higher stamina than normal humans? Xu Rouguang pursed his lips. He was very concerned... more when he finds out Lai Mingjie was in a very sickly body.