I Should Keep You With Me

The cart wheels rolled loudly against the tiled floor of the grocery. Xu Rouguang was looking around with the ingredients in mind while Lai Mingjie was on his phone... well, actually it was Xu Rouguang's. The general wanted to make lunch for the demon king while the latter had to order for a new phone. They were walking leisurely around the grocery, occasionally chatting to make sure Xu Rouguang would be making something Lai Mingjie agreed to.

However, the women in the place were all wearing dark faces. How dare these two assault their eyes with so much beauty? Xu Rouguang and Lai Mingjie were on different spectra of attractiveness, and the women could joke about taking a pick which one they got dibs on. Those who wanted a caring man would vote for Xu Rouguang while those who wanted something exciting chose Lai Mingjie. Then again, it was as if they were being tortured by them. How could they be so close like a couple?

Of course, only a few would feel bad to the point of blaming them. Most were just really frustrated by seeing the two of them blinding their eyes with their visuals.

Lai Mingjie started to feel the gazes thrown at them by the women. He then frowned at them as if warning them from even trying. He then took Xu Rouguang by the arm. "Hey, are you done yet? I'm starving."

"Sorry, I'm going to get meat now." Xu Rouguang let him get dragged by Lai Mingjie to the meat section. They ended up staying as they had the meat cut up by the attendant. However, a group of males who were holding onto liquor decided to place their attention at the two. The supposed leader gave Xu Rouguang a once-over before loudly gossiping to his friends. Even Lai Mingjie didn't like what was coming out of their mouths.

Xu Rouguang received the meat from the attendant who was glaring at those men as well. The former only walked ahead, even taking the path next to the group. He looked at the meat as if inspecting them. When Lai Mingjie thought Xu Rouguang would let them off, the latter spoke with a rather cold voice despite the smile on his face. "Do you think this is enough for us, director?" He then lifted his gaze and glared at the leader. "I found live pigs waiting to be butchered."

It was high noon, but the leader felt like he was on his own in a dark place. Next to him passed a ghost of a wild killer who tagged him as the next victim. The hair behind his neck rose, and his heart palpitated in fear. The leader flinched away from Xu Rouguang and even wanted to hide away from him. However, Xu Rouguang didn't bother with him anymore. He just walked with Lai Mingjie who was giving the thugs a rather smug, ridiculing grin.

They reached Lai Mingjie's unit soon, and Xu Rouguang started seasoning the meat. Lai Mingjie was only seated at the stools next to the counter, watching the other man work closely. He could smell the condiments, and his mouth was starting to water. He didn't cook because he didn't know how to. He would normally not cook in his previous lives or just roast rabbits and whatnot on a spit.

Lai Mingjie liked cakes and coffee, but he also loved meat. It was just too bothersome to prepare, and he would just eat out if he wanted some. Watching it get prepared was something else. Even if it was just pork chops, the way Xu Rouguang made them felt like they were in a high-class restaurant. An hour after, the director's stomach couldn't help it anymore. It roared as soon as Xu Rouguang served the food.

"Ah, sorry for making you wait, director." Xu Rouguang sat down as well. Without further ado, the director started the feast. The general served fruit juice to Lai Mingjie first before pouring a glass for himself. "How does it taste, director?"

"Very good! Maybe Nuwa was right in saying I should keep you with me." Lai Mingjie was happy; he felt like he was drunk. The meat was so good that his bloodvein cake paled in comparison. If Xu Rouguang would cook him food like this every time, he might as well adopt the kid.

"N-Nuwa?" Xu Rouguang flickered his eyes. Why did the Goddess of Creation get involved in this?

"Right." Lai Mingjie had forgotten that he hadn't told him just yet. He finished what was on his mouth first before talking. "I asked you to stay because I needed to tell you something. Are you ready to hear it?"

"Yes. It's about our... how you knew me..." Xu Rouguang made a nervous chuckle. Their past? That sounded too intimate.

Lai Mingjie drank a glass of fruit juice and asked for seconds while Xu Rouguang obliged. "Xu Rouguang, what do you know about the gods, immortals, and demons?"

The other twitched. He didn't expect to be asked like this. He then hummed before answering. "They're stories, aren't they? Immortals had existed in ancient times, and they killed demons. The gods lived in heaven while the demons stayed on earth. Their battles spanned for thousands of years before the demonkind finally declined and died down." His eyes flickered again. "Does it have anything to do with us?"

"Yeah, we were once part of that grand history. You were an immortal general, and I was a demon king. We used to be enemies until you... you won." Lai Mingjie dropped any trace of a smile from his face. "Right now, we were both punished by Nuwa to be mortals—but for different reasons. I'm here paying for my debt while you... tempering your attitude. You pissed off the big boss, and now... you lost your memories."

"I... am a what?" Xu Rouguang tilted his head in confusion. It had come off too cute that Lai Mingjie choked on his juice. He then helped the other person before humming. "...We were enemies? Then why do I feel so close to you?" He had his hand on his chest. "I don't understand."

"Well, without your memories, you wouldn't." Lai Mingjie took a deep breath before resuming his eating. "Do you remember that night when you saved me?"

"T-That?" A wild blush soon drew across Xu Rouguang's face. He then looked down as if he was trying to hide it. He could only continue eating as he listened. Lai Mingjie almost reflected the gesture, but he managed to fight the urge to blush again. "Y-Yeah, that... do you remember how you made those thugs run for their money?"

Xu Rouguang only nodded while he nibbled at the meat. Then, he lifted his face up and remembered what he was supposed to do for today. "D-Director Lai! Are you okay after that? Did you feel pain?"

Lai Mingjie shook his head. "Whatever you did... it worked. Now... let's not discuss how you did it, but what you did." He took another piece of meat from the platter. "If you weren't an immortal, how would you be able to do that?"

"Y-You're right." Xu Rouguang's blush faded. He recalled a lot of things he wasn't supposed to be capable of but could do nonetheless. He then looked at his hand and hummed. "Director Lai... would you help me find my memories? We were enemies before so it might be hard for you to do so. Please, I want to remember everything..."

"I'm fine with that... in one condition." Xu Rouguang raised his head upon hearing Lai Mingjie's voice with a tone of viciousness and schemes. "You have to be my pet."