(15)Meeting again

Before Qing Feng could react his shoulders were squeezed and he was pressed even more tightly into the warm body in front of him.

He didn't even have the mind to struggle he was so startled. Not that the other minded, it was only when a chin landed on his head and a soft exhale landed on his ear that he woke from his stupor.

"You-You, You! What's with the hug from nowhere!"

A deep voice sounded above his head,

"If i didn't hug you like this would you have tried to escape?"

"Huh?" Qing Feng blinked, confused.

"I'm thankful for my skills otherwise i wouldn't have heard you creeping around like a thief."

"Ah…um i just wanted to…put my bags down and was startled when i saw my room."

Hurrying to come up with an excuse he could only say what first came to mind.

"Well i've been using your room because the wood burning stove worked better here. Don't worry about your stuff your can just leave it in here."

The strong arms finally released him and the man, who's face he couldn't forget stared down at him. That's right, even though he put on more muscle, and grew several inches this man was still taller than him, it seemed he also grew more.

Qing Fengs thoughts wandered back to when they first met, back then their was also a difference in hight but it was because he was half starved. It seemed that that scum ML hadn't been treating Guan Chen well and he had starved a bit too.

Now he had grown taller, his face also had more fat too it and from the hug earlier he could feel the well defined muscles in his arms.

But soon his distracted thoughts were brought back by a gentle hand on his shoulder,

"You've grown a lot! And even put on some muscle!"

The man's small smile had suddenly captured his total attention. Qing Fengs heart betrayed him and began to beat faster. He couldn't help but hit himself mentally, 'Don't get distracted by the MCs smile! Your fan persona shouldn't be here now! We want to avoid him! The embarrassment! The shame! Has that all gone away?!'

Qing Fengs pep talk brought his wandering thoughts back in quickly, thinking back to their parting he couldn't help but ask,

"Brother…Did you find my note?"

His tone was cautious and he had a somewhat silly expression on his face.

Guan Chen felt his heart itch a bit and he couldn't help but want to smush the cute kid into his chest.

"I saw it…Rou Lin, i like the name very much. You should call me that from now on."

Qing Fengs smile couldn't be suppressed, even his vague embarrassment and apprehension disappeared, now all he wanted to do was spend time with this person in front of him. No matter how long he had spent suppressing his emotions he couldn't deny how much he missed this person.

"Come over the kitchen, i've just started making dinner."

Rou Lins heavy thoughts that had resurfaced after Qing Feng brought up the note we're suppressed. He didn't want to ruin their reunion.

The dark thoughts that had been brewing the past months were locked up in his mind.

'Wing Liu, we are much more alike than i thought.'

The two walked to the kitchen and Qing Feng couldn't help but appreciate Rou Lins skill. After eating the same dishes for a long time due to the lack of time as well as variety this food was a blessing.

Seeing Qing Feng practically inhale the food Rou Lin smiled.

"Was your journey here tiresome? What town did you stay in? Or were you traveling?"

His tone was pleasant and he always had a slight smile on his face. Seeing how actively Rou Lin was talking to him Qiu Feng was a bit startled. When he last left it was often him making the effort to talk, not the other way around.

But getting the attention that he had wanted from Rou Lin was hard to refuse and in the moment he gave in. They chatted about simple things, like the weather as of late, bad food that Qiu Feng had eaten, new clothes or where Rou Lin had set traps for hunting.

Unconsciously the conversation turned to what Qiu Feng had been doing the last 8 months. Bit by bit Rou Lin got the information he wanted, it turned out that Qiu Feng had become a doctor. Seeing how his eyes sparkled when he spoke he really loved his new profession.

The sense that Qiu Feng had changed became stronger and stronger. He no longer had that dependent feeling when talking to him, he no longer was skinny and weak, he no longer knew nothing about the outside world.

In fact Qiu Feng was originally a adult, 24 years old, working a job and living in a city, 'she' had seen many things and had plenty of experience. It was only because this was a totally different world and time that he curled up inside his shell.

But these past few months he finally gained a general understanding of the word that wasn't just from scattered memories. His adult like personality came back easily. So to Rou Lin he had truly grown up overnight.

After dinner the two sat in the small room outside Qiu Fengs bedroom, drinking tea beside the wood burning stove. As the room heated and the cold chill Qiu a Feng had because of the winter temperature disappeared and he began to feel sleepy. The past few days he had spent traveling by wagon.

When he arrived at the town and became Madam Liu's apprentice he had sold the horse. That and the money he had gained from doing small favors and earning tips from clients he was able to travel back and buy what he needed. But sleeping out in the cold with only a fire to keep warm was not fun.

By now he had somewhat stoped his complaining about the lack of modern equipment but in a cozy environment his lack of sleep hit hard. As he fought to keep his eye lids up he made eye contact with Rou Lin.

Sleepily he stared at Rou Lin, in the end exhaustion and old feelings resurfaced and he said,

"When i left i was fine. I spent the first month adjusting but after a incident i collapsed. In my head i mean."

Qiu Fengs eyes drifted to his cup of tea, which was no longer steaming.

"I thinned down rapidly, i couldn't sleep well at night. I put all my effort into learning medicine. I hate to admit it but the words you told me when you left hurt me. They hurt me… and i.. i don't know how i'm supposed to get over it. I feel so… so.."

He looked at Rou Lin and stopped speaking.

"Rou Lin, im happy to see you again. I am truly but.."

Before he could finish his words Rou Lin stood abruptly.