The next morning, Qiu Ling woke up with a splitting headache. Damn. People shouldn't be talking about that Lao Chun when they were talking about wine in the dragon realm. Their former king was obviously an expert, too, when it came to manufacturing it! Ugh, he hadn't even noticed how he got drunk until it was too late. This stuff was really vicious.
"Damn, no wonder my old man woke up married after getting drunk at his place." He lifted his hand to his forehead but halted in the mid of the motion. Wait … Why did it feel as if someone's head was lying on his chest? It couldn't be that he had also slept with some unknown woman while being under the influence?! Damn this Jinde! He really was a curse to his family!
Qiu Ling panicked. He wanted to sit up and push the person away but then he reconsidered. What if he woke her up through that? Right now, he could still try to slip out of the room without her noticing. Maybe she had been drunk, too, or it had been too dark to see anything so she didn't know who he was? He could still get away with this!
Qiu Ling slightly tilted his head and looked down. He immediately stopped frowning and smiled instead, his arms snapping shut around that person like an animal trap that would be more than hard to pry off.
Ah! It was actually his beloved! He had found his way to Jing He even while drunk. He was such a good lover! Even more important: He had been rewarded for his faithfulness! His beloved had actually sidled up to him and was snuggling up to his side. Mn, Jing He's head was lying on his chest and his arm was stretched across his abdomen, with his fingers curled into his robes. Mn, Jing He must have really missed him!
Qiu Ling grinned. "Watch this, old man! All your warnings in my childhood weren't for nothing. I might have gotten drunk but I still found the right person! Really, only you would be so dumb as to take the wrong one home!"
Qiu Ling stroked Jing Yi's hair, unable to believe he had such luck. Mn, he had spent the night at Jing He's place. That had to mean that the rejection was no longer an issue. Jing He had probably thought it over and decided that he liked him, after all. There was no other possibility.
Qiu Ling hugged Jing Yi close, a beautiful smile on his lips. Mn, it was to be expected. Fate had brought them together. Heaven wanted them to be a couple. It was only a question of time until they married.
Qiu Ling leaned over and kissed Jing Yi's head. Ah, this felt so good … There was one thing he didn't understand, though: Why were they lying on the floor? It was hard and even a little cold. Mn, this couldn't go on.
Qiu Ling wriggled out of Jing Yi's embrace even though he loathed to do so. Then, he picked him up and carried him over to the bed. He gently put him down and covered him with the blanket, taking a moment to admire his face.
Mn, this mortal reincarnation of Jing He's might not be comparable to the ethereal beauty of his immortal body but it had a charm of its own. It seemed less mature and more like the face of someone who still needed his protection. He actually liked looking at it very much.
Qiu Ling lay down next to him, though he paid attention that he was lying on top of the blanket. His Jing He wouldn't stand for it if he did anything else. After all, they still weren't married officially.
He quietly lay beside him and waited but his beloved actually just stayed where he had put him down and refused to snuggle up to him again. Qiu Ling frowned. This couldn't continue! He still wanted to experience the glorious feeling of waking up together arm in arm!
Qiu Ling slowly extended his own arm and put his hand under Jing Yi's head. Mn. That felt good! He slipped closer and turned onto his side. Ah … His beloved was so cute when he slept! Mn, those slightly curled lips … He must be having a good dream. And look at how his eyelashes are fluttering! Ah!
It had been the best decision ever to follow his beloved down to the mortal realm! Well, it wasn't like he had never spent the night at Jing He's place. He actually had done that before. Once. And secretly, because if he did so with anyone besides Jing He and him knowing then the Heavenly emperor would certainly find out and then he could forget to ever see his beloved again. So, unfortunately, he had had to leave before the sun could rise that day. Jing He hadn't even woken up by then. Ah, they actually missed out on such an important thing!
"Mn, we're going to make up for all that." Qiu Ling lifted his hand and cupped Jing Yi's cheek. He really, really wanted to kiss him right now.
Mn … Why not? Jing He would certainly love to be woken up with a kiss! Qiu Ling looped his arm around Jing Yi's waist and leaned closer. His beloved actually sighed and snuggled up to his chest.
Qiu Ling slightly trembled. Ah, this really was what he had imagined! He bent forward a little more and tilted his head, his lips closing in on Jing Yi's.
Just when they were about to meet, Jing Yi's eyes opened. Qiu Ling smiled, bending down further. Then, a hand landed on his cheek with a resounding slap.
Qiu Ling hovered above Jing Yi with a stunned expression, before he slowly lifted his hand and covered his cheek. His beloved … had actually slapped him?! This wasn't the morning of waking up together he had imagined at all!
He pursed his lips and looked at Jing Yi with pitiful eyes that seemed to ask what he had done wrong. He really couldn't understand!