Destinies : Connected by Fate✔️

Chapter 13

Having spent the day doing guard duty outside the observation tower, YiYang proceeds to have a rendezvous with Li Kun, the youngest genetic researcher TengFei had seen in the past two hundred years. 

"Prince!" The young man bows and earns a slap on the head for his troubles. "Ouch!" He winces, rubbing the point of contact, and gives the latter a stink eye.

"What? Don't give me that look, Li Kun." The prince scans the room. "So, how was the meeting? Spill, now." He demands with an air of superiority.
"Don't pretend to be interested in official matters, Ah-Yang. My sister isn't here, and I am tired. Scram." The young man says dismissively, plopping down on the couch.

"You wound me, Ah-Kun. To think that you are my best friend." The prince sighs dramatically and shakes his head. "By the way, where did she go?"

"Do you really expect an answer to that? Anyway, you are brilliant at tracking signals and have free reign over the journal department; there is no one you can't track, is there?" The man shrugs, closing his eyes.

He opens them when deft fingers rake through his thick mane of wavy jet black hair, drawing an involuntary moan from him. Li Kun enjoys YiYang's ministrations and feels the fatigue of the day ebb away. "Enough of that. Any more, and I might embarrass myself." The man jokes,  lowering his eyes to his crotch. A knowing smile settles over his sharp, dignified features. "Which law do you want me to break for you now?"

A throaty laugh revibrates through the room. YiYang takes his usual spot next to the armchair next to the couch. "Ah-Kun! How could you insinuate something so scandalous!? I am the crown prince!"

"Sometimes, I really doubt if you are even Yuanjian, leave alone our crown prince." The researcher smirks. "Cut to the chase, will you? I am drained, my prince. Out with it."

"Actually, it's nothing. I was just wondering, what would happen if a human were to breathe our air." The crown prince asks, sounding casual.
Kun fixes his friend with a calculating gaze, "Tell me the truth, Ah-Yang, when you fell, did a human beauty catch your eye?"

"What if it did?" YiYang wiggles his brow. "Let's keep it from your sister, shall we?" He leans towards his friend, "Will you help me bring her over, Ah-Kun?"

The young man leaves a relieved sigh, "You almost had me there." He shakes his head. Then something else occurs to him. He shifts to the edge of the couch, "Does it concern the words of The First?"

*****

"What makes me special? We haven't known each other long enough for you to know what I am like. Then why-" Zhang's fingers close over YiHuang's. "-am I special?"

YiHuang pulls his hand away. "It's late. Rest. We can talk tomorrow." He states, his face unreadable, like a man trying to hide secrets that are either too embarrassing or too hurtful to reveal.

Zhang doesn't push. "You don't have to answer that if you don't want to. Thank you for taking care of me, for whatever reason. And sorry for putting you in an awkward situation." Zhang lies down, but his eyes stay glued to the Yuanjian, who is looking at the cave's exit with a crestfallen look in his eyes. "I am better tonight. I don't want to keep you from..."

"I will stay... I mean, if you don't mind, I would like to stay, may I?" The prince asks; it sounds like a plea. Zhang doesn't have the heart to refuse him; he doesn't want to either. He closes his eyes and requests, "Stay, please."

*****

Beads of sweat dot YiYang's temples, "Are you sure?" He demands, trying to keep his voice steady and impassive.