That Night in Beijing

Gong Jun stood up and walked around the little park. This was the fourth time he rose from his seat; the gentle glow of the lights hung on the trees around him Illuminated this small open area in front of Beijing's luxurious hotels. To his left was the Ritz-Carlton, to his right was the JW Marriott. He had made a reservation for the hotel to his left the day before, and truth be told all he needed to do now was to wait calmly in his comfortable suite instead of wandering outside like a homeless man.

But he simply couldn't sit still; a shade of restlessness pooling at the bottom of his heart. Part of it was due to excitement, another part was due to worry. Would that person come as promised? Would it be alright for that person to go out and meet him here? He knew the one he was waiting for was never one to break promises, but Gong Jun was unable to quell his bubbling anxiety. He was afraid that if he waited in the room, that person might not come. No matter what, he wanted to see that person arriving at this place with his own eyes.

A long coat wrapped tightly around his tall stature. A hat covered half of his face from the top, the lower part was hidden behind a face mask. In actuality, no one should be able to recognize him in this get-up, but there would always be stalking eyes around him who seemed as though they had eyes that could pierce through disguises. There was nothing Gong Jun could do about it except to hope that these people would be discreet at least just for tonight. Besides, he was too occupied with his own thoughts right now, wondering if that person would be able to recognize him.

It was then that Gong Jun felt a light pat on his shoulder. There was an invisible jolt running through his entire body, like a small electric current. When he turned around, someone already stood behind him; dark eyes gazing into his own.

This person was also wrapped tightly in a jacket on top of his shirt. He was wearing a hat and mask covering his face. But Gong Jun could never mistake those eyes, the figure that stood before him, his posture and presence.

"Zh–"

"Ssh..." that person shushed him, "There are eyes and ears everywhere."

Gong Jun's nearly-bursting heart settled down somewhat. He lowered his voice.

"You know they already know who we are, right?"

"Yes. But let's not indulge them any more than this," Gong Jun could almost see that person smiling beneath his mask, "Have you made a reservation?"

"I have."

"Then, let's go."

If he were to be asked to recall this moment at a later time, Gong Jun wasn't sure he would be able to do so. What happened between the time they left the park and went up to their suite, he didn't remember a single bit of it. They must've checked in at the receptionist and entered the elevator to reach the floor where their room was located; everything was the most normal thing a hotel guest would do. And yet his mind was too full of other thoughts that he didn't realize what he himself was doing. It was as if his legs were flying off the ground. Before he knew it, the two of them were already inside the suite; the door locked to hide away from the rest of the world.

Only then did the person who came with him take off his hat and mask, allowing his full face to be exposed under the room's tender light.

It was Zhang Zhehan himself in the flesh.

"Alright, now that we're here, finally we can–"

The rest of the words were left unsaid as Gong Jun rushed to seal those lips with his own. He trapped Zhang Zhehan to the wall, holding his hand beside his head. Gong Jun considered himself to be a rather calm and laid-back person, but he always found his composure flying out of the window whenever it came to this particular man. Especially now that the world wasn't being too kind to either one of them, even the smallest chance to be together like this was as precious as a rare diamond.