Heal These Battle Scars | MxM

Chapter Twenty-Two - Wang Yanzhen's Arrival

Whenever Wang Yi thought of thinking logically — thinking about the future, about the changing seasons, Xiao Fang's addictive laughter always spoiled his thoughts, taking him back to a childhood daze of a world filled with colors. And unfortunately, that made him become a soft man in Xiao Fang's presence. But despite all this, he would not change a thing. However, sometimes, right now — right at this moment, the thought of what it must've felt like to have his cruel intentions back, only for a short while, only for a day, or two — maybe three, or four, intrigued him.

As the hours passed in the silent night, Yi took firm steps across the military base, walking toward the crooked entrance gate all decked out in his leather coat. Underneath his coat, he wore his uniform, pressed neatly, not a wrinkle in sight with all his medals of honor, bravery, and obedience put on full display for all to see.

Despite the frozen air biting at his piercing eyes, Yi tightened his jaw, basking in the waves of the midnight breeze ruffling through his hair, sending goosebumps across his arms, and down his back.

His father, Wang Yanzhen, had arrived from Beijing.

He did not know what to expect from the man's visit, but he had dreaded this day since he had gotten the letter three weeks ago. He knew Xiao Fang had dreaded it, too.

While the passing soldiers greeted him with a salute, Yi kept his eyes straight, putting up a cold front despite his heart racing in his chest at a maddening pace.

He hoped he could fool his father into thinking he was still the same brutal killing machine, the same man without a heart, a soul, like how he had fooled the others into thinking. He hoped his father could not see the fragileness he now had buried inside his eyes, and in his heart. He hoped his father could not see that his monstrous son, praised by all, was no more. He hoped his father could not see the way his eyes unknowingly lit up whenever Xiao Fang walked into a room.

He hoped for ‌these because if Wang Yanzhen saw his only son had turned into an abomination, Yi would surely die — a bullet between his eyes — with his father's gun. Xiao Fang, too, would die alongside him.

Yi curled his fingers into fists the closer he approached his father coming off of a military truck: It would not happen, he told himself. They would not die. Or Xiao Fang would not die.

"Father," Yi stood to attention, saluting Wang Yanzhen in a stiff stance.

It had been a terrible, grueling year since he had last seen his father, and Wang Yanzhen looked to have aged quite a lot. The man had more wrinkles than Yi had last remembered, and he had a permanent downward frown. It made Yi insides curl, knowing that his father's demise was forthcoming. When another aching twisted in his stomach, he felt the need to hug his father and tell him how dearly he had missed him.

However, instead of doing what his heart desired, he stared straight into Wang Yanzhen's aged-old eyes, and he dared not show any weakness. But by damn, he had missed the man with an unnerving passion.

"Yi," Wang Yanzhen greeted, scanning Yi from head to toe before giving him a nod of approval. "Look at you, you've grown plenty since the last time I've seen you, my boy."

Yi's lips unintentionally parted. "You have as well," he said.

"Yi, I've been reading those letters you sent." Wang Yanzhen chuckled in a light mockery before putting a hand on Yi's shoulder. "Tell me, are you doing a good job, or are the letters all exaggerations?"

Yi gritted his teeth. Of course, Wang Yanzhen would question his truthfulness. No one would dare question his loyalty, but his father — his own father would question him! Because of this, wanted to curse at the man staring back at him with the same piercing gaze Yi had, but he dared not stir trouble.