Wu Xie
Giving the fact that he had ignored Pangzi along with Xiaoge while he was angry and sulking on his room, he told Pangzi to sit and he will pour the water in his basin, as an apology. So as Pangzi enjoyed his relaxing footbath, he prepare another right next to him and ponder in silence on the recent events.
"Tianzhen, you give everything too much thought. You will have early white hairs at this rate. You should be more like Xiaoge..." Pangzi said and Wu Xie looked at him, after filling half of the wide basin.
"Why Xiaoge? He had his thoughts too, just look at his serious expression right now." Wu Xie said as he admired his man face, which was as expressionless as ever as he stared back at him.
"Xiaoge, the water is ready, come and soak your feet." Pangzi simply said and Wu Xie chuckle.
"As if that will work..." Wu Xie said, but to his surprise, Xiaoge took off his boots, rolled up his pants and sat by Pangzi, putting his feet on the basin that Wu Xie had just half filled.
"Huh? Xiaoge... since when you became so obedient?" Wu Xie whisper a bit surprised to witness such response and Pangzi laughed.
"When do you ask? What about since you were sulking, like a hurt lover that was suddenly cheated with fire, who do you think had to take care of him? Pangye, of course! So don't even think that you are the only one who had an influence on him." Pangzi said and Wu Xie sighed, but not in annoyance, just in relief... at least Xiaoge was really making connections with others, even when Pangzi was a given, as they had spent quite a lot of time together since Tamutuo.
"Alright... then let me pour more water for you Xiaoge." Wu Xie said as he empty the rest of the content of the thermal flask into Xiaoge's basin and looked up to him to find him... pleased? He barely showed expressions, other than when they make love, but he was now detecting small burst of them on their daily life.
"Ah... this is so relaxing... a shame the house burned to the ground, turning into ashes all that was inside, including the photos..."
"About that, Pangzi..." Wu Xie said and Xiaoge took out the burned piece he had manage to save when he went inside the house.
"Chen Wenjin again? Did she take photos with everyone on this village?" Pangzi asked as he look at the picture.
"That's a good question... we can ask Mr. Gui tomorrow morning and find out about that." Wu Xie said.
"Yeah... maybe we can ask about that slope-shoulder guy too. Someone in the village must know about him. I'm sure he is the one who burn the stilt house." Pangzi said as he sipped his tea.
"I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"He was too far away when the fire started. Even when we first lost him, he obviously was watching us the whole time, so he could not have done it, no matter how fast he can run."
"So aside from been a stalker, he also had an accomplice?"
"Is either that or someone else set the house on fire. It seems that this village have its own secrets and we know that secrets attract all kind of people, including us, tomb raiders. I know for sure that slope-man wants to protect the secret behind the ingot we found on Xiaoge's house, so who really knows about who else is out there trying to unravels the mystery."
"Yeah... it make you wonder, what was Chen Wenjin looking for in here? What bring her here in the first place? Was it an archeological project? Of what kind? Perhaps a tomb beneath the mountains of this village?" Pangzi asked and Xiaoge had another sudden pain in his head, that Wu Xie notice instantly.
"Xiaoge, are you alright?" Wu Xie asked and Xiaoge closed his eyes.
"A headache." He whisper.
"Well to be honest, I would had a headache too, trying to put all the pieces of this puzzle together. This place looks ordinary on the surface, but something mayor happen here if Chen Wenjin was involved, along with your real Uncle Three. If they were here before Parcel Island, then this is probably when your uncle was fully involve before the switch."
"Perhaps... my uncle was in love with Chen Wenjin and he follow her around most of the time before she disappeared and search for her when she did... or so I thought. Xie Lian Huan should be the one looking for her later, but I guess he also had his reasons. Either way it's safe to assume he was here as well, helping her out with whatever project they were working on at that time."
"So there is something in the lake that Mr. Gui tell us? Perhaps an underwater tomb?" Pangzi asked and Xiaoge felt like his headache increased even more. There was something about an underground tomb in the mountains that felt familiar, yet he could not remember why.
"Xiaoge... is it worsening? You just got out of the hospital a few days ago... come on, let's get you some rest... we can always find answers tomorrow. Pangzi you have some rest too... this is not going to be as easy as we thought." Wu Xie said and he helped Xiaoge to stand and walk back to their room, then help him lay down into the bed and cover him with a warm blanket.
"Wu Xie... will you stay?" Xiaoge asked so adoringly, while his hood was down that make Wu Xie smile at him, sitting at the border of their huge bed.
"Yes, of course... I... I'm not mad anymore... want some pain killers? It will help you relax and have a better sleep." Wu Xie suggested, but Xiaoge shock his head.
"Come lay down with me... that will be enough." Xiaoge whisper and Wu Xie took out his shoes and socks, turn off the light, then join Xiaoge in the bed and under the covers. Immediately, Xiaoge pull Wu Xie closer to him.
"Have some rest..." Wu Xie whisper, but Xiaoge wanted to relax in some other way, which turned out to be kissing... soft kisses that melted Wu Xie faster than an eye can blink.
"Xiaoge..."
"There is something in the back of my mind..."
"What? Are you recovering memories? Is that why you have headaches?"
"Something about the expedition team... seems off to me..."
"Oh... well, Chen Wenjin certainly keep her secrets well. She knew a lot of things, yet she didn't share them with anyone else. She obviously knew you before the Parcel Island expedition... why did she didn't tell you about Banai?" Wu Xie whisper as Xiaoge kissed his chin.
"I don't know." Xiaoge said before kissing Wu Xie again, this time with more urgency.
"Xiaoge..."
"There is something dangerous here..." Xiaoge whisper on Wu Xie's ear.
"What do you mean?" Wu Xie asked, quite intrigued.
"I don't know. I just feel it... Banai is dangerous."
"Is that instinct talking?"
"Yes."
"Alright... we will try to find as much information about the expedition as we can find..."
"Tomorrow..." Xiaoge finish for Wu Xie as he once again claimed Wu Xie's mouth for a long time. He make sure to muffle all of Wu Xie's little moans with his own mouth, as his hand wander unrestrained inside Wu Xie's shirt, kindling his skin in waves as his long fingers searched Wu Xie's chest, as he would carefully search for traps in a wall.
"We shouldn't..." Wu Xie whisper, when he break the kiss to breathe.
"Not fully..." Xiaoge said back.
"Xiaoge..."
"Need you..." Xiaoge said as he found Wu Xie's left bud and started playing with it and Wu Xie bite a moan, closing his mouth and burying his head on Xiaoge's warm chest.
"Oh no... Xiaoge... you are going to make me..."
"Hard, I know..."
"Xiaoge... please don't tempt me like this..."
"This place is dangerous..." Xiaoge repeated, as he slide down his hand over the hot skin while gently using his nails to arouse Wu Xie even more and into the border of Wu Xie's pants, but Wu Xie held Xiaoge's hand there.
"You are anxious... do you think something bad is going to happen to us here?" Wu Xie asked, but Xiaoge didn't answer, which was on itself the answer.
"I see..." Wu Xie whisper as he released Xiaoge's hand, which remained in the same place, even after Wu Xie release it, waiting for his permission.
"Just a bit of teasing..." Wu Xie hushed shortly after the silence and Xiaoge once again kissed his lover. He had a very bad feeling about the whole village since he saw his house and the man with the tattoo and it make him feel uneasy. Perhaps coming there had been a mistake, or at least, bringing both Wu Xie and Pangzi had been a mistake.
They were both precious to him, so if something happens to Wu Xie or Pangzi, it will be his end, his ruin, because he will be completely lost and he will be truly alone, in a world to which he had no attachment or memories of it.
"Wu Xie... I love you..." Xiaoge whisper, as he slide his hand further down and into Wu Xie's underwear. What happen next, he make sure to keep Wu Xie's mouth busy, as well as his own when Wu Xie begin to explore his body as well.
Xiao Hua
"So you will visit Mop tomorrow morning with the Huo girl?" Hei Xiazi asked and Xiao Hua smiled slightly, noticing a hint of annoyance in his lover's voice. Was he really jealous of Xiu Xiu or he was reading into it way too much.
"Yes. I had already make the appointment. What about your end?" Xiao Hua asked.
"I can't tell you the details, but I'm quite sure that something really big is going to happen in Banai."
"Is Wu Xie already in troubles?"
"Not yet, but you know him... it's only a matter of time before he does and in a big way."
"I will go there as soon as I finish my investigation."
"Oh, you miss me so much that you will run to me?"
"Idiot, I will have to save the three idiots in Banai."
"My heatless Master Hua... how can you be so mean with my poor heart?"
"Why are you talking about me been mean? It was you who refused to tell me where the next job was. Now you said I am heartless for going to Banai to save family members? Tell me where you are exactly and I will knock on your door in a flash."
"I knew you miss me that much..." Xiazi laughed and Xiao Hua blushed, knowing he had been hopelessly trapped.
"I'm off..."
"Wait! Xiao Hua, listen to me... something is going to happen in that village and it had to do with the expedition team that went into the Parcel Island and the old pavilion of the Zhang family. Eventually many people will get involved in this including the Huo family, as well as the Wu family you are affiliated to, so seriously... get here as soon as you can." Xiazi said in a solemn tone that proved the seriousness of his statement.
"Wait... what do you mean by the Zhang's? What old pavilion?" Xiao Hua asked in a rush.
"You will know once you come here, there is always the risk of this line not been as safe as I had try to make it."
"Xiazi... don't get yourself into too dangerous business... If things gets ugly..."
"I know how to take care of myself the same way I know you can do the same as well... but I do miss you..." Xiazi stopped and Xiao Hua's heart clinched.
"I miss you too... just hang in there... please stay safe..."
"Of course... see you soon, Xiao Hua..."
"See you soon, Xiazi..."
"Love you..."
"Love you t..." But before he could finish his sentence, the connection was over.
Xiao Hua sighed for a second and looked at the night sky above him. He needed to rush things on his end, so he could travel to Banai were both his lover and his troublemaker cousin needed him to be.
AN: I hope you like the little teasing, (Xiaoge was sulking too, lol) because once things begin to get serious in Banai, there will be not much of it. Thanks for reading and take care until next time. 😘🥰💖