A Crane in the Northern Sea

Reserved, celibate, and slow to fall in love: top, Zuo Linhe × devoted, unrestrained, battle-crazed bottom: Yu Yueqi

Zuo Linhe and Yu Yueqi have been dating for two years. Yu Yueqi was the one who pursued Zuo Linhe, and he was also the first to confess his feelings.

Everyone else thinks Yu Yueqi is madly in love with Zuo Linhe, and Zuo Linhe himself thinks so, too.

But his own feelings aren't as intense as Yu Yueqi's. They hardly ever even kiss.

After they move in together, Zuo Linhe notices that Yu Yueqi often stays out all night, returning at three or four in the morning. Whenever Zuo Linhe asks him about it, Yu Yueqi always changes the subject.

This gradually cools Zuo Linhe's already lukewarm feelings.

After a car accident, Zuo Linhe breaks up with Yu Yueqi.

Yu Yueqi stands in the hospital-room doorway, his face unnaturally pale. Eyes red, he stares fixedly at Zuo Linhe's cold expression. His Adam's apple bobs a few times, and his voice is hoarse beyond recognition:

"...Okay."

After that, Yu Yueqi disappears from his life, as if he had never existed.

Looking at the empty house, Zuo Linhe feels that his heart is a little empty, too.

*

A year later, Zuo Linhe is invited to attend a summit. On his way back, a monstrous creature falls from the sky. He has never witnessed such a bloody, despairing scene.

Just as the creature is about to tear through humanity's precarious defenses, a familiar figure drops from the sky.

Zuo Linhe knows this person. He knows him all too well.

It's his boyfriend, Yu Yueqi!

His boyfriend, whom he hasn't seen in a year, charges head-on at the monster with twin swords, displaying unimaginable bravery and ferocity!

Right behind him runs a beautiful young woman carrying a huge shield. She chases after Yu Yueqi, shouting as she runs, "Seventh Brother! Seventh Brother! Just take the shield already! Has your injury healed? Stop going crazy and come back to carry the shield!"

Zuo Linhe: ...

Zuo Linhe suddenly understands why his boyfriend was often out all night.

...Oh, right. He's his ex-boyfriend now.

--2021.9.26

Theme: Love requires mutual understanding and timely communication.