Blue sky and white clouds.
The lake reflected two figures, overlapping and leaning against each other just like that. Even as ripples spread across the water’s surface and waves shattered the reflections, they still remained entwined, not separated or torn apart in the slightest.
From time to time, bursts of laughter made the lake’s surface ripple with trembling waves.
In the clear lake water, fish hid among the aquatic plants, observing the huge shadow of a vehicle above them, and two strange humans laughing foolishly.
The fish didn’t understand.
But the fish knew that sometimes these silly humans would toss them bread and fish feed, which was far tastier than any aquatic plants or field snails.
“So it’s fine for us to have our date here. Those places you mentioned, Gu Heng, I’ve never been to them, and I don’t really know what’s interesting about them.”
Zuo Shihuan’s gaze was gentle as he took the initiative to interlace his fingers with Gu Heng’s hand. “But I know that right now, we’re already on a date, just the two of us.”
Zuo Shihuan affectionately rested his forehead against Gu Heng’s, then lightly kissed him for a brief moment. Holding Gu Heng’s cheeks, he smiled and said, “Staying here, like this, where no one can see us, being able to kiss you whenever we want, isn’t that good?”
Of course, Gu Heng was very happy to hear Zuo Shihuan say this. In the depths of his black eyes was love and blazing emotion he couldn’t suppress, igniting his heart and bursting into brilliant, warm fireworks.
But precisely because Gu Heng felt Zuo Shihuan’s sincerity so clearly, he didn’t agree to Zuo Shihuan’s words.
He could have given Zuo Shihuan so much, an unprecedentedly wonderful and special, perfect date.
Under everyone’s admiring and congratulatory gazes, he could take Zuo Shihuan to the most beautiful planets of the Empire, to see the most beautiful flowers, the newest and most interesting performances, the most magnificent and grand fireworks displays…
He would cradle Zuo Shihuan in his hands, laugh freely, embrace and kiss each other, unrestrained and free without caring about anyone else, together witnessing all the prosperity and splendor of this world.
Rather than… having to conceal their true appearances here, letting Zuo Shihuan date him in a modest way at some unknown lakeside park in the Federation.
Even though Gu Heng could feel that Zuo Shihuan truly didn’t mind, and that he smiled in his company.
Clearly, both Zuo Shihuan and he sincerely felt that the bright sunshine, clear lake water, and gentle breeze were beautiful, that being together with Zuo Shihuan was already something sufficiently happy and fulfilling.
So what if it was an unknown lakeside spot? Even if it were a filthy ditch, he would still willingly accompany Zuo Shihuan anywhere he wanted to go.
Of course, he wouldn’t bear to let Zuo Shihuan go to some filthy ditch. Even if Zuo Shihuan said he wanted to go, he still wouldn’t bear it.
The less Zuo Shihuan cared about these things, the more Gu Heng felt he was shortchanging him.
The more you love someone, the more unwilling you are to let your beloved suffer even the slightest grievance.
You only end up loving more and feeling more that you’ve wronged them.
Especially since Gu Heng knew that Zuo Shihuan suggesting they stay here for the date
It wasn’t only because the lakeside scenery and atmosphere were suitable for a date. The real reason was that Zuo Shihuan had always been worried that if they went out openly on a date, there would be a high risk of being discovered by people sent by the Zuo family to hunt them down.
Yet under Gu Heng’s strong insistence, Zuo Shihuan still chose to take the risk and come out with him.
Upon stopping by this lake, Zuo Shihuan considerately suggested staying here, dating in this quiet and secluded place.
Worried that taking even one more step forward would increase the danger of being discovered by the Zuo family.
So stopping here was enough, the scenery was just right, there was no one around, and thus no one from the Zuo family.
But to Gu Heng, it meant that he hadn’t given Zuo Shihuan enough confidence, so much so that even going out on a date required such caution.
How could Gu Heng agree to Zuo Shihuan’s request? His heart only grew heavier with guilt.
Gu Heng narrowed his eyes and smiled bitterly. “I can’t do that.”
Zuo Shihuan’s expression dimmed as he asked, “Why can’t you, Gu Heng? Isn’t this place good?”
Love surged even more deeply in Gu Heng’s eyes as he took Zuo Shihuan’s hand and said, “It is good. Any place you want to stay, Shihuan, how could it be bad?”
Caught off guard by this sudden sweet talk, Zuo Shihuan’s gloomy mood was disrupted. He tried to pull his hand back from Gu Heng’s grip but couldn’t.
Slightly annoyed, Zuo Shihuan clenched his teeth and asked, “Then why don’t you want to stay here with me?”
Gu Heng lowered his black eyes in self-mockery and looked at Zuo Shihuan with heartfelt sincerity. “If you truly like this place very much, Shihuan, like it so much you don’t want to leave, I’d of course stay with you. But… Shihuan, you’re afraid that if we go further toward the central area of the Federation’s main star, we’ll run into people your father, Zuo Zoujian, sent to hunt us down, right?”
Zuo Shihuan’s expression froze. With reddened eyes, he turned his head away and said, “Isn’t that okay? I also don’t want Gu Heng to encounter danger. As for dates, we can go anytime.”
Gu Heng wrapped an arm around Zuo Shihuan, holding him in his embrace, soothingly kissing the reddened corner of his eye. With self-blame and heartache in his gaze, he said, “Of course I know how much you care about me, Shihuan. But please trust me a bit more, we won’t be discovered by the Zuo family… Shihuan, you used to be able to freely come and go in those places. How could I bear to make you hide and skulk around with me now, not even daring to go out the door, letting you be wronged?”
Emotion stirred in Zuo Shihuan’s eyes as he said hoarsely, “I don’t feel wronged.”
Gu Heng gently kissed Zuo Shihuan’s forehead, his eyes full of self-reproach and heartache. “But I feel that I’ve wronged you. We’re openly together, we haven’t done anything wrong, yet I’ve made it so you don’t even have me, or a normal date.”
Zuo Shihuan gripped the fabric at Gu Heng’s chest tightly and hurriedly said, “But I think it’s fine. Even if we can’t go on dates in public places, aren’t we still on a date right now?”
Gu Heng lowered his dejected black eyes and smiled bleakly. “But I feel useless, making you have to be so cautious and on edge just to go on a date with me.”
This desolate, sorrowful Gu Heng made Zuo Shihuan freeze in place, his expression complicated and full of reluctance. It felt as though his heart were being tightly constricted, aching with pain.
What could he even do about Gu Heng?
This kind of normal, despondent Gu Heng, expressing his genuine feelings and thoughts, made Zuo Shihuan feel far more heartache and pity than the malicious, high-spirited Gu Heng who was always glib, teasing him to anger before pretending to be obedient, coquettish, and pitiful.
He was the one who truly should feel self-blame and guilt.
Even though he was clearly the Alpha, he still couldn’t protect the one he loved, and instead had to let Gu Heng be hunted down by people sent by his violently enraged father, Zuo Zoujian, leaving him unable to travel freely.
If the person Gu Heng liked weren’t him, perhaps Gu Heng’s life would be much easier and simpler.
He wouldn’t have to oppose the Zuo family, nor would he have to live in hiding.
Someone would always fall in love with such a dazzling and outstanding Gu Heng, or rather, being loved by Gu Heng was itself an incomparably lucky thing.
Zuo Shihuan had never felt that he had suffered any grievance; what Gu Heng had given him was already more than enough, and no one could possibly treat him better than Gu Heng did.
Truly, no one.
But how could he make Gu Heng not feel sad about this matter?
It was as if he himself had become someone who hurt Gu Heng, even though all he wanted was to protect him…
“Fine, I can’t argue with you anymore. If you want to go, then go.”
Zuo Shihuan turned his head away and said angrily, yet a layer of hazy, guilty moisture rose in his light brown eyes, and his voice became a little choked as he continued, “But Gu Heng, you must wear that disguiser properly. You are absolutely not allowed to take it off during the date!”
Gu Heng’s eyes lit up gently. He took Zuo Shihuan’s hand and said, “I know. Without your order, I will absolutely never take it off.”
Of course he knew this was Zuo Shihuan’s awkward way of showing concern, and that he wasn’t truly angry with him.
Zuo Shihuan continued to turn his head away, exasperated yet helplessly acquiescing.
But as for the device Gu Heng had taken out to disguise one’s appearance, no matter how powerful it was, it was still an external object. He feared that the Zuo family might have some way to counter such a disguiser.
Zuo Shihuan couldn’t help but feel heavy-hearted, unable to be optimistic.
Separated by a stretch of lake water.
Zuo Shihuan leaned sideways against the car window, lowering his eyes to look at the blurred reflections on the surface of the lake, just like the false face he now wore with the disguiser.
Then he looked again at the reflection in the car window glass, seeing a clearer version of himself, yet also a more unfamiliar and strange version of himself.
Zuo Shihuan’s gaze was obscure as he asked, seemingly in a calm tone, “…Would you recognize me? If we were to get separated during the date.”
Gu Heng froze slightly and hesitated before saying, “Shihuan, are you afraid I won’t recognize you?”
Zuo Shihuan’s pupils tightened. He turned his head, slightly annoyed, gritting his teeth as he said, “Isn’t that possible? I’m wearing this brooch now, when I look at the reflections in the car window and on the lake, they don’t look like my original appearance anymore. What if you can’t recognize me, ”
“In my eyes, Zuo Shihuan, you will always look the same.”
Gu Heng immediately cut off the rest of Zuo Shihuan’s words and made him turn to look at him. Those noble, deep black eyes became indulgent yet helpless as he spoke.
“Shihuan, how could you think I wouldn’t recognize you? No matter what you become like, no matter where you go, I will recognize you and find you.”
Zuo Shihuan lowered his eyes and said, unwilling yet hesitant, “How would you recognize me? I’m wearing the disguiser you gave me, I’ve changed into another appearance. Even if I looked in the mirror myself, I’d probably be afraid I wouldn’t recognize myself.”
Gu Heng understood Zuo Shihuan’s unease and worry. Indeed, using a disguiser would cause one’s facial features and appearance to become that of another person in others’ eyes.
But that would never happen with Gu Heng.
When he said he would always recognize Zuo Shihuan’s true appearance, he wasn’t saying sweet words to coax him, he truly could recognize him.
Any kind of disguiser was ineffective against Gu Heng.
Because the true origin of these disguisers was imitation of the Zerg’s biotechnology.
Once, the Zerg Queen specifically bred and cultivated a batch of humanoid-like Zerg to infiltrate human society to gather intelligence, sow discord, and create chaos within human civilization.
Because Zerg would more or less retain some Zerg characteristics, this batch of spy Zerg that infiltrated human society looked especially inhuman and strange, making it easy for humans to detect anomalies.
Naturally, the Zerg Queen would not allow such a flaw. The humanoid-like Zerg she bred and cultivated were not only small in stature like humans, but also able to emit a special wave-frequency that could deceive the human visual system.
Even if they revealed their non-human Zerg fangs and wings right in front of humans, they could still deceive those who saw them into thinking it was just an ordinary human companion waving their arms, rather than a ferocious creature baring its teeth and claws, about to tear them apart and devour them.
These sinister and deceptive Zerg caused enormous losses and casualties to human society, leading to widespread panic, people didn’t even dare trust their companions, fearing they might be another Zerg in disguise.
After paying a series of heavy prices, humans finally discovered the principle behind how these Zerg could disguise themselves as humans, as well as their weakness of being afraid of cold. By exploiting this weakness, one could disrupt the bodily vibrations that produced the wave-frequency affecting the human visual system.
Having learned this lesson, scientists and researchers among humanity used this principle in reverse to create a Zerg-disguising device, allowing human armies to wear such devices to counterattack the Zerg forces, infiltrate Zerg nests, and stir up trouble to create chaos.
Such disguisers were not sold on the open market, but whether in the Empire or the Federation, they were secretly produced.
They were not considered anything particularly mysterious.
However, the iris flower brooch disguiser that Gu Heng had given Zuo Shihuan used the Empire’s most advanced new technology.
At present, the Federation could not crack it, so there was no need to worry about it being discovered.
As for Zuo Shihuan’s worry that Gu Heng wouldn’t recognize him, there was even less to worry about.
Because these disguisers were ineffective against Gu Heng, no matter how brilliant the Zerg’s disguises or deceptions were, they were all equally ineffective against him.
Relying on his extraordinary visual nerves and dynamic observation ability, Gu Heng could completely see through the false illusion created by this wave-frequency disguise. He was like a monster specially developed by humans to deal with the Zerg.
Not only the methods the Zerg used to disguise themselves as humans, but all the various sinister tactics the Zerg had employed throughout human history could now find corresponding countermeasures in Gu Heng.
So.
That was why Gu Heng said that no matter how many disguisers Zuo Shihuan wore, in his eyes he would always look like the original Zuo Shihuan, without the slightest change caused by disguise.
Gu Heng had always felt that he was like a monster, a human monster born solely to deal with the Zerg, and now it seemed that everything was worth it for the sake of Zuo Shihuan.
“These disguisers are ineffective against me.”
Gu Heng held Zuo Shihuan’s hand and explained sincerely with a deep, gentle gaze: “I didn’t lie to you. Because I’m somewhat special, these disguisers don’t work on me, and what I see in my eyes will always be the real you, Zuo Shihuan.”
“Shihuan, you don’t need to worry about me not recognizing you.”
Zuo Shihuan met Gu Heng’s deep and earnest eyes, unable to move his gaze even a fraction. His uncontrollable heartbeat sped up, and he sincerely felt a wave of reassurance, trust, and happiness.
—He didn’t lie to him.
—Gu Heng didn’t lie to him.
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