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Snow, soundless and unrelenting, fell all around Guo Jing as winds buffeted his face while he called out, “Rong Er, Rong Er.”
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Guo Jing turned around in the drift of white, a familiar silhouette streaking past the corner of his eyes but he saw no one. When he pivoted again, his dream finally appeared before his eyes.
He was overjoyed, his jaw twitching with the grin ready to bloom on his lips, eyes smarting. His Rong Er was here.
“Jing Ge-ge.”
Her tinkling, melodic voice rang through his whole body, echoing in his bones, provoking a glowy warmth within. He could not find the words to describe how much he had missed calling out to her and hearing her answer him in return.
Eagerly, he stepped towards her, arms outstretched.
Finally, she was back in his arms again.
There were few things better than the feeling of her against him, and he sighed happily against the crown of her hair.
He felt her small hands fisting on his cape and tightened his arms, wanting nothing more than to engulf her and keep her with him, for all time.
He had missed her desperately these last few months, his heart aching painfully whenever the thought that he might not be able to find her again crossed his mind. A mind always desperately frightened by the prospect that she might be hurt before he could reach her in time.
Only the fact that she was the smart and cunning one between the two of them, a mischievous expert in getting herself - and him - out of dangerous or life-threatening situations, which managed to somewhat calm his worries. He had to believe that she was still out there, unharmed and well, being her beautiful, amazing self.
And she was. Just as he wished she would be.
He could not describe how glad and happy he was to be reunited with his beloved. The one person in the world he wanted to be with, always and forever.
They parted, arms still loose around each other. Snowdrift continued to flutter around them as they simply gazed at each other, relishing the euphoria of a long awaited reunion.
Moments later, while the curve of her lips remained impish, shadows began to cloud her gaze. As he stared at her, the memory of the tragic falling-out which had caused their separation came rushing back. Shame and remorse swallowed him whole.
He knew he had wronged her. He had been his dull-witted self and easily misled by others’ manipulation, too blinded by his grief to listen to Rong Er, who had never once steered him wrong. He needed to apologise.
“I am sorry,” he said softly, eyes briefly flicking to the side, avoidant. The next moment, however, he looked her squarely in the eyes again, ready for her censure.
“But I don’t know what I should do for you to forgive me. For you to want to see me again.” He repeated his apology when he saw the sadness in the pinch of her lips.
“Who wants to see you again?” She huffed, turning away, her back to him.
His love for her was steadfast and as pure as fine, driven snow. He could never express his feelings for her in the flowery words she so deserved but he still needed to let her know that he was sincere, his contrition heartfelt.
“My heart for you is true. Heaven and earth are my witnesses,” he declared earnestly, uncertain how he could persuade his Rong Er to forgive him, and yet understanding that he did not deserve her forgiveness for his mistakes and handling of things. Not to mention the still thorny matter of his betrothal.
Her back was still turned towards him but he was not deterred. After all, he was in the wrong. “I am sorry,” he pronounced steadily again, voice calm but contrite.
To his blessed fortune, however, his beloved Rong Er was forgiving and after a few more heartbeats, turned back to face him with a tiny, pleased smile on her pretty lips. He grinned back at her, light-hearted with effervescent gladness.
Suddenly, he became distracted by the fluffs of snowflakes on Rong Er’s hair. Reaching out gentle fingers to dab off the powdery snow from her head, he was careful to make sure they did not fall on her face.
She gazed up at him through her eyelashes and when he looked down at her face, he could not help but notice the becoming smear of pink on her fair, rounded cheeks.
A hot, needy impulse seized him and before he could stop himself, he had leaned down to press his lips on the swell of her cheek, her skin cool against his lips.
A sweet ache, beautifully excruciating, filled his heart.
Then, realisation hit but before he could begin to feel mortification at his inappropriate behaviour, Rong Er had burrowed her face against his chest, arms wrapped around his waist, his name a tender whisper against his armoured Deel.
His arms went around her again, heart brimming.
As he rested a hand on the back of her head, he breathed out her name, adoration in every syllable.
Fluttering snow continued to fall and swirl around them, cocooning them in their own world for a brief moment of eternity.