Chapter 56 The last week of May, ...

The last week of May drew to a close, accompanied by the growing heat in Seoul's air. For Kwon Ji-yong and Ren Xiyao, they were both standing at the starting line of their respective tracks, about to embark on a new sprint in different directions. The atmosphere of parting, like a gradually spreading mist, silently enveloped the two of them.

Ren Xiyao stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a cup of hot milk, gazing at the Seoul night view outside. The lights spread out like stars, and the Han River in the distance shimmered with tiny lights.

Kwon Ji-yong approached from behind, resting his chin gently on her shoulder and wrapping his arms around her waist: "What are you looking at?"

"It's nothing." She tilted her head slightly, her hair brushing against his cheek. "I just feel... I'm leaving tomorrow."

Kwon Ji-yong tightened his arms and pulled her closer to him: "Mmm."

His warm breath fell on her ear, carrying a faint minty scent. Ren Xiyao didn't move, letting him hold her, her fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the glass.

"How long will you be gone this time?" he asked.

"One and a half months."

"High-altitude training... must be very tiring, right?"

"I'm used to it."

Kwon Ji-yong was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "I'm leaving next week too."

"Tour?"

"Yes, first the Asian Tour, then the World Tour."

Ren Xiyao nodded without speaking. She had only recently learned that their tour schedule was incredibly demanding; they only stayed in each city for a day or two, and then it was non-stop flying. A single tour would last for several months, and they wouldn't have any time until the end of the year.

The two stood there quietly for a while, then G-Dragon suddenly let go of her, turned around and walked towards the kitchen: "Are you hungry? Do you want me to cook some noodles?"

Ren Xiyao turned to look at him: "You can cook?"

“Teach me.” He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bag of noodles: “I bought a lot last time, and I haven’t finished using it yet.”

Ren Xiyao put down her cup, walked over and took the noodles from his hand: "I'll do it."

Kwon Ji-yong didn't let go; instead, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer: "Teach me."

His eyes were serious, with a hint of stubbornness. Ren Xiyao looked at him for two seconds, then suddenly smiled: "...Okay."

Kwon Ji-yong stood in front of the stove, staring at the water in the pot, his expression as serious as if he were attending a concert.

"The water's boiling," Ren Xiyao reminded him from behind.

"Then what?"

"under."

Kwon Ji-yong grabbed a handful of noodles, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Is this enough?"

"More."

He added another pinch, then carefully placed the noodles into the pot, his movements as cautious as if he were defusing a bomb.

Ren Xiyao couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Aren't you usually quite confident?"

“That’s different.” Kwon Ji-yong stared at the noodles bubbling in the pot. “This is the first dish you taught me.”

Ren Xiyao was stunned for a moment, her heart felt like it had been gently squeezed.

She reached out and took the chopsticks from his hand, gently stirring the noodles: "You have to do it like this, otherwise they'll stick to the pot."

Kwon Ji-yong stood behind her, his arms reaching out from both sides to loosely encircle her, mimicking her movements as he stirred the noodles. His chest pressed against her back, his body heat seeping through the thin fabric of her clothes.

Ren Xiyao suddenly felt a little hot.

"Okay." She took a step back. "Just two more minutes."

Kwon Ji-yong didn't move, remaining in that position, looking down at her: "Ren Xiyao."

"Um?"

Your ears are red.

Ren Xiyao: "..."

She raised her hand and pushed his face away: "The noodles are going to burn."

By the time the food was served, it was completely dark. Outside the window was the dazzling night view of Seoul, and inside, only a few warm yellow floor lamps were on, creating a lazy and comfortable atmosphere.

The two sat on the living room carpet, two bowls of clear soup noodles in front of them. Kwon Ji-yong picked up a piece with his chopsticks, took a bite, and his eyes lit up: "Delicious!"

Ren Xiyao raised an eyebrow: "What's so good about this? It's just boiled noodles in water."

"Because you taught me." He smiled and took another bite: "The meaning is different."

Ren Xiyao lowered her head, took a sip of soup, and didn't reply.

Kwon Ji-yong looked at her and suddenly asked, "Do you remember that time in Chuanxi?"

Ren Xiyao paused, her fingers moving slightly. "I remember."

“You wouldn’t say it back then, but you were having nightmares night after night.” His voice lowered: “That time I woke up in the middle of the night and found you sitting by the window looking at the stars.”

Ren Xiyao was silent for a while before saying, "That time... was terrible."

“I know.” Kwon Ji-yong reached out and placed his hand on the back of hers. “But things are different now.”

Ren Xiyao looked up at him.

“Look at me now,” he said softly. “Not at the stars.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

Kwon Ji-yong gently stroked her knuckles with his fingers, his eyes tender: "So... don't leave tonight."

Ren Xiyao didn't speak, but she didn't pull her hand away either. In this state, being in the same room again, sharing a bed... seemed to have a completely different meaning. It was no longer a reliance in a moment of vulnerability, but a choice made in a state of clarity, a deeper level of intimacy and trust.

She looked into Kwon Ji-yong's eyes, which held no desire whatsoever, only a pure, almost childlike attachment and reluctance to part.

She sighed softly to herself. Perhaps, before truly parting ways, it wouldn't be so bad to savor a few more moments of this tenderness.

When Ren Xiyao came out after taking a shower, Quan Zhilong had already changed into his pajamas and was leaning against the headboard playing on his phone. Seeing her come out, he patted the empty space next to him: "Come on in."

Ren Xiyao dried her hair and walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed: "What time are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Noon." He took the towel and helped her dry her hair. "And you?"

"Seven o'clock in the morning."

Kwon Ji-yong paused for a moment: "...So early?"

"Yes, I need to get back to the team to catch my flight."

He didn't say anything more, but continued to dry her hair, his fingers occasionally running through her hair in a gentle motion.

Ren Xiyao closed her eyes, feeling his touch.

"Are you tired?" he asked.

"A little."

"Then go to sleep."

Ren Xiyao opened her eyes and turned to look at him: "That's it?"

Kwon Ji-yong raised an eyebrow: "Otherwise what?"

She stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him closer. She kissed him on the lips and quickly let go: "Goodnight."

Kwon Ji-yong was stunned, then laughed: "Ren Xiyao."

"Um?"

"You've gone astray."

Ren Xiyao ignored him, lifted the covers and lay down with her back to him.

Kwon Ji-yong turned off the light, lay down next to her, gently wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her closer to him.

Ren Xiyao did not resist, but said softly, "...Don't push your luck."

Kwon Ji-yong chuckled: "Just for a little while."

In the darkness, their breathing gradually synchronized.

In the middle of the night, Ren Xiyao was awakened by the sound of thunder.

Outside the window, the rain poured down, and lightning flashed across the night sky, instantly illuminating the entire room. She turned to look beside her; Kwon Ji-yong was fast asleep, his eyelashes fluttering gently with his breath.

She gently got up, intending to close the window, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Where to?" His voice was sleepy, low and indistinct.

"Close the window."

Quan Zhilong didn't let go; instead, he pulled hard, and Ren Xiyao fell back onto the bed, where he pulled her into his arms.

"Don't turn it off." He nuzzled the top of her head. "I like listening to the rain."

Ren Xiyao stiffened for a moment, but quickly relaxed. His body temperature was very high; she could feel the heat even through his pajamas.

"You're so hot."

"Mmm." Kwon Ji-yong closed his eyes: "You're cold, it's comfortable to hold you."

Ren Xiyao didn't move, letting him hold her. The sound of rain tapping on the window was like some kind of lullaby.

Kwon Ji-yong's hand slowly moved up from her waist, stopping on her back and gently stroking it.

"Ren Xiyao," he whispered her name.

"Um?"

"I can't hold back anymore."

Ren Xiyao's heart suddenly raced: "...What?"

Kwon Ji-yong opened his eyes and looked at her in the darkness: "You know what I'm talking about."

Her breathing quickened, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the sheets. She looked at him in the moonlight streaming through the window. His eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes, and his lips were slightly pursed, making him look more childlike than usual.

She suddenly remembered that night in western Sichuan. She had a nightmare and woke up in a fright, probably because her body was reacting and her knees hurt so much that she couldn't sleep. She sat by the window in a daze. When Kwon Ji-yong woke up, he didn't say anything, but just silently poured her a cup of hot water and sat with her until dawn.

At that time, she was so vulnerable that she didn't seem like herself.

Now, lying in his arms, she felt a sense of peace she had never known before.

Kwon Ji-yong slowly leaned closer, his nose almost touching hers: "Is it okay?"

Ren Xiyao didn't answer, but she didn't avoid it either.

His kiss landed, gentle and tentative, giving her enough time to push him away.

But she didn't.

His hand slipped inside her clothes, his palm pressed against her waist, burning hot. Ren Xiyao unconsciously arched her back, pressing closer to him.

Just as the atmosphere was about to spiral out of control, a bolt of lightning struck outside the window, followed by a deafening clap of thunder.

The two froze simultaneously.

Kwon Ji-yong laughed first, resting his forehead on her shoulder: "...God is stopping me."

Ren Xiyao smiled and nudged his chest: "Go to sleep."

Kwon Ji-yong sighed, lay back down, but still held her tightly: "Sleep."

Ren Xiyao hummed in agreement, leaned against his chest, listened to his heartbeat, and slowly closed her eyes.

The sound of rain subsided, and her breathing gradually became steady.

Kwon Ji-yong looked at her in the darkness and gently kissed her forehead.

Both of them knew that sharing a bed tonight, even if nothing else happened, brought them one step closer than they had been in Chuanxi. This was an acceptance and trust in each other in a rational and sober state.

The city outside the window gradually fell asleep, while inside, two hearts that were about to be separated for the time being clung together tightly because of this rare time together, drawing enough strength to face the long journey ahead of them.

As the first rays of morning light pierced through the gaps in the curtains, like a thin blade, they silently sliced ​​through the darkness of the room. Seoul outside the window was not yet fully awake; occasionally, car headlights flashed across the distant Han River Bridge, like shooting stars falling into the deep sea.

Ren Xiyao stood at the door carrying her things, and Quan Zhilong leaned against the door frame to look at her: "Message me when you arrive."

"Um."

“Every day.”

“Every day.” Kwon Ji-yong interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument, but his gaze held a hint of weakness and grievance.

Looking at him like this, Ren Xiyao finally nodded: "Okay."

Kwon Ji-yong reached out and straightened her collar, his fingertips brushing against her collarbone: "Go down the ice safely, don't get hurt."

"Know."

"Miss me."

"..."

"Speak."

She looked up at him, then suddenly grabbed his collar, pulled him down, and gave him a deep kiss on the lips: "See you in two months."

Before Kwon Ji-yong could react, she had already let go of his hand and turned to walk towards the elevator.

He stood there, touched his lips, and suddenly laughed: "...You've really gone astray."

Before the elevator doors closed, Ren Xiyao waved to him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

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The author's note: After the story is finished, I might want to do some sports commentary, from the sweet moments to the controversies. There should be points worth discussing.

Thank you everyone for your support, enjoy reading! [Heart emoji]