So It Was Just a Kiss on the Cheek...

[Ning Rongrong opened her eyes, and a Soul Bone came into view. It was a complete left arm bone, crystal clear, with a faint rosy glow flowing across its surface. Cradled in her hands, it looked like a work of art.]

She was drawn in at once.

"Gao Yang, this... this..."

Even though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was rich enough to rival a nation, Ning Rongrong, its little princess, had never seen a Soul Bone of such quality.

"After you ran away from home, I couldn't settle my thoughts. When I failed a mission, Third Grandpa got angry and threw me into Death Canyon for training." Gao Yang smiled. "I stole this Soul Bone from thieves who'd stolen it from other thieves. Sect Master Ning examined it and confirmed it's an eighty-thousand-year gemstone-type Soul Bone."

"Death Canyon? Grandpa Sword was so cruel!"

But Ning Rongrong's attention had landed on Death Canyon.

It was a notorious death trap. Even a Soul Douluo might not make it out in one piece.

And back then, what level had Gao Yang been?

"Third Grandpa cares about me. I could feel him protecting me from the shadows." Her concern warmed Gao Yang's heart. "That's all behind us. I'm fine now, aren't I? Silly girl, do you think I brought out this Soul Bone to show off? Hurry up and absorb it. Come to think of it, I still haven't given you a gift to celebrate your victory over the Golden Generation in the tournament."

"No!"

She refused without hesitation. Even Ning Fengzhi might not have been able to produce a Soul Bone of this quality!

"You barely survived getting it, Gao Yang! It's too precious. Rongrong can't accept it!"

"It's because it's precious that I'm giving it to you."

Ning Rongrong had no answer to that.

"What, would a Soul Bone make you fall for me? Come on. Your love shouldn't come that cheap." Gao Yang continued, "Or are you afraid Oscar will get jealous if he finds out?"

"What right does he have to be jealous? You're my Gao Yang!" Ning Rongrong shot back at once.

"Right. I'm only your big brother."

"No, that's not—"

His words left her flustered. She knew she had said the wrong thing again...

"Enough. Don't make such a fuss. It's just a Soul Bone. If you find one that suits me someday, would you really refuse to give it to me?"

"Of course I'd give it to you!"

"Then hurry up and absorb this one!"

Gao Yang's repeated insistence finally eased Ning Rongrong's misgivings.

Absorbing the Soul Bone was easy, and she finished in no time.

"I've absorbed it, Gao Yang!" Ning Rongrong said, beaming.

"How is it?"

"It gave me a powerful lifesaving skill, and my Soul Power rose by one level!" Ning Rongrong threw her arms around him in excitement. "Thank you, Gao Yang!"

"That's wonderful. You've gained so much from this trip."

"I have!"

"So try to be a little happier on the way back, Rongrong."

"Huh... Gao Yang... what do you mean?"

"Rongrong, you can't hide it when you miss someone. The look in your eyes when you think of Oscar is exactly how I looked when I missed you."

Ning Rongrong let go of him, but their faces were still no more than two fists apart.

Each could clearly feel the warmth of the other's breath.

"Gao Yang, I..."

"Rongrong, I'm content now. Really. At least I get to see you every day. Seeing you happy, seeing you smile—that's enough for me. Even if Oscar is the reason you're happy."

"I'm sorry..."

"You don't need to apologize. You can't help who you fall for." Gao Yang gave a bitter smile. "If anyone should apologize, it's me. I did something awful to you, then acted as if it were only natural. I said I didn't regret it, yet I kept hurting you. Maybe that's where I fall short of Oscar. At least he isn't as false as I am."

"That's not true, Gao Yang. You're you. You don't need to compare yourself to anyone. To me, there's no one else like you!" Ning Rongrong shook her head again and again. "And I don't mind. I really don't! Please stop blaming yourself."

"I'm not blaming myself. I'm afraid." Gao Yang shook his head. "Maybe in five years, maybe in ten, I'll gradually accept that someone else will be the one beside you at night, and I'll gradually let you go. I'm afraid, Rongrong. I really am!"

"Gao Yang, don't... don't be afraid. Rongrong will always be your good little sister."

"No. That's what frightens me most! I'm afraid that one day I'll truly see you as nothing but a little sister, and forget..." Gao Yang took a deep breath, then said solemnly, "Forget what it felt like to fall in love with you!"

Ning Rongrong: !!!

At those words, it felt as though something had seized a tender spot deep in her heart and squeezed.

"Gao Yang, I..."

"I've put you in a difficult position again, haven't I? You don't have to say anything. Just listen."

"Okay..."

"Third Grandpa threw me into Death Canyon because I missed you. Missing you was also what let me defeat one powerful foe after another down there. It seemed that as long as I thought of you, I had strength without end.

"That longing gave me a damned possessive streak. When I saw how close you and Oscar were, I nearly burst with jealousy. That's why I kissed you by force. I hoped that despicable act would drive a wedge between you two, so I could slip into the gap.

"Thank goodness you forgave me, Rongrong. You even kept it secret and saved me from disgrace.

"A shameless bastard like me can still stay in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect because of you..."

"Gao Yang is not a shameless bastard!"

Ning Rongrong protested. She didn't know why, but she couldn't bear to hear anyone speak badly of Gao Yang!

Not even Gao Yang himself!

To help her be with Oscar, Gao Yang had been willing to teach him his family's treasured sword technique and his Self-Created Soul Skill!

How could someone with a heart like that be a despicable man?

In the letter Oscar had left behind, he had spoken of Gao Yang with nothing but heartfelt admiration!

"Gao Yang, I know what you did to help Oscar! Even though he knows you like me, he had no worries about the two of us coming to the Star Dou Great Forest together! Because he knows you're an upright, trustworthy big brother!"

"What kind of big brother does that make me?" Gao Yang laughed at himself. "Anyone can have a moment of conscience, can't they?"

"Oh, that's not it! Waaa! Gao Yang, you're awful! Rongrong can't win an argument with you! Waaa..."

"Hey, hey, hey! Why are you crying again? Did you drown the Golden Generation with your tears?"

"I'm not crying!"

"Then why are you blowing your nose on my clothes?"

"Because a tiny bug flew up my nose!"

"Tsk. I'm a little jealous of that bug..."

"Pfft! Gao Yang, you're disgusting!"

"Crying one moment and laughing the next. Have you no shame?"

Seeing that she was still sniffling, Gao Yang simply lay back on the ground and looked up at the stars.

Once Ning Rongrong had stopped crying, she lay down beside him.

Neither spoke. They quietly savored that rare moment of peace together.

After a long while, Gao Yang spoke softly.

"Rongrong, I want to do something to you. It's terribly out of line, but I've been holding it back for a long time!"

Ning Rongrong: !!!

"I'm going to kiss your cheek. I've held back for so long that I plan to kiss it for as long as a stick of incense takes to burn. I've just had a drink, too, so my breath smells of alcohol. If you don't want me to, push me away. I'm coming closer now."

For some reason, Ning Rongrong felt an inexplicable rush of relief.

So it was just a kiss on the cheek. I thought...