Xiaogang, I love you

Things had finally settled down for the time being.

After learning what Yu Xiaogang and Lang Yi had been through.

Liu Erlong had almost burst into tears.

She had never imagined that the man she longed for, the man she wanted to cradle in her palms.

Had suffered such brutal abuse at the hands of Scarface and his accomplice.

In an instant, Liu Erlong felt terribly guilty toward Lang Yi.

After everything that had happened, she dared not imagine what would have become of the prideful Xiaogang without him.

If Scarface had been even more vicious.

And used a recording device like an Image Recording Stone.

If he had then spread the footage.

Xiaogang might have taken his own life on some quiet night when everyone else was asleep.

Thank goodness they had not recorded it, and thank goodness Lang Yi had been there with him.

Calling him Xiaogang's lifesaver was entirely justified.

Liu Erlong felt she was utterly inhuman.

She had actually judged another man's heart with her own petty suspicions.

It had clearly been nothing more than the brotherhood of men who had faced life and death together.

Yet she had mistaken it for a secret passion.

Her explosive temper had even driven her to nearly kill Xiaogang's benefactor.

If Xiaogang had not bravely pushed her away, just as he always had.

Thinking of it another way, Liu Erlong found herself falling even harder for Yu Xiaogang.

The way he pushed me just now was so manly, so full of masculine charm!

Then she looked at Lang Yi and spoke with an apologetic expression.

"I'm sorry, Brother Lang Yi. I was wrong. I shouldn't have treated you like that!"

"If you run into any problems at the academy in the future, come to me and I'll help you resolve them. You can use the academy's resources freely, too. Consider it my way of repaying you."

Lang Yi came back to his senses and nodded.

He had been lost in thought as well, thinking about what Yu Xiaogang had just done.

Xiaogang was so manly, so full of masculine charm. I think I might have fallen in love with him.

Seeing Lang Yi only just emerge from his daze, Liu Erlong wondered whether she had frightened him or whether he was dissatisfied with her compensation.

So she softened her voice even further.

"If you ever need a Soul Ring, you can come to me for that, too. I guarantee I'll get you the best one, the one that suits you most!"

Lang Yi also felt he had lost his composure a little.

He hurriedly shook his head.

"No, no, Sister Erlong. I'm fine. Thank you!"

Only after seeing the two of them become amicable did Yu Xiaogang gently wipe away the beads of sweat on his forehead.

He silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness I managed to save him.

Evening came.

The lingering glow of the setting sun shone along the corridors of Blue Tyrant Academy (Liu Erlong's argument had delayed its renaming).

Yu Xiaogang stood in a corner at the side of the corridor.

He held a book, his brows slightly knitted, as though pondering something or recalling the argument that morning.

A figure slowly approached through the corridor.

The figure took a deep breath, then quickened his steps toward Yu Xiaogang.

"Xiaogang."

Yu Xiaogang lowered his book and looked up. Seeing the familiar face, he smiled.

"Oh, Lang Yi, it's you. What is it? Is this about what happened this morning?"

Lang Yi stood directly before him, the breeze stirring his bangs and the sunlight illuminating half his body.

To Yu Xiaogang, Lang Yi seemed deep in thought, yet also conflicted, with a trace of pain.

A hint of concern crept into his brow.

He had intended to speak first.

But just then, Lang Yi's gaze suddenly turned resolute.

He bowed deeply to Yu Xiaogang.

"Xiaogang, I don't know what's happened to me, but ever since the first time I saw you, a deep, inexplicable feeling has lingered in my heart. Then I saw you stand up for me, even if it meant coming to blows with Sister Erlong, who has known you for so many years.

"Your courage moved me deeply. Only then did I truly understand the feelings in my heart.

"They were no longer brotherly affection, nor the bond between teacher and student. They were love!"

Lang Yi's voice grew increasingly impassioned.

"Xiaogang, I love you! Be with me!"

At his final, shouted confession, Yu Xiaogang froze completely.

He had imagined countless reasons why Lang Yi might have come to him, but never that he had come to confess his love.

"Do you know what you're saying?"

Yu Xiaogang's voice was a little tight, his fingers unconsciously rubbing against his book.

"Of course I do!" Lang Yi stepped forward, close enough that he seemed able to take in every flicker of panic in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.

"I'm not a child just discovering love like Xiao San and the others! I really do love you!"

Yu Xiaogang's face paled. He instinctively took half a step back and turned his face slightly aside, as though unwilling to meet Lang Yi's burning gaze.

His voice carried a measure of helplessness.

"I know, but, Lang Yi, I'm so much older than you... and, and..."

He paused, his throat bobbing.

"Now that I've seen Erlong again, although I may have wronged her, there's still a chance for us. I might not let go of her..."

Yu Xiaogang's voice grew quieter as he spoke.

He seemed to lack any real conviction.

After all, he knew fairly well himself what had truly motivated his romances with Dong'er and Erlong.

Even if there had been affection involved as well.

He still lacked the conviction to stand firm.

Lang Yi picked up on that.

So he moved a little closer to Yu Xiaogang once again.

"I know!" His tone was gentle yet firm. "I know you may still love Teacher Erlong, and I know about your past together. But if you love someone, are you supposed to wait until someone else steals him away before you say anything?"

Faced with such a resolute Lang Yi, Yu Xiaogang instinctively wanted to refuse again, yet had no idea where to begin.

He did not even want to speak.

Over their long time together, Yu Xiaogang had developed feelings of his own for Lang Yi that he could neither explain nor name.

That inexplicable urge to protect him, those instinctive actions born of his unwillingness to let him suffer.

And now he was looking at Lang Yi, who had taken the initiative to confess his love.

The breeze kept blowing.

Yu Xiaogang leaned against the wall, unsure what emotion it was-perhaps guilt, perhaps relief.

That lingered around him.

In the end, he agreed.

He thought of his younger self, and of Bibi Dong.

Back then, he had relied on his intelligence and wit to make Bibi Dong fall in love with him.

Perhaps Bibi Dong back then had been just like Lang Yi now.

Caring about nothing else.

Living only for the one she loved.

He had no reason to reject him, yet could find plenty of reasons to say yes.

As for Erlong, their long separation and the conflict immediately upon their reunion had left his feelings for Liu Erlong less than profound.

Besides, how could there ever be a future between them?

Did he not know what Liu Erlong was to him?

Back then, he had deceived Liu Erlong merely to give himself some comfort after abandoning Bibi Dong and fleeing alone.

Now, things had worked out just right.

The apologies and grievances could wait until he told her the truth later.

Xuan Zi finished recording the footage and left with a chuckle.

The second volume of Yu Xiaogang: The Movie was a wrap!