Seizing Dreams

“Zhou Sheng? Look!” Yu Hao motioned for Zhou Sheng to look to his left. A pure white temple had appeared on the tallest volcano, and there seemed to be a priest adorned in a dress in front of the temple. The altar in front of her burned with a maroon flame, and every time its intensity flared, the volcano would erupt, then magma would pour out and flow towards the city in the distance.

“Liang Laoshi?” Chen Yekai frowned.

The metal “Lin Xun Bug” refused to give up as it extended its weapons in an attempt to destroy the temple atop the volcano.

The sounds of incantations incessantly carried over. Every time the volcano erupted, it would form a fierce meteor that fell into the city. Under the violent earthquake, Yu Hao almost thought that Liang Jinmin planned to take herself down along with the monster in the city, yet this city proved strong enough to continually withstand the impacts.

“That guy isn’t as strong as he was in your dream ma.” Zhou Sheng said.

Chen Yekai said helplessly, “Of course. We have a mentor-student relationship, but for Liang Laoshi, they are husband and wife. In Liang Laoshi’s dream, they are equal. Once she had decided to burn her boats, perhaps......deep down, she still thinks that she can perish together with him ba.”

Zhou Sheng was extremely satisfied, “In that case, we don’t have to meddle any more. I wish Liang Laoshi success in blowing up that monster and seizing back her totem!”

“Un.” Chen Yekai observed for awhile longer. If the magma continued to erupt, then maybe it would be able to slowly melt that metallic monster. Even if the dreamscape turns into ruins, after the metallic monster is destroyed by the anger of the God of Fire, it could still be gradually rebuilt...although this process would take a very long time.

“I don’t think it’s necessary for the time being.” Chen Yekai said, “We need to properly protect her in reality and ensure her safety.”

“Then, good night.” Zhou Sheng didn’t even spare Chen Yekai a glance before he casually pressed against his forehead.

Chen Yekai suddenly disintegrated into light particles with a bang and disappeared just like that.

“Wah.” It was Yu Hao’s first time seeing the moment when someone leaves a dream.

“What are you ‘wah’-ing for?” Zhou Sheng asked, bewildered.

“That looked so cool.” Yu Hao said.

“Are you leaving?” Zhou Sheng asked, “We’re the only ones left.”

Yu Hao looked at Zhou Sheng doubtfully, “Don’t you have anything you want to say?”

Zhou Sheng said, baffled, “Ah?”

Yu Hao was still a little upset and stared at Zhou Sheng. When Chen Yekai was around, it wasn’t convenient for him to say a lot of things, and now that it was just the two of them, Yu Hao hadn’t thought of how he should scold him yet. He actually kept him in the dark about running into someone else’s dream; that was way too dangerous!

“You can’t take action without letting me know next time! Got it?” Yu Hao said.

“Okay!” Zhou Sheng said, “Don’t nag me, will you? Get up ba? Let’s go and eat breakfast?”

Yu Hao still harbored a lot of suspicions in his heart. He had a lot of questions he wanted to ask Zhou Sheng, but Zhou Sheng said, “There’s nothing much to see, let’s talk in my dream.”

Yu Hao raised his head slightly and closed his eyes.

Zhou Sheng, “......”

Yu Hao waited for a few seconds, but didn’t hear the words ‘good night’ that he was waiting for. He opened his eyes and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“You......” Zhou Sheng suddenly laughed and blushed a little, “What are you doing with your eyes closed?”

Yu Hao, “???”

“Good night.” Zhou Sheng said, then pressed his hand against Yu Hao’s forehead.

In the darkness, Yu Hao woke up while Zhou Sheng shifted slightly to the side. He tried to raise his hand and realised that Yu Hao was sprawled on top of him. When he tried to move his other hand, he found that it was being held by Yu Hao, then he gripped Yu Hao’s hand tightly.

“What time is it?” Yu Hao felt even more exhausted this time than all the previous times he had woken up, and it wasn’t bright out yet. Zhou Sheng freed his other hand to look at his phone.

“5.05.” Zhou Sheng yawned.

“Why did I only sleep for half an hour?” Yu Hao was about to blow up from how sleepy he felt.

“Time passes very slowly in the subconscious.” Zhou Sheng answered, “Sleep awhile more.” As he spoke, he gently patted Yu Hao’s body with the hand that was wrapped around him.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the dormitory into stark contrast. The sound of thunder seemed to explode overhead, which startled Yu Hao and sobered him up immediately. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng were crowded onto a narrow single bed. His head had been resting on Zhou Sheng’s shoulder, but now he suddenly snapped out of his daze and quickly crawled back to his own bed.

Zhou Sheng got off his bed and moved his arms about as he went to the balcony to close the window. It was the most humid day of summer last night, so Ying city was as hot as a steamer. Everyone had waited for this bout of rain for three days, and it finally fell this morning in an omnipresent downpour. Water vapour rushed into the dormitory amidst the fierce gales, just like a steamer that was finally uncovered. After the summer heat dissipated, along with the loud “bang”s throughout the entire dormitory building as doors and windows were slammed shut, the world finally cooled down.

Yu Hao laid back on his bed, yet his heart still tossed and turned. All he could think about was how in the moment he had awakened, Zhou Sheng’s movements were so natural as if that situation was natural for them.

Zhou Sheng left a crack open in the windows and brought in all the clothes. Yu Hao drowsily looked at his phone, and saw Chen Yekai say in the group chat:【Liang Laoshi woke up.】

“Zhou Sheng?” Yu Hao said.

Zhou Sheng had folded the clothes and was currently brushing his teeth. He took his phone and glanced at it.

【I’m in the hospital.】Chen Yekai said,【They’re currently giving Liang Laoshi a check-up. Huang Ting has already arrived, so don’t worry about it anymore.】

The rain grew heavier and heavier. Yu Hao replied to Chen Yekai’s message. Outside the balcony, a dense downpour fell; heavy rain bombarded the plastic shed below their building. Chen Yekai was evidently busy, and he didn’t reply to Yu Hao’s messages.

“He slept in the hospital last night.” Zhou Sheng answered, “As long as Liang Laoshi wakes up, Huang Ting will stay in the hospital and guard her, and lie to Lin Xun that his wife’s condition has deteriorated. It won’t be like the last time.”

“The plan is pretty well thought-out ma. Let me see your phone?” Yu Hao extended a hand towards Zhou Sheng.

Zhou Sheng, “To see what?”

Yu Hao, “To see how you guys discussed it ah.”

Zhou Sheng, “I won’t give it.”

Yu Hao, “Will you give it or not?”

Yu Hao, “How long did you guys take to prepare for this operation?”

Zhou Sheng held his phone and scrolled through his conversation with Chen Yekai, then showed Yu Hao. Their conversation mostly revolved around the Golden Crow Wheel and Liang Jinmin’s subconscious. Yu Hao skimmed through it and saw that there were still a lot of voice messages within, so he could only drop the matter. He glanced at Zhou Sheng and thought, he obviously has a guilty conscience.

“Are you still gonna sleep?” Zhou Sheng asked.

Yu Hao curled under his blanket in a daze, and thought if you hug me to sleep, I’ll sleep. But of course, he didn’t say it out loud.

Last night, I was busy saving you so I didn’t have the time to eat your tofu. He had already been hugged to sleep by Zhou Sheng twice: once when they were occupied with entering Chichén Itzá, while the other time was when they entered the subconscious. Although it only lasted for a short moment, Zhou Sheng’s body temperature and scent still seemed to linger on his own body.

The temperature of Zhou Sheng’s firm chest and his vigorous heartbeat were just like a dream to Yu Hao. Yu Hao remembered the most moving words of love —— I want to wake up with you in the same bed every day.

“Wei!” Zhou Sheng said, “Are you still gonna sleep? I’m asking you na.”

Yu Hao turned his head to look at Zhou Sheng and said helplessly, “I can’t fall asleep anymore, but I’ll try again.”

“Still angry?” Zhou Sheng asked, bewildered, “Let’s just go eat breakfast?”

Yu Hao’s heart was still in upheaval. He kept thinking about Zhou Sheng, even though Zhou Sheng was right beside him now while he held up a big black umbrella. He even tilted the umbrella more towards Yu Hao’s side while his own shoulder was exposed to the rain, and the left side of his body got drenched. They were wearing shorts and slippers as they passed through a path in their college to get to the canteen for their breakfast.

Ying city’s rainy season had arrived. On this morning under the deluge of a torrential downpour, Yu Hao inexplicably had an irrepressible impulse in his heart. It was as if the depression he felt several days ago had been completely swept away by the heavy rain. The moment Zhou Sheng held up the umbrella reminded Yu Hao of the black dragon in Chichén Itzá that had sheltered them from the rain.

The words that Fu Liqun and Chen Yekai had said to him whirled through his mind, just like how countless beads spiralled around in a lottery’s revolving drum. During these past few days, he had been thinking constantly, shaking the thoughts in his head violently over and over again, round after round, yet never daring to stop. He was transfixed on that one and only lottery prize, hoping that it would be the final one that that would come out.

Confront yourself......everyone says so. It seemed that to many people, the Zhou Sheng who was holding an umbrella up for them was already his boyfriend. But Yu Hao had experienced the tragic failure of love before, and it made him understand that when you like someone, many minute details tend to be subconsciously magnified —— for example, when the other party’s actions are often unintentional, and don’t align with what he was envisioning.

When you like someone, there will inevitably be ups and downs. Just one smile or a simple movement could easily raise one’s hope, and be used as proof that “he likes me”. Ignoring unfavourable signs and only retaining favourable evidence is just human nature.

Zhou Sheng had already expressed his attitude towards him during the conversation they had on New Year’s Eve. It would be reasonable for Yu Hao to not hold any more unrealistic expectations. But throughout this whole semester, a faintly discernible trace of hope arose in his heart again. Zhou Sheng might have said he didn’t like him at that time, but it didn’t mean that he didn’t like him now. Or just like what Chen Yekai and Fu Liqun had said, maybe he just wasn’t willing to face up to his own feelings?

Spectators see the chess game better than the players do. Perhaps, if he tried once more, there could still be hope?

Yu Hao really wanted to stop shaking and just draw the lottery already. He’ll just accept whatever gets drawn in the end. But shaking the prize box had already turned into a habit, such that he would subconsciously shake it day after day, year after year. On New Year’s Eve, Zhou Sheng had told him to look for a boyfriend. And if it really wouldn’t work out, Yu Hao felt like he really should find a boyfriend and let go of his feelings then. Otherwise, these days of worrying over everything he could stand to lose or gain would be too difficult to endure.