Back to 1988 82

Chapter 82: You Are the Best in the World

The rescue personnel acted quickly, also using walkie-talkies to communicate with each other, and soon they were in action.

Zhao Haisheng wanted to follow, but he was held back by the adults, wrapped in a thick coat, and sent to the back for emergency bandaging of his wounds.

Mi Yang was also carried over by the rescue personnel who had arrived. Mi Yang had choked on water and was still conscious, but his mouth, nose, and throat were burning with pain after the water had entered his trachea, and he couldn’t speak. He heard someone call his name. When he squinted his eyes to look, he only saw a swaying flashlight, and someone was talking beside him, “He was found on the bank, choked on water…”

Soon, someone came over, blocking all the light, and leaned down to his mouth, pinching his cheeks to make him open his mouth. Then, he pressed his lips to his and sucked hard, then spat out the river water in his mouth. He then lowered his head and sucked a couple more times. After cleaning it out, he pinched his nose and pressed his lips to his again to perform artificial respiration.

Mi Yang lay there, only having time to smell a familiar scent. He had no time to react when he was forced to open his mouth to accept it. The other’s movements were very fast, and without any hesitation, he had him breathe twice. The scorching breath and clean scent that surrounded him were all too familiar. The urgent voice in his ear was also familiar, “Mi Yang? Mi Yang, try to exhale with your mouth.”

Mi Yang followed him and did it once. He wanted to open his mouth to say “it’s okay,” but he only made a weak, muffled sound before Bai Luochuan pinched his nostrils again, leaned over, and pressed his lips tightly to his, blowing a large breath of air. He repeated this every few seconds until Mi Yang’s breathing merged with his, and only then did he relax a little.

Mi Yang said in a hoarse voice, “It’s okay.”

His nose was pinched, and when he spoke, he could only move the tip of his tongue, slightly touching Bai Luochuan’s. The two of them separated at the touch.

Bai Luochuan let go of him but unbuttoned his collar, his fingers still gently pressing on his trachea and neck, frowning as he called his name in a low voice, asking if he was better.

Mi Yang lay flat there, already much relieved, and nodded. “I’m fine.”

Many people had come with the rescue team. Besides the ones shouting and rescuing in the front, the logistics personnel had also brought a stretcher. Bai Luochuan had also brought a doctor from home, but the doctor was a little old and had trouble with his legs, so he was waiting at the foot of the mountain at this moment.

Bai Luochuan unbuttoned his own raincoat, wrapped Mi Yang in it, and held him tightly. “Are you cold?”

Mi Yang shook his head. He had been a little cold just now, but now he was completely wrapped up and warm, and he didn’t feel cold anymore.

Bai Luochuan said again, “I’ll take you down the mountain first. They’ll find the person.”

Mi Yang nodded. “Okay.”

Bai Luochuan took off his raincoat and put it on him, then squatted down. “Get on. I’ll carry you.”

Mi Yang hesitated for a moment. “Forget it. I can walk by myself, or…”

Bai Luochuan squatted there without moving, his body wet from the rain. “Get on.”

Mi Yang then lay on his back, trying his best to cover them both with the large raincoat. A rescue team member saw them and said, “How is it? Can you walk? There’s a stretcher behind!”

The orderly who had come up with him walked over. “Let me carry him. We still have a horse. It’ll be faster to have the horse carry him down…”

Suddenly, a walkie-talkie not far away crackled, and soon a shout came through, “Found him! The boy has been found… He’s still alive. We need a stretcher. Quick, quick, send him down the mountain for rescue!!”

Bai Luochuan, on the side, heard clearly and immediately said to the orderly, “I’ll go with the rescue team. You take the horse over there. Wule is still young. It’s not hard for it to go through the forest. It’s much faster than a stretcher. Save the person first!”

The orderly immediately agreed, led the horse, and went over with the rescue team.

Bai Luochuan then said to the rescue team member on the side, “He just choked on some water. He’s awake now. I can take him down. Let’s leave the stretcher for those who need it more.” He lifted Mi Yang up a little. “Could I trouble you to find two people to lead the way for us?”

The other person immediately said, “Okay, you come with me. It just so happens that Captain Wang’s side has also found a few students. We’ll send you down the mountain together first!”

Bai Luochuan nodded in agreement and went with him.

Mi Yang lay on his back, only hearing the pitter-patter of the rain on the raincoat and Bai Luochuan’s breathing, steady and strong. The young master Bai’s back was very warm. Even though he was soaked, he could still slowly warm him up. Mi Yang held onto him a little tighter, suddenly feeling a little tired, and slowly closed his eyes.

It was unclear how long he had been swaying on Bai Luochuan’s back. Mi Yang vaguely heard him talking, as if he were stating something to someone, his voice grave, “He choked on water. It might cause a lung infection. It’s better to get an X-ray and stay in the hospital for a detailed check-up… Yes, let’s test him first. I’m afraid he’ll be allergic to the medicine…”

Mi Yang heard a couple of sentences. He heard every word clearly but couldn’t react. The back of his hand felt cold, followed by a slight sting. A cold liquid was slowly injected, and his consciousness began to fade. He slowly fell asleep.

Mi Yang had a not-so-good dream.

In the dream, the earth shook and the mountains swayed. After the houses collapsed, even the weight pressing on him was so real it was as if he had experienced it himself.

The mountain he had been staring at had rolled down giant rocks, which, adding insult to injury, had pressed down on the ruins of the already collapsed houses, blocking the only way out.

He dreamed of Bai Luochuan covering him again. Their posture was intimate, but Bai Luochuan’s arms were propped on either side of his head. It was a protective posture.

Bai Luochuan was protecting him.

He remembered. On the night of Bai Luochuan’s engagement, it wasn’t that he was dizzy; the walls were really shaking. They had been knocked down by the falling walls and were trapped in that small gap, struggling to survive. Bai Luochuan had protected him, always holding himself up in front of him, using his own body to shield him…

Mi Yang’s nose stung, but in the dream, he couldn’t cry no matter what. He was like a thin layer of memory floating there, unable to shake the past.

Bai Luochuan didn’t know how long he had held on. His voice was hoarse. The once so glamorous person was now only a mess, with only a pair of eyes that were still staring at him as before. He said in a voice as hoarse as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper, “Mi Yang, kiss me.”

He said, “Just once.”

Mi Yang then leaned over and gave him a difficult kiss.

There was the taste of blood in his mouth, not his own, but Bai Luochuan’s. The person who was protecting him had bitten his own wrist and fed him his blood.

Bai Luochuan smiled after getting the kiss, his eyes as if filled with starlight. Even in the dark, you could see the sudden softness and warmth. He said, “I was just teasing you. No engagement. It was all a lie… I’m not marrying anyone. I just want to be with you.”

The kisses fell on his face, one after another. Bai Luochuan’s breathing slowed, but his mood was very good. He panted, “Is, is this a reward for a hero? After we get out, I don’t want to just kiss your cheek.”

“Mm.”

“Mm?”

Mi Yang lifted his chin and kissed him again, his voice hoarse, “After we get out, I’ll marry you.”

Bai Luochuan’s heart beat a little faster, and his eyes also sparkled with a happy light. “Really? You’re not lying to me, are you?”

Mi Yang said seriously, “I’m not lying to you. You hold on for a bit. Don’t sleep. We can get out.”

This time, the person waited for a long time without responding, only with a slight breathing sound.

Mi Yang said, “Bai Luochuan, after we get out, do we have to get our marriage certificate? Where should we get it? And we also have to have a banquet. How many people should we invite? Wake up, don’t sleep… When I went to see Auntie Luo last time, she even told me to educate you well. Now I’m ‘colluding’ with you. How are you going to compensate me?”

He said a lot, asking him in great detail.

Bai Luochuan chuckled softly, his voice very weak. “I’ll compensate you with a ten-carat diamond ring, the kind that can only be tied to me.”

Mi Yang said, “Then it can’t be smaller than the one Yang Liuqing is wearing.”

Bai Luochuan’s breath came in fits and starts. “Idiot… only bought her… a ring…”

He still had the strength to curse at this point. Mi Yang’s nose stung. “Bai Luochuan, wake up. Stay with me, okay?”

Bai Luochuan was conscious again and, ignoring Mi Yang’s wishes, fed him his blood again.

He buried his head in Mi Yang’s shoulder, resting there and acting cute with a weak breath, “I’m so tired.”

Mi Yang’s arms and legs were pinned and he couldn’t move. He bit his own tongue and, tilting his head, also wanted to feed him his own blood. But he didn’t have enough strength, and Bai Luochuan refused to drink, just kissing him while forcing him to drink his own.

Mi Yang choked out his name.

Bai Luochuan suddenly had a little energy. He whispered, “I’m a little cold.”

Mi Yang wanted to hug him, but his arms and legs had no feeling in the pain. His eyes were dry. “Then you can hug me. It won’t be cold after a hug.”

Bai Luochuan chuckled, his cheek against his, with a cold body temperature. “I don’t know if there’s a reincarnation. If there is, I’m afraid I won’t remember. How can I find you then…”

Mi Yang said, “It’s fine. I’ll remember. I’ll come and find you.”

Bai Luochuan chuckled softly. “Okay.”

Mi Yang’s own body was also starting to get cold. He gently rubbed his cheek against Bai Luochuan’s. “I have a good memory. I’ll definitely remember.”

Bai Luochuan said, “Then you should say it a few more times. I’m afraid you’ll forget.”

Mi Yang had done countless repetitive and tedious restoration work when he was restoring books. He had enough patience. He repeated in Bai Luochuan’s ear, over and over, “I will remember you, remember everything… I will also come and find you. You have to wait for me. This time… this time I will always be with you, not leaving you for a single step…”

Bai Luochuan smiled, his voice gradually weakening. “Just remember the good things. The stupid things I did, you can forget them all.”

“But I probably can’t change this rotten temper of mine. If you see me again, you must stay by my side and teach me more. I’ll only listen to you. I want to be a little better.”

“You remember to smile at me when you see me, and then I’ll be able to recognize you and be good to you for a lifetime.”

“If we can start over, let’s start over together, okay?”

Mi Yang moved his lips and made a small sound, “Okay.”

…

Bai Luochuan had no more strength, and Mi Yang also gradually lost his strength. His whole body was cold, and his consciousness was scattered.

He and the person in front of him remained in an embrace and closed their eyes.

He thought, This person is not lying to me.

Those clumsy, irritable tempers were mixed with a clumsy heart, but there was never any intention of teasing. From beginning to end, it was the real and intense Bai Luochuan. It was he who had not dared to take that step. If there was another chance—I would be willing to meet you again.

In this world, the best of you.

The dream was distorted, like a melted mirror, and soon it changed to other scenes.

They were all familiar, and he could no longer tell whether it was his previous life or this life.

Or perhaps, they were all themselves.

Mi Yang was wrapped in a military green baby swaddle, being held and gently coaxed by his young parents. They were smiling and using a small pellet drum to amuse him. Outside, the snow was falling nonstop.

After a short while, the young Political Commissar Bai and his wife also walked in. Mrs. Bai had a fashionable perm, and in her arms was an exquisite and beautiful baby, wearing a small bear hat. He twitched his nose and woke up from his sleep. He opened his watery, big eyes and his gaze curiously fell on Mi Yang.

The little baby Mi Yang lifted his small hand and smiled at him.

The beautiful little baby immediately also giggled, revealing the only two rice-grain-sized little white teeth he had.

…

Mi Yang’s face was wiped with a warm, damp towel. The other’s movements were very light, but he still woke up. He moved his eyelashes and opened his eyes to see the person who was carefully wiping his face. The originally somewhat heartbroken expression, when he saw him wake up, immediately raised his eyebrows and lowered his voice in anger, “Do you know you had a fever again last night? The doctor said if you didn’t wake up, it might have turned into pneumonia. You’re really… not obedient at all!”

He threw the towel aside and stood there, looking down. “I told you to blow the whistle on the bank and wait for me. Who told you to go into the water! Now you know you’re scared, right? You were talking nonsense all night with a fever, so scared you kept crying.”

Mi Yang looked at him with wide eyes. This reaction, on the contrary, startled Bai Luochuan. He subconsciously was about to press the bell. “Little Good Boy, what’s wrong with you? I’ll get the doctor right away. It’s fine, it’s fine. If you’re not feeling well, just tell the doctor. Any illness can be cured. Don’t be afraid.”

Mi Yang lifted his wrist, his voice hoarse, “Bai Luochuan.”

Bai Luochuan immediately sat on the edge of the bed, held his hand up a little, and wrapped it. “Don’t move. You moved too much at night and even dislodged the needle. Does it hurt?”

Mi Yang looked at him. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

Bai Luochuan reached out his finger and wiped the corner of his eye, his voice softening. “Why are you crying again? It’s fine now. It was my fault for being late yesterday. Next time, I’ll keep you by my side. We’ll go everywhere together, okay?”

Mi Yang nodded, but his tears wouldn’t stop.

Bai Luochuan was a little flustered and clumsily wiped them for him. Seeing his red-rimmed eyes, his heart ached. He asked repeatedly, “What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”

Mi Yang shook his head, still looking at him, reluctant to look away, and choked out, “I had a dream.”

Bai Luochuan was taken aback for a moment. “What?”

Mi Yang said, “I dreamed that I liked you very much.”

Bai Luochuan’s face flushed, but he refused to back away at all. His eyes looked at Mi Yang, and he was still trying to be brave. “What do you mean, you only like me in your dreams? I thought you liked me very much now too!”

It was originally just a casual remark, but he hadn’t expected the pale, red-eyed child on the hospital bed to answer seriously.

“I do.”

“Very much.”

“I like you the most, Bai Luochuan.”

The corner of Bai Luochuan’s mouth lifted a little, and he tried to suppress the curve. He put his hand back in the quilt and cleared his throat. “You wait here for a bit. I’ll go and get the doctor. Be a little more obedient this time, okay?”

Mi Yang nodded, so well-behaved it was unlike him, and said softly, “Okay.”