TPLTMOE – Chapter 82

The car continued speeding toward the mountaintop. Their guide, experienced and knowledgeable, spent the journey introducing Tromsø's local customs and the precautions for chasing the northern lights along the way.

Unfortunately, the guide's thick regional accent made it hard for Ling Ran to understand, so Jiang Zhiyu would lean in and softly translate for him.

Soon, the car arrived at the prime viewing spot. Snow blanketed the mountaintop, and the surroundings were utterly silent. Above them stretched a vast, starry sky like an endless sea—though the northern lights had yet to appear.

Jiang Zhiyu got out first with the guide, telling Ling Ran to wait obediently in the car for a while.

Ling Ran pressed his face against the window, watching as the two figures gradually disappeared into the distance. He strained his eyes, but couldn't quite make out what they were doing standing not far away. After a while, boredom crept in—there was no signal at the summit, and his phone was useless.

The warmth of the heater lulled him into drowsiness, and before long, he was asleep against the seat.

He didn't know how long he had been out when a soft tap on the window startled him awake. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he looked up to see Jiang Zhiyu standing outside the car, gazing at him with an unusually tender expression.

Ling Ran rolled down the window, letting in a rush of icy air.

Jiang Zhiyu reached inside and adjusted the loose scarf around Ling Ran's neck, wrapping it snugly over the lower half of his face until only a pair of misty, wide eyes remained—like a drowsy little bear fresh from hibernation.

Then Jiang Zhiyu opened the car door and lifted him out.

Ling Ran's feet sank abruptly into the snow. If Jiang Zhiyu hadn't been holding him tightly, he might have stumbled and face-planted right then and there.

Jiang Zhiyu led him along the path he had just carved through the snow.

"Watch your step."

Ling Ran carefully followed the footprints, finding the snow much easier to walk on this way.

Jiang Zhiyu brought him to a gently sloping platform—the best vantage point on the entire mountain. A few early arrivals were already scattered around, waiting, while some photography enthusiasts had set up professional cameras for shooting.

A faint glow had just begun to appear on the horizon. Jiang Zhiyu lifted Ling Ran onto a large, protruding rock, then crouched in front of him to brush the snow off his pants and shoes.

Ling Ran watched his movements quietly, obediently switching to the other foot once the first was cleaned.

Nearby, a few onlookers cast surprised glances at the pair—one caring meticulously, the other accepting it without hesitation. They really were a perfect match.

Jiang Zhiyu straightened up and tugged Ling Ran's scarf higher. "Cold?"

Even standing on the rock, Ling Ran was still slightly shorter than him. He leaned forward bonelessly into Jiang Zhiyu's embrace, his little bear ears giving a faint shake as he mumbled, "Not cold."

Dressed this thickly, he could barely walk properly—how could he possibly feel cold?

"We might have to wait a little longer. Once those clouds clear, we should be able to see the lights."

Ling Ran tilted his head back, his dark, bright eyes reflecting the scattered starlight. "Why did you suddenly decide to bring me to see the northern lights?"

"You like it, don't you?" Jiang Zhiyu held him close. "The northern lights in Norway are far more beautiful than those in London. Most of the postcards you've collected feature scenes from here. I came to see them when I was studying in Europe—they're breathtaking."

Though Ling Ran hadn't said it out loud, he clearly regretted missing the aurora that had appeared over London.

Since he loved them so much, Jiang Zhiyu wanted to show him something even more spectacular.

Ling Ran's eyes crinkled with joy, stars practically spilling from them as he nuzzled into Jiang Zhiyu's chest like a happy little animal. "I heard that people who watch the northern lights together stay together for a long, long time..."

So when he missed the chance to see them with Jiang Zhiyu last time, Ling Ran had thought they wouldn't get another opportunity before returning home.

Jiang Zhiyu gently stroked the head nestled against him, his voice steady and firm. "Even if we hadn't seen them, we'd still be together for a long time."

It was just an unverifiable legend. Jiang Zhiyu had never believed in such vows or promises before, but ever since being with Ling Ran, he found himself drawn to these ethereal sentiments.

Their whispers were soon interrupted by gasps and exclamations around them. Together, they looked up toward the horizon.

The vast night sky stretched like an endless swath of black silk, and along the northern edge, a faint glow began to spread. At first, it was just a wisp of pale mist, delicate and elusive, as if a breeze could scatter it away.

Then the colors of the aurora grew more vivid, its shape shifting unpredictably—like a colossal ribbon of shimmering silk dancing in the wind. Hues of pink, purple, blue, and green intertwined and flickered, painting the sky in boundless radiance and fantasy.

Ling Ran's eyes widened in awe. It was his first time witnessing such a grand, breathtaking spectacle. The sheer magnificence before him made him realize that no photograph could ever capture even a fraction of its beauty.

The sky was so stunning it felt like a rain of starlight had descended, enveloping them completely.

Overcome with emotion, Ling Ran's eyes grew moist. As he continued gazing upward, he heard the man beside him call out softly.

"Baby."

Ling Ran turned, and the scarf covering his cheeks was gently tugged down. In the next moment, he was pulled into a tight embrace, warm lips pressing against his own.

Beneath the dreamy, romantic aurora, they kissed amidst the snow.

Everything else seemed to fade away. All Ling Ran could feel was the tender, heartfelt kiss.

They had watched the northern lights together. They would be together for a long, long time.

***

On the ride back to the hotel, Ling Ran felt pleasantly drowsy, leaning against Jiang Zhiyu the entire way. His small hands were playfully held and warmed in Jiang Zhiyu's palms until they tingled with heat.

When they arrived at the hotel, two people stood arguing at the front desk.

Recognizing Qin Chengyue's back, Ling Ran called out cheerfully, "Chengyue!"

Already irritated, Qin Chengyue turned at the sound of Ling Ran's voice and grew even more frustrated. "They're already back, and it's all because you wouldn't let me go! Any later and we'd have missed it completely! What was the point of flying all the way here if not to see them? I didn't come just to hang around the hotel!"

Standing opposite, Shang Ye remained composed despite Qin Chengyue's antics, finally saying, "Your cold hasn't gotten better yet."

Meaning there was no way he was stepping outside today.

Qin Chengyue was so furious he felt steam rising from the top of his head. He wanted to lunge at the man—who was even more overbearing than his own brother—and give him a piece of his mind. But after weighing his own strength, he settled for venting with words.

"My cold is long gone! Besides, it's not that cold outside—just a few degrees below zero..."

He turned to Ling Ran for backup. "Xiao Ran, tell me, is it cold out there?"

Ling Ran, bundled up like a dumpling, answered, "Not very cold."

Qin Chengyue seized the opportunity. "See? Even Xiao Ran said—“

But Ling Ran continued, "But Chengyue, if your cold isn't fully better yet, maybe you shouldn't go out. There's snow everywhere, and if you get chilled, your cold might get worse."

Qin Chengyue glared at him. "Whose side are you on?"

Originally, Qin Chengyue could have gone straight home after work. But when he heard Jiang Zhiyu had taken Ling Ran to see the northern lights, he dragged his sick self along. These two were absolutely unreasonable—excluding him from their usual London outings was bad enough, but now they'd even come to Norway without him. Today, even if he froze to death outside, he had to see the aurora.

Ling Ran noticed Qin Chengyue's flushed face—whether from anger or fever, he wasn't sure—and reached out to check his temperature. Before his hand could make contact, Jiang Zhiyu intercepted it.

"What are you doing?" Ling Ran whispered.

Jiang Zhiyu curled his fingers around Ling Ran's. "Stay out of this."

Qin Chengyue and Ling Ran were polar opposites in temperament. Spoiled since childhood, Qin Chengyue only grew more stubborn the more someone tried to stop him. Trying to persuade him through Ling Ran was useless.

Since it was pointless, Jiang Zhiyu had no intention of wasting time here.

He offered a well-meaning warning. "There's still fog rolling in. No telling if it'll clear tonight. The next two days are forecasted to be overcast—chances of seeing the aurora are slim."

Hearing this, Qin Chengyue nearly bolted for the door. That meant tonight was the best opportunity. They were leaving the day after tomorrow—if he came all this way and saw nothing, he'd bite Shang Ye to death.

Seeing Qin Chengyue on the verge of exploding, Jiang Zhiyu glanced at Shang Ye. "The car's outside."

Then, without another word, he took Ling Ran's hand and steered him toward their room.

Ling Ran kept looking back worriedly, lips parting as if he wanted to say something more to Qin Chengyue.

Jiang Zhiyu simply covered his mouth with one hand, gently turned his face forward, and pulled him into his arms. "Silly," he murmured into his ear.

Ling Ran pouted. "I'm not silly."

Jiang Zhiyu swiped their keycard and chuckled. "If you weren't, you'd have noticed."

Ling Ran, still tucked against him, blinked in confusion. "Noticed what?"

Then his eyes lit up. "Oh! You mean about Chengyue and President Shang, right? I did notice! They like each other, don't they? Am I smart?" Only a little.

Jiang Zhiyu removed his hat, unwound his scarf, and helped him out of his heavy coat, guiding him with a question. "Didn't you smell anything earlier?"

Ling Ran scrunched his nose, sniffing hard. "What smell? I didn't notice anything."

Jiang Zhiyu gently pinched his nose: "Didn't you notice two different pheromone scents in the front hall earlier?"

Ling Ran had been bundled up too tightly earlier, his nose covered, so he genuinely hadn't detected any pheromones. Suddenly realizing something, he stammered, "You mean... you mean..."

Before he could finish, Jiang Zhiyu was already leading him by the hand to the small balcony in their room, where someone had placed a Christmas tree at some point.

The tree was adorned with colorful lights, ornaments, and decorations, its branches entwined with golden ribbons that shimmered under warm yellow lights like a lively golden serpent slithering through emerald green foliage.

Outside the window stood majestic snow-capped mountains, making the cozy wooden cabin feel like a tranquil haven isolated amidst the vast white wilderness.

As they approached, a faint scent of pinewood mixed with the subtle aroma of hot cocoa lingered in the air.

Ling Ran's eyes instantly sparkled like the twinkling lights when he spotted the cup of hot cocoa on the table beside the tree—it had been so long since he'd had any. Beneath the tree were gift boxes of various sizes, at least a dozen by the looks of it.

Jiang Zhiyu first handed him the cup of hot cocoa. Ling Ran took a big sip and let out a contented sigh.

"Can I really have this today?" he asked.

Jiang Zhiyu had always been strict about his diet. Recently, his morning sickness had lessened, and he'd finally regained some of the weight he'd lost.

Pinching the soft flesh at Ling Ran's waist, Jiang Zhiyu nodded. "It's a holiday today. You can have some."

Ling Ran asked excitedly, "Is this my Christmas present then?"

Today truly made him the luckiest person—not only had he appeared on his dream global news channel and seen the northern lights, but now there were Christmas gifts too.

Jiang Zhiyu hadn't expected his little Omega to be so easily pleased. "Just a cup of hot cocoa makes you this happy?"

Holding the cup carefully with both hands, Ling Ran took another slow sip, savoring the taste.

His eyes shone brightly. "Of course! Anything from you makes me happy."

The words were so sweet and endearing.

Jiang Zhiyu kissed the corner of his lips. "There's something even better. Want to see it now?"

Ling Ran nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

Jiang Zhiyu picked up one of the gift boxes at random, handed it to him, then took away the hot cocoa.

Each box was exquisitely wrapped with the most beautiful red silk ribbon, tied into a perfect bow.

Ling Ran placed the box on the table and carefully unwrapped it.

Inside was an elegant pencil case. His eyes widened in astonishment as he gingerly lifted it out, examining every inch with the utmost care before reluctantly placing it back.

"This... this is the exact style I always wanted before. It must be discontinued by now," Ling Ran said, his eyes stinging with emotion. "How did you know...?"

This particular design would only have been sold domestically, already hard to find back home, let alone having it shipped all the way to Tromsø.

And how could Jiang Zhiyu possibly know his favorite color and style? It was as if he could read Ling Ran's mind.

Jiang Zhiyu reached out to wipe the moisture from the corners of his eyes, his fingertips coming away wet. With a soft sigh, he pulled Ling Ran into his arms, murmuring comforting words.

"Don't you like it?"

Ling Ran shook his head, tears clinging to his long lashes before falling. The way he lifted his damp gaze could melt even the coldest heart. Jiang Zhiyu's own heart had long since softened. After drying his tears, he pressed a kiss to his damp lashes.

"Don't cry anymore, baby."

Ling Ran sniffled, voice trembling. "I—I don't mean to... I just can't help it..."

Jiang Zhiyu cupped his face. "This is only the first one. How are you going to open the rest?"

Ling Ran bit his lip, forcing the tears back. "I can do it. I won't cry anymore, I promise..."

Jiang Zhiyu handed him the second box—a Walkman inside. The third held a set of out-of-print manga Ling Ran had once adored, nearly impossible to find even with money. Then came the fourth, the fifth...

By the time he finished, Ling Ran counted nineteen boxes in total.

He didn't sob, but silent tears kept falling, round and glistening like scattered pearls.

Jiang Zhiyu couldn't catch them all, so he settled for pressing light kisses to his lips instead.

He soothed Ling Ran with his pheromones, feeling the little Omega gradually calm in his arms, though his shirt was already soaked through. Had pregnancy made him even more prone to tears?

Overwhelmed, Ling Ran buried his face against Jiang Zhiyu's chest, voice muffled and thick with emotion. "Why... nineteen?"

Jiang Zhiyu stroked his back, voice low and tender. "Santa's making up for nineteen years of missed Christmas gifts. He told me to tell you—spending all those holidays alone must have been hard."

"From now on, someone will always be here to love you."

"No matter the occasion, you'll never be by yourself again."

The moment he finished, warmth pooled anew against his chest. The tears Ling Ran had barely held back now spilled over like a broken dam.

Jiang Zhiyu wiped them away, then suddenly called, "Ling Ran."

The little Omega, unused to hearing his full name, lifted his tear-streaked face. His eyes were red-rimmed, glistening with unshed tears, wide and vulnerable as he stared up.

Jiang Zhiyu raised his other hand—where a long red ribbon had somehow appeared, one end tied around his wrist, the other fastened to something delicate that shimmered under the moonlight and lamplight.

Then, the tall, striking Enigma dropped to one knee.

He untied the ribbon's end, lifting the object between his fingers.

Ling Ran's tears stopped instantly. Stunned, his heart hammered so violently his head spun. He stood frozen, as if under a spell, unable to react—only staring down at the kneeling figure before him.

Jiang Zhiyu held the ring Ling Ran had seen in the vintage shop, while its matching counterpart—the Jiang family crest ring—was now also in his grasp.

The ancient, mysterious patterns on the two rings merged together, forming a complete emblem—the Eye of Horus.

A symbol of divine authority in Egyptian mythology, it was also an amulet that guarded love.

Suddenly, Jiang Zhiyu thought perhaps Ling Ran was right—that ancient myth might be true. The Eye of Horus on these rings would forever bless their love.

"Ling Ran," Jiang Zhiyu called again.

Outside the window, a few dazzling fireworks burst into bloom, their radiant light illuminating half the snow-capped mountains before streaking like meteors with long tails, their fading glow casting a sacred brilliance.

Bathed in the shimmering light by the Christmas tree, Ling Ran saw the solemnity and devotion in Jiang Zhiyu's eyes.

Like the most devout believer in the world, he knelt on one knee, laying bare all his sincerity and passion, offering it up like a sacred sacrifice.

"I love you."

"So much—more than anyone else ever could."

"So, baby, will you marry me?"

Ling Ran felt as if the fireworks had exploded inside his mind. Dizzy and disoriented, he was submerged in a warm, gentle tide, his ears ringing, his own frantic heartbeat the only sound he could hear.

Clear tears rolled down his cheeks, gathering at the delicate point of his chin before falling like glistening pearls, impossibly beautiful under the kaleidoscopic glow outside.

Choked up, he couldn't form a single coherent word—only nodding fiercely.

A pearl-like tear dripped from his pale chin as he mumbled, "Okay..."

Jiang Zhiyu gently took his hand and slid the ring onto his slender, jade-white finger. After going to great lengths to acquire it, he'd had it specially resized for Ling Ran, so now it fit perfectly.

Then he stood, using his broad, warm palm to wipe away the tears from Ling Ran's cheeks and chin before placing his own family crest ring into Ling Ran's hand, extending his fingers.

"Put it on me."

Ling Ran hadn't expected this part. His vision blurred by tears, he fumbled several times before managing to slide the ring onto the enigma's finger, his trembling hands barely cooperating.

Jiang Zhiyu was used to this—his little Omega always struggled to align things properly, needing his guidance in the end.

This time, too, he patiently steadied Ling Ran's shaking fingertips, guiding his own ring finger into place.

Then he clasped Ling Ran's hand—now also adorned with a matching ring—so the two bands could finally form a pair.

Just as the rings were meant to symbolize—

The fire of love in their hearts, like the radiant lapis lazuli gleaming on the rings, would burn eternally, unwavering even unto death. Fireworks still bloomed in the sky as a newly engaged couple kissed passionately by the window.

Having just given Ling Ran a proper proposal, Jiang Zhiyu had only meant to kiss away his tears—but with endless tenderness and devotion, his lips sealed the welling emotions in Ling Ran's eyes.

But excess moisture always needs an outlet—if it doesn't flow from the eyes, it'll spill from somewhere else.

Having slept chastely every night during this period, the enigma had long been struggling to restrain himself. Tonight, the little Omega had already melted into a pool of desire. Whether due to pregnancy or not, the pheromones had grown noticeably more intense just the scent alone was enough to set one's blood boiling.

I wanted to squeeze this little grape, which had a grape seed growing inside it, even harder to see if I could extract more of its sweet and delicious juice.

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