Before Liu Yuâan could say anything, Shao Yanxi gets up and pats the dirt away, and says, âtime to go. People are staring already.â
They look so much like âShao Yanxiâ and âLiu Yuâanâ that a lot of them are staring curiously, though none would approach. Or Shao Yanxi wouldnât have said all that out loud either.
Seeing him suddenly seem so over it all, Liu Yuâan feels a little bit pained for him. He hugs him.
Same-sex couples are not exactly new in this world anymore, though they do continue to garner attention, due to their looks, and especially how much they resemble a certain couple. One, sure, but two both looking alike? And apparently also a couple? A same-sex couple? Now thatâs new.
Of course, someone has already taken a photo of them and posted online, which has caused a stir. Obviously, no one thinks they are actually Liu Yuâan and Shao Yanxi, because theyâre still well and alive, there with their parents/in-laws too.
Quite some people, with the anonymity of the Internet at their disposal, diss them for having such an insulting plastic surgery.
Though old ones start to settle down and new keyboard warriors come in to replace them, the words uttered are still as ugly as ever.
Thankfully, neither Liu Yuâan nor Shao Yanxi is interested in surfing online, nor are their vacationing parents and the brats interested in using such an, in their view, antiquated system. So itâs still quite peaceful where they are.
That peace also comes to an end, however, when they head back into the mansion, when a 12, 13-looking teenager raises his middle finger at them and scolds at them with a twisted face, âdamn you two, the nerves you have to model your face after those two!â
Then he tries to rush at them. Since he isnât on duty or âon a mission,â Liu Yuâanâs powers were not adjusted to fit the worldâs rules, because obviously there isnât such a thing as the Heavenly Principles in a bugged world and why would they even do that if it isnât necessary? Which means that Liu Yuâan is able to, quite literally, carry up Shao Yanxi and zip away from the teenager.
⌠A very, unscientific display, definitely. The air goes quiet for two seconds, before lots of gasps are heard. The teenager, meanwhile, is blanking out, before finally seeming to register what has happened. Though, instead of taking the sensible action of retreating or at least running away while screaming, he instead throws a heavy object at hand towards them.
Liu Yuâan wasnât going to do anything at first, given it really is their oversight that they didnât change their appearance, but this continued display of blatant hostility is a bit much. Before he does anything, though, Shao Yanxi punches the object right back at the kid, sending him packing⌠Quite literally.
Though he has no psychic strength, but to be together with Liu Yuâan longer, heâs trained and also been physically adjusted. He even has the strength to easily lift an adult now, you can imagine what the scene is looking like right now.
Being bonked has made the kid both dizzy and seemingly lose his senses entirely. Instead of fleeing, he actually rushes towards them again in a rage. So, without further options, Liu Yuâan could only target him with his psychic strength⌠And the kid immediately falls flat to the ground with a thump, sweating all over.
The blood quickly drains from the teenagerâs face, and is looking at Liu Yuâan and Shao Yanxi like looking at some kind of monstrosity, yelling âh- help! Monsters!â Then he faints entirely.
Liu Yuâan, Shao Yanxi and everyone else ââŚâ
Some are going to help the teenager while the others⌠are staying clear of Liu Yuâan and Shao Yanxi. A lot of the others are abandoning their plans and quickly leaving the mansion as well.
Of course, this is quickly posted online as well, turning the entire thing from an âinsulting plastic surgery newsâ to âsupernatural news.â
⌠But then suddenly the information is all gone. There is not a single trace of the discussion. The wave has subsided before Liu Yuâan and Shao Yanxi has even realised.
When Shao Yanxi and Liu Yuâan themselves have seen enough and are about to leave, they meet their doppelgangers and the parents again. They invite the two for a meal, but Liu Yuâan quietly refuses; theyâre here for a few months at most, and will leave for sure. They should avoid making any sort of real human connection or bonding with anyone.
Shao Yanxi also understands, and holds Liu Yuâanâs hand. Liu Yuâanâs father, seeing so, also stops the mother from inviting them some more. Then Liu Yuâan and Shao Yanxi leave. Seeing their doppelgangers chatting happily with the parents behind them, or perhaps because of his overly sensitive tear glands, Shao Yanxi is tearing up again.
The old man is quietly paying attention to the two as they leave, too. They⌠look just like them. Really, really like them. Even how Shao Yanxi reflexively holds Liu Yuâanâs hands.
Perhaps the world really isnât as simple as they thought it might be.
Obviously, both he, his wife and their oldest son have noticed. How could they not? That Liu Yuâan changed drastically.
They even went as far as collecting Liu Yuâan hair to do a DNA test.
Theyâve felt lost, theyâve cried, theyâve even had little tantrums outside of Liu Yuâanâs view, but theyâve come to accept it. Just as suddenly as it came, however, another change came. To Shao Yanxi as well, too.
Suddenly, they feel a bit, for lack of a better word, duller. Less alive. And, just a bit more artificial. Preplanned. Robotic .
They donât even know how to deal with it anymore.
But still, theyâve come to accept it; they had to. Everything, all the signs, all the evidence, still said that they are exactly Liu Yuâan and Shao Yanxi. And after that, all these years theyâve been their son but not as bratty and his husband who is poker-faced but really kind inside.
Suddenly, today, they met them . âLiu Yuâan.â âShao Yanxi.â They look exactly like themselves, 20 years âfore.
Supernatural? Perhaps.
But theyâre too old now. He, and probably his wife too, only wish the best for them, whoever- whatever they are; wish for them to be happy. They would bring todayâs meeting to the grave; not even telling Liu Yuxi.
On the other hand, Liu Yuâan sighs and helps wipe Shao Yanxiâs tears while telling him, âdonât be sad. Itâs the best for both us and them⌠For both us and them. What did you think would happen if we did admit everything. Itâs not like we can stay back here either. Weâll still have to leave; itâll just make them even sadder.â
âI⌠I donât know,â Shao Yanxi shakes his head, âI donât know why Iâm sad either, but I really am.â
Maybe itâs because thereâs an inexplicable loneliness to the couple, even if they are treated well and are living the good life with the doppelgangers by their side. Perhaps it reminded him of himself in the past; perhaps it was something else.
He cannot put it into words, but he is able to tell that he is sad.
âBut youâre right. We canât tell them or admit anything.â
âLetâs go back,â then Liu Yuâan starts his car and drives back to the hotel.
In the days following, they go to where they once had fond memories. Like the mountain where they had a barbeque and Liu Yuâan fought with a snake; like the seashore between Lai and the other province.
Soon enough, they are joined back by the little pipsqueaks. And they have a trip as a family. The kids are especially energetic, asking all about this strange world that seems so archaic and curious. Liu Yuâan got impatient soon enough, but Shao Yanxi, the gentle, kind man that he was inside, would tell them everything patiently, as the grandparents looked over them and listened as well.
Some things which are really common sense in this world but would no longer be the case when technology advances, when Shao Yanxi tells them, the passers-by would look at them funny, too.
One day, they happen across a flower shop. Liu Yuâanâs mother sees the flowers there and goes, âhmph! Specially grown? Rare? For respected female relatives only? You could only get one? Hmm?â
Women sure do remember their grudges.
Though, shameless as Liu Yuâan is, immediately turns around and buys a bouquet of tulips for her, saying, âmom, I was wrong. So here are tulips instead. This will bring you longevity and good fortune; to be with dad, happily, âtil the end of time.â