Chapter 19 - It Sounds Like Fate

For the next month, Wang Li had been there with him and it felt amazing. He was able to learn how to open his spiritual channels through the Ghost King's help. In return, he was helping his husband learn to read, as he currently was doing. Although he felt a certain way about reading the man's first wife's journal, it made the Ghost King happy. To be truthfully honest, the blonde found himself looking forward to the reading sessions. Wang Li would wrap his arms around him, held him from behind, and pressed his body close to his. It made him feel safe, like nothing could ever break them apart.

Not just the comfort of warmth brought him joy, but the writings of Wang Li's past lover. She sounded very kind and sweet, someone who truly loved the Ghost King. From the way the strokes were, light and airy, to the deep words spread across the page, it was beautiful. Ying Yue felt he could never write like this, a poetry of love bounded by their memories.

Every time they read; he would dream.

It felt like he was relieving the first wife's moments with Wang Li and it made him envious, yet happy. It brought a sensation of reaching the highest peak of the mountain, only to fall off the edge. Each new piece of words imprinted his brain, unlocking a memory of the two lovers. He felt like an outsider in a body that was not his. Maybe that was because it was true, but the dreams… they felt familiar. It was different from his dreams in the other world. This was more detailed, clear, and strong.

Like the first time Wang Li had wrapped his arms around him and relaxed against his back, he dreamt of when he did that same gesture.

["Ah Li," he heard himself sighed with a smile, "Are you even listening?"

"Yes," the Ghost King replied with his chin placed on his shoulder.

"Then what did I just say?" He turned slightly to see the raven-haired male in his peripheral.

It was quiet for a moment and he felt himself shaking his head. Reading the book quietly, he felt the man shift.

"Why are you not reading aloud?" Wang Li questioned and he could feel the frown against his neck.

"Because you aren't listening," he flipped the page as his eyes traveled down each character, "How will you learn to read, if you do not pay attention?"

"Are you upset with me?" Wang Li's head lifted from his shoulder.

"No," he sighed with his eyes still reading the book, "I suppose you don't need to read when I am here, huh?"

Another pause sounded in the library.

"The trees sway and the leaves dance to the sound of the mountains," the Ghost King repeated softly, "I was listening."

"Then why did you not answer the first time?" He turned to look at silver eyes.

"Because I was listening to this," the raven-haired beauty pressed gently against the palm over his heart.

"Eh, Ah Li, you are such a romantic," he laughed to feel a kiss against his cheek.]

Waking up after that was… he still had a grin on his face and the place where the kiss landed… he still felt it warm against his cheek.

Then the practice of their swords, the increase of his spiritual power, and even them bathing together brought images and memories. Maybe his lover's ghost was still here. Maybe she was mad at him? Maybe she wanted to show him how happy Wang Li was with her and… he could not compare? He wasn't sure and he didn't feel like she was antagonistic toward him. At least… he hoped so.

"Your heart is racing," the Ghost King spoke softly against his ear and the blonde let out a small laugh.

"Was just thinking," he paused for a moment before pulling away to face him, "May I ask you a question?"

He nodded and Ying Yue took a deep breath.

"Would you tell me about your first wife?" His green eyes saw the widening of silver eyes, before his lips lifted to amusement.

"What would you like to know?"

"How did you first meet," the blonde sat interested, "She didn't write it in here."

Wang Li didn't say anything for a moment, as he watched his wife waiting for him to begin. Closing his eyes, he wished he could tell Ying Yue that he was his wife, his only wife. Restricted with the agreement with the Heavens, he was unable to unless the blonde asked. Letting out a sigh, he looked out through the door to the plum blossoms.

"We met at the entrance to the palace," he remembered those big green eyes and platinum blonde hair.

[He had been walking the grounds after studying and waited for lunch. Ye Wu, the demon, stated he was returning home for a bit, so he had nothing else to do. When he saw a straw hat flew through the entrance and landing a few feet away, he was surprised.

'Were the doors not closed?' He wondered as he walked up to the hat and picked it up.

His silver eyes looked over and caught emerald eyes. A boy, the same age as he, was staring at him.

'This must be his,' he told himself as he walked over to the blonde boy at the entrance.

Handing it over to him, the blonde stared at the hat before taking it.

"Thank you," the boy had said, and the Ghost King nodded. But when he was about to walk away, the boy spoke up again.

"W… wait," the blonde called out and he turned to see him offering an accessory.

"What are you doing?" He questioned with his head tilted slightly.

"For you, as a thank you," the green-eyed boy smiled waving his straw hat as a reminder.

"There is no need to give me something," the boy replied staring at him with interest.

'Why would he be willing to give me a gift? Is this what it is like to thank someone or is it just him?' He wondered.

"Just take it," the blonde grinned, "It probably looks better on you anyways."

Silver eyes widened slightly, before the curl of those small lips lifted.

'Must just be him,' he smiled, 'I should give him something in return.'

He reached up to pull his silver pin, adorned with emerald, out of his hair. Switching in place of the gold one, he smiled at the blonde.

"The jewels match your eyes," he explained, "it would look better on you."

He saw the widening of pretty green eyes and he turned to enter his prison. Leaning against the wall, he heard the boy say that they were friends and that made him smile.

"Friends," he looked at the golden pin and nodded his head, "friends."]

"It sounds like… fate," Ying Yue spoke up and Wang Li turned to him.

"Yes, it was," he smiled sadly, "It is."

"Childhood friends to lovers," the blonde mumbled sighing defeated, "How can I top that?"

"What is bothering you?" The raven-haired male questioned seeing the frown on those plump lips.

"Oh, uh," Ying Yue cleared his throat, "It's nothing… wait," he paused for a moment and wide green eyes stared at silver ones, "Did you say 'his' and not 'her'? 'He' and not 'she'? Your… your first wife was also a man?"

He watched those lips curl up into a smile and the blonde felt his face flushed. This whole time he had been say 'she' instead of 'he'… why didn't Wang Li correct him?! He felt embarrassed and relieved, and then angry. But just as anger came, sadness interrupted it.

'That makes it even worse!' He frowned placing his head on the table, 'He could hardly compete with a woman, but now a man?!'