So Ding Zihua needs to weather the storm to realize his love? Fine, let him bring a storm.

...

The days continued on as usual. A silent and peaceful atmosphere spread over the camp after the general's surprise attack returned victoriously and the overall mood of the soldiers improved greatly. Everything seemed right in the word, as long as you weren't Ding Zihua that is.

Ding Zihua was a wreck on the inside despite his outer appearance. He was torn between two very important things: his family and his love. The idea of choosing between them was tearing him up inside. The first time he truly had no choice, at that time he was certain that he would be killed if he was caught and the only thing he could do would be to sacrifice himself for the betterment of his family.

However, this time is different. Bai Wei and him were able to come up with many potential solutions to his family's problems. But every time he was about to trust Bai Wei completely, something in his gut told him that he should never trust the enemy and that Bai Wei was just waiting to betray him. Everything was laid before him and Ding Zihua had to make a choice between Bai Wei and his family. However, Ding Zihua's choice was already made the second he sent back that carrier pigeon to the empire.

He had chosen his family over Bai Wei.

The attack is happening tomorrow afternoon and it is his job to lure Bai Wei into the trap. Ding Zihua had no doubt that Bai Weight would be able to survive this ordeal. Bai Wei was strong and he should be able to fend off multiple people at once. After all, he had done it once before for the ambush last time and emerged unscathed. So, as long as he was only slightly injured this time, everything should be solved.

Yes... Just a slight injury...

Ding Zihua gathered his thoughts and returned to the camp to prepare for tomorrow. When returned, he saw Bai Wei looking back at him with a cute smile. Ding Zihua had a momentary impulse to hide Bai Wei every time he saw his adorable smile. It was simply too precious for the world ,but it was never meant to be his.

Ding Zihua hoped that Bai Wei would be able to forget him and move on after the attack. As soon as the attack was completed, he would head back to his home country to immediately reassume his title as the only son of the prime minister. He hoped that when he was out of sight that Bai Wei would find someone better than him and live happily together. The idea of Bai Wei kissing someone else made his blood boil but Ding Zihua also knew that he was no longer qualified to stay by Bai Wei's side after the choice he made. Maybe they have better luck in the next life.

In that life, he would surely pamper him with everything he has.

Ding Zihua hugged Bai Wei with everything he had as soon as he saw him. His large arms completely engulfed Bai Wei despite his lean appearance. Bai Wei seemed both happy and confused when he received the hug. He froze for a second before hugging Ding Zihua back and patting his back to comfort his lover.

" What's wrong my love? Is there someone I need to go punish?" Bai Wei said in an undeniably happy tone as he asked Ding Zihua quietly.

Ding Zihua laughed in response and pushed down his feelings temporarily. He was over whelmed with feelings of love for Bai Wei as he saw Bai Wei smile cheekily as Ding Zihua pinched his nose in a playful manner. The two returned to the tent after hugging each other for a while and the rest of the night was filled with playful banter and sweet nothings.

...

Bai Wei woke up in the morning and reached out his arm to embrace his lover, but found that he was gone. His eyes fluttered for a moment as he adjusted to the morning sunshine and sat up to look for his lover.

He took a moment to observe his surroundings. The other side of the bed was cold and Ding Zihua was no where to be seen. The flap of the tent was open and flapping in the wind. A letter that was not there before was sitting on his bedside table.

It was stained with tears.

The letter was from Ding Zihua and read that his family was no longer in a state of danger so he was going to leave and reassume his title. Right now he was preparing his things to leave and asked Bai Wei to meet him in the woods on the western side of the base so that they could say their last goodbye.

Bai Wei picked up the letter languidly and slouched back against his pillow as he continued to observe the note. The paper was wrinkled and worn at the edges and the ink was slightly smudged as if it had been carried around for a long time. Additionally, Ding Zihua had obviously written the note in a hurry as the handwriting was crooked and angled ever so slightly to the right. Over all, it was very well written and Bai Wei would rate it a ten out of ten.

Very skillfully done and quite creative.

Bai Wei laughed at his own joke for a before he slowly got out of bed and dressed himself in no hurry. After getting dressed, he yawned and began to make coffee to drink. He had time to waste for a little while because he got up earlier than anticipated this morning so he had a little time to spare before acting out his part. He sat down with his coffee and began to overlook the documents he had on the current status of the war. It seems that after two or three more successful battles, the was would be won. Finally, the nail he had driven into his candle to serve as a alarm fell out and clinked onto the metal candle holder creating a loud noise.

It was time.

Bai Wei stood up, dusted off nonexistent dust from his pants, and patted his face a few time to make it appear more red before rushing out of the tent in a crazed manner to search the entire camp for his lover.