I am sorry that i cannot replay your kindness in this life.I pledge to protect you in my next life,just like how you protected mine in this.No matter who you will become,what name you will wear,i will find you and stay with you.I will give my next life to you and only you.
Wang Qing had been aroused by the voice he heard from his dream. Once again,he had the same dream.In his dream,he saw Jianyu died in his arms followed by the pledge he vowed.
"What was that?," said Wang Qing as he slowly inhaled and exhaled."Who exactly am i?" that question kept on flashing in his mind.
It took several minutes for Wang Qing to pull himself together. He can no longer ignore that dream anymore.He extended his arm,reaching for his phone on the table beside his bed. He scrolled down the screen looking at his contact list. Few names passed but they were not who he was looking for.His finger finally stopped when he saw a familiar name. He pressed on the call button and waited for an answer from the other end.
The first and second attempts were failed.The call didn't get connected but Wang Qing still tried for the third time.He determined to solve the mystery behind his dream.
"Hello?". The other end of call answered after a few rings.
"Irene!It's me,Wang Qing. Are you still working at the National Museum?" Wang Qing went straight to the point the moment his call being answered.Irene is one of his friend from college days,they both went into police academy but she dropped out.
"Yes i am.What's the occasion,to call me up just for that alone," said Irene.
"I will explain to you later.See you in an hour," Wang Qing said before abruptly end the call. Irene did not expect Wang Qing to contact her,moreover visiting her work place.She was left puzzled for a while before continue her work.
Wang Qing quickly dressed up and walked down to the parking lot. He noticed a strange black file on the back seat the moment he opened car's door. He bent down as he reached for the file and saw Jianyu's name on it. "AHHHH" he exclaimed.
................
Meanwhile,Feng Jianyu was having a panic attack when he realized that his file went missing. That was an important file as he's about to meet his client in the afternoon and all the important details were on that. He searched every corner of his house for that file alone. He almost had mental breakdown when his phone rang. He was hesitated at first,thinking that it might be from his client.But he picked up the call once he saw Wang Qing's name on the screen.
"Feng Jianyu speaking," he said while walking back and forth in the living room.
"What exactly is the number of your house?," asked Wang Qing.
"Why?" asked Dayu in state of confuse.
"Don't ask,just tell," urged Wang Qing.
"520". Dayu's answer caused Wang Qing to pause his steps. He was on the third floor at that moment,which mean he has to climb another 2 floors.
"Alright,see you," Wang Qing hung up before continued climbing stairs to the fifth floor. With his fit body,it only took him couple of minutes to reach fifth floor. He pressed the bell of first house on his left.
"Coming," Dayu's shouted from inside while Wang Qing waited on the outside with a file in his hand.
"You're surprisingly fast.Please come in," invited Dayu as he poked his head from behind the white door before opened it wide.
"I just come to pass you this," Wang Qing handed over the file to Dayu.
"Oh!You save me from getting fired.I was looking all over for this,guess i've left it in your car last night," Dayu was delightful the moment he laid his eyes on the file."Thank you," he flashed his smile and his eyes crooked along. Wang Qing noticed a small mole under his eye-bag.
"I have an appointment with someone.Good luck with your work," said Wang Qing when he realized he's already late for his meeting with Irene.
Dayu nodded and invited him over for dinner as token of appreciation to which Wang Qing gladly agreed.
...............
Wang Qing rushed over to his friend once he arrived at the National Museum.Irene had been waiting for his arrival at the entrance.
"I am sorry,something came up," he apologized for making his friend waited for him.
"That's fine.But,what's so important that you had to come all the way here?" Irene was curious.
"I want to ask you few questions about an ancient general.I am not sure if he really existed or not but have you ever heard of someone called General Wang?".They walked inside the museum side by side.
"You mean the famous general?Of course,i think everyone heard about him.He was included in the text book during our time.Did you skipped history classes?" chuckled Irene.
"Huh?You mean he existed?" asked Wang Qing,slightly shocked.So that mean his dreams were not just  dreams after all.
"Of course.There," Irene pointed at a section with frames of pictures and words hanging on the wall before added "You can get all information on him over there.His whole history was written on that wall"
Wang Qing turned his head,looking at the section pointed by Irene. He mentally prepared himself and said "Alright.I will do my research over there then."
"Sure.Call me if you need anything or if there's anything you don't understand.I will be just around the corner," she smiled. Wang Qing smiled back as he nodded his head and slowly walked toward the section.
Wang Qing stood in front of the very first frame he saw in the row. There was a drawing picture of General Wang with information of his presumed date of birth and deceased written at the bottom of the frame. The resemblance Wang Qing has of General Wang is uncanny.
"How can this be?" he said under his breath before proceeded to the next frame. Walking from next frame to another,Wang Qing tried to match the information with his dreams. Suddenly he got a headache attack. Wang Qing fell down onto his one knee while holding his head with both hands.Irene who saw that scene rushed over.
"Wang Qing!Are you alright?" she asked as she bent down with worried expression.
Wang Qing waved his hand.He took a deep breath.Everything seemed connected now.The memories of his previous life flashed before his eyes.Those were not dreams but rather flashback of his previous life.He who once made a vow,now determined to fulfill it.The question is how?
Irene kept on repeating the same question of 'are you alright'.Wang Qing lifted up his head and saw Irene's troubled expressions.He assured her that he is fine,then only she eased her face's muscles.
"General Wang's lover......," he said before added "Why did they changed his information?"
"What do you mean?The information were as written. Jianyi died of plaque and General were severely injured while trying to bring her to nearby doctor.They said he visited her grave everyday before he died in battle.Their love story were so admirable," explained Irene as she creased her brows,not sure of why Wang Qing asked that questions.
Wang Qing clearly knows part of those were not true.Everything were altered,but why?Wang Qing weakly nodded his head as he slowly gathered his strength before stood on his legs.Wang Qing lied that he had another meeting so he can excuse himself. Irene told him to keep in touch and he just nodded his head before waving goodbye.
His knees were still weak when he walked to his car. Inside,he placed his arms on the steering wheels with his forehead on top of them.He stayed in that position for a while before decided to visit the previous Jianyu's grave. He was not sure if the grave was still there but he needed to see it for himself.With that determination on his mind,he set his navigation system and drove off.
During that 2 hours of driving,Wang Qing did lots of thinking in his mind.Mostly about his own feeling toward Jianyu. He was sure that what he feels definitely love,but was it brotherly love or romantically love?Is it possible for him to love another man and be committed to him.Wang Qing had been avoiding being committed in relationship for as long as he can remember.
Wang Qing was disappointed once he arrived. Instead of a graveyard ,he found that place was just abandoned land with trees and bushes growing wild. Of course,the event took place hundreds of years ago,it would be weird if it stays the same.He heavily sighed before turning his back and ready to leave.
"General Wang"
He paused his step when he heard a whisper coming from unknown direction.His pupils moved left and right as he tried to listen for a second time. He thought perhaps it was just his imagination and continued to step forward.
"General Wang"
He heard it again and that time he sure enough it was not his imagination.He turned around and searched for the owner of that voice.
"Who's there?" he said as he stepped forward.The voice started to sound clearer as he took several steps forward.He kept on walking heading toward the source of the unknown whisper.His eyes were busy scanning around.Because he was suspended,he didn't have his gun with him.
While he was walking,he heard a crack sound coming from his feet.He knew he stepped on something,so he slowly looked down. There was a wooden plate under his feet.Wang Qing bent down as he picked up the plate.The words written on it was barely recognizable. He placed his hand on it and ran his finger down the plate. There was 'YU' written but the rest were unknown.
"JIANYU" he screamed. Took him a while before finally realized that he actually standing on previous Jianyu's grave. He jumped a step away and apologized.
"I've come to see you,just like how i did before.It took me long enough to recognize you in this life.My feelings..I don't care about it anymore.I will fulfill my vow to you,this Wang Qing is yours," said Wang Qing as he dearly held the plate close to his heart.
He placed the wooden plate back on it's place."I will come again," he said while putting his hand on it.
Wang Qing drove back with mixed feeling.He was upset,anxious and happy at the same time.No word can describe what he truly feel at that time. He can't wait to tell Dayu but he was afraid if Dayu might distance himself after knowing the truth,or maybe accused him as delusional. Wang Qing immediately went up to Dayu's apartment once he parked his car.
Wang Qing pressed the bell several times,he was eager to see Dayu though he saw him that morning. He smiled the moment Dayu opened up the door.
"Wang Qing!I almost forgot that i invited you for dinner.Please..Please come in," Dayu slightly moved his body,giving way to Wang Qing.
"I have something to tell you," he anxiously said.
"Wang Qing?" a voice  interrupted their conversation followed by a woman showed up from behind Dayu.
"Irene..How..." Wang Qing stared at both Dayu and Irene.
"You know each other?What a surprise." Dayu said with cheerful tone.
"I am surprise as well.I didn't know you are friends with my boyfriend," said Irene as she grabbed Dayu's arm and shuffled closer.
Wang Qing was not expecting that at all. He felt a sharp pain in his heart as if it was stabbed by sharp object.
"Oh,you said there's something you want to tell me.What is it?Why don't you come in first" asked Dayu.
"That was nothing important," said Wang Qing as he faked a smile before turning his back leaving those two feeling confused.
He was too immersed on the idea them;as in he and Dayu that he totally forgot about those people around them.When he finally recognized his Jianyu,he felt as if they got further away from each other.