“My mother-in-law’s thoughts are a bit hard to fathom,” Yan Yan said after Zhuang Yiyun had hang up the phone. Just a moment ago, he was was affectionate and lively in Zhuang Yiyun’s arms, but now he had lost interest.
Zhuang Yiyun, however, was not satisfied. He pulled Yan Yan into his arms and kissed him twice before responding, “Is it “mother-in-law” or “mother”? Does my husband need a reminder?”
Yan Yan gripped his face with both hands and pulled it forcefully.
“Your shamelessness knows no bounds.”
“Like husband, like wife.”
“Get lost.”
“Didn’t you call me husband yesterday?”
“Did I? Who said that? Getting old affects the ears, you need to seek early treatment.”
“No treatment is necessary, if I didn’t hear clearly, just say it again.”
“Stop, stop, stop!” Yan Yan pressed Zhuang Yiyun’s hand down, afraid he might lose his mind.
Zhuang Yiyun was clearly just putting on an act. He let go when Yan Yan pushed him away, but he continued to play with Yan Yan’s hand. Before, he couldn’t have imagined how enjoyable it could be to play with a man’s hand, but now, as long as he was with Yan Yan, everything he did never got old.
“I won’t talk nonsense with you anymore,” Yan Yan surrendered, shamelessly attempting to save his life. “But on a serious note, your mother must have found out about yesterday’s live stream.”
Zhuang Yiyun nodded. “Probably.”
“Should we ignore it?”
“We can’t ignore it.” Zhuang Yiyun’s faint smile disappeared, and he stopped his playful finger-pinching.
There was no need to investigate; although he was surprised his mother went to see Luan Qing, this was something she could do. If her son was gay, that was a done deal. At the very least, her son-in-law had to appear “decent” in her eyes.
‘Heh.’ Zhuang Yiyun sneered inwardly.
Yan Yan glanced at him, then squeezed his hand back. After a while, he started toying with Zhuang Yiyun’s hand. When he realized Zhuang Yiyun wasn’t responding, he started slowly, “Yesterday was Valentine’s Day…”
Zhuang Yiyun was still pondering his mother’s visit to Luan Qing, and didn’t react for a moment.
“You invited me,” Yan Yan continued, deliberately tracing his fingertip on the back of Zhuang Yiyun’s hand. He wanted to distract Zhuang Yiyun’s attention but was also curious about the purpose behind inviting him to the church.
Zhuang Yiyun came back to his senses and his hand pressed on an acupoint on Yan Yan’s thigh, causing him to jerk involuntarily.
“Has the strength in your legs come back?”
As Zhuang Yiyun spoke, his hand moved inward.
Beast!
“Ouch…” Yan Yan rolled aside. Seeing that Zhuang Yiyun still didn’t come out of the heavy emotion, he pretended, “I can’t get up, I need gege to feed me fruits.”
‘Fine, let your man coax you.’
Zhuang Yiyun: “What do you want? Cherries? There are no strawberries at home.”
Yan Yan nodded, and waved his hand, indicating Zhuang Yiyun should hurry and wash them.
Zhuang Yiyun got up to wash the cherries. Following Yan Yan’s habit, he arranged the red fruits in a white porcelain plate with gold rims and brought them over. Yan Yan looked satisfied when he saw it.
He was about to reach out, then thought about it and said coyly, “Gege, feed me.”
Zhuang Yiyun chuckled. It was like he had traveled back to the time when they first met, and was seeing that well behaved college student. Zhuang Yiyun’s lips curved slightly, and when he lowered his head, he met Yan Yan’s gaze and caught the worry he hadn’t hidden in time.
He suddenly realized Yan Yan was trying to coax him.
A warmth spread through Zhuang Yiyun’s chest, making him sweat in the cold winter.
“Gege will feed you.”
His heart had softened completely; it was as if a lone piece of driftwood had found its harbor. Only this person could always make him soft, always call out his tenderness.
Although he said he’d feed him fruits, what he offered was his lips. He licked them gently and affectionately. Like as if the swords and spears had been put away, and the war horses were grazed at the foot of the southern suburbs, the fierce hunter submissively bowed his head before him.
Yan Yan turned pink from his neck to his face. Despite Zhuang Yiyun’s gentleness, he felt as if his heartstrings had been plucked. It was even more embarrassing than what they did in bed.
“Have a good sleep today. Are you still willing to go on a date with me tomorrow?”
“You’re not working tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is the weekend.”
“Do you have weekends?” Yan Yan teased him.
“I can have them.”
They agreed to go out and watch a movie the next day. After sleeping all day, Yan Yan didn’t want to sleep anymore. He half-laid on the bed, playing with his phone. He watched Zhuang Yiyun come in and out, moving his things from the guest room to the master bedroom.
He stretched his neck to look toward the bedroom door, and as he looked, he couldn’t help but giggle. When Zhuang Yiyun came in, he quickly covered his mouth.
He couldn’t let Zhuang Yiyun see his triumph.
To ensure they could go out the next day, Zhuang Yiyun refrained from going further even though they were fired up that night. He only kissed Yan Yan’s forehead and bid him goodnight.
The two of them fit together naturally, as if they were made for each other. When he woke up in the morning, Yan Yan’s warm breath hit his neck. If he moved, Yan Yan would follow him and snuggle closer.
Yan Yan was awakened by a kiss, a kiss so comfortable that he responded instinctively while half-asleep. In the haze, he opened his eyes, and sparks flew when their gazes met.
Today, they had plans to go out, so they had to restrain themselves.
“I need a cigarette to fill the emptiness in my soul…” Yan Yan sprawled out like a pancake, turning his head to look at Zhuang Yiyun. “I also need a gege to care for my empty body…”
If he heard another word from this person’s mouth, they might not go out today. Zhuang Yiyun directly got up, leaving Yan Yan with an imposing back, broad shoulders and narrow waist. There were red marks on his back and a bite mark on his shoulder—Yan Yan’s masterpiece.
Yan Yan giggled behind him, feeling triumphant. He had a “get-out-of-jail-free card” now; when else could he indulge himself like this without facing any repercussion?
“Gege, I can’t get up. I need to be carried~” His tone rose at the end, trembling slightly.
While they brushed their teeth side by side during their morning routine, Yan Yan deliberately wiped some toothpaste foam on Zhuang Yiyun’s face.
When they were picking clothes, they stood back to back, each selecting their outfits. Yan Yan glanced at the bright and organized closet, murmuring softly, “I really want to do it with gege in the closet…”
Zhuang Yiyun turned around and pressed him against the closet door. His gaze was dark, like an alpha wolf watching its prey.
“But I’d rather go on a date.” Yan Yan finished his sentence.
Zhuang Yiyun’s Adam’s apple moved slightly and he let go of Yan Yan. He already promised to take Yan Yan out, besides, he could deal with when they got back.
Yan Yan looked forward to the date even more. For Zhuang Yiyun to restrain himself this much, what had he prepared for this belated Valentine’s Day outing? He was still a bit sore, the inner thighs were still red and had not fully healed yet. But walking was fine. Even if it wasn’t, he’d crawl if he had to.
After their playful antics, they finally managed to leave before twelve o’clock.
In the car, Yan Yan finally remembered his phone. From the moment he woke up till now, he had just remembered he still had this thing. Zhuang Yiyun had a magical power- when he was with him, even a phone addict like him could forget about his phone.
In fact, his phone had been a bit noisy since yesterday. His relationship with Zhuang Yiyun had now spread throughout the university. He could imagine the chaos in his circle of acquaintances. People from the club, student council, and his classmates sent him messages—some gossiping, some sending good wishes. He had hundreds of unread messages on WeChat.
The messages were overwhelming, but he didn’t look at them or reply, except for those from a few close friends. For example the dormitory group chat had exploded. He had a bad feeling, but he couldn’t help himself and went in, only to roll his eyes in exasperation immediately.
Li Mingsheng: [I didn’t want to do this either. Can’t shy and timid people be bold online?]
Hu Cong: [I’m wild online, but shy in real life.]
He Xing: [A love story of two zeros.jpg]
The image He Xing sent was a screenshot of him and Orange from the live stream.
Yan Yan: [On this day next year, I’ll pay a visit to your graves next year. [EvilDogBurnsIncense.jpg]
Li Mingsheng: [Oh, who’s this? Isn’t it our little cutie Baby Yan! [Blowing kiss]]
Hu Cong: [Withdrew a message]
He Xing: [We’re just kidding, just kidding.]
Yan Yan: [Li Mingsheng, you’re dead. My husband saw that.]
Li Mingsheng: [Withdrew a message]
Li Mingsheng: [Withdrew a message]
Zhuang Yiyun was driving, so naturally, he didn’t see these messages. But that didn’t stop Yan Yan from showing off his skills.
The group went silent. Just then, Jiang Li sent a new message, and her chat box bumped up to the first position.
Jiang Li: [It’s been a whole day and night. Still at it?]
Jiang Li: [Dr. Zhuang’s physique seems like it could kill you.]
These were messages from last night, followed by this morning…
Jiang Li: [One day and two nights, wow, is the “three days and three nights” in novels true?!]
Jiang Li: [Yan Yan, you didn’t die in Dr. Zhuang’s bed, did you?]
Jiang Li: [If you’re still alive, give me a pat.]
He immediately patted “Jiang Li’s” backboard.
Jiang Li replied instantly: [Brat, let Big Sister take a look.]
Yan Yan: [What do you want to see? My butt?]
Jiang Li: [No need for that, little brother. You’re now grown up, it’s inconvenient.]
Jiang Li: [I salute to your durable assets.]
Yan Yan: “…”
‘Fuck!’ Yan Yan almost swore out loud, and his face turned red. Jiang Li followed her brother since childhood and had learned bad things from out there. Even though he was gay, he was still a guy. Jiang Li would really dare to say anything!
Jiang Li: [Little brother, how did to get on a sedan chair for the first time? Was it good? Was it satisfying?]
Yan Yan: [Jiang Lili!]
Jiang Li: [Hey, what’s wrong?]
Yan Yan: [You’re still a girl.]
Jiang Li: [I’m your dad.]
Yan Yan: [My dad doesn’t inquire about these things!]
Jiang Li: [Are you shy? Yan Brat, you can be shy too. Does thinking about it make your face blush?]
Yan Yan: “…”
Damn it, his face was indeed blushing!
Jiang Li: [Take it easy. Don’t let the man coax you into everything. Your health is important.]
He wasn’t coaxed two days ago…Jiang Li still didn’t know that he could do everything without being coaxed.
Damn it, Yan Yan’s face went from red to the point where he felt like it could drip blood. He turned his head and rolled down the car window.
The cold wind blew, and Yan Yan’s heart was finally calm.
Yan Yan: [You talk too much. I got it.]
Jiang Li: [Did I hit a sore spot, little brother? You are right to listen to your big sister.]
“Yan Yan?” Zhuang Yiyun spoke up. Only then did he realize the car had stopped, and they had reached the restaurant.
Cantonese restaurant?
This was an insult to his durable assets. Zhuang Yiyun was big but he(Yan Yan) could eat it. Did he have to stick to bland porridge for the third day?
Yan Yan angrily poked the papaya stewed with snow clams in front of him, turning it into a snow white dish. Was it just so Zhuang Yiyun could leave marks all over him every day? It was outrageous!
*Papaya and snow clams is a Cantonese dessert with soothing and beautifying effects. So Yan Yan is thinking that Zhuang Yiyun wants his skin flawless so he could make more hickeys…or something like that.
After the meal, Zhuang Yiyun parked the car in the restaurant’s parking lot. Then, he walked with Yan Yan to a destination a street away, it was so close they barely digested the food.
The afternoon sun was just right, the wind was mild, and early spring branches swayed with tender buds in the breeze. Despite not going out for a day, Yan Yan felt a long-lost sense of beauty when he breathed in this air. He didn’t know if it was because of his changed relationship with the person beside him, but his mood had also changed. This change made him feel as if he had crossed into a different world.
The church Zhuang Yiyun had sent him the location to was at the end of the street. Even the cross was inconspicuous. It was a very small church that could easily be mistaken for a privately built house. It had white walls, a red roof, and a small courtyard covered with vines on the iron fence.
Yan Yan was surprised. Because of his major in tourism management, Yhe had some knowledge of local religious sites; after all, these could be considered tourism resources. When he received the location, he was thinking that he hadn’t heard much about this church. Was it newly built? But when he arrived and saw it, it turned out to be like this. The small church looked quite old. The courtyard gate was open, but there were very few people going in and out.
“Let’s go inside,” Zhuang Yiyun said with a gentle tone, as if he was revisiting old times.
He walked in through the gate first and then pointed to the neighborhood behind the church, saying, “I used to live in that area when I was a child. My grandmother’s house.”
Yan Yan’s heart skipped a beat. Following Zhuang Yiyun’s gaze, it was as if a tightly closed door was slowly opening. He suddenly had a premonition and his breathing became erratic.
“There?” Yan Yan followed his finger.
“Yes, my grandmother’s house was just outside this church. There used to be a fried dumpling stall in front. Let’s go take a look later.”
“Okay.” Yan Yan nodded. He was unusually quiet, as if he didn’t want to disturb Zhuang Yiyun’s emotions. It was more like he was waiting, waiting to be led through that door and see his world.
