From the very first day of school, Fu Zhi’an applied for the exchange student program. As one of the most beloved students among the professors, his application was approved quickly.
Sitting on his bed, Shao Yingran pouted, watching Fu Zhi’an silently pack his suitcase. With a sigh, he said, “You’re really in a hurry. There’s a better exchange program next year, and with your grades, you’d definitely get in…”
“I can’t wait.” Fu Zhi’an cut him off, not pausing as he folded his clothes. “Things I can’t explain over the phone, I need to explain in person.”
“And it won’t take long to explain in person.” Fu Zhi’an rolled up his clothes, a smile tugging at his lips. “He’ll behave after just a few words.”
Shao Yingran didn’t expect Fu Zhi’an to openly discuss his boyfriend like this. Scratching his head, he laughed and said, “Strict family rules, huh?”
At four in the morning, Shao Yingran tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. He turned to look at the black suitcase propped against the door. At first, he couldn’t stand Fu Zhi’an—his innate superiority, the way he completed experiments faster than others, never needing to cram for exams.
Shao Yingran had always been the “perfect child” in the eyes of others. He excelled academically, never giving his parents a reason to worry. Even getting into S University, he skipped the college entrance exams and advanced straight from the youth class.
But Fu Zhi’an shattered all of that. Every teacher praised him, and even though he was the provincial top scorer, he chose S University, which was always ranked second. Shao Yingran still remembered the opening ceremony, where Fu Zhi’an gave a speech in the auditorium, and the principal smiled so widely that his teeth showed.
Shao Yingran thought his resentment stemmed from not taking the college entrance exam himself, but the truth was, Fu Zhi’an was just better in every way—academically, in experiments, even in elective Tai Chi classes, where Fu Zhi’an’s movements were fluid and graceful. They say it takes seven days to form a habit, and Shao Yingran found that to be true. After seven days, he grew accustomed to Fu Zhi’an’s superiority and naturally accepted it.
With that thought, Shao Yingran suddenly sat up in bed, quietly calling out, “Fu Zhi’an, are you still awake?”
“No.”
“Can we talk?”
“No.”
Fu Zhi’an’s response was quick, but Shao Yingran knew he wasn’t asleep. He continued mumbling to himself, “I didn’t understand why you came to S University before, but I think I just figured it out.”
“Did you come here for the exchange program?” On the opposite bed, Fu Zhi’an lay with his back to Shao Yingran, a dark gray blanket neatly covering his waist. No matter how many times he saw it, Shao Yingran was always startled by Fu Zhi’an’s disciplined sleeping posture.
Shao Yingran was used to talking to himself; he didn’t need Fu Zhi’an to respond. After a while, he continued, “I don’t mean to be offensive. I just wanted to ask.”
“Is liking guys different from liking girls? Do you have more in common since you’re both guys?” Thinking of his own failed first love, Shao Yingran sighed deeply and added, “Is it easier to talk?”
“I don’t know.” Fu Zhi’an suddenly replied, his voice tinged with a slight nasal tone. “I liked him too early, so I never compared.”
Shao Yingran didn’t know how to respond, so he nodded in the darkness.
The next day, Shao Yingran didn’t see Fu Zhi’an off, but he did sneak a book titled Reflections on Life into Fu Zhi’an’s backpack. When Fu Zhi’an flipped through it, he found Shao Yingran’s crooked handwriting on the blank page: Wishing you a bright future, and wishing both of you a bright future.
Fu Zhi’an had read the book five years ago, but he didn’t tell Shao Yingran. Instead, he sent a text thanking him.
On the flight to the U.S., Fu Zhi’an had a short, quiet dream. In the dream, he and Chi Yu stood side by side in the kitchen, arguing fiercely about whether to slice or shred the potatoes. Chi Yu was adamant about slicing, but Fu Zhi’an insisted on shredding.
On the way to Chi Yu’s place, Fu Zhi’an thought that if Chi Yu really wanted to slice them, they could slice them.
Dragging his suitcase, Fu Zhi’an looked at the house numbers on each door. He should be close. In reality, it didn’t take him long to find Chi Yu. As he turned a corner, he saw Chi Yu standing at the door, wearing a deep purple hoodie.
Next to Chi Yu was another man, who had his back to Fu Zhi’an and was gripping Chi Yu’s arm.
The sound of wheels against the pavement wasn’t loud, but Chi Yu inexplicably turned his head, meeting Fu Zhi’an’s gaze. The argument between Chi Yu and the man fell silent. The man turned around, following Chi Yu’s gaze.
Fu Zhi’an took large strides, ignoring his crooked suitcase as he climbed the steps. He grabbed the man’s hand, which was holding Chi Yu’s arm, and coldly ordered, “Let go.”
“Who are you?” The man looked confused, but Fu Zhi’an’s attention was already on another figure—a man in a white linen shirt standing at the top of the stairs inside.
The man quickly walked over, pulling the man at the door behind him and giving Fu Zhi’an a cold look. “What are you doing?”
Chi Yu seemed to snap out of his daze. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around Fu Zhi’an in a stiff but determined hug.
“Fu Zhi’an.” Chi Yu’s voice was soft, his arms tightening around Fu Zhi’an’s neck. He whispered his name again, “Fu Zhi’an.”
Li Che’s impression of Fu Zhi’an probably soured at that moment. He took back his initial compliments of Fu Zhi’an—“He’s good-looking,” “He seems smart”—but he still believed that Chi Yu and Fu Zhi’an were made for each other.
“One lacks brains, and the other lacks emotional intelligence.” Li Che tossed the tickets from his pocket onto the table, threw out that indifferent comment, and then headed to his bedroom.
Chi Yu didn’t argue because Li Che had managed to get the NBA tickets he’d asked for.
The game was a showdown between two top teams, and the stands were almost full. Fu Zhi’an walked ahead of Chi Yu, clearing the way as they made their way down the stairs. He reached back with one hand, his slender fingers curling slightly in a beckoning gesture.
Chi Yu lifted his arm and took Fu Zhi’an’s hand.
Because of Fu Zhi’an, Chi Yu couldn’t focus on the game at all. His attention was on their tightly clasped hands hidden between the seats. Their palms were sweaty, so Fu Zhi’an gently pulled his hand away. Chi Yu looked at him, puzzled, as Fu Zhi’an took his other hand, wiped the sweat on his pants, and then naturally intertwined their fingers again.
The whole process was seamless, as if they had practiced it countless times.
Chi Yu wanted to tease him, but suddenly, the audience around them, who had been watching the game, turned to look at them. Confused, Chi Yu looked up and saw their faces framed in a giant pink heart on the stadium’s big screen.
It was the basketball game’s Kiss Cam, which meant that the two people captured on the screen, regardless of gender or anything else, were expected to kiss.
The crowd around them started cheering, some with ill intentions. The two Asian boys on the screen looked embarrassed. Most people were watching for entertainment, and Chi Yu felt awkward seeing his own face on the screen. He instinctively averted his gaze.
The fingers clasped over his hand suddenly tightened. Fu Zhi’an turned to him, gently tilting Chi Yu’s chin to make him face him. Chi Yu saw Fu Zhi’an glance down at his lips before leaning in without hesitation to kiss him.
Fu Zhi’an’s tongue pried open Chi Yu’s mouth, their heated skin pressed together. Chi Yu held his breath, his eyes squeezing shut as his lashes trembled. But he didn’t hesitate for long; he wrapped his arms around Fu Zhi’an’s neck.
In the deafening screams and applause, they kissed, heartbeats pounding loudly, drowning out all other sounds. Surrounded by strangers, it was the first time they didn’t fear the eyes of others, didn’t care about people’s opinions. They only wished to love each other forever.
Scattered thoughts of over ten years had finally come together into a sharp, distinct love. Chi Yu slowly opened his eyes, seeing the love reflected in the arch of Fu Zhi’an’s brows and the curve of his lips.
And Chi Yu was willing to keep sinking into this love.
The End
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