ASPWWD Chapter 57

After getting Wen Xia’s approval, the first thing Lin Fengqi did was to invite Wen Xia to walk the dog together. He was still somewhat caught up in the nervousness and confusion from his confession, standing in the hallway holding Ah Mou as if he were being held hostage by the dog. “Do you want to… go for a walk?”

He was even a bit shy.

What a cute guy.

Wen Xia didn’t know why, but he really enjoyed seeing Lin Fengqi like this. Every time he saw it, he felt a different kind of heart flutter, reminiscent of high school, making him want to corner Lin Fengqi and tease him just like he did at the resort yesterday.

He rubbed his nose, suppressing his mischievous urge. “Sure.”

The night wind had picked up, and it was cold enough to make their ears tingle. The white mist from their breath slowly dissipated into the air.

Wen Xia and Lin Fengqi went out earlier than usual to walk the dog, so they encountered many people doing the same. But with the cold weather, fewer people felt like going out, so there were fewer people around than usual.

They ran into that young couple they had met before, but this time they were not walking their dog, just holding hands while strolling. Seeing Wen Xia, the man greeted him enthusiastically, “Wen Ge! Lin Xiansheng.”

Wen Xia smiled at him and struck up a conversation naturally. “What a coincidence. Where’s your dog?”

“Oh, my parents really like him, so they take him back to their place for a while every now and then. They just took him today,” the man explained. “By the way, we forgot to add each other on WeChat last time. I wanted to invite you to play games together.”

Hearing this, his wife teased, “What, am I too much of a noob for you?”

“Not at all! You’ve beaten me up so many times already, I’m the one clinging to your leg,” the man said, shaking their intertwined hands. “It would just be more fun with more people. We can invite Lin Xiansheng too, and the four of us can play together.”

Lin Fengqi glanced at their clasped hands and then secretly looked at Wen Xia’s.

He had never held hands with Wen Xia.

Even though they were already sharing a bed.

Wen Xia added the man on WeChat and asked, “Do you play more online games?”

“Half and half between online and single-player,” the man grinned. “I play whatever’s fun. What about you, Wen Ge?”

“I lean more towards single-player.”

“Really?” The man’s eyes lit up. “Have you heard of that new game, Final Flower? It’s by Xing Ye Studio—have you heard of them?”

Wen Xia couldn’t help but think about how strange it was to hear someone talking about his own company like this. He nodded, keeping his face neutral as he shamelessly praised his own work. “Yeah, I’ve played the demo version. It’s pretty good.”

Finding a fellow enthusiast, the man was thrilled and started enthusiastically discussing the game with Wen Xia. It was clear he wasn’t just a casual fan but a dedicated supporter of Xing Ye Studio. He mentioned he had played all their games, even the early ones that the studio’s founder made back in university.

The man was clearly a seasoned gamer, with a wide range of interests in the ever-evolving gaming world. During the conversation, he even made a few insightful suggestions.

As they parted ways, the man didn’t forget to extend an invitation. “Wen Ge, let’s play together sometime!”

Wen Xia replied, “Next time, for sure.”

The couple walked off, holding hands even tighter, perhaps because of the cold.

“Such a sweet couple,” Wen Xia commented as he watched them walk away.

It was just a simple observation, without any envy or hidden meaning. He didn’t think much of it, but after they walked a few more steps, he suddenly felt a bump on his arm. It wasn’t strong, just the light brush of their clothes rubbing together.

Wen Xia glanced at Lin Fengqi and then at the space between their arms. They were closer than before. He didn’t say anything.

Ah Mou, after the initial excitement of being outside, had calmed down. He sniffed around as they walked, his tail raised high like a little black flag waving behind him.

They continued walking side by side, maintaining that shoulder-to-shoulder distance until Lin Fengqi suddenly switched the leash to his other hand.

It wasn’t unusual; he had done this before, swapping hands whenever one got tired. It was only natural.

But this time, after switching hands, his arm fell back down and his hand brushed lightly against Wen Xia’s.

Wen Xia paused for a moment.

After they had gone downstairs, Wen Xia hadn’t needed to hold the leash, so his hands had stayed in his pockets for most of the walk. It was only when they ran into the young couple and exchanged contact information that he pulled them out, leaving them warm.

Lin Fengqi, on the other hand, had his hands exposed to the cold while holding the leash.

Wen Xia didn’t say anything or move his hand away, so as they walked, Lin Fengqi’s hand continued to occasionally brush against his, whether by bumping or lightly grazing.

That cold touch was just enough to tickle.

“Your hand is a bit cold,” Wen Xia finally said, unable to ignore it any longer. “How about I take over with Ah Mou, and you can warm your hands in your pockets?”

Lin Fengqi hesitated. “…No need. I’m not cold.”

Wen Xia reached out to take the leash, but Lin Fengqi didn’t budge.

They stood there for a few seconds until Ah Mou, unhappy with the delay, tugged on the leash, urging them to keep walking.

“I’m really not cold,” Lin Fengqi insisted.

So they continued walking side by side, but soon after, Wen Xia felt the other man inching closer again.

The distance between their shoulders narrowed, and this time, the cold touch against Wen Xia’s hand was even more frequent. Sometimes it was just their hands brushing together, but occasionally their fingers touched. Lin Fengqi’s long fingers subtly moved, as if testing something.

Wen Xia commented, “The road here is pretty wide.”

Lin Fengqi stiffened, seemingly a little guilty as he replied, “Yeah.”

“So, don’t you think—”

“No, I don’t.” He cut Wen Xia off quickly.

Wen Xia looked at him. “I didn’t even finish.”

Lin Fengqi hesitated for a second. “I still don’t think so.”

Wen Xia gave him a deep look. “I was just going to say that the road layout in this neighborhood is really nice, no narrow, winding paths—very spacious.”

Lin Fengqi: “…”

Wen Xia asked him, “Don’t you agree?”

Lin Fengqi’s face was stony as he nodded after a couple of awkward seconds.

“Then why did you jump to say you didn’t agree earlier?” Wen Xia teased. “What did you think I was going to say?”

“…Nothing.”

Wen Xia was amused by Lin Fengqi’s conflicted expression, trying to look calm while clearly feeling embarrassed. He turned away to hide his smile, but the corners of his mouth couldn’t help lifting.

But just as he was beginning to enjoy himself, something unexpected happened.

His pinky was suddenly hooked by a gentle force, then held tightly by cold fingers.

Wen Xia turned to look at Lin Fengqi. The man had a completely serious expression as if his hand had a mind of its own, unrelated to him.

“What are you doing?” Wen Xia asked.

“…Cold,” Lin Fengqi replied. “Trying to get warm.”

“Didn’t you just say you weren’t cold?”

Lin Fengqi didn’t respond, unable to come up with a good excuse, so he pretended he didn’t hear Wen Xia and refused to look his way.

Wen Xia gently moved his pinky, but instead of letting go, Lin Fengqi held on even tighter. It was as if he had no intention of letting go.

Does this even count as holding hands?

If it did, Wen Xia could only give him fifty points at most.

His heart was racing, and his emotions were out of control. It was hard to keep them in check.

When they passed by a convenience store in the neighborhood, Wen Xia bought a pack of hand warmers and stuffed them into Lin Fengqi’s hands. “Here, this should be warm enough.”

Lin Fengqi: “…”

—

After walking the dog, they returned home. While Lin Fengqi went to take a shower, Wen Xia retreated to his room and quietly shut the door. He needed to call Zou Boyan to ask for some advice from his trusted friend.

How do you chase someone, exactly?

This question was puzzling not only Lin Fengqi but also Wen Xia.

He had pursued Lin Fengqi before. There was no doubt about that—at least, there hadn’t been until last night. But now, he was starting to doubt himself.

Wen Xia used to think he couldn’t win Lin Fengqi’s heart because Lin Fengqi didn’t like him. After reading Lin Fengqi’s diary, he thought it was because Lin Fengqi didn’t believe in himself.

But now it seemed… there might be another reason.

Zou Boyan fell silent for a long time after hearing Wen Xia’s concerns, then said, “I thought you knew.”

Wen Xia: “?”

Wen Xia: “Knew what?”

Zou Boyan: “How bad you are at chasing someone.”

Wen Xia: “???”

“What the hell, weren’t you just joking with me?” Wen Xia exclaimed.

“Joking? Not at all,” Zou Boyan replied. “I was always serious.”

“….”

Wen Xia was stunned. “And here I thought I did a pretty good job! I practically latched onto him all through high school!”

Zou Boyan sighed, equally speechless. “Bro, just sticking to someone doesn’t count as chasing them. What were you even doing, physically chasing him down the hallway?”

Zou Boyan had grown up next door to Wen Xia, just like Fang Huai. The two had been inseparable since childhood, attending the same schools from kindergarten through middle school. When Zou Boyan’s family moved during high school, they ended up in different schools, but they still hung out together often.

Zou Boyan was well aware of the situation between Wen Xia and Lin Fengqi.

When Wen Xia had first mentioned that he was chasing someone, Zou Boyan realized that Wen Xia’s claim of liking guys back in middle school—when he rejected that girl who was Fang Huai’s first crush—had actually been true. He had thought Wen Xia had just said that to put an end to any potential romantic entanglements once and for all.

After that, no girls in their middle school dared confess to Wen Xia.

“Like hell,” Wen Xia cursed after Zou Boyan expressed his surprise. “I just said that on a whim to get it over with.”

“So this time you’re serious…?” Zou Boyan asked, looking puzzled.

Wen Xia was silent for a moment before admitting, “If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have known I actually liked guys.”

In life, everyone encounters a few people who are particularly special to them. Some might just become a sigh of nostalgia after many years, while others leave a lasting impression on their hearts. Wen Xia wasn’t sure if Lin Fengqi was that brief sigh or a dream from his youth that he would never forget.

Maybe not enough time had passed yet. Eight years wasn’t enough to erase someone’s presence. Perhaps ten or twenty years later, he would know for sure.

But right now, he and Lin Fengqi had found themselves on the same path again, in a rather peculiar way.

“Who’s physically chasing someone?” Wen Xia snapped, lowering his voice in case Lin Fengqi overheard. “I brought him breakfast! I made sure to get him a share of whatever our cook made! And when we went out to play, did I ever not bring him back a gift?”

Zou Boyan responded with deadpan seriousness, “If test papers count as gifts, then sure.”

Wen Xia corrected him, “And books on artificial intelligence.”

Zou Boyan sighed. “So those count as gifts, huh?!”

“Bro,” Zou Boyan continued, sounding pained at the thought of anyone giving him test papers or textbooks as gifts. “Who gives those kinds of things as presents to someone they like? You should give something that clearly conveys some romantic interest! And bringing breakfast or snacks—how is that special? Isn’t that just what good buddies do?”

“Is it normal?”

“Isn’t it?” Zou Boyan asked. “You and I grew up together… at least through high school. Didn’t we always stick together? I’ve lost count of how many meals I’ve had at your place. Are you going to tell me you never brought food back for your college roommates?”

“Well… that’s different.”

“How is it different?”

“The intention behind it is different.”

“….”

Zou Boyan delivered the killing blow with one sentence. “If Lin Fengqi had figured out your intentions, you two would have been together ages ago.”

Wen Xia: “.”

Shit.

Wen Xia’s confidence wavered. “It can’t be that bad…”

Zou Boyan pressed on, “Let me ask you, did you ever tell him you liked him?”

Wen Xia froze for a moment, frowning as he recalled the past. “I did.”

“Did you say it to him directly?”

“I…” Wen Xia suddenly hesitated. “Probably?”

Zou Boyan said, “I remember hearing you confess once.”

Wen Xia: “?”

“Remember when your class had that graduation party, but you didn’t go?” Zou Boyan said. “You came to me to drink that night. After getting drunk, you hugged a bottle of liquor and said, ‘Lin Fengqi, I like you.’”

He paused, then added, “And then you said something else. Do you remember what it was?”

Wen Xia’s eyelid twitched, and he answered guiltily, “What?”

“‘Good thing I never told you,’” Zou Boyan recited with zero emotion. “‘Or I would’ve made an even bigger fool of myself.’”

Wen Xia: “…”

Wen Xia was dumbstruck.

Completely and utterly dumbstruck.

Zou Boyan, ever the considerate friend, asked, “Need me to say more?”

Wen Xia closed his eyes. “No need. You may go now.”

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