Yan Qing is indeed a beautiful person. Standing in the crowd, with the sunlight shining down on him from above, outlining the fine, long edges of his profile.
As if prompted by some unknown force, Wen Jueli asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Yan Qing, besides the story, what else did you talk to him about?”
He didn’t know why he was asking this, perhaps because he couldn’t quite figure out Yan Qing’s thoughts.
Whether or not he had amnesia, he and Yan Qing didn’t share much of a connection. It’s just that since he lost his memory, Yan Qing always looked at him with great joy, as if he truly liked him.
Yan Qing tilted his head and glanced at him, “Were you just staring at me the whole time?!”
Earlier, Yan Qing had gone to ask for directions, while the others were discussing plans. If it weren’t for the deliberate attention to his movements, they wouldn’t have been able to hear what he and the local person were talking about.
Wen Jueli paused, not expecting Yan Qing to focus on this.
Seeing him remain silent, Yan Qing’s mouth curled up, thinking gleefully: Hehe, if you’re so full of me, just say it.
But he didn’t mind Wen Jueli’s somewhat vague personality and admitted, “We didn’t say much, just that uncle praised your good looks and wished us a happy relationship.”
Wen Jueli had extremely light irises, in which the young man’s smiling face was reflected lightly. He didn’t know why, but he felt his cheeks warming and softly said, “Hmm.”
Was this shyness? Yan Qing kind of liked this side of Wen Jueli. It wasn’t as distant as on TV.
Because he was wearing the clothes given by Wen Jueli, Yan Qing was now almost completely enveloped in his unique cold aura, like a handful of fresh snow in the deep winter mountains. It felt somewhat different from usual, and he quite liked it.
Naturally, Wen Jueli also sensed his own scent on Yan Qing, and after a moment, he said, “I’ll buy you some clothes when we have time.”
Yan Qing replied, “Alright.”
St. Peter’s Church is located in the old town area, surrounded by several residential buildings.
You can get there by taking one of the three nearby subway lines and then walking for about ten minutes. Along the way, the guests slowly appreciate the unique scenery of this city, with magnificent, gorgeous, and historic buildings that have withstood the test of time.
From time to time, you can still see modern-style spray-painted murals covering the mottled city walls on the roadside.
“Let’s get a subway card with ten rides,” Ni Li said.
This is a cost-effective choice.
Gu Siwei naturally agreed, “Okay.”
There were only a few ticket vending machines at the subway entrance. Yan Qing habitually held Wen Jueli’s hand and stood in line to buy the cards. His gaze shifted and fell on Xia Xingchen and Sang Ning in front of them.
They were holding hands.
It seemed that from the moment they left until now, these two had been holding hands continuously without letting go.
Holding hands…
Clearly, holding arms is even closer than holding hands, but Yan Qing felt like holding hands better represented the state of being lovers. In fact, he might never have held hands with Wen Jueli before, or with anyone else for that matter…
Yan Qing comforted himself. He and Wen Jueli were an old couple, so holding arms was enough. Xia Xingchen and Sang Ning had just started dating not too long ago. It was normal for couples to hold hands so affectionately every day.
Then he saw Gu Siwei and Ni Li at the front of the line, tightly holding each other’s hands as if they were afraid of losing one another.
The two of them would occasionally whisper to each other.
Lost in thought, Yan Qing lowered his head, and his gaze stopped on Wen Jueli’s wide and slender hand.
When it was their turn, Wen Jueli turned his head and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Caught off guard, Yan Qing collected himself, raised his head, and hastily said, “N-Nothing.”
He definitely wasn’t envious of other couples being able to hold hands!
Today was a workday.
Avoiding the morning rush, there weren’t too many people inside the subway station. They followed the route smoothly to their first sightseeing spot, “St. Peter’s Church.”
Before getting close, they only saw the top of the church revealed behind the buildings in the distance, and everyone heard a beautiful and melodic piece of music coming closer from afar.
They didn’t expect their luck to be so good. They stumbled upon a wedding at the church!
On the small outdoor square, arches were tightly clustered, colorful flags were flying, and the whole wedding was dominated by white. The number of guests was relatively small, consisting of the bride and groom’s close friends and family. The music was melodious and gentle, and the wedding was simple yet complete.
The locals were used to weddings, but as the bride and groom held hands and kissed, they still gave the most enthusiastic applause and blessings.
Yan Qing stood on the side, unable to help but applaud and offer his blessings.
【Participating in a wedding in the live broadcast room √】
【Why does Yan Qing love to watch the excitement so much? hahaha】
【If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was the one getting married.】
【Speaking of which, he and Mr. Wen have been married for a year. Does anyone know if they had a wedding ceremony?】
【I don’t think so.】
【In that case, I’m starting to look forward to it! I wonder if the production team will be able to bring a camera to live stream it and fulfill my wish.】
Wen Jueli was usually calm and composed. He saw that Yan Qing was almost about to rush into the guest area, so he asked in a soft tone, “Have you never attended a wedding before?”
It was an inquiry without any mockery.
Yan Qings eyes were still fixed on the bride preparing to toss the bouquet, and he replied with a smile, “Of course, I’ve been to weddings. When my dad didn’t want to attend our relatives’ weddings, he used to leave me to handle it. I’ve been a flower boy six times from childhood to now! I’ve been in the ‘business’ for a long time.”
He had casually mentioned it, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized that he was live-streaming now, and he might have just spilled the beans about his dad!
Realizing this, Yan Qing dryly chuckled and changed the subject, “Besides, haven’t we not had a wedding ceremony yet? I’m just here to observe and gain some experience for when it’s our turn, right?”
Wen Jueli said, “Hmm… right.”
In the next moment, amid a joyful cheer, the bride’s bouquet landed perfectly in Sang Ning’s arms.
Even though she wasn’t on the guest list, the bride, with sincere blessings, wished Sang Ning to find her destined one soon and have a perfect love.
Xia Xingchen stepped forward and confidently said, ‘I’m already her destined one!’
Everyone smiled with joy.
Amid the crowd’s gaze, the two of them shared a light kiss.
Besides frequently hosting weddings, St. Peter’s Church was also open for casual visits. It featured exquisite murals and stained glass windows. Especially in the sunlight, it reflected brilliant colorful patterns on the walls, creating a grand atmosphere.
In the blink of an eye, the guests finished their visit to St. Peter’s Church. At noon, the bride recommended a local family restaurant to them, and everyone eagerly went to try it.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, they noticed several people waiting outside. Thankfully, Yan Qing had suggested making a reservation, so their lunch plans remained intact.
The eight guests didn’t differentiate between appetizers and main courses. They ordered seven dishes in total, managing to satisfy their appetites within their budget.
The restaurant recommended by the bride turned out to be a good choice, offering large portions at affordable prices. If everything went smoothly without any minor incidents, it would be a perfect meal…
As they took their seats, Yan Qing had just sat down when he noticed an unfamiliar figure also taking a seat. He didn’t think much of it at first. He assumed Wen Jueli would sit on his right, but to his surprise, He Zijia sat on his right.
One on the left and one on the right, a pair of young couples.
Yan Qing looked like the odd one out, sandwiched between them, “…”
What’s going on? Why aren’t they sitting together?
After coming out of the restroom, Wen Jueli seemed oblivious to the seating arrangement’s subtleties and simply sat in the available chair.
The comments in the live chat started pouring in:
【What’s with this confusing seating arrangement? Other couples are sitting side by side, why are these two sitting separately?】
【The one above doesn’t know, I calculated, this is the seventh time that He Zijia and Ling Chen have quarreled since the show started. I’ve seen them in cold wars and verbal disputes. (lights a cigarette)】
【I think this time it’s because Ling Chen didn’t wake up He Zijia in the morning, and He Zijia got upset. I suggested that Ling Chen should pamper him more.】
【I came to watch a romance reality show, to see the sweet love between couples, not to watch them argue!!】
【He Zijia didn’t do anything wrong at all. What’s your point? Isn’t it normal for couples to be like this?】
【Normal? Look at Ni Li and Sang Ning. Is that normal?】
【Actually, they occasionally argue with Gu Siwei and the others, but come to think of it… it seems like Wen Jueli and Yan Qing have never had a single argument.】
【Haha, some fans are so quick to jump the gun.】
But what can’t be denied is that less than a week after the show’s debut, He Zijia, with her “relationship persona,” had repeatedly trended and gained popularity.
Yan Qing guessed that they might be having a lovers’ quarrel, but he felt really uncomfortable about it. Why should he be affected by the ups and downs of this young couple’s relationship?
While everyone at the table chatted and laughed, the atmosphere around them became so tense that it sent shivers down one’s spine. At first, Yan Qing didn’t pay much attention to it, thinking it was just a seating arrangement. But as he began discussing today’s scenery and architecture with the others, he caught He Zijia’s gaze. It seemed to say, Why are you laughing? Don’t you know that my boyfriend and I are fighting right now, and I’m feeling sad?
Yan Qing: “…”
Darn it.
I was just laughing.
With that in mind, Yan Qing happily used the shared knife and fork to offer a piece of vegetable and meat patty through He Zijia’s plate to Wen Jueli’s. It might be somewhat unethical, but he was quite pleased with himself.
This unexpected gesture left Wen Jueli momentarily stunned. Since parting with his foster parents, no one had ever voluntarily served him food. Yan Qing reacted like an excited child sharing a toy, saying, “This one is a bit far, but it’s delicious. You should try it.”
Wen Jueli was stunned and replied, “Thank you.”
He Zijia, stuck in the middle, seemed too upset to eat and said, “I’m full. I need some fresh air,” and left her seat.
Xia Xingchen sat on the side, watching the situation unfold. He couldn’t help but nudge the motionless Ling Chen with his shoulder and said, “Zijia has gone outside. Aren’t you going to find her?”
With more experience, the others more or less saw through He Zijia’s antics. But they couldn’t just expose it in front of the live broadcast camera.
Yan Qing thought they were in a cold war.
He felt a slight moral obligation and turned his head to look out the window. He noticed that He Zijia hadn’t gone far and said, “Maybe we should call her back to have lunch. It seems like she didn’t eat much.”
Ling Chen: “…”
He put down his utensils but started silently staring at Yan Qing, his emotions hidden deep within. It was difficult to discern what was on his mind. This strange look made Yan Qing uncomfortable. Did he say something wrong?
Suddenly, Yan Qing felt a light touch on his arm, and he saw that Wen Jueli had subtly ordered some dishes for him. Wen Jueli said, “Try it.”
Yan Qing: “…”
Don’t you realize this isn’t the right time to say this?
But, the dishes ordered by his husband were top-notch. Yan Qing nodded happily and said thank you.
When he snapped back to reality, Ling Chen had already stood up and was walking slowly toward the exit.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Yan Qing wondered what personal issues might have caused the two of them to look at him so strangely, as if they wanted to say something but couldn’t.
In the next moment, he heard the brief sound of utensils tapping on a plate. Wen Jueli sent over another dish, his tone gentle as if he hadn’t even noticed, “Is it delicious?”
Yan Qing immediately pushed those vague questions out of his mind and said nonchalantly, “Yes, it’s really delicious.”
The dishes his husband ordered were simply delicious!
Wen Jueli’s face showed a subtle, barely noticeable smile.
After a short while, Ling Chen managed to “console” He Zijia and brought him back. The two of them seemed to have made amends. After a brief rest, they strolled along the nearby streets and finally arrived at the subway station.
They took the subway to transfer to the train. It wasn’t the peak of the tourist season, and there were plenty of empty seats on the train. Having learned his lesson, Yan Qing no longer wandered aimlessly with the crowd. Instead, he held onto Wen Jueli’s arm tightly. Wherever he went, he followed. As soon as he saw Wen Jueli sit down, he hurried over too.
These actions were all observed by Gu Siwei, not far away. He looked at them and teased Ni Li in a low voice, “I told you, Jueli’s significant other would be this kind of person.”
Ni Li rarely smiled, but when she did, her charming appearance made her even more attractive. She said, “It’s different, not necessarily because of a straightforward personality, but because of the person himself. But this kid Yan Qing is indeed very likeable.”
Gu Siwei didn’t express his opinion and thought about Wen Jueli’s past. He chuckled and said, “I just didn’t expect that when he talks about love, he’d be even more affectionate than we were back then.”
Others said that the journey would only take half an hour, but the electronic display screen seemed to indicate it would take about forty minutes.
As the train started moving, they heard the faint sounds of the wheels vibrating along the tracks. The train shook slightly, and the large windows resembled screens, switching to display beautiful landscapes.
The train seemed to snake through the buildings, passing through residential areas with colorful high-rises. It then passed through some forests before opening up to a wide view.
During this rare rest time, many passengers leaned back in their seats, wearing sunglasses and resting with their eyes closed.
Thanks to the restful night and Wen Jueli’s incense from last night, Yan Qing wasn’t feeling sleepy at the moment. Along the way, he used a Polaroid camera to capture many beautiful sceneries and even took a photo of Sang Ning and Xia Xingchen.
As the camera switched, Yan Qing caught a glimpse of Wen Jueli leaning against his seat. His deep eye sockets, long eyelashes, and well-defined facial features created a striking appearance. His temperament leaned towards being cool and reserved, but perhaps due to the soft light filtering in from outside, it softened the sharpness of his features.
Yan Qing’s heart raced. He raised the camera and took a picture of Wen Jueli. The camera made a muffled sound, blending with the low murmurs of conversation in the train compartment.
Yan Qing didn’t notice the subtle trembling of Wen Jueli’s eyelashes or the slight tensing of his fingertips as he pretended to sleep with his eyes closed.
“The next station is…”
“We have arrived at… Please exit the train from the right side.”
The train arrived at the station. The crowd flowed like a tide, with people exiting and boarding the train. Yan Qing didn’t hold Wen Jueli’s hand while on the train but noticed Wen Jueli waiting for him after a challenging exit.
Wen Jueli said, “It’s too crowded.”
Yan Qing nodded and said, “Indeed, it’s quite crowded. Where is everyone? Which way to the square? I see them! Gu Ge, Ni Jie, we’re over here.”
Seeing Wen Jueli standing still with an odd expression, Yan Qing waved his hand in front of him and said, “Let’s go.”
Wen Jueli looked at him strangely, leaving Yan Qing somewhat confused.
Yan Qing asked, “Did you leave something on the train?”
Wen Jueli replied, “No.”
He wasn’t as forgetful as Yan Qing.
Yan Qing asked again, “Do you need to use the restroom?”
Wen Jueli replied, “No.”
So what was wrong?
With more people gathering at the train door, Yan Qing didn’t think too much and simply took Wen Jueli’s hand and left, saying, “Let’s exit the train station first.”
Wen Jueli, despite being tall and undoubtedly stronger due to his regular workouts, was easily led by Yan Qing with a gentle tug, leaving Yan Qing somewhat puzzled.
Yan Qing asked, “Is something on your mind?”
Wen Jueli answered, “No.”
His gaze was profound as it landed on Yan Qing’s hand holding his.
With many East Asian faces in this small city and several crew members from the production team, they stood out at the train station entrance.
The Swan Lake Plaza was a landmark in this city’s outskirts. Right after leaving the train station, road signs indicated the direction.
The sky was clear blue, and the sunlight was warm. On the streets, people were walking dogs, shopping for groceries, and taking children outside. It was a scene of peaceful happiness.
The Swan Lake Plaza, more like a vast park, had its exterior walls covered with lush ivy, and black rusted iron railings could only be seen through the gaps. On the inside, it was surrounded by rings of fluffy grass.
The wind picked up, causing the green leaves to rustle softly. The cobblestone pathways crisscrossed in all directions, leading people toward the inner Swan Lake.
Not long into their walk, they heard the short, brisk calls of swans, along with flapping and the rustling of wings.
There were several flower beds by the side, and people sat on benches under streetlights. Next to the water’s edge, children played with water under their parents’ watchful eyes or, accompanied by staff members, fed the swans. Since this was not a tourist attraction with many visitors, the gentle breeze created a leisurely atmosphere that compelled people to slow down and embrace the unhurried pace of life.
Gu Siwei, camera in hand, took the first photo to complete his checklist.
The brilliant sunlight illuminated Swan Lake. This vast pool, surrounded by wooden stakes and iron chains, was incredibly expansive. When you looked across, you couldn’t find the end, as your gaze was drawn to the man-made island in the center of the lake.
“Wow, it’s so beautiful.”
“It feels even larger than the one I visited before.”
“Xingchen, come over! Help me take a photo.”
As the light glistened, beams of light hit the lake’s surface, adding colors to the moment. The swan feathers on the water shimmered brightly in snowy white, and the black swan feathers appeared glossy and lustrous. The swans swam, occasionally flapping their wings, creating shimmering emerald ripples.
It seemed like He Zijia had noticed something. He leaned in mysteriously to whisper to Ling Chen. After listening, Ling Chen hesitated for a moment but, seeing He Zijia’s smile, he glanced at the camera and nodded in agreement. He then approached one of the Swan Lake Plaza’s staff members and asked, “Excuse me, is it possible to feed the swans here?”
“Are you tourists? Of course, you can!”
Ling Chen hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully, and said, “We have someone who’d like to feed the swans.”
Feeding the swans was allowed, but they were informed that it required a payment of £5.
Upon hearing this, He Zijia readily agreed. Gu Siwei and Ni Li were not interested and walked over with Sang Ning and Xia Xingchen to join in the fun. Together, they paid the fee and received guidance from the staff on how to feed the swans.
Meanwhile, Wen Jueli was gazing at the small island in the center of the lake. Suddenly, he turned his head and looked at Yan Qing, recalling something, and asked, “Aren’t you going to feed the swans?”
Yan Qing was busy loading film into his camera. He raised an eyebrow and said, “If I could find a huge clothing sale with everything for just one pound each.”
Wen Jueli was momentarily stunned, then gently curled his lips, amused.
Yan Qing, completely unmoved, said, “Anyway, since I haven’t eaten pork and I’ve seen pigs run. I’ll just take more pictures to satisfy my craving.”
Wen Jueli nodded, “Mm.”
This park was not only suitable for dog walking but also ideal for photography.
Yan Qing raised his Polaroid camera and began taking pictures all around. He had originally brought a compact camera, which was convenient to carry, but he forgot it when they left. Unlike digital cameras with memory cards, Yan Qing cherished his film. He only clicked the shutter when he found the right angle and was satisfied with the composition.
He captured moments of swans flapping their wings, an old dog lying at the feet of an elderly person, and the cheerful conversations between Gu Siwei and Ni Li. Then, as he turned his head, he captured a man gazing at him, whose eyes seemed to be filled with scattered golden light.
Wen Jueli gazed at him gently.
In an instant, Yan Qing suddenly felt the sun was scorching. He couldn’t open his eyes, and his face felt hot.
Buzz—
The Polaroid camera spat out the picture.
Wen Jueli reached out to retrieve it for Yan Qing.
Yan Qing, with a dry mouth, hesitated for a moment and said, “I’m sorry.”
Wen Jueli’s voice was low and tinged with simple curiosity as he replied with a “Mm,” which made Yan Qing’s heartbeat quicken a bit.
He hesitated for a while and said, “Didn’t you say you don’t like taking pictures?”
Wen Jueli stared at him.
Yan Qing cleared his throat and confessed, “Actually, while you were resting and sleeping on the train, I secretly took a couple of pictures.”
In the warm sunlight, Yan Qing’s complexion appeared almost translucent, like a certain kind of tender jade. Even though the two of them weren’t particularly close, Wen Jueli could clearly see the intricate network of veins beneath Yan Qing’s pale skin.
Yan Qing had captivating peach-blossom eyes, his irises glossy, and he was slightly squinting due to the glaring light. His jet-black eyelashes trembled, radiating liveliness.
His features were so exquisitely beautiful that they seemed unreal. The current eye contact brought to Wen Jueli’s mind their first meeting five years ago. There was a brief exchange of looks, but it lasted for only a second.
Wen Jueli said, “I wasn’t sleeping back then.”
The voice was too low, or maybe he didn’t want Yan Qing to hear it at all. Yan Qing could only see him move his lips and asked, “What did you say?”
Wen Jueli shifted his gaze, lips pressed together, saying nothing.
In the meantime, the just-developed photos gradually gained color and contours.
Yan Qing wanted to establish the image of being a sensible child in front of Wen Jueli. He said with some regret, “Well, if you don’t like it, I can just throw away this picture.”
“Even though I really like this picture… How handsome my husband is, and how affectionate his eyes are when he looks at me.”
He let out a sigh.
It was as if he almost wrote on his face that he wanted Wen Jueli to ask him to keep the photo.
Seeing that Yan Qing was about to give himself another round of rainbow compliments, Wen Jueli said, “You don’t need to throw it away. Keep it.”
In an instant, Yan Qing’s previous concerned expression disappeared, replaced by a happy look. He smiled and said, “Alright!”
Sure enough, using the pre-emptive strategy combined with playing the victim worked like a charm.
He grinned like a cunning little fox, secretly patting himself on the back for being smart, when a familiar yet chilling presence suddenly enveloped him.
The man leaned in close, whispering softly into his ear, and with a cold, cool tone and said, “The contract specifies that I can maintain our ‘loving’ image when needed. So, I will do my best to cooperate with you.”
The atmosphere was both ambiguous and warm, but his words felt oddly detached.
