BTFB chapter 6

That night, the two of them waited under the eaves for a long time but couldn’t wait for the rain to stop.

Taking advantage of a slight break in the rain, Bian Liming and Zhao Yuan hailed a taxi and ran back to Bian Liming’s home at the intersection of Dongshan Street, braving the raindrops.

Many leaves fell that day, covering the accumulated water, making it impossible for the two of them to distinguish clearly as they hurriedly ran. The pants below their knees were completely soaked, and their shoes were drenched, making a soggy “splash” with each step.

They returned home too late that day. Bian’s guest room wasn’t prepared, and the housekeeper had already finished her work. Zhao Yuan slept on the same bed as Bian Liming for one night.

They didn’t sleep soundly.

One semester passed, and although the two of them never stopped encouraging each other to start a relationship, for various reasons, neither of them fulfilled the other’s wishes.

Before their first love came, the winter vacation had already begun.

Zhao Yuan’s parents had some minor changes in their work. After the end of the Spring Festival, they decided to go out for inspiration and gather material. Due to the in-depth investigation, the collection and sorting of information would take time, so they probably wouldn’t return before Zhao Yuan resumed his studies.

Bian Liming’s family was in a similar situation. Bian’s father was an important figure in both the political and military realms, often too busy to return home. He spent three days at home during the Spring Festival and then disappeared again.

Perhaps the only difference was that Bian Liming had already adapted to a life without family, while Zhao Yuan hadn’t.

On the day Zhao Yuan’s parents left, Bian Liming saw the car and immediately ran to Zhao Yuan’s home from his own.

Because it was subtropical, it wasn’t very cold during the New Year in Yancang City. In February, the sunlight was good, and the daytime temperature was around ten to twenty degrees.

Bian Liming didn’t even change out of his pajamas; he just threw on a coat and changed his shoes before entering Zhao Yuan’s house.

“Hey!” Bian Liming jumped excitedly in front of Zhao Yuan. “Let’s go out and have some fun! It’s too boring at home.”

Zhao Yuan was still in a daze. In the past, Zhao Yuan’s parents rarely stayed out at night while working on television programs. Now that they had been gone for so long, Zhao Yuan felt a bit at a loss.

“Well… I need to inform my parents…”

“What’s there to say!” Bian Liming pushed Zhao Yuan up the stairs. “We’re adults; do we still need to report to them? They won’t find out. Hurry up and pack your things! We’re going to Yutong Mountain!”

Yutong Mountain was located in the suburbs of Yancang City, with a relatively low altitude, pleasant climate, and beautiful scenery. Although its name included the character “tong,” the trees on the mountain had nothing to do with Chinese parasol trees; they were all evergreen tree species typical of subtropical regions. As for why the mountain was named that way, it wasn’t very clear.

Yutong Mountain didn’t have heavy commercial traces and preserved most of its surface vegetation. The mountain had a winding mountain road, a few well-known characteristic inns, and it was quite beautiful.

In addition, Yutong Mountain also had a newly built conference center. It had banquet venues and corresponding accommodation, but it wasn’t open to tourists all the time.

Zhao Yuan and Bian Liming struggled quite a bit and added nearly half the cost before finding a willing driver for the ride to Yutong Mountain.

It was Zhao Yuan’s first time at Yutong Mountain, as well as the first time he went out with Bian Liming without informing anyone, and also the first time he stayed overnight.

The driver wasn’t very happy on the way, and the atmosphere between the front and back seats was quite different. However, looking at the lush mountain scenery outside the window and the fragmented sunlight filtering through the leaves, Zhao Yuan couldn’t help but feel happy. It was a kind of instinctive joy driven by human curiosity to explore and experience new things.

Bian Liming also seemed to be infected by Zhao Yuan’s good mood. His lips were slightly raised all the way, and when the car turned, he unreservedly leaned against Zhao Yuan’s shoulder.

The mountain road wasn’t easy to traverse, and by the time they arrived, it was almost dark.

Carrying their luggage, Zhao Yuan and Bian Liming stumbled along the “secluded path” leading to the inn for half a day. After checking in and just settling down, the innkeeper came to their room and invited them to join a small gathering of guests in the lobby.

After all, it was in the mountains, and it was a bit cold after nightfall. The lobby had a bright orange lighted electric heater, and a layer of long-haired carpet covered the floor. The lobby was relatively dim, and when Zhao Yuan and Bian Liming arrived, the carpet already had a man and a woman sitting side by side.

The innkeeper took half a bottle of wine and five glasses from behind the counter, introducing Bian Liming and Zhao Yuan.

“In winter, especially around the New Year, there are very few guests here. The couple over there seems to not understand Mandarin very well; they only understand simpler words.”

With the wine in hand, the five people went to the carpet, sat around the electric heater, and chatted while drinking. They talked about where Zhao Yuan and Bian Liming lived, what jobs they did, what majors they studied, and why they came here, etc.

Although the couple didn’t understand Mandarin, they still listened attentively while the other three chatted. Occasionally, the couple would speak in their own language, then laugh softly.

The innkeeper turned red after a while, turned on the stereo to play some music, and hummed along with the melody.

The orange warm light filled the entire lobby, silently falling evenly on the faces of the five people. Everyone sat crookedly on the carpet, drinking little sips of wine.

Bian Liming seemed a bit drunk, his arm draped over Zhao Yuan’s shoulder, and his head gently leaning toward Zhao Yuan. The light from the electric heater cast a small, vaguely blurred shadow under his eyebrows, only showing a cluster of eyelashes flipping lightly.

“Ah Yuan,” Bian Liming touched Zhao Yuan’s neck with the back of his hand draped over his shoulder. “Do you want to listen to me play the piano?”

There was a vertical piano in the inn’s lobby, and when they checked in, it was still covered with a piano cover. However, at some point, the piano cover had been lifted, and the keyboard cover was also opened.

“Do you play the piano?” Without waiting for Zhao Yuan to say anything, the innkeeper looked surprised and turned to Bian Liming.

Bian Liming smiled, raised the corner of his mouth, and turned to look at Zhao Yuan.

“What do you want to hear?”

Zhao Yuan had also been drinking and was a bit disoriented. He blinked, looking a bit puzzled, and asked, “Isn’t it too dark to see the keyboard clearly?”

Without answering, Bian Liming placed the wine glass on the carpet, saying, “Just tell me what you want to hear.”

The remaining three people also looked towards Bian Liming. Zhao Yuan suddenly felt nervous and broke into a sweat.

“Um… ‘Song of Spring,’ then,” he nervously suggested.

Bian Liming shook his head with a smile, “Do you think I only know how to play ‘Song of Spring’ in your eyes…” He said, slowly standing up and walking towards the piano. The innkeeper also cooperatively turned off the stereo.

Seating himself at the piano, Bian Liming faced the light source behind him, and his shadow fell on the piano keys, creating a large black area on the black and white keys.

Bian Liming didn’t feel troubled at all. After setting his hands in position, he simply lifted his head, closed his eyes, and started playing.

From Zhao Yuan’s perspective, he could see Bian Liming’s jawline and the contours of his neck, a few slightly protruding bones that seemed tempting to kiss.

Bian Liming’s fingers moved across the piano keys, gentle and precise, skillful and smooth, as if caressing a familiar body. Even with closed eyes, he could find the right positions.

Zhao Yuan felt his heart was about to jump into his throat. Blood surged, reddening his earlobes and warming his cheeks. Just because the light from the electric heater wasn’t bright enough, the almost burning redness went unnoticed.

As for the piece, Zhao Yuan didn’t hear a single bar. He clapped his hands along with everyone else when they started applauding, mechanically joining the applause.

………………

Back in the room, Bian Liming noticed that Zhao Yuan’s face was unusually flushed. However, Zhao Yuan didn’t seem to think anything was wrong. He took out a change of clothes from his suitcase and headed for the bathroom, intending to take a shower.

Bian Liming inexplicably felt a bit uneasy and stopped Zhao Yuan, saying, “You shouldn’t shower so quickly after drinking.”

Zhao Yuan staggered for a moment, lowered his head, steadied himself, and then shook off Bian Liming’s arm, saying, “I’m sweating, sticky all over. I can’t sleep without a shower.”

Bian Liming grabbed Zhao Yuan again, positioning himself between him and the bathroom, saying, “No! You, as a medical student, should know it’s dangerous to shower after drinking this much.”

Zhao Yuan pushed aside Bian Liming’s shoulder and continued toward the bathroom, saying, “I’ll be quick; it’s fine. I didn’t have low blood sugar even during my internship, I won’t faint.”

With a snap, the bathroom door was closed in front of Bian Liming.

Zhao Yuan didn’t know what had come over him. While undressing, his skin brushed against itself, and when he looked up and saw his body in the mirror, images of Bian Liming playing the piano suddenly flashed in his mind.

The hot water in the bathroom flowed quickly, and the narrow and cramped space was instantly filled with milky-white steam. The hot water pouring onto his body seemed to ignite the desire within, making his entire body tingle. Eventually, the sensations slowly converged into one place…

Zhao Yuan wanted to bury himself under the showerhead, one hand against the wall, eyes closed, and mouth open, gasping for air. Every part of his body that should be red was red, and even the parts that shouldn’t be, turned red from the hot water, but Zhao Yuan didn’t care.

“Zhao Yuan!”

The bathroom door slammed open, reducing the heat, and Bian Liming’s voice became instantly clear.

“I called you, why are you…”

Zhao Yuan opened his eyes, and seeing Bian Liming’s shocked expression, both the effects of the alcohol and desire were mostly sobered up. There was also a visible reaction in a certain area, which rapidly receded within 5 seconds.

“You…” Zhao Yuan couldn’t see his own face and lips, which were now so red. “I’m fine, you can go out first…”

Bian Liming swallowed, his Adam’s apple rolling visibly. He closed the bathroom door as he approached.

Zhao Yuan was scared and didn’t know what to do. His whole body trembled finely due to nervousness and embarrassment. The showerhead above his head was still pouring hot water, causing a faint pain on his skin.

Bian Liming walked towards him step by step, getting closer and closer. Until his whole person was in the water, and his clothes were also soaked. Zhao Yuan could see tiny droplets on his eyelashes.

Bian Liming’s face approached very close, and the sound of his restrained breath became more pronounced. Even with his eyes open, Zhao Yuan could no longer clearly see Bian Liming’s expression.

“Ah Yuan,” Zhao Yuan heard Bian Liming speak, “Let’s be together…”