Today’s bonus updates~
Xishan and Dongshan have long been regarded as the two major camping destinations in Nanwu. They each have dedicated camping grounds and service centers. The weather was not too cold during this season, and there were no mosquitoes or other pests. Instead, there were abundant plum blossoms covering the mountains, providing an excellent view for watching the New Year’s fireworks display.
Indeed, although it was not the most ideal season for camping, it didn’t seem too out of place given the favorable conditions in the area.
After choosing the cleanest and most empty site that was close to the service center, the group of youths started to set up tents and cooking utensils.
Although Song Minghai may not be the best person, his assistant’s ability was indeed strong. They bought them top-of-the-line camping gear, which was convenient, safe, and had everything they needed.
On top of that, there’s Xia Zhiye, an almighty boyfriend who almost had no problems. He easily set up a warm and tight tent with a canopy in no time.
They also asked the service center to borrow a folding camping table and two folding chairs, which they set up under the canopy. They brought out a high-power outdoor power source, turned on a heater, and even managed to find a string of small light bulbs to hang on the tent, creating a warm and romantic ambiance with the soft yellow light against the off-white tent.
Seeing Zhao Ruiwen who was still fighting with the small tent at the other end, they were stunned and ran over to watch.
“Wow, that’s awesome! You guys even brought such a high-power outdoor power source. I only brought a power bank. But the spot you chose is too far from our tents. Since we haven’t set up ours yet, why don’t we move closer and borrow your electricity for a bit?”
Zhao Ruiwen let out a long string of exclamations and requests, while Xia Zhiye just wanted to punt him off the Earth.
If it weren’t for this person changing the camping site due to the road closure to Dongshan, he and Song Yan should be lying on the chairs right now, watching the stars, sipping wine, eating his lovingly prepared lunch boxes, cuddling and hugging each other intimately. But all of this was disrupted by this person.
Now, after finally finding an opportunity to move the tent about twenty or thirty meters away, just to have a bit of space for some intimacy with his boyfriend later at night, this person also wanted to get closer.
No way.
Xia Zhiye didn’t even think about it. “No.”
Zhao Ruiwen: “Why?”
“Song Yan talks in his sleep, grinds his teeth, and sleepwalks to hit people at night. I’m afraid it might scare you guys.”
“…?”
Song Yan tilted his head to look at Xia Zhiye.
Xia Zhiye put his arms around his shoulders, bowed his head, and in a voice that only the two of them could hear, he whispered, “For 180 yuan.”
“…”
Fuck!
Is he a human or a bullshit-spewing machine!
From head to toe, from the inside to the outside!
There’s nothing good in there!!
Song Yan was so angry that he kicked Xia Zhiye again.
Just after kicking, before he could even start cursing, he felt himself being forcefully pulled away. Then, suddenly, Zhao Ruiwen appeared between him and Xia Zhiye, looking sternly at Song Yan: “Classmate Song Yan, even if you’re angry with Xia Zhiye, you can’t just assault him like that! Have you forgotten how good he used to be to you? Just because you both have girlfriends now, does that mean you no longer cherish the friendship between you two?”
“…”
At that moment, Song Yan had nothing to say.
Zhao Ruiwen, determined to do the right thing, decided to mediate their relationship. He issued a command: “Both of you sit face to face right here, quietly looking at each other for three minutes. Remember all the experiences you’ve had together over the years, and think about whether this friendship is worth cherishing. No one is allowed to speak or use violence. We’ll come back to check after we’ve set up the tents. Got it?”
After finishing speaking, Xia Zhiye chuckled softly. “I don’t mind, I’m used to watching Yan-ge.”
Song Yan wouldn’t do such a stupid thing.
Just as he was about to speak, Zhao Ruiwen looked at him. “Especially you, Yan-ge. You promise that you absolutely won’t hit Lord Xia again. Otherwise, I’ll sit on the side and supervise you guys. I’ll only leave when you two make up.”
His brain immediately made up a scene of him and Xia Zhiye sitting awkwardly facing each other like two idiots, Zhao Ruiwen squatting next to them. Song Yan felt goosebumps all over his body.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Little Fatty and Zhou Ziqiu stifling their laughter nearby. He ground his teeth slightly and said, “Fine, I agree.”
“That’s right,” Zhao Ruiwen said, satisfied, as he adjusted the distance between the chairs and positioned the two of them face to face. “I hope that when we come back after setting up the tents, you two will have made up.”
After speaking, Little Fatty and Zhou Ziqiu, who were almost crazy from holding back their laughter, walked away.
The chairs were placed behind the tents, so Zhao Ruiwen and the others couldn’t see this side.
So finally, without needing to pretend anymore, Song Yan punched Xia Zhiye in anger, but Xia Zhiye caught his wrist, pulled him forward, and brought him into his arms. He made Song Yan riding Xia Zhiye’s lap, facing him directly.
Kinda shameful.
Song Yan wanted to break free, but was restrained by Xia Zhiye. “We finally have some alone time, so let me hold you for a while.”
“…”
“I’m tired from setting up the tent, so can you give a treat for your boyfriend as a reward?”
During the whole process of setting up the tent, Xia Zhiye was not willing to let Song Yan do it. Thinking of this, Song Yan felt that it was not impossible to let him hold him for a while.
Putting his arms around Xia Zhiye’s neck, he sat quietly on his lap.
Xia Zhiye had one arm around his waist and the other tidying up his hair, which was tousled by the mountain wind. He then softly chuckled. “Do you think you’re usually too harsh on me? Otherwise, why would Zhao Ruiwen think we’re enemies?”
Song Yan’s reasoning was not straightforward but also stubborn. “That’s because he is highly myopic, almost blind, even.”
“Yeah, you’re right. If he wasn’t that myopic, he would easily see that I like you very much,” Xia Zhiye said with a chuckle, leaning against Song Yan’s shoulder.
Even though he had heard Xia Zhiye’s confession many times, Song Yan’s heart still beat faster. “Could you please stop saying so many improper things all the time?”
“Honestly, even heartfelt truths to your boyfriend should be considered proper talk,” Xia Zhiye said, tightening his hold around Song Yan’s waist. “Speaking of which, it seems our Yan-ge hasn’t really said anything improper to me yet, has he?”
Except for the last quarrel, Song Yan really didn’t take the initiative to formally tell Xia Zhiye of his romantic feelings.
Thinking about it this way, it seems that he owes Xia Zhiye a little.
But now, when it came time for Song Yan to speak, he couldn’t find the words.
“Could it be that our Yan Ge doesn’t want to speak because he doesn’t like me?” Xia Zhiye quirked an eyebrow, knowing his personality well – the kind that won’t express anything unless pushed but that doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t genuinely like him.
“No.”
Song Yan answered in a hurry.
Xia Zhiye, taking advantage of the situation, couldn’t keep his hands to himself and began to stroke Song Yan’s waist, savoring the sensation of his boyfriend’s slender, firm, smooth waist. However, he feigned a slightly hurt expression on his face. “If you don’t dislike me, then why not just say you like me directly? And why are you unwilling to admit our relationship?”
“That’s not because of…”
“If you’re worried about your father finding out, we can just be more careful in our usual interactions. Why can’t we even tell friends like Zhao Ruiwen about our relationship? Do you think our relationship is something you can’t even talk about? Have you been planning to break up with me at any moment, so you don’t want to give me any recognition?”
“I said no.”
“Then how do you prove you don’t feel that way?”
“…”
After Xia Zhiye said that, there was a brief pause.
Xia Zhiye doesn’t really care if their relationship is public or not, he just wants to tease Song Yan.
However, Song Yan took it seriously. He pursed his lips and said softly, “I’m afraid my father will find out. But it’s not that we find it hard to say our relationship, or that we feel ashamed. It’s just that it’s…”
“What?”
“I feel embarrassed.”
“…”
Xia Zhiye had considered many aspects where Song Yan might feel concerned, and he found them understandable and reasonable. So, if Song Yan didn’t want to make their relationship public, he would cooperate.
But he hadn’t expected that, in the end, the reason would be so simple.
However, thinking about it carefully, this reason is indeed a reason that fits Song Yan’s character.
He wasn’t the kind of person to shrink back because of others’ malicious opinions, but he did feel embarrassed when others teased him with good intentions, making him not sure how to react.
Thinking of this, Xia Zhiye felt that his boyfriend was really adorable.
What Cool Guy? He’s just an adorable sweetheart who only looks cool on the surface.
Unable to resist, Xia Zhiye chuckled softly. “Then give me a kiss. One kiss, and I’ll believe you. We can continue our clandestine romance, hiding behind closed doors.”
“…”
Between opening his mouth and saying “I like you” and coming out on the spot, and accepting Zhao Ruiwen’s shocked scrutiny, Song Yan hesitated slightly before making a decision. “Then close your eyes.”
“You didn’t ask me to close my eyes the first two times you kissed me.”
“Shut up, this time is different! Close them!”
“Alright alright, I’ll close my eyes.”
Xia Zhiye smiled and closed his eyes.
Song Yan slowly lowered his eyelids, relying on the familiar sensation to guide him. He leaned forward, inch by inch, to touch Xia Zhiye’s lips.
Dongshan at night was very quiet. The mountain wind was slightly cold, carrying a hint of white plum blossom’s fragrance.
Song Yan leaned down and gently kissed Xia Zhiye, hoping that this kiss would secure a little secret between them.
Then a second after his lips touched Xia Zhiye’s, he heard an extremely shocked voice shouting: “What are you two doing!!”
At that moment, the world stopped.
The wind was no longer blowing, and the plum blossoms were no longer fragrant.
Song Yan and Xia Zhiye no longer have the impulse to kill or be ashamed and resentful to the point of self-destruction, only a tiredness that comes from experiencing vicissitudes and becoming accustomed to it.
Song Yan sighed.
Xia Zhiye also sighed.
Then he opened his eyes, turned his head to look at Zhao Ruiwen, who was full of shock and disbelief, and at Zhou Ziqiu, who was eagerly waiting for gossip. Exhaustion filled his gaze, as if he had given up resisting.
Their silent silence confirmed Zhao Ruiwen’s boldest, most shameful, and most unacceptable speculation, and his shock gave way to uncontrollable anger. “You two are too much! How could you do this! Are you even human?”
Zhou Ziqiu didn’t expect Zhao Ruiwen’s reaction to be so strong. He thought he couldn’t accept homosexuality, discriminated against and abhorred it. Just as he was about to stop him, he heard Zhao Ruiwen’s extremely sad and indignant voice: “It’s okay for you to date a guy! But can you justify your actions to [The Sweetest Little Milk Strawberry in the World], huh?!”
Zhou Ziqiu, who originally only wanted to eat melons and watch shits hitting the fan, heard the familiar name and looked at Zhao Ruiwen. “Who are you talking about?”
“The Sweetest Little Milk Strawberry in the World, Yan-ge’s girlfriend. She’s a particularly cute girl, but she’s cheated by Yan-ge…” Zhao Ruiwen clenched his fist and was furious.
And Zhou Ziqiu could no longer feel his anger. He looked at Song Yan and Xia Zhiye in disbelief.
Song Yan was momentarily unsure whether it would hit him harder or to make him feel cheated: telling Zhou Ziqiu that his supposed online girlfriend didn’t consider their relationship as romantic, or telling him that “she” wasn’t a girl in the first place.
He could only lower his head and sigh again.
The world stopped at that moment.
The wind was no longer blowing, and the plum blossoms were no longer fragrant.
He could pinpoint the moment Zhou Ziqiu’s heart would be broken by his revelation.
Xia Zhiye gently patted Song Yan’s head and said, “It’s okay, Yan-ge. I love you, so I’m willing to commit any crime for you, even murder and arson to cover up the evidence. Otherwise, this secret might not stay hidden.”
Song Yan rested his forehead on his shoulder and said tiredly, “Forget it, no need to cover it.”
He understood that there could never be eternal secrets in this world.
If there is, it will surely kill you in a myriad of ways one day.
So, love is what it is. He couldn’t care less about saving face.
