INS Chapter 36

The store’s counter faced the city, and the middle of the store was like a passageway that could be entered from both sides. One side faced the street, and the other side directly connected to the campus.

Wen Qingying stood on the street, facing this side. Even if he looked over, he couldn’t see the entire store.

From the color of the clothes, Tao Ling recognized the boy standing next to him. He nodded. “I’m his friend. And you are?”

 

“I’m his undergraduate classmate, now I’m studying for a master’s degree at the same university.” The boy quickly said in a small voice, “Gege, can you leave me your contact information? He doesn’t seem to want to see me. He dropped out in his senior year, then later lost contact with everyone. Our classmates have always been thinking about him. We’ve looked for him everywhere but couldn’t find him.”

As soon as the boy said the first two sentences, Tao Ling had already taken out his phone. After the conversation, the two parties immediately exchanged contacts. The boy looked outside and said, “I’m relieved to see that he’s okay.”

 

Right at this point, Wen Qingying suddenly looked up. Tao Ling’s heart tightened, but he still waved to him naturally.

The clerk also called his number, so Tao Ling had a reason to look away. When he looked to the side, the boy was gone.

He was startled, thinking that he really ran away too fast, it’s not like Wen Qingying is a cat.

 

He picked up two cups of strawberry milk and met Wen Qingying at the door. Tao Ling handed over one of the cups, then discovered that his sweater collar was tucked in a little, so he straightened it.

Wen Qingying lowered his gaze, then opened the cup in his hand and handed it to him, exchanging it for the unopened one.

Their fingertips touched. Tao Ling smiled.

 

They continued walking forward side by side. The phone in his pocket vibrated twice, but Tao Ling didn’t dare to take it out. He couldn’t help thinking about what that classmate said just now. After dropping out of school, Wen Qingying cut contact with everyone.

What situation made him choose to cut off contact with everyone?

Thinking of this, it felt as if his heart was cut with a knife.

 

Wen Qingying wasn’t aware of this, and after leaving that area, he was obviously relieved.

According to their original plan, the two would walk around Summer Palace. Wen Qingying was more familiar with Beijing, so Tao Ling didn’t bother with navigation and just followed him.

 

“Sir, I haven’t been in Beijing for three years. Why do you still follow me? Aren’t you afraid of getting separated?” On the bus, Wen Qingying sent a message with one hand.

Tao Ling smiled, temporarily ignoring the unread messages and the friend request, replying, “That won’t happen.”

Just as the message was sent out, the bus came to a sudden stop. Tao Ling almost fell over, but Wen Qingying immediately supported him by the waist.

 

After two seconds of silence, Wen Qingying took Tao Ling’s hand and circled it around his own waist.

Tao Ling was startled and wanted to pull his hand away immediately, but the shaking was so bad that he just held on and didn’t let go.

Confirming that he held on steadily, Wen Qingying typed with one hand again, “Sorry, sir. It’s safer this way. I’m not trying to sell you off.”

 

After seeing the message, Tao Ling couldn’t help smiling. He put the phone back in his bag, with one hand still around Wen Qingying.

The bus kept stopping, and the temperature of the air conditioner was set very high. Wen Qingying had just unzipped his coat when Tao Ling’s shoulder pressed against his chest. Through the sweater, he could feel the other person’s body temperature.

Fortunately, Tao Ling didn’t blush much. Otherwise, he would definitely be as red as a shrimp.

 

After leaning on him for a while, Tao Ling’s posture gradually became less elegant. He seemed to be standing amongst the crowd, supported by all sides, but in fact, he only leaned on Wen Qingying.

 

They finally entered Summer Palace. Even in the bitter winter cold, there were still many tourists surrounding Kunming Lake.

It was almost impossible to walk side by side along the lakeside because they had to keep avoiding other pedestrians. After walking for a while, Tao Ling wanted to leave. When he turned around, he only saw a dense crowd of people. Wen Qingying wasn’t among them.

He was stunned for a moment, thinking that Wen Qingying was just playing a prank on him. He immediately looked around, but he really didn’t see the familiar figure. He immediately lowered his head and sent a message, “Where are you?”

 

Wen Qingying replied very quickly, “On the side of the small path just now. I was letting other people go first, but when it was my turn, I couldn’t see sir anymore. I walked onward for a bit, but I was afraid that you wouldn’t be able to find me, so I returned to the original spot.”

After the tension, Tao Ling couldn’t help but want to laugh a little, and immediately replied, “Stay there and wait for me.”

Wen Qingying: “Okay.”

 

He then walked back to where he came. It took a full quarter of an hour before he saw Wen Qingying. He stood quietly on the side that didn’t block the path. Because he was tall, he could be seen from a distance.

Tao Ling breathed a sigh of relief, then walked quickly through the crowd towards him.

 

Seeing Tao Ling approaching, Wen Qingying took a few steps forward. Tao Ling pulled him back and stood still on the side of the road.

Wen Qingying smiled embarrassedly, typing, “Sorry, sir.”

Tao Ling shook his head and also smiled. He put away his phone and looked at the people coming and going around them. Although he knew that Wen Qingying wasn’t a child and couldn’t have been lost, the fear still crept up on him.

 

After comparing for a moment, Tao Ling raised his hand and held Wen Qingying.

Wen Qingying was startled. He slightly widened his eyes and looked at him blankly.

This kind of expression was too innocent. Tao Ling couldn’t help but curse himself and was about to let go, but Wen Qingying used some strength and brought his hand into his palm.

 

The stunned person changed to Tao Ling. He opened his mouth, then suddenly remembering that it was useless to speak, closed it again.

Wen Qingying seemed to know what he wanted to say and pointed to the path ahead with his empty hand.

 

Tao Ling was led for a while in a daze, and then he remembered that this situation was too strange. Two grown men holding hands openly in the crowd. No matter how he thought about it, it was wrong.

He paid some attention, and sure enough, someone would look over from time to time. He tried to pull his hand out, but Wen Qingying seemed unaware and held on.

 

In the winter, the wind from the lake was stinging. Any patch of skin that wasn’t wrapped up would freeze. Tao Ling was about to struggle again, but Wen Qingying suddenly gently brought both of their hands into his own pocket.

The pocket of the down jacket was wide, and it was just right for two hands to fit.

 

Tao Ling felt that he was too shy just now, so he stopped struggling and let Wen Qingying hold his hand completely. But what he didn’t expect was for their hands to end up being interlocked together.

What does interlocking mean?

Tao Ling turned his head to look at Wen Qingying. Wen Qingying’s profile was calm, and only the corners of his mouth were slightly pursed, making Tao Ling feel some subtle emotions.

What did this mean?

 

Tao Ling still couldn’t react even after they walked around the entire Kunming Lake.

When they reached a place where there were fewer people, Tao Ling’s hand was still being held by Wen Qingying. He was about to confusedly push up his glasses, and stretched out his hand. But then he remembered that, for convenience, he wore contact lenses today.

Tao Ling: “…”

 

Without realizing it, they had come across an entrance. In front of them was a path in between grass, wide enough to only accommodate one person, so they had to separate their hands.

Tao Ling stuck his hand in his coat pocket and walked in front of Wen Qingying, feeling that his fingers were a little numb.

Just now, it was held too tightly, so now it felt empty.

On the way back, the two of them didn’t communicate again outside of asking about dinner. In the end, it was still Tao Ling who made the decision.

It felt like they didn’t really go anywhere, but it was already nine in the evening when they returned to the hotel.

 

After entering the room, Tao Ling took off his coat and hung it up, then stood in the back to look at Wen Qingying’s strong shoulders.

He wanted to ask about the meaning of holding hands, but he was worried that he was overthinking. He felt like he was in a state of confusion, so he stood there without saying anything.

Wen Qingying walked a few steps inside, then looked back at him.

 

When their eyes met, Wen Qingying showed a questioning look on his face. Tao Ling frowned slightly. In the impulse of the moment, Tao Ling suddenly took a few steps toward him.

They faced each other, just one step away. He muttered, “It’s a little cold,” then leaned over to hug Wen Qingying.

Wen Qingying was stunned for a moment, but only for a moment. Immediately, he stretched out his hands and hugged him, bringing him into his embrace before Tao Ling had a chance to regret his actions.

 

The urge to cry came violently. Tao Ling buried his face in Wen Qingying’s neck, using all his strength to prevent tears from flowing out.

Sensing the fluctuations in Tao Ling’s mood, and in order to comfort him, or perhaps to comfort himself, Wen Qingying lowered his head and carefully kissed Tao Ling on the top of his head.

Seeing that Tao Ling didn’t show any refusal, he slowly moved away a little, lowered his head a little more, and this time, kissed Tao Ling’s forehead.

 

Lips fell on the skin, soft and moist. Tao Ling looked up, and they both saw each other’s burning eyes clearly.

In the next moment, Wen Qingying’s kiss fell on his eyebrows, then on the bridge of his nose, and after a moment, it finally fell solemnly on his lips.

And immediately withdrew.

Tao Ling immediately wrapped his arms around Wen Qingying’s neck. Their bodies finally fit together.

 

“Kiss me.” Tao Ling looked up and said hoarsely.

Wen Qingying looked at his lips and understood his meaning without any trouble. He lowered his head once again, and this time, pressed on hard.

Both of them felt the other’s helplessness, as well as each other’s trembles.

There was no rule, with only the instinct of touch in control. But under inexplicable restraint, neither side dared to move, as if they were afraid of something.

 

After their lips parted for a moment, Tao Ling moved in close again. They were intimate for a long time, reluctant to part. Wen Qingying still held his waist tightly.

They looked at each other for a long while. Tao Ling gently pushed, and Wen Qingying finally let go, but still looked at him so gently.

 

Taking out his phone, Tao Ling typed, “You wash up first?”

Wen Qingying nodded, lingered for a bit more, then finally entered the bathroom.

 

Tao Ling sat down on the bed, threw himself down, and buried his face in the quilt. Incredibly, he kissed Wen Qingying.

 

His brain was overloaded, and Tao Ling forced himself to divert his attention. He thought about the paper for a while, but kept getting stuck. Finally, he remembered something, rubbed his face, stood up, and took out his phone.

He opened WeChat and saw the friend request from daytime. The other party was called Xia Chi.

 

After accepting the request, Tao Ling said, “Sorry, classmate. I was with Wen Qingying all day and didn’t dare to talk. My name is Tao Ling.”

Xia Chi replied, “No problem. Can I call you Ling ge? Nice to meet you, Ling ge. I wanted to ask, what city are you guys from?”

Tao Ling: “Wu City.”

Xia Chi: “Just what happened to him back then?”

Tao Ling was suspicious and asked, “Didn’t he tell you the reason when he dropped out?”

 

Xia Chi: “When he left, he asked for leave, saying that his family asked him to go back because he had undergone vocal cord surgery and his rehabilitation was at a critical stage. We didn’t think anything of it and thought he was going back to see a doctor, but he never came back to school. At first, he responded to messages, but later he didn’t even read them. He changed from asking for leave to taking a leave of absence, and finally to dropping out. He didn’t even come back to complete the formalities.”

 

Listening to the sound of the water in the bathroom, Tao Ling continued to ask, “Didn’t he tell you about anything going on at home before he left? For example, someone was sick or something?”

Xia Chi: “No.”

 

At this point, the sound of water in the bathroom had completely stopped, and Tao Ling hurriedly said, “He finished his shower. Let’s talk another day.”

Xia Chi: “Okay.”

 

After putting down his phone, Wen Qingying came out wiping his hair. When he met Tao Ling’s gaze, he pursed his lips.

 

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TL:

Xia Chi 夏持 has the same last name as Xia Chaoyang. His name can be interpreted as “holding on to summer” or “supporting summer”

Also, sorry about the delay and any possible future delays ><. School is starting again so I’ve been busy. Thanks for understanding ^^