Lin Zhiyu froze, a rush of warmth flooding his cheeks as he stood there, caught in the moment. He quickly remembered that Professor Bai was still in the laboratory, and in a fluster, he patted Xie Youzhou’s shoulder. From Professor Bai’s perspective, however, it appeared as if they were embracing.
“What’s wrong, Xiaoyou? What happened?” Lin Zhiyu asked, concern edging into his voice.
“Gege…” Xie Youzhou murmured, his voice low and hoarse. He buried his face into Lin Zhiyu’s neck, inhaling deeply. The familiar, refreshing scent of his brother enveloped him, soothing the deep-seated fears he had been grappling with.
For a fleeting moment, Xie Youzhou felt the gaping void in his heart begin to close, filled by the warmth of Lin Zhiyu’s presence. But when he noticed Professor Bai approaching, he reluctantly released his brother, the yearning still evident in his eyes.
“I… I fell asleep this afternoon and had a nightmare. I dreamed you disappeared, and I couldn’t find you,” he confessed, his voice cracking with a vulnerability that tugged at Lin Zhiyu’s heart.
Under normal circumstances, Lin Zhiyu might have found the explanation amusing, but the sincerity in Xie Youzhou’s tone pierced through him, and an ache settled in his chest. He couldn’t shake the thought that maybe, just maybe, this young man had also felt sorrow when he lost him in his previous life.
“Gege won’t disappear; it was just a dream,” Lin Zhiyu reassured him, instinctively stepping closer and wrapping his arms around Xie Youzhou, gently patting his back like one would to soothe a child.
Xie Youzhou was taken aback for a moment, but the surprise quickly morphed into joy as he embraced Lin Zhiyu tighter. The warmth of the moment felt too precious to let go of until they were interrupted by a chuckle.
“Is he a child?” Professor Bai remarked playfully, approaching them with a smile.
“I had a nightmare, and I needed my brother to comfort me,” Xie Youzhou retorted, cheeks flushing with embarrassment but unwilling to release his grip on Lin Zhiyu.
“Oh, Xiaoyou is still quite young,” Lin Zhiyu interjected, clearing his throat as he awkwardly stepped back, feeling the heat of his embarrassment rise. “He’s not even nineteen yet.”
“I know,” Professor Bai replied, his smile broadening as she observed the bond between the two. “Your brother cares about you. He rushed over because you were distressed. It’s heartwarming to see such strong brotherly love.”
Xie Youzhou quickly added, “Gege saved my life. To me, he’s closer than my biological brother.” He spoke earnestly, fearing that Lin Zhiyu might pull away if he sensed the deep affection Xie Youzhou harbored for him.
Lin Zhiyu’s heart swelled at the words, yet a tinge of sadness accompanied the joy. Why did it feel so bittersweet?
“Let’s not dwell on the past; that was years ago,” Lin Zhiyu said, trying to shake off the melancholy.
He grabbed a bottle of alcohol and playfully sprayed it towards Xie Youzhou, a mock reprimand in his tone. “Do you realize how dirty lab coats get? You just hugged me like that, and now look at this mess! You can’t do that next time!”
Xie Youzhou sputtered, sneezing multiple times from the sudden spray. “I… cough—cough—got it, gege! I remember!” His laughter mixed with coughs echoed in the lab.
Professor Bai watched them, unable to suppress his laughter at their antics. “When is Xiaoyou’s birthday, anyway? He’s not even nineteen yet!”
Lin Zhiyu paused, the nozzle still pressed down, before continuing to spray alcohol. “It’s coming up soon, Professor Bai. His birthday is this month.”
Xie Youzhou beamed, clearly pleased that Lin Zhiyu remembered. “That’s right! I’m excited!”
“Don’t forget to bring a big piece of cake when the time comes,” Professor Bai said, his eyes sparkling.
“I promise, Professor Bai! I’ll bring you the biggest one!” Xie Youzhou declared, his enthusiasm infectious.
As Lin Zhiyu listened, he felt a pang of dissatisfaction with the birthday gift he had previously chosen. He had planned to give Xie Youzhou a suit and tie, recognizing that he had only one, which was already too small. But now, the gift felt inadequate, lacking the depth of emotion he wanted to convey.
The thought lingered in his mind, and he pondered how to express the bond they shared in a way that truly reflected his feelings.
Lin Zhiyu pondered the idea of adding something special to his birthday gift for Xie Youzhou, but as he walked home, nothing concrete came to mind. Beside him, Xie Youzhou sensed his brother’s distraction and decided to stay quiet, fearing he might interrupt Lin Zhiyu’s train of thought.
Their silence lingered until they reached the point of parting. Unable to hold back any longer, Xie Youzhou ventured, “Gege, are you free tomorrow night?”
Lin Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, curious. “What’s up?”
“Ahem… my mom won a meal ticket for two at the Jingdi High-altitude Revolving Restaurant a few days ago. She was planning to come back for the holiday, but now she has a research assignment and can’t make it. The ticket will expire soon,” Xie Youzhou explained, his heart racing as he felt the weight of his hidden intentions.
He purposely left out that the meal was a couple’s set, wanting to maintain an air of casualness. The Jingdi Revolving Restaurant was renowned for its romantic ambiance, especially during dinner. Despite his nerves, Xie Youzhou felt a thrill at the prospect of spending a special evening with Lin Zhiyu.
“Are you sure you want to use it tomorrow? It fits perfectly since your birthday is only three days away,” Lin Zhiyu replied, smiling at the idea.
“I want to take you somewhere else on my actual birthday,” Xie Youzhou said, his mind racing to a more intimate location—a place he had dreamt of for confessing his feelings, though he dared not mention that yet.
“Alright, you’re the birthday boy; it’s your call.” Lin Zhiyu agreed easily, his gentle smile revealing how little he could refuse Xie Youzhou.
—
As Lin Zhiyu entered his home, he was immediately greeted by his younger sister, Lin Zhaoqiu, who burst forth with excitement. “Ge! I have great news! Xiao Hua ranked 15th in the monthly exam! Her math has improved so much!”
“That’s wonderful!” Lin Zhiyu responded, setting his backpack aside and pouring himself a glass of water. “It seems your tutoring is paying off.”
“Hehe…” Lin Zhaoqiu beamed, pride evident on her face. “I’ve been teaching her math since junior high. Her logical thinking has developed.”
Suddenly, Lin Zhaoqiu bent down, scrutinizing Lin Zhiyu’s face. “Ge… why do I feel like you’re not happy today?”
Lin Zhiyu paused, surprised. “Why would you think that?”
“Maybe you have something on your mind,” she replied, feigning a deep frown as she mimicked a serious expression. “See? You look just like this!”
“Am I really that obvious?” Lin Zhiyu chuckled, rolling his eyes. “You’re exaggerating.”
“I’m not exaggerating! You have something bothering you. Why don’t you tell me? I could help! Three cobblers are worth one Zhuge Liang, you know!” she insisted, pouting. “Ge, if you don’t trust me, we’re going to drift apart, wuwu…”
Lin Zhiyu couldn’t help but laugh, ruffling her hair affectionately. “What are you thinking about all the time? That’s such a dramatic scene.”
Lin Zhaoqiu pouted even more, head tilted like a disgruntled rooster. “Seriously! You’re worried about that stinky boy’s birthday gift! He’ll like whatever you give him! He’d frame even your old socks and call them treasure! Why do I feel like I’m being usurped here?”
“Jealous, are we?” Lin Zhiyu teased, raising an eyebrow. “Just now, you were all about giving advice, and now you’re jealous? Why has this cobbler turned into a jealous saleswoman?”
“I’m not jealous!” Lin Zhaoqiu declared, puffing her chest out defiantly. “I’m your sister! Why would I be jealous of an outsider? For a birthday gift, I think you could give him a tie, a belt, a suit, shoes—anything would be fine!”
“I have a suit and tie planned, but something feels off,” Lin Zhiyu confessed, scratching his head.
“Is that it?” Lin Zhaoqiu’s face fell, disappointment washing over her.
“Ge, come on! You’re fretting so much over that stinky boy! He’ll love anything! He could be happy with a potato!” she exclaimed, frustration edging into her voice. “You didn’t even think that hard for my gifts!”
Lin Zhaoqiu then smiled sweetly, forcing herself to remain calm. “But if you want it to be special, why not add something personal? Like handmade bookmarks or something? It shows more affection. A handmade gift truly reflects your feelings.”
Lin Zhiyu’s eyes brightened. “That’s a great idea!” he exclaimed, realization dawning on him. He quickly patted his sister on the shoulder in appreciation. “I’ll make something myself to go along with the suit and tie!”
As he thought, his mind wandered through ideas. A scarf? No, he couldn’t knit. A photo mug? Too cliché. The more he considered, the more he shot down the suggestions until he stumbled upon a men’s luxury DIY store that offered custom cufflinks and tie clips.
Excited, Lin Zhiyu decided that creating personalized accessories would be perfect.
The following day at noon, after class, he drove to the DIY store, eager to start crafting his gifts. The store owner welcomed him warmly and explained the different materials available. Lin Zhiyu, wearing a mask, initially went unnoticed due to his handsome features and distinguished demeanor, which started to draw attention from other customers.
Feeling a little uncomfortable under the scrutiny, he found a secluded corner and dedicated himself to the project for nearly an hour and a half, fashioning a diamond cufflink and a pearl tie clip. Several men approached him for advice, but he politely declined, feeling he didn’t want to mislead them.
However, his rejections only seemed to heighten their interest.
Finally finished, Lin Zhiyu tucked the finished pieces away carefully and stood to pay. Just as he was about to leave, the tallest and most striking man among those he had turned away stood up, determination in his stride.
Before he could approach, the door swung open abruptly. A boy rushed in, almost colliding with Lin Zhiyu. The boy, visibly distressed and with tears in his eyes, looked familiar—wasn’t he the cousin of that student he had dined with?
The boy rushed toward the male shopkeeper, hugging him tightly. “Ahhhhh! That bastard Cao Chengfei… he doesn’t want me anymore!” he sobbed, his cries echoing in the shop.
Lin Zhiyu froze, taken aback by the scene unfolding before him.
