Lin Zhiyu felt as if he were on fire, his cheeks aflame as he avoided Xie Youzhou’s gaze. The light blush that spread across his flawless skin only made him more beautiful, drawing Xie Youzhou’s attention even further. He had always admired his brother’s gentle demeanor and steadfast nature, but this moment revealed a vulnerability he had never seen before—a softness that made his heart race.
Xie Youzhou couldn’t help but tighten his grip on Lin Zhiyu’s wrist, his voice trembling as he spoke. “Gege, I was going to tell you everything eventually, but I was afraid you might run away if you figured it out too soon. I didn’t want you to misunderstand me, so I want to say it clearly: I like you. No… I love you.”
The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken feelings and lingering tension. Lin Zhiyu’s heart pounded in his chest, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, drowning out everything around him. He struggled to find words, the weight of Xie Youzhou’s confession sinking deep into his soul.
The heat radiating from where Xie Youzhou held him felt almost unbearable, and Lin Zhiyu was painfully aware of the emotions stirring within him. He could feel his heart racing, and blood rushing to his face, making him feel both exposed and terrified. At that moment, he lost the ability to articulate his thoughts.
When Xie Youzhou didn’t receive an immediate response, his smile faltered slightly, but he maintained an encouraging demeanor. “Gege, just wait here. I want to show you something,” he said, his voice softening as he released Lin Zhiyu’s wrist and moved to the side of the bed.
As Xie Youzhou crouched down, Lin Zhiyu’s heart ached at the thought of his brother’s vulnerability. He watched him retrieve two large boxes from beneath the bed, the care with which he handled them reflecting their significance. They were polished black leather, a stark contrast to the dusty underbelly of the bed—a testament to how much Xie Youzhou cherished these items.
“In this box,” Xie Youzhou gestured toward the left one, his voice wavering slightly, “are the things gege gave me since I was a child. I’ve kept them carefully.”
Curiosity piqued, Lin Zhiyu found himself kneeling beside Xie Youzhou, his heart racing in anticipation. “Can I take a look?” he asked softly, a tremor in his voice.
“Of course.” Xie Youzhou’s eyes lit up as he opened the combination lock, revealing the treasures inside.
Lin Zhiyu’s heart warmed and ached at the sight. The box contained a mishmash of trinkets—worthless in the eyes of most, yet invaluable to Xie Youzhou. Among the items was a simple popsicle stick, and as Lin Zhiyu held it, memories flooded back.
“What is this?” he asked, incredulous.
“This is from when I was twelve,” Xie Youzhou explained, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “You took me to the bookstore for study materials and bought a pack of banana-flavored sorbet. You gave me one, and you kept the other. You might not remember, but I do.”
Lin Zhiyu blinked, taken aback by the emotional weight of such a small object. He set the popsicle stick back into the box, feeling the swell of emotion rising within him. The other items were equally mundane yet meaningful—a torn notebook, a gel pen, a yo-yo, a red scarf, and medical tapes, all remnants of their childhood together.
As he examined them, a lump formed in his throat. He couldn’t remember many of these moments; they felt distant and hazy as if seen through a fogged lens. Yet, the significance of Xie Youzhou’s connection to these memories tugged at his heart.
Xie Youzhou watched Lin Zhiyu intently, each reaction a glimmer of hope for him. He knew the pain of loss all too well; in a previous life, these mementos were his sole comfort after Lin Zhiyu’s tragic passing. The nights spent clutching these objects, filled with longing and grief, had etched themselves into his soul.
“Gege, it’s okay if you reject me,” Xie Youzhou’s voice trembled, the vulnerability palpable. “But can you not ignore me?”
This silly boy…
does he deserve to be liked so much?
Every moment of getting along with each other in the past also flashed through Lin Zhiyu’s mind. Whether it was the happy days before the torture or every day when he and Xiaoyou were reunited after his rebirth, they were all so reflected in Lin Zhiyu’s mind. It turned into countless dense threads, entangled in every emotion of his.
He simply couldn’t help but be moved by everything they had in the past, and he couldn’t treat this silly boy who had already become an important part of his life with indifference.
Lin Zhiyu’s heart raced as he placed his hand on the edge of the box, a sudden thought causing him to whisper, “What will happen to you if I ignore you again?”
Xie Youzhou’s expression shifted, his face paling at the weight of the question. “I…” His voice faltered, the intensity of his feelings nearly overwhelming him. The dark blue of his eyes dimmed, but despite the pain in his heart, affection surged within him, creating a gaping wound that ached painfully. “I will wait for the day when my brother turns back to me. I will keep… waiting.”
The thought of Lin Zhiyu turning away was almost unbearable. “I will secretly look at my brother from a distance every day, but I won’t let him find out,” he continued, trying to mask the despair that threatened to consume him.
Lin Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing through Xie Youzhou’s facade. “Tell me this—aren’t you afraid that I will give you a death order right now and make you stop peeking at me?”
Xie Youzhou forced a smile, even as sweat began to bead on his forehead. “I would still do it, Gege.”
Every word felt like a dagger in his heart. The thought of never seeing Lin Zhiyu again was suffocating, and he struggled against the overwhelming sadness. He couldn’t shake the desperate desire that bubbled up within him, an almost frantic urge to claim Lin Zhiyu as his own.
But he quickly pushed that thought away. How could he harbor such possessive desires? He wanted his brother to be happy, to live freely, even if it meant enduring the pain of distance.
As he lowered his head, fists clenched in turmoil, a soft voice broke through the silence. “You will never have a chance to peek.”
Xie Youzhou froze, a chill running through him, but the next words made his heart race. “Because you don’t need to peek. You should always stand by my side—stand closest to me.”
“Ge… Gege?” Xie Youzhou’s heart soared, disbelief flooding his senses. He felt cold at first, but then warmth surged through him as the meaning behind Lin Zhiyu’s words sank in.
“Gege, what do you mean? You won’t ignore me, right? You won’t ignore me in the future, right?!” He grabbed Lin Zhiyu’s arm, his grip fierce and desperate.
Lin Zhiyu looked down, a mix of tenderness and embarrassment coloring his cheeks. “What I mean is, actually… gege also likes you.”
Xie Youzhou’s heart raced faster than he thought possible. “Gegealso just discovered that I’m not just to you… ah!”
Before he could finish, Lin Zhiyu was engulfed in an overwhelming hug from Xie Youzhou.
Xie Youzhou felt like he was about to explode with joy, hormones raging through him like an untamed force. He held Lin Zhiyu tightly, his heart racing as he processed the reality of his gege’s words. “I can’t believe it! Gege likes me too?!”
His excitement was palpable, the joy flooding through him as he realized the distance he had feared was now closing. He couldn’t grasp that his dream had finally come true.
“Gege, can you say it again? You… me… I’m not dreaming, am I?” His voice was thick with emotion, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Lin Zhiyu coughed to mask his embarrassment, feeling his heart racing in response to the heat of the moment. He was overwhelmed by his feelings but struggled to articulate them again. “Yes, you are dreaming. It’s not you that I like, but someone else.”
Xie Youzhou’s eyes widened in panic. “Gege, you can’t like others!” He pulled Lin Zhiyu closer, lifting him off the ground. Lin Zhiyu gasped, startled. “What are you doing? Put me down!”
“Gege, you just said you liked me! You can’t go back on it!” Xie Youzhou’s grip was unwavering, and he maneuvered them to the table beside him.
Lin Zhiyu, cheeks flushed, felt a rush of helplessness and affection. “Really?” he asked, a teasing smile forming as he looked at Xie Youzhou, whose expression was a mixture of hope and determination.
The dim light filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow on Lin Zhiyu as he sat on the table, the softness of his hair illuminated by the fading sunlight. He gazed down at Xie Youzhou, whose broad shoulders and long arms surrounded him, a protective embrace that made Lin Zhiyu’s heart flutter.
With tenderness and resolve, Xie Youzhou leaned down, kissing the top of Lin Zhiyu’s head. “Gege, I love you.”
The warmth spread through Lin Zhiyu, igniting his cheeks with a deep blush. He didn’t speak, but he instinctively reached up, wrapping his arms around Xie Youzhou’s shoulders, feeling the strength and warmth radiating from him.