He was just an ordinary person. He would be attracted to good looks and admire innocence. He would also enjoy tenderness and be touched by careful nurturing.
Yu Qiu was never someone who beat around the bush in matters of the heart. If he liked someone, he would make a move. If he didn’t, he would keep a distance.
He thought he would find the most suitable person when he achieved fame and fortune, during his most splendid moments.
But Xuan Yun chose to embrace him gently when the world abandoned and isolated him, saying, “I believe in you.”
That is more precious than anything else.
When Xuan Yun woke up, there was no one beside him. He groggily searched around and only felt the coldness. He immediately got up, put on his slippers, and rushed outside.
He saw Yu Qiu preparing breakfast.
Yu Qiu turned around and smiled, “Good morning.”
Xuan Yun’s relieved heart settled, and he slowly walked over, hugging Yu Qiu from behind and kissing his cheek, “It’s not good. I woke up this morning and didn’t see you; I was scared.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Yu Qiu said, “Alright, let’s eat.”
Xuan Yun didn’t let go and said, “Qiu ge, you forgot.”
“Hmm?”
“I said I like you last night, and you haven’t responded to me yet.”
Yu Qiu found it funny, turning around to face him with a playful smile, “I already kissed you, let you sleep at my place, and held you last night. Isn’t it obvious?”
Suddenly, Xuan Yun’s feet lost their ground as he picked up Yu Qiu, shouting, “Put me down!”
“No,” though he said that, Xuan Yun still obediently put him down. He was slightly taller than Yu Qiu, so Yu Qiu looked up at him, tiptoed, kissed him, and then pushed him away, saying, “Alright, go freshen up. No more playing.”
“Okay.”
After the two finished breakfast, Yu Qiu went to work. Although Xuan Yun had nothing specific to do, he couldn’t always follow Yu Qiu to the coffee shop since it was too crowded. He could only walk with him halfway.
Xuan Yun asked, “Qiu ge, can I still sleep at your place in the future?”
“Can’t,” Yu Qiu pondered for a moment, “After all, you’re a public figure now. It’s not a good idea to be discovered. Be good.”
Xuan Yun wasn’t too happy and playfully bit him in a secluded corner where nobody was around. Yu Qiu had to pacify him with a kiss, saying, “There will be plenty of chances in the future.”
What Yu Qiu didn’t see was that at the moment he finished saying that sentence, in the dark corner behind them, a faint glimmer of light flashed, and a quiet “click” was drowned in the noise of passing cars.
…
The café was crowded today, and Yu Qiu was overwhelmed with work. In the afternoon, when there were fewer people, he finally had some time to rest. Zhong Yu complained, “There are too many people; I want to curse.”
Yu Qiu handed him a piece of candy, and Zhong Yu took it. It was a strawberry-flavored bubble gum.
“Yu Qiu, why don’t you lie down and rest for a while? I’ll keep an eye on things.” Zhong Yu opened the wrapper, revealing the strawberry flavor, and said, “I have nothing to do anyway.”
“It’s fine,” Yu Qiu had just said that when the door was pushed open.
Yu Qiu unexpectedly made eye contact with the person who entered.
The man was wearing a white sweater and black work pants, appearing to be in his mid-twenties. Even though it had been a long time since they last met, Yu Qiu immediately recognized him.
A scene flashed through his mind.
It was two years ago when the man was wearing a clumsy and thick brown bear outfit. On a scorching summer day, he held a piece of paper covered with words and stood in the park, loudly reciting love poems to Yu Qiu. Yu Qiu looked at his eyebrows and eyes, hoping to find traces of the past, but he vaguely felt that something had changed.
“Yu Qiu…” the man said his name. Yu Qiu contemplated those two words but couldn’t find the feeling from the past, “Long time no see.”
“If you want to reminisce, I might not have the time, and I don’t have a habit of sitting down with ex-boyfriends to talk about life,” Yu Qiu said coolly.
“I have something I want to talk to you about,” the man said.
Yu Qiu lowered his eyes and tore open the wrapper of the strawberry bubble gum, nonchalantly saying, “I’m a bit busy.”
“Then let’s talk after work,” the man sat down, “I’ll order a cup of coffee.”
Zhong Yu didn’t quite understand the situation and felt the strange atmosphere between the two. He asked Yu Qiu in a low voice, “Brother, who is this?”
“It’s nothing,” Yu Qiu smiled at him, “You can go and make the coffee.”
Zhong Yu looked puzzled as he went to make the coffee. Yu Qiu sighed and said, “What’s the matter?”
“I’m really not at ease talking to you. My boyfriend wouldn’t be happy about it.”
