Jiang Siyang’s stunned expression and Xiao Zhou’s clumsy acting made Zhang Jin’an burst into laughter. He tapped the table lightly. “Xiao Zhou, Xiao Zhou, your acting is a bit over the top.”
“Oh, really?” Xiao Zhou scratched her head. “It’s my first time playing a nouveau riche; I haven’t quite mastered the role. Anyway, I’m off to pay.”
With that, Xiao Zhou walked away.
Zhang Jin’an looked at Jiang Siyang, recalling what he had discussed with Li Qiang earlier.
Wasn’t now the perfect time?
Deciding to seize the moment, he called out, “Siyang.”
Jiang Siyang was checking the time on his phone, but he immediately locked it and set it on the table when he heard his name. He looked up. “Yeah?”
“I’m heading to Xiaonanshan soon, right?” Zhang Jin’an said.
They were sitting by the window on the second floor. Outside, the sky had turned dark, and the streetlights were flickering to life one by one. Occasionally, a few pedestrians would stroll past.
“You mentioned that. What about it?” Jiang Siyang asked.
Zhang Jin’an rested his folded hands on the table. “I was thinking of taking the opportunity to go home and tell my family about us… What do you think?”
Jiang Siyang nodded thoughtfully.
Zhang Jin’an continued, “I feel like my family should know this news before the public does. My household is relatively liberal, and I’ve already dropped a hint to Zhang Qingyue. I think they’ll be able to accept it quite quickly.”
Zhang Jin’an watched as Jiang Siyang looked up, meeting his gaze.
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea,” Jiang Siyang said with a smile. “It’s a pity I have work that day and can’t go with you. Please give your parents my regards.”
Although Zhang Jin’an knew Jiang Siyang would agree, hearing the response still made him feel a sense of relief.
Allowing him to introduce himself to his parents meant that Jiang Siyang, like him, had included the other person in his vision of the future.
Rounding this up, it was practically "meeting the parents."
Unable to contain his joy, Zhang Jin’an comforted him, “It’s fine. There will be plenty of chances to meet later.”
“But on my father’s side…” Jiang Siyang’s voice trailed off.
Zhang Jin’an had already considered Jiang Siyang’s concerns; it was a difficult issue.
Telling one’s family was never that simple; everyone had different perspectives.
Jiang Siyang’s family situation was different from his. Zhang’s family included foreigners and was naturally more liberal. As for Jiang Siyang, Zhang knew his mother had passed away, leaving only his father. In a traditional Chinese family, the older generation wasn't always so open-minded about same-sex relationships.
They could only take it one step at a time.
“My dad is quite conservative…” Jiang Siyang said.
“Yeah, I understand,” Zhang Jin’an replied.
As if afraid Zhang Jin’an might misunderstand, Jiang Siyang added quickly, “But don’t worry, I’ll find a way to tell him. I don’t think there’s any need to keep this from him.”
Zhang Jin’an really wanted everyone else to see what a wonderful young man his partner was. His boyfriend.
He was upright and honest about everything, and he always cared about Zhang Jin’an’s feelings.
Their ways of handling things differed, but they always ended up on the same page. How could he not love him?
Zhang Jin’an smiled and shook his head. “There’s no rush. When the time is right, I’ll go with you to see your father.”
Jiang Siyang was clearly surprised. “Really?”
Zhang Jin’an nodded. “I’m the one who started this; I can’t let you bear all of this alone.”
Jiang Siyang shook his head. “It’s not really about ‘bearing’ anything. We have to be open about it sooner or later. I just hope it’s sooner, so that…”
“I’m back! What are you two chatting about?” Xiao Zhou reappeared before them, looking cheerful.
Xiao Zhou’s arrival interrupted Jiang Siyang. Zhang Jin’an felt a slight pang of regret; he was curious about what Jiang Siyang was going to say next. But seeing that Jiang Siyang had no intention of continuing, he didn’t plan on asking right then.
“Nothing much, just about my trip to Xiaonanshan,” Zhang Jin’an said.
Xiao Zhou didn't sit down immediately. Standing by their side, she asked, “What time is it? Are we heading out?”
Zhang Jin’an checked his watch. “We can sit for another ten minutes or so. We’ll leave at seven-thirty.”
“Cool. Want to play a game?”
Zhang Jin’an shrugged and pulled out his phone, showing Xiao Zhou that he only had thirty percent battery left. “I’d love to, but I forgot to charge it yesterday. It’s almost dead.”
Xiao Zhou sat down next to Jiang Siyang. “Aww, even the best horse stumbles sometimes.”
“You can use mine,” Jiang Siyang said, sliding his phone toward Zhang Jin’an.
Zhang Jin’an took the phone naturally. “What about you?”
“I don’t really know how to play anyway. I’ll just watch you guys,” Jiang Siyang said.
“That works.” Zhang Jin’an unlocked the phone.
“Wait, wait, wait—”
Both Jiang Siyang and Zhang Jin’an looked at Xiao Zhou.
Xiao Zhou pointed at the white-cased phone in Zhang Jin’an’s hands. “Is it always this natural for you two to swap phones?”
The two of them found her reaction strange. Jiang Siyang asked in confusion, “What’s wrong with that?”
“Siyang, aren’t you afraid he’ll see something?”
Jiang Siyang shook his head. “No. Jin’an isn’t the type to snoop through things. Besides, there’s nothing on my phone anyway, just a few photos.”
“Exactly,” Zhang Jin’an agreed. “Same here.”
Xiao Zhou rubbed her hands together with a mischievous grin at Zhang Jin’an. “Then, Big Bro, I’d like to use your phone for a bit. You see…”
Zhang Jin’an opened the game, not even sparing Xiao Zhou a glance. “Sure. Give me two hundred thousand, and I’ll just give it to you.”
Xiao Zhou: “...Damn.”
Muttering "double standards," Xiao Zhou also opened the game.
Xiao Zhou’s skills were naturally not as good as Zhang Jin’an’s. After being killed four times, she tearfully cried out in their small group chat with Zhang Jin’an and Li Qiang: “Too cruel, too cruel!” hoping Li Qiang would comfort her.
Instead, she received a message from Li Qiang: “Not bad. You died one less time than last time.”
At seven-thirty, they left. As Xiao Zhou stood up, she was still staring at that message. Finally, she couldn’t help but ask Zhang Jin’an, “Why does it look like Brother Qiang is comforting me, but I feel like I’m being humiliated? Why?”
Zhang Jin’an patted her shoulder. “Because you’re not overthinking it. Brother Qiang *is* humiliating you.”
Xiao Zhou: “……”
Consequently, on the way back, Xiao Zhou walked very fast to catch up with Li Qiang, while Zhang Jin’an and Jiang Siyang walked at a normal pace, creating quite a distance between them.
But this was for the best, as it gave the two of them some private space.
Zhang Jin’an realized that despite coming to this studio so many times, he had never looked closely at the roadside scenery.
To their right was a stretch of green woods—no fence, just a small hill densely planted with pine trees leading up to the intersection. A few moths circled the streetlights.
There were very few passing cars, making it quiet and perfect for a stroll.
“I heard they’re going to build residential buildings on this plot,” Zhang Jin’an said to Jiang Siyang, glancing at the pines.
Jiang Siyang nodded. “I heard Sister Liu mention it too. But that’s years away; it’s still early.”
“Time really does fly, though. Yuan Yuan and you are about to wrap up your scenes, and December will be here before we know it. Another year gone,” Zhang Jin’an said, looking at their shadows on the ground.
Time truly moved fast; it felt as if they had only met yesterday.
Jiang Siyang hummed in agreement. “I’ve been thinking… I’ve decided to buy a house next year.”
“Really?” Zhang Jin’an looked up at him. “That’s great.”
Jiang Siyang spoke as he thought, “But the house probably won’t be as big as yours.”
Zhang Jin’an nodded. “What do you need such a big place for? As long as it’s enough to live in.”
Jiang Siyang continued, “It can’t be too small, either. My current place is a bit cramped for all my stuff.”
Zhang Jin’an nodded again. “True. A bit more space is better.”
Suddenly, Jiang Siyang stopped walking. Zhang Jin’an stopped as well.
He saw Jiang Siyang let out a snort and double over with laughter. “Hahahaha…”
Though Zhang Jin’an didn’t understand what was so funny, seeing Jiang Siyang so amused made him chuckle too. His lips curled upward as he asked, “What are you laughing at?”
Jiang Siyang shook his head, still laughing. “No, it’s just… I feel like no matter what I say, you say I’m right.”
Zhang Jin’an finally understood. Recalling his responses just now, it really did seem that way.
“Pretty much. But what you said *was* right,” Zhang Jin’an said, pointing at Jiang Siyang with a laugh. “And don’t laugh at me—don’t you do the same thing to me?”
“I guess I do,” Jiang Siyang said, wiping the corner of his eye as he walked back to Zhang Jin’an’s side, the smile still lingering on his face.
“We’re two of a kind. Neither of us can talk,” Zhang Jin’an said with a smile.
“Fair enough.” Jiang Siyang’s eyes crinkled as he nodded firmly.
After walking a few more steps, Zhang Jin’an saw Xiao Zhou in the distance, waiting at a red light.
He suddenly remembered the unfinished conversation and asked Jiang Siyang, “That sentence Xiao Zhou interrupted earlier—what were you going to say?”
“The unfinished one?…” Jiang Siyang thought for a few seconds before remembering. “Oh, that one.”
“What was it?” Zhang Jin’an asked.
“I was going to say, I hope to tell them sooner so we don’t have to hide anymore,” Jiang Siyang said.
Zhang Jin’an nodded. “Yeah, I feel the same way. Keeping it bottled up is too stifling.”
“Mm.”
The two looked at each other and smiled in unison.
The backs of their hands brushed against each other. Even without holding hands, that knowing smile told them both that they were thinking the exact same thing at that moment—*I can’t wait to tell everyone how much I love you.*
***
