Su Jingming had never been able to resist any of Wen Yan’s requests, especially on a special day like today.
Seeing him gradually give in, Wen Yan’s lips curled into a slight smile. He pulled Su Jingming along, walking straight ahead without looking back.
From Su Jingming’s perspective, Wen Yan’s back looked tall and straight. Bathed in the faint sunlight, he exuded a profound sense of security.
A sense of security.
Su Jingming hadn't expected to feel this way just by looking at Wen Yan’s silhouette.
Wen Yan led him for a long distance, occasionally stopping at intersections to wait for the lights. His hand remained clamped around Su Jingming’s wrist, never letting go for a second.
Finally, the two of them stopped in front of an internet cafe.
Su Jingming fell silent for a few seconds. "You..."
Wen Yan pulled his ID card from his pocket. "I’m eighteen today. I can use my own ID to surf the web."
Su Jingming, who was still a minor, silently clenched his fists.
The faint ambiguity that had been lingering in the air was instantly swept away by the wind.
"You’re an adult, but I’m not," Su Jingming said with a dark expression. "Are you seriously expecting me to just sit there and watch you play games?"
Wen Yan chuckled. "That’s an option."
Su Jingming turned to leave, but Wen Yan tightened his grip and lowered his voice. "Don't run off."
The words sounded wrong no matter how he heard them—why did they carry such a strange sense of doting?
Su Jingming probably never imagined in his wildest dreams that on Wen Yan’s eighteenth birthday, he would spend three whole hours watching the older boy use his new ID to log into a computer and play games.
Su Jingming didn't have much interest in gaming. Unlike a typical high school boy, he didn't even have a single game on his phone.
However, Wen Yan’s skill at the game was truly unexpected.
His long fingers danced expertly across the keys, his expression relaxed and casual, as if everything were under his absolute control.
It wasn't until the word "Victory" flashed across the screen that Wen Yan finally moved his hand away from the keyboard. He turned to Su Jingming and asked, "Bored?"
Su Jingming was momentarily stunned. *You played for three hours and only ask me if I’m bored now that it’s almost dark?*
He shook the phone in his hand. "My phone is dead. What do you think?"
Wen Yan let out a soft laugh and reached out to ruffle the hair on top of his head.
It seemed that starting from today, Wen Yan had developed a particular fondness for messing with his hair.
Su Jingming didn't resist. He only asked curiously, "Didn't you say you were going to study this afternoon? Instead, you spent hours at an internet cafe. Is this how top students 'study'?"
Wen Yan arched an eyebrow. "I was just looking for a place to sober up. Studying can wait a bit."
*Sobering up by playing games?*
*You’re really something else.*
Su Jingming watched as Wen Yan logged off. Once again, Wen Yan took him by the wrist with practiced ease and led him outside.
It was nearly eight o'clock. The sky had darkened, and the last traces of light were being swallowed by the shadows.
In Liangcheng during April, the nights were still quite chilly.
Wen Yan and Su Jingming paused at the entrance for a few seconds. "Want to go somewhere fun?"
Su Jingming replied, "Do I even have a choice?"
Wen Yan chuckled softly. "I was just casually asking for your opinion."
Wen Yan took Su Jingming to the summit of Fengshan. It was the mountain closest to the city center and the only place where one could take in the entire night view of Liangcheng at a glance.
The moment they stepped out of the car, Wen Yan draped his jacket over Su Jingming’s shoulders.
He was left wearing only a thin long-sleeved shirt, his eyes so deep that his emotions were unreadable.
Su Jingming thought that now would be the perfect time to give Wen Yan his gift.
Just as he reached into his pocket to feel for the present, Wen Yan pulled him toward a nearby gazebo and asked softly, "Still cold?"
Su Jingming nodded blankly. "No."
Seeing his dazed expression, Wen Yan’s smile deepened.
The two sat on a bench inside the gazebo. Wrapped in Wen Yan’s oversized jacket, Su Jingming asked, "When you said you were taking me somewhere fun, you meant just looking at the scenery?"
Wen Yan hummed in affirmation. "It’s nice here."
He had wanted to bring Su Jingming to see the night lights of Liangcheng for a long time. The stars seemed exceptionally clear from here, and even the air felt a bit sweet.
The night wind ruffled their hair. Sitting beside Wen Yan, Su Jingming kept rubbing the gift box in his pocket.
Neither of them spoke; only the sound of their breathing filled the air.
Su Jingming made a major decision. He suddenly stood up and moved to face Wen Yan, intending to pull the gift out of his pocket.
Wen Yan looked up slightly and reached out to adjust the jacket that was slipping off the younger boy's shoulders.
"Don't get sick."
His voice was incredibly gentle. Those few words made Su Jingming’s heart race and his breathing grow shallow.
He had been restless all day.
Suddenly, Su Jingming leaned down and pulled out the gift he had been hiding.
Wen Yan merely raised an eyebrow. The light in the gazebo was old and dim, barely allowing him to see a small, square box.
"For you. Happy birthday." Su Jingming couldn't remember how many times he had said "Happy birthday" today. A natural flush crept up his ears and cheeks.
Wen Yan took the gift. The box still held Su Jingming’s body heat—a faint warmth that felt like a scorching flame, slowly consuming his composure.
"Can I open it?"
Su Jingming scratched his cheek and gave a small "Mm." Under his watchful gaze, Wen Yan slowly opened the gift. Su Jingming’s breathing grew heavier, as if someone were squeezing his throat. He had never been this nervous in his life.
Suddenly, Wen Yan’s hand paused. "Su Jingming, you don't have to be so tense."
Su Jingming: "..." *I’m an idiot. He’s the one opening the gift, why am I the one freaking out?*
Wen Yan opened the box to find a black hand-rope adorned with a small silver bell. His eyes softened as he took it out.
Su Jingming said, "I heard that bells symbolize safety and peace."
He felt that ever since Wen Yan had started getting close to him, the older boy had indeed been quite unlucky.
He had caught a cold and fever during the training camp, had to withdraw from the competition because of Su Jingming, and had even suffered a concussion from a fall.
It had been a very, very long time since anyone had cared for him like this. Su Jingming truly didn't know how to express the emotions hidden deep within his chest.
They felt heavy.
Before Wen Yan could speak, Su Jingming added, "I hope you stay safe and healthy, that everything goes your way, and that you’re always happy."
His blessing was simple—so simple that Wen Yan felt a warm current surge through his entire body. From head to toe, every cell and every nerve was bathed in warmth, all because of the youth standing before him.
Su Jingming’s back was tired from leaning over, so he straightened up. He felt frustrated again, thinking the way he gave the gift was too plain. He racked his brain for a way to make it up to him—should he go fight a "little monster" in front of Wen Yan or something?
Forget it; he didn't want to be treated like an idiot again.
Besides, "little monsters" didn't actually exist in this world.
The more Su Jingming thought about it, the more he felt everything was too ordinary. He looked out at the night view below, the city lights reflected in his eyes. It was in this city that he had met Wen Yan and spent these extraordinary few months.
He was glad he had met Wen Yan.
And he was glad it happened at this age.
Seventeen-year-old Su Jingming had accompanied Wen Yan as he crossed a major wall in his life.
Eighteen-year-old Wen Yan had given Su Jingming the sense of security he had lacked for years.
Su Jingming eventually grew tired of looking at the view. When he turned back, he saw that Wen Yan had already put the hand-rope on his right wrist. Just as he had thought, Wen Yan was very fair-skinned, and the black cord looked great on him.
The silver bell didn't look out of place at all. With Wen Yan’s movements, it let out a tiny, crisp sound.
Suddenly, their gazes met in the night.
Their eyes were bright and shining like stars, making it impossible to look away.
Wen Yan stood up. He looked down slightly, gazing at the brightness in Su Jingming’s eyes.
It felt like a return to the day Su Jingming had saved Wen Myo.
He had that same look in his eyes—pure and clean.
Perhaps the night wind on the mountain was too gentle, for the emotions in their eyes became hazy and intoxicating. Wen Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed several times, the words he wanted to say hovering on the tip of his tongue.
He suddenly hooked his fingers around Su Jingming’s hand, which was hanging by his side. It felt a bit cold.
Wen Yan frowned. "Are you cold? Should we go back?"
Su Jingming shook his head. "No." He didn't pull his hand away; instead, he silently accepted the touch.
How could Wen Yan not understand Su Jingming’s meaning? From the moment he had started inching closer, Su Jingming had never pushed him away.
He remained silent for a moment before finally speaking. "Su Jingming."
He spoke the name with great gravity and cherished care.
Su Jingming responded softly, "I’m here."
Wen Yan’s eyes crinkled into a gentle smile. "Want to date? The kind where we make a scene if we ever break up."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Su Jingming saw anxiety, hesitation, and even anticipation in Wen Yan’s eyes.
This time, his brain worked faster than his mouth.
"That’s so cringe."
"..."
The atmosphere that had been carefully built up was mostly shattered by that one sentence. The old streetlamp cast their long shadows, burying them in the darkness.
Wen Yan let out a laugh. He slid his fingers up, interlacing them with Su Jingming’s cool palm. He took a step closer to Su Jingming, the bell on his wrist gradually warming against his skin.
"I like you. It has nothing to do with gender."
Wen Yan’s confession lingered, refusing to be blown away by the wind, echoing in Su Jingming’s ears. He saw that Wen Yan’s ears were red; so, he could get shy too.
"So, will you date me?"
The question was asked again, more seriously and with even more care than before.
Su Jingming lowered his head slightly and let out a low laugh. He could laugh, too; it was only after being with Wen Yan that he realized laughing was such a simple thing.
Wen Yan waited for a long time without an answer. This was his first time confessing, and he wasn't very practiced at it. Before he could speak again, he felt Su Jingming’s grip on his hand tighten, their palms growing warm together.
"Okay."
Su Jingming’s answer was direct and simple, just like the boy himself—pure and straightforward.
Wen Yan couldn't find the words to describe his current mood. Without a second thought, he pulled the boy into his arms, burying his face near Su Jingming’s ear. He whispered, "No regrets?"
Su Jingming wrapped his arms around Wen Yan’s back and said softly, "No regrets."
*I like you.*
*It has nothing to do with gender.*
*It has nothing to do with the world's conventions.*
*As long as it’s you, I like you.*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
凉城 | Liangcheng | The fictional city where the story takes place.
封山 | Fengshan | "Seal Mountain," the name of the mountain near the city.
非主流 | Cringe / Feizhuliu | Literally "non-mainstream." Refers to a specific subculture in China (similar to emo/scene) known for being overly dramatic or "edgy." Used here to mock Wen Yan's cheesy line.
谈个恋爱吗，分手就闹的那种 | Want to date? The kind where we make a scene if we break up. | A specific internet slang/meme-style confession line.
