Yu Qing had known about Cheng Yifei and Fei Cheng’s relationship for a long time, and so had Qiu Minmin. However, Cheng Yifei, Fei Cheng, and Yu Qing all assumed Qiu Minmin was in the dark, while Qiu Minmin assumed Yu Qing was the oblivious one. Both sides had been working overtime to cover for that pair of rascals!
According to Qiu Minmin’s observations, Yu Qing was a "steel straight man" through and through. Whenever Fei Cheng and Cheng Yifei wanted to head out alone, he would tactlessly try to tag along. She couldn't even count how many times she had intercepted Yu Qing just so the couple could have a proper date.
Relying on superb acting skills and a first-class talent for playing dumb, the four of them had lived together for two years without ever bringing the relationship out into the open.
If Cheng Yifei hadn't insisted on splitting off from Yu Qing and the others for their graduation trip, Yu Qing and Qiu Minmin might never have discovered that they both knew the truth!
Simmering with the indignation of being "deceived," Yu Qing and Qiu Minmin each clutched a tub of ice cream to cool their tempers.
"I say, you’re quite the actor, aren't you?" Qiu Minmin huffed. He clearly knew about their relationship, yet he’d tried to play third wheel every single time!
Yu Qing dug out a massive spoonful of ice cream and shoved it into his mouth. "Back at you." She clearly knew, yet she’d pretended not to, making him work so hard to keep the secret!
Qiu Minmin thought back carefully, unable to find a single flaw in his performance. "When did you first find out?"
Yu Qing replied, "High school."
Qiu Minmin looked him up and down. "If you knew that early, why did you keep trying to ruin their dates?"
"When did I ruin anything? I was just teasing them a bit to stir the pot." Who knew she would take it so seriously every time?
"Hmph!"
Yu Qing tilted his head to look at her. "Don't be mad. We exhausted ourselves trying to hide it for them, while those two just patted their butts and took off to enjoy their romantic getaway."
Qiu Minmin found this logic sound, so the two of them continued digging into their ice cream in peace.
After finishing half the tub, Qiu Minmin couldn't eat any more. Her makeup was bright and striking as she gazed out at the scorching sun. "What kind of graduation trip is this? I wanted to go to Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan, but then those two just ditched us."
Yu Qing stared at her profile, biting his spoon. "Hey, it’s just Jiuzhaigou. Am I not a person? If you want to go, let’s just go!"
"Really? I want to climb Mount Emei, too!"
Without a hint of hesitation in his eyes, Yu Qing nodded. "Then we’ll climb it!"
Qiu Minmin perked up instantly, but before her bright smile could fully form, she asked suspiciously, "But don't you hate hiking?"
Yu Qing was well-built and loved sports, but he absolutely detested climbing mountains.
Yu Qing ignored the question and directly booked two plane tickets. Tossing the ice cream aside, he said, "It’s fine. I just don't like the sun. You’re all so fair-skinned; I can't afford to turn into a piece of charcoal!"
Relieved, Qiu Minmin stood up and pulled him back toward the apartment, promising, "Don't worry, I have high-grade sunscreen! I definitely won't let you get tanned!"
Yu Qing looked down at his arm where she was pulling him, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He still teased her, though: "It’s a deal. If you let me get so dark that I can't find a girlfriend—"
"Then I’ll take responsibility for you for life! Don't be a wimp!"
Their luggage had been packed long ago. They headed back, grabbed their bags, and walked out the door.
As she closed the door, a trace of reluctance flickered across Qiu Minmin’s face. She said to Yu Qing, "We’ve lived here for three years. Once we split up after this trip, I’ll have to live alone."
Yu Qing picked up her suitcase and headed toward the elevator. "What are you thinking? Everyone’s workplace is in the same district. If we want to see each other, it’s just a phone call away. If you don't want to live alone, I’ll find a place near you. For all intents and purposes, it’ll basically be like co-renting again."
Qiu Minmin said it wasn't the same.
Yu Qing stepped into the elevator and watched the floor numbers. "Then let’s see if there are any suitable apartments. I don't want to live alone either. Co-renting saves money, or we can be neighbors so we have company for meals."
They had lived together for over three years; they knew each other inside out and were practically family. It was much safer than renting with a stranger.
Qiu Minmin agreed. "That works. We’ll look for a place once we get back from the trip. Ideally, somewhere close to Chengcheng and the others so it’s easy to get together."
"Sure, no problem. Do you have your ID?"
"Got it!"
"Then let’s head out!"
"Let’s go, let’s go!"
Five days later, the two groups who had split up for their graduation trips reunited in City B to discuss their plans for the next two years.
Considering the social climate, Fei Cheng and Cheng Yifei decided not to tell their families about their relationship just yet. They planned to wait until they were thirty to come out. For the next few years, they would work hard in City B to see what they could achieve. If things didn't work out, they would choose to work in a city closer to home.
Qiu Minmin and Yu Qing didn't have a relationship to go public with—well, maybe they did, but it hadn't fully formed yet.
Although they could no longer live together as a group of four and have hotpot whenever they pleased like in university, at least they were still co-renting in pairs. Their steps into society were just like when they first arrived in City B: no matter what, they always had someone by their side—whether it was Cheng Yifei and Fei Cheng, or Qiu Minmin and Yu Qing.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 钢铁直男 | Steel straight man | Slang for a man who is very traditional, blunt, and often oblivious to romantic cues or LGBTQ+ subtext. |
| 九塞沟 | Jiuzhaigou | A famous nature reserve and national park in Sichuan Province (Note: The text uses a slight misspelling of 九寨沟). |
| 峨眉山 | Mount Emei | One of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, located in Sichuan. |
| B市 | City B | A common placeholder for a major Chinese city (likely Beijing). |
| 四舍五入 | Rounding off | Idiom meaning "basically" or "to put it simply" in a casual context. |
| 知根知底 | Knowing someone inside out | To know someone's background and character thoroughly. |
