Zou Yang turned onto the small path in the residential complex, carrying a cloth bag with the small roof beast ornament inside. At a glance, he spotted Liu Wenrui walking ahead of him, carrying several takeout containers.

He let out a whistle.

“He~tui!” Liu Wenrui didn’t even look back before spitting at him.

“Are you ever going to stop!” Zou Yang said with a laugh.

“Feeling pretty happy?” Liu Wenrui said, looking him up and down.

“Not bad.” Zou Yang walked up to the building’s entrance and swayed a bit toward the wall.

When he looked at his own reflection on the facial recognition screen, he was slightly taken aback. He really was smiling quite happily.

“Alright,” Liu Wenrui sighed. “Honestly, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you smile like this.”

“Is that so.” Zou Yang watched the numbers on the elevator slowly change.

Over the past few months, he had become somewhat sensitive to all numbers. Every time he saw them, a wave of discomfort would hit him.

He suddenly seemed to understand why, over the past two days, he had been acting crazy, wanting to stare at Fan Jun without stopping for a single second, wanting to breathe within his vicinity.

The numbers on the elevator had a bottom destination of -1 and a top destination of 19.
The time on his phone would eventually tick down to 00:00 every day.
For every red dot that went out on the bus display, it meant being one stop closer to the destination. For every day his roommates studied, the date on the calendar ticked one day closer to a certain exam…

Whether far or near, long or short, it seemed all numbers had a destination. Only his waiting had no target and no endpoint.

Even though all of that was over now, the scars left by that hopeless waiting hadn’t immediately vanished. Every time he inadvertently felt the echoes of it, a lingering dread would clutch at his heart, followed by a long sigh of relief.

“What’s that thing?” Liu Wenrui stepped into the elevator, looking at the cloth bag in his hand.

“Got it from He Chuan,” Zou Yang shook the bag. “A roof beast ornament. Taken off an old house.”

“How long has Fan Jun even been working there, and he’s already pocketing things to take home?” Liu Wenrui immediately grew interested. “Get one for me too, I’ll put it at my front door.”

“I’ll buy one for you. This thing isn’t expensive, just a few hundred bucks,” Zou Yang said.

“Don’t talk so big,” Liu Wenrui said. “You’re not a rich sugar daddy right now. You still have a year left; you need to live frugally before you start working…”

“I’m a man with savings,” Zou Yang said.

Liu Wenrui instantly fell silent. For someone staring at their bank balance at the end of the month waiting to be fed, the words “I have savings” were a fatal blow.

“Screw you!” Liu Wenrui cursed.

“I’m giving you a gift and you curse at me,” Zou Yang said. “Do you still want it or not?”

“I want it.” Liu Wenrui didn’t hesitate.

Mom was indeed home. Seeing Zou Yang and Liu Wenrui walk in together, she froze for a long moment before speaking: “Why did you two run back here?”

“To eat, Auntie,” Liu Wenrui said, carrying his bags straight into the kitchen. “I brought food, all deli meats and cooked stuff. Just need to cook some rice, or boil some dumplings…”

“Why did you buy food? Put it in the kitchen…” Mom walked over to take the bag from Zou Yang’s hand. “I thought you weren’t coming back today, I didn’t even prepare any food.”

“It’s heavy,” Zou Yang set the bag on the floor and smiled. “That’s why I had Liu Wenrui bring food.”

“What’s this?” Mom looked at the bag.

“It’s a roof beast ornament,” Zou Yang took it out. “It’s… He Chuan gave it to me.”

Even though everything had already been brought out into the open, whenever he said words related to Fan Jun, even if it was just mentioning Fan Jun’s boss in passing, he still felt a bit of inexplicable guilt.

“Oh.” Mom nodded. “Where are you going to put it?”

“The balcony, the doorway, wherever is fine,” Zou Yang said.

“Then let’s put it on the balcony. If we leave it at the door, I’m afraid someone will snatch it,” Mom said.

Zou Yang smiled. “Alright.”

The kitchen was cold and empty, with just a small pot of water sitting there. She had probably been planning to just boil some noodles, but there was no meat or vegetables in sight.

“You’re eating way too casually,” Zou Yang said softly.

“Ate too much greasy food over the New Year, can’t really stomach anything heavy anyway,” Mom smiled. “It’s too much of a hassle to cook for just one person.”

Zou Yang could clearly feel that Mom was very happy he had returned. As she bustled around the kitchen heating up the cooked food Liu Wenrui had brought, the clinking of pots and pans sounded very lively.

[Zouyang] Good thing I came back today, my mom is pretty happy.
[Fan] If she’s going back to Nanzhouping in a couple of days, don’t mention the work trip to her yet. She won’t know where you are anyway.
[Zouyang] Mm.

“Reporting your whereabouts?” Liu Wenrui came over, flopped onto the sofa, and squeezed in next to him.

“Aren’t you going to help?” Zou Yang gave him a sidelong glance.

“I’m a guest, don’t you feel ashamed saying that?” Liu Wenrui stood up. “Chilling my heart.”

“Get lost.” Zou Yang kicked him in the ass, stood up as well, and went into the kitchen with him.

Mom was very quick at cooking. She warmed up the deli foods, boiled a pot of dumplings, and before long, it was time to eat.

With Liu Wenrui around, things weren’t so awkward between Zou Yang and his mom.

Zou Yang knew Mom wouldn’t bring up him and Fan Jun for the time being; she needed time to slowly digest it herself. But if she had truly stayed home alone tonight, who knows what wild thoughts she would have digested out of it.

Now that he was back, Mom felt more at ease. After they finished eating and cleaning up, she even had the mood to brew some fruit tea for him and Liu Wenrui before taking her phone back to her room.

Zou Yang returned to his own room, lying on his bed, planning to edit the flaming ice cream video to send to Fan Jun.

Liu Wenrui carried the fruit tea into the room, set it on the desk, and turned to bounce onto the bed.

“Try it, I dare you,” Zou Yang pointed at him.

Liu Wenrui turned back and opened his closet: “Do I still have any clothes at your place?”

“I don’t know, maybe a T-shirt?” Zou Yang slowly dragged the progress bar on his screen.

“I’ll wear yours,” Liu Wenrui pulled out one of his T-shirts, thought for a second, and paused. “Is that okay?”

“Hm?” Zou Yang looked at him. “After all these years of wearing my clothes, you’ve suddenly decided to ask?”

“Fuck,” Liu Wenrui looked back at him. “I’m trying to avoid suspicion now, aren’t I!”

“Why didn’t you avoid suspicion when you insisted on having dinner with me today,” Zou Yang clicked his tongue. “Hurry up, change your clothes and come help me take a look… how do I do this?”

“A video?” Liu Wenrui quickly changed into his T-shirt, bounced onto the bed, and snatched his phone.

Zou Yang hadn’t really edited videos himself before. After messing around with it for a while, he didn’t know what to do. He had claimed he didn’t need Liu Wenrui, but in reality, he still had to rely on him.

However, the moment Liu Wenrui took the phone, he suddenly felt embarrassed. A private two-person world video like this… although it wasn’t that private since they were fully clothed…

“Fuck,” Liu Wenrui said. “Fan Jun is pretty badass. He can replicate this at home?”

“…Mm.” Zou Yang replied, glancing at the phone. “Hurry up, stop watching it, just edit it…”

“Amateurs shouldn’t blindly direct the expert,” Liu Wenrui frowned. “How am I supposed to edit if I don’t watch it!”

“I don’t want the audio for all the nonsense at the beginning, just keep the part at the end where he says ‘Happy Birthday’,” Zou Yang said. “For the rest, put some music over it…”

“Stop directing me!” Liu Wenrui glared at him.

“Screw you, the client’s basic requirements have to be stated clearly, don’t they!” Zou Yang said.

Liu Wenrui kept glaring at him: “Don’t bother me! If you keep nagging, edit it yourself!”

“Mm.” Zou Yang complied.

“I’ll use my own phone to edit it,” Liu Wenrui sent the video to his own phone and tossed Zou Yang’s back to him. “Go date your boyfriend, ptui!”

Zou Yang smiled, picked up his phone, but didn’t go date.

From the WeChat Moments Fan Jun had just posted, he could see there was a group of people in the shop. It seemed a regular customer had brought a friend who was renovating their house to pick out some goods. They were probably busy right now.

He opened Fan Jun’s photos; he was still quite handy at photo editing.

…Ah.
Dating.

“Fuck,” Liu Wenrui sighed emotionally next to him. “His ‘Happy Birthday’ really caught me off guard. Damn it, that’s so touching.”

“Shut up and edit,” Zou Yang said.

“I’ll have to spend money to buy a track to pair with this…” Liu Wenrui muttered.

Zou Yang didn’t speak, just stared at Fan Jun on his screen.

“Why did you suddenly tell your mom today?” Liu Wenrui asked.

“My mom suddenly sought out Fan Jun to talk to him,” Zou Yang said softly. “And she called me over too…”

“Holy shit.” Liu Wenrui turned to look at him. “Is your mom that… badass?”

“Mm.” Zou Yang glanced at the bedroom door and quietly and quickly recounted what happened that morning. He hadn’t realized it until he started talking, but by the time he finished, his fingers were completely tense.

Every time he recalled it, it felt like an execution.

“…If that were me, I would have already died in Nanzhouping,” Liu Wenrui said.

“I was so scared I didn’t even have time to die.” Zou Yang changed his phone wallpaper to the newly retouched photo of Fan Jun. He originally wanted to change his lock screen too, but after hesitating, he held back.

“Done,” Liu Wenrui sent the edited video to him. “So, for you two, does this mean… there are no more obstacles?”

“No external obstacles, I guess.” Zou Yang tapped to play the video.

“What internal ones are there?” Liu Wenrui asked immediately.

“Hard to say,” Zou Yang said, watching the video. “When I said I’d go with him to the hospital for his rehab, he wouldn’t let me.”

“Well of course he minds. His ear was already… and now add the arm,” Liu Wenrui sighed. “He’s basically half-crippled, he definitely doesn’t want you to…”

“Do you know how to talk?” Zou Yang gave him a sharp side-eye.

“Whether I know how to talk or not, you know perfectly well. I’m just telling it to you straight right now,” Liu Wenrui said. “Besides, those are his true thoughts. Back at the hospital when he told you not to look for him anymore, wasn’t this a major reason? With his condition, what about the future? He’s older than us, he’s experienced more things, so he definitely thinks about things more.”

“But aren’t we together now!” Zou Yang spun his phone in his hand.

“You’re together because he likes you too… damn, that’s so sappy I can’t stand it,” Liu Wenrui rubbed his arms. “But the problem hasn’t been solved. To him, those facts haven’t changed, and the pressure is probably even greater now.”

Zou Yang didn’t say anything. Resting his head on his arms, he sighed softly.

Although Liu Wenrui was unreliable, he was absolutely right about this.

“But you don’t need to worry about that right now. You finally got together,” Liu Wenrui also rested his head on his arms. “Just be happy first. It’s better than us guys who haven’t even tasted the salty or bland flavors of love yet.”

“Didn’t you just break up with two people?” Zou Yang sent the video and the edited photos to Fan Jun.

“Are you asking for it!” Liu Wenrui kicked him.

For the whole night, Liu Wenrui was immersed in a complex mix of joy that his bro was in a relationship, and the grief that his bro was discarding him like an old shoe now that he was in a relationship.

For so long, Zou Yang had lost sleep at night because he would wake up from nightmares. But tonight, it was because of Liu Wenrui’s non-stop mouth, which even posed a question in the middle of the night that made Zou Yang let out a furious shout, nearly waking up his mom.

“Wanna find a porn vid to watch?” Liu Wenrui asked.

“Get lost!” Zou Yang sat up and slapped him. “Do you want to die!”

Because of that sentence, Zou Yang was so startled he didn’t fall asleep until it was almost dawn.

When he woke up the next morning, it was almost eleven o’clock.

Liu Wenrui was still sleeping like the dead.

“You’re up,” Mom was sitting in the living room. “I thought you two were going to sleep until the afternoon.”

“We chatted all night,” Zou Yang sat down closely beside his mom. “Did we keep you awake with all our noise?”

“It’s fine, I put in earplugs later,” Mom smiled. “There’s breakfast in the kitchen, go eat.”

“Mm,” Zou Yang answered, but he didn’t move. His hand slid his phone open by his side to check his messages. “Are you… not going out today?”

[Fan] Where are your photos, send me a few too.
[Fan] Big Black peed on my bed. Had to get up early to wash the blanket.

Zou Yang smiled.

“Not going out today. It’s been pretty chaotic lately, I just want some quiet today,” Mom turned to look at him. “Are you… going out?”

He quickly dropped his smile, put his phone face down, and put an arm around his mom’s shoulders. The cautious look in her eyes made his heart ache. He gritted his teeth: “I’m… not going out. I’m staying home.”

“…Mm.” Mom touched his face. “I have to go to Nanzhouping again tomorrow. School is starting soon. Once I finish up these next few days, I’ll be free.”

“Mm.” Zou Yang replied. That meant he didn’t have to mention the “work trip” to his mom. He let out a breath of relief.

He hesitated for a long while before quietly asking, “You and Uncle Lü… didn’t you say before…”

“No rush,” Mom said. “Things are too messy right now. We’ll let things settle down first.”

“Uncle Lü is… a pretty good person.” Zou Yang said.

“I know,” Mom suddenly looked a little embarrassed and gave him a push. “Now you’re managing my business. Go eat breakfast.”

Honestly, keeping his mom company at home was just to let her know he was there, that he wasn’t running off to mix with Fan Jun every single day the moment they laid their cards on the table, giving her heart a buffer.

When he and his mom chatted at home, it was usually just idle, sporadic talk anyway.

Today was much the same. He lounged on the sofa playing games with Liu Wenrui, occasionally abandoning Liu Wenrui to switch apps and reply to Fan Jun.

Mom sat nearby looking at her phone, occasionally going into her room to hide for a bit when they got too loud.

True to their dozen-plus years of friendship, Liu Wenrui endured the boredom and stubbornly stayed at his house until the evening, spending another night before finally leaving.

“Won’t your mom think we’re the actual couple?” Liu Wenrui sat cross-legged on the chair.

“Have some shame,” Zou Yang opened his closet and pulled out a small bag, preparing to pack clothes for his trip tomorrow. It was just a one-night stay, so there wasn’t much to bring, but he had to go through the motions.

“What are you doing?” Liu Wenrui stared at the bag in his hand.

“Going out tomorrow,” Zou Yang said. “Staying overnight.”

“With who?” Liu Wenrui immediately straightened his back.

“With you.” Zou Yang gave him a look.

“Fuck you,” Liu Wenrui jumped down from the chair, slapped him on the back, and lowered his voice. “Are you going on a honeymoon with him?”

“Get lost,” Zou Yang also lowered his voice. “Who goes on a honeymoon for two days? It’s a work trip, I’m just tagging along for fun.”

“It’s not a honeymoon?” Liu Wenrui leaned his face in close. “Really not?”

“It’s not.” Zou Yang said.

“You said it yourself, it’s not a honeymoon.” Liu Wenrui’s finger was practically poking his face.

“I said it, it’s not,” Zou Yang swatted his hand away. “What?”

“Take me.” Liu Wenrui said.

---

“No,” Fan Jun said flatly, tossing his own bag and Zou Yang’s backpack into the backseat. “I really am working.”

“I’ll beat the both of you,” Liu Wenrui clicked his tongue. “I drove all the way out here to drop him off, and this is how you treat me.”

“Weren’t you just doing it so you could take my car to ride around?” Zou Yang looked at him.

“That was only on the surface…” Liu Wenrui said.

“This is a gift for you.” Fan Jun handed him an exquisite, long rectangular box.

“No way,” Liu Wenrui paused, taking the box. “Why are you giving me a gift?”

“It’s not expensive, mostly just looks nice.” Fan Jun said.

Liu Wenrui opened the box. Inside was a brass incense tube with carved patterns on the lid. He touched it: “Holy shit, this is so high-class.”

“The incense inside was made by He Chuan.” Fan Jun said.

“Thanks, Brother Fan,” Liu Wenrui was highly pleasantly surprised. He quickly shoved the incense tube up his jacket sleeve and whispered, “Won’t they find out?”

“Wha—” Fan Jun froze. “I bought this.”

“Oh.” Liu Wenrui also froze, then pulled the incense tube back out of his sleeve.

Zou Yang still wanted to laugh even as the car drove out of the parking lot.

“What kind of image do I have in his mind?” Fan Jun said.

“That’s the image we both have,” Zou Yang laughed, adjusting his seat back and stretching lazily against it. “How long is the drive, Brother Fan?”

“Five hours,” Fan Jun glanced at the GPS. “You should sleep for a bit.”

“How could I sleep,” Zou Yang turned his head to look at him. “We’re on a trip.”

“Does this count? It’s so close, we’ll be back tomorrow.” Fan Jun said.

“It counts,” Zou Yang said. “As long as we leave the city, it counts.”

“Mm.” Fan Jun smiled.

Zou Yang grabbed his phone, wanting to connect to the car’s Bluetooth to listen to some music, but found it wouldn’t connect. He clicked his tongue. “Boss He makes plenty of money, when is he changing his car?”

“He said the second half of the year,” Fan Jun said. “If you want to listen to music, there’s a Bluetooth speaker in the backseat.”

“Later,” Zou Yang looked at him. “Right now, I want to hear you talk.”

“I’m driving.” Fan Jun gave him a glance.

“Drive with your mouth then,” Zou Yang said.

“You really do know how to drive with your mouth.” Fan Jun sighed.

Zou Yang smiled and didn’t say anything.

They drove for a while, getting ready to merge onto the highway.

Zou Yang looked outside. It was very quiet. He snapped his fingers: “Pull over for a second.”

“Need to pee?” Fan Jun glanced at him and slowly pulled over to stop the car.

Zou Yang didn’t speak. He watched Fan Jun pull the handbrake, then reached out, grabbed his collar, and yanked him forcefully toward his side: “Come here.”

“Hey.” Fan Jun smiled as he leaned over, turning his head to kiss him on the mouth.

Just as he was about to sit back, Zou Yang’s hand slid to the back of his neck, pulled him forward, and kissed him deeply, his breath laced with dominance.

Maybe five seconds, maybe ten.

It couldn’t have been long. When Zou Yang let him go, Fan Jun felt like he hadn’t quite gotten enough.

However.

“Hiss…” He touched his lips. “Did you bite me?”

“So what if I bit you? Are you so delicate I can’t even bite you?” Zou Yang said. “Is it bleeding?”

“I don’t think so,” He pulled down the sun visor and looked in the mirror. “No.”

“I didn’t even use force.” Zou Yang said.

“This tooth of yours…” Fan Jun turned his face toward him and pinched his cheek. “Open your mouth, let me see.”

“What.” Zou Yang bared his teeth.

“There’s one that’s really sharp.” Fan Jun said.

“This one,” Zou Yang pointed the tip of his tongue at his upper right canine. “I use it whenever I gnaw on things.”

The fingers Fan Jun had pinching his cheek uncontrollably tightened.

He quickly let go, turned his head to look straight ahead, and gripped the steering wheel with both hands.

“Set off!” Zou Yang waved his hand forward.