Chi Zhiyue walked away right after speaking, leaving Luo Ye standing frozen in place. Looking at the figure paying at the counter, Luo Ye was momentarily rendered speechless.

If Chi Zhiyue hadn’t said that, he would have thought having coffee already counted as a date.

So this whole time was just an interview?!

“Looks like these two months are going to be pretty long,” Luo Ye sighed. He picked up the unfinished flat white on the table and downed it in one gulp.

The bitter coffee slid down his throat, subduing the panic in his chest just in time for him to regain his composure.

Chi Zhiyue was efficient and finished paying in no time. He turned around and gestured toward Luo Ye with his index and middle fingers mimicking walking legs. This was widely understood as “let’s go,” but Luo Ye froze for a second.

Because Chi Zhiyue also waved his index finger across the air in three ripples—which, when combined, was the sign language gesture for “leaving.”

Snapping out of it, Luo Ye quickly hurried after him.

Reaching the shop’s doorway, he couldn’t resist asking, “You know sign language too?”

“Yeah, I have a few hearing-impaired friends,” Chi Zhiyue said, propping open the glass door and stepping aside to let Luo Ye through first. “Using sign language just became second nature.”

“Oh, no wonder.” Realization dawned on Luo Ye as he walked out.

Stepping out from the warm indoors into the open air, the cold draft—which had previously seemed bearable—now felt significantly chillier. Luo Ye couldn’t help but shiver.

The next second, a warm touch met his neck, soft and thick.

Luo Ye looked down and saw that it was Chi Zhiyue’s scarf.

Holy crap, he’s this thoughtful?

Reacting immediately, he quickly took off the scarf, pushing it back into Chi Zhiyue’s chest while explaining, “I’m not cold! I wear this exact outfit when riding my motorcycle; it’s really windproof.”

Afraid Chi Zhiyue wouldn’t believe him, he intentionally zipped his down jacket all the way to the top and spun half a circle with his arms wide open.

Chi Zhiyue’s gaze fell softly, looking him up and down for a moment.

“Alright, if you say you’re fine, then you’re fine.” Appearing to compromise, he wrapped the scarf back around his own neck. “If you do get cold, remember to tell me.”

Luo Ye looked up at the gloomy sky and glanced at the countdown hovering in midair: “Where are we heading next?”

A gentle smile bloomed across Chi Zhiyue’s face again as he said mysteriously, “Just follow me.”

Seeing how confident he looked, Luo Ye remembered something and quickly asked, “Let me ask you a question first.”

“Go ahead.”

Luo Ye pursed his lips, asking with mixed feelings, “You weren’t making date plans this whole morning, were you?”

Chi Zhiyue nodded without hiding it: “I did look up a few places, but I didn’t know if you’d like them, so I kept them on standby.”

Luo Ye: “…”

Luo Ye was instantly at a loss for words, guilt quietly creeping up inside him again. The more considerate Chi Zhiyue was, the more embarrassed and apologetic he felt.

Kicking the accumulated snow beneath his feet, he asked softly, “And now? Have you decided?”

“Yeah, I thought of a place suitable for the two of us,” Chi Zhiyue said with certainty.

Although Luo Ye had never dated anyone before, he had edited a few romance drama videos and had a rough idea of what dates looked like.

It was nothing more than watching movies, wandering around malls, and grabbing street food—nothing particularly special besides that.

I’ll just treat it like hanging out with a friend. Thinking this, Luo Ye relaxed considerably.

To his surprise, Chi Zhiyue took him neither to a cinema nor to a shopping mall. Instead, he turned into a quiet alley and stopped in front of a DIY handmade silver jewelry studio.

The studio was not large, sporting an artsy decor. The walls were lined with stylized inspirational quotes written in bold calligraphy, small potted plants sat in the corners, and two rows of wooden worktables were neatly aligned, laden with various DIY tools.

When they arrived, there were four staff members and two pairs of customers in the shop, heads lowered in deep concentration over their crafts.

If it were an ordinary day out, Luo Ye would rather book a private booth at the cybercafé across the street and game for the entire afternoon than set foot in a place like this.

Working a job was exhausting enough; why would he come here to do unpaid manual labor?

Who knew Chi Zhiyue actually liked this kind of place? What did people make here? Pocket watches? Or bracelets?

While Luo Ye was sizing up the shop, Chi Zhiyue was already redeeming his group-buy voucher with a staff member.

“Are you Mr. Chi, who booked the couples’ package this morning?” the clerk asked, holding a scanner.

“Yes,” Chi Zhiyue replied, showing the QR code.

After scanning to confirm, the clerk nodded with a smile: “Alright, voucher redeemed successfully—one set of couple rings. Right this way, please, I’ll take you to your seats.”

Luo Ye: “?”

What? Rings??

That item in gal games you only unlock in the late stages of a relationship?!

Luo Ye stood frozen on the spot, his eyes wide as saucers.

The clerk smiled, leading them to a pair of seats near the corner: “This spot is quite nice. It’s quiet, and it’s convenient to call an instructor over for assistance.”

“Sounds good,” Chi Zhiyue had already nodded in agreement and began walking over.

Quick on his feet, Luo Ye grabbed Chi Zhiyue’s sleeve. Chi Zhiyue turned back to look at him, a trace of confusion in his eyes.

“Wait a second,” Luo Ye whispered, “We’re wearing rings on day one?”

Hearing this, the clerk beside them smiled and chimed in to explain, “We even have people making rings during the flirting stage. If you find wearing it on your finger inconvenient, you can also hang it around your neck as a necklace.”

Before Luo Ye could speak, Chi Zhiyue lowered his eyes slightly. His disappointed gaze drifted to the side, his tone sounding aggrieved: “It’s my first time dating too, so I didn’t know what to do on the first day. If you don’t like it, we can just leave.”

Luo Ye was already vulnerable to seeing people look pitiful—especially someone like Chi Zhiyue, who was usually so calm and composed. Seeing him look wronged made it hit even harder.

Without hesitation, Luo Ye softened up.

Releasing his grip, Luo Ye awkwardly scratched his chin: “I didn’t say it’s bad. I was just… a bit surprised. Let’s do it, let’s make them.”

The disappointment in Chi Zhiyue’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced once again by a smile: “Okay, great.”

Luo Ye let go entirely and followed the clerk to sit down.

The clerk brought over two blank sheets of paper and a container of colored markers, placing them on their table while patiently explaining: “Here, partners usually design patterns for each other.”

“Whatever I draw goes on his ring?” Chi Zhiyue looked up at the clerk.

“Yes. Simple phrases or drawings both work.” The clerk took out several sample plates and slotted them into the front display grooves.

Those samples featured English letters, simple iconic smiley faces, and strings of English sentences.

Most were studded with tiny diamonds and polished to a bright shine; the finished products looked exquisite and sleek.

Luo Ye was quite fond of silver accessories to begin with. Even if it was a couple’s ring, as long as the pattern was simple, wearing it as ordinary jewelry wouldn’t be bad at all.

After finishing the safety reminders, the clerk stepped away and swapped in the instructor.

The instructor first picked up a thin strip of silver, patiently demonstrating how to hammer it into shape with a small mallet, before picking up a fine file to grind down the edges of the strip.

After that, the instructor taught them how to sketch the design and engrave it—making it look effortless to carve out beautiful motifs.

“Take your time drawing your designs first,” the instructor said, sitting nearby to watch them unleash their creativity.

Luo Ye didn’t know what to draw. After hesitating for a long while, he picked up a marker and sketched a crooked little cat face.

The instructor nodded: “Mm-hmm, this cow you drew is pretty cute.”

Luo Ye: “…”

Luo Ye secretly peeked at Chi Zhiyue. Matching his theme, Chi Zhiyue had also drawn a small animal—and he drew it quite well; one could tell at a glance that it was a puppy.

So Chi Zhiyue is a canine type? If he had brown hair, would he be a Golden Retriever?

Luo Ye was so lost in thought that he absentmindedly twirled the pen in his hand. Misjudging his strength, the pen barrel knocked straight against the back of Chi Zhiyue’s hand.

Luo Ye reflexively reached over to rub the spot that was struck, hurriedly apologizing, “I’m so sorry!”

After he spoke, the other person didn’t reply. When Luo Ye looked up, he met Chi Zhiyue’s smiling eyes.

Chi Zhiyue showed no displeasure at being hit; on the contrary, he clearly seemed to be in a great mood, his dimples sinking deep into his cheeks. Chi Zhiyue leaned in slightly, shrinking the distance between them to less than half a meter in an instant.

Luo Ye instinctively turned his head away to avoid eye contact, only to hear his voice: “I’m fine, but your ears are really red. Are you hot?”

Luo Ye was indeed feeling a little warm. He said awkwardly, “If I’d known the AC here was blasting so high, I wouldn’t have worn a turtleneck.”

“You look really good in this outfit; it looks very upscale.”

Praised once again, Luo Ye stared at his draft paper, the corners of his mouth curving upward: “…It’s honestly just an ordinary sweater. If you want, I can send you the link.”

“It’s probably because you wear it well; it might not look the same on me,” Chi Zhiyue said. “Plus, they might not have my size.”

Luo Ye’s mood soared from the compliments, and all his earlier awkwardness melted away. Like a personal shopping agent, he reassured him, “They definitely have it; the sizing runs pretty big.”

“Then send it to me later,” Chi Zhiyue went along.

“Sure.” Luo Ye added two final strokes, making the cat look a bit rounder.

Satisfied, he held up his artwork and tilted his chin up: “Done. Utter perfection.”

Chi Zhiyue leaned closer and nodded: “It looks great.”

Luo Ye raised his chin smugly: “Naturally.”

Chi Zhiyue: “Is it an owl?”

Luo Ye: “…I’m redrawing it.”

Chi Zhiyue chuckled and gently offered a few words of comfort, but Luo Ye didn’t hear a single word—his competitive streak was fully ignited.

If he couldn’t draw a normal cat today, he wasn’t leaving this shop.

He drew it again, finally admitted he had zero artistic talent, and enlisted the instructor’s help. Only then did he manage to produce a creature that looked passably like a cat.

The subsequent engraving required higher precision, so the instructor handled it on their behalf.

Once engraved, Luo Ye bent the silver strip into a loop and tapped the seam lightly with a welding torch. The pale blue flame fused the silver strip, instantly melting the joint into a fine, bright line.

After cooling and polishing, the silver band gradually brightened, transforming the rough blank into a smooth, lustrous ring.

Looking at the finished product he had personally helped create, Luo Ye felt a strong sense of accomplishment, holding it up against the light to admire it repeatedly.

Because of the curved band, the little cat was stretched out and its face looked much rounder, but it was still very cute.

Happily, Luo Ye let his cat ears pop out, tilting them slightly forward as the fluffy fur at the tips puffed outward.

Completely forgetting his earlier hesitation, he leaned closer to Chi Zhiyue, curious about the ring in the other’s hand: “What about yours? What does yours look like?”

He was so engrossed that he didn’t realize his chin was practically resting on Chi Zhiyue’s shoulder.

Chi Zhiyue reached his hand out, but kept his head turned forward: “It looks like this.”

The puppy Chi Zhiyue had drawn had its snout slightly elongated by the curvature of the silver band. Its eyes drooped slightly, giving it an innocent look.

Because these were couple rings, the instructor had helped unify their art styles at the end, so the face of Chi Zhiyue’s puppy was on the rounder side as well.

“Oh, it’s pretty cute too,” Luo Ye said sincerely.

“Yours is too,” Chi Zhiyue turned his head to look at him. “It proves you drew well.”

“I do have some self-awareness,” Luo Ye replied. He had just been called an owl earlier.

Chi Zhiyue smiled, stood up, and purchased two thin silver chains from the clerk.

Looping the chains through both rings, the original couple rings instantly transformed into necklaces.

“Let me put it on for you,” Chi Zhiyue said, holding the necklace meant for Luo Ye.

Luo Ye felt a bit awkward. Just as he was about to refuse, Chi Zhiyue—as if anticipating his rejection—furrowed his brows slightly and let his arms drop.

The refusal died on Luo Ye’s lips. Helplessly turning his back, he said, “Fine, go ahead and put it on.”

Luo Ye closed his eyes, which made the sensations at the back of his neck feel exceptionally distinct.

Someone gently lifted the hair at the nape of his neck, and the cool silver chain slid down against his skin.

At the incidental graze of fingertips, a shiver shot through Luo Ye’s entire body.

“Are you done?” Luo Ye couldn’t help but ask.

“Done,” Chi Zhiyue’s voice brushed softly against the back of his neck.

Luo Ye opened his eyes and looked down; the ring engraved with the puppy hung right in the center of his collarbone.

He picked up the ring to look at it—the little dog seemed to be staring at his face, smiling with endearing clumsiness.

“Your turn to help me,” Chi Zhiyue looked at him, eyes filled with expectation.

Holding the necklace, Luo Ye waited for Chi Zhiyue to turn around, but Chi Zhiyue didn’t budge.

Luo Ye prompted him, “Aren’t you going to turn around?”

“No need,” Chi Zhiyue said softly. “Just do it directly from the front. I saw the others doing it that way.”

Luo Ye glanced over. The couples who were here when they arrived were also putting jewelry on each other, occasionally exchanging glances and laughing together in an intensely sweet atmosphere.

Luo Ye finally understood—no wonder Chi Zhiyue acted this way out of nowhere; he was just copying them.

“If you don’t want to look at my face, I can turn around,” Chi Zhiyue let out a disappointed sigh and began to turn.

Luo Ye quickly caught Chi Zhiyue’s arm: “I didn’t say that! Put it on, put it on.”

Taking a deep breath, Luo Ye leaned in close to Chi Zhiyue.

He could feel Chi Zhiyue’s gaze following his every move, but he pretended to be nonchalant. His palms brushed past Chi Zhiyue’s neck before wrapping around, carefully fastening the necklace clasp.

Silver suited Chi Zhiyue very well, resting neatly against the center of his sweater.

Satisfied, Chi Zhiyue picked up the ring on his necklace to look at it, a faint smile gracing his lips.

Luo Ye wanted to say that Chi Zhiyue was way too easygoing.

When he dated someone else in the future, he couldn’t be like this—if the other person had bad intentions, he’d get scammed out of every cent.

But what right do I have to say that? Luo Ye swallowed his words, stood up, and said, “Let’s go.”

Stepping out of the studio, Luo Ye hesitated about which direction to take. Just as he turned around to ask for Chi Zhiyue’s opinion, a hand suddenly grabbed his.

Startled, Luo Ye instinctively pulled his hand back and took a step back: “What are you doing?”

“Everyone says holding hands is the first step in dating. If we don’t hold hands, it doesn’t count as dating,” Chi Zhiyue said, looking slightly conflicted as his gaze drifted to Luo Ye’s hand. “Then let’s start counting from tomorrow instead.”

Hearing that it would start counting from tomorrow, Luo Ye immediately objected. He had already spent three whole hours in there today; having it not count now would be a total rip-off.

Isn’t it just holding hands? It’s not like a layer of skin will come off. Didn’t I used to hold Luo Peng’s hand when crossing the street?

Mulling it over, Luo Ye gritted his teeth and extended his hand: “Hold it, then.”

Chi Zhiyue instantly took Luo Ye’s hand, lacing his fingers through Luo Ye’s gaps and holding tight, as if terrified Luo Ye would pull away the next second.

At first, goosebumps broke out across Luo Ye’s arm, and it took walking quite a distance before he grew accustomed to the sensation.

Chi Zhiyue’s hand was broad and warm, with faint calluses on the pads of his fingers—completely the hand of a mature man.

At this exact moment, Luo Ye finally felt the reality of “dating a man.”

Thinking back to last year, he was still a straight guy. How could he have ever imagined that one day, he would be holding hands and walking down the street with another tall, broad-shouldered man?

Luo Ye stole a peek at Chi Zhiyue. No matter what kind of looks passersby gave them, Chi Zhiyue looked completely unbothered, looking down at the dating guide on his phone as they walked.

Chi Zhiyue’s side profile was exceptional—his nose bridge was straight and clean like a sharp pencil sketch, seamlessly connecting the sculpted contours of his lips down to his jawline.

Film directors loved capturing this type of face; it was photogenic from every angle.

Before long, Chi Zhiyue noticed him staring. Stopping in his tracks, he asked with a smile, “What is it? Is there somewhere you want to go?”

Caught red-handed, Luo Ye’s mind went blank. Pointing haphazardly across the street, he blurted out, “Oh, I was gonna suggest checking out that shop.”

Chi Zhiyue looked in the direction he pointed, his brows instantly knitting together as he spoke with slight hesitation: “You’re already thinking about this kind of thing? But I’m not ready yet… Maybe in a few days?”

Luo Ye was completely baffled: “Ready for what?”

As he spoke, he turned around in confusion.

Then, he clearly saw the huge signboard of the shop he had just pointed at:

【Unleash Love — Adult Store】

Luo Ye: “…?”

__

[Author’s Note]

Welcome the little couple! The two-month dating countdown officially begins. Stay tuned for:

《Luo Ye’s First Heat Disaster》

《Helping you out with your hand since aren’t we lovers?》

《Since we’re a couple, isn’t kissing totally normal?》

《Why are you showering without clothes at home?》

《This is just a remote control.》

《We’re both guys, what’s there to be afraid of sleeping together?》

《Morning wood is completely normal.》

《Couples doing this is totally standard.》

《Qingqing, you smell so good. Can I kiss you?》

《If you want to do it this way, I guess it’s fine.》

《How could that possibly fit inside?》

《I am definitely not pulling out.》

《Touch it one more time.》

《So delicious, so sweet.》——

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha don’t worry, these will all come in handy later.