This one is also 5x long orz
Extra 29: Childhood Sweethearts IF Line 9
Xie Chaoyan pressed Ye Rongxu tighter in his arms and gently let out a breath.
He didn’t know when he started to have different feelings for Ye Rongxu.
Perhaps it was a stir in adolescence, a shared glance, or a quickening heartbeat. When he realized it, his entire mind and eyes were filled with the other person, even in his dreams.
They grew up together. Ye Rongxu had poor health, and Xie Chaoyan was used to taking care of him. Even before he developed these different feelings, Ye Rongxu had always been very important to him.
The him back then also constantly thought of the other person.
But it was different. When he woke up from an enchanting dream on an ordinary morning, he knew it was completely different.
In the past, the thought he had for Ye Rongxu was pure childhood friendship. But now, he wanted more. He wanted to embrace the other person every day, to hold him openly in his arms, and even to kiss him.
He didn’t just want to be Ye Rongxu’s childhood friend, his good friend, or his family’s big brother.
Indeed, because they had grown up together and were intimately close, he could now pretend to habitually pull Ye Rongxu into his arms or even make other affectionate gestures.
But it could only be under the guise of childhood friendship, nothing more intimate.
Even so, in high school, classmates would jokingly remind him:
“You’re so good to your little childhood friend, just like a couple.”
“My buddies and I have also been inseparable since childhood, but we mostly just put our arms around each other’s shoulders. I can’t carry him, haha.”
“Speaking of which, your relationship is so good. What if you both get partners later? Will they get jealous?”
Partners?
Xie Chaoyan felt a sudden pang in his chest when he heard that.
He couldn’t even imagine that his little sticky riceball who had grown up with him and was always his best friend, would someday like someone else, marry and start a family with them, and from then on, have his eyes and heart filled only with other people, becoming polite and distant towards him.
Not only could he not imagine it, but he also couldn’t accept it. Just thinking that someone might take his place and occupy Ye Rongxu’s heart filled him with a dull ache and an intense discomfort. Whenever this happened, he would always find an excuse to see Ye Rongxu and get close to him, as if only then could he fill the void in his heart.
Yes, he had known for a long time that he liked Ye Rongxu.
Now, in the dim light, with the swaying shadows, the person he liked was in his arms, even subtly struggling and moving around. Xie Chaoyan’s heart raced, almost beyond his control.
He tightly grasped the other person’s wrist, his breathing slightly ragged, and again whispered, “Xuxu, you’re drunk.”
Ye Rongxu struggled in his embrace for a moment, then suddenly stiffened, his expression a little blank. He slowly looked up at Xie Chaoyan.
He seemed to have… sat on something.
Xie Chaoyan also froze, a vein throbbing in his forehead. He then took a deep breath, barely managing to calm himself.
He slightly loosened his grip on Ye Rongxu’s wrist, wanting the other person to move away from him for a moment, but Ye Rongxu reacted first.
However, a drunk person doesn’t understand what danger is.
After his hands were released, he leaned forward instead, falling back into Xie Chaoyan’s arms. Then, propping himself up with his hands on Xie Chaoyan’s chest, he slightly raised his upper body and moved closer to Xie Chaoyan’s face.
Being so close, Ye Rongxu’s beautiful face was clearly reflected in Xie Chaoyan’s eyes; even the tiny fine hairs on his fair skin were visible.
There seemed to be a smile hidden in the eyes with a moist luster, and a hazy voice sounded in his ears.
“Are you feeling very uncomfortable? Do you want me to help you?” The drunken voice was like a kitten, lightly scratching at his heart.
Xie Chaoyan’s body stiffened.
The next second, the little cat in his arms grabbed something. Xie Chaoyan’s face changed drastically, flushing red then turning pale, as he quickly pressed down on the kitten’s wildly roaming paws.
The other person, however, was unaware of the “flash flood” he had unleashed, continuing to playfully whisper in his ear, “Good friends always help each other, I know, Brother Xiao Yan.”
He called him by his childhood nickname, his voice slurred with the effects of alcohol.
Xie Chaoyan’s breathing hitched slightly, and the vein on his forehead throbbed even harder.
In the dim corner, only a few people remained at the table.
Lin Jiajiao had been feeling a bit sleepy earlier and had dozed off at the table. She vaguely woke up, her blurry vision falling upon the two in the corner. She faintly heard that last sentence and instantly sobered up completely.
Good friends? Help each other?
Why did those words sound a bit off?
Looking at the two “glued” together, with her cousin’s hand going lower… Hiss, it couldn’t be what she was thinking, could it?
Across the table, Xie Chaoyan took a deep breath, immediately pulled Ye Rongxu’s hand back, and whispered, “Don’t move.”
He used almost all his willpower to barely restrain himself and maintain composure. Yet, his voice inevitably carried emotion, with a hint of hoarseness.
Lin Jiajiao quickly lowered her head and pretended to sleep again. When the commotion opposite quieted down, she guessed that her cousin’s hands and feet must have been pinned down. She then pretended to just wake up, swayed as she rose, and mumbled, “I’m going to the restroom.”
Xie Chaoyan looked up, his usually calm, clear eyes now lacking their usual tranquility. He glanced at her, then nodded. “Be careful.”
Xie Yu and Cao Yuxuan also returned shortly after.
After helping all the anime club members into taxis, Xie Yu rubbed his shoulder and asked the only conscious person left at the table, “What about you guys? What are your plans for tonight?”
Ye Rongxu had fallen asleep from exhaustion after his earlier antics, now nestled in Xie Chaoyan’s arms.
Xie Chaoyan put an arm around Ye Rongxu’s waist, lifted him up horizontally, and stood up. “You take Lin Jiajiao and Cao Yuxuan to the hotel. I’ll take him back.”
“Alright,” Xie Yu nodded. Thinking that with Ye Rongxu in his arms, it might be inconvenient for Xie Chaoyan to open the car door later, so he followed him out, leaving Cao Yuxuan at the restaurant to wait for Lin Jiajiao, who hadn’t returned yet.
Xie Chaoyan drove Ye Rongxu back to their place near the school. Ye Rongxu woke up once mid-journey, tilted his head to look at him for a moment like a sleepwalker, then quickly closed his eyes again, resuming his peaceful slumber.
Xie Chaoyan parked the car and gently called out to him, but seeing he was asleep again, he couldn’t help but shake his head helplessly.
As he carried Ye Rongxu out of the car, he noticed a small women’s shoulder bag in the back seat. After thinking carefully, he realized it was probably Lin Jiajiao’s, left behind when she rode in his car from the comic convention to the restaurant.
He casually picked up the bag and brought it upstairs with them.
After gently placing Ye Rongxu on the sofa, he suddenly faced a dilemma—the little drunkard was asleep. Should he help him wash up before carrying him to bed?
If he helped, because Ye Rongxu had cosplayed the little succubus, his arms and legs were painted with bloodstains and scars, so it would be best to give him a bath. That would mean taking off all his clothes…
Xie Chaoyan suddenly clenched his hand, standing rigidly by the sofa, looking at Ye Rongxu’s peaceful sleeping face.
If it were when they were younger, or before he became aware of his own feelings, he wouldn’t hesitate, nor would he find anything wrong with helping the other person bathe. But now…
Xie Chaoyan closed his eyes.
Now…
He actually…
His feelings for his childhood friend were not simple.
Would helping him bathe and change clothes with such thoughts be taking advantage of him?
The phone suddenly rang, sounding abrupt in the quiet living room.
Xie Chaoyan was abruptly pulled back to reality. Seeing the person on the sofa slightly frown at the noise, he quickly walked to the balcony.
The call was from Lin Jiajiao. She had just arrived at the hotel and was about to remove her makeup when she realized her small shoulder bag, containing her makeup remover and skincare products, was missing. She quickly called to inquire.
“The bag is in my car,” Xie Chaoyan answered indifferently. He paused, then suddenly asked, “Does makeup need to be washed off with special water?”
“Huh?” Lin Jiajiao was stunned for a moment. After realizing, she quickly said, “Yes, yes. If you have makeup on, washing with just water won’t clean it properly; you need makeup remover. You’re asking for my brother, right? His face makeup isn’t heavy; just use a cotton pad with some makeup remover to wipe it off…”
Xie Chaoyan listened carefully to the explanation, noted the key points, and nodded. “Okay, thank you. The bag…”
Lin Jiajiao immediately said, “Just keep it for now. My brother probably doesn’t have makeup remover, right? He can use mine and return it to me tomorrow. I’ll just ask the hotel front desk to buy some for me later.”
She was about to hang up when Xie Chaoyan suddenly spoke again, “Wait!”
Lin Jiajiao paused.
Xie Chaoyan hesitated for two seconds before continuing, “Earlier at the restaurant…”
“The restaurant?” Lin Jiajiao was confused.
Xie Chaoyan paused again, and his voice became a bit colder. “Don’t tell Xuxu.”
Lin Jiajiao instantly understood what he was referring to. So, Xie Chaoyan had actually noticed when she saw that scene in the restaurant earlier.
But he was specifically reminding her not to tell her cousin…
She almost instinctively exclaimed in surprise, “You two… you’re not together yet, are you?”
During the summer vacation, her cousin did seem oblivious, but just now in the restaurant, seeing the two embracing like that, and her cousin being the one to initiate it, Lin Jiajiao thought she was wrong in her earlier assumption at the comic convention. She believed the “window paper” had been broken, and they were finally together.
However, from Xie Chaoyan’s words, it seemed that wasn’t the case?
Xie Chaoyan almost immediately asked, “What do you know?”
Lin Jiajiao let out an “uh,” instantly regretting her quick tongue.
“It’s just… last year, at cousin’s birthday, after the party, you carried him upstairs to rest, and I happened to go upstairs to look for him, and… I accidentally saw you, after you put him on the bed…”
…kissed him.
Lin Jiajiao stammered, feeling a wave of embarrassment.
Silence stretched for a long time on the other end of the phone. Just when Lin Jiajiao was wondering if the signal was bad or if the call had been disconnected, Xie Chaoyan finally spoke again, repeating in a low voice, “Don’t tell him.”
His tone lacked its previous calmness, and there seemed to be a hint of annoyance.
Upon hearing this, Lin Jiajiao suddenly felt less anxious.
So, even the usually steady and calm Brother Yan could be unsteady and insecure when it came to matters of the heart.
She couldn’t help but want to laugh. She agreed, “I won’t say anything. I promise I won’t say anything. If I were going to say something, I would have already. But…”
Her tone shifted, becoming more relaxed. “Brother Yan, if you like my brother, why don’t you just tell him directly? With your relationship, as soon as you talk it over, wouldn’t it be a matter of minutes for you to get together?”
Was there really a need to specifically ask her to keep it a secret?
Xie Chaoyan fell silent again.
Indeed, he hadn’t dared to let Ye Rongxu know about this. Because he simply didn’t know if the other person liked the same gender or if he would like him.
Although they usually had a very good relationship, what if Ye Rongxu was just accustomed to being close to him since childhood and didn’t have any other feelings for him…?
When he realized this, Xie Chaoyan hesitated.
He didn’t dare to easily break through that “window paper,” fearing that if he did, the outcome wouldn’t be as he imagined, and he might even lose Ye Rongxu as a friend.
He was unwilling to show this timid thought to outsiders.
He merely feigned calmness and explained over the phone, “Xuxu is just used to being with me; it doesn’t necessarily mean he likes me that way. Besides, our families might not want us to find same-sex partners.”
Although same-sex marriage had long been allowed, it wasn’t accepted by everyone, nor was it certain that anyone could like the same gender or that every parent could accept their child’s partner being of the same gender.
Xie Chaoyan was not sure about this.
Lin Jiajiao, however, was surprised upon hearing this. “No, didn’t you two have an arranged childhood engagement? Don’t you have a marriage contract? Why do you have to worry about the elders’ attitudes?”
At her words, it was Xie Chaoyan’s turn to be shocked.
He suddenly clenched his phone, his voice tightening slightly, and almost immediately, he pursued the matter: “Childhood engagement? Marriage contract?”
Lin Jiajiao: “Uh, you didn’t know?”
Xie Chaoyan: “…”
“Who told you?” he quickly asked.
Lin Jiajiao subtly sweated, scratching her head on the other end of the phone. “I accidentally overheard my mom mentioning it when she was chatting with Auntie. It seems Auntie and Auntie Zhao saw that you two got along well and decided it when you were very young.”
Then she tentatively asked, “You really didn’t know?”
Xie Chaoyan was silent.
How could he know? He had never heard of it.
Lin Jiajiao was shocked: “My brother probably doesn’t know either, does he? No wonder you two…” You’re so close, yet you keep insisting you’re just friends.
If they had known about the childhood engagement and marriage contract earlier, wouldn’t they have started thinking in that direction a long time ago?
However, noticing that he remained silent, Lin Jiajiao became a little unsure again. She hesitantly asked, “Auntie and Auntie Zhao didn’t tell you two? Uncle didn’t either?”
“If neither of you knows, did I mishear at the time? But I definitely heard my mom say something about a childhood engagement…”
Mid-sentence, she felt like she might be discouraging him, so she kindly consoled, “But honestly, my brother’s relationship with you is abnormally good, while his relationships with everyone else are normal. You’re special to him. I think even without the childhood engagement, you don’t need to worry.”
Xie Chaoyan paused at her words. Is that so?
After hanging up the phone, he pressed his brows. Almost immediately, he called Xie Yunzhao.
Xie Yunzhao answered the phone, her voice very gentle, asking if there was anything wrong with him calling so late.
Xie Chaoyan suddenly hesitated, afraid to confirm, fearful of a disappointing answer.
He hesitated for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and asked, “Mom, did you and Aunt Lin arrange a childhood engagement for Xuxu and me?”
After he spoke, he unconsciously gripped his phone tightly, silently waiting for her answer.
One second, two seconds…
Time seemed to stretch out, but in reality, Xie Yunzhao only chuckled before gently saying, “Yes, we did.”
Receiving the affirmative answer, Xie Chaoyan was stunned. Immediately afterward, his tense body slightly relaxed.
On the other end of the phone, Xie Yunzhao’s voice continued, “How did you know? Did Ah Xue tell you?”
Xie Chaoyan gently exhaled and shook his head, “No.”
Then he couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, why have you and Aunt Lin never mentioned this? Especially…”
Especially since this was a… major, good event concerning his and Ye Rongxu’s lifelong future.
Xie Yunzhao chuckled on the other end of the phone and said, “We were going to tell you, but you were still young then. Your Aunt Lin and I thought about it carefully later and worried that if you grew up and didn’t like each other and could only be friends, knowing about it too early would be a burden. So we decided to wait until you were older to tell you.”
Then she asked curiously, “What’s wrong? Have you and Xuxu made any progress? The day before yesterday, I was discussing with Ah Xue that we would tell you when you came back for vacation. I didn’t expect you to know before I even said anything.”
Xie Chaoyan pressed his brows, desperately wanting to tell her that in the future, for such good news, please try to tell him as early as possible. There was no need to worry about him not being able to handle it; his heart was very strong.
Though he thought that, after hanging up the phone and walking back into the living room, his heart was still racing, and his steps felt a little light, with a sense of illusory.
On the sofa, Ye Rongxu was still asleep. His makeup-clad face was fair and handsome, his features exquisite, his lightly closed eyes like two crescent moons, and his fan-like eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes.
Seemingly uncomfortable in his sleep, he shifted sideways, changing his position, curling his bandaged calves, and murmuring, “Brother Yan…”
The little succubus tail on his costume fell down with his movement, hanging over the edge of the sofa.
Xie Chaoyan half-crouched in front of the sofa, his gaze fixed on Ye Rongxu’s peaceful sleeping face, tracing every detail. He suddenly let out a soft chuckle and pulled him into his embrace.
“My little succubus, you’re truly mine now,” he whispered softly into Ye Rongxu’s ear, his voice slightly hoarse.
After speaking, he picked up Ye Rongxu and walked into the bathroom, his movements devoid of the previous hesitation and unease.
Xu Xu must like him too; he just doesn’t realize it yet.
Also, Lin Jiajiao said that sleeping with makeup on is bad for the skin. So, he was just bringing the other person to remove his makeup and, incidentally… well, to bathe.
In the bathroom, the air was misty with steam. Ye Rongxu felt as if he was being helped to put on clothes like when he was a child, his arms lifted and lowered, being moved about.
He hazily opened his eyes and found himself and Xie Chaoyan standing under the shower. He was still clinging to Xie Chaoyan like a koala, and Xie Chaoyan… was helping him bathe.
Perhaps he hadn’t fully woken up, and his brain was reacting sluggishly. He didn’t immediately feel that anything was amiss. Instead, annoyed at being woken up, he urged impatiently, “Hurry up, I’m so sleepy.”
His voice was soft and clear. After speaking, he yawned and became muddled again, resting his head on Xie Chaoyan’s shoulder.
Faintly, he seemed to realize something, but drowsiness swept over him, and he quickly gave up trying to think.
Xie Chaoyan held him tightly, his gaze deepening. With immense willpower, he managed to pull the bath towel around him, wrap him up, and carry him to the bed.
In his sleep, Ye Rongxu felt like he was caught by an octopus again, his limbs entangled and unable to move, making his sleep a bit uncomfortable.
He wriggled his body, trying hard to change his position.
The sky was already faintly lit, and the outside light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, falling on his lightly closed eyelids.
Suddenly, he snapped his eyes open, and a memory flooded his mind.
Oh no, what did he do at the dinner gathering last night? It seemed he got drunk later, lay on Xie Chaoyan, seduced him, and even offered to “help” him? And after they returned, Xie Chaoyan hugged him while they showered together and even helped him change clothes?
Ye Rongxu: “…”
He practically wanted to groan in despair.
Even if they had been close since childhood, this was a bit too much, wasn’t it?
What was worse, it was early morning, and he felt Xie Chaoyan…
He took a deep breath, remembering the lesson from that summer morning, and quickly closed his eyes, pretending to still be asleep to avoid embarrassment.
But a second before Ye Rongxu closed his eyes, Xie Chaoyan opened his, his gaze clear, without a trace of sleepiness in his eyes.
Ye Rongxu’s plan to feign sleep failed. He awkwardly chuckled and coughed dryly, “Uh, do you… want to go to the bathroom first?”
It was a normal phenomenon, he understood.
He thought Xie Chaoyan would go to the bathroom to take care of it himself, just like that time during summer vacation. But to his surprise, the other person listened to his words but didn’t move, his dark eyes still fixed on him.
Ye Rongxu’s scalp gradually tingled under the gaze. Just as he was about to speak again, Xie Chaoyan finally spoke, his voice magnetic and pleasant, with a hint of hoarseness, whispering in his ear, “Don’t want to go to the bathroom.”
Ye Rongxu: …No, if you don’t want to, then don’t. Why are you so close?
His ears inexplicably felt hot and a little numb, his ear canal tickled by the voice.
He subconsciously wanted to distance himself, but just as he retreated, Xie Chaoyan moved closer, continuing to speak in his ear, his voice like coaxing, “Xuxu, will you help me?”
Ye Rongxu: “???”
Help? How to help? Help with what? Is it that kind of help between good friends?
Soon, he knew the answer. Xie Chaoyan took his hand under the blanket and slowly guided it.
Ye Rongxu’s earlobes gradually became hot, and listening to Xie Chaoyan’s breath falling on his ear, his face flushed crimson. What was worse, he, he… he seemed to need help too.
Xie Chaoyan clearly noticed, his low chuckle sounding in his ear again: “Need help?”
Ye Rongxu, blushing, suddenly felt a little annoyed. As he hesitated, Xie Chaoyan made the decision for him. He instantly stiffened, his insteps quickly tensed, his fine white teeth bit his lip, his hand pressed Xie Chaoyan’s wrist, and finally, unable to resist, he stiffly turned his face away.
—
After getting up, Ye Rongxu went to the bathroom to wash up and couldn’t help but stare at his right hand, examining it. After a long moment, he quickly put it under running water to wash it, his cheeks slightly flushed.
All day, he felt a bit uncomfortable. His right hand’s presence seemed particularly strong, and he couldn’t help but think about it constantly.
In the afternoon, he and Xie Chaoyan went to send Lin Jiaojiao and Cao Yuxuan to the airport, and Xie Yu was there too. He couldn’t help but want to pull Xie Yu and Cao Yuxuan aside and ask them if “good friends really help each other.”
However, Xie Chaoyan was always by his side, occasionally putting his arm around his shoulder, making it impossible for him to get away. He could only temporarily give up and planned to ask on WeChat after they returned.
Lin Jiaojiao noticed them acting like “good sworn brothers” and instantly understood. Xie Chaoyan’s eyes always held a faint smile, seemingly in a very good mood.
As she passed Ye Rongxu, she noticed a suspicious red mark on the skin behind his ear and couldn’t help but click her tongue.
“Did you ask Aunt Zhao? And did you tell my brother?” She leaned over Ye Rongxu to ask Xie Chaoyan.
Xie Chaoyan composed himself and said, “I asked, not yet.”
Lin Jiaojiao shook her head, disapprovingly saying, “You should tell him soon.”
Xie Chaoyan nodded slightly, glanced at her, and said, “Thank you.”
Lin Jiaojiao looked flattered and quickly waved her hand to say it was nothing. Then she turned to pull her luggage and board the plane with Cao Yuxuan.
Ye Rongxu stood still, a little confused.
Once they were back in the car, he asked Xie Chaoyan, “What were you talking about with Jiaojiao just now?”
Before the other person could answer, he continued on his own, “Oh, right, why did you bite my ear this morning?”
Xie Chaoyan’s carefully prepared words were instantly scattered. He sat in the driver’s seat in silence for a while.
It wasn’t until Ye Rongxu turned his head that he couldn’t help but say, “It wasn’t a bite.”
Ye Rongxu: “If it wasn’t a bite, what was it?”
Xie Chaoyan’s dark eyes fixed on him. After a long moment, he suddenly unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned closer.
Ye Rongxu watched his approaching handsome face, suddenly feeling a surge of nervousness and a tightening in his throat. Before he could react, a kiss landed on his lips, light as a feather, touching and then leaving.
Ye Rongxu’s eyes widened abruptly, his heart seeming to skip a beat. “It was a kiss,” Xie Chaoyan said, cupping his face, his gaze meeting Ye Rongxu’s bewildered eyes, and he said seriously, “Xuxu, I like you.”
Ye Rongxu’s breathing hitched for a moment, his curled eyelashes trembling, and his fingers gripping the seatbelt unconsciously tightened as he tried to maintain his composure.
After a long time, he finally managed to speak, his voice tight: “Th-this isn’t good, is it?”
Upon hearing this, Xie Chaoyan’s eyes flickered slightly, and the fingers pinching Ye Rongxu’s chin unconsciously exerted more pressure, but his voice was extremely soft as he looked into his eyes and asked, “Why isn’t it good?”
He paused, then asked softly, “You like me too, don’t you? This morning, didn’t we…”
His voice was slow, seemingly calm and composed, but in reality, it carried a hint of nervousness and unease. His gaze was fixed on Ye Rongxu, not missing the slightest reaction, like a prisoner awaiting judgment.
Ye Rongxu let out an “Ah,” and thinking of what happened this morning, his gaze suddenly became evasive as he stammered, “Th-that wasn’t just help between good friends?”
After thinking for a moment, he added with certainty, “You said before, it’s normal; good friends all do that.”
Xie Chaoyan: “…” Damn, he shot himself in the foot.
He gritted his teeth, pinched Ye Rongxu’s chin, and suddenly leaned down to kiss him again. This time it was no longer gentle but carried an undeniable force, prying open his lips and swallowing his muffled sounds.
Ye Rongxu was breathless from the kiss, his heartbeat gradually quickening, the sounds drumming in his ears, and his limbs felt soft.
When he was finally released, he was so weak he nearly slid off the seat. His eyes were glistening, the corners red, and his lips were lustrous.
Xie Chaoyan was incredibly close, his breath completely enveloping him. He took Ye Rongxu’s hand and placed it over his own heart, asking in a low, hoarse voice, “Would a friend do this to you? Would their heart beat faster when kissing?”
Ye Rongxu stared at him blankly, his hand on Xie Chaoyan’s heart clearly feeling an unusual throbbing. Suddenly, his palm felt hot, and his fingertips involuntarily curled slightly.
Xie Chaoyan quickly answered his own question: “No.”
He looked at Ye Rongxu, his tone extremely solemn: “So, I like you, Xuxu. Not the kind of liking where we grew up together and are closer than family, nor the liking between friends, but the kind between lovers… love.”
His voice suddenly became a little soft when uttering the last word, like a murmur, carrying a lingering tenderness.
Ye Rongxu stared at him stiffly, suddenly feeling his own heartbeat was also abnormal. He subconsciously used his free hand to press over his own heart.
—
That night, Ye Rongxu lay alone in bed, tossing and turning, somewhat unable to sleep.
Actually, he should have realized it long ago. What kind of good friends help each other and also kiss? It just didn’t make sense.
In fact, now recalling their past interactions, he and Xie Chaoyan seemed to have crossed the boundary of normal friendship more than once.
It was just that because they had been that way since childhood, they were used to interacting like that, and since that “window paper” hadn’t been poked through, they didn’t overthink it.
But now this layer of paper was punctured by Xie Chaoyan. Suddenly being confessed to by his best friend, someone as important as a brother, Ye Rongxu’s brain momentarily crashed.
When Xie Chaoyan asked him earlier that day if he liked him, he instinctively said, “I don’t know.”
Because he had never thought about it.
The other person quickly pressed, “Then do you hate it? Kissing and what happened this morning?”
Ye Rongxu quickly shook his head again, thought for a moment, and said, “I don’t hate it.”
In fact, he found it quite… comfortable.
Recalling this, Ye Rongxu covered his face in shame. If this was what liking felt like, then… he probably liked Xie Chaoyan too.
But the feeling was still strange. He had always only thought of the other person as his childhood friend and brother. And thinking about it this way, hadn’t his past interactions with Xie Chaoyan been like those of a couple?
Except they hadn’t “helped each other” before.
“Hiss.” Had he liked him all along? But could he be overthinking it? Perhaps he was just soft-hearted, which was why he and Xie Chaoyan “helped each other.”
Ye Rongxu’s mind was in a jumble. Since he couldn’t sleep anyway, he simply got up, grabbed his phone, and created a small group chat with Lin Jiaojiao, Xie Yu, and Cao Yuxuan to confide in them.
Ye Rongxu: I’m going to tell you something. Stay calm first; don’t be too shocked later.
Xie Yu: Go on, my heart is strong.
Cao Yuxuan: Exactly, definitely not shocked.
Ye Rongxu: …Xie Chaoyan confessed to me today.
Xie Yu: What?
Cao Yuxuan: What?!
A moment later—
Lin Jiaojiao: Wow, it’s not easy. He finally said it.
Ye Rongxu: ?
Xie Yu: ??
Cao Yuxuan: ???
Why do you seem to know so much?
Ye Rongxu was full of questions and quickly @Lin Jiaojiao, asking: Did you know all along? And conspired with him? How could you hide this from me!
Lin Jiaojiao felt guilty and immediately decided to lie: No, how would I know? It’s just that you and Xie Chaoyan usually have an unbelievably close relationship, like those childhood sweethearts in the novels I read. I was just making wild associations.
Ye Rongxu was suspicious.
In the group, Xie Yu and Cao Yuxuan were still in shock, then suddenly enlightened, and kept spamming “So that’s how it is.” “I knew your relationship was unusually good.” Then they gossiped, asking: So, did you agree? Are you and Brother Yan together now?
Then they frantically @ him, desperately waiting for an answer.
Ye Rongxu couldn’t be bothered with them; they offered no constructive advice.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to send a private message to Lin Jiaojiao, asking, “What novels are you reading? Recommend a few to me.”
Lin Jiaojiao held her phone and shook her head. She hadn’t expected her cousin to be as childish as Xie Chaoyan when it came to relationships.
She quickly recommended a few childhood sweetheart novels that she had reread countless times.
Ye Rongxu rarely stayed up late, and when he woke up the next day, he had faint dark circles under his eyes.
Xie Chaoyan paused when he saw those dark circles, his thin lips pressed together. He suddenly said, “That thing I told you yesterday, you… don’t have to rush to give me an answer. You should rest well.”
It seemed he had been too hasty. He really should have proceeded gradually and made ample preparations before speaking.
Xie Chaoyan’s gaze darkened slightly, and he suddenly felt a little regretful.
Ye Rongxu was stunned by his words but quickly realized that the other person thought he hadn’t slept much because of the confession yesterday.
He “uh-ed,” feeling a bit awkward.
Although… that was partly true, the specific circumstances were a bit different.
The novels Lin Jiaojiao recommended were quite good, with engaging plots. Before he knew it, he had read until dawn.
He didn’t tell Xie Chaoyan this, only nodded, thinking that if he had time during the day, he would finish the rest of the story.
After a week of intensely catching up on childhood sweetheart romance novels, he still hadn’t figured out how to deal with his feelings, but he had become book buddies with Lin Jiaojiao, discussing plots together on WeChat every now and then.
And the more he read, the more he felt that the situation between himself and Xie Chaoyan was really similar to these childhood sweetheart novels, with some things even mentioned in the novels.
For example, the “good friends helping each other” thing, but in those novels, it was mostly one party in a couple tricking the other to advance their relationship.
So Xie Chaoyan had been tricking him too?
Tsk, what did Lin Jiaojiao call it? Scheming gong.
But why was Xie Chaoyan the gong?
Ye Rongxu secretly shook his head.
Soon it was the weekend again. Ji Qingyu suddenly came to Jing City for a business trip and invited Ye Rongxu and Xie Chaoyan to dinner.
Ye Rongxu reluctantly put down his unfinished novel, but then, thinking that Ji Qingyu was coming, he became happy again.
In the afternoon, Xie Chaoyan drove him to the agreed-upon restaurant.
Seeing the smile on his face, as if he was greatly looking forward to the meeting, Xie Chaoyan’s hand gripping the steering wheel unconsciously tightened.
“You’re so happy that Brother Qingyu is coming?” he asked, seemingly casually.
Ye Rongxu instinctively nodded and said, “Of course.”
After graduating from university, Ji Qingyu worked for Ye Group, and in the past two years, he had been assigned to an overseas branch, rarely returning to the country. He hadn’t seen the other person in a long time, so he was naturally happy that they got to see each other today.
Hearing him answer without hesitation, Xie Chaoyan pursed his lips and said nothing more.
Ye Rongxu noticed his sudden silence and instinctively looked at him, then discovered—
“Oh, you’re dressed very formally today,” he said with surprise.
Xie Chaoyan was wearing a suit he hadn’t seen before, probably custom-made and well-tailored, which made him look very handsome. His hair also seemed to have been specially styled, giving him a cool, elite temperament and less of a student’s youthful awkwardness.
Xie Chaoyan lightly coughed, seemingly uncomfortable under his gaze, and said unnaturally, “Just custom-made; it arrived today, so… I put it on to see if it fits.”
“Oh.” Ye Rongxu nodded, examined it carefully for him, and commented, “It fits very well, and the style is nice. It makes you look even better.”
Xie Chaoyan: “…”
His hand on the steering wheel tightened noticeably, and there seemed to be a suspicious flush on his handsome profile.
Little rascal, always saying sweet things.
—
When the two arrived at the restaurant’s private room, Ji Qingyu had already ordered several dishes.
Seeing them arrive, the other person quickly handed over the menu, smiling and saying, “I ordered a few dishes first. You two can order some more.”
After speaking, he raised his gaze and carefully observed them both, instinctively saying, “Has Chaoyan grown taller again? Xuxu seems to have grown taller too. How have you been feeling lately?”
Ye Rongxu, sitting next to him, quickly replied, “Very good,” and then asked how he was doing overseas.
Xie Chaoyan sat next to Ye Rongxu, took the menu, and turned to look at them.
After his father passed away, Ji Qingyu was taken in by Aunt Lin Xue to live at the Ye family home. Although due to the age difference and the fact that he soon went to college, he wasn’t always with Ye Rongxu like Xie Chaoyan.
However, he cared for Ye Rongxu deeply, and Ye Rongxu had always treated him like an older brother.
They were both brothers he had known for many years. Ji Qingyu was mature and excellent, unlike him, who was still a freshman…
Xie Chaoyan lowered his gaze slightly, his mind completely off the menu.
Ji Qingyu was a gentle and considerate person. Seeing that Xie Chaoyan wasn’t saying much and seemed a bit absent-minded, he turned to him and spoke a few more words, asking about his recent studies.
Xie Chaoyan quickly regained his composure and joined the conversation.
The meal was quite heartwarming; at least Ji Qingyu and Ye Rongxu were both in good spirits.
After the meal, Ye Rongxu also asked with concern where Ji Qingyu was staying in Jing City, how many days he would be on his business trip, and if he had time, if they could hang out tomorrow.
Xie Chaoyan stood by, listening, his heart growing more and more complicated.
He only came back to his senses when Ji Qingyu spoke.
“I haven’t booked a hotel yet. I heard you two live near the school. I wonder if I could stay with you for a night?” Ji Qingyu’s voice was filled with laughter.
This time, before Ye Rongxu could even speak, Xie Chaoyan readily agreed.
Driving back to their residence, while Ji Qingyu was using their study to handle work, Xie Chaoyan suddenly pulled Ye Rongxu to the balcony and whispered, “Xuxu, how are you going to settle Brother Qingyu?”
Ye Rongxu said, “Ah,” as if he didn’t understand what he meant for a moment.
Xie Chaoyan continued, “We only have two bedrooms. It wouldn’t be right to let Brother Qingyu sleep in the living room.”
Their apartment was a three-bedroom, two-living room layout, but one of the bedrooms had been converted into a study. Of the remaining two bedrooms, he and Ye Rongxu each had one, leaving no extra rooms.
Ye Rongxu nodded at his words: “It seems so.”
Then he asked, “What do you think?”
Xie Chaoyan lightly coughed and said, “How about Brother Qingyu staying in my room, and we just squeeze in together?”
Ye Rongxu: “…”
He suddenly remembered that phrase Lin Jiaojiao had used when complaining to him before: scheming gong.
Eh, so why exactly was the other person a gong?
He couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows slightly, with a smile hidden in his beautiful eyes. He looked at the other person with a reserved expression and said, “So when you promised Brother Qingyu, you had already planned it this way.”
No wonder he agreed so quickly at that time, as if afraid that he might refuse.
Xie Chaoyan: “…”
He coughed lightly, looking somewhat unnatural, clearly having been seen through.
Ye Rongxu scoffed softly, feeling a sudden realization. He watched him for a while, not saying whether he agreed or not, but casually asked, “You seemed a bit absent-minded during dinner today?”
Xie Chaoyan looked at him subtly, not answering immediately.
Ye Rongxu then reached out again, gripping the edge of his suit collar, his fingertips gently tracing the texture of the fabric.
Xie Chaoyan looked down, his gaze falling on Ye Rongxu’s slender, fair fingers, his gaze deepening.
Ye Rongxu suddenly tightened his grip on Xie Chaoyan’s collar, pulling him closer, and slightly raised his chin, his clear eyes filled with a smile. He deliberately asked, “Brother, why are you dressed so formally today?”
Seeing that he didn’t answer, he ventured his own guess: “Is it because you’re going to see Brother Qingyu?”
“But why wear such flashy clothes to see Brother Qingyu? And… styled your hair. Is it for someone to see? Or…”
Xie Chaoyan finally realized he was doing it on purpose. He suddenly took the opportunity to wrap an arm around Ye Rongxu’s waist, pulled him close, lowered his head, and pressed his forehead against Ye Rongxu’s, gritting his teeth and whispering, “Xuxu, you know why.”
Ye Rongxu was suddenly embraced, his face turning red again, instantly deflating like a punctured balloon, losing his teasing momentum.
He instinctively lowered his eyes and cleared his throat: “So, it’s really to compare yourself with Brother Qingyu?”
He waited for a while after speaking, receiving no answer. He then looked up stealthily. Seeing Xie Chaoyan’s earlobes turn suspiciously red, he understood and said while suppressing his laughter, “Why are you overthinking? I think of Brother Qingyu as my big brother.”
“I used to be just your big brother too,” Xie Chaoyan said in a muffled voice while holding him.
After speaking, he suddenly paused, then immediately released Ye Rongxu, holding his shoulders, and asked with a burning gaze, “What did that… mean just now?”
Ye Rongxu gave a fake cough, his face growing redder, and whispered, “It means you’re different from Brother Qingyu.”
He paused, then avoided Xie Chaoyan’s gaze, his ears red as he continued, “And also, about what you told me last week, I have an answer. My… feelings are the same as yours.”
Xie Chaoyan’s hands on his shoulders suddenly tightened, his gaze shifting slightly, seemingly unable to believe it. After a long pause, he couldn’t help but say, “Xuxu, can you explain it more clearly?”
Ye Rongxu feigned a cough, his face becoming even redder, and he whispered, “It means, I like you too.”
After saying this, his chin was almost touching his chest, revealing two red ears amidst his dark hair.
In fact, he hadn’t just figured it out. He was supposed to tell the other party today, but he didn’t expect Ji Qingyu to suddenly arrive and interrupt the plan.
However, this delay made him see things even clearer. Although they were both brothers he had known since childhood, Xie Chaoyan was different. His feelings for Xie Chaoyan were even more different.
But after saying all this, he still hadn’t received a response from Xie Chaoyan.
Ye Rongxu waited, his mood shifting from embarrassment to apprehension. Finally, he couldn’t help but look up.
Seeing the other person just staring at him blankly, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated and asked, “What do you mean by this? Wasn’t it you who first—”
Before he could finish, he was suddenly kissed.
Xie Chaoyan hugged him tightly, kissing him forcefully. After a few moments, he released him, his eyes shining as he looked at him, his voice filled with unconcealed joy: “Xuxu, I’m so happy.”
After saying that, he lowered his head and kissed him.
This time, it wasn’t chaotic and unorganized like before; instead, it was tender, lips and teeth intertwined.
Ye Rongxu was kissed until he was completely weak, leaning in Xie Chaoyan’s arms, gasping and struggling to remind him, “…The balcony… someone will see… Brother Qingyu is still here…”
Xie Chaoyan seemed not to hear, pulling Ye Rongxu’s slender waist tighter, his other hand pressing the back of Ye Rongxu’s head, fingers running through his soft hair, pulling him even closer.
—
Inside the study, Ji Qingyu, who just finished his work, took a water cup to the living room to pour water but instead saw the two embracing each other on the balcony. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
He didn’t disturb them and quickly turned back to the study. A moment later, he received a call from Lin Xue, his voice low and amused as he answered her questions one by one.
“…Yes, I saw them; they just finished eating… They’re already together; I guess they’ll tell you soon… I saw them… they’re doing well; you don’t need to worry.”
On the other end of the phone, Lin Xue finally relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief, “I knew something was up when Chaoyan suddenly called to ask Yunzhao about the childhood engagement. I was worried they’d feel awkward after finding out, but I didn’t expect them to get together first. It’s a good thing, though; once they come back, we can discuss the formal engagement.”
Ji Qingyu chuckled softly and said “Yes” warmly.
Lin Xue chatted with him for a few more minutes, then finally said, “Alright, I won’t bother you then. When you have time, come back to Jiangcheng and stay for a couple of days. Also, remind them to come home more on weekends. Really, Jing City isn’t far from Jiangcheng, yet neither of them ever comes back.”
Ji Qingyu smiled and agreed, then went outside after hanging up the phone. Seeing that the two had already separated, he raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Brother Qingyu, are you done with work?” Ye Rongxu’s eyes seemed to hold a shimmer of water, and his breathing was a little unsteady as he awkwardly greeted him.
Xie Chaoyan also greeted him, his expression much more normal.
Ji Qingyu nodded with a smile, thought for a moment, then added, “Aunt Lin just called me and asked you two to come back home more often when you have time.”
Ye Rongxu, reminded by him, suddenly remembered he hadn’t called Lin Xue in days and hurried back to the bedroom, saying, “I’m going to call my mom back.”
Xie Chaoyan followed him. After taking a few steps, he turned back to look at Ji Qingyu again.
Ji Qingyu’s tone was normal: “Anything else?”
Xie Chaoyan shook his head, turned, and continued to leave.
Actually, he knew Ji Qingyu had come to the living room, but he still wouldn’t let go of Ye Rongxu at that time.
—
That evening, Xie Chaoyan got his wish and lay on the same bed as Ye Rongxu.
Ye Rongxu felt a little embarrassed. They had just confessed to each other, and now they were sleeping together; the progress felt a bit fast.
So, although they had confessed their feelings for each other, they were more reserved than before, lying rigidly on their backs, their hands not even touching.
It was strange. They had even “helped each other” before.
Ye Rongxu thought to himself.
Even before “helping each other,” they were more intimate than they were now. Sigh, why was it worse after confessing than before?
As he was lost in thought, his hand, resting by his side, was lightly touched. As if sensing his lack of resistance, that hand suddenly gripped his tightly.
Ye Rongxu stiffened, his body unmoving.
Then, he noticed that Xie Chaoyan had turned his body, and his gaze fell on his face like substance in the darkness.
Ye Rongxu’s breathing involuntarily lightened, and his heartbeat seemed to become clearer in the darkness.
After a while, Xie Chaoyan finally spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, with a hint of coaxing, “Xuxu, you used to snuggle into my arms when you slept.”
Ye Rongxu’s face instantly flushed.
The past was the past; how could it be the same as now? When he was four or five, he not only snuggled into Xie Chaoyan’s arms to sleep but also bathed in the same bathtub as him and stared at him.
Xie Chaoyan seemed to recall those past events too and sighed wistfully, “Xuxu has grown up and become estranged from brother.”
Ye Rongxu: “…”
He suddenly turned and hugged the other person, saying in a muffled voice, “Shut up, don’t say ‘gege’ at a time like this.”
In the darkness, Xie Chaoyan couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly, holding him tight and softly saying “Mm.”
His tone carried an inexplicable satisfaction.
—
The next afternoon, Ji Qingyu finished his business trip and left. Ye Rongxu and Xie Chaoyan saw him off together.
Before boarding, Ji Qingyu turned to look at them, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just smiled and said nothing, only telling them to visit Jiangcheng more often when they had time.
After seeing Ji Qingyu off, their lives returned to normal.
After starting to date, everything seemed no different from before. He and Xie Chaoyan were still as close as conjoined twins; except for their respective class times, they were together most of the time.
Xie Chaoyan also continued to take care of him constantly, preparing their breakfast in the morning, reminding him to wear more clothes when it was cold, and being more concerned about his health than he was himself.
Except… there was more kissing and occasional “mutual assistance” in the morning.
Speaking of kissing, Ye Rongxu actually had a small complaint. Xie Chaoyan seemed very enthusiastic about it. After confirming their relationship, he hadn’t stopped holding him down and kissing him.
There was even one time at school, with people still in the distance, when the other person actually secretly kissed him under the cover of a hat.
Although kissing was comfortable and even pleasant, wasn’t it too much if it happened too often?
In contrast, the “mutual assistance” in the morning was more acceptable to him because it didn’t happen every day, and it was more comfortable than kissing.
However, this was something he would only think about to himself. He wouldn’t tell Xie Chaoyan, lest the other person increase the frequency of “mutual assistance.”
Unknowingly, half a month passed.
Ye Rongxu had been immersed in his relationship these past few days. When he occasionally scrolled through his WeChat groups, he suddenly realized he hadn’t chatted with his friends in the small group for a long time.
The joy of being in a relationship—he should find anyone to share it with, or else that would make him feel a bit stifled.
So, he first sent a red packet in his group, then promptly announced: Everyone, I’m no longer single; I have a partner!
The three people in the small group immediately appeared, claimed the red packet in seconds, sent a bunch of “Congratulations, congratulations,” and then… nothing else.
The three of them disappeared.
Ye Rongxu’s face darkened. Were these three just red packet-claiming machines?
At that moment, notifications for other messages kept popping up at the top of his phone. Ye Rongxu irritably exited the interface, only to find that it was actually messages from another group that Lin Jiaojiao and the others were in.
That group also didn’t have many people; besides one extra person, Xie Chaoyan, the members were no different from the new small group.
But Xie Chaoyan rarely spoke in the group and wouldn’t send so many messages for no reason, so it could only be Lin Jiaojiao and the others.
Tsk, they took his red packet and ran to another group.
Ye Rongxu immediately clicked in, wanting to reprimand them, and then—
He was almost blinded by the screen full of “Congratulations,” “Boss is generous,” “May you have a hundred years of happiness,” and other emojis.
What the hell? Did someone else go public?
He quickly scrolled up the chat history and, after a while, finally understood—after Lin Jiaojiao and the others claimed his red packet, they went to the big group, @Xie Chaoyan, congratulated him on no longer being single, and asked for red packets.
Xie Chaoyan wasn’t stingy; he waved his hand and sent a row of red packets, and the amounts were not small, much more generous than Ye Rongxu.
No wonder these three were chatting in the big group and not the small one.
Ye Rongxu’s face darkened again. Also, he hadn’t even said who he was dating, and these three had already guessed?
Well, it wasn’t hard to guess, actually.
But Xie Chaoyan sending red packets and not including his boyfriend’s share—was that reasonable?
He directly @Xie Chaoyan in the group and asked: How come I don’t get a share?
Lin Jiaojiao and the others immediately started teasing: Oh oh, the boyfriend’s angry, Brother Yan, quickly coax him.
Xie Chaoyan, who was sitting with Ye Rongxu on the living room sofa watching TV, looked up, glanced at Ye Rongxu, then quickly switched his phone interface and sent him a large red packet separately.
Ye Rongxu happily claimed it, then replied: “Tsk.”
It wasn’t something he snatched, so there was no sense of accomplishment.
—
However, after going public in front of his friends, he suddenly thought of something else: he hadn’t told his parents about this yet.
He wasn’t worried that his parents wouldn’t agree; after all, his parents doted on him. But there was definitely a difference between reluctantly agreeing and happily agreeing.
And with his childhood friend becoming his lover, he really didn’t know how to bring it up. Especially since the elders in his family often jokingly called Xie Chaoyan his older brother and him the younger brother, almost treating them as real siblings.
Ye Rongxu was a little worried that his parents wouldn’t be able to accept it immediately, and also Aunt Zhao…
But luckily, they were only freshmen in college, so there was no need to rush to explain.
Xie Chaoyan listened to his troubles, then suddenly coughed lightly, suppressing a laugh, and said, “Actually, they had already arranged a childhood engagement for us, so they won’t refuse, and in fact…” they would be very happy to see them together.
“What?” Ye Rongxu was shocked and interrupted him before he could finish, “Why didn’t I know about this?”
“Wait, you knew about this all along, and you deliberately kept quiet to trick me?”
Xie Chaoyan helplessly said, “I just found out recently too.”
He then recounted how he found out, truthfully and completely.
After listening, Ye Rongxu was speechless for a moment.
“They didn’t tell us about this sooner.” It made him agonize for a while.
However, that girl Lin Jiaojiao actually knew about it too. No wonder when he complained last year that Xie Chaoyan liked to collect his drawings, her gaze was so meaningful.
And then there were the couple’s outfits… Sigh, Lin Jiaojiao had read too many novels, and that’s why she thought there was something off between him and Xie Chaoyan.
But he hadn’t expected that she had known about the childhood engagement all along and had been gossiping about him and Xie Chaoyan?
As the subject of the gossip, Ye Rongxu later “educated” his cousin well on WeChat, telling her to stop making fun of him in the future and threatening her that if it happened again, he would tell his aunt that she was still reading novels even in her senior year of high school.
After giving her a “big stick,” he finally sent a red packet to appease her, stating: If you ever overhear anything related to me again, tell me promptly, and also recommend a few danmei novels about childhood sweethearts. P.S.: It’s not that I like to read them; it’s mainly because I haven’t spent all the money I recharged last time.
After sending it and putting down his phone, he suddenly thought of something else. If Lin Jiaojiao started gossiping last year, did that mean Xie Chaoyan had already been having that kind of romantic feeling for him since last year?
Thinking of this, his lips unconsciously curved upwards, and he couldn’t quite explain why, but he was just very happy.
He was currently studying with Xie Chaoyan in the library. After thinking for a moment, he couldn’t help but lean closer, reaching out to block Xie Chaoyan’s eyes from the book, his long fingers wiggling.
Xie Chaoyan’s gaze indeed fell on his hand, and after a moment, he looked up, giving him a slightly questioning look.
The library was quiet, with occasional sounds of turning pages and keyboard clicks from around them.
Ye Rongxu glanced left and right, then suddenly leaned closer to him, lowering his body, and asked in a very low whisper, “Xie Chaoyan, have you liked me for a long time?”
Xie Chaoyan quickly turned his head to look at him, his gaze meeting the slyness in Ye Rongxu’s eyes. He subtly twirled the pen between his fingers.
Ye Rongxu leaned in again, whispering next to his ear, “When was it? Last year?”
Fearing being overheard, he was extremely close, his soft lips almost touching the other’s earlobe.
Xie Chaoyan could smell the faint scent of shower gel on him, and just a slight turn of his body would allow his lips to brush against Ye Rongxu’s cheek.
But before he could move, a student carrying books passed by the table. Ye Rongxu immediately sat back in his seat, like a bird startled into flight right after entering a cage.
However, he still looked at Xie Chaoyan, his dark, moist eyes brimming with a smile, as if something happy had happened.
Xie Chaoyan suddenly put away the textbook on the table, then helped Ye Rongxu gather his books as well, putting them all into his own bag.
Ye Rongxu let out a faint “Eh,” and before he could react, he saw Xie Chaoyan already standing up, slinging the bag over one shoulder, and pulling Ye Rongxu with his other hand, walking out together.
The library was quiet, and Ye Rongxu was afraid of disturbing others. Only when they were outside did he curiously ask, “Didn’t we say we’d study until eleven? Why are we leaving so early?”
Xie Chaoyan simply hummed in response, pulling him along without stopping, and said, “I’m hungry; let’s go eat first.”
Ye Rongxu replied, “Oh.”
His phone vibrated at that moment. He took it out and saw a message from Lin Jiaojiao.
[Brother, if you put it that way, I suddenly remembered something else I overheard about you before. It was on your birthday night last year, Xie Chaoyan carried you to the bedroom and secretly kissed you. P.S.: Please, please don’t tell my mom I read novels.]
Xie Chaoyan turned his head, coincidentally seeing the message on the phone, but showed no change in expression.
Ye Rongxu was slightly stunned: On his birthday last year? He had no memory of it at all.
Was it after he fell asleep?
He kept his head down, looking at his phone, barely watching where he was going. When he looked up again, he realized Xie Chaoyan had led him to the restroom.
Ye Rongxu: “Uh.” Weren’t they going to eat?
The next moment, he was pushed into a nearby stall, and Xie Chaoyan quickly squeezed in as well, swiftly closing the door.
The toilet stall wasn’t big; with two adults standing inside, it wasn’t exactly crowded, but it certainly wasn’t spacious.
Before Ye Rongxu could turn around, his back touched the chest of the person behind him, almost pressing tightly, as if he could feel the warmth radiating through their clothes.
Xie Chaoyan grabbed his slender wrist and quickly turned him around.
Ye Rongxu hastily looked up, meeting Xie Chaoyan’s dark, clear eyes, his expression fleetingly stunned.
Xie Chaoyan’s gaze was fixed on him. In the small space, the atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous, and their breathing became clearly audible.
His chin was suddenly grasped, and Xie Chaoyan leaned down slightly.
Instinctively, the plots of those novels Lin Jiaojiao had recommended flashed through Ye Rongxu’s mind.
He gazed at the face that was getting closer and closer, and as if possessed, he suddenly blurted out, “Should we do it?”
Campus, toilet stall, couple, familiar plots.
But as soon as he said it, he wanted to slap himself. He was so embarrassed that he quickly lowered his head, desperately staring at his shoes, trying to distract himself and forget what he had just said.
Help! What was he even saying? Had Lin Jiaojiao’s influence from reading novels made his brain short-circuit? Although characters in novels often “do things” in restrooms, he and Xie Chaoyan hadn’t even done anything on the bed at home, at most just “mutual assistance.” How did they suddenly fast-forward to the restroom scene?
No, no, who wanted to be in the restroom? Why did he blurt out that sentence? It made it seem like he really wanted to.
Ye Rongxu’s head drooped lower and lower; his ears, visible through his dark hair, were crimson. He restlessly scuffed the ground with the tip of his shoe. To divert his attention, he started studying the patterns on the floor tiles.
Xie Chaoyan clearly paused, perhaps shocked, and didn’t speak for a moment, but his gaze remained fixed on Ye Rongxu, making him feel uncomfortable.
In the small space, a strange silence suddenly descended.
Time passed by, second by second. Ye Rongxu’s embarrassment didn’t lessen at all, and the heat on his face was spreading to his neck.
Finally, as he was about to lose control, a light cough came from above his head.
Xie Chaoyan’s voice seemed to suppress a laugh, with a hint of unnaturalness and restraint, as he said to him, “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect you to… cough, I thought we should take it step by step, give you time to adapt first, wait until you… But if you want to, we… cough.”
He coughed again, a slight blush staining his handsome face. He instinctively averted his gaze, his eyes flickering. His tone, however, was tinged with nervousness and anticipation as he hesitantly said, “But this might not be suitable here. The space is small; you might be uncomfortable. I thought…”
“No, no, I was just rambling; don’t think about it.” Ye Rongxu hastily raised his hand to cover Xie Chaoyan’s mouth, his toes curling in embarrassment.
Xie Chaoyan was caught off guard and was pushed back slightly, leaning against the door. A look of clear disappointment flashed across his face.
Ye Rongxu didn’t dare to look at him. After interrupting him, he quickly put his hand down and stammered, “I, I just wanted to ask you, ‘What are you doing?’ It was just a slip of the tongue; I said it wrong, don’t misunderstand.”
After saying that, he awkwardly looked behind Xie Chaoyan. Before Xie Chaoyan could react, Ye Rongxu opened the door and squeezed past him to get out.
Xie Chaoyan quickly regained his composure and turned to follow him.
Just then, two boys walked in from outside. Seeing them emerge from the same stall, their expressions immediately turned peculiar.
Ye Rongxu: “…” This was truly the ultimate awkwardness.
He quickly lowered his head and hurried out. Once outside, he turned around and glared at Xie Chaoyan, who was following him.
“It’s all your fault,” he grumbled.
Xie Chaoyan: “…”
He felt a bit wronged.
Admittedly, he was tempted in the library and deliberately pulled Ye Rongxu to a place without cameras, wanting to hug, snuggle, and kiss him. But how could he not when his boyfriend was so cute and so close, teasing him? He wasn’t a saint; it would be abnormal if his heart remained calm. But in the end, he didn’t do anything, did he? It was a wasted trip.
And Xuxu’s suggestion earlier…
He instinctively looked at Ye Rongxu, deep in thought and slightly regretful.
Ye Rongxu quickly changed the subject, asking where they should eat for lunch. The cafeteria or at home?
Xie Chaoyan just wanted to spend time alone with him and didn’t want to go to the crowded cafeteria. He answered without hesitation, “Let’s go home. There are no classes this afternoon, so I’ll cook.”
Ye Rongxu noticed he didn’t bring up the previous topic again and felt slightly relieved. He then nodded, “Okay, but there are no groceries at home; we’ll have to go to the supermarket.”
After leaving the school gate, they walked together towards the large supermarket near their place.
Once inside the supermarket, Xie Chaoyan pushed the shopping cart, and Ye Rongxu was responsible for putting the things he wanted to buy into the cart.
After putting in a few of his favorite dishes, Ye Rongxu turned and asked, “What do you want to eat?”
Xie Chaoyan replied, “Whatever you like is fine; I can eat anything.”
They had lived and eaten together since childhood, so their preferences were quite similar.
Ye Rongxu, however, secretly shook his head: Even if their preferences were similar, there were still differences.
Then he picked out a few items that Xie Chaoyan liked on his own.
As they were heading to the checkout, Xie Chaoyan pushed the cart past a row of shelves. His gaze swept over the items, and he suddenly paused.
Ye Rongxu noticed and turned to ask, “What’s wrong?”
Xie Chaoyan quickly averted his gaze and shook his head. “Nothing.”
Once Ye Rongxu turned back, Xie Chaoyan looked at that row of shelves again and subtly took down several small, square boxes in every size.
—
Back at their place, Ye Rongxu opened the shopping bag and only then discovered the extra items Xie Chaoyan had bought, especially those items…
He was dumbfounded and turned to look at Xie Chaoyan.
Xie Chaoyan’s expression was calm: “I thought they would come in handy sooner or later.”
Ye Rongxu froze: Yes, yes, they would come in handy sooner or later, but…
“Why did you buy so many sizes?” he asked instinctively.
Xie Chaoyan finally showed a hint of awkwardness: “I’ve never bought them before, and I wasn’t sure which size to get, so I bought them all.”
He paused, then looked at Ye Rongxu, his gaze intense, his voice slightly hoarse: “How about… we try them tonight?”
Ye Rongxu: “!!”
His brain froze, and he instinctively replied, “Try… No, you try them yourself.”
After saying that, his face flushed.
Xie Chaoyan also lightly coughed and carried the groceries into the kitchen.
Dinner was sumptuous, but Ye Rongxu ate distractedly.
After the meal, he secretly glanced at Xie Chaoyan. Xie Chaoyan, as if nothing had happened, put the dishes into the dishwasher, then told him, “I’m going to the study.”
Ye Rongxu: “…” Not going to the bedroom?
He turned to look at the coffee table. Hmm, those little boxes were gone at some point.
So why bring it to the study?
Ye Rongxu’s curiosity gnawed at him. Finally, he couldn’t resist and knocked on the study door.
And then he didn’t come out again.
He and Xie Chaoyan sat together in front of the computer, seriously watching the instructional video on the screen, like students listening to a lecture, almost ready to take notes.
Ye Rongxu felt dazed: So that’s how it is, Xie Chaoyan is also a first-time boyfriend, and he doesn’t… understand everything either.
However, the other person was an academic prodigy with strong learning abilities. Ye Rongxu later personally experienced that Xie Chaoyan could not only quickly remember knowledge points but also integrate them and apply them broadly.
It was just a bit tiring on the back, Ye Rongxu thought miserably.
—
In mid-November, Ye Rongxu’s birthday was approaching.
They returned to Jiangcheng a day early. After arriving, Ye Rongxu didn’t hide anything and told Lin Xue that he was already with Xie Chaoyan.
As expected, Lin Xue was not surprised. She even patted his head and said with a smile, “Nannan has grown up; make sure you get along well with Xiao Yan.”
Ye Rongxu’s face darkened: So the childhood engagement was real.
He then went to tell Ye Boxuan. Ye Boxuan was much more melancholic than Lin Xue, feeling both relieved and a bit sour that Xie Chaoyan, that brat, had “stolen” his son.
As expected, both families’ elders did not object to their relationship and were even happy to see it happen.
At Ye Rongxu’s birthday banquet, the two families formalized their engagement. As for when they would get married, that was up to them.
Anyway, the earliest would be after university graduation, so there was no need to worry so early.
However, the two had always lived together off-campus. Although not married, it was almost like being married, just lacking a ceremony and a certificate.
In their senior year, Xie Chaoyan didn’t intern at the Xie Group but instead started his own business with Ye Rongxu, establishing a company called Rongchao.
They supported each other and worked hard together. A year later, the company had already grown to a considerable size. A year after they graduated, the company was already well-known in the industry.
It was also that year that they got married on an island. Soon after, they were invited to attend Jing University’s anniversary as outstanding alumni.
Returning to their alma mater after a year, both felt a little emotional, walking hand in hand on campus.
Midway, Ye Rongxu wanted to eat some candied chestnuts from a shop he used to frequent when he was a student there. Xie Chaoyan heard him, turned, and went to buy them for him.
He unconsciously curved his lips and rubbed his slightly tired legs, sitting on a bench by the roadside to wait for the other person.
A boy holding flyers suddenly walked over and handed him one of them, his slightly plump face smiling as he earnestly asked, “Student, would you like to join the Anime Club?”
He then excitedly introduced the club’s overview and strongly recommended, “Student, you have such good looks; you’d definitely be great at cosplay.”
Ye Rongxu looked up, squinting against the light to clearly see him and his two companions.
“My name is Liu Xiaohui; you can call me Xiaopang. These two are my roommates, Tang Ying and Wang Zhuo.” Seeing Ye Rongxu’s gaze with a hint of inquiry, the boy holding the flyer instinctively introduced them.
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