Yan Chen: “Should we go over and say hello?”
Ye Wenyu withdrew his gaze and smiled as he handed a cup of coke to Yan Chen. “It’s rare for the two of them to go out on a date. We better not disturb them.”
Father Ye and Mother Ye weren’t watching the same screening and had gone in earlier.
Because of Yan Chen’s casual remark, Ye Wenyu spent the entire movie watching that kid who looked like his cousin. As a result, he didn’t even sort out the complicated family dynamics in the movie but could clearly recall how many combo-beatings the naughty kid received.
“So in the end, they stayed in the old district for the sake of the kid?” After the movie, Ye Wenyu tossed the trash into the bin, still unable to make sense of the plot.
Yan Chen: “Yes and no. The film wasn’t just about the kid. It was also because the adults’ friends and family were all in the old district.”
Ye Wenyu didn’t understand. “Living together is the only way to maintain a relationship?”
“Of course not,” Yan Chen said as he placed an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close. “It’s just what the filmmakers believe. I don’t support enduring hardship and giving up on improving one’s quality of life for the sake of their child.”
Ye Wenyu strongly agreed with Yan Chen, but he didn’t support it either.
When he was in high school, if his father and mother had given up their comfortable life within their means in order to get him into a better school, he would definitely not have been comfortable with that.
If you truly care, you can learn well anywhere. And being a parent doesn’t mean every decision must revolve around the child. As long as you’re being responsible to the child, you should still have your own life and live for yourself.
Ye Wenyu was deep in thought when Yan Chen suddenly pinched his cheek. “Why the gloomy face? This isn’t something we need to worry about. We won’t be facing this issue anyway.”
That was true, but for some reason, Ye Wenyu found the statement a little odd.
He asked Yan Chen, “Don’t you like kids?”
Yan Chen: “If you give birth to them, I’ll like them.”
Ye Wenyu: “…”
He replied with exasperation, “I can’t give birth.”
Yan Chen gave a nonchalant “oh” and answered calmly, “Then I don’t like them. I find kids annoying.”
‘…This guy.’
Ye Wenyu was speechless.
“Wenyu, Xiao Yan?”
Mother Ye’s uncertain voice came from behind. As Ye Wenyu turned around, Yan Chen subtly withdrew the arm he had around Ye Wenyu’s shoulder.
Ye Wenyu turned back and saw his father and mother emerging from the crowd. “Dad, Mom.”
…
“Your father initially wanted to see that one too, but when I looked at the synopsis…it seemed more like a kids’ movie, so we didn’t go. Otherwise, we would’ve watched the same one…”
The four of them rode the elevator down together. Mother Ye chatted with them happily, while Father Ye, never a man of many words, stayed beside his wife, occasionally smiling and adding a comment or two.
It was almost 11 p.m. and the streets were bright with lanterns for the New Year and bustling with people.
Many customers crowded the snack stalls. As they passed by, Father Ye asked them, “Hungry? Do you want to grab a late-night snack before heading home?”
Mother Ye: “Eat here? What would we eat?”
Father Ye: “How about glutinous rice dumplings?”
Mother Ye: “The handmade glutinous rice dumplings from street vendors aren’t that hygienic. It’s better to eat at home, we still have plenty at home, and with lots of flavors too.”
“That works,” Father Ye nodded and turned to ask them, “How about having a late-night snack at home?”
A gust of wind had just blown through, scattering many dead leaves.
Ye Wenyu watched a swaying leaf land on Yan Chen’s shoulder. He reached out to pick it off and, before throwing it away, sneakily brushed it against Yan Chen’s face.
He wasn’t quick enough to pull away and got caught red-handed by Yan Chen, who chuckled and grabbed his hand to rub it back against his face. Ye Wenyu wasn’t as strong, and scrunched up his face, but still couldn’t dodge at all.
Father Ye didn’t press the unanswered question any further. He smiled, turned back and asked Mother Ye in a low voice, “Do we still have sesame filling left?”
The night air was colder now. As the wind picked up, it got chillier. Father Ye helped Mother Ye adjust her shawl and pulled her a little closer.
Mother Ye leaned against Father Ye and said, “We have it all. There’s even fruit flavors, do you want to try those?”
Father Ye: “What fruit? If it’s mango, I’ll pass…”
A half-dried leaf slipped through his fingers to the ground.
Ye Wenyu glanced at his parents who were walking in front of him and were too busy chatting to pay attention to them. He shrank his wrist back to press against Yan Chen’s palm, sliding fingers between his until their fingers interlocked.
On the sidewalk beside the bustling street, tall street lamps cast long shadows. The young boys followed the shadows of their parents who leaned into each other, holding hands in secret under the New Year’s lights, slowly walking home.
The kitchen was lit with a warm yellow light, making the steam rising from the boiling water appear especially vivid.
Half a bag of glutinous rice dumplings was shared among the family. Father Ye went to watch the news. Ye Wenyu couldn’t finish his portion, so while Mother Ye went to get quilts, Yan Chen scooped the remaining few into his own bowl, popping them into his mouth one by one.
Ye Wenyu’s eyes curved as he smiled and asked, “What filling is that?”
Yan Chen replied calmly, “Guess.”
Ye Wenyu: “Fruit or something else?”
Yan Chen: “Something else.”
Ye Wenyu thought for a moment. “Peanut? Sesame? Brown sugar?”
Yan Chen: “Tomato.”
Ye Wenyu’s eyes widened slightly. “Isn’t tomato a fruit? Wait, no…there’s no such thing as tomato-filled glutinous rice dumplings, right?”
Yan Chen: “Well, I’m eating it now. Two of them.”
Ye Wenyu: “Impossible. Mom never mentioned a tomato flavor this year, I didn’t even get one…”
Not believing it, he leaned over to take the spoon from Yan Chen and tried to inspect the filling of the last glutinous rice dumpling.
“Wenyu.” Mother Ye came out from the guest room just in time to catch the scene and disapproved, “You’re the host. How can you fight the guest for rice dumplings?”
“I wasn’t…” Ye Wenyu felt wronged but had no words.
And Yan Chen added calmly, “Auntie is right.”
Then popped the last rice dumpling into his mouth in one bite.
Ye Wenyu: “…”
Mother Ye: “Xiao Yan, the guest room is all ready. If you need anything, just let Wenyu know. Don’t be shy.”
Yan Chen put down his spoon. “Okay, thank you, Auntie.”
Mother Ye smiled and said, “No need to thank me. It’s rare for Wenyu to bring a friend home. Just leave your dishes there, I’ll clean them up. It’s getting late, so go shower and rest.”
Yan Chen got up with the bowls and also collected Ye Wenyu’s.
Ye Wenyu tilted his head to look at him and, while he was helping to gather the bowls, secretly hooked his finger around Yan Chen’s wrist in a cute, flattering gesture.
Sorry, sorry. Even though his boyfriend had come from far away, he still couldn’t sleep cuddled with his wife.
In front of the parents, the two of them obediently returned to their own rooms and closed the doors properly.
Mother Ye glanced back and forth between the two doors, then turned to look at Father Ye.
Father Ye met his wife’s gaze, calmly adjusted his glasses, and turned back to continue watching the news.
The guest room decor was simpler than the master and secondary bedrooms. There were many things that were missing but it appeared clean and tidy at a glance.
After showering and drying his hair, Yan Chen had just sat down by the bed when he saw his phone screen light up, indicating a new WeChat message.
Yang Liang: [@Yan Chen @Ye Wenyu What are you guys up to? What did you do today? Did you play mahjong?]
Dong Xi: [Abandoning Old Dong?]
Yang Liang: [Aren’t you at your girlfriend’s hometown?]
Dong Xi: [You knew that too? Impressive, impressive.]
Yang Liang: [……]
Yang Liang: [That’s because you keep sending messages nonstop and rambling on about it all the time!]
Yan Chen: [At my boyfriend’s house.]
Yang Liang: [See, look at Yan-ge, and then look at yourself again.]
Yang Liang: [Wait, what?]
Yang Liang: [Yan-ge, you’re at Wenyu’s house?]
Yan Chen: [Mn.]
Dong Xi: [Wow~]
Yang Liang: [Yan-ge, you met the parents?!]
Yan Chen: [Mn.]
Dong Xi: [Wow~~~~Oh~~~~]
Yang Liang: [@Ye Wenyu @Ye Wenyu @Ye Wenyu @Ye Wenyu @Ye Wenyu!]
Yan Chen: [He already showered and went to bed, don’t bother him.]
Yang Liang: [? You guys aren’t sleeping in the same room, right?! Uncle and Auntie didn’t chop you up!]
Yan Chen: [Thanks, I’m in the guest room.]
Dong Xi: [Oh~]
Yang Liang: [You scared me for a second, I knew it.]
Yang Liang: [So you chased your wife all the way over there only to end up guarding an empty room? Hahahahahahaha!]
Yan Chen curled his lips, and with a flick of his fingers, kicked him out of the group chat.
With the chat done, Yan Chen turned off his phone and set it aside, got into bed, turned off the lights, and lay down. The curtains weren’t the blackout type, and a faint neon glow filtered in, keeping his vision from going completely dark.
He stared blankly for a while with his eyes open, then closed them. The living room was quiet, with no sound at all, so it was probably empty.
The big bed with only one person felt empty, especially with his boyfriend just across a hallway and two doors away.
He thought of how before they separated, Wenyu hooked his hand around his wrist and looked up at him behind his mother’s back…like a cat perched on his pillow licking its paws. A deep itch spread through his chest.
Uncle and Auntie were probably already asleep. If he “snuck across” now, chances were he wouldn’t be caught.
But the guest room and master bedroom were only separated by a wall. Even if he went over, he’d have to hold back from doing anything beyond sleeping. Otherwise, with Wenyu’s full-body sensitivity, trying to keep him from making noise would be asking for the impossible.
And after such a long time, the last time he held his boyfriend while sleeping was… the last time. Now it was not a question of whether he could look or eat, even smelling or licking was…
A slight movement at the edge of the bed caught his attention.
He opened his eyes, but his pupils hadn’t adjusted to the dim room yet. The spot next to him dipped as someone crawled under the blanket, rolled over, and hugged him.
A familiar scent lingered in his nostrils. Yan Chen was momentarily stunned, then curled his lips into a smile and pulled the person on top of him.
“What are you doing here?”
He traced his lover’s outline in the dark, and coincidentally, every curve hit just right.
Ye Wenyu whispered, “I saw the group chat.”
Yan Chen: “And then?”
Ye Wenyu: “I saw you kicked Yang Liang out…”
Yan Chen acted like he just realized: “Oh, you couldn’t bear to leave me guarding the empty room, huh?”
“Nope, I just wanted to know what those three glutinous rice dumplings actually tasted like.” Ye Wenyu leaned in for a kiss, playing right into someone’s hands.
Yan Chen wrapped his hand around the back of his neck and chuckled lowly: “Too late, I already brushed my teeth.”
A little cat had delivered itself to the door, how could he not treat it well?
Yan Chen flipped over with ease and pinned the person beneath him: “Guaiguai, remember to keep quiet and not make any noise.”
Ye Wenyu sank into the soft bedding, was pressed down and kissed all over. A special setting always brought out special emotions, and a fire split into two, burning fiercely inside their bodies.
Wherever the lips touched, the heat spread across the skin like wildfire, lingering and shifting until they reached unspeakable places.
Ye Wenyu was already dazed and muddled, only regaining a flash of clarity when wrapped in moisture and heat. The chaotic emotions in his eyes hadn’t yet surfaced before being pulled into a deeper haze.
Yan Chen’s hair wasn’t soft, and it was short. When gripped, it always stuck out from between his fingers, scratching at his thighs.
The remaining rationality made him clench his teeth, and occasionally a sound that could not be suppressed would escape from him, sounding stifled and aggrieved.
His legs bent and stretched again and again, not knowing what position was best or what felt most comfortable.
Until the end, when he suddenly arched his neck and relaxed his taut feet, a huge ball of fireworks exploded in his mind.
The brilliant blankness faded slowly under gentle kisses. Tears that had unknowingly fallen from the corners of his eyes were all kissed away.
Yan Chen lay on his side and held him close. He squeezed his waist, and asked with a hoarse chuckle, “My wife went dumb?”
Ye Wenyu hadn’t completely come back to his senses. The remaining electricity wrapped through his body, tingling and soft, refusing to fade.
After a while, he suddenly lowered his head and buried it in the chest in front of him, like a baby bird that had been circling in the sky for a long time and found its home, and hugged Yan Chen tightly with strong dependence.
*
Ye Wenyu slept deeply through the night. Only at dawn did he suddenly wake up, driven by instinct.
He had set an alarm last night so he could get back early and sneak back to his room, but he forgot to bring his phone. When he saw that the sky outside was bright, his temple throbbed.
Yan Chen was still asleep.
He reached for Yan Chen’s phone by the pillow. But just as he put it to his face, before he could even check the time, the screen automatically unlocked and displayed the desktop.
Ye Wenyu: “…”
When did this guy scan his face for facial recognition?
8 a.m!
Not sure if his parents were up yet, Ye Wenyu listened closely. There was no sound from the living room.
He quietly lifted the quilt, got off the bed, opened the door a crack, and peeked out…there was no one there.
It should be safe. He breathed a sigh of relief and quickly slipped out of the room.
As a result, just as he reached his own door and before he could even touch the doorknob, his mother’s gentle voice rang out from behind: “Wenyu? Why are you coming out of Xiao Yan’s room?”
Ye Wenyu: “…”
He stiffly turned around. His mother stood at the end of the hallway, holding freshly folded bedsheets from the balcony.
Ye Wenyu: “…I went to check if he was awake.”
“It’s a rare holiday, let Xiao Yan sleep in.” Mother Ye’s tone was vague, so it was unclear whether she believed him or not. She walked over and handed him the sheets. “Put these in the guest room closet for me. Do it quietly, don’t wake Xiao Yan.”
Ye Wenyu nodded obediently and watched his mother head into the kitchen. He still felt something was off, but he couldn’t say what.
When he went back into the guest room, he found Yan Chen on the phone. His eyes were still closed, holding the phone loosely to his ear.
Could it be that he was being called back home for some urgent matter?
Ye Wenyu wondered as he carried the sheets to the closet and opened the door.
He was half right.
The call was indeed from Yan Chen’s family, but not to urge him home.
“I’m not there, have the assistant run the errand.”
“Wucheng, yesterday morning’s flight.”
“Yeah, my boyfriend’s house.”
!
Ye Wenyu’s hands trembled. He suddenly turned around and stared wide-eyed at Yan Chen.
Was that something you could just casually tell your parents?!
…Maybe it was not necessarily the parents, maybe just the butler or auntie at home?
Yan Chen fell silent as he waited for the other side to disconnect, then tilted his head so the phone slid off the bed. He opened his eyes and saw his boyfriend crouched beside the bed, his big puppy eyes fixed on him.
“…”
‘Damn, too cute!’
He pulled him in for a kiss without thinking.
Ye Wenyu squinted one eye at the kiss: “Who was that?”
Yan Chen: “My mom.”
Ye Wenyu: “!”
Ye Wenyu was dumbfounded: “You just… and yet you still…”
“Don’t worry, they’ve known for a while.” Yan Chen: “Even before I caught you.”
Ye Wenyu: “…”
Yan Chen: “Oh right, they said to say hi to you, and also to send greetings to Uncle and Auntie on their behalf.”
Ye Wenyu: “…”
Yan Chen spoke so simply, not knowing what kind of storm he had stirred in Ye Wenyu’s heart.
Yan Chen had actually already confessed to his family without him knowing at all, while he, even after Yan Chen came all the way here, still had to use the title of “roommate”. Even holding hands had to be done secretly.
His guilt reached its peak in that instant and lingered even after Yan Chen got out of bed, had breakfast, had all the fresh flowers delivered and Mother Ye asked them to help at the shop.
Ye Wenyu followed Yan Chen around like a little tail the entire time, not saying a word. Occasionally, he poked at Yan Chen’s back, lost in thought.
Mother Ye went inside to check the accounts. Yan Chen came out carrying a large bouquet of freshly awakened roses and, behind Ye Wenyu’s back, rubbed his boyfriend’s head.
“Don’t overthink it.” They walked side by side, showing no trace of abnormality from behind. “I told them because I knew they wouldn’t mind. You don’t need to feel pressured. You can tell them whenever you want.”
Ye Wenyu lowered his head and responded softly, but it was unclear if he had really listened.
Waking the flowers didn’t require trimming the branches or leaves. Now that the flowers were awakened, the first step was pruning.
The weather was nice on the second day of the Lunar New Year. There was no wind, and the sun was warm. They brought plastic stools and a small round table to the entrance, trimming flowers while basking in the sun.
“First, cut off the rotten leaves, or it will shorten the blooming period. Then remove the thorns…roses and Chinese roses are the classic types that need de-thorning. Be careful not to damage the stems. After that, you remove the anthers…”
Ye Wenyu taught seriously, and Yan Chen learned just as seriously. He did whatever Teacher Ye said and was extremely obedient.
Mother Ye came out and saw them, smiled silently, and sat beside them to trim some flower branches too.
Midway, Father Ye called and said that there was a document in the study at home that he needed urgently and that it had to be sent to him at school as soon as possible.
Ye Wenyu naturally wanted to take the errand himself, but Yan Chen had already stood up. “I’ll go. I’m slow at trimming anyway, it’ll just be a delay.”
Ye Wenyu quietly sat back down and handed him the keys. “It’s in the first drawer on the left of the computer desk in the study. Wait for my dad at the bottom of the first teaching building past the gate and bridge at Wu University. He’ll come down to get it.”
Yan Chen nodded and left quickly.
The mother and son continued to prune the remaining branches, but Ye Wenyu was clearly distracted and looked up at Mother Ye from time to time.
The place where Mother Ye sat happened to be under a canopy of trees, where dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves and swayed in the breeze.
Her eyes were cast down in focus, seemingly unaware of his hesitation. Her kind features and the faint smile at the corner of her lips were gentle.
“Mom.” Ye Wenyu tightened his grip on the scissors. “I want to tell you something.”
Mother Ye: “Okay, what is it?”
Ye Wenyu: “Actually, Yan Chen…”
Mother Ye raised her head. “Hmm? What about Xiao Yan?”
Ye Wenyu closed his eyes and said it all in one breath: “Actually, Yan Chen isn’t just my roommate, he’s also my boyfriend.”
“Mom, Yan Chen and I are dating.”
After saying that, he stared at the scissors still damp with water and didn’t dare lift his head. He didn’t dare to think about anything in his mind, and his heart was beating fast.
“I see.” Mother Ye blinked and smiled. “Looks like your dad and I guessed right.”
Ye Wenyu froze and looked up suddenly. “Mom…”
Mother Ye trimmed off a dead leaf and sighed with a smile. “You two kids, spending every day together, how could this kind of thing stay hidden.”
Actually, Ye Wenyu had imagined many outcomes after confessing.
His parents weren’t hot-tempered people; they wouldn’t yell at him. But in his understanding, they might worry, might try to reason with him…
He never imagined they would accept it so calmly.
There was so much he wanted to say, but when he opened his mouth, he didn’t know where to begin.
Mother Ye: “Are you wondering why your father and I never confronted you or blamed you?”
Ye Wenyu nodded.
His heartbeat hadn’t completely calmed down yet. Birds chirped overhead, adding to his sense of unreality.
“At your age, falling in love is a good thing. Why would we blame you?”
Mother Ye lowered her head and carefully removed the tiny thorns on a flower stem. Her voice was gentle. “Wenyu, you’ve always been sensible and independent since you were little. I believe you’re not the kind of person to make a decision without thinking it through.”
Ye Wenyu: “So… you support me?”
Mother Ye: “Then let me ask you, do you really like Xiao Yan and want to be with him for a long time?”
Ye Wenyu answered without hesitation: “Yes.”
Mother Ye looked up. “What about Xiao Yan?”
Ye Wenyu: “He feels the same.”
Maybe he didn’t realize just how resolute his eyes were when answering, but it was clear to anyone watching.
“Wenyu, you deserve all our trust. So whatever you want to do, remember that your father and I will always support you.”
Mother Ye smiled and handed him a rose. “This one woke up nicely. Give it to Xiao Yan later.”
In the afternoon, Mother Ye and Father Ye had to go to a distant cousin’s place for dinner. They cooked for the two before leaving, reminding Ye Wenyu to lock the door and not forget the keys if they went out.
Ye Wenyu nodded repeatedly, and after sending the two elders off in the elevator, he suddenly turned and hugged Yan Chen with a smile.
Yan Chen went along with the hug, lifted him up, walked over to the dining table, and set him down on the chair. Just as he straightened up, he was tugged by the collar again.
Yan Chen: “What’s wrong?”
Ye Wenyu: “I have something for you. Hand.”
Yan Chen obediently held out a hand.
A heavy red envelope for the New Year was placed into his palm.
Yan Chen raised an eyebrow. “Another one?”
“I can’t afford such a big one.” Ye Wenyu tried to suppress the curl of his lips, but the joy overflowed in his eyes. “My parents gave it to you.”
“They said to remember to come back for dinner every year from now on.”
