FQ chapter 36

Maybe it was Fan Qing’s speechless expression that amused him, or maybe he thought what he said sounded strange—Luan Ye thought for a bit, then tried to start from the beginning.

“I first met him when I stayed with his family after moving to the U.S.”

Fan Qing was a little stunned.

“The creditor you mentioned before—” Fan Qing said, “You met him at the host family too?”

“Yeah.” Luan Ye was surprised he remembered. He glanced at Fan Qing and smiled.

“They’re brothers.”

To be precise, it was right before school started. Bai Mingchuan was already interested in photography then and had gone to Seattle during the break to shoot. One day, close to the start of school, Luan Ye had just gotten up when he heard voices in the garden downstairs.

He stepped out onto the balcony and looked down. In the garden was a boy in a hoodie with black hair, talking to the auntie while looking up at him.

Their eyes met, and the boy gave a brilliant smile, waving hard: “Hi! I’m Bai Mingcheng!”

“We went to the same high school, same class, and later the same college,” Luan Ye said, lowering his eyes in thought before continuing.

“Have you ever met someone like that?” He didn’t look at Fan Qing, just gazed at the cigarette in his hand and smiled faintly.

“Someone whose life seems perfect from birth.”

Always at the top of his class, a leader in every club, the center of attention. Always enthusiastic and cheerful with everyone, bursting with energy at every moment. He had countless friends, and every teacher and student liked him. A wide range of interests—debate, soccer, piano—no matter what it was, he excelled.

“…And photography,” Luan Ye added.

Fan Qing remembered. “He taught you photography.”

“Yeah,” Luan Ye said. “He’s amazing.”

“How do you compare?” Fan Qing asked.

Luan Ye didn’t answer right away. After a pause, he said, “He’s better. He focuses on photojournalism. He’s won a lot of awards and has very… high standards for himself.”

“The same photo—he can take hundreds, thousands, and pick the one he thinks is closest to perfect.” Luan Ye laughed lightly. “I can’t. It’s too exhausting.”

“He sounds really…” Fan Qing hesitated, trying to find the right word, “perfect.”

Perfect grades, perfect personality, perfect family.

Just like Luan Ye said—a full-score life.

Luan Ye said nothing.

He looked down and tapped the ash into the tray. Only after doing so did he speak—not to affirm or deny, just:

“A lot of people think so.”

“You guys started dating…” Fan Qing glanced at Luan Ye. “In high school?”

“Yeah,” Luan Ye replied. “Senior year.”

Fan Qing nodded.

He didn’t know what to say. His heart sank, not painfully, but enough to drag his thoughts down with it. He could only nod. “That’s nice.”

A perfect person—Luan Ye’s boyfriend.

How nice, being in love.

How bitter, Fan Qing.

“Is he still in the U.S.?” Fan Qing suddenly asked.

Luan Ye looked at him.

“Haiti.”

There was a third of the cigarette left. He stubbed it out in the ashtray and let go.

“He’s shooting in Haiti.”

That was when Fan Qing realized they’d been talking for quite a while.

“Then I should go,” he stood up suddenly, glancing at Luan Ye. “We have to get up early tomorrow.”

Luan Ye was caught off guard by his sudden movement. It took him a few seconds to react. “Ah, okay.”

Just before stepping out, Fan Qing couldn’t help but look back.

“Sleeping bag…” he looked at Luan Ye, “You didn’t bring one, did you?”

During their last trip to the city, Luan Ye had only bought basic gear. This time things were rushed, and online delivery wouldn’t make it.

Sure enough, Luan Ye shook his head. “No. But I saw a store on the way here. Should be able to buy one.”

Most people came here for hiking, so the local industry was well-developed.

“I’ll go buy one in a bit.”

“I brought two,” Fan Qing said quickly. “Both are in the car.”

Luan Ye fell silent for a moment, then looked at him.

The hallway light had already dimmed, and the only light came from inside Luan Ye’s room, casting onto them. In that lighting, Luan Ye’s eyes were especially clear.

Under his gaze, Fan Qing suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

“One of them is almost new. I used it once myself,” he said quickly. “But if you’d rather get a new one, there are plenty of places here.”

Luan Ye finally spoke. “I’ll use yours.”

Fan Qing exhaled slightly. “Okay.”

“Then… rest early.”

Luan Ye looked at him, voice light. “Don’t worry—I’ve been lying down long enough already…”

He had meant to say he didn’t even need more rest, but Fan Qing didn’t let him finish.

“It’s not like one more night will make a difference,” Fan Qing continued. “We still have to climb the mountain tomorrow.”

“…”

Luan Ye looked at him for a few seconds and smiled slightly. “Got it.”

No one knew if Luan Ye actually managed to rest after saying that, but oddly enough, it was Fan Qing who didn’t sleep well.

Insomnia was rare for Fan Qing. He was the type who could go to bed on time and fall asleep instantly even during the high-pressure sprint of senior year. Mentally, he had already outpaced 99% of his peers.

The last time he had trouble sleeping was after getting drunk—because he was reminded that Luan Ye had a boyfriend.

This time, it was because Luan Ye had finally talked about his boyfriend.

Fan Qing turned over and felt like the reasons for his insomnia were all pretty… ridiculous.

The guy in the bed next to him was already snoring. Amid the rhythmic snoring, Fan Qing tried to sort out his own irrational thoughts.

Luan Ye had a boyfriend—and a very excellent one.

A first love at seventeen.

Then what exactly are you hung up on?

Maybe because Luan Ye had come to Yunnan alone, and barely mentioned his boyfriend, Fan Qing had once thought maybe it was a situation like the ones he’d seen before—some relationship issue that led to temporary separation, which is why Luan Ye took this trip.

But that wasn’t the case.

And even if it were—
So what?

……

The next day as they headed into the mountains, Fan Qing glanced at Luan Ye in the crowd. He looked fine.

Just like they’d planned the night before, Fan Qing led in the front, Lao He took the back, and the group set out into the mountains.

Their hiking route wasn’t easy. It was long, but also the one with the most diverse and beautiful scenery. They would pass through dense forests and streams, snowy peaks, and meadows. Walking through the woods, the damp soil underfoot made it feel like the whole world had shrunk into this hidden little corner.

“It’s so beautiful,” a girl whispered in awe. She looked a little embarrassed when someone turned to her. “It’s my first time hiking. I’m blown away.”

“It’s fine. One hike and you’re a pro,” a guy jumped in. “This route really is gorgeous. I’ve done it before and it stayed with me.”

The girl smiled and nodded, about to say something, when another voice interrupted.

“It’s alright by domestic standards,” the “Storyteller guy” pushed up his glasses and immediately launched into his opinion. “But I wouldn’t call it breathtaking. More like something that would impress newbies. Compared to places abroad, it’s still lacking.”

Fan Qing glanced back at him.

First in line behind him was Luan Ye, who lifted his head when he sensed the gaze. The moment their eyes met, Luan Ye mouthed: Here we go again.

Another episode of “The Daily Travels of Storytell guy.”

Fan Qing wanted to laugh but held it in.

Oblivious to their reaction, Storyteller guy kept going with full enthusiasm:

“Scenery abroad is better. I’ve been to several places—they’re more pristine and wild. Abroad, they value natural beauty more. In China, everything’s too man-made. It loses its authenticity.”

More pristine and wild? Like what—an Amazon three-day tour?

Fan Qing exhaled and looked back at Luan Ye again.

This time, Luan Ye mouthed: Annoying, right?

Fan Qing’s annoyance turned into the urge to laugh.

The girl looked slightly awkward but politely asked, “Is that so?”

“Oh, tons of examples. Like… like the Lomidoti in France. Now that’s real, untouched beauty—nature’s true masterpiece—”

Before he could finish, Luan Ye’s calm voice cut in from behind.

“Dolomites,” he corrected.

The whole group went eerily silent for over ten seconds.

Fan Qing almost burst out laughing but held back.

Storyteller guy finally tried to recover: “Oh, right, my mistake. Happens when you’ve traveled too much—hard to remember the names sometimes…”

“It’s not in France either,” Luan Ye added. “It’s in Italy.”

Fan Qing pressed his lips together tightly to keep from laughing out loud.

Storyteller guy was visibly flustered. “Huh? Not in France? I thought it was… Are you sure?”

“I think so,” Luan Ye smiled at him. “Because I’ve actually been there.”

Everyone started looking up, down, left, right—anywhere except at the two of them. Fan Qing quickly looked up and pretended to admire the mountains, grinning like an idiot.

After a full minute of silent laughter, he finally composed himself and glanced back “casually” at Luan Ye.

Luan Ye happened to be looking up too. Their eyes met, and Luan Ye raised an eyebrow and mouthed: Felt good, huh?

Fan Qing’s smile hadn’t even faded yet. His heart gave two heavy thuds. His throat tightened slightly, and for a moment he forgot how to respond. By the time he came to, Luan Ye had already looked away.

The rest of the journey was much quieter. As the day wore on, the gap between beginners and experienced hikers widened. But with two guides, there was no danger.

Veteran traveler Storyteller guy, whether from embarrassment or exhaustion, gradually blended into the back group. Luan Ye, on the other hand, kept pace steadily. Every time Fan Qing turned around, he wasn’t far behind.

By the time they reached the mid-point rest stop, the front group took a break and waited for the others to catch up.

Luan Ye sat on the meadow using his raincoat as a mat, tilting his head back to drink water. Fan Qing walked over and sat beside him. They exchanged a glance—and finally laughed about what they’d been holding in earlier.

“What were you thinking?” Fan Qing couldn’t stop laughing at the memory. “You sleep one night and wake up all feisty.”

“Feisty?” Luan Ye put down his water. “I haven’t even critiqued his nonsensical ‘Nepalese legend tour’ from yesterday.”

“Please don’t,” Fan Qing chuckled. “That little jab already got him bumped to the newbie group. If you go on, he might just head back down the mountain.”

“Think so?”

“Definitely,” Fan Qing handed him some cookies. “You’re all quiet until—bam. Scary.”

Luan Ye took a bite and laughed. “Scary, huh?”

Fan Qing looked at him for a moment, then turned away, smiling toward the distant mountains.

Yeah—scary.

But also adorable.

This side of Luan Ye, unexpected and piercing, had a spark that made him feel more alive than when he was unwell. Adorable to the point that sometimes Fan Qing’s heart would skip a beat, and he couldn’t bring himself to look directly at him.

After a long trek, the group finally reached the base camp below the glacier lake around 4 PM.

The campsite had been operating for several years and was built for hiking enthusiasts. It had solid facilities and even provided dinner. Everyone was exhausted from the day’s hike. Without even bothering to freshen up, they dropped their bags, collapsed into tents, and waited for food.

Luan Ye wasn’t as disheveled. He lay on a camp chair, using his jacket to cover his face.

Fan Qing finished organizing his things and paused beside him for a moment, unsure if he was asleep. He quietly placed a bottle of water next to him.

This dead-tired atmosphere lasted until after dinner, when people finally perked up. There were two or three other hiking groups there, so the place became lively with chatter. Some started taking group photos, others gathered to chat, and someone even brought a full set of Werewolf cards to play an enthusiastic round of games.

Luan Ye didn’t join in. He walked around the camp alone to help digest.

The scenery was beautiful at that hour. The distant mountains were bathed in the last light of day, and the whole forest felt silent and deep. When Fan Qing found him, Luan Ye was staring into the dense woods, lost in thought, holding a half-empty bottle of water.

Fan Qing walked over. Luan Ye glanced at him and pointed toward the forest.

“Can I go for a walk in there, guide?”

“Don’t you want to rest?”

“I’m okay, not that tired,” Luan Ye said. “I actually slept pretty well last night.”

Fan Qing looked at him. “I’ll go with you.”

Though the forest next to the camp was safe, they didn’t walk in too far. It was a pine needle forest, the trees tall and dense, with soft, damp leaves underfoot that muffled all sound. Some trees had already fallen, thick trunks covered in moss and greenery.

They were both quiet. Luan Ye didn’t seem to have a goal—just wanted to walk around. Occasionally he pointed at a flower or a tree and asked Fan Qing for its name.

After a while, they came upon a quiet stream winding through the woods, likely fed by snowmelt from the mountains.

Luan Ye crouched and washed his hands. The water was ice cold.

Next to the stream was a stump, abruptly cut off halfway up. In the towering forest, it looked out of place.

He tapped it and turned. “Is this dead?”

“No,” Fan Qing crouched to wash his hands too. As he stood, he looked at it briefly and answered simply, “It’ll sprout again next spring.”

Luan Ye looked at the half-dead-looking tree, then at Fan Qing—who sounded like a plant doctor—and raised an eyebrow skeptically. “You sure about that, Dr. Fan?”

Fan Qing gave him a sideways glance and touched the stump.

“It’s still damp. Not completely dead. Probably the crown got sick, so the rangers cut it off to save the root. It’ll grow again.”

“If there’s moisture, the roots are alive. It’ll sprout and branch out in spring.”

Fan Qing’s voice was always calm, but it carried an odd kind of conviction.

“You know that idiom? ‘Dead wood—’”

“‘—springs again,’” Luan Ye finished. “I studied idioms abroad too, you know.”

Fan Qing couldn’t help laughing. Luan Ye laughed too, then turned back to look at the stump.

So it can live again.

How amazing. Nature’s vitality feels even stronger than his own—at least it doesn’t lie in bed for ten days straight unable to get up.

“Nice,” Luan Ye smiled. “Maybe I’ll be a tree in my next life.”

Fan Qing looked at him for a moment, then suddenly said, “You’re also… a tree.”

Luan Ye froze for a second and looked up. “What?”

“You’re also a tree,” Fan Qing repeated.

He hesitated for a moment, then pulled over the hand Luan Ye had been resting on the tree trunk and wrote the character “栾” (luán) in his palm.

He wrote very slowly and carefully, his fingers brushing gently across the skin, still carrying the chill of the stream water.

“There’s a kind of tree called a luan tree. In spring and summer it’s green, and it blooms with yellow flowers. In the autumn, when it bears fruit, the whole tree turns red—very beautiful.”

Luan Ye looked at him. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, but he couldn’t find any words to say.

“They’re found in many places, including Yunnan. They’re cold- and drought-resistant. Sometimes they get pests, but they don’t really get sick. They don’t grow very fast, but they do grow—slowly, steadily—and they live long, with lush branches and leaves.”

He finished writing, but Fan Qing didn’t let go of Luan Ye’s fingertips. He just looked up at him.

Behind him was a vast sea of green. As the wind blew, the leaves rippled like waves.

His voice carried the breeze into Luan Ye’s ears.

“You should be that kind of tree.”

[mfn]So yeah Bai Mingchuan and Bai Mingcheng are brothers and Bai Mingcheng is Luan Ye’s boyfriend.[/mfn]