FQ chapter 64

College military training was actually pretty boring. The weather was too hot, but they weren’t pushed too hard. Most of the time, everyone just stood together, marching in step or standing at attention. Evenings were a little more relaxed—classes gathered to sing songs and chat, boys and girls exchanged contact info.

“Finally in college—it’s the golden age for dating.”

The guy who slept in the bunk under Fan Qing, named Zhao Yu, was usually chatty. Talking about this, he became especially animated. “Today, a girl even asked me if I was in the same dorm as Fan Qing, and she wanted me to give her his WeChat.”

Fan Qing had just come out of the shower. Hearing that, he turned his head to glance at him. Before he could say anything, Zhao Yu went on:

“I didn’t give it. I said I’d ask you first—want to meet her? She’s pretty cute.”

“No need.” Fan Qing smiled. “I have someone.”

“I figured.” Zhao Yu nodded. “I could tell.”

The guy on the opposite bunk, who was gaming, turned his head in shock. “What the hell, how come we didn’t know? How’d you tell?”

“He checks his phone every chance he gets. Even during the ten-minute breaks in training, he has to take it out. That’s always a sign of someone in the honeymoon phase.” Zhao Yu sounded certain.

Really?

Fan Qing thought about it—and couldn’t help but laugh.

The whole dorm’s attention shifted toward him, voices clamoring with curiosity.

“Got a picture? Long hair or short? Is she pretty?”

Fan Qing didn’t actually have any solo pictures of Luan Ye. The only one he had was of the two of them holding a lamb together.

“No picture—and even if I had one, I wouldn’t show you guys.”

Fan Qing said it in a joking tone, and amid the playful groans, he finally added a second sentence.

“Long hair. Very pretty.”

The dorm erupted in wails. “So jealous—”

“You dated in high school? Now it’s long-distance?” Zhao Yu asked.

“Yeah.” Fan Qing nodded.

Not just long-distance—different countries now.

Even so, Fan Qing still insisted on sending Luan Ye little updates from school: what they did during training, discovering the cafeteria served Yunnan food, calling his grandma yesterday, today’s rain making it cool but tomorrow still forecast at thirty-eight degrees… and lots of photos he took around campus.

Fan Qing: [Someone asked my roommate for my WeChat today.]

Fan Qing: [I told them I already have someone. Long hair, super pretty.]

Fan Qing: [They asked for a picture. I said I didn’t have one—and even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to them.]

It should’ve been around 7 a.m. in California, so Fan Qing assumed the other was still asleep. But by the time he finished drying his hair and got into bed, Luan Ye had already replied.

Luan Ye: [Good boy.]

The second reply was a selfie—Luan Ye, freshly out of the shower, hair still down, in pajamas, flashing a peace sign at the camera, looking lazy and carefree.

Luan Ye: [Keep it for yourself. When I’m back, you can look more closely.]

Fan Qing chuckled, opening the picture in full size and staring at it for a while before saving it.

When I’m back, you can look more closely.

Fan Qing didn’t ask when Luan Ye would return. He’d already said—before his birthday.

Fan Qing’s birthday was September 20, right before the Mid-Autumn Festival. It was only a three-day break, not enough to go home, but enough to spend the holiday with Luan Ye.

Counting the days, Fan Qing sighed.

It was the first time he was literally ticking off the days, and it stung a little. Luckily, military training was tedious and exhausting, and in the repetitive routine, time passed quickly. Plus, with their time-difference chats every day, the ten days of training seemed to go by in a blink.

Once classes began, he had more time to message, though he didn’t ask how things were going on Luan Ye’s end. Judging from his slower replies, he was probably busy.

And indeed, Luan Ye was busy.

That day, he hadn’t even finished the meal before leaving early. Bai Mingchuan hadn’t stopped him. When he got in the car, Luan Ye looked back once. Bai Mingchuan was still sitting there, and through the glass wall, all Luan Ye could see was the suited back of the man.

He didn’t look again, and after that day, Bai Mingchuan never came to find him.

The past few days, Luan Ye had been dealing with all the unfinished business he’d left behind when he abruptly walked away. And since this time he was likely leaving for good, there was much to settle.

Since Bai Mingchuan didn’t appear, he handed his bank card to Nora to pass along.

“You’re really not coming back?” Nora looked shocked, even a little reluctant.

“You’ve gotten used to this place. Your memories are here, your life, your work, the people who care about you.”

Luan Ye was tying up his last piece of unfinished work. Hearing this, he smiled, thought for a long moment, and finally replied.

“There’s no one here who’ll catch stars for me.”

Nora looked confused, but when she saw the smile on his face, she didn’t ask further.

He meant what he said. He didn’t take a single thing from the house. Boarding the plane, he carried only one bag, with just his documents and his phone inside.

Last time he’d at least had a camera. Each departure seemed lighter than the last. Luan Ye laughed softly at himself.

But at least this time, there was Fan Qing.

Before boarding, he hesitated and didn’t send Fan Qing a message. When the plane landed, he checked the time: 2 p.m.

It was Saturday—Fan Qing shouldn’t have class. Fan Qing had sent him several messages already while he was on the plane.

Instead of replying, Luan Ye called.

Fan Qing had just returned to the dorm. When he saw the caller ID, for a second he thought he was hallucinating. His brain hadn’t even caught up yet, but his hand had already pressed “accept” by instinct.

“You picked up pretty fast.” Luan Ye’s voice came through. “What are you doing?”

“Went out for a walk, just got back to the dorm.” Since no one was around on Saturday, Fan Qing shut the door. “Why’d you suddenly call?”

Luan Ye didn’t answer, just let out two soft laughs.

“Shit.” Fan Qing instantly caught on, his tone laced with shock. “You—did you come back?”

“So smart?” Luan Ye chuckled. “Just landed.”

“Why… why didn’t you tell me earlier.” Fan Qing was a little tongue-tied, almost laughing at himself. “I’ll come pick you up now, you’re still at the airport, right?”

“No need, I’ll just grab a cab over,” Luan Ye said.

“…Oh.” Fan Qing pushed the dorm door open again, ready to head out. “Then I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Still a while yet.” Luan Ye laughed. “I’ll call when I get there—bring me a set of clothes.”

Fan Qing froze. “Huh?”

“Any set of yours will do,” Luan Ye instructed. “The stuff I’ve been wearing on the plane smells sour by now.”

“You’re just like last time,” Fan Qing started laughing halfway through. “Came back with nothing?”

“Not the same.” Luan Ye laughed too. “This time I don’t need to buy anything—I’ll wear my boyfriend’s.”

“Okay.” Fan Qing smiled.

Even though Luan Ye said it would take a while, Fan Qing still packed up and headed out.

Besides clothes, he also brought him underwear and socks. The heat wasn’t as bad as before, but the sun was still blazing. Fan Qing didn’t feel hot, though—he only felt time crawl unbearably slow.

He didn’t know what kind of car Luan Ye had taken, but it was taking forever. Standing at the intersection, it felt like centuries. Every car that passed, he couldn’t help glancing at, afraid he might miss him.

Finally, a taxi slowed down and stopped by him. The rear window rolled down, and Luan Ye raised a brow.

“Handsome guy, waiting for someone?”

Fan Qing almost laughed at the tease, but the moment he saw his face, his eyes burned.

Luan Ye had gotten thinner—noticeably so.

Smiling, Luan Ye opened the door. “Get in.”

Fan Qing jumped in, gripping Luan Ye’s hand tight before he even asked where they were going.

“Missed me, huh?” Luan Ye murmured.

Fan Qing turned to look at him, gave a low “Mm.”

They couldn’t be too reckless in the cab. Luan Ye just smiled and touched his face with his free hand.

The car turned a corner. Fan Qing asked, “Where are we going?”

“Booked a hotel. Shower, change clothes.” Luan Ye closed his eyes, letting his head fall against Fan Qing’s shoulder. “I’m dead tired.”

Fan Qing squeezed his shoulder, a little distressed. “Didn’t sleep on the plane?”

“Couldn’t.” Luan Ye, eyes still shut, muttered, “Kept checking the time every little while, counting how long until I landed.”

The hotel wasn’t far, but still two streets away from the school. Once inside, Fan Qing set the clothes on the bed and turned to him.

“Shower first, nap first, or food?” Fan Qing guessed he hadn’t eaten either.

Leaning against the wall, Luan Ye squinted at him with a faint smile.

“Come here.” He crooked a finger. His voice was low. “Kiss me first.”

Fan Qing stared for two seconds, then lunged and pinned him against the wall, kissing him hard.

Their lips pressed together, urgent and tangled, grounding Fan Qing with the raw reality that Luan Ye was finally beside him. His hand tightened at Luan Ye’s waist, desperate to close the gap between them.

With their breaths colliding, every trace of restless waiting was washed away—like a mountain stream parched for months suddenly quenched by a wild downpour.

He really, truly, desperately had missed Luan Ye.