“Totally! It’s making me want to fall in love too!”
“My boyfriend never even thinks about picking me up after work. Ask him why and he’ll say, ‘No need.’ Seriously, he’s so boring.”
“Haha, you know we usually just tell people to break up.”
“Ugh… a guy with no sense of romance is the worst!”
…
When girls get talking, it’s like opening the floodgates—they just keep going. Before Shi Yuan and Lin Wangye could even squeeze in a word, the conversation had already moved on without them.
They exchanged a quick smile. Then Lin Wangye glanced at the shelves and asked, “How much longer?”
“Almost done.”
After the ceramics were made in the shop, they still had to be fired in a kiln, so from DIY to final product, there was a bit of a wait.
Every day, the kiln folks would send over the finished pieces.
The staff had to put the right tag on each one, keep a record, and then notify the customer to come pick it up. Shi Yuan’s last task of the day was to unpack the box of ceramics on the floor, label each one, and place them in their spots.
Lin Wangye didn’t know which piece was whose, so he couldn’t help. All he could do was sit obediently on a little stool nearby, elbows on his knees, chin in his hands, staring at Shi Yuan without blinking—occasionally breaking into a goofy smile.
A man focused on his work really is the most handsome!
Shi Yuan moved fast. What would’ve taken someone else a while, he finished in no time. That’s why this time-consuming job was always left to him.
The other girls just had to do simple closing stuff—like cleaning up and all that.
By the time the two of them left, everyone else had already clocked out.
Shi Yuan turned off all the lights, stepped out of the pottery shop, pulled down the shutter, then turned around and tightened the scarf around Lin Wangye’s neck. He took his hand and stuffed it into his own pocket, then started walking.
The street was packed with cars, and most of the shopfronts were already decked out with Spring Festival couplets and glowing red lanterns, even though they had already closed early. The air was thick with New Year vibes—so much so that Lin Wangye felt like he could already smell the firecrackers, even though it wasn’t New Year’s Eve yet.
He walked with a light bounce in his step and leaned a little closer to the guy beside him.
“New Year’s Day is almost here—wanna ring in the new year together?”
“Sure,” Shi Yuan looked at him with soft eyes and smiled. “But Suihe can’t leave the hospital, so chances are we’ll be spending New Year there. And we might not even get a proper New Year’s Eve dinner.”
Lin Wangye shook his head over and over, his eyes full of laughter.
“It’s okay. I’m just happy to spend time with you! Isn’t the shop reopening on the second day of the new year? It’s rare that I get to have you all to myself.”
“Mm. I’ll make sure there’s plenty of good food for you.”
“Yay!”
“Oh right—this is for you.”
As he spoke, Shi Yuan pulled something out of his other pocket and held it up in front of Lin Wangye, shaking it teasingly so he couldn’t see what it was.
Lin Wangye grabbed it, looked down, and opened his hand—resting in his palm was a keychain. Hanging from it was a little yellow ceramic dog with a watermelon rind on its head and a pink tongue sticking out. It looked super realistic and lively.
“So cute!” Lin Wangye lit up, his whole face beaming with joy. He bounced on the spot, twice. “I love it! Did you make this yourself?”
Shi Yuan smiled softly. “Yeah, I made it one day when I had nothing to do. It just finished firing today. I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it so much!”
Lin Wangye nodded hard. Then suddenly, as if remembering something, he reached into his own pocket and pulled something out. “Wait—I’ve got something for you too! Look!”
Shi Yuan took it. It was a folded-up lens cloth.
The design was really simple—no patterns, just a pure, smooth shade of smoky gray.
But the material was soft and had a nice feel to it, and the stitching around the edges was neat and detailed.
All these years, he’d never actually bought a separate glasses cloth. He’d just been using the free one that came with his glasses. Most of the time, when he was busy, he just wiped them with his shirt.
“I was going to buy you a new pair of glasses,” Lin Wangye said after a moment, looking all serious, “but then I thought about it—and this old pair actually means something!”
He paused for effect, then continued solemnly, “Who knows how many girls that thing’s scared off over the years? It’s done a great job!”
Shi Yuan let out a helpless laugh. “But every time you make fun of them, it makes me want to toss them.”
The Xu Suinian standing in front of him had never once left home without his glasses.
He was the low-key type, came from a regular family, and didn’t draw much attention. Even now, no one really knew what he looked like without glasses.
But Lin Wangye knew all too well how much of a heartbreaker he’d been in his past life—and it still made his teeth grind with jealousy.
“No way!” he snapped. “Let them keep sealing you away. I don’t want people staring at you all the time!”
Shi Yuan had grown up with dirt on his face and not much praise for his looks. So when it came to his appearance, he never had a clear sense of how good-looking he actually was.
Even though he didn’t really get why Lin Wangye cared so much about it, Shi Yuan still gave in without hesitation—completely, unreasonably indulgent.
“Alright, whatever you say.”
And just like that, Lin Wangye, who always got what he wanted when he was with Shi Yuan, lifted his chin high, his whole face beaming with joy.
It was already late. As usual, Shi Yuan walked Lin Wangye home first, then headed to the hospital to check in on his sister. That was how it had been all winter break—they’d both go about their own things during the day, then make the most of the short time they had at night to see each other.
Maybe that’s the magic of love. Lin Wangye used to count down to holidays, but now? He couldn’t wait for school to start again.
At least at school, they could be together all the time.
Ever since the break started, Shi Yuan had been squeezing every spare second he could into working—like wringing water from a sponge.
Sure, they’d managed to get enough money for Xu Suihe’s chemotherapy, but after transferring hospitals, the new place was far from home. His grandparents were getting older, and it was hard for them to keep traveling back and forth. They couldn’t keep running their little street stall anymore.
And medical bills weren’t the only expense—life still needed money too.
That hard-won loan had been given for Suihe’s treatment. Even if Lin Shen had no objections, Shi Yuan couldn’t bring himself to use it to cover everyday living costs too.
So all he could do was work as much as he could.
Which meant holidays weren’t really holidays for him—they were anything but relaxing.
Studying was actually the easiest part of his day.
In his past life, by the time Lin Wangye was old enough to remember, Shi Yuan had already made it big. After coming back to China, he didn’t even have to go to work. Most of the time, he was free to either travel for inspiration or stay home and sketch out designs.
Just one finalized design could sell for six figures. And if he personally handled everything—from designing and pattern-making to tailoring and stitching—then the copyright fees would go way beyond that.
That’s why, in Lin Wangye’s memory, Uncle Shi always seemed calm and composed, always in control, like nothing ever phased him.
But now that he was seeing firsthand what kind of pressure and exhaustion Shi Yuan had gone through, the ache in Lin Wangye’s heart had only grown—multiplied, really. He didn’t want the person he liked to be working himself to the bone, but all he could do was respect his choice.
They got off the bus at the station, crossed the road, and reached their destination.
Lu Chengxuan’s house sat on a shockingly large piece of land, but the front gate was super low-key—hidden behind a row of tall, leafy sycamore trees along the street. The first time Lin Wangye came here, he thought it was the side entrance of some random apartment complex.
Still holding hands, the two of them walked toward the iron gate. But just as they stepped into the shadowy shade beneath the trees, Lin Wangye suddenly stopped and, for no reason at all, turned his head to glance at Shi Yuan.
The moonlight danced through the leaves, and a light fog had wrapped the city in a hazy silver.
And right there under the night sky, the boy’s eyes sparkled like they’d stolen the stars.
Almost the moment their eyes met, Shi Yuan grabbed his wrist and yanked him forward, then pushed him back against a tree trunk. Lin Wangye tilted his chin up slightly, lips parting just a bit, instantly understanding what was coming.
That kiss landed hard, burning hot and filled with breathy heat.
Their warm, slightly wet lips pressed tightly together. Lin Wangye immediately lifted his arms, wrapping them around Shi Yuan’s neck and forcing him to bend down and kiss him deeper. He tried to steady his breathing as Shi Yuan bit and sucked on his lips, actively opening the gates to welcome that fierce invasion.
“Mmm…”
Fast breaths mixed with helpless little moans brushed against their ears, sending chills straight to the soul.
With his eyes shut tight, Lin Wangye pulled him closer with silent desperation, using the few kissing tricks he knew to return the favor. But the moment Shi Yuan pushed in with full force, all his defenses crumbled. He gave in completely, drowning in that fiery, overwhelming love.
Every time they kissed, he lost control of his breath and heartbeat in seconds.
He’d just fall into it—like slipping into a dream that felt too good to be real.
There weren’t many people walking around at this hour, but the steady hum of engines from passing cars reminded them this street wasn’t exactly private. That background noise added wave after wave of thrilling tension to their kiss.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps nearby. Lin Wangye’s eyes flew open, his gaze a little dazed. A soft, shaky “mm—” escaped his throat, barely audible.
Shi Yuan lifted his head slightly, but even as he pulled away, he brushed his lips against Lin Wangye’s one last time, unwilling to let go.
They were standing right in a blind spot—just outside the range of the Lu family’s security cameras.
Still, Lin Wangye felt a little guilty. He panted softly, glancing around. No one was in sight. Maybe those footsteps had just been his imagination.
“Relax, kissing’s not a crime.”
Shi Yuan’s voice was low and raspy. As he said it, he slid his arm around Lin Wangye’s waist, pulled him close again, and leaned down to kiss him one more time.
Their mouths met again. Lin Wangye didn’t resist. His long lashes trembled like feathers, and he tilted his head back, holding onto Shi Yuan’s shoulders and kissing him back with everything he had. Their emotions sparked like wildfire, growing hotter and hotter.
Their breath mingled—hot, messy, and indistinguishable.
That warmth pulsed from their chests, flowing through their bodies.
No one could measure how scorching it had gotten. There just weren’t enough words for it.
Then a louder, deeper engine rumbled by—something heavier than an ordinary car. Lin Wangye’s eyes snapped open again. He pressed his hands against Shi Yuan’s chest and pushed him away, then turned to look.
“The last bus! Hurry, go!”
He grabbed his arm, his voice anxious.
Shi Yuan’s eyes curved in a smile. He cupped Lin Wangye’s face, placed a soft kiss on his forehead, then turned and ran—just barely making it onto the last bus of the night.
Lin Wangye took a few quick steps after him and stood under the streetlamp, waving with all his strength.
It wasn’t until the bus had driven off into the distance that Lin Wangye finally turned back toward the iron gate. Just as he was about to press the intercom so the security guard inside could buzz him in, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.
He turned around—Lu Chengxuan was walking out from behind one of the roadside trees.
Lin Wangye froze for a second. Then it hit him.
His whole face instantly started to burn.
“Lu… Brother Lu, you’re coming back this late too?”
“Lots to do this time of year.” Lu Chengxuan glanced briefly at his lips—still a bit too red—then looked away, pressed the intercom, and replied like it was nothing, “Busy.”
“Oh, oh… okay.”
Lin Wangye nodded like a kid who just got caught dating too early, standing there behind Lu Chengxuan with his head down, nervously twisting the hem of his shirt while waiting for the gate to open.
Honestly, having someone like Lu-ge around wasn’t always a bad thing.
Even when things got awkward.
At least he never made them more awkward.
The Lu family gate was manned 24/7. As soon as the intercom was pressed, the guard inside checked the cameras to confirm who it was and opened the gate right away.
Lin Wangye obediently followed Lu Chengxuan inside, eyes darting all over the place as he scrambled to find something to talk about.
“Brother Lu, I finished the proposal!”
“Mm.” Lu Chengxuan nodded. “Bring it to me later.”
Thinking about how it was less than 48 hours to the New Year, and how Lu Chengxuan had already left early that morning before he’d even gotten up—and was only just now getting home—Lin Wangye quickly changed his tone.
“No rush! It’s so late already, you should get some rest. We can go over it after the holidays!”
Lu Chengxuan had been exposed to business education ever since he first learned how to read.
Compared to the kind of stuff he usually dealt with, what Lin Wangye had been working on was basically child’s play—like a master’s student grading elementary school homework.
It really didn’t take any effort. There was no need to wait until after the holidays.
But since Lin Wangye had put it that way, Lu Chengxuan didn’t argue. “Either way. Up to you.”
The conversation came to a sudden halt. The silence hung in the air, heavy and awkward.
Lin Wangye lowered his head and walked quietly for a bit. Then out of nowhere, he remembered the chat he had with Lin Shen earlier that night, and jumped to bring it up. “I went to the Internet cafe to meet Lin Shen, asked him what his plans were for the New Year. He said he’s heading home.”
Lu Chengxuan paused for a moment before replying with a calm, “Mm.”
Lin Wangye pressed his lips together and kept going. “He also told me some stories from when you two were kids. You guys met in third grade, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“I always thought you two had been friends from the very start.”
Lin Wangye wanted to hear more about the past from Lu Chengxuan’s point of view, but he didn’t dare push too hard. So he kept it light and casual, slowly testing the waters. “Was there a big difference between your old elementary school and the new one? Anything that felt weird or hard to get used to?”
Lu Chengxuan shook his head. “Just the difference between a smaller school and a bigger one. Nothing hard to adjust to.”
Honestly, from any angle, Lu Chengxuan just wasn’t the kind of person you could have a long, chatty conversation with.
And in some ways, Lin Wangye kind of understood Lin Shen.
For someone like Lin Shen, who couldn’t stop talking if his life depended on it, being around a guy like this for too long was probably torture. He’d answer whatever you asked, but he’d also kill the conversation in three sentences or less. Every topic—dead on arrival.
It wasn’t that he was shy or bad at social stuff. He just couldn’t be bothered.
Still, Lin Wangye didn’t give up. He kept digging for topics to talk about. “It must’ve been around ten years ago, right? Lin Shen remembers the first time you actually talked to him really clearly. Do you?”
Whether it was because he didn’t remember, or for some other reason, Lu Chengxuan didn’t reply right away.
They soon reached the house. After stepping into the villa, they changed out of their coats and headed into the living room. Lin Wangye noticed Lu Wei wasn’t around.
He glanced around. “Where’s Auntie?”
“At the airport,” Lu Chengxuan replied as he took off his scarf. “My dad’s flight lands early this morning.”
Lin Wangye’s eyes widened, and he sucked in a sharp breath.
“Uncle Lu… he’s coming back!?”
Lu Chengxuan didn’t seem fazed at all. His tone was calm and flat: “Yeah. There are a lot of personal visits and obligations to handle around New Year.”
To this day, Lin Wangye didn’t even know what this big shot’s full name was. But over two lifetimes, in the few encounters they’d had, he’d come to understand just how terrifyingly powerful this man was—definitely not someone you wanted to mess with.
The guy had way too many secrets. And right now, Wangye was panicking so hard he couldn’t even talk properly. “I-I… uh…”
Sensing his nerves, Lu Chengxuan said casually, “Don’t overthink it. He already knows you’re staying here. My mom really likes you. You don’t need to be scared of him. Just act normal. Be yourself.”
Even with those words, it was hard for Lin Wangye to calm down. His voice still shaky, he said, “I made plans to spend New Year’s Eve with Xu Suinian. That way you three can have a proper family night. I won’t get in the way! That’s fine, right?”
Lu Chengxuan nodded. “Sure. Up to you.”
There was a plate of fruit already cut up on the table. Lin Wangye finally let out a huge sigh of relief, walked over, flopped down on the couch, and grabbed a slice of apple with a toothpick. In his mind, he was already trying to plan out how to minimize his chances of running into Lu Chengxuan’s dad.
Across from him, Lu Chengxuan leaned back on the couch, eyes closed, resting.
After staying at the Lu house for so long, Lin Wangye had never once felt pressured by Lu Wei. He’d gotten used to things. But the news of the Lu family head returning had thrown him off completely—he was hit with a wave of uneasiness, that deep discomfort of being a guest in someone else’s home.
After a few bites of fruit, he was about to get up when suddenly, Lu Chengxuan spoke.
“The first time I talked to Lin Shen was during recess. He was playing marbles with some other kids. I’d never played before, so I stood off to the side watching for a long time, trying to figure out how the game worked. He kept losing.”
*
Author’s Note:
Lin Shen—bad at games, obsessed anyway.
Has literally ‘never’ won since he was a kid.
The one thing that’s never changed? That stubborn mouth of his.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
