FQ chapter 60

The next day, they woke up a little late. After grabbing a quick bite, they left Dali for Kunming.

The road was much longer than yesterday’s, and they stopped several times at service areas. By the time they entered the city, it was already afternoon. Traffic grew heavier, and Fan Qing slowed down a little.

“She’s off today. We can just go straight over,” he said after a phone call, turning to glance at Luan Ye in the passenger seat.

Luan Ye nodded, quickly pulling down the sun visor to check himself in the mirror.

Not bad—he looked fine. The mark on his neck from Fan Qing’s bite last night was hardly visible anymore.

“Think I should get a haircut?” Luan Ye suddenly asked.

Fan Qing let out a questioning “Hm?” before realizing, then laughed.

“No need.”

“Isn’t this style too edgy? Not really fit for meeting family?” Luan Ye asked.

Fan Qing couldn’t stop laughing. “Don’t worry, they’re all pretty easygoing. Especially my aunt.”

He was right. His aunt was small and slender, looking gentle. From the moment they entered, she had been smiling warmly, chatting easily.

“My… friend, Luan Ye. He’s also heading to Nanjing,” Fan Qing introduced, glancing at him. Luan Ye greeted the woman.

“Hello, Auntie. Just call me Xiao Ye.”

“That’s wonderful—you’ll have company on the road,” she said happily, piling fruit onto Luan Ye’s plate. “This is the first time Fan Qing’s traveling far. Thanks for looking after him.”

Luan Ye replied, “Fan Qing’s pretty capable. He doesn’t need anyone worrying over him.”

Truthfully, Fan Qing had looked after him far more than the other way around.

“He’s been responsible since he was little,” his aunt said proudly. “Always so mature and dependable. When we had to move away, he stayed with his grandmother. School, chores, taking care of the house—never once caused trouble.”

Aunt was talking, then let out a sigh—probably thinking of Fan Qing’s parents.

Fan Qing patted her back.

“You and Grandma raised him well.” Luan Ye smiled. “Fan Qing said ever since he was little, you’ve always cared a lot about him.”

When the rest of the family got home from work and school, everyone gathered together for a lively dinner. Fan Qing’s uncle opened a bottle of red wine and poured a glass for each person.

“Congratulations to Xiao Qing for getting into university.” his uncle said cheerfully, “This kid is promising.”

Fan Qing glanced at Luan Ye. Luan Ye took his own glass, lowered it to receive the wine.

Aunt reminded them worriedly: “You still have to catch a plane tomorrow, don’t drink too much.”

Uncle obediently raised the bottle higher, pouring only half a glass for each of them.

“It’s fine, this is good wine, not strong,” Uncle said. “I saved it for a special occasion.”

“Smells good already,” Luan Ye said with a smile.

Uncle lifted his brows proudly: “Right?”

The atmosphere at the table was relaxed, the family chatting noisily. Uncle, once tipsy, loved to chat; hearing that Luan Ye had lived in the U.S. for a few years, he insisted on discussing Sino–U.S. relations.

Surprisingly, Luan Ye was able to carry the conversation smoothly, and in between, he even found time to chat with the cousin about learning English.

Fan Qing was a little shocked, unsure what he was feeling inside.

He hadn’t expected to see this kind of practiced adult politeness and small talk from Luan Ye… That wasn’t who he was.

But now here he was: choosing gifts, visiting family, drinking with the elders, even hesitating earlier over whether to get a haircut before coming…

Fan Qing blinked, half wanting to laugh, half feeling sour inside.

Dinner went on for quite a while. Since Fan Qing and Luan Ye’s flight was the next day, they had booked a hotel near the airport.

“You could just stay in your cousin’s room for one night.” Aunt patted Fan Qing’s hand. “No need to go out and stay in a hotel.”

“It’s an early flight, we might not make it in time,” Fan Qing said.

In truth, it wasn’t that early. But he thought Luan Ye wouldn’t feel comfortable staying in his aunt’s home with the whole family, let alone sleeping in someone else’s room.

“Fine then.” Aunt sighed. “Take care of yourself outside, about the tuition…”

“I’ve got it.” Fan Qing spoke quickly. “I’ve earned enough.”

“Whether you have it or not is one thing,” Aunt insisted. “But giving it to you is our decision. Tomorrow your uncle will transfer it to you. Get along well with your classmates. If anything happens, call home.”

“I’m almost nineteen, Aunt.” Fan Qing smiled. “Don’t worry so much.”

“You really are something…” Aunt turned her head and wiped her face, then looked at Luan Ye. “Xiao Ye, thank you for taking care of him on the trip.”

Luan Ye nodded, his voice sincere: “it’s no problem.”

…..

They stayed in a hotel that night. Their flight was at ten the next morning. Fan Qing had booked it with plenty of time, so when they arrived at the airport, boarding was still quite a while off.

Passengers stood in scattered lines, waiting to pick up tickets.

“First we pick up the tickets, then check in the luggage, then security, then find the gate…” Fan Qing asked quietly, “Did we come too early?”

“It’s fine.” Luan Ye glanced at the big screen. “We can sit for a bit.”

“I read people said you have to get to the airport two hours in advance…” Fan Qing laughed at himself. “I was still worried last night we wouldn’t make it.”

Luan Ye’s eyes fell on his face.

“I’ve been to the outside of airports a few times,” Fan Qing said. “But never inside—always just waiting for someone outside.”

He said it casually, without embarrassment. Luan Ye looked at him, smiled slightly: “You sounded pretty experienced just now.”

“I looked it up last night.” Fan Qing chuckled.

After all, this time it was the two of them.

The man ahead of them got his boarding pass and left. Luan Ye didn’t move. Instead, he handed his ID card to Fan Qing.

“Here, you do it.”

Fan Qing froze, then took the card. When he put it on the machine, he couldn’t help glancing at it.

The photo on the ID didn’t look very different from how Luan Ye looked now, but the eyes were smiling, the expression spirited—it must’ve been taken years ago.

After saying “You do it,” Luan Ye really let Fan Qing handle everything else. He simply followed behind as Fan Qing got both boarding passes, checked in the luggage, passed security, and found the gate.

“You’re really good at this.”

There was still some time before boarding. Sitting on the bench, Luan Ye turned to him.

“Is this really something to be good at?” Fan Qing couldn’t help smiling at the praise. “Haven’t you flown plenty of times before?”

“I’ve flown plenty.” Luan Ye looked at him. “But being led through it like this—it’s the first time.”

Fan Qing looked at him for a while. Luan Ye was serious, which gave him an odd sense of achievement.

That feeling of accomplishment came too easily, so Fan Qing forced himself not to look too happy: “We still have to wait a while before boarding.”

“Yeah. I used to like arriving early at the airport too,” Luan Ye said. “Doing nothing, just sitting there.”

“Why?” Fan Qing asked.

“How to put it…” Luan Ye paused. “It felt like I could escape a place as quickly as possible.”

Fan Qing hadn’t expected that answer. He just looked at him, saying nothing.

“This time’s different.” Luan Ye went on.

They were sitting close, shoulders touching. Luan Ye hooked a finger around Fan Qing’s, slowly tightening his grip.

“This time it feels like running toward a new life—your new life…”

Fan Qing turned his hand and held his tightly: “And yours.”

“Mm.” Luan Ye laughed and gave his hand a little shake.

By the time they landed in Nanjing, it was already noon. As they stepped through the plastic curtain out of the airport, Fan Qing couldn’t help blurting: “Damn.”

A wave of stifling hot, humid air—something he’d never felt in Yunnan—hit them, wrapping them in suffocating heat until he had to adjust his breathing.

Beside him, Luan Ye laughed: “Welcome to Nanjing.”

“…It’s way too hot.” Fan Qing turned his head to look at him.

“Thirty-eight degrees.” Luan Ye grinned. “Just bear with it till we find some air-conditioning.”

The temperature was eleven degrees hotter than Yunnan. From the exit to the car pickup point, Fan Qing felt like he was about to faint, only recovering after they got into the car.

The ride took them straight to his university gate. All the way, he couldn’t help looking out the window.

The road from the airport didn’t seem that different from Yunnan—highways, greenery, cars passing by. The only difference was that there were no mountains in the distance.

Flat land stretching endlessly, nothing to block the view. Fan Qing didn’t quite know where to rest his gaze.

So he turned his head instead, eyes landing on Luan Ye’s face.

Luan Ye was studying the campus map intently. Sensing his gaze, he looked up.

“First check in, then we find a place to eat, and buy a few things.”

Though the midday heat was dizzying, the campus was lively with orientation activities. Welcome tents for each major lined up like a marketplace.

Fan Qing found his major and checked in. The teacher in charge casually called over an older student to guide him to the dormitory.

“The dorm looks a little old from the outside, but inside’s okay. Six to a room, private bathroom, air-conditioning.” The senior chatted as he walked, then glanced at Fan Qing and Luan Ye.

“You two in the same major?”

“No, he’s my—” Fan Qing turned to Luan Ye.

“Family,” Luan Ye said.

“Your brother?” the senior asked.

With a smile in his eyes, Luan Ye said: “Yes.”

The senior left them at the dorm building. Fan Qing took his key, went up to the third floor, and found his room.

The building looked old outside but had been renovated inside. No one else was there, but two beds by the window were already claimed. Fan Qing didn’t mind—he picked a top bunk and set his things down.

“So narrow.” Luan Ye tapped the bedframe. “You won’t fall at night?”

“No, I slept like this all three years of high school.” Fan Qing laughed. “I sleep pretty still.”

Luan Ye shot him a glance, the corner of his mouth curling: “That’s true.”

Fan Qing didn’t move much in his sleep—the biggest thing he did was sometimes, half-asleep, tug the blanket over Luan Ye when it slipped.

“Let’s go eat.” Luan Ye said. “Then I’ll help you buy some things, walk around campus…”

He checked the time. “But I’ll have to leave after. My flight’s tonight.”

Fan Qing froze: “Tonight?”

“Yeah, midnight.”

The joy from stepping into his new campus instantly dipped. “I thought you’d stay a few more days.”

“I want to get things settled sooner, so I can come back sooner…” Luan Ye found him cute like that, quickly rubbing his cheek with his hand.

“Isn’t your birthday at the end of the month?” Luan Ye said. “I want to be back before then.”

Fan Qing immediately looked at him.

Luan Ye smiled: “It wouldn’t be right for your boyfriend not to be there on your nineteenth birthday, would it?”

“…Oh.” Fan Qing stared at him, then smiled too, his mood lifting again.

Maybe Luan Ye sensed his feelings—every time the subject of leaving came up, he always found a way to let Fan Qing know he’d come back.

Even if sometimes he hesitated, sometimes he avoided… Once he made a choice, at heart he was someone who would follow it to the end.

Near the campus gate was a shopping district. Luan Ye picked a well-reviewed local restaurant, ordered some specialty dishes.

The southern flavors were very different from the southwest. Except for the roast duck, Fan Qing felt every dish was a little sweet. Luan Ye seemed to enjoy it, while Fan Qing wasn’t used to it—but he ate it anyway, not wanting to waste.

After all, this was what he’d be eating for the next four years.

In the afternoon, they bought supplies for the dorm, dropped them off, walked around to get familiar with the area, then grabbed a simple dinner. By a little past eight, it was time for Luan Ye to go.

“How long is the flight?” Fan Qing asked during a pause while they waited for the bus.

“Thirty-one hours,” Luan Ye replied.

Fan Qing frowned. “That long?”

“I just sleep as soon as I get on the plane,” Luan Ye smiled. “You should go to bed early too when you get back. You must be tired today, right?”

“It’s fine.”

Even though it was already dark, there were still lots of people coming and going at the school gate. Fan Qing suppressed the urge to hug Luan Ye, simply staring at him without looking away.

“Let me know when you arrive.”

“The first thing I’ll do after turning my phone back on is send you a message,” Luan Ye looked at him. “No need to find extra time for it.”

Fan Qing smiled for a moment. Luan Ye reached out, pinched his chin lightly, then let go.

“Go on inside.”

“I’ll wait until the bus comes before I go.”

“Then you’ll just end up standing here watching me get on the bus and leave, before walking back all alone,” Luan Ye’s tone was firm. “You go in first. I’ll watch until you’re inside.”

Fan Qing held his gaze for a few seconds, then finally nodded. “Then I’ll… go.”

“Go on,” Luan Ye smiled. “Study hard.”

A moment later, Fan Qing looked away and finally turned toward the school.

Luan Ye stood where he was, watching him. After Fan Qing had walked five or six meters, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and looked at Luan Ye.

Luan Ye gave a small smile and spread his arms open toward him.

The next second, Fan Qing ran back and threw his arms around him.

The moment he touched him, Luan Ye immediately hugged him back.

Fan Qing held him tightly. Someone nearby glanced their way, then quickly looked away again.

Luan Ye didn’t mind them, simply caressed Fan Qing’s back.

“Wait for me to come back,” he whispered.