Lu Ze had woken up too early that morning. Now, sitting in the car and listening to music, he quickly felt drowsy, his eyes almost closing.
His head drooped slightly, and Liang Xiao softly asked, “Sleepy?”
Lu Ze opened his eyes, nodded, and yawned. “I want to nap for a bit.”
He took off his cap and hooked it onto his wrist, slid down in his seat to find a comfortable position, and tilted his face slightly toward Liang Xiao.
“Should I turn off the music?” Liang Xiao asked.
“No need, keep it on,” Lu Ze replied with his eyes closed.
Liang Xiao switched his phone to silent mode. Within two minutes, Lu Ze had fallen asleep, his head slowly sliding downward.
Liang Xiao watched him for a moment. When Lu Ze’s head was about to touch his shoulder, Liang Xiao adjusted slightly so it rested against him.
Lu Ze stirred briefly and adjusted himself on Liang Xiao’s shoulder for a more comfortable position before continuing to sleep.
“Ze…” Sun Zhuoyu turned around and saw Lu Ze sleeping soundly on Liang Xiao’s shoulder. Liang Xiao gestured for silence with a finger to his lips. Sun Zhuoyu shook his head with a smirk but soon turned back again to snap several photos of them with his phone.
During the rest of the ride, Liang Xiao leaned slightly toward the window, one ear listening to the music and the other catching snippets of quiet conversation in the car. Outside, various scenes flew by in a blur. On his shoulder was the warmth of Lu Ze’s breath and weight—a strangely comforting feeling. It had been a long time since he’d gone out and relaxed like this.
Lu Ze didn’t feel like a client anymore but more like a travel companion.
As they neared their destination, Liang Xiao gently removed Lu Ze’s earphones and called softly, “Lu Ze?”
Lu Ze frowned slightly, still half-asleep. Liang Xiao said, “We’re almost there.”
Lu Ze opened his eyes to find himself face-to-face with Liang Xiao at such close proximity that he could see the fine hairs on his face. Both froze for a moment before Liang Xiao turned away first, looking straight ahead. Lu Ze sat up from his shoulder and laughed. “When did I start using your shoulder as a pillow… Is it numb?”
He reached out to pinch Liang Xiao’s shoulder. “It’s fine,” Liang Xiao replied.
Stretching lazily, Lu Ze said, “That nap really helped.”
He put his cap back on as Sun Zhuoyu turned around and said, “Finally awake? Check your messages.”
Hearing his phone buzz several times, Lu Ze opened it to find a series of photos from Sun Zhuoyu. He stared at them for a moment before laughing. “Damn! Why’d you take pictures of me sleeping?”
“Pictures of you sleeping?!” Sun Zhuoyu retorted indignantly. “These are pictures of someone showing off their relationship even while sleeping!”
Lu Ze sighed dramatically. “You’re just jealous.”
If only you knew my ‘boyfriend’ is rented at a high price—you wouldn’t be jealous anymore.
He glanced at Liang Xiao beside him. Feeling Lu Ze’s gaze, Liang Xiao turned to meet it with a questioning look in his eyes.
Lu Ze smiled faintly and said, “It’s nothing.”
At first, it was just a moment of impulsiveness, but now he no longer feel upset because of Han Jing. Still, he ended up spending money to rent Liang Xiao as a boyfriend—maybe his brain hadn’t fully recovered from the shock back then.
—
When they arrived, the group first took a few photos at the amusement park entrance before heading straight to the first ride they had decided on earlier: a thrilling suspended roller coaster.
While waiting in line, Meng Qian and Lü Xuan both looked excited. Mao Xin asked, “Aren’t you two even a little scared?”
“Being scared is what makes it fun,” Lü Xuan said with a smile.
She applied a thick layer of sunscreen on her own hands and neck, as well as on Meng Qian’s, before glancing at the boys. “You guys didn’t put any on, did you? Do you want some?”
Mao Xin shook his head. “I don’t tan.”
Sun Zhuoyu hesitated for a moment and looked at Meng Qian. “Do I need it?”
Meng Qian replied quietly, “How would I know if you need it? You’re not that pale anyway. Even if you get tanned, it’s probably fine.”
Sun Zhuoyu laughed. “Alright, I guess I’ll put some on then.”
Lü Xuan turned toward Lu Ze and Liang Xiao next. Lu Ze smiled and held out his hand. “I’ll take some, thanks.”
“Oh no, I accidentally squeezed out too much,” Lü Xuan said with a playful blink. “Why don’t you share some with Liang Xiao?”
Lu Ze looked at Liang Xiao. “Xiao-ge, want some?”
Liang Xiao had no choice but to hold out his hand. Lu Ze dabbed some sunscreen onto the back of his hand before applying it. Afterward, he pulled out his phone and took a few shots of the crowd ahead.
“Waiting in line at the amusement park,” Lu Ze narrated, “and there are so many people for the roller coaster.”
Mao Xin turned around and made a peace sign at the camera.
Meng Qian asked, “Are you filming a vlog?”
“Something like that,” Lu Ze replied.
Hearing this, Meng Qian and Lü Xuan both made heart gestures for the camera.
Lu Ze then pointed the camera at Sun Zhuoyu, who pushed it away and said, “Film him! I know you want to film him.”
He shoved the camera toward Liang Xiao. Lu Ze was laughing so hard that the footage shook slightly. Clearing his throat, he said to Liang Xiao, “Xiao-ge, everyone online says you’re too aloof. How about giving them a smile?”
Standing with his back to the light, Liang Xiao’s hat cast a shadow over the top half of his face. He curled his lips into a faint smile for the camera.
It was undeniably cool.
Lu Ze whistled in admiration.
“Why don’t you film yourself?” Sun Zhuoyu teased. “Go on—show off your couple’s outfit.”
Lu Ze clicked his tongue in mock annoyance. “I already said it’s not a couple’s outfit—it’s just a coincidence.”
“Yeah right,” Sun Zhuoyu snorted. “Who’s going to believe that?”
Liang Xiao reached out and took Lu Ze’s phone. The sunlight illuminated Lu Ze’s face softly as he stood facing the light. Smiling gently, Lu Ze made a peace sign for the camera.
“Nervous?” Liang Xiao asked.
Lu Ze raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Wow, Xiao-ge is starting conversations now? Just a little nervous.”
“Xiao-ge, you’re so calm, I can’t even tell,” someone remarked.
“You don’t look scared either,” Liang Xiao replied.
Lu Ze chuckled, “I’m just matching the vibe.”
Mao Xin added, “Ze-ge is super brave. Last May Day, we went hiking. Yu-ge and I were trembling with fear, but he was casually filming like nothing happened.”
Liang Xiao glanced at Lu Ze in surprise, as if to say, “Really?”
Lu Ze whispered, “This stuff isn’t scary—no gods or ghosts involved. Those things scare me; this doesn’t.” Then, raising his voice, he joked, “If you’re scared, just grab my hand.”
“I’m not scared,” Liang Xiao said.
Lu Ze playfully draped an arm over his shoulder. “Oh really? We’ll see once we’re up there.”
As their turn approached, Lu Ze put his phone away, and Liang Xiao helped secure it with a strap. Once seated, Lu Ze resumed filming. Liang Xiao sat on his left and Sun Zhuoyu on his right. Lu Ze captured their expressions on camera.
Sun Zhuoyu warned, “Your phone might fall.”
“My grip’s steady,” Lu Ze reassured him. “Just don’t grab me.”
Turning the camera to Liang Xiao, he asked, “Still not scared, Xiao-ge?”
Liang Xiao remained calm and advised, “Wrap the strap around your wrist one more time—better safe than sorry.”
Lu Ze did as suggested. As the roller coaster started moving slowly, the surrounding murmurs of anticipation grew louder. Holding his phone firmly in his right hand, Lu Ze extended his left palm upward toward Liang Xiao with a grin. “Xiao-ge, saving a hand for you.”
Liang Xiao stayed silent. The coaster climbed to its peak and paused briefly before plunging down amidst deafening screams. In that instant, Liang Xiao tightly grabbed Lu Ze’s hand. Lu Ze gripped back firmly and joined the chorus of shouts: “Ah—so thrilling!”
T/N: Happy Chinese New Year everyone!! 🎊🎊
