While Fu Yan was still frozen, Jiang Xinghuai suddenly asked: “You two went to university abroad?”
“Yes.” Fu Yan nodded. “We went over together in high school.”
“Oh… even the same high school.” After Jiang Xinghuai said this, he tried hard to ignore the strange feeling in his heart, but still unconsciously furrowed his brows. He didn’t give Fu Yan a chance to speak. “I’m going to sleep first.”
“Let’s go together. I’m done.” Fu Yan pulled him, then paused and asked, “Want to sleep together?”
“If you’re scared.” Jiang Xinghuai raised his brows.
“Very scared,” Fu Yan said with a smile.
“Then let’s go.” Jiang Xinghuai yawned, his mood suddenly brightening again.
This time the bed was much bigger. Jiang Xinghuai glanced at the spot where Fu Yan was lying and frowned slightly.
“I’m turning off the light.” After seeing Jiang Xinghuai nod, Fu Yan pressed the lamp off.
The faint wall lamp went out, plunging the room into darkness. The two lay side by side on the pillows, only able to make out each other’s outlines by the moonlight outside the window.
“Hey.” Jiang Xinghuai suddenly stretched out his elbow and poked him.
“Not sleeping yet?” Fu Yan turned his head.
“Uncle, you still haven’t answered me.” Jiang Xinghuai said as he shifted a little closer to him.
“What?” Fu Yan froze.
“Do you like men?” Jiang Xinghuai asked bluntly.
Fu Yan was silent for a while, then smiled: “Didn’t you already figure it out?”
Yes, Jiang Xinghuai really had figured it out.
Earlier, when he had asked the question, Fu Yan had avoided answering. That alone made it easy to guess.
It was just that Jiang Xinghuai found it a little hard to believe.
Fu Yan liked boys. Jiang Xinghuai hadn’t seen even the slightest hint of it.
No wonder, when he had said in front of Fu Yan that he was gay, Fu Yan hadn’t shown surprise at all, and had even accepted it with an almost excessive calm.
“What’s wrong?” Seeing Jin Xinghuai suddenly fall silent, Fu Yan propped himself up in puzzlement, wanting to turn on the light.
“If you like men, then what do you think of me?” Jiang Xinghuai’s brain short-circuited. Before he knew it, the words had slipped out.
But since they’d already been spoken, if no one picked them up, it would just be very awkward.
In the pitch darkness, he could hear Fu Yan’s breathing, no different from before.
But Jiang Xinghuai just knew that Fu Yan’s face was showing an embarrassed expression.
“I was just asking casually, you don’t have to answer.” Jiang Xinghuai’s voice carried nonchalance, but his eyes stayed fixed on Fu Yan in the darkness.
“What do I think of you?” Fu Yan repeated the question.
Jiang Xinghuai’s heart suddenly began racing wildly.
“In my eyes, you’re just a kid.” Fu Yan said.
“Oh.” Jiang Xinghuai answered softly, his heart that had been pounding hotly slowly curling into a ball. He clutched the blanket and turned his back.
“Why are you turning over?” Fu Yan asked.
“Your face is too ugly.” Jiang Xinghuai muttered into the blanket.
Fu Yan stared into the darkness before him: “………………”
Jiang Xinghuai was extremely angry. That strange feeling in his heart from before surged up again.
He didn’t like Fu Yan saying he was only treated as a child.
What did he mean by calling him a child? Did he really look that young? Tomorrow, he would be eighteen already. He’d be an adult.
“Jiang Xinghuai, are you biting the blanket?” Fu Yan’s voice came from behind him.
“…No.” Jiang Xinghuai irritably pulled the blanket over his head.
The next morning, hearing the faint sound of the door closing, Jiang Xinghuai opened his eyes. He glanced at the time. It wasn’t even seven yet.
Why was Fu Yan up so early… did old people not need sleep…
He sighed and went back to sleep until Zhu Gaofei knocked on his door carrying breakfast.
“This is red bean porridge I cooked. I put extra sugar in it for you. Hurry and drink.” Zhu Gaofei held the bowl right up to his mouth.
“Tastes good.” Jiang Xinghuai took a small sip. He nodded repeatedly, took the bowl, put on his shoes, and got out of bed. “I’ll go brush my teeth first.”
“Brush what? Just brush after you’re done eating.” Zhu Gaofei grabbed his arm, pressed him down into a chair. “Here’s the fried eggs and bacon that Mr. Fu made for you.”
“Very average.” Jiang Xinghuai gave his critique without even taking a bite.
Hearing that, Zhu Gaofei laughed even more happily: “Finally, you’ve said something human for once. I just can’t stand the way you usually stick to him like a bootlicker. It’s so irritating.”
Jiang Xinghuai froze. Did he usually stick that closely to Fu Yan?
“Alright, you drink up first.” Zhu Gaofei finished speaking and turned to leave.
“Hey, Fei Fei.” Jiang Xinghuai grabbed his arm, his face showing hesitation.
He wanted to tell Zhu Gaofei about leaving with Fu Yan tomorrow.
But the words wouldn’t come out.
It hadn’t been easy for everyone to finally be safe, and yet he was about to leave.
“What is it, Xing Xing?” Zhu Gaofei turned back with a smile, raising his hand to pat his head. “Want me to keep you company while you eat?”
“No need.” Jiang Xinghuai let go, smiled, and said, “Have you gotten fatter again? Watch out for your cholesterol.”
“You brat. Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth.” Zhu Gaofei chuckled and flicked his forehead. “I’m off. I’m not wasting time bickering with you.”
Watching him leave, Jiang Xinghuai let out a long breath over the steaming red bean porridge.
He didn’t want Zhu Gaofei to worry, but he had to go.
Tomorrow was his birthday. Before then, he had to say it.
But what Jiang Xinghuai didn’t expect was that the whole day went by without him seeing Zhu Gaofei.
Fu Yan only told him once that he had to go out for something, then shut the door upstairs on the third floor and didn’t come out until night.
Jiang Xinghuai stayed in the room, working on a Lego set Fu Yan had given him. He didn’t feel bored at all.
The completed model was a helicopter.
Jiang Xinghuai had liked helicopters, cars, and such models ever since he was little, so as time slipped by, he didn’t even notice.
Until the light in the room suddenly went pop and went out.
Everything went black. Jiang Xinghuai froze, then steadied himself against the cabinet beside him and slowly stood up.
What happened? Was the power out?
Feeling along the wall, Jiang Xinghuai opened the door and walked out, his heart panicking a little. He immediately tilted his head back and shouted: “Fu Yan!”
“Hey!” Fu Yan, hiding around the corner, was so startled he nearly dropped the cake in his hands.
He hadn’t expected Jiang Xinghuai to suddenly call his name.
“This brat’s brain has a hole in it,” Zhu Gaofei cursed under his breath.
“Still going with the original plan?” Guo Wei asked in a low voice.
“What plan?” Jiang Xinghuai’s voice suddenly appeared right beside them.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“Holy shit!”
“When did you get here!”
Seven or eight men were so frightened they all jumped up, wailing like ghosts as they clutched the people next to them.
Fu Yan helplessly turned on the light. “You’re all scared of ghosts yourselves, so why did you even suggest pretending to be ghosts to scare him?”
“Who’s scared of ghosts?” Zhu Gaofei frowned.
“Can you… stop clinging to me?” Fu Yan looked down at Zhu Gaofei, who had practically leapt up and was hugging him. The man weighed at least 180 jin. Veins were bulging on Fu Yan’s forehead.
“Ahem… sorry, sorry.” Zhu Gaofei blushed and quickly jumped down.
“You guys… no way…” Jiang Xinghuai looked at this group of grown men and suddenly guessed what they had been hiding here to do.
“Happy birthday.” Fu Yan carefully took out and held a small cake.
At Jiang Xinghuai’s first glance downward, even though he had been mentally prepared, he still froze.
The cake wasn’t big, only the size of a palm. A very ordinary cream cake, but on top of it, written in chocolate, were the words: Happy 18th, Little Flying Man. The writing was crooked and messy, and at the end, a big blob of chocolate had accidentally been squeezed out. It was obvious it had been done in a rush.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!” Zhu Gaofei and the other men held hands, hopping around as they sang.
“Where did you get the cake?” Jiang Xinghuai asked, holding back tears.
“Your Uncle Fu led us to rob a cake shop.” Zhu Gaofei laughed. “But all the cakes inside had already been taken. So we forced the shop clerks into the back workroom and found the ingredients to make one. Probably won’t taste very good.”
Jiang Xinghuai pursed his lips, dipped a finger into the cream, and licked it. The cream was soft and sweet.
“Does it taste bad?” Fu Yan poked his face and laughed. “No need to cry over it, right?”
“Hurry up! Light the candles! Make your wish and blow them out, quick!”
“What are you rushing for!” Jiang Xinghuai shouted back. “I’m crying right now!”
“C-crying? You’re crying.” Zhu Gaofei shuddered in fright.
After Jiang Xinghuai blew out the candles, the group moved to the living room.
Holding the knife, Jiang Xinghuai couldn’t find the right spot to cut for a long time. He glanced at Zhu Gaofei, thinking he should say that matter first.
“What is it?” Zhu Gaofei asked.
“Godfather.” Jiang Xinghuai sat up straight seriously, and spoke solemnly. “Tomorrow I’m going with Fu Yan to find his friend.”
“Go on then, why are you looking at me?” Zhu Gaofei shrugged and laughed. “Brat, you only ever call me godfather at times like this.”
“You agreed?” Jiang Xinghuai couldn’t believe it was so easy. He had thought he’d have to rely on acting spoiled like before to get through it.
“Your Uncle Fu already came to talk to me yesterday morning.” Zhu Gaofei sighed. “He talked for over an hour. What could I do if I didn’t agree? He would’ve nagged me to death.”
Jiang Xinghuai looked in surprise at Fu Yan sitting off to the side. A sudden warmth spread in his heart.
“Let me tell you, people like him may look gentle, but they’re sly inside. Don’t think being killed with a soft knife doesn’t hurts. You keep your guard up.” Zhu Gaofei leaned close to his ear to whisper a warning.
“He’s not that kind of person.” Jiang Xinghuai said, then happily went to cut the cake.
Zhu Gaofei glared at him with a “hate iron for not becoming steel” expression.
Then he turned back around, put on a gentle smile, and entrusted Fu Yan: “I’m leaving our Huai’er in your hands. Please take good care of him.”
“Of course.” Fu Yan nodded.
Of course? Zhu Gaofei froze, his gaze at Fu Yan suddenly taking on a measuring look.
There was definitely something off about this man.
“Be careful.” Fu Yan bent down as he spoke, correcting Jiang Xinghuai’s grip. “Don’t hold the knife like that.”
Zhu Gaofei’s eyes sharpened as he watched their hands touch.
He let out a cold snort. Understood.
In his heart, he started cursing Fu Yan as a lecherous old fox.
Jiang Xinghuai had just turned eighteen. If this man had harbored such intentions earlier, that would be outrageous.
“Wait a minute…” Zhu Gaofei looked Fu Yan up and down. “May I ask your honorable age this year?”
“Hm?” Fu Yan didn’t know why he suddenly asked that, but still answered: “Thirty-two.”
“Thirty-two?” Zhu Gaofei furrowed his brows hard. The age gap was way too big.
Even though Fu Yan was handsome, had money, had ability, and had even graduated from such a prestigious university—
And recalling the feeling when he’d just leapt on him, Fu Yan’s build seemed quite good, too.
But still, the age…
“You being thirty-two is… a bit too old, isn’t it?” Zhu Gaofei asked again, awkwardly looking at him.
Before Fu Yan could even react to what all that was supposed to mean, Jiang Xinghuai exploded first.
“Hold on, you fat bastard, what do you mean by that?” Jiang Xinghuai felt uncomfortable for some reason when he heard it. “How is Fu Yan too old?”
“I was just asking, that’s all.” Zhu Gaofei looked aggrieved.
It wasn’t like he was against Jiang Xinghuai having a boyfriend. But Jiang Xinghuai couldn’t go find someone who was thirty-two, right?
Fu Yan looked at Zhu Gaofei, then at Jiang Xinghuai, and realized what was going on.
He guessed that Zhu Gaofei had figured out that Jiang Xinghuai liked him and was indirectly telling Jiang Xinghuai that his age was too old for him.
But Fu Yan himself had never felt that he was old. He only thought Jiang Xinghuai was too young.
“It’s not his fault that he’s older, and yet you just had to ask him like that in front of everyone!” Jiang Xinghuai stood up, eyes glaring. “He’s 32 this year, but so what? Everyone was young once!”
Fu Yan swallowed back a mouthful of blood and forced himself to stay calm.
“Uncle, you must never feel inferior because of your age.” Jiang Xinghuai tried to comfort him. “Even though you’re already 32, already a middle-aged man, you don’t look old at all, really!”
Fu Yan clutched his chest: “Stop talking…”
“No, I mean it. You were 18 once, too!” Jiang Xinghuai continued to console him. “Think about it carefully. You’ll quickly be able to regain the radiance of youth!”
Fu Yan fell back with wide, pained eyes.
