Chapter 48 has 3 parts; 48.2 and 48.3 will be uploaded tonight at 20:00 and 21:00 EST.
***
Chapter 48.1 – Roller-Coaster Kiss
Lin Jiang took him to sit in the front row. As the safety bar slowly lowered, the thrill of the unknown made Shen Ju instinctively clutch the safety bar.
“Isn’t the front row supposed to be scarier?”
“No.” Lin Jiang looked like someone who played often. “You’ve never been on one before?”
The puppy shook his head. “No.”
Lin Jiang immediately laughed. “And you still dared to come up?”
Honestly, Shen Ju didn’t want to get on. But knowing Lin Jiang enjoyed it, he was determined to experience it no matter what.
The staff finished their preparations and reminded them, “Ready to go.”
The machine slowly climbed upward, and their feet lifted off the ground. Suddenly, the thrill of danger surged through Shen Ju.
Shen Ju took a deep breath, but before he could prepare himself, the roller coaster beneath him began its gradual descent.
His heart pounded wildly and his hands scrambled for something to hold onto. Then, a gentle hand beside him grasped his hand without hesitation, fingers interlocking tightly.
Suddenly, Shen Ju recalled that moment on the stage when Lin Jiang had held his hand just as tightly, leading him to touch the peak of glory.
Suddenly, Shen Ju was no longer afraid.
The wind blew through Lin Jiang’s hair, and he smiled as happily as he did on the stage that day. “Don’t be afraid, the first row isn’t scary—”
Before he finished speaking, the machine beneath them suddenly plunged downward!
The violent wind felt like it could tear them apart. This was perhaps the closest he had ever felt to death. After the plunge, the ride surged upward, like escaping a disaster, his heart bouncing wildly as if balanced on a tipping scale.
Screams from other riders echoed behind them. Shen Ju’s heart hammered in his chest, unsure whether he should join in the shouting.
Lin Jiang squeezed his hand. “Go ahead, scream!”
Then came another dive, and Lin Jiang also screamed loudly and joyfully!
His voice was drowned out by the crowd, so he could scream recklessly, without holding back.
This was the first time Shen Ju had seen Lin Jiang like this.
He had always believed Lin Jiang to be calm and gentle, someone who disliked noise and chaos.
Yet, in reality, Lin Jiang harbored a wildly free-spirited side.
He would even, out of fear of loneliness, fill his home with all kinds of game consoles, inviting all sorts of people over to play.
He would cling tightly to the hands of those around him, yet always kept a polite distance, afraid of burdening them.
Shen Ju didn’t know what Lin Jiang truly wanted, but at this moment, he suddenly felt that maybe all Lin Jiang needed was someone who would stand unconditionally by his side.
His feelings suddenly burst into bloom atop the roller coaster.
After Lin Jiang’s loud scream, at the very moment the ride crested its highest peak and Lin Jiang turned to look at him…
Shen Ju, seized by an inexplicable courage, blurted out, “I like you, Lin Jiang.”
Lin Jiang’s expression slowly changed. As the roller coaster plunged, the screams behind them drowned out their voices.
Shen Ju gripped his hand, shouting tirelessly, “I like you!”
Lin Jiang slapped his hand wildly. “Aren’t you even a little embarrassed?”
Shen Ju grinned like an overexcited puppy, I’m not embarrassed at all! Lin Jiang, did you have fun?”
Lin Jiang snapped, “Shut up!”
After the drop came an even steeper descent. Just as adrenaline surged through them, Shen Ju suddenly turned, cupped Lin Jiang’s face, and kissed him hard.
Their soft lips met—no need for technique, naturally, effortlessly.
As their bodies hurtled downward, Lin Jiang’s heart stopped—he truly felt like he was falling into hell with him!
He had lived for so many years, yet this was the first time he understood what it meant to be kissed breathless.
He slapped Shen Ju’s hands desperately, but the other only kissed him deeper, fingers gripping the back of his neck, as if to drag him to death, but also seemed to shield him from it.
Their bodies plunged relentlessly, and Lin Jiang felt certain they’d be crushed the next second.
But of course, they wouldn’t actually die.
The ride shot upward again, then dove down once more.
In such a noisy, bustling atmosphere, Shen Ju gave him a once-in-a-lifetime unforgettable experience.
On that long, winding track, the screams drowned out every feeling, adrenaline peaking in that moment.
Lin Jiang finally gave up struggling, and was pushed against the chair by Shen Ju, who kissed him even more fiercely.
Despite the roughness of the act, Lin Jiang could sense the other’s caution…
…as if he was holding the most precious thing in the world.
As the ride finally slowed, Shen Ju finally pulled away, but was clearly lost in the moment. He met Lin Jiang’s wide-eyed stare and softly asked, “Will you be my boyfriend?”
Lin Jiang was kissed until his hands and feet went numb, his lips turned red. He had never experienced something so thrilling and hadn’t recovered for a long time.
Shen Ju waited silently for a response, softly kissing Lin Jiang’s wrist, searching for an answer.
Lin Jiang tried to find a reason to refuse.
But his mind was a mess.
The roller coaster finally came to a stop, and the safety bar was lifted. A staff member called out, “All passengers, please exit quickly.”
The string of reason suddenly reconnected in Lin Jiang’s mind. He flipped over and scrambled to his feet.
Shen Ju quickly followed him. “Captain, don’t you think we’re really well-matched? No matter what we do, we just fit so well. We’ll definitely be harmonious in everything in the future.”
Lin Jiang’s mind immediately twisted into something naughty, “Shen Ju’an, you’re shameless.”
Shen Ju put on a puppy-like sad expression, although beneath his feigned nonchalance was a heart trembling with fear.
He reached out and grabbed Lin Jiang’s hand, hesitating several times before finally speaking. “Lin Jiang, don’t walk away. I’m… a little scared.”
His voice sounded as if he might burst into tears if Lin Jiang took even one more step forward.
Lin Jiang slowly stopped walking. He turned back to look at Shen Ju and suddenly felt a pang of guilt. “Have you forgotten our agreement? Don’t talk about this before the Worlds.”
Shen Ju halted in front of him, lowering his head. “I didn’t forget.”
He leaned lightly against Lin Jiang’s shoulder, finally feeling a fleeting sense of security. “I’m sorry. I’m just… too scared.”
In the end, Lin Jiang’s heart softened.
He gently ruffled Shen Ju’s hair, unsure what to do with him.
Because in this relationship, the one losing control wasn’t just Shen Ju—it was also himself.
For the first time, Lin Jiang felt his emotions slipping beyond his control, spiraling so wildly that even he was afraid of what the future might hold.
After a moment of hesitation, he said, “At the very least, the team can’t know. I don’t know how to break it to them yet.”
Shen Ju nodded hard, eyes shining. “Okay. I promise.”
He gently laced their fingers together and, once he’d gotten a hold of his emotions, asked with a soft smile, “Captain, is there anything else you want to try? I’ll go with you.”
Lin Jiang suddenly perked up. If they were talking about this, then he was wide awake.
Shen Ju was wide awake too.
Lin Jiang took him on the giant swing ride, where Shen Ju clung to him like an octopus the entire time. Never in his life had he stuck so close to Lin Jiang.
He was terrified, yes, but… Lin Jiang smelled really, really good.
And when Shen Ju got scared, Lin Jiang would hold him tighter, comforting him: “It’s okay, it’s almost over. Puppy Shen, don’t be afraid.”
Shen Ju could shamelessly tuck himself into Lin Jiang’s arms.
He thought that if he loosened his grip even a little, he’d lose him.
Lin Jiang took him on the pirate ship, and Shen Ju latched onto his arms and legs. He didn’t even care about the ride anymore—just hearing Lin Jiang scream beside him was enough to send
Even on the drop tower, just before the ride started, Shen Ju planted a loud kiss on Lin Jiang’s cheek and shouted, “Lin Jiang, I like you!”
Lin Jiang had always prided himself on being fearless in amusement parks — from roller coasters to drop towers, nothing ever fazed him, but today he truly admitted defeat.
Because it was just too, too, too embarrassing…!
He slung his backpack over his shoulder and turned to leave. Shen Ju, who hadn’t had enough yet, trailed after him with pleading eyes. “Captain, are we really done playing?”
“Yeah, we’re done.”
“Wasn’t it fun?”
“No.”
“But you were laughing so much.”
“You were laughing even harder.”
Shen Ju could no longer contain his joy. He reached out, grabbed Lin Jiang’s hand, and pulled him back to his side.
Leaning comfortably against his shoulder, he whispered right into his ear, “Lin Jiang, I’m so happy today. Let me stay by your side for the rest of our lives, okay?”
His eyes burned with too much heat—so sincere, so unrestrained, that Lin Jiang felt like he might melt under that gaze.
He had imagined what his future partner might be like, but he had never expected it to be someone like Shen Ju.
The sensation of being kissed deeply on the rollercoaster still lingered on his lips—it was a memory he would probably never forget.
Lin Jiang’s ears burned. He forced himself to sound rational. “Before we define our relationship, you can’t just kiss me like that whenever you want.”
Shen Ju leaned in slightly, his fingers lingering on Lin Jiang’s neck as he answered in a husky voice, “Okay.”
He wanted to kiss him, but he was afraid of making him angry.
So instead, he rested his head against Lin Jiang’s shoulder, carefully lifted Lin Jiang’s hand, and pressed a deep kiss onto his wrist.
“As long as you don’t leave me… I’ll listen to whatever you say.”
His lashes quivered faintly as he gently guided Lin Jiang’s hand to the delicate curve of his neck.
Beneath the skin, his pulse throbbed restlessly—he was laying bare all his weaknesses and fears to the man before him.
It was as if he had handed Lin Jiang a knife, one that could slit his throat or end his life at any moment.
He used to be afraid that his overwhelming affection would scare Lin Jiang away. But after truly understanding him, he realized that what Lin Jiang needed was precisely the most passionate kind of love.
He needed someone who would stand by him unconditionally.
And Shen Ju was exactly that kind of person.
The kind who would bare his softest spots without hesitation—entrust his weakness for Lin Jiang to keep, even if it meant risking everything.
Lin Jiang’s heart took another direct hit.
As his fingers traced lightly across Shen Ju’s neck, a strange thought surfaced—that even if he were to die one day, Shen Ju would follow him without hesitation.
No.
If this kept going, he really was going to lose his head.
Lin Jiang withdrew his hand. “I’m hungry. Let’s go back.”
“Okay.”
— — — —