16.
“Ah, do I need to talk while drawing? It’s my first live stream, so I’m not too sure.”
As Xin Le was drawing, he glanced at the barrage of comments and noticed many people asking why he wasn’t speaking, which made him wonder.
“Male mommy??”
“So the Mrs. is a guy!”
“Hahaha, shocked just like when I first found out Teacher Xin is male!”
“I’m an old fan and I didn’t know either, 5555”
“Xin Xin mentioned it once before, but it was a long time ago.”
“Yeah, you can chat while drawing, but it depends on what the teacher is used to.”
“Is that bracelet on Xin Xin’s hand from Yunsheng Temple?”
Upon seeing this, Xin Le specifically responded, “Yes, the bracelet was a gift from a friend.”
“That means Xin Xin must be very close to this friend! Because you can only ask for one bracelet per person.”
The comments were flying fast, but Xin Le still caught this one. He thought he read it wrong at first and scrolled back to see the full message clearly.
The bracelet Xu Pei gave him was indeed from Yunsheng Temple, but he hadn’t mentioned that each person could only buy one.
The only one, given to him—what did Xu Pei mean by this?
For a moment, Xin Le felt his left wrist getting warm. He suppressed the turbulent thoughts in his heart and continued to focus on drawing.
17.
Meanwhile, hearing the familiar voice through the headphones, Xu Pei finally confirmed that the artist he had liked and followed for so long was just a wall away from him.
18.
“Do you usually listen to music while drawing? Yes, I listen to some light music.”
“Will you do more live streams in the future? That depends, not sure yet.”
“What’s your favorite drink? I’m okay with anything, but I mostly drink plain water and herbal tea now.”
“Favorite CP? I like all the ones I’ve drawn, but I seem to draw ‘Steamed Buns’ quite a lot.”
As Xin Le continued drawing, he answered the questions popping up in the chat. The barrage was fast, but he picked the questions he could clearly see to respond to.
By the time he was working on the fifth drawing, Xin Le’s throat felt scratchy. He coughed twice and reached for his cup, only to realize that he had forgotten to bring it into the room due to his nerves.
“Uh, no cold, just a bit thirsty. I’ll make some honey water after this.”
“Okay, that’s it for today. I’ll send a private message to the friends who won the drawings. Thank you all for joining my live drawing session today. Thanks, everyone, get some rest early, bye!”
After completing five drawings, Xin Le had spent over three hours. He closed the live stream, stretched his stiff wrists, and his gaze inadvertently fell on the bracelet on his left hand.
A bracelet only one per person could ask for, Xin Le’s thoughts drifted again.
19.
It was past eleven, and Xu Pei usually rested around this time. Xin Le opened his door, only to see Xu Pei sitting on the sofa, seemingly waiting for something.
Xu Pei heard him and called out, “I just made you some honey water, it should be at the right temperature.”
Seeing Xu Pei, Xin Le panicked momentarily but tried to act natural, “How did you know I wanted honey water?”
He walked over, head down, so he didn’t notice the brief look of surprise on Xu Pei’s face. Xu Pei quickly recovered, “I was making some for myself and saw your cup here, so I made one for you too.”
Two beige ceramic cups sat on the coffee table, identical in shape but with different patterns—one with a puppy, the other with a frog.
Xin Le had bought these cups during a buy-one-get-one-free deal and had given one to Xu Pei, who had been using it ever since.
Today, for some reason, seeing the two cups together made Xin Le’s face heat up.
He sat on the other sofa, took a sip from the cup—the temperature was just right, and the sweetness was moderate.
He gulped it down quickly, then immediately stood up, taking both his and Xu Pei’s cups, “I’ll wash the cups, you should rest early.”
Without looking at Xu Pei’s expression, he hurried to the kitchen.
20.
Xin Le, usually carefree, wasn’t kept up at night by his troubles.
He slept until ten o’clock, and upon waking and revisiting the events of last night, felt increasingly that if he pursued Xu Pei, there might indeed be a chance of success.
After freshening up, he tidied up the house, his mood significantly brightened.
So when Xu Pei returned home from work in the afternoon, he was greeted by a beaming Xin Le.
Today, Xin Le joined Xu Pei in the kitchen to assist him. Complex cooking was beyond him, but he could handle washing vegetables.
Chasing someone involved catering to their interests, and with his mind full of thoughts, Xin Le started making conversation, “Xu Pei, besides gardening, do you have any other hobbies?”
“Not really anything special, cooking I guess, and watching movies.”
Right, Xu Pei liked watching movies, Xin Le knew that.
But when they used the projector in the living room before, Xin Le was usually holed up in his room rushing deadlines, and they rarely managed to watch a whole movie together.
“Then call me next time you watch a movie, I want to see what this projector is like.” As soon as he said this clumsy excuse, Xin Le felt silly.
Fortunately, Xu Pei didn’t suspect anything; he nodded, “Sure, wanna watch one after dinner?”
21.
They chose an old Hong Kong film, pulled the curtains, turned off the lights, and settled together on the sofa.
Xin Le was quickly drawn into the gripping story, laughing along with the film’s plot.
At a scene where the villain was making a fool of himself, he laughed so hard he was almost falling over, but from the corner of his eye, he noticed Xu Pei wasn’t looking at the screen. He tapped Xu Pei’s shoulder, urging him, “Look at this! It’s hilarious.”
Xu Pei nodded slightly, offering Xin Le a handsome smile, which made him momentarily forget what was happening in the movie.
From the first meeting, Xin Le knew Xu Pei was good-looking. But now, under the dim light, with the projector’s light reflecting on Xu Pei’s face, Xin Le was momentarily captivated.
Until Xu Pei called out to him, he snapped back to reality, hurriedly turning to the screen, muttering ‘look, look!’ Trying to sit up straight, he braced himself on the sofa, but it was too soft, and he ended up falling towards Xu Pei.
Xin Le’s upper body leaned heavily against Xu Pei, and he scrambled to get up, unable to exert any strength.
Until Xu Pei’s voice came from above, “Are you okay?” Followed by hands steadying his arms, helping him sit up.
Xin Le shook his head repeatedly, sitting upright without another word.
He didn’t absorb much from the rest of the movie.
22.
Having learned from the movie-watching incident, Xin Le thought he shouldn’t rush things; clumsy actions could negatively impact his image in Xu Pei’s eyes.
After some thought, he decided to start with what he was best at—housework. It was a way to earn favor while relaxing himself.
For the next several days, Xu Pei came home to a spotless room, shining floors, and neatly arranged decor, which amused him.
In the evenings after dinner, they walked downstairs, chatting off and on.
Xin Le’s mentality was different now; he was interacting with Xu Pei with the intention of pursuing him, always looking to create opportunities.
So when a large beetle crawled by, Xin Le hatched a plan. Pretending to be scared, he exclaimed, “A bug—” and reached out to grab Xu Pei’s arm, leaning towards him.
Xu Pei saw the bug too. He patted Xin Le’s hand to reassure him and led him around the insect.
They continued walking, and Xin Le pretended to forget to let go of his hand. Xu Pei, whether unaware or for some other reason, allowed the gesture to continue as they walked back home.
23.
The story of Xin Le being afraid of bugs started from a misunderstanding.
Last year, when they returned home from a trip, just as they entered the house, Xin Le exclaimed, “Ah—”
Xu Pei leaned forward to see the insect on the gray floor and quickly wrapped it in a tissue, carried it to the bathroom, and flushed it down the toilet, all in one swift motion, leaving Xin Le stunned.
He was slow to react, still with his mouth slightly open.
When Xu Pei came out of the bathroom and saw Xin Le still scared, he softly reassured him, “Don’t worry, I’ve flushed the bug down the toilet. It’s summer, so there are more insects, but as long as you keep your room’s screen closed, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Within Xu Pei’s smile, Xin Le silently swallowed the latter half of his sentence: “Ah—wasn’t that the cricket I used to catch and play with as a kid?”
He nodded silently, thus establishing his fear of bugs.
24.
As Xin Le took a step forward in love, his career also progressed.
He was no slacker and produced art frequently. Previously, he only posted highly finished drawings on Weibo, but realizing that everyone seemed to enjoy his doodles, he began posting them every few days.
His followers increased almost daily, bringing two changes.
First, the banter in the comments section grew more daring, making him, a seasoned internet surfer, blush. Second, the old fan XP, who had always liked but never commented, began leaving comments.
From his messages, Xin Le found that XP seemed to understand painting, providing feedback that often reflected what Xin Le wanted to express. Moreover, XP quickly noticed the small details in his drawings.
Xin Le sincerely replied to XP’s comments, as resonating over art made him very happy.
The doodles were drawn according to Xin Le’s mood. One evening, he updated a series of drawings titled “Secret Love,” adding little-known elements, such as a pair of cups decorated with puppies and frogs, pinkies touching, and a bracelet on a wrist.
The comment section remained active.
Feed me: Only someone who has secretly loved could draw such delicate emotions 555
Mimi Shrimp: Strong sexual tension!
Tomorrow Falls: Xin Men! So good at drawing!
Suuuuu: Blushing just from holding hands, so pure!
Not Cold in the Arctic Circle: Xin Teacher, you are my god (hands holding heart.jpg) A kiss, a kiss (｡ˇεˇ｡）
The observant little eyes are watching you: Xin Xin, do you have someone you like? (a hint of sixth sense)
Xin Le saw this comment and unconsciously replied with a “Hmm.”
25.
For several consecutive days, Xin Le assisted Xu Pei in cooking and even asked if he wanted to watch a movie together in the evenings.
This left Xu Pei puzzled, “Is work not so busy lately?”
Xin Le stammered, “Just don’t want to be so tired, taking it easy recently.”
But spending so many days in the kitchen had its effects. Xin Le had progressed from simply washing vegetables to chopping herbs and small chili peppers.
After successfully frying an egg, Xin Le’s confidence soared. He made a bold decision.
To cook a meal for Xu Pei.
26.
When he said he would cook, Xin Le was aware of his own limitations; managing to make a bowl of noodles with a poached egg would be an overachievement.
Following online tutorials and two failed attempts, Xin Le finally managed to make a decent-tasting bowl of noodles. A fried egg lay on top, garnished with green onions, looking quite presentable.
Xu Pei was surprised to see this bowl of noodles when he came home from work.
“Try it.” Xin Le handed the chopsticks to Xu Pei, eagerly awaiting his verdict.
Xu Pei took a bite and nodded in approval, praising its deliciousness.
“Really?” Xin Le’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Of course,” Xu Pei smiled, “Why would I lie to you? Adding sesame oil was key, very fragrant, doesn’t taste like a beginner’s work at all.”
Receiving positive feedback and praise, Xin Le smiled, his eyes crinkling into slits.
27.
After coming across a post about high-quality roses online, Xin Le was reminded of the innocent phalaenopsis.
Xu Pei had refused Xin Le’s offer to buy a new one, and he hadn’t purchased any new flowers or pets since. So, Xin Le decided to go to the flower market himself.
He didn’t know much about flowers, but XP on Weibo did. Xin Le reached out to him for advice.
XP replied quickly, explaining everything from leaf shapes and stem colors to choosing the right origin in great detail. Xin Le thanked him profusely, sending a red packet as a token of appreciation.
But XP firmly declined it.
Feeling somewhat indebted, Xin Le offered, “Then let me draw you a simple commission. What character would you like?”
After a few minutes, XP replied: If you’re willing, could you draw a phalaenopsis?
That was easy for Xin Le, who saw it daily. Though he had mixed up the name and appearance, he still remembered exactly what the flower looked like.
In less than half an hour, Xin Le completed the drawing. He opened the message box to send the picture, but noticed that XP had sent a message a few minutes earlier.
“By the way, if you really want to buy one, I recommend going to Hundred Days Flower Port. The quality of the phalaenopsis there is better.”
Xin Le paused, surprised that the other party knew of a flower market in his city. He checked XP’s profile and realized they were indeed from the same province.
XP’s profile was mostly re-shares of Xin Le’s Weibo posts, with fewer than ten original posts, all pictures of plants or homemade meals.
Xin Le looked closely and noticed something familiar in the photos.
It was exactly the same tableware he used every day.
28.
Xin Le incredulously scrolled through the photos again and again. The flowers, the grass, the meals—all were too familiar to believe.
He opened the chat box and saw that the other side had just changed their profile picture to the drawing he sent. Xin Le typed two letters: XP?
The reply came quickly: Yes.
A single word that seemed to explain everything.
Xin Le asked: You know it’s me?
XP: I found out not long ago, I’ll explain when I get home.
With a definite answer, Xin Le felt as if his brain had short-circuited. The friendly old fan he had been communicating with was Xu Pei!
So the recent drawings on his Weibo had been seen by him? Xu Pei, being such a meticulous person, must have known what Xin Le felt for him.
What to do, what to do? Is it too late to run? Or should he just confess and then pack up and leave?
While he was lost in thought on the sofa, he heard the door open. It was only 2:30 p.m., and Xu Pei had come home early.
Xin Le jumped up, speaking faster than he thought, “You’re home early?”
“Yes, I said I’d come home and explain.”
Xin Le then realized what the earlier message meant—not that he’d explain after work, but that he was coming home now to explain.
29.
“I should apologize first, it’s my fault. A month ago, I recognized the bracelet during your live stream, and hearing your voice confirmed it was you. But I didn’t know how to bring it up at the time, so I kept putting it off. Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep it from you.”
“I started following you because I searched a keyword, and Weibo recommended your drawing. I thought it was very good and full of spirit, so I’ve been following you ever since.”
A few simple sentences cleared up everything. Xin Le thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Then why did you buy followers for me?”
Xu Pei paused for two seconds, seemingly unsure how to respond. After a while, he spoke with difficulty, “Because you posted a Weibo last year, hoping to reach ten thousand followers within a year. I stumbled upon a follower-purchasing service and thought I’d round it up for you. But the outcome caused you a lot of trouble, and I’m really sorry.”
Hearing Xu Pei’s explanation, Xin Le remembered that indeed he had once posted such a Weibo soon after creating his account: Setting a small goal, to reach ten thousand followers by this time next year.
It really didn’t seem like there was much else to explain—it was just a coincidence, and upon reflection, not a big deal.
He nodded, not sure what to say, “It’s quite a coincidence, it means we’re fated. By the way, aren’t you going to work?”
“Not going.” Xu Pei continued, “I have another thing to say. I’ve been unsure about when to confess to you. I was planning to finish the recent project and ask you to go on a trip, but now seems like the right time.”
Xu Pei’s voice was serious, and he spoke slowly enough for Xin Le to hear every word clearly, “Xin Le, inviting you to co-rent, making you lunch and dinner, giving you gifts, it’s not because I’m a particularly good or kind person, but because I like you and want to do these things for you.”
From the first sentence, Xin Le had been staring at the black bracelet on his wrist, and everything made sense.
Why was he willing to clean up the mess he made? Why did he help him block bugs? Why did he give the only bracelet to him? Why wasn’t he angry about the phalaenopsis he killed? Why could he patiently chat with him?
All the reasons led back to one fact: Xu Pei liked him.
30.
Xin Le sat on the sofa in silence for a long time.
The development of events was too magical, from being exposed on Weibo to being confessed to by the person he secretly loved. The twists and turns were hard to accept, yet everything seemed to have a traceable path.
Xu Pei sat beside him, quietly waiting for Xin Le’s response.
“Do you know?” Xin Le suddenly asked.
“Know what?”
“That I like you too.” Xin Le’s voice was so soft it would be hard to hear unless you were close.
Xu Pei turned his head, “To be honest, I had a bit of a clue before, but I wasn’t sure, afraid I was overthinking it. Last week, when I saw the set of drawings you posted on Weibo titled ‘Secret Love,’ I was half sure.”
Indeed, those drawings titled ‘Secret Love’ were too obvious.
After a moment, Xin Le looked at Xu Pei, “So, are we now…” He didn’t finish his sentence.
Xu Pei quickly understood what he meant and answered earnestly, “I hope we are now lovers, if you’re willing.”
“I’m willing.” Xin Le immediately responded and nodded vigorously.
Xu Pei revealed a smile, still the kind that made Xin Le’s heart race, and said, “Let’s go.”
“Where to?” Xin Le was puzzled by the sudden change in topic.
Xu Pei glanced at the clear sky outside and extended his hand to Xin Le, “The weather is so nice, why don’t we go buy a phalaenopsis?”
