That night’s kiss marked a turning point. Afterward, their dates went much smoother, though Huo Youqing also started to feel that he didn’t like having Dai Yixin around his office for long periods.
It was too distracting.
Huo Youqing grabbed a tissue, first wiping his own lips, then not-so-gently wiping Dai Yixin’s. Dai Yixin’s tie had once again been wrinkled by his unconscious tugging. Realizing it was beyond saving, Huo Youqing simply removed it and tossed it into the bottom drawer, only to find several other ties already there.
Pressing his lips together, he slammed the drawer shut.
“You can’t stay in my office tomorrow.” Seeing that Dai Yixin was about to protest, he quickly added, “Not tomorrow, not the day after, not any other day. Normal couples don’t spend every moment together except when they’re sleeping. I need personal space, alright?”
The last word was spoken softly.
Dai Yixin’s amber eyes still held some lingering emotion, and despite Huo Youqing’s request, he held onto his fingers, clearly unwilling to part. Huo Youqing couldn’t help but smile a little.
For some reason, Dai Yixin always maintained a cold, CEO-like demeanor around others. Occasionally, he would act more approachable, but even then, people’s reactions were often mixed.
Yet in front of Huo Youqing, whenever Dai Yixin was upset, he would just silently pout and sulk.
“Alright, how long has it been since you went to your own company? You’ve been handling things online and attending meetings through video calls—can that really work?”
After staring at each other for about ten seconds, Dai Yixin finally gave in. He pulled out two tickets from his pocket. “I bought two tickets for a musical this weekend.”
Huo Youqing’s expression stiffened for a moment. It was clear that Dai Yixin didn’t know about his emotional scar—Huo Youqing had long since stopped liking musicals. What happened in the past had completely destroyed his love for them.
Huo Youqing didn’t take the tickets. “I have to work overtime that day. I don’t have time to go.”
Dai Yixin didn’t seem too disappointed. It was obvious that he had only bought the tickets to please Huo Youqing, so he casually tossed them into the trash. “Then I’ll come and keep you company that day.”
“We’ll see.” Huo Youqing avoided giving a definite answer and sent Dai Yixin away.
When the office was quiet again, with only him left, he glanced at the trash can beside his feet.
That weekend, Huo Youqing went to the musical alone. From the moment he entered the venue, his heart was racing. When the curtain rose, it felt as though he could hear his own heartbeat. His blood surged through his veins, but his face remained pale.
He gripped the armrest tightly, forcing himself to keep his eyes on the stage. This was the first musical he had seen in six years. Like before, memories he thought had faded started to resurface.
Suddenly, Huo Youqing turned his head slightly to the side. The seat next to him was empty.
Sometimes, he would forget that the Dai Yixin from that other timeline was gone forever.
Huo Youqing left before the show ended. Staring out at the distant, vibrant city lights, he listlessly smoked a cigarette. That cigarette made him think of the Dai Yixin from this timeline—his current boyfriend.
Lately, Huo Youqing’s smoking frequency had significantly decreased. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to smoke, but every time he did, Dai Yixin would pop a piece of candy into his mouth. It was always a different flavor, and after placing the candy, Dai Yixin would press his slightly cool lips against his.
The sweet taste of the candy would linger in both their mouths, and after a while, it did seem to help Huo Youqing forget his craving for cigarettes. Sometimes, Huo Youqing would even take the initiative.
After finishing one cigarette, he lit another. Halfway through the second one, he called Dai Yixin. Without saying much, he simply gave him an address.
By the time there were seven or eight cigarette butts in the ashtray, Dai Yixin had arrived. Huo Youqing turned to look at the tall man in a coat walking toward him. For a brief moment, the two Dai Yixins seemed to merge into one, but when he looked again, they were still different people.
He wasn’t sure how he appeared in Dai Yixin’s eyes at that moment, but as soon as Dai Yixin approached, he gently pulled Huo Youqing into an embrace. In that embrace, Huo Youqing felt his tension ease for a moment. He opened his mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing.
He remained silent, burying his face in Dai Yixin’s chest.
Forget everything. Just sink into this embrace and draw the strength to keep moving forward.
That night, Huo Youqing brought Dai Yixin back to his place. He guided the inexperienced Dai Yixin and, in the heat of the moment, pressed a cigarette burn into Dai Yixin’s neck.
In the other timeline, Dai Yixin had a tattoo there—a tattoo of Huo’s name. Now, Huo Youqing was determined to leave a scar in its place.
“I’m going to leave a scar here,” Huo Youqing whispered, arms wrapped around the man’s shoulders, his lips brushing against Dai Yixin’s ear. “Okay?”
His hands slipped down, his lips trailing to Dai Yixin’s neck.
“Okay.” The reply was willing, heartfelt.
Hearing that, Huo Youqing released him and sat up halfway to light a cigarette. Before pressing the cigarette to Dai Yixin’s skin, Huo Youqing took a puff, exhaling smoke that seemed almost unreal in the dim light—he didn’t let the lights be turned on; the moonlight was enough.
Leaning against the headboard, his robe hanging loosely and exposing a pale shoulder, Huo Youqing appeared oblivious. A long, slender cigarette rested between his fingers. The night breeze wafted in the scent of osmanthus from the courtyard below, and the curtains swayed gently.
His long lashes fluttered, and without warning, he pressed the burning cigarette to Dai Yixin’s pale skin.
The smell of singed flesh seemed to reach Huo’s nose. He leaned in to inspect the mark, and after a while, he looked up at Dai Yixin’s face, still contorted in silent pain. Finally, Huo Youqing smiled for the first time that night.
This Dai Yixin, the one who wouldn’t hurt him, was all he needed.
But soon after, Huo Youqing and Dai Yixin had an unprecedented argument.
It started when Huo Youqing saw Dai Yixin at his uncle and aunt’s house during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Dai Yixin wasn’t there as his boyfriend, but rather as a business partner and former friend.
His cousin, who knew the truth, secretly winked at Huo Youqing, but Huo Youqing ignored him, his face dark with anger.
Sensing something was wrong, Huo Youqing’s uncle and aunt asked if he was feeling unwell. He had no choice but to make an excuse about the sudden drop in temperature giving him a cold.
After dinner, Huo Youqing and Dai Yixin left separately. But before Huo Youqing could call him, Dai Yixin rang first, saying he was waiting for him at a nearby square.
When Huo Youqing found Dai Yixin’s car, he got out, his face expressionless as he walked toward him.
Dai Yixin stood by the car, arms open as Huo Youqing approached, but instead of receiving an embrace, he found himself being grabbed by the collar.
“Why? Why did you go see my uncle and aunt without asking? What are you trying to do, Dai Yixin?” Huo Youqing had spiraled into a frenzy, though he didn’t realize it.
It was like a stress response—whenever Dai Yixin touched his biggest trigger—his family. In this timeline, Huo Youqing had worked hard to maintain his life with his uncle and aunt, and he wouldn’t let anyone ruin that.
“Youyou,” Dai Yixin said, gripping Huo’s shoulders, “I wasn’t trying to do anything. I was just paying them a holiday visit. If you feel it was too presumptuous, I won’t go again.”
“How can I trust you? Someone like you—scum, pervert, lunatic—you’ll stop at nothing—” The venomous words kept pouring out of Huo Youqing’s mouth, like poison, eating away at the heart. He attacked Dai Yixin relentlessly, with words, with his gaze. It was as if only by doing this could he suppress the deeper fear buried within.
At this moment, Dai Yixin showed an unprecedented calmness. He kept soothing Huo Youqing’s emotions, gently stroking his back as if petting a cat. “Trust me. I really wasn’t trying to do anything. Don’t be afraid. What happened in the dream won’t happen in real life.” He paused for a moment. “I prepared some flowers for you tonight. Look.”
The trunk opened, revealing a trunk full of roses. Huo Youqing stared at the vibrant roses, and his hand slipped down. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could speak, Dai Yixin pulled him into a tighter embrace, pressing his lips against Huo Youqing’s forehead.
“I know you’re scared of that dream. In the dream, I hurt you deeply. Youyou, I’m really happy you’re still willing to give me a chance to be with you. Before I found you, I thought many times about the possibility that you wouldn’t accept me. I was so afraid you wouldn’t respond to me, especially after such a terrifying dream. I had no confidence at all.
But you gave me a chance. That day when you let me be your boyfriend, I was so happy I couldn’t sleep the whole night. I spent the entire night thinking I must treat you well and never be selfish like in the dream, where I bound you with my love. I used to live such a narrow-minded life, doing things that wronged you. I shouldn’t have written that kind of love letter to you, and I definitely shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have sent people to watch you.
Youyou, the old me was truly awful. You taught me how to be a normal person. Now, I want to walk with you out of the nightmare. Please give me that chance, will you?”
Sharp emotions gradually softened. After a tremble of his lips, Huo Youqing lost control and cried bitterly in Dai Yixin’s arms. He had thought no one would understand what he was afraid of, but it turned out that Dai Yixin did.
This Dai Yixin wasn’t the same one from before. He didn’t have to be afraid anymore.
“I want to smoke,” Huo Youqing muttered, his eyes and nose red from crying.
As soon as the words left his mouth, a kiss, full of affection, fell on him. It started at his forehead, trailed down to his wet eyelashes, and even the tear tracks on his cheeks were gently kissed, before finally landing on his lips.
He opened his eyes during the kiss, dazedly seeing the white moon sink into amber. His soft fingers brushed over the scar on Dai Yixin’s neck, and slowly, he wrapped his arms around Dai Yixin’s neck, deepening the kiss amidst the heady fragrance of roses.
Author’s Note: This is the heartwarming ending of the main story. The next chapter is a darker version, so read with caution!
