Are All You Straight Guys Like This Chapter 50

Time slipped by quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was January 20th, only a week left until the New Year.

It was about time for An Yu to return home. The two families lived in the same area, but An Yu’s house was in the west district, Ye Ran’s in the east, it took over ten minutes by e-bike.

An Yu’s parents were businesspeople. They’d been so focused on their work that they’d missed much of his upbringing, often away even during holidays. Usually, they would have An Yu come to them, but in recent years, as he’d grown up, he preferred spending New Year’s with Ye Ran instead.

This year was different. He had to go back to Hebei to visit his maternal grandparents. His grandmother had passed away shortly before the new year, so this trip was also to pay respects.

“I’m going home tomorrow,” An Yu said that night while packing his luggage in Ye Ran’s room. He glanced up, a little worried. “When’s your dad coming back?”

Even from how he said it, you could hear the resentment, he didn’t even bother calling him “Uncle Ye.”

Ye Ran thought for a moment, folding his pajamas neatly into the suitcase. “Probably in the next couple of days.”

“Alright. If things don’t work out, just come to my place.”

“Spend New Year’s at your house?” Ye Ran smiled.

An Yu grinned. “Of course not. I just mean if your dad gets on your nerves, come over anytime. Just ignore him.”

Ye Ran couldn’t help laughing. An Yu’s dislike for his father was deeply ingrained. He nodded without refusing. “Okay.”

“You still have my spare key, right?”

“Yeah, it’s hanging by the entryway.”

They chatted for a while longer as they finished packing. Then, lying side by side under the blanket, they talked about An Yu’s life abroad, and later, in detail, about how Ye Ran and Shen Shi had gotten together.

At the end of the story, An Yu suddenly exploded. “…F*ck! That Shen Shi!”

Ye Ran blinked, startled by his outburst, and looked at him nervously. “What’s wrong?”

An Yu swallowed down his anger, then suddenly let out a muffled noise and wrapped his arms around Ye Ran’s waist, rubbing his head against Ye Ran’s chest. Ye Ran, completely lost, gently patted his head. “Ah Yu, what’s the matter with you?”

“Nothing,” An Yu muttered into his arms, voice low and nearly gritted through his teeth. “I just hate it…! Why couldn’t I get into Jing University!”

Ye Ran fell silent.

That was… indeed a difficult question to answer.

That night, the two of them didn’t fall asleep until nearly two in the morning. An Yu’s phone was filled with photos he had taken in London, autumn and winter scenes alike. After Ye Ran praised them, An Yu cheerfully announced that he would continue his “photography career” in the spring.

The next day, An Yu went home with a pair of panda eyes.

Things were urgent, so that very afternoon, his parents drove him back to their hometown.

It was snowing lightly, the north wind howling.

The sky was dull and gray.

Over the phone, An Yu’s voice was heavy with sorrow. “My mom’s been crying all day. She really regrets not being by Grandma’s side these past few years… Grandma used to visit me often when I was little, but ever since her health went bad, every time I saw her, she was in the hospital.”

Ye Ran had met An Yu’s grandmother before, he still vaguely remembered her as a kind, gentle woman with a soft smile who often made pastries for them.

He was quiet for a few seconds, then said softly, “Stay with Aunt An more. She needs you right now.”

“Mm, I know,” An Yu replied.

An Yu was in low spirits, and being in the car made it inconvenient to talk much more. They hung up not long after.

Once the call ended, Ye Ran sat alone in his empty bedroom, wrapped in a blanket, quietly gazing out the window.

***

Time passed quickly.

Only three days remained until the New Year.

The heating in the Ye household was too strong; Ye Ran woke up thirsty. As he went downstairs to pour some water, he caught sight of the open front door and then, a familiar figure.

“Dad?” He froze mid-motion, surprised.

His father stood there, travel-worn, snow clinging to his overcoat. His still-youthful face carried a deep, restrained sternness that made people instinctively lower their voices in his presence.

Father Ye wasn’t from a special background. He had once been a high school math teacher. After Mother Ye passed away, the family’s burden had suddenly grown heavy, and he left teaching to start a small business.

This time, he had gone on a business trip to Guangdong for over a month. Judging by the number of gifts he brought back, the deal must have gone well.

Ye Ran glanced briefly, there were snacks, toys, and even a plush teddy bear.

“Mm.”

His father looked at him. The two resembled each other closely, though his father’s features were sharper and sterner, with fine lines at the corners of his eyes that made his expression difficult to read.

Ye Ran was used to that serious face. He walked to the entryway to help carry the gifts, but his father frowned and said, “Go wash up first.”

Ye Ran paused, then nodded and went upstairs.

When he came back down, he was dressed casually, a black sweater with jeans. His father had taken off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and was tidying up the kitchen.

Ye Ran quietly joined in. His father glanced at him; the frown softened slightly. “An Yu’s been staying here these days?”

“Mm. He just left a few days ago.”

“His parents came back this early?”

“Grandma An passed away. Aunt An took him back to Hebei for the funeral.”

His father was rinsing a rag; the sound of running water paused for a moment. “After the New Year, I’ll take you to the An family’s place.”

“Go to the An family’s?”

“Mm,” his father replied. “When an elder passes away, it’s a big matter. Our families are close, proper manners can’t be neglected.”

“Alright.”

The kitchen soon grew spotless. The two divided tasks, then moved on to cleaning the living and dining rooms.

With a robot vacuum helping, it wasn’t difficult. There were still rooms upstairs to tidy, and by the time everything was done, it was already around five or six in the evening.

His father took Ye Ran out for dinner. On the way home, the sky was dark, snow falling thick and heavy.

The two of them walked one behind the other through the wind and snow. After a while, Ye Ran heard his father’s slow, deliberate voice: “In a few days, I’ll take you to Hebei too.”

Ye Ran’s eyelids trembled. His maternal grandparents lived in Hebei.

“In a few days” must mean they’d be spending New Year’s there.

After so many years, it would be the first time.

Ye Ran closed his eyes briefly, his breathing unsteady. “…Do Grandma and Grandpa know?”

His father fell silent.

After a few seconds, he nodded. “I’ll call them when we get back.”

A wave of helplessness washed over Ye Ran. He looked at his father’s back, the same broad back that had seemed so tall and unshakable when he was little but now, under the whirling snow and cutting wind, it looked slightly bent.

He wanted to say he didn’t want to go. He wanted to ask his father not to go, either.

But in the end, he just stood there in silence, saying nothing at all.

That night, Ye Ran couldn’t sleep.

He tossed and turned until three in the morning, staring at Shen Shi’s “Good night” message before slowly closing his eyes.

His dreams were a blur of strange, shifting images and finally, they settled on the tearful, regretful eyes of An Yu’s mother, two lines of tears falling down her cheeks, as though speaking all her remorse.

….

The New Year arrived right on schedule.

The whole capital city was filled with the festive atmosphere.

Red lanterns hung high everywhere, and even the billboards along the highways read: “Wishing the people of the nation a Happy New Year!”

Cheerful music played all around, the streets and alleys full of families shopping for New Year’s goods. At the night markets, the hottest items were couplets, the character Fu, and toy lanterns.

New year, new beginning. On New Year’s Eve, Ye Ran and his father returned to their hometown in Hebei, a small, old-style apartment complex.

This was the home of Ye Ran’s maternal grandparents.

They had driven there, the trunk filled with boxes of New Year’s goods: fine cigarettes, good liquor, and health supplements.

There was no elevator in the old complex. The two of them climbed to the fourth floor of Building 3 and knocked on the door.

Soon, it opened.

Warm air greeted them, along with the sight of an elderly man with graying hair, wearing a red sweater.

The old man looked at Father Ye with a cool gaze. When his eyes fell on Ye Ran behind him, his expression became a little complicated. He turned aside, looked away, and said, “You’re here?”

His tone was neither warm nor cold. Father Ye seemed not to notice and replied, just as tersely, “We’re here.”

The kitchen exhaust fan was running.

There came the sound of cooking.

Hearing voices, Grandmother Ye rushed out of the kitchen without even putting down her spatula.

Her face was kind and gentle, her hair also gray. She looked somewhat flustered but warmly greeted them: “Ah… Ranran’s here? I was just cooking, come, sit in the living room. Old man, hurry and bring Ranran a drink, some candy, why are you just standing there?”

Grandfather Ye froze, then took a fruit box from the coffee table and handed it to Ye Ran. “Ranran, what would you like?”

Ye Ran lowered his eyes, sitting properly, and took two pieces of candy. “Thank you, Grandpa.”

Grandpa grunted in acknowledgment and sat back on the sofa.

Father Ye remained silent the whole time.

The atmosphere among the three men was awkward. All eyes were fixed on the television, which was broadcasting warm-up coverage for the evening’s New Year’s Gala.

Everywhere else in the country was filled with lively energy but the Ye family’s living room was utterly silent.

An hour later, it was time for lunch.

Grandmother had cooked many dishes: fish, shrimp, ribs, filling the entire table. Her gaze lingered on Ye Ran the whole time, wanting to be close to him, but after so many years without contact, it all felt a little strained.

“Ranran, come, sit next to Grandma… I still remember you loved shrimp. Back when your mom brought you here, you always ate the most shrimp. Come, try some!”

At the mention of his mother, the air seemed to thin.

Ye Ran looked at the grandmother’s kind and enthusiastic smile, but what surfaced in his memory was the image of her standing in the cemetery years ago, pointing at him and cursing him heartlessly.

The memories were warped and chaotic. He forced himself to suppress the tremor in his body and quietly ate the food she served him.

At the table, Grandfather Ye and father were calmly conversing.

Grandmother ignored them completely. As if trying to make up for something, she kept fussing over Ye Ran asking what he wanted to eat, what he wanted to drink.

She even went to the neighbor’s house to borrow two bottles of Wangzai milk and carefully handed them to him. “Ranran, this was your favorite when you were little… If it’s not enough, I’ll go buy more. Try it.”

Ye Ran’s back went stiff, his eyelashes casting a faint shadow over his face.

He took a deep breath, sipped the milk. The sweetness was cloying, so sweet it turned bitter as it slid down his throat.

His expression didn’t change. He smiled politely at his grandmother, his slender, gentle eyes seeming to ripple with faint light. “Thank you.”

“Does it taste good?” Grandmother was so delighted she stood up at once. “Then I’ll go get—”

“Enough!” Grandfather suddenly set down his wine glass, frowning in irritation as he looked at her. In a restrained tone, he said, “Does the Wang family not get to celebrate the New Year? They’ve got two little grandkids at home, and you’re taking all their drinks—”

“Go to h*ll, you old fool!” Grandmother’s shrill cry cut him off. The once-kind old woman’s face now twisted with fury, her eyes reddened as she glared at him. “I can’t even get a few bottles of milk for my grandson? I told you to buy some before, why didn’t you?! And now you blame me? You heartless old b*stard—”

Father Ye also set down his cup, glancing calmly at Ye Ran, who sat with his head lowered. He looked away, his eyes growing colder. “Eat.”

Grandmother’s words caught in her throat.

After a few seconds, she exhaled heavily and forced a smile again, carefully asking Ye Ran what else he wanted to eat.

Ye Ran sat there, the buzzing in his ears almost unbearable.

The world seemed to fade to static. Fragments flashed through his mind, and his grandmother’s voice felt so unfamiliar that he began to wonder—

Were his memories of those two years after his mother’s death even real?

His mother had always been the backbone of the Ye family.

She had worked in business, serving as general manager for a foreign company, and later pursued her own start-up dream. Busy with her career, she hadn’t given birth to Ye Ran until she was thirty.

After Ye Ran was born, the company’s stock took a hit. Even during her postpartum recovery, she continued to work. Her health never recovered, laying the groundwork for her later illness.

When Ye Ran was five, his mother’s company found a breakthrough and rose to new heights. The family moved to a villa in the southern part of the city and started a new life.

His father remained a high school teacher, stern and reserved. Ye Ran wasn’t close to him, but with his mother busy at work, no one had the time to comfort the lonely little boy.

As a child, Ye Ran had cried and thrown tantrums, but in the end, he wiped his tears and sat obediently alone at home.

On his seventh birthday, his mother was driving home to celebrate with him when she got into an accident. Her already frail health worsened, and after three months in the hospital, she passed away.

After her death, Ye Ran’s grandmother, heartbroken over losing her daughter, had raged at Father Ye and the small, frightened Ye Ran in the cemetery.

Her beliefs were deeply traditional. She thought it was Father Ye’s lack of ambition, his contentment with being a poor teacher, that had forced her daughter to shoulder the family’s burden. If not for his incompetence, her daughter wouldn’t have worked herself sick.

And Ye Ran was the ultimate jinx. From the day he was born, his mother had never known a single day of peace.

In her fury, Grandma Ye almost threw little Ye Ran to the ground.

Everyone in the cemetery rushed to stop her, chaos erupting all around. Ye Ran’s aunts clutched him tightly, trying to comfort him, yet none of them truly understood how deeply those words had shaken a child so young.

From then on, every time he saw or even thought of Grandma Ye, his body would tremble uncontrollably.

After that day, Ye Ran became even more obedient, even quieter.

He spoke less and less as the years went by, and by the time he reached high school, nothing had changed. He was gentle and polite, but he refused to form close friendships. The only exception was An Yu, bright, outgoing, and always smiling, who stuck by his side no matter what.

Father Ye never noticed the change in his son.

Six months after his wife’s death, he resolutely quit his job and took over her company.

In the years when Ye Ran most needed comfort, companionship, and healing, his father had no choice but to shoulder the weight of an entire business, traveling across the country, leaving Ye Ran almost entirely in the care of An Yu’s parents.

As the years passed, everyone began reflecting on what had happened back then.

They all knew what mistakes they had made, what they had lost. Grandma Ye called many times, hoping Father Ye would bring Ye Ran home for New Year’s, but each time, Father Ye refused.

He also tried to talk to Ye Ran more often, but silence and the exchange of written notes remained the way the two communicated best.

It seemed as though everyone wanted to repair and fill the cracks of the past, but no one knew how. Their attempts, too eager, too anxious, only showed their desperate hope for Ye Ran’s forgiveness and warmth.

But Ye Ran was like a stone statue, no one could glimpse what lay within.

The meal ended on an awkward note.

By the time they finished, it was already half past one.

Father Ye rose coolly and motioned for Ye Ran to leave.

Grandma Ye hurried after them, flustered and uncertain, her tone confused and pleading: “You’re… you’re leaving already? Ranran, won’t you stay a little longer at Grandma’s? I bought lots of food and drinks, don’t you want to eat something before you go?”

Ye Ran’s eyes were lowered. From Father Ye’s angle, he could see his son’s tightly pressed lips and pale face.

Ye Ran quickened his pace and said, “We have things to do at home. We should go.”

All in all, they had only stayed for three hours.

Grandma Ye couldn’t catch up or persuade them to stay.

Grandpa Ye’s gaze was complicated, distant, as though returning from far away. After a long moment, he spoke hoarsely, wearily: “Go on then. Be careful on the road.”

Ye Ran exhaled slightly, but just as he did, a sharp, furious voice pierced the air.

“Well, aren’t you something, you old fool! My grandson comes to visit and you chase him off! What, were they eating your food or drinking your lliquor? If you can’t talk properly, then just shut that filthy mouth of yours—”

Clack.

The security door closed.

Through the thin mesh of the screen window, Ye Ran could still see Grandpa Ye’s silent face. Just before the door shut, the old man had pressed a red envelope into his hand, heavy with money, as though trying to make up for all the years he hadn’t.

Ye Ran looked down at the envelope, then up at his father.

Father Ye was already descending the stairs, his figure as lean and distant as ever.

After a few steps, he noticed Ye Ran hadn’t followed. Turning back, his eyes rested briefly on the red envelope before glancing away, his tone light:

“Keep it.”

***

That night, the Ye household fell silent early.

Father Ye’s bedroom was next to Ye Ran’s, but he had the habit of reading in his study before bed, a habit that had lasted decades. Even after retiring from teaching, he still kept up with university entrance exams and math curriculum reforms.

The bedroom light glowed dimly.

The events of the day had drained Ye Ran completely.

Lying in bed, his mind churned. Images flashed between Grandma Ye’s furious face and the kind, apologetic holiday messages she had sent over the years.

Unknowingly, exhaustion washed over him again, and he drifted into a deep sleep.

Over an hour later, a video call ringtone startled him awake.

He had been sleeping deeply, so waking suddenly made his heart pound violently—thump, thump, thump, as though it might leap out of his throat. His stomach churned with discomfort.

The call was from Shen Shi.

Ye Ran tapped to answer.

It was just past nine in Beijing, already well past midnight in New Zealand.

The video wavered briefly before stabilizing, revealing a familiar figure.

Tall, slender, pale but powerful.

Shen Shi sat on a balcony, a lush garden behind him bursting with flowers and butterflies. Moonlight draped softly over the scene, like a paradise untouched by the world.

“Shen Shi,” Ye Ran murmured, holding his phone. His long lashes, damp and dark like crow feathers, lowered slightly. His voice was husky with sleep. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“My family’s still having dinner.”

Shen Shi’s gaze was steady on the camera, his eyes deep and dark, brow sharply defined, lashes thick and straight. Under the muted moonlight, the angular lines of his face alternated between light and shadow, yet his expression was gentle, his eyes patient, as though quietly memorizing every detail of Ye Ran’s face.

“What about you? Why are you in bed so early?” His low voice crackled slightly over the distance between oceans.

The heaviness that had pressed on Ye Ran’s heart all day eased a little. Resting his cheek on the pillow, his face caught the bedside glow, a faint red mark visible from sleep.

“I was tired, so I went to bed early.”

“Still tired now?” Shen Shi asked, a trace of a smile in his eyes.

Ye Ran shook his head. “Not anymore, now that I’m seeing you. How’s New Zealand?”

“Good. I took lots of photos, I’ll send them to you when they’re printed.”

“I want to see them now.”

“Alright. I’ll send them.”

The corners of Ye Ran’s eyes softened, his lips curving into a small smile as he carefully scrolled through the photos Shen Shi sent over.

…

…

At that same moment—

It was 12:30 a.m. in New Zealand.

The Shen family, fond of large gatherings, had spent the past two days preparing for one. Shen Shi’s grandparents were the same, after resting for a couple of days, the family had gone for a walk along the beach, picked out some wine from their estate, and then turned their full attention to planning the party.

The men of the Shen family and the Jiang family were busy finishing up year-end work and only boarded their flights today, expected to arrive by tomorrow afternoon.

The women of the family were even happier, throwing an impromptu garden party. Shen Shi’s grandmother was delighted by the scene, not only joining in but also calling all the men of the family to come help with the heavy work.

Because Shen Shi was so handsome, he managed to escape the hard labor, while Jiang Yun’s mischievous nature made the punishment even worse.

After finishing the barbecue in the backyard, Jiang Yun and two of his cousins were dripping with sweat, smelling strongly of grilled meat, and quickly rushed upstairs to shower.

Passing through the first-floor hall, they saw Shen Shi sitting on the balcony, leaning against a small garden.

“Hey? Isn’t that Shen Shi?” one of the cousins, sharp-eyed, casually asked.

Jiang Yun turned and, seeing the unusual expression on Shen Shi’s face, immediately felt a pang in his heart. In a flash, he realized who Shen Shi was video-calling.

“Oh, I just remembered, when I left earlier, Grandma called you guys over.”

“Huh?” The two cousins stiffened. “D*mn! Just the two of us?”

Grandma Jiang looked kind and gentle but was actually quite shrewd. As a child, any misbehaving kids had been spanked by her, including Shen Shi himself.

Hearing that she was calling them, the two cousins didn’t dare delay and quickly ran to the backyard.

After they had run off, Jiang Yun approached Shen Shi, thinking to greet Ye Ran as well.

He had only been close a few seconds when he heard Shen Shi’s voice, so gentle it was almost sickening: “…Mm, go to bed early. I’ll call you again tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Yun curled his lips, shaking off the goosebumps.

Glancing as Shen Shi put down his phone, he couldn’t resist teasing him, but in the next moment, Shen Shi’s expression abruptly shifted from gentle to cold, flipping like turning a page.

Before Jiang Yun could react, Shen Shi neatly put away his phone and stood up. A shadow fell over him as his brows tightened with a gloomy mood. He said: “I need to return to the country.”

Jiang Yun: “?”

Jiang Yun: “???”

Jiang Yun was speechless: “You’re crazy, right? It’s the New Year, didn’t you forget how important Grandma is about this?”

Shen Shi nodded silently, eyes lowered, lost in thought. After a moment, he raised his eyes and said: “Yu Ting is sick. I have to go back.”

Jiang Yun: “What?! Yu Ting is sick? How come I didn’t know—”

Jiang Yun: “…”

Jiang Yun: “…………”

Jiang Yun took a deep breath: “Does Yu Ting know?”

Shen Shi said, “Soon.”

Jiang Yun: “D*mn you…”

That’s ruthless.

Yu Ting, brother, I did my best.

---

Can’t wait until next week to see more? Want to show your support? Come to my Patreon where you can get 5 or more chapters of Are All You Straight Guys Like This right away ! Or go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)

---