Xie Lanzhi felt as though something had gently bumped against his chest. He remembered the first day he kissed Qin Shu—Qin Shu had said he wanted to walk hand in hand. Most of the time Qin Shu was as carefree and heartless as any regular boy, but when it came to love, he would sometimes show a delicacy more like a girl’s, caring about every little detail between them.
How could there be such a cute boy in this world, Xie Lanzhi couldn’t help thinking.
He lifted his hand, not directly reaching for Qin Shu’s. “Come.”
Qin Shu smiled shyly, as though afraid Xie Lanzhi might regret it, and quickly passed his hand over. The instant their palms touched, even his breath turned scalding.
Qin Shu tucked his chin into his scarf, feeling wave after wave of heat rush up.
Dating a male god (underline male god!) was really a magical thing. They had done things far more intimate than holding hands, had already kissed three times, and yet just walking hand in hand still left his heart pounding like crazy. Qin Shu couldn’t help but think: if his boyfriend weren’t this handsome, would his heartbeat slow down a bit? In the end, he really was just a shallow face-obsessed fool.
But so what? As Lu Xun once said, being face-obsessed isn’t scary—what’s scary is being face-obsessed and not being able to find a good-looking boyfriend. (Lu Xun: I never said that.)
The riverbank wind was strong, the snowflakes falling slowly. Their hands hid inside their sleeves, somehow sliding into a ten-finger lock. The streetlights were dim, and unless you looked carefully, you wouldn’t notice they were holding hands. But it was just too hard not to notice Xie Lanzhi—even if most people just looked back a few more times, and the face-obsessed secretly snapped photos, the bolder ones would even walk up to ask for his contact. Now that he was holding Qin Shu’s hand, the first two still happened, but no one dared to hit on someone else’s man.
Qin Shu had to endure the curious or excited stares of passersby. He couldn’t spare a thought for that—his whole attention was on their joined hands.
The warmth between their palms kept rising. Someone’s hand was even a little sweaty, and continuing to hold like this felt a bit off. Keeping the same pose without relaxing, Qin Shu’s muscles were getting stiff. But he loved walking hand in hand with Xie Lanzhi; he couldn’t bear to let go. Maybe chatting a bit would help ease the tension.
Across the river was one of the city’s most expensive housing developments. The top floor blinked with aviation lights. Qin Shu remembered a meme Lu Rulu had told him and said: “Brother, do you know that complex on the island over there?”
Xie Lanzhi: “I know.”
“I heard it even has a nickname, ‘Lovers’ Island.’ Isn’t that super romantic?”
Xie Lanzhi chuckled, “Are you hinting at something?”
“Nope.” Qin Shu laughed. “It’s called that because a lot of rich tycoons keep mistresses, and when they do, they buy them a place there. So Brother Yun joked that one of the most common occupations in that community is ‘second wife.’”
“I see,” Xie Lanzhi said slowly. “That’s where my family lives.”
Qin Shu’s smile froze. “Wait, don’t you live near campus?”
Xie Lanzhi, calm as a breeze: “My parents live there now.”
Qin Shu sucked in a breath and immediately bowed to him. “I’m sorry, Brother, I didn’t mean to slander the place. I just wanted to tell you something funny… just pretend I never said it.”
Xie Lanzhi stepped forward, pulling Qin Shu’s head straight into his chest. He rubbed the younger’s hair. “I don’t accept your apology.”
Qin Shu: “…Eh?”
“Unless you buy me milk tea.”
Qin Shu spent the monumental sum of sixty yuan at a nearby shop for two cups of milk tea and delivered them to the car to feed Xie Lanzhi. Xie Lanzhi thanked him, took a sip, then turned to look at him: “Why are you staring at me?”
Qin Shu said: “I just realized Brother actually likes milk tea—it doesn’t suit your image at all.”
“I never cared much for it before.”
“Oh? So now you’ve discovered how good it is?”
Xie Lanzhi looked at him, his voice carrying a lazy drawl. “Yeah.”
On the way back, Qin Shu was driving. There were still two hours before the dorm curfew—unless there was really bad traffic or he drove thirty an hour, he’d definitely make it. He thought he should’ve gone to see another movie instead.
Wait—stop that brain, Qin Shu! Didn’t you promise not to lust after Xie Lanzhi’s body? What are you even thinking!
Even while scolding himself, Qin Shu sneakily changed lanes into the slow lane. There weren’t many cars ahead, so it wasn’t necessary at all. Xie Lanzhi didn’t ask why; instead, he lifted the milk tea to Qin Shu’s lips. Qin Shu kept his eyes forward, lowered his head, and bit the straw for a big sip.
They drove into Xie Lanzhi’s underground garage. Qin Shu parked and shut off the engine. “Brother, we’re here.”
“Mm,” Xie Lanzhi responded, not moving.
This felt familiar—last time, after sending Xie Lanzhi home, he’d invited him upstairs to watch a snowball hop on one leg, and then they had…
Qin Shu kept his head down, nervous and expectant, waiting for him to speak.
“Qin Shu.”
Qin Shu looked up, but before he could say anything, Xie Lanzhi tilted up his chin and captured his lips.
This kiss wasn’t like the shallow peck in the dorm. They exchanged breath, and the temperature and humidity inside the car shot up.
Xie Lanzhi tasted every corner of the younger boy’s mouth. Qin Shu had nearly suffocated the first two times, only able to endure with flushed cheeks. This time, with a bit more experience, he tentatively, carefully licked Xie Lanzhi’s lips—his first attempt at responding to a kiss.
Xie Lanzhi’s gaze darkened, his breathing turning rough.
As always, Qin Shu was the first to break. Gasping for air, his jaw sore from tilting up so long, he pushed him away. “Brother, wait, the gift…”
Xie Lanzhi’s voice was hoarse. “What.”
“The Christmas gift I got you. Hold on.” Qin Shu opened the trunk and came back with a neat square box. “For you.”
“Thanks. Can I open it now?”
“Sure.”
Inside was a brand new basketball, the brand Xie Lanzhi usually used, with “QS” engraved under the logo.
“I wanted to carve your name at first, but then I thought—I’m not good at basketball, I can’t play with you. So from now on this ball will take my place keeping you company.” Qin Shu studied his reaction. “Do you like it?”
Xie Lanzhi kissed him again, chuckling. “I like it.”
“G-good, that’s good.”
“Your gift’s at my place,” Xie Lanzhi said naturally. “Come upstairs and get it.”
…What kind of fresh, effortless, non-contrived divine excuse was that!
The gift was a dark red tie, the same style Xie Lanzhi had worn at the wedding before. Qin Shu laughed, “I really like it, but I don’t wear suits much—I probably won’t get to use it often.”
Xie Lanzhi said: “A tie isn’t only useful with a suit.”
Reminded by that, Qin Shu suddenly recalled all the “special uses” for ties he’d read about in novels and coughed violently.
“For example…” Xie Lanzhi pulled the tie from the box with one hand, grabbed Qin Shu’s wrists with the other, and bound them together. “Tying up your boyfriend.”
Qin Shu never expected him to go this far in play. His face burned, lips reddened from kisses, and he pleaded softly: “Brother…..”
Right then, Qin Shu’s phone rang loudly, ruining the mood. With his hands tied, he couldn’t pick up. Xie Lanzhi fetched it from his pocket, glanced at the screen. “It’s Chu Cheng.”
“Sh-should I answer?”
Xie Lanzhi smiled: “It’s your phone—you decide.”
“Better pick up,” Qin Shu said. “He doesn’t usually call, just texts. Must be something real.”
“Mm.” Xie Lanzhi didn’t untie him, just pressed answer and held the phone to his ear.
Qin Shu: “Hello?”
Chu Cheng: “Do you know what time it is? You’re really not coming back?”
Qin Shu: “You went back already?”
Chu Cheng: “I already showered and am lying in bed!”
Qin Shu, disappointed: “Pathetic.”
Chu Cheng: “Hey, if you’ve got guts, don’t come back either.”
Qin Shu: “Anything else?”
Chu Cheng: “Yeah, big thing. Physical test tomorrow morning at nine. Counselor said mandatory. Skip it at your own risk.”
Qin Shu: “What the f*ck, this sudden?! Why no advance notice!”
Chu Cheng snickered: “Consider this your notice. So don’t get too excited tonight, or you’ll flunk the test.”
Qin Shu: “…”
Xie Lanzhi heard everything. He sighed, slowly loosening the tie. “Looks like you’ve escaped this time.”
Qin Shu nearly cried—he didn’t want to escape at all.
“Come on, I’ll drive you back.”
Unwilling, Qin Shu said, “Can’t I stay?”
“If you don’t leave, something will happen.”
“Can’t we just sleep? We’ve already shared a bed before—remember the photography club trip, at the hotel—”
“Can you compare that to now?”
“Why not?” Qin Shu swore, “I promise I won’t do anything, just pure sleeping. Brother—”
“Pure sleeping…” Xie Lanzhi laughed. “You’re trying to kill me.”
Qin Shu drooped his head, pitiful. “Fine, since you don’t want me, I’ll go back.”
He turned to leave, only to be yanked back by Xie Lanzhi.
“Stay.”
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