36

Lin Xiao’s stomach didn’t have any serious issues. The doctor prescribed a few boxes of stomach medicine and gave some precautions. After that, the two of them took a car back to school.

Because of Lin Xiao’s usual laid-back personality, Su Bai reminded him with concern: “The doctor said no alcohol, less coffee, and avoid spicy and cold foods. You better not sneak any behind my back!”

Lin Xiao patted his head and replied half-heartedly, “Mm.”

Forget about the rest…

Not being able to eat spicy food is practically saying goodbye to half of the world’s delicious cuisine…

Su Bai, unwilling to let it go, said, “You didn’t answer with any sincerity at all.”

Lin Xiao extended his index finger, pressing it against Su Bai’s beautifully shaped lips. He blinked and revealed a roguish smile: “If you keep nagging, I’ll kiss you.”

Su Bai thought for a moment, then seriously said whatever came to mind: “Either way, you have to listen to the doctor… Hmm, stomach problems, it hurts so much when it acts up… I definitely have to keep nagging…”

And so, Su Bai got exactly what he wished for—a kiss from Lin Xiao, who could no longer bear it.

37

On December 31st, Lin Xiao took Su Bai to Century Square to watch the New Year’s countdown.

The square was packed with people, bustling with excitement, and there were couples everywhere, being all lovey-dovey.

A few young people who looked like students braved the biting cold, weaving through the crowd, taking the opportunity to sell roses.

Bright red roses, wrapped in stiff plastic paper.

When approached by them, Lin Xiao decisively bought a rose and handed it to Su Bai. After doing so, he felt that giving a flower to a guy seemed a bit odd. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he said, “It’s not easy working in this cold weather, just supporting them.”

Su Bai took the flower, the corners of his soft-looking lips curved slightly: “It’s really beautiful.”

Lin Xiao seemed unable to take his eyes off Su Bai, gazing down at him as if he could never get enough.

At that moment, the large clock in the square struck.

People counted down along with the chimes: ten, nine, eight… three, two, one.

Lin Xiao hugged Su Bai and spun around twice in place, shouting loudly, “Happy New Year!”

Su Bai rarely laughed like this, his face flushing as he replied, “Happy New Year.”

The square was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

The two of them strolled side by side for a while, then took out their phones to snap some photos.

As they walked, Lin Xiao suddenly took Su Bai’s hand and said, “During the countdown just now, I saw you make a wish.”

“You seriously clasped your hands together.”

Su Bai nodded. “I did.”

Lin Xiao lightly nudged him with his elbow. “What did you wish for?”

Su Bai scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said, “I wished for… world peace, and for my family to stay healthy.”

Lin Xiao’s face immediately turned a shade of green. “…”

Su Bai continued, “And… I also wished to be with you forever, growing old together… What about you?”

Lin Xiao let out a sigh, teasing him, “I wished for the same thing as you. Isn’t that quite a coincidence?”

Su Bai lowered his head and smiled. After a while, he touched his ears, which were slightly reddened from the cold, and said, “It’s really cold. I should’ve worn a hat.”

Lin Xiao cupped his hands around Su Bai’s ears to warm them. After a moment, he suddenly asked in a low voice, “Can you hear me?”

Su Bai quietly looked at him, as if he hadn’t heard.

Lin Xiao’s lips curled into a smirk, and in the same quiet tone, he said, “Su Bai, you have no idea how much I like you. I fucking like you so much, being with you makes me so happy I could fly, but I’ve been too shy to tell you.”

Su Bai raised his hand and grasped Lin Xiao’s, smiling, “I feel the same. I fucking like you too.”

Lin Xiao, feeling a bit awkward, said, “…Didn’t you say you couldn’t hear?”

Su Bai, seriously, replied, “I was reading your lips.”

And then the two of them just stared at each other, grinning foolishly.

38

It was already past midnight, they couldn’t return to the school dorms.

So, Lin Xiao and Su Bai went to a hotel near the square and booked a room.

The room was warm, making both of their faces flush slightly from the heat.

Lin Xiao took off his cold, damp coat and hung it on the coat rack, then awkwardly said to Su Bai, who was still standing there in his coat: “I’m going to take a shower.”

Su Bai hurriedly nodded: “Oh, you go ahead.”

After Lin Xiao finished his shower and came out wrapped in a towel, he saw Su Bai nervously taking off his coat and sitting at the edge of the bed, holding a thin stack of stapled papers, looking like a thesis.

Curious, Lin Xiao leaned over to take a look: “What’s this?”

Su Bai’s face turned beet red, and in a panic, he shoved the stack of papers into Lin Xiao’s hands, speaking so fast it was almost incomprehensible: “Y-you, you study these carefully. The, the information… I thought it might be useful today, so I brought it. I’m going to take a shower now.”

After speaking, Su Bai rushed into the bathroom like a whirlwind, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

Lin Xiao looked down in confusion, glancing at the stack of papers in his hand.

— The Exploration and Acquisition of Male Prostate Pleasure

Lin Xiao: …

With a face full of dark lines, Lin Xiao began flipping through the pages.

Although it was quite strange, the information inside was surprisingly useful. The data was well-organized, with clear points, and it was obvious it had been carefully compiled by Su Bai.

Lin Xiao buried himself in reading for an hour, and Su Bai still hadn’t come out of the bathroom.

He had no choice but to knock on the door.

Su Bai’s tense voice came through: “…What is it?”

Lin Xiao chuckled: “Are you done with your shower?”

Su Bai: “Not yet.”

Lin Xiao leaned against the door: “If you keep washing, you’ll peel your skin off.”

Su Bai mumbled from inside: “I’m not… I… I just need to wash a bit more.”

Lin Xiao let out a low laugh, pushed the door open, and boldly lifted Su Bai out of the bathtub, carrying him without hesitation as he walked out. Su Bai, flustered, struggled for a moment, and as they passed the door, he quickly grabbed a towel to cover his wet body.

Once Su Bai was pressed onto the bed, he still didn’t forget to ask: “Did you finish reading the materials?”

Lin Xiao kissed him passionately: “I’ve read it.”

That night, Lin Xiao put the information to good use, applying it perfectly.

39

The next morning, the city was blanketed in heavy snow.

Su Bai woke up in Lin Xiao’s arms, rubbed his eyes, and looked out the window with joy at the snowy scene.

The world was wrapped in a gentle, soft white.

Lin Xiao’s hand slid down to Su Bai’s waist, his tone full of concern: “Does it hurt? Are you sore?”

Su Bai shifted slightly, recalling what had happened last night. A faint pink blush spread across his cheeks: “It’s okay, a bit sore… but it doesn’t affect movement.”

Lin Xiao had Su Bai lie down and gently massaged his waist for a while.

After breakfast, the two of them went downstairs to the hotel courtyard to watch the snow.

The fresh snow was soft and clean. Lin Xiao, filled with a childlike excitement, scooped up the thick snow that had piled up overnight, shaping two snowballs, one large and one small. Together with Su Bai, they built a small snowman.

Su Bai tilted his head and examined the snowman for a moment before suddenly coming up with an idea: “Oh, right, go back to the room and grab my scarf to wrap it around the snowman.”

Lin Xiao immediately turned and dashed upstairs to fetch it.

The scarf was a gift Lin Xiao had given Su Bai on Valentine’s Day during their second year of high school. Su Bai had been thrilled with it, and whenever it got cold, he would always wear that particular scarf.

The soft texture of the scarf, held in his hands, seemed to carry a faint warmth.

When Lin Xiao ran back downstairs, he saw Su Bai adjusting the snowman’s head, trying to make the round snowball even smoother. A gentle breeze blew by, and the snow from the branches above Su Bai’s head was shaken loose, falling in a delicate flurry like pear blossoms in March, covering his hair.

Su Bai laughed to himself, lifting a hand to brush away the fine snow clinging to his hair. That smile was so bright it made it impossible for Lin Xiao to look away.

Once upon a time, that tiny feeling of infatuation was as elusive as snow.

Now, those feelings had drifted down, like snowflakes, gently and endlessly covering everything, filling their entire world.

So…..

Lin Xiao gripped the scarf tightly and sprinted toward Su Bai, his footprints leaving a faint, gray trail in the snow.

END