Chapter 32

To avoid angering his friend Jimmy, Yang Yunran readily agreed, “Okay, I understand, I understand. Check the goods first before getting back together.”

Jimmy asked, “Do you need me to teach you?”

Yang Yunran replied, “No, no, no, no need. I can do it.”

Jimmy looked at him skeptically and asked, “Really?”

Yang Yunran insisted, “Yes!! Even if I’ve never eaten pork, haven’t I at least seen a pig run?”

After eating at the seafood market, Yang Yunran and Jimmy were about to leave when Jiang Yi called at five to twelve minutes.

Yang Yunran was surprised, “!!”

Jiang Yi rarely called him. In fact, Jiang Yi almost never initiated calls and generally sent text messages instead, seldom even using voice messages.

Yang Yunran quickly spat out the squid in his mouth, cleared his throat, and answered the call, “Hello.”

Jimmy looked up from his seafood fried rice to stare at him.

Turning away to avoid Jimmy’s gaze, Yang Yunran said, “I’m almost done eating. You don’t need to come in to find me. I’ll be out soon~”

Jiang Yi, typically concise, said, “I’ll wait for you at the door.”

Yang Yunran tried to sound calm, “Okay, I’ll be quick.”

Jiang Yi replied, “Hmm.”

After a few seconds, Jiang Yi asked, “Why haven’t you hung up?”

Yang Yunran quickly said, “I’m hanging up now.”

Putting away his phone, Yang Yunran faced Jimmy, who teased, “Good~~ I~ will~ be~ quick~.” Folding his arms with a look of slight exasperation, Jimmy added, “If you didn’t tell me he’s chasing you, I’d think you were chasing him.”

Yang Yunran explained, “I’m just being polite.”

Yang Yunran went to the bathroom to rinse his mouth.

Jimmy joked, “Are you going to kiss him? Why are you rinsing your mouth?”

“No!!!! It’s just polite!!” Yang Yunran retorted. As they walked to the market entrance, they saw Jiang Yi from a distance.

He wore a white shirt and a black tie. Under his neat, dark eyebrows were deep-set single eyelids, a straight nose, and a tall, slim figure, standing in the sunlight.

With the spring temperature just right, the sea breeze made Jiang Yi’s shirt billow.

Jimmy remarked sarcastically, “Your ex-husband looks quite handsome.”

Yang Yunran didn’t comment, but his eyes sparkled as he said, “I’m going to find him now. You go home yourself. See you in class the day after tomorrow. Bye.”

As Yang Yunran walked towards Jiang Yi, Jiang Yi also approached him.

Their shoulders almost touched as they met. Jiang Yi lowered his head, turned slightly, and raised his hand. Just when Yang Yunran thought he might hold his hand, Jiang Yi took the bag from him instead, asking, “Is this a gift from Jimmy?”

Yang Yunran nodded. Standing close, he could smell the fresh scent on Jiang Yi’s neck.

The scent of aftershave lingered in the air. Having just shaved, the sharp lines of Jiang Yi’s jaw had a slight bluish tinge. His white shirt was crisp and neatly ironed, with a faint smell of soap.

“I’ll put this in the back seat for you.” Jiang Yi opened the car door, revealing his suit jacket draped over the back seat. Yang Yunran tilted his head in surprise, “Wearing formal attire to the amusement park?”

“Yes,” Jiang Yi replied as he started the navigation system, “The amusement park is quite far, it’s an hour and a half drive.”

Yang Yunran, still focused on Jiang Yi’s tie, asked, “Why are you dressed so formally?”

“There was this one time you said…” Jiang Yi paused, “You said it looked good.”

Yang Yunran asked, “Did I say that exactly?”

Jiang Yi replied, “No.” He clearly remembered that Yang Yunran had actually said something like “uniform fetish.”

Yang Yunran also remembered and started laughing uncontrollably in the passenger seat, thinking that Jiang Yi was deliberately trying to tempt him. His ex-boyfriend was saying one thing but meaning another.

As Jiang Yi steered onto the main road, he glanced at Yang Yunran, “Did I overdo it?”

“No, no,” Yang Yunran replied, becoming serious, “I think it looks great, and I really like it.”

This hint of sentiment made Jiang Yi silent for a moment. He observed what Yang Yunran was wearing today—a gray hoodie. It was a bit hot in the afternoon, so Yang Yunran had rolled up his sleeves, exposing his fair forearms. The light shone on his soft hair.

Jiang Yi stopped to buy two bottles of iced water and some ice cream before continuing to drive. He chose some songs he thought Yang Yunran would like. Yang Yunran was lazily licking his ice cream in the lowered seat, half-lying down. He decided to test Jiang Yi’s neat freak tendencies again by offering him the half-eaten ice cream, “I can’t finish this. I ate too much at lunch. Do you want the rest?”

Jiang Yi wanted to say no.

But instead, he said, “I’m driving.”

Yang Yunran, staring at him, said, “I can feed you.”

Jiang Yi couldn’t refuse then. He glanced sideways, eyes falling on Yang Yunran’s face. If he refused, Yang Yunran would be sad.

“Okay,” Jiang Yi agreed, the sweet smell of the ice cream filling the car. Since he was driving, he couldn’t always pay attention to the ice cream below his lips and had to rely on Yang Yunran to control it.

Melted ice cream dripped on his chin, which Yang Yunran wiped away with his hand.

Yang Yunran noticed that Jiang Yi seemed a bit stiff, his Adam’s apple moving up and down.

So Jiang Yi had to remain rigid as Yang Yunran fed him the rest of the ice cream.

At 2 PM, they arrived at the amusement park. Jiang Yi carried a camera on his back, and Yang Yunran asked, “Is that a Hasselblad? Did you buy it?”

Jiang Yi replied, “It’s Faisal’s. I borrowed it to take pictures of you.”

Yang Yunran didn’t expect Jiang Yi to go as far as borrowing a camera from his roommate just to take pictures of him. Ah, he really is too considerate.

Among the many thrilling rides, Yang Yunran only chose the relatively mild ones, and they ended up soaked after the water slide.

Afterward, Jiang Yi bought two T-shirts and shorts and headed to the changing room. He hadn’t expected to find Yang Yunran already there, having taken off his wet shirt and drying his hair. Jiang Yi immediately stopped in his tracks.

Yang Yunran had his back to him, but the three mirrors revealed his current appearance from every angle. His half-wet black hair and his skin, fair to the point of translucence, combined with his recently laughing eyes, made him look exceedingly charming.

“Jiang Yi?” Yang Yunran turned his head, seeing Jiang Yi standing in the gap behind the curtain.

“I brought the clothes,” Jiang Yi said, reaching out. Their fingers touched, still slightly wet.

Yang Yunran noticed Jiang Yi’s measured actions. Jiang Yi’s strong sense of propriety often made Yang Yunran feel as if Jiang Yi didn’t like him.

But whenever he tested it, he found that Jiang Yi did react.

Jiang Yi just liked to hide his true reactions.

Yang Yunran grabbed his wrist and pulled him in, “Help me dry my hair.”

Jiang Yi’s first action was to turn and pull the curtain tightly closed, holding it in place with one hand.

Outside, people were coming and going, with children screaming.

Yang Yunran handed him the hairdryer and slightly bent over to take off his pants. Jiang Yi closed his eyes.

Yang Yunran said, “Where are you aiming that?”

Jiang Yi, maintaining his position with one hand holding the curtain and the other with the hairdryer, formed a protective triangle around Yang Yunran.

Looking up, Yang Yunran saw Jiang Yi with his eyes closed, his dark eyelashes trembling. Yang Yunran found it both strange and amusing, “Haven’t you seen male classmates undressed at school? Why are you closing your eyes?”

Jiang Yi responded in his usual tone, “I have… Are you dressed now?”

Yang Yunran made a sound of affirmation, feeling that Jiang Yi’s reaction was not typical for a gay man. Instead, he seemed more like a deeply closeted homophobe.

Yang Yunran took the hairdryer, “You change, I’ll dry your hair.”

Jiang Yi finally opened his eyes, noticing that Yang Yunran had no intention of leaving. He glanced at him but said nothing, then began untying his tie and unbuttoning his shirt, gradually revealing his firm chest muscles.

He turned his back, wrapping his tie around his wrist.

Yang Yunran raised the hairdryer and started drying his hair, watching him through the mirror.

Then he said, “You know, you’re not very good at hiding things.”

“Six-pack abs, huh?” Yang Yunran commented.

“Yeah,” Jiang Yi replied.

Jiang Yi bent down to change out of his wet pants, revealing two strong, muscular legs. Yang Yunran glanced at him, his cheeks starting to flush. “What did you eat to grow like this, big brother?”

“Goat milk,” Jiang Yi said, changing quickly and not giving Yang Yunran much time to look.

“So, goat milk is the key to growing strong, huh? How tall are you?” Yang Yunran asked.

“Yang Yunran,” Jiang Yi said in a slightly exasperated tone, “get your things. Let’s go.”

“I was asking about your height.”

“I’m not quite 190 cm.”

They both emerged from the changing room wearing identical local culture T-shirts, white with a brown raccoon print. They looked like any couple visiting the amusement park on a weekend, even holding hands. Originally, Jiang Yi had just held his wrist to prevent them from getting separated in the crowd, but Yang Yunran changed it to hand-holding, and Jiang Yi didn’t pull away.

Jiang Yi’s hands were long and dry, with calloused palms and fingertips, carrying warmth. Yang Yunran’s hands were much softer, and when he intertwined his fingers with Jiang Yi’s, he could sense Jiang Yi’s unease because his fingers tensed up.

Yang Yunran playfully tickled Jiang Yi’s palm with his thumb.

Jiang Yi didn’t say anything, just tightened his grip on Yang Yunran’s hand, restraining his five fingers as if to remind Yang Yunran not to push too far.

The afternoon sun was hidden behind clouds, and Yang Yunran started to feel cold. Jiang Yi found a shop and bought him long pants and a jacket. At a shooting game booth, Jiang Yi won a giant stuffed animal for him.

When they stuffed it into the car, the huge plush bear took up the entire back seat.

At 5 PM, Jiang Yi drove to the rugby stadium where the concert was being held. In the car, Jiang Yi asked, “Who’s taking care of your dog today?”

“A classmate,” Yang Yunran replied.

“The one who usually helps you walk the dog?”

Yang Yunran suddenly turned his head, “Not him.”

“Why not? Who did you get to help this time?” Jiang Yi pressed.

“Why do you care so much about who walks my dog?” Yang Yunran asked.

Of course Jiang Yi cared. He had seen Yang Yunran hug that guy and even stroke his hair.

Using a tone that betrayed his concern, Jiang Yi said, “I don’t.”

Yang Yunran wasn’t pleased, frowning and turning to look out the window.

Jiang Yi noticed his expression but didn’t say anything.

Is the dog-walking guy that important? Just mentioning him makes him unhappy.

When they finally found a parking spot near the rugby stadium for the concert, it was a relief.

He took the lead and went in first, but got into an argument with a few teenagers over a parking spot.

However, Jiang Yi ignored them, coldly telling them to get lost. He was wearing a white amusement park T-shirt, revealing a well-toned physique and muscular build. The teenagers muttered curses and left. Later, they returned with nails to puncture Jiang Yi’s car tires.

After entering the concert, Yang Yunran didn’t speak much anymore. He had been cheerful in the afternoon, but now his mood had dampened.

Once the singer came on stage, they had even less time to talk. With the music echoing through the sky, they initially ignored each other. It wasn’t until the end of the concert, amidst the crowd, that Jiang Yi reached out to hold Yang Yunran’s hand.

Yang Yunran pulled away. Suddenly, Jiang Yi reached out and pulled Yang Yunran into his arms, saying helplessly, “There are stairs, watch your step, don’t be so angry.”

Because of Jiang Yi’s sudden move, Yang Yunran felt uneasy for a moment, his heart skipping a beat. He looked up and softly defended himself, “I wasn’t angry.”

Jiang Yi calmly looked into his eyes.

Yang Yunran just thought of a bad novel plot, believing that Zhao Youmo had an irresistible attraction to Jiang Yi. How else could they care so much after only seeing him two or three times?

Yang Yunran’s mood plummeted, not intentionally showing Jiang Yi a bad face.

“I’m fine, just a little cold… that’s all. I’m not cold anymore.”

Jiang Yi touched his hand to confirm he wasn’t cold.

Yang Yunran adjusted his mood, and the two followed the crowd towards the parking lot.

It was now 9:30 in the evening, and traffic near the area was heavy. Jiang Yi started the car and heard an unusual clanking sound and vibration from the tires.

Jiang Yi turned off the engine and got out of the car.

Yang Yunran asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Yi squatted down to inspect, “The tires were punctured by those teenagers.”

In the United States, crossing paths with teenagers could lead to a series of inexplicable “pranks.”

Of course, avoiding them might not necessarily prevent such “pranks.”

Yang Yunran sighed, “Should we find a repair shop?”

Jiang Yi checked the time on his watch, “It’s too late.” Most repair shops close in the afternoon.

Jiang Yi said, “I’ll have the insurance company handle it. But they might not be able to come until tomorrow.”

Knowing Jiang Yi had bought cheap insurance, Yang Yunran agreed. Jiang Yi took off his coat from the car and pulled out something black from under the seat—a glimpse of a gun.

Jiang Yi tucked the gun into his waist and called to cancel the restaurant reservation. He also took the cake from the cooler in the trunk.

Come.

Yang Yunran caught sight of a mysterious-looking device, resembling a cosmic model. “Is this my gift?”

“Yes.”

Yang Yunran bent down to touch it. “Wow, it’s so beautiful. Is it made of stone?”

“It’s made from a meteorite. It’s a model of the solar system that can rotate.” Jiang Yi was worried he might not like it, but seeing Yang Yunran’s expression eased his mind.

Yang Yunran’s eyes brightened. “Really? That’s amazing! Did you make this yourself?”

Jiang Yi confirmed that he did. Yang Yunran’s bad mood evaporated instantly. He thanked Jiang Yi and expressed his delight. Jiang Yi couldn’t resist his gaze and said softly, “I’ll have it delivered to your place tomorrow for you to play with.”

Afterward, the two walked to the roadside to hail a cab.

Due to the concert, they had to compete with eighty thousand people for taxis on several roads. They walked a long way, about an hour and a half, without finding one.

Yang Yunran called his classmate who was helping him walk his dog, confirming that he had walked the dog three times today and fed it. He also checked the situation at home through the pet monitor, seeing Harry sleeping at the door as if waiting for him to return home. Yang Yunran felt a bit sad and spoke to the dog through the monitor for a while.

Later, Yang Yunran received a call from his uncle. He told his uncle he was with Jiang Yi, “Just finished the concert, feeling really happy.” He hadn’t eaten Professor Chen’s cake yet or blown out the candles, but when Professor Chen asked, Yang Yunran said, “I’ve had the cake, I’ll send you photos later. It was delicious.”

It was almost midnight and the two of them who hadn’t found a taxi were walking along the road.

Jiang Yi planned to have him blow out the candles before midnight, so he took him to a nearby hotel with a birthday cake in hand and apologized, “I made your birthday a bit unpleasant.”

Yang Yunran said, “No, I felt really happy spending it with you, it was different from before! But… are we going to the hotel?” His eyes widened slightly, and he started to feel nervous.

Jiang Yi nodded. “We’ll book two rooms and go back in the morning. Do you have classes tomorrow?”

Yang Yunran said, “I don’t have classes on weekends, but I didn’t bring my ID, so I can’t stay at the hotel.”

Jiang Yi said, “I brought mine.”

Yang Yunran scratched his ear, which was still hot from the curling iron. “Then… let’s book one room?”

Jiang Yi showed his ID to book the room. Yang Yunran listened from behind him, “Do you want a twin or a king-sized bed?”

Jiang Yi turned slightly. “Only single rooms are left.”

The receptionist explained, “Due to the concert, we only have a few single rooms left. The beds are narrow, so you’ll need two rooms.”

However, since Yang Yunran didn’t have any identification, the reception couldn’t accept his check-in without it. But they hinted to Jiang Yi, “Sir, you can take your friend upstairs to hang out, but please note he can’t stay overnight.”

Yang Yunran quickly responded, “Sure, I’ll just hang out for a bit and then leave.”

The two took the room keys and entered the elevator.

Yang Yunran wondered how small the bed would be and how he would sleep on it.