Dating Du Yunyan for several months, they had done countless things together, but going out on a date in S City was still a rare experience. On the day before Du Yunyan left, Gu Wenxi followed through on their agreement to “date” again.

There were numerous entertainment options in big cities, never lacking in attractive places to go. However, Du Yunyan didn’t have any particular destination in mind and felt that anywhere would be fine. Throughout the day, Gu Wenxi took him to watch movies, stroll through shopping malls, and walk in the square… Of course, they also indulged in various kinds of delicacies. They were no different from an ordinary urban couple; Gu Wenxi was even more excited than usual, playing the role of a “tour guide.”

In the afternoon, the two of them enjoyed afternoon tea at a top-floor restaurant in a riverside skyscraper. It was a rotating restaurant completely surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of the entire city center.

The porcelain teapot on the table contained a two-person serving of black tea, and they ordered several different flavors of cakes while chatting and admiring the view.

After sitting for a while, Gu Wenxi spoke up, “Is there nowhere special you want to go?” Planning the day’s activities himself seemed a bit presumptuous, but he had never heard any clear preferences from Du Yunyan.

“I…” At this point in the rotation of the restaurant, they could see another landmark of the city in the distance—the Ferris wheel at the Water Park. Du Yunyan’s gaze passed over Gu Wenxi’s shoulder, “Can we go there?”

Gu Wenxi turned around, “You mean the Ferris wheel?” This was unexpected.

“Yeah,” Du Yunyan sensed his curiosity, “I’ve been there once before when I was about to leave here, but I haven’t been back since.”

The Ferris wheel was built the year Du Yunyan turned fifteen. At that time, he was in the third year of junior high, busy with his demanding studies, hoping to go there with his mother after the high school entrance exam. Du Yaning agreed.

However, just two days after the exam, his mother, seemingly triggered by something unknown, went mad and started scolding him again. That night, a couple who were his mother’s colleagues came to their house. The unfamiliar uncle advised him to go to bed early, but he was worried about Du Yaning, so he waited until her mood stabilized before resting. He didn’t mention going to the Ferris wheel again.

Not long after, the exam results came out. He scored high enough to attend the best high school in the city, but Du Yaning said she wanted to take him back to their hometown. Perhaps feeling guilty for her inexplicable outburst, she suggested taking him to ride the Ferris wheel.

This rekindled hope in Du Yunyan’s heart, which had been darkened for a while. He forgot all his unhappiness and immersed himself in the joy of being able to travel with his mother. On the day before they left S City, he finally fulfilled his wish to visit the park.

Du Yunyan had no interest in other entertainment projects, only asking Du Yaning to take him on the Ferris wheel. For two rounds, almost an hour, sitting in a separate compartment, he hardly felt the slow movement of the giant wheel, but the scenery outside was indeed changing. Most children found it boring, but he didn’t want to get off, keeping his face close to the glass, hoping this long rotation would never stop.

Since starting middle school, it was the first time his mother had taken him out for leisure purposes, and also the last. For young Du Yunyan, the impression of this city was frozen in that towering Ferris wheel. No matter how much the city changed, it was still there.

Gu Wenxi didn’t know about Du Yunyan’s complicated feelings, but just from his simple mention, he guessed that this place held special significance. So he readily agreed.

The large-scale facilities they saw from the top of the building were actually quite far from where they were, so it took quite some time for Gu Wenxi to drive there.

The water park used to mainly focus on water entertainment projects, but now there were more amusement facilities, catering to both children and adults, with some thrilling rides as well. Coupled with the famous Ferris wheel, the entire park had become the largest and most famous amusement park in S City.

Since they had come, Gu Wenxi asked, “Do you want to play anything else?”

Looking at the bustling tourists around, Du Yunyan shook his head, “I just want to go there.”

“Okay, let’s go straight there.”

The Ferris wheel was at the far end of the amusement park. From a distance, the colorful “little houses” seemed to be still, and they would light up at night, becoming a dazzling sight in the city. They walked through the middle and went a long way before reaching the ticket booth. Since it was the most popular attraction in the entire park, there was a long line at the entrance, and they didn’t know how long they would have to wait.

Du Yunyan hesitated when he suggested riding the Ferris wheel and felt a bit embarrassed when he saw so many people. He would have to make Gu Wenxi wait with him. He hesitated, “Maybe this time—”

“It’s okay, we can just wait for a while, right?” No matter how many times they came, they would probably have to line up for this kind of project.

Fortunately, they had eaten cake in the afternoon and weren’t in a hurry for dinner. Plus, although the line looked long, it wasn’t moving slowly.

The sun was slowly setting in the western sky, and the golden light turned faintly red in their view, while the noise of the crowd seemed to diminish with the decreasing heat in the air.

It took about twenty minutes for one round of the Ferris wheel. They bought tickets for two rounds, so they could stay up there for nearly an hour. After being signaled by the staff, they stepped forward to enter the designated cabin.

It was a cabin with a red roof, surrounded by transparent viewing glass on all four sides. The cabin was spacious enough to accommodate five or six people, so the two of them had plenty of room. Gu Wenxi and Du Yunyan sat facing each other. After the door was locked, it felt like entering another time and space. The noisy crowd outside didn’t disappear, but it no longer affected them. As the cabin ascended, it felt as if the ground was slowly sinking.

As one round was about to end, street lights lit up in the distance. Soon, the exterior of the Ferris wheel also lit up, and night fell over the city’s daytime, opening up a new world of brilliance and fantasy. They both looked outside without speaking at this moment.

Du Yunyan subconsciously stretched out his arm, palm against the glass, lost in thought for a moment— he had done this action before, it seemed, and had said something to Du Yaning, but he couldn’t remember now.

After settling in Pingliang Village, Du Yaning’s emotions improved day by day, and she never collapsed like she used to. Du Yunyan also met more people, like having a new family, and he experienced unprecedented happiness.

The brief calm was shattered after he finished his college entrance exams at eighteen. His mother was unexpectedly paralyzed, and Du Yunyan, keeping it a secret from her, gave up his chance to attend university. Many people in the village knew about this and helped keep it a secret, but Du Yaning wasn’t entirely unaware.

Her obsession with the past gradually faded as she came to understand the impermanence of life and deeply regretted the times she had taken out her frustrations on her child.

In her final days, she constantly apologized to him for the past scoldings and the lost opportunities. But Du Yunyan never resented her; he didn’t want her apologies. He wished she would say, “You can cry, it’s okay to cry.” When Du Yaning was dying, he really wanted to cry but didn’t dare to, fearing she wouldn’t pass away peacefully if he did.

“Yunyan?”

Turning his head to meet Gu Wenxi’s gaze, he suddenly recalled what he had said back then. He had said, “Mom, I want to stay like this forever.”

The Ferris wheel in his view continued its tireless rotation, over and over, yet every moment he felt happy seemed too fleeting to capture.

Du Yaning had laughed at his childishness, “How could that be possible?”

Memories surged unexpectedly, weighing heavily on his heart. His eyes itched unusually, and without rubbing them, he realized warm liquid was sliding down the side of his nose, the salty taste stinging the nerves around his mouth.

For the first time in over twenty years, he couldn’t hold back his tears. Like an uncontrollable switch, as soon as one tear dried, another formed in his eyes, stinging and burning.

The moisture on his eyelashes blurred his vision, making Gu Wenxi’s figure appear indistinct. He didn’t want to face him in this state, preferring to believe no one was there. He tried to stay silent, but the suppressed sounds of his breathing were amplified in the confined space.

Someone sat down beside him. Gu Wenxi had moved from the opposite seat to sit next to him. Du Yunyan didn’t dare wipe his eyes, only feeling an arm around his shoulder, pulling him closer.

Du Yunyan suddenly relaxed, his head drooping as he closed his eyes, almost as if he had fallen asleep. Only Gu Wenxi could see the half-dried traces of tears on his face.

After a while, Gu Wenxi took out a tissue and gently dabbed at the corners of Du Yunyan’s eyes. Du Yunyan opened his eyes.

Having vented enough, he felt embarrassed and took the tissue to wipe his face. When he looked at Gu Wenxi again, he still felt flustered, as if he had exposed his most vulnerable side to his boyfriend.

“I won’t laugh at you,” Gu Wenxi said.

Before the cabin door opened, he used his thumb to gently wipe away the traces of tears under Du Yunyan’s eyes.

They returned to the apartment after eight o’clock. Gu Wenxi arranged for takeout; given Du Yunyan’s state tonight, neither cooking nor eating out seemed suitable.

“Do you want to know why?” Du Yunyan asked quietly after a long silence.

Gu Wenxi turned around, “Do you want to tell me?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” Du Yunyan lowered his head, “but I don’t know where to start.”

“Then let’s leave it for now,” Gu Wenxi said, his right hand moving up Du Yunyan’s back to rest on his shoulder, “I understand anyway.” Emotions are not something words can always convey.

Du Yunyan sighed in relief, feeling tired but unusually calm.

---

A few days after Du Yunyan left, Gu Wenxi met Lu Changming again at a party.

It was a birthday and engagement party for the daughter of a company owner, who had a good relationship with Gu Yuching. Since Gu Yuching’s health prevented him from attending, he asked Gu Wenxi to go on his behalf.

Gu Wenxi saw Lu Changming from afar among the invited guests, but he didn’t approach him.

After the ceremony, he toasted the evening’s main guests, congratulating them, and then headed to the terrace for some fresh air. Lu Changming blocked his way.

“Uncle Lu, interested in a drink?” Gu Wenxi shook his glass at him.

“Young Master Gu,” Lu Changming snorted, “Should I now call you Little President Gu?”

“Uncle Lu, you’re too kind,” Gu Wenxi gestured invitingly with his hand, “Just call me Wenxi. After all, we’re one big happy family.”

As expected, Lu Changming’s face turned green with a deep frown. Unable to lose his temper in front of the other guests, he waited until they were in a less crowded corner of the terrace before speaking again, “Wenxi, did you do the thing in Ping County on purpose?”

“How can you say it was on purpose?” Gu Wenxi faced him, “It’s my home.”

“Your home… I concede defeat to the Gu family,” Lu Changming said bitterly. “However, if President Gu knew his son did all this for a man, would he still be so indulgent?”

Hearing this, Gu Wenxi couldn’t help but laugh. Lu Changming grew even more furious, “Gu Wenxi!”

“Uncle Lu, don’t worry,” Gu Wenxi still spoke in a careless tone, “My dad has met Yunyan and is very pleased with him, very willing to give him a big gift. No need for you to worry.”

“Impossible, impossible,” he muttered, “How could Gu Yuching accept such a thing…”

“How about I give him a call and you two in-laws set a time to have a proper talk?” Gu Wenxi actually took out his phone from his bag.

“Stop!” Lu Changming shouted before he could dial, stepping back two paces. “You Gu family are despicable…”

“This is a Gu family matter. I hope you understand.”

“I’m not resigned to this,” he said, now devoid of his earlier hostility, his eyes filled with sorrow, “If it’s all karma, Gu Yuching abandoned his first wife too, yet all his sons turned out successful. Even if you’re like this… he still has Wenheng.”

Gu Wenxi almost rolled his eyes at this twisted logic, not only resenting Lu Changming’s sarcasm toward Gu Yuching but also feeling injustice for Du Yunyan and Lu Yunchu. So he retorted, “You’re wrong. Your sons are also successful, just not in the way you wanted.”

Lu Changming’s momentum completely deflated, “Heh, how could a sheltered young master like you, who has never experienced backstabbing, understand?” He turned and walked unsteadily toward the banquet hall.

“Uncle Lu,” Gu Wenxi called out to him, “I will repay the money for building the guest house, principal and interest. They won’t owe you anything anymore.”

“No need,” Lu Changming stopped, “Gu Wenxi, are you trying to humiliate me?”

“You’re overthinking it,” Gu Wenxi dropped his mocking tone and spoke earnestly, “It’s just that since you insist on tying profit and emotion together, I have to give you what you need to ease my boyfriend’s mind.”

Lu Changming stood still, silent.

Gu Wenxi didn’t look back at him and left the terrace. The full moon’s glow reflected on his shirt, casting a silver light.

---

The Gu family’s new company for tourism development was set up in the town. After Gu Wenxi started working there, he could return to the village every day, finally ending his time living apart from Du Yunyan.

Before he knew it, it was the end of the year, and the temperature had plummeted. After finishing a day’s work, he rubbed his hands together and prepared to drive back. Just as he was about to go downstairs, he received a call from Du Yunyan: “Are you on your way out?” Du Yunyan asked.

“Almost, I’m about to head over.”

“Don’t come over yet.”

“Why?”

“A small convoy is coming tomorrow, and there might be no place to park. Don’t drive; I’ll come to pick you up.” Tomorrow was the weekend, and if Gu Wenxi drove back, he’d have to park in front of the guesthouse.

“Why are so many people coming all of a sudden?” It was the off-season winter, so there shouldn’t be many visitors.

“They just decided to come, like you did last year when you stayed for the whole winter.”

This comment sounded odd to Gu Wenxi, so he retorted, “Who are you calling a squatter?”

“Let’s just say I let you squat,” Du Yunyan corrected himself, “Wait for me. I’ll call when I arrive.”

“Alright.”

The motorcycle headed toward the town.

It didn’t take long before Gu Wenxi received another call. He saw a familiar figure from the office window and joyfully ran downstairs.

Du Yunyan tossed him a helmet. “Hey, why don’t you drive?”

“Really?” Gu Wenxi’s interest was immediately piqued. He hadn’t ridden the bike since that unpleasant incident last year. “I drive fast, you know.”

“No problem,” Du Yunyan grinned, “Go ahead.”

After Gu Wenxi got on the bike, Du Yunyan sat behind him, wrapping his arms around Gu Wenxi’s waist.

At first, they traveled through the main road of the town, which was crowded with people and vehicles, making it difficult to go fast. Gu Wenxi skillfully maneuvered the bike, avoiding pedestrians. From the roadside shops, loud Cantonese oldies were playing on the speakers:

“Though the road is long by your side, I’m not tired

Walking with you, step by step

Over the peaks, and seeing another peak…”

Gu Wenxi couldn’t recall the song’s name, but he understood the lyrics. The cheerful tune somewhat dispelled the winter’s desolation, lifting his spirits.

“Let the strong wind blow,

Testing us both

Little raindrops, fall freely

We are determined to move forward…”

As they turned the corner, the song gradually faded away.

The motorcycle drove onto the village road, where it was sparsely populated and the path was clear. Gu Wenxi shouted to the person behind him, “I’m going to speed up!”

“Okay!” Du Yunyan pressed closer to his back, the sound of the wind rushing past even audible through the helmet.

He closed his eyes, his heartbeat racing with the wind.

(The End)

^[1]Author’s Note: The lyrics are from Teresa Teng’s “Slow Walk On Life’s Road.” Thank you all for your company. I plan to stockpile drafts for the new story, so there will … Continue reading

^[2]TN: So, we’ve reached the end!! If you enjoyed this story, consider supporting me on Ko-fi through this link https://ko-fi.com/cee4409 Any amount will be appreciated. You can also find … Continue reading